SENIOR MOMENTS AS PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT RUNS LATE

One of GB&I's Walker Cup heroes at Balgownie last September, rookie pro Jack Senior (pictured) from Lancashire holds a one-shot lead on seven under par after a weather-affected second-day of the PGA EuroPro Tour's  BGC British Masters at Lingfield Park, Surrey. Heavy rain waterlogging parts of the course delayed the start of Round Two but play eventually got underway at 2:15pm. With almost six hours lost to the weather the decision was made to take the cut using the scores after Round One and proceed with the top 50 and ties playing the final 36 holes. This was to give the tournament the best possible chance of being concluded through 54 holes. Players who had carded one over par 72 or better made the cut, equating to 58 golfers. Scots who missed the early cut were Craigielaw's Shaun McAllister (73), Ellon's Ross Cameron (73), Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) (73) and Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) (82). Not all players were able to complete their second rounds so will be out at 8am on Friday to complete the round. Senior birdied the third, eighth, ninth and 11th to card four under through 11 on his second round, leaving him seven under for the tournament with seven holes to play on Friday morning. Wallace Booth (Comrie) and John Gallagher (Swanston) are among those  on four under through 11 and sharing fifth place. Cawder's Chris Kelly is level par after 11 holes. John Henry (Clydebank&Dist) is one over par after 11 while Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), tied for fifth place with two holes to play on Wednesday evening, is now well down the field on two over after 11. Scots' completed second-rounds: 142 Paul Doherty 72 70. 147 Myles Cunningham 72 74. 148 Ed Wood 71 77.

+Later information: We understand that the EuroPro site has not caught up with Wallace Booth's latest position overnight. The Comrie man is seven under par after 15 holes of his second round, having earlier birdied five holes in a row - the third to the seventh.

IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER FOR PAUL LAWRIE IN SPAIN ... MISSED CONNECTION, SEVEN-HOUR WAIT, NO LUGGAGE ... AND A 78

 PAUL LAWRIE looks as if he's driving off the beach in Spain but actually that's a billboard advertisement behind him, promoting Spanish holidays.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Spain has been good to Paul Lawrie in terms of winning on the European Tour but this week's trip has been a nightmare for the Aberdonian, culminating in a first-round, six-over-par 78 - his worst score for ages.
Here's how Paul has been telling about his trials and tribulations (on his website)

Mon 30th April

Today has been great fun!   4.30am alarm to catch the 6.40am flight to Heathrow then onto Madrid.   I missed the connection to Seville by 15mins, next flight 7 hours later aarrgghhh!! The joys of travel eh?
PS My suitcase never arrived! They had 7 hours and still it doesn't arrive..........BA/Iberia business class typical, awful service!!

Wed 2nd May

I still have no luggage and with yesterday being a Spanish holiday all the shops were shut but luckily I got some shirts from the Wilson truck and some shoes from Footjoy.   I managed to buy a slipover and a pair of trousers from the pro shop.   I also got a pair of boxers from Stephen Gallacher but it's a nightmare when your luggage is missing.  
I played the pro am this morning. The course is very good again as it was two years ago.   The rough is severe, so hitting fairways will be important this week.   I'm off to El Corte Englise now to buy some bits and pieces as there's no sgin of my case showing up.
player of all time!

Thursday 3rd May
Terrible weather + terrible ball striking + terrible putting = 78 terrible score!
But there's always tomorrow folks.

