A PLACE IN GOLFING HISTORY BECKONS FOR SCOTT AND HOWIE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
By ED HODGE, SGU PR and Media Executive
Ewan Scott from St Andrews and Peebles’ Craig Howie will tomorrow (Saturday) seek to write their names in the history books when they contest the 36-hole final of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' championship at Murcar Links.
Not since Lachlan Carver in 1960 has a St Andrews player emerged triumphant in the national Under-18 tournament, while no Peebles boy has ever walked away with the trophy.
With Lawrie’s Foundation sponsoring the event for the first time, the 1999 Open champion and North-east native will be on hand to pass the silverware to the victor tomorrow  after the 71st staging of the Scottish boys' championship.
Both Scott (pictured on right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) and Howie are seeking to follow in the spike marks of the likes of Andrew Coltart, the 1987 winner at Dunbar, and Steven O’Hara, the 1998 champion, who claimed the title at Murcar Links.
Scott, the SGU National Boys’ Squad player, and Howie – himself a former Boys’ Squad member – both secured 2 and 1 wins in this afternoon's semi-finals to seal their place in Saturday’s 36-hole showpiece.
Scott, who defeated national team-mate Bradley Neil at the quarter-final stage, edged past Alan Waugh (Cowglen) after the Glasgow player’s superb run to the semi-finals.

Howie, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, meanwhile, saw off the brave challenge of Connar Cook (Caird Park) by the same margin on a cold, yet dry day.
Scott, the third lowest handicapper in the field off +2, made his move for semi-final success around the turn against Waugh.
The match was all square after eight, but Scott won the ninth with a par and then the 11th after Waugh’s concession to go two up. A birdie at the short 12th took him three clear and in control.
Waugh replied with a victory at the 15th but Scott saw the match out.
The 16-year-old, coached by Steve North at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, said: “I made life harder for myself by missing a few putts coming in. I didn’t feel nervous, I just hit poor putts.
“It could have been a bigger margin of victory but it’s a win.”
Scott looked down and out this morning when Neil held the advantage on the 18th, with their match all square. But the Madras College pupil achieved an up and down from left of the green after holing from 10 feet while Neil three-putted.
“That was probably my most important putt of the week, as soon as I hit it I knew it was in,” said Scott.
Turning to the final, he added: “I played with Craig recently in the opening event of the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour and he is a good player. We’re good friends and it should be a great match.”
Howie and Scott have never met competitively head-to-head before, with both players’ families set to come north to witness the final duel.
Howie feels he is starting to click into top gear as he bids to achieve a delayed national double for Peebles players. Ailsa Bain won the Scottish girls’ title in 2009.
He was four up after nine against Cook and in command, before the Dundee player launched a late rally, halving the deficit with four to play.
The 17-year-old, a +0.7 handicap coached by Colin Brooks, said: “I’ve not played as well as I can in some rounds this week, but it all clicked this afternoon.
“My tee shots were better, meaning I was in better positions to make birdies.
“I was confident coming into this week but I maybe didn’t expect this. Over the winter my putting has come on a lot and that has helped me. It’s definitely a big achievement to reach the final.”
After a marathon week of seven matches at Murcar Links - staging the event for the third time after O’Hara’s triumph in ’98 and Scott Henry in 2005 – a great final contest is expected tomorrow.
The two-round final tees off at 8.30am and then, after a break for lunch, resumes from the first tee at 1pm.

SCROLL DOWN FOR EARLIER NEWS FROM THE PAUL LAWRIE
FOUNDATION SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

JOHN GALLAGHER TOP SCOT IN 10TH PLACE FINISH

Former Scottish amateur champion John Gallagher (Swanston) slipped to a final position of joint 10th with a 72 for six-under 210 but was still clearly the highest-placed Scot at the conclusion of the  PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath GC, Oxfordshire.

Gallagher finished 12 shots behind the winner, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton(Harleyford) who scored 65-67-66 for 18-under 198.

Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) shot 72-71-72 for joint 32nd place on 215, alongside John Henry (Clydebank and District) with scores of 70-71-74.

Former Walker Cup player Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) at last earned an  place on a pro circuit for the new season. He finished on 217 with scores of 72-74-71 for a share of 52nd place.

Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) was the last of the five Scots who made the 36-hole cut. He finished joint 61st on 218 with scores of 72-71-75.

