ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT PENNANT LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL

TUESDAY RESULTS

NIGG BAY 3 1/2, HAZLEHEAD 1 1/2

Nigg Bay names first
R L Nielsen and Steve Jamieson lost to Scott Robertson and Adam Stirton 2 and 1.
Ian Welsh and Ryan Forbes halved with A K MacGregor and Kevin Walker.
Ross Young and Steven Caie bt Alan Mackin and Malcolm Allan 2 and 1.
Gordon Grimmer and Zac Wood bt Scott Mann and Doug Elrick 2 and 1
Gary Stewart and Steve Bennett bt Laurence Prouse and Jordon Laing 4 and 2.

NORTHERN  1/2, BON ACCORD 4 1/2

Northern names first:
David Nicholson and David Leslie lost to Barrie Edmond and Mark Greig 3 and 2.
Willie West and Liam Minty halved with Mat Greig and Graeme Somers.
Gary Horne and David Mair lost to Neil Mitchell and David Grieve 3 and 2.
George Paterson and Cameron Johnstone lost to Alan Shand and Bill Smith 3 and 2.
Cameron McBain and David Leighton lost to Mathew Dunn and Ross Allerton 4 and 3.

DEESIDE 4 1/2, BANCHORY 1/2

Deeside names first
D Halliday and A G Ross halved with Adam Lindsay and Lee Morrice.
Ron Evett and Craig Lawrie bt Innes Miller and D Brand 5 and 4.
J Pryde and M Vass bt R Black and S Strachan 2 and 1.
T D Rennie and A B Hutchison bt R Gray and M Gordon 6 and 5.
G Rennie and A Jarvie bt Lindsay Smart and C Lindsay 4 and 2.

Looking for Peterculter v Caledonian and Newmachar v Murcar Links results.

Results can be E-mailed to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

   

     BOOK AN EVENING MEAL - MAKE A ROOM RESERVATION

FREE WIFI

    TELEPHONE 01224 867632

    CULTS HOTEL, to the west of Aberdeen, on the North Deeside Road

COUPLES AND PRICE NAMED AS 2013 PRESIDENTS CUP CAPTAINS

NEWS RELEASE
DUBLIN, Ohio -- At a press conference today at Muirfield Village Golf Club, site of this week's Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance and next year's Presidents Cup, US PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem announced that Fred Couples and Nick Price will serve as captains of the U.S. and International Teams, respectively, for The Presidents Cup 2013 in Dublin, Ohio.
Couples, a winner of the Memorial Tournament in 1998 and in the field this week as a sponsor's exemption, joined Finchem in the media centre for the announcement, as did Price, a World Golf Hall of Fame member.

RELATED

2013 Presidents Cup
Like on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
React: Couples, Price

The Presidents Cup 2013 will be held during the week Septenber 30 to October 6 when the biennial competition returns to the United States and Muirfield Village Golf Club becomes the third U.S. golf course to host the prestigious match-play competition, joining Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virigina (1994, 1996, 2000) and Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, California (2009).
Muirfield Village is the first club in the world to host three of golf's most prestigious international team competitions -- The Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. The Americans currently hold a 7-1-1 record in the competition, with Couples leading the U.S. Team to victory in 2009 and 2011.
"Fred Couples and Nick Price will both bring a wealth of enthusiasm and experience to their respective teams for The Presidents Cup 2013, which will only serve to continue the momentum and success of the past nine events," said Finchem.
"Fred's 2-0 record as captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup Team in 2009 and 2011 speaks for itself. He is one of the most charismatic and popular players in Tour history, and that personality has translated into similar success and popularity as captain.
"Fred deserves to continue his role as captain of the U.S. Team and attempt to win for a third time - a feat that has yet to be accomplished at The Presidents Cup. It's more than fitting that Fred will have the chance to better Jack Nicklaus' 2-1-1 record at Jack's course in 2013.
"And while Nick is a 'rookie' captain, his support and promotion of The Presidents Cup has been second to none since the day the event came into existence, putting him at the top of the list to take on this role in 2013.
"He's often called The Presidents Cup his favorite event, and that is high praise from such a successful, international player who has competed in and won events all around the world. Nick is a quality player and an even higher quality person, as exemplified by a resume that includes the Payne Stewart Award and Ambassador of Golf Award. I'm confident he'll be as popular as a leader of the International Team as he was as a teammate."

Couples

For updates on The Presidents Cup, check http://www.presidentscup.com/, join us on Facebook at and sign up for The Presidents Cup e-newsletter.