PAUL LAWRIE

FORMER US PGA CHAMPION MICHEEL SETS PACE IN SPAIN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

A brilliant five under par 67 saw former US PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel move into a one shot lead after the opening round of the Reale Seguros Open de España today.
The 43-year-old American, who triumphed at Oak Hill nine years ago to become a Major champion, carded eight birdies and three bogeys in more benign afternoon conditions at Reale Club de Golf de Sevilla.
That gave him a one-shot lead over the English trio of Matthew Baldwin, Robert Rock and Danny Willett, with Jorge Campillo leading the home challenge in fifth on three under par.
Italian Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari was the best of the morning starters, who had to contend with strong winds and heavy rain, as he signed for a two under par 70, which was matched in the afternoon by his compatriot Matteo Manassero.
Micheel turned in 33, struck his approach at the 13th to three feet, holed a five footer at the 15th and two-putted the long 16th from 25 feet to reach six under par.
But he came unstuck at the last, finding sand from the tee, hitting his approach into another bunker and two-putting for bogey.
“I didn’t expect this,” said Micheel. “Yesterday in the the pro-am I didn't make any birdies, and it wasn't for lack of effort, I can assure you. “I had a terrific start with four birdies on my first six holes. I think the key was I kept the ball in play, made a couple of nice putts, and I made all my short putts.
“My iron play was good and I just managed myself well and gave myself a lot of opportunities.
“Outside my bogey in the last, I’m extremely pleased. I made 8 birdies, it felt great, it really did. I’m ready to play tomorrow in the same conditions, I do enjoy playing in difficult conditions.”
Rock, conqueror of Tiger Woods and world top three Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood in Abu Dhabi in January, eagled the 13th and 16th on his return to action after more than a month off.
That break came after his failed attempt to climb into the Official World Golf Ranking's top 50 in time for the Masters Tournament, but it is the leading 60 who qualify for next month's US Open Championship and he is currently 60th.
Campillo, like Baldwin a graduate from The Challenge Tour last season, led the 30-strong home contingent on the 100th anniversary of the first staging of the tournament.“I feel great playing this good,” he said. “The course is playing tough and I managed to make no bogeys, so I’m very happy with the way I played today.”
Big-hitting Alvaro Quiros, winner on the course two years ago, shot 73 and 48 year old Miguel Angel Jiménez, yet to win his national title, had a 75.
Molinari was pleased with his efforts in the worst of the weather.
“I’m very happy, it was as tough as it can get,” said the 29 year old. “The rough is just brutal, and the wind and rain make it hard to keep the ball on the fairway, but I played very well.
“This course should favour straight players like me, but when you show up on the first tee you never know what’s going to happen.
“My game was really good today, and hopefully it will be the same for the next three days and I’m sure I will have a chance to win this tournament on Sunday.”

LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 Shaun Micheel (US)
68 Robert Rock (England), Jorge Campillo (Spain), Danny Willett (England).
69 Matthew Baldwin (England).
70 Francesco Molinari (Italy), Matteo Manassero (Italy), Gary Orr (Scotland), Sam Hutsby (England), Rafael Cabrero-Bello (Spain), Graeme Storm (England).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
71 Craig Lee (T12).
72 Marc Warren (T22).
73 Richie Ramsay (T37)
74 George Murray, Peter Whiteford (T620
76 Steven O'Hara, Colin Montgomerie (T104).
77 Stephen Gallacher (T117).
78 Paul Lawrie, Scott Jamieson (T139).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEANN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association

Week ending 29 April 2012

1 D N Watson (Kirkcaldy) 875 pts

2 N Jones (Scoonie) 850

3 P Taylor (Kirkcaldy) 837.5

4 G J Walker (Kirkcaldy) 825

5 J Haddow (Scoonie) 895.83

T6 H W Penman (Scoonie) 791.67

T6 R Stenhouse (Scoonie) 791.67

8 D Morton (Kirkcaldy) 775

9 AS Gove (Kirkcaldy) 761.67

10 A Jones (Kirkcaldy) 758.33
11 J Stenhouse junior (Scoonie) 754.17
12 J G Mitchell (Lochgelly) 750
13 A Hodge (Earlsferry Th) 741.67
14 D Waddell (Kirkcaldy) 733.33
15 G Walker (Earlsferry Th) 725
16 R Thomson (St Andrews) 719.5
T17 C Dickson (Lochgelly) 716.67
T17 J Henderson (Ladybank) 716.67
T19 S Johnston (Scoonie) 700
T19 R Kemp (Cupar) 700
T19 M Rooney (Lundin) 700.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and Lothians ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

TORRANCE COURSE TO STAGE GLENGOYNE AULD ENEMY DIAMOND JUBILEE GOLF DAY

Rhodri Price (R&A), Alan Lawson (former Scotland scrum-half), Sgt Craig Williamson (1 Scots), Neil Boyd (Glengoyne) and Gavin Hastings (former Scotland full-back) launch The Glengoyne Auld Enemy Diamond Jubilee Golf Day at Fairmont St Andrews