Heavy fog delayed the start of play by 90min.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

198 Tyrrell Hatton (Harleyford) 65 67 66.

202 Jack Senior (Heysham) 66 66 70

207 Ruaidhri McGee (Ire) 69 70 68, Paul Cutler (Ire) 71 67 69.

SCOTS SCORES

210 John Gallagher (Swanston) 70 68 72 (T10).

215 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 72 71 72, John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 70 71 74.

217 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 72 74 71 (T52)

218 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 71 75 (T61).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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GARETH WRIGHT ON THE MARK AT DUNDONALD

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Welshman Gareth Wright led from start to finish in  in landing the £1,750 first prize in the Optical Express PGA Tour's 54-hole Order of Merit tournament at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire today.
Wright, 30, who has lived in Scotland since his father was appointed club pro at West Linton, had one hand on the cheque from the moment he posted a nine-under-par 63 in the first round but Banchory's Greig Hutcheon closed to within a shot of him with 18 holes to go.
In the final round, Wright's second one-under-par 71 for a final total of 11-under 205 was good enough to hold Hutcheon at bay. The Banchory man bogeyed the fourth and seven while playing partner Wright as birdieing the first, long third and long eighth. That put Wright on easy street, six shots clear of Hutcheon who had had to be content with the £1,300 runner-up prize.
Chris Doak (unattached) and former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur shared third place on 208, three behind the winner and one behind Hutcheon. Doak signed off with a 70 made up of six birdies and four bogeys while McArthur had only three variations from par - birdies at the first and seventh and a bogey at the 18th in a 71.
Round of the day came from another past Scottish amateur champion, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan). After shooting a 77 in the second round, Callum posted a seven-under 65 on the final circuit which lifted him up to four-under-212 and earned him £350.

Macaulay was eight under par for the first 14 holes with six birdies and an eagle at the 14th. He dropped his only shot at the 15th and parred in from there.
The next Optical Express PGA Tour event is over two days and 36 holes at Spey Valley, Aviemore on May 1-2.
"The Optical Express PGA Tour has got off to a terrific start," said Roy Murray, the tournament director. "It had all the ingredients - probably the strongest ever field for a Tartan Tour event, a great links course and some brilliant scoring, particularly Gareth's opening 63 and Callum Macaulay's closing 65."

FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

205 Gareth Wright (West Linton) 63 71 71 (£1,750).

207 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 68 67 72 (£1,300).

208 Chris Doak (unatt) 71 67 70, Andrew McArthur (unatt) 70 67 71 (£900 each).
209 Steven O’Hara (Alain Equestrian Shoot) 68 72 69 (£600).

210 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 71 72 67 (£500).

212 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 69 71 72, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 70 70 72, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) 70 77 65 (£350 each).

213 Jack Doherty ( North Gailes ) 69 70 74, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 70 71 72 (£270 each)

216 Craig Lee (Tain) 70 78 68, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 67 72 77, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 73 73 70, David Patrick (Elie SC) 74 73 69 (£210 each).

218 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle ) 74 70 74, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 74 70, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 72 74 72 (£165 each).

220 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 77 71 72 (£155).

221 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 72 76 73, Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 68 80 73 (£147 each).

222 David Orr (Mearns Castle ) 75 70 77 (£140)

223 Ross Kellett (unatt) 75 74 74, Ross Dixon (Renaissance) 71 74 78, Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 73 74 76 (£130 each).

224 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle ) 74 71 79, Patrick Walker (England) 71 78 75, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 72 77 75 (£115 each).
226 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 76 70 80 (£105)

227 Fraser Grant (Ralston) (amateur) 70 77 80

228 Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 77 79, Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) 73 74 81 (£97.50 each).

EWAN SCOTT v CRAIG HOWIE IN SATURDAY'S 36-HOLE FINAL

 Ewan Scott in action (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency)

PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION SCOTTISH BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP at MURCAR LINKS

Semi-final results

Howie bt Cook 2 and 1.

Ewan Scott bt Waugh
2 and 1.















                                                                Craig Howie pictured below

How the semi-finals progressed:

CRAIG HOWIE (Peebles) v CONNAR COOK (Caird Park)
Howie won the third, fourth, fifth and seventh to go 4 up.
Cook won the 10th to be 3 down.
Howie won the 11th to go back to 4 up.
Cook won the 12th and 13th to be 2 down.
Howie won 2 and 1.