TAYLOR-MADE ACE TAKES IAN THRO LADYBANK PLAY-OFF

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge pro Ian Taylor, a Ryder Cup referee, produced a hole in one to get through a play-off at Ladybank GC, Fife today and figure among the 11 qualifiers for the Glenmuir PGA club professional championship at a Cheshire venue in  August. Taylor, a member of the PGA's Rules Panel who officiated at Celtic Manor two years ago, shot a level par 71 alongside Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), Norman Huguet (Musselburgh), Mark Loftus (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) and Richard Valentine (Craigielaw). Off they went in a six-man play-off for the last three qualifiers' places. Taylor produced his trump card, an ace, at the 156yd eighth hole, the second hole of the sudden-death play-off. Valentine and Loftus were eliminated early, leaving PGA Cup player Matheson, Huguet and Lamb to continue their battle for the last two places. Lamb claimed one of them with a birdie at the fourth extra hole and the Matheson v Huguet "match" ended with success for Huguet at the fifth extra hole. The eight qualifiers at the end of regulation play were Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Jonathan Cliff (Murrayfield), Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) on two-under-par 69 plus Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), Kevin Phillips (Winterfield) and Andrew Fullen (Largs) on 70. Those on 69 earned £312 each, those on 70 £62 apiece. The Glenmuir PGA Club Professional Championship, in which the leading players gain selection to the GB and I  team to play their American counterparts in the biennial PGA Cup, will be staged aty De Vere Carden Park from August 7 to 10. FROM THE PGA WEBSITE A new belly putter has hit the right spot for an Edinburgh PGA professional who has qualified for his first Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship. Jonathan Cliff, head pro at Murrayfield Golf Club, was among a quartet topping the Ladybank qualifier with two-under-par 69s in the Peugeot-supported event. Joining the 35-year-old at the top of the leader board were Crow Wood Golf Club's Ian Graham, Robert Arnott from Bishopbriggs Golf Range and West Linton's Gareth Wright who continues his good start to the season following his wire-to-wire victory in the Optical Express 54-hole Order of Merit tournament at Dundonald Links in April. The quartet all earned a place in the championship final at De Vere Carden Park from August 7-10 where they will compete for a £78,000 prize fund. There was a play-off between six players for the last three spots which went to Drumpellier pro Ian Taylor, who aced the 156-yard par three eighth hole to book his place, Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona) and Norman Huguet (Musselburgh). JONCliff (pictured) secured his passage with some straight driving around the demanding Ladybank course which helped yield three birdies but it was a new found confidence on the greens that pleased him most. "I've been playing quite well recently and have just put a new belly putter in the bag that has made me a lot more comfortable," he said. "It's made me feel calmer and more relaxed and rather than worrying about hitting bad putts I am thinking about holing putts which makes a big difference. "Ladybank is a challenging course with small greens and tight fairways. It's one where you have to think your way around so I'm delighted to get through and make it to my first Glenmuir final." Cliff, who three years ago was the top PGA Assistant of the Year, was enjoying a rare foray onto the fairways with much of his time tied up with helping his Edinburgh club develop a thriving membership including younger members. One of the highlights has been nurturing a bustling junior section which now numbers in the region of 220 including 75 aged seven to 11. "We have done it through junior coaching and going out into local schools and opening the junior membership," explained Cliff. "It's good to see, we have tried to build on what has gone before and realise that developing a junior section is key to the future of the club." TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON THE PGA WEBSITE CLICK HERE

ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT MEN'S PENNANT LEAGUE STARTS THIS WEEK

The Aberdeen and District Pennnant League competition, sponsored by the Cults Hotel, North Deeside Road, near Aberdeen, tees off this week.
Below we have listed the scheduled matches for the first two weeks.
Officials of the home clubs, i.e. the teams named first, are asked to E-mail results to Colin@scottishgolfview.com, preferrably on the night the matches are played, and they will be passed on to The Press and Journal and also displayed on this website.

WEEK ONE
Matches to be played on Tuesday or Thursday, May 29 or 31
A Peterculter v Caledonian
A Nigg Bay v Hazlehead
A Newmachar v Murcar Links
B Royal Aberdeen v Auchmill
B Northern v Bon Accord
B Deeside v Banchory

WEEK TWO
Matches to be played on Tuesday or Thursday, June 5 or 7
A Newmachar v Caledonian
A Murcar Links v Hazlehead
A Nigg Bay v Portlethen
B Northern v Stonehaven
B Deeside v Auchmill
B Banchory v Bon Accord
                                       SPONSORED BY

TO VIEW THE CULTS HOTEL WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

CEBTENARY CELEBRATIONS AT DUMFRIES AND COUNTY GOLF CLUB

Dumfries and County Golf Club have just completed a week of Centenary Celebrations.
Picture shows club captain Muir Townsley and lady captain Elaine King dressed in attire from 1912 with clubs to match.
Drinks at the bar were also at 1912 prices (for a short term only I have to say!) No, they did not try the clubs.
A highly successful Centenary Dinner was held at the Cairndale Hotel on Saturday night (May 26), attended by over 260 members and guests and chaired by Norman Blount.
George McNeil and Sandy Strang were the principal speakers, ably supported by Jane Brown

Brian DuguidSecretary
Dumfries and County Golf Club 

IS THERE ANOTHER TOM LEWIS IN THE ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY FIELD THIS YEAR?