NEWS RELEASE
A new golf event being held at St Andrews this summer is offering club golfers and corporate golfers the chance to experience one of sport's biggest rivalries - Scotland versus England.
The Glengoyne Auld Enemy Diamond Jubilee Golf Day is being held at Fairmont St Andrews on Friday, August 24, when the Torrance Course at the Fife resort will stage an intriguing tussle between the two countries.
It follows the success of The Glengoyne Auld Enemy Dinner, a star-studded affair which was staged in Edinburgh on the eve of this year's Calcutta Cup clash to support Help for Heroes and the Bill McLaren Foundation.The golf event, which will also support Help for Heroes, will involve 80 players competing over one of Scotland's top courses in a bid to earn the fairway bragging rights for their respective countries.
Places are open to the general golfing public and organisers are hoping the event will prove particularly appealing to the corporate world.
As an added attraction, competitors will all be able to enjoy the 'Taylormade Tour Experience' thanks to the event's official partner.
The leading club manufacturer is bringing its state-of-the-art Tour truck along for a once-in-a-lifetime chance  to experience the same service world stars like Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Retief Goosen receive on Tour.
The event also includes a Gala Dinner, where Andrew Cotter, the rising star of the BBC's sports commentary team, will act as MC and conduct an auction featuring some fantastic items.
Neil Boyd, Commercial Director at Ian Macleod Distillers, commented: "Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky is proud to be the official sponsor of The Glengoyne Jubilee Auld Enemy Charity Golf Day"
Glengoyne recognises and celebrates the passion that is synonymous with the great Auld Enemy rivalry, which lends itself to this sporting charity event and, following the huge success of the pre-Calcutta Cup Glengoyne Auld Enemy Dinner, we are delighted to extend our sponsorship of the Auld Enemy concept further.
"Glengoyne is equally proud to support Help for Heroes through sales of our limited edition 'Auld Enemy Dram'.  H4H is an excellent charity, which are perfect partners for the great occasion."
The event, which is being organised by former Scotland forward Stuart Reid for 1879 Events Limited, has already received support from another former Scotland rugby star, Gavin Hastings, who loved facing England in his playing days and is licking his lips at the prospect of a new challenge against the Auld Enemy.
"The Glengoyne Auld Enemy Diamond Jubilee Golf Day is a great idea," said the single-figure player at Gullane. "For starters, it will generate good-natured rivalry and that's what it is all about.
"Fairmont St Andrews is also a great venue what with the Torrance Course, the clubhouse with its fabulous view towards the Auld Grey Toun and, of course, a top-class hotel."
Hastings will be in the Scotland team on August 24 and is hoping he'll come up against some of his old rugby foes from south of the Border.
Major Tim Grantham, the Help for Heroes volunteer co-ordinator for Fife, said: "We were delighted with the success of the Glengoyne Auld Enemy Dinner and are now indebted to both Stuart Reid of 1879 Events and Glengoyne for coming up with the idea of The Glengoyne Auld Enemy Diamond Jubilee Golf Day.
"We are always amazed with the generosity of celebrities and businesses to Help for Heroes as the brand has grown since 2007. It is a fabulous charity and often deals with important issues that people don't want to talk about."
The cost of a four ball is £900 and includes a place at the gala dinner.
 For full details visit www.1879eventsltd.com or email info1879@btinternet.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT STUART REID, OF 1879 EVENTS LTD, ON 07710 186563

FORMER ABERDEEN STUDENT OPENS CITY'S BIGGEST GOLF RETAIL STORE IN MARKET STREET

Graeme Masterton, the 27-year-old who set up Gamola Golf to pay his way through university, in the Market Street retail golf store which opens tomorrow (Friday).


 £1.5million Market St development a golfer's paradise

NEWS RELEASE

Aberdeen can now boast one of Scotland's largest golf retail stores with the first Gamola Golf outlet opening in the city tomorrow (Friday, May 4).