EWAN SCOTT (St Andrews) v ALAN WAUGH (Cowglen)
Scott won the first to go 1 up.
Waugh won the eighth to be all square
Scott won the ninth, 11th and 12th to go 3 up.
Holes 13 and 14 halved
Waugh won 15 to be 2 down
Holes 16 and 17 halved
Scott won 2 and 1.

SUMMARY OF THE MORNING QUARTER-FINALS
FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
By ED HODGE, SGU PR and Media Executive

Craig Howie, Connar Cook, Ewan Scott and Alan Waugh all made it through to the semi-finals of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' championship at Murcar Links this morning.

On another breezy day near Aberdeen, which made scoring difficult, the quartet all claimed narrow wins to progress to the semi-finals.

Peebles’ Craig Howie, a +0.7 handicap, ended the North-east challenge after a brilliant comeback against Jake Scott.

Scott, the 16-year-old from Buckpool, came flying out of the traps to be four up after five holes, thanks to three birdies in a row from the third.

Howie, 17, won eight and nine with pars to reduce arrears, but one-handicapper Scott was still firmly in the ascendancy after a victory at the 12th with a par to return to three up.

Yet Howie, who has come through some tight matches this week including a fifth-round win at the 21st over Dominic Dougan, again dug deep to reel off four wins a row from the 13th and suddenly lead.

At the 540-yard par-5 14th, the Borderer claimed an eagle 3 to make Scott’s birdie meaningless, before also making a birdie at the short 16th.

The pair halved the 17th, before Howie found trouble at the last, first in the rough off the tee to the left and then in two bunkers, as the match went to extra holes.

But Scott’s tee shot at the 19th was almost behind a tree and he could only chip out. Howie put his second shot to eight feet, before Scott gave himself hope by knocking his third shot closer. Both missed their putts to allow Howie to progress with a par.

Howie now meets Caird Park’s Cook in the first semi-final, after the one-handicap edged out Lawrence Allan (Alva).

The 16-year-old built an early two-hole lead through the seventh, before the pair exchanged the next four holes.

Cook’s par at the 13th extended his lead to three, although Allan, a +0.9 handicap player who has been working with Gregor Monks at Brucefields near Stirling, birdied the par-3 16th to claim a hole back. A half at the penultimate hole was good enough for Cook to progress.

In arguably the stand-out tie of the quarter-final line-up, Scott and SGU Boys’ Squad team-mate Bradley Neil, both former English Under-14 winners, fought a titanic battle.

Neil, like Jake Scott before him earlier in the day, raced into a four-hole lead after five holes, helped with birdies at the fourth and fifth.

But Scott, 16, soon hit back with wins at six, seven and eight, thanks to Neil’s two bogeys and a concession. Bradley, also 16, went two up again after Scott’s bogey at the 10th, but he then made bogey himself at 11 to return to one up.

It was all square after Ewan’s birdie at the 13th before the next four holes were halved to send the drama to the 18th.

Scott pulled his second shot left of the green while Neil found the heart of the green. Ewan looked to have handed his opponent victory when he left his chip some 12 feet shot, but Neil was then some eight feet short with his first putt. Scott holed and Neil missed to hand the St Andrews player victory.

In the final match of the day, Cowglen’s Waugh, 17, was three down after eight holes to Lewis Bain, the Lothians junior champion from Turnhouse with a 0.3 handicap, and still two down with four to play.

But, continuing the theme of comebacks this morning, Waugh – playing off a 2.1 handicap - turned the tide in some style to play the last four holes in one under par.

Waugh won 15, 16 and 17 before seeing out the game at the 18th to set up his semi-final with Scott.

SOUTH AFRICANS KRUGER, OTTO SHARE MALAYSIAN OPEN LEAD

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR

Kuala Lumpur: There were no Friday the 13^th jitters for Jbe Kruger of South Africa as he charged into a share of the second round clubhouse lead at the weather-hit Maybank Malaysian Open with a solid seven-under-par 65 today.