NEWS RELEASE

Some of the world’s leading amateur golfers will aim to follow in Tom Lewis’ footsteps by winning the St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf next week. 

The Young Englishman won last year’s event on the way to a memorable year in which he won the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at The Open Championship and won the Portugal Masters in only his third event after turning professional.

The strong international field comprises players from more than 20 different countries but also features a strong local contingent with five players from Fife securing places in the event which takes place from June 8-10 on the New Course and the Old Course. 

Two of the top ten in the World Amateur Golf Rankings will lead the field – Australia’s Jake Higginbottom and last year’s joint runner-up Daan Huizing from the Netherlands. The 18 year old won the Riversdale Cup in February to follow up on three wins last year and a creditable sixth place finish in the Asian Amateur Championship. Huizing is the man in form after an 11 shot victory at the Lytham Trophy earlier this month. The win followed on from the remarkable six victories the 20 year old racked up last year.

Another of last year’s St Andrews Links Trophy runners-up, Wales’ Rhys Enoch, will again be bidding for the trophy along with Ben Campbell from New Zealand and Franco Romero from Argentina who were among three players tied for sixth in 2011. The 2009 winner and Walker Cup player Alan Dunbar from Ireland will also be making a challenge. 

Leading the local charge will be James White from Lundin and Brian Soutar from Leven, who both finished ten shots back from Lewis last year, Scott Crichton from Aberdour, Ewan Scott and Brian Young from St Andrews.

The St Andrews Links Trophy is sponsored by Allianz, the global partner of St Andrews Links Trust. The 72-hole event is one of the highest ranked events of the amateur season in the UK and features a 144 man field. The cut-off for entry was +2.9.

John Grant, Director of Golf at St Andrews Links Trust, said, “The St Andrews Links Trophy is one of the big events on the amateur golfing calendar and it attracts entries from throughout the world. It was a big part of Tom Lewis’ fantastic achievements last year and it will be interesting to see if another future star emerges this year.”

Live scoring from the 2012 St Andrews Links Trophy will be available at www.standrews.org.uk.

PAUL LAWRIE RISE TO WORLD No 29: WHAT THE PAPERS ARE SAYING

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The sports pages are full of Paul Lawrie news and features these days - reflecting just how much his golf career has "taken off" again in his 40s.
Here are some excerpts from today's morning papers:

ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL
Interview by Paul Third

Paul Lawrie believes the death of his coach, Adam Hunter, was the catalyst for his remarkable renaissance in golf.
The 1999 Open champion, who has equalled the best form of his career by climbing to No 29 in the world pro rankings, said:
"Adam Hunter, rest his soul, used to shout and bawl at me like crazy as I hit too many balls and worked on so many things instead of sticking to what I was good at.
"He was of the belief I should play a bit more and stick to things I had in my swing. I never saw it.
"It took for him to leave us for me to reassess and realise maybe I did have to focus on playing more and acceptinhg my swing being the way it was. The biggest change I've made has been coming home and playing golf rather than hitting balls.
"I used to hit balls and constantly work on my swing but I'm at a point in life where my boys want want to go and play the game rather than hit balls so I go with them.
"It's amazing how it is all coming together for me now at the age of 43 as I would have expected it to come after I won the Open in 1999. To wait 13 years is strange but I'm not going to knock it.
"I'm in the form of my life without question. I've not been working on any technical stuff and by keeping it simple I'm playin lovely. I've been seeing Andrew Locke out at Inchmarlo, really only to check everything is fine."

SCOTTISH DAILY EXPRESS
By MARK GARROD
Former Open champion Paul Lawrie's dream of a return to the Ryder Cup after 13 years is almost a reality.
According to captain Jose Maria Olazabal, the 43-year-old Scot, now up to second in the Ryder Cup qualifying points standings behind Rory McIlroy, is "pretty much in" after finish joint runner-up to Luke Donald and earning more than £312,000 in the BMW GA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday.
And while others may have raised their eyeborws about Lawrie deciding not to enter next month's US Open - Paul thinks he is better served staying in Europe to pick up more cup points - Olazabal sees one big positive in that.
"It says a lot about what Paul thinks of the Ryder Cup, how important it is to him.
Lawrie said: "The big priority and the big goal for me