The £1.5m Market Street development offers a new sporting experience with a 4,000 sq ft retail space as well as a custom-fit club and coaching area. The store will be open from 9am to 7pm during the week, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

Tomorrow’s opening will be followed in July by the launch of a series of additional features at the complex, including virtual golf simulators, a bar, restaurant and live sport in The Locker Room.

Gamola Golf is situated in the former International Casino, a stunning granite building on the corner of Market Street and Virginia Street, and will employ 25 people in total. The premises also house the company’s online golf business, which has flourished throughout the UK in recent years.

The new store will stock clubs, all golf accessories and a wide range of clothing brands. Graeme Masterton, 27, owner of Gamola Golf, said: “Our aim is to create a new experience for golfers, somewhere where they can shop, eat, drink and play.

“We’re delighted to be opening the store – featuring a high-specification finish with wide open spaces – as a prelude to the unveiling of the entire complex in the summer. 

“Aberdeen has always been a golf-mad area, but with the addition of the Donald Trump course and the prospect of other top-class courses being built it’s only likely to become even more popular.

“It’s early days yet, but if things go well we may look to open another store in Scotland at some stage.”

The ground floor with its arched entrance on Market Street is the location for the retail outlet that stocks top-class brands including TaylorMade, Titleist, Mizuno and Callaway to name a few. Gamola had to put in a ceiling to create this space.

 It also houses a state-of-the-art demo and custom-fit area, where golfers can pop in for lessons and have their clubs fitted to ensure maximum success on the golf course. The first floor also houses Gamola Golf’s successful online business, which started in 2005 and was previously based at Portlethen.

The Locker Room is a place to eat, drink and play after an afternoon’s shopping, or a corporate event location, or an evening meeting place to watch sporting events on TV with friends. The restaurant will have seating for 50 diners as well as a bar area.

Graeme, originally from Stonehaven and now living in Aberdeen, set up Gamola Golf to pay his way through an electrical engineering degree at Robert Gordon University. A self-confessed golf fanatic, Graeme decided to turn Gamola into his full-time job after gaining his degree.

Gamola Golf, which is an independent Aberdeen-based business, is located (pictured above) at 47-53 Market Street, next to The Aberdeen Douglas Hotel and near the Union Square Shopping Centre. Its website is http://www.gamolagolf.co.uk/

James Donaldson

PR Director

Engage PR

M 07894 991537

E  james@engagepr.co.uk

RORY McILROY SEARCHING FOR A BALANCE BETWEEN LIFE ON AND OFF THE GOLF COURSE

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By James Corrigan, Charlotte, North Carolina

If golf is all about finding that perfect balance, then so, too, Rory McIlroy believes, is a major champion's life. Over the next month, the young Northern Irishman will attempt to prove his existence is as rhythmic as his swing.

Today’s first round of the Wells Fargo Championship, in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be McIlroy’s fifth competitive round in 53 days. Barack Obama has been pictured more on the course recently than McIlroy.

The break has been taken, the work has been done and with his defence of the US Open in just six weeks’ time, McIlroy is plainly ready to roll. Far from undercooked, McIlroy claims to be smoking.

Certainly, he has cut a radically different figure here these past few days to the pre-Masters favourite who skulked away from Augusta last month.

On that final day he played with his friend Graeme McDowell who opined: “Rory couldn’t wait to get out of the state of Georgia.” In contrast, this neighbouring state has witnessed McIlroy’s old skip and jump.

There are reasons for his geniality, he said on Wednesday, not least the resumption of the profession for which he was born on the Quail Hollow layout where his American dream was born.

But there was something more substantive about his mood, something we observers perhaps have not seen in his eyes since his return from an ambassadorial trip to Haiti last year with the children’s charity Unicef. At this stage perhaps it is allowable to wonder if a boy from Tennessee will effect the same response as Haiti.

