DEESIDE GC DINNER RAISES £20,500 FOR PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION

 Paul Lawrie accepts a cheque for £20,500 from Deeside Golf Club captain Neil Harper for the Paul Lawrie Foundation funds, writes Colin Farquharson.
The dinner, attended by 388 members in The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, was organised by the Deeside club, of which the 1999 Open champion is an honorary member, to mark Paul's great year, culminating in his part in the last day Europe fightback which snatched the Ryder Cup from the jaws of defeat at Medinah, Chicago.
Paul donated five pieces of memorabilia for auction at the dinner. 
Paul and his family are heading off to Dubai shortly for a holiday over the Festive period. He will make his first competitive appearance of 2013 at the Volvo match-play.
You might think that the highlight of his "annis mirabilis" would be the Ryder Cup glory day, but you would be wrong.
"No, that was a great day but winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles was the tops for me. To win on Scottish turf in front of a lot of Scottish fans - what Scottish golfer could ask for more?" he said.   
"My last round at Gleneagles was the best I have ever played in my life."
So what can we look for from Paul in 2013?
"More of the same, hopefully. If I can stay in the World top 50, I'll be happy. Top 50 make it into all the majors and world championship events - 51st and you're out in the cold," he said.