Kruger, the current Asian Tour’s Order of Merit leader, took full advantage of ideal conditions in the morning as he fired eight birdies against one bogey to tie countryman Hennie Otto, who fired a brilliant 64, on nine-under-par 135 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

American Rookie David Lipsky, who won the HANDA FALDO Cambodian Classic last month and finished second at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic on Sunday, extended his rich vein of form with a 67 pushing him to equal fourth place alongside world number seven Martin Kaymer of Germany (67) in the US$2.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Masters Tournament runner-up Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, lying on eight-under for the championship through 12 holes, is amongst the 75 players who will return on Saturday morning (7.45am) to complete their rounds after an afternoon thunderstorm disrupted play. The third round is expected to begin at 11.30am.

Jyoti Randhawa, India’s first Asian number one in 2002, stayed in the title hunt with a battling 72 leaving him three shots off the pace.

The pint-sized Kruger, who took 27 putts in his round, is hoping to strike his irons hot during the weekend as he chases a second Asian Tour victory following his maiden success at the Avantha Masters in India in February.

“I’ve been working on a lot of things and it seems to be coming together which is always a good sign. I just worked a bit on my swing which is not really a 100% yet. My ball striking used to be my strength and now it is my weakness,” said Kruger.

He was delighted to jointly lead the elite field which includes his more illustrious countrymen Oosthuizen and 2011 Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel, who lies on five under through 12 holes which he was three over par for the round.

“The mind-set will be the same. I’m going to hit it one shot at a time. I won’t really call it giving as Charl and Louis a run for their money because I just finished awesomely. It is just fun to be in contention, it doesn’t matter if it is with Charl or Louis,” smiled Kruger.

Otto, a two-time European Tour champion, did not enjoy the benefit of a practice round but was rewarded with a flawless card highlighted by eight birdies.

“I played the course blind yesterday because I was first reserve for the pro-am and was expecting to get into that and use it as my practice round. But it didn’t happen. I walked the course on Wednesday so had an idea but it is obviously a lot different when you come to play it,” said the 35-year-old.

It has been a wild ride for Lipsky, who first topped the Qualifying School in January before breaking out for his maiden professional win in Cambodia. He continued his Asian sojourn with a stunning eagle from 75 yards on the third hole and four other birdies.

“You don’t always get the opportunity to play with these players. I played with Branden Grace and Simon Dyson, both are premier players on the European Tour. It is great to also be competing against Oosthuizen and Schwartzel. It is everything I dreamt of as a little kid … to be competing against the best in the world. I’m loving this opportunity,” said Lipsky.

Kaymer, the highest ranked player in the field, charged into contention with six birdies on the card. “I played really well and gave myself a lot of birdie chances. I had a good eagle chance on three and felt like a hit a lot of good putts but maybe just over-read the greens. I feel good about the game and if I can make a few more putts I feel I can really get into the tournament,” said the German, winner of the 2010 PGA Championship.

Randhawa failed to reproduce Thursday’s fireworks as he settled for a battling 72, which included two birdies against as many bogeys. The Indian, an eight-time winner but not since 2009, conceded he got ahead of himself in his bid to end his title drought.

“I was a little anxious, trying to make putts, trying to hit shots. Wasn’t committed and wasn’t focused to what I needed to do and play. I was more focused on the result and scoring. I had a few opportunities and had a few misses. Probably I was over anxious trying to make a score,” he said.

“The swing was a bit patchy. Best thing is that I know what I need to do. But I need to do it under pressure. I need to stay behind the ball. I have a tendency to move ahead of the ball. I need to be more centred and balanced. It’s a very old habit and I guess old habits die hard,” added Randhawa.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,967

135 Hennie OTTO (RSA) 71-64, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 70-65.

137 David LIPSKY (USA) 70-67, Martin KAYMER (GER) 70-67.

138 Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 66-72, Danny WILLETT (ENG) 69-69.

139 Simon DYSON (ENG) 69-70, Ricardo GONZALEZ (ARG) 68-71.

140 Tom LEWIS (ENG) 70-70, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 72-68, Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 72-68, Victor DUBUISSON (FRA) 72-68.

141 Stephen LEWTON (ENG) 70-71, Julien QUESNE (FRA) 69-72, Scott HEND (AUS) 70-71, Branden GRACE (RSA) 69-72, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 70-71, Ignacio GARRIDO (ESP) 71-70.

142 Matteo MANASSERO (ITA) 70-72, Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) 73-69, Peter KARMIS (RSA) 72-70, Gaurav GHEI (IND) 68-74.

SCOTS' SCORES
Seven under par (for tournament) after 11 Stephen Gallacher.
Four under par after 7 Scott Jamieson
Level par after 7 Alastair Forsyth

PROJECTED CUT: Level par or better to qualify
One over par after 10 David Drysdale (T70))
Five over par after 7 Ross Bain (T112)

154 George Murray 75-79

FINAL ROUND SCORES FROM OPTICAL EXPRESS PGA TOUR OPENER

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TEE TIMES FOR MID-AM STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP OF SCOTLAND

DUNDONALD LINKS, AYRSHIRE - FRIDAY, APRIL 20 - 36 HOLES IN ONE DAY  There is room for five late entries Contact organiser Jason Morris on 07891 766102  10th Tee AM / 1st Tee PM
Time	Name		Club	H/C
8.00	Pete	Stamps	Burton-On-Trent	12
	Mike	Page	Dun Whinny	12
13.15	Peter	Miller	Dundonald Links	9
8.08	James	McKenzie	Glasgw Gailes	9
	Derek	Riddell	Glenbervie	9
13.23	Stephen	Higgins	West Kilbride	9
8.16	Alistair	Serrels	Royal Montrose	1
	Iain	Kirkham	Rowallan Castle	4
13.31	William	Lee	Leven Thistle	3
8.24	Stephen	Manchester	Hart Common	6
	Olivier	Jacquin	St Cyprien	5
13.39	Richard	Wileman	Notts	6
8.32	Graham	Smith	Drumpellier	2
	Adam	Wells	Wentworth	6
13.47	Andrew	Turner	Wentworth	5
8.40	William	Ferguson	Drumpellier	3
	Barry	Mitchell	Murcar Links	4
13.55	Christopher	Marriott	Cranleigh	4
8.48	Kenny	Milliken	Troon St Meddans	2
	Iain	Fraser	Troon St Meddans	2
14.03	Paul	Denim	Loudoun	2
8.56	Len	Grindrod	Cawder	1
	Iain	Wilson	Marriott Dalmahoy	1
14.11	Kenneth	Fairbrother	Cochrane Castle	1
9.04	James	Bunch	Prestwick	-2
	Paul	Moultrie	Royal Troon	-2
14.19	Jean Charles	Gouvernaire	Saint Cyprien	-1
9.12	Stuart	Black	Cathcart Castle	0
	John	Yuille	Royal Burgess	0
14.27	J. Richard	Johnston	Glenbervie	0
9.20	Martin	McCrory	Cathkin Braes	1
	Michael	Wilson	West Lothian	-1
14.35	Wayne	Crick	Oakdale	0
1st Tee AM / 10th Tee PM
Time	Name		Club	H/C
8.00	Dean	Elliott	Ellesborough	5
	Geoff	Bray	Chestfield	12
13.15	Jason	Morris	Deangate	1
8.08	Kevin	Nisbet	Ballochmyle	8
	Andy	Brown	Vale of Llangollen	8
13.23	David	Morrans	Torphin Hill	8
8.16	Mike	Hall	Stirling	5
	Jim	Schiavone	Lundin	7
13.31	Alan	Lee	Leven Thistle	6
8.24	Fraser	Thomson	East Kilbride	6
	Benjamin	Ellison	Gog Magog	5
13.39	Derek	Bryson	New Cumnock	5
8.32	Soulaiman	Berrada	Miramas	4
	Christian	Bedes	St Cyprien	4
13.47	Nigel	Moxon	Congleton	6
8.40	Steve	Whitby	Mere	8
	Darren	Kilfara	Dunbar	4
13.55	Scott	Cochran	Windyhill	5
8.48	Bryn	Largue	Ulverston	6
	Gary	Cochran	Irvine Ravenspark	3
14.03	Christopher	McKellor	Ulverston	3
8.56	Martin	Crook	Great Barr	2
	George	Higgins	West Kilbride	2
14.11	Neil	Elborn	City of Newcastle	2
9.04	John	Lorimer	Gog Magog	2
	Chris	Fitt	Gog Magog	2
14.19	Jody	Greenall	Brampton Park	-2
9.12	John	Fowler	Hayston	1
	Steve	Creed	Maxstoke Park	1
14.27	Thierry	Lambert	Saint Germain	2
9.20	James	Bishop	Little Aston	0
	Paul	Tatlow	Chevin	0
14.35	Fraser	McCall	Troon Portland	0