Of course, it is not a factor for McIlroy involvement, but he evidently enjoys perspective; it is what he claims helped him to his major breakthrough 12 months ago. Those days on the earthquake-ravaged island forced him to forget his Masters meltdown and steeled his focus.
It is all too easy to be cynical about the philanthropic work of multimillionaires; yet to see McIlroy here on Tuesday filming an advert for the St Jude Children’s Hospital was to witness an idol in his element. This was not corporate – this was genuine.
Dawson is seven years-old and is halfway through a three-year course of chemotherapy at the Memphis centre. Chosen to appear alongside the gold-medallist snowboarder Shaun White and McIlroy, Dawson made a big impression on McIlroy. The connection was immediate.
(Picture above of Rory McIlroy and seven-year-old Dawson is from the Daily Telegraph website).
Dawson’s mother tried to straighten his collar and was duly berated by both. “Don’t, mum,” said the boy. “Yeah, come on mum,” ribbed the golfer. “You’re embarrassing him.” The pair giggled themselves silly.
McIlroy was still uplifted about the meeting on Wednesday. “Dawson is unbelievable. To see some go through what he is and have all this positivity coming out of him . . . it’s inspiring,” said McIlroy. “It’s his actions, his smile. The director told him ‘Dawson, if you forget your lines, we’ve got a teleprompter’. And Dawson goes, ‘I don’t know how to read’.
“He had memorised his lines for the last week and was brilliant. He was more of a pro than I was.”
McIlroy’s bond with children is obvious. No doubt it is an age thing, but they do not demand anything from him other than his presence. Everybody else wants a larger slice; America particularly. It is a gauge of his ever-growing fame Stateside that White turned down famous pop stars and actors to be his co-star. McIlroy was his choice.
“Shaun knew everything about Rors,” said his manager, Conor Ridge, who also revealed that McIlroy would be making another Unicef trip near the end of the year.
Granted this desire to stay grounded is counter to his celebrity, as well as to his celebrity lifestyle. In his weeks away from the game, he has met the Queen at Newbury races and been pictured at other star-studded events with his girlfriend, the world No  6 tennis player, Caroline Wozniacki.
Inevitably, the whispers have arrived of a fading appetite. After all, his recent schedule has made that of Tiger Woods seem bursting.
“I know I’ve been criticised for not playing as much as the other guys leading into these weeks, but basically I don’t want to be burned out by the time I’m 30,” he told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.
Ridge concurred. “At his age, it’s important he gets away from the game,” he said.
“Rory didn’t pick up a club for two weeks after the Masters and told me that in this time ‘D’you know, I actually forgot I was a golfer’? Other players struggle to do that. Rory can just switch off.”
Yet, as McIlroy acknowledges, there is a harmony to be struck. Critics should back off. He is young — 23 on Friday – and is still searching. “This year I’m going to play 23 events, last year was more like 30,” he said. “I don’t want to be stale. I’m trying to find the perfect balance between golf and having a normal life.
"I don’t know if people will be surprised to see this — but I have a lot more going on in my life than golf. Caroline and I both travel a lot and it’s important we find time to do the things we want to do.”
Hence the extended absence from the fairways. Yet now he is back after a week’s hard graft with his long-time coach, Bangor GC pro  Michael Bannon, and the fitness adviser, Steve McGregor. “I’ve really got at it and am glad to back. Not just back on the course, but on this course, where I won my first American title.
"That final-round 62, having been four back, was probably the best of my career so far. It gave me the confidence to know that if I came over here a bit more I did have good chances of winning American tournaments.”
A repeat victory would mean McIlroy replaces Donald as world No 1 again for the third time in two months. It is a topsy-turvy battle which reflects the power struggle within the game.
With Woods, Phil Mickelson and the world No 3, Lee Westwood, in a world-class field, McIlroy senses the opportunity to create daylight. His confidence definitely suggested he would not be content with merely the top-seven placing he needs to displace the Englishman.
“I think there will be a firm No 1 by the end of the year” he said. “Who will that be? I hope you are looking at him.” Not a teleprompter in sight.

Since playing in the Masters, McIlroy has risen and fallen from the world No 1 spot, despite his inactivity.
Donald, who lost the berth after a poor finish at the Canadian Open in the week following the season’s first major, reclaimed the mantle with a top-three performance in New Orleans last Sunday.
With the Englishman having the week off, McIlroy can return to the summit with a top-seven placing this week – providing Lee Westwood does not win. Then McIlroy would need a top-six finish to keep Westwood off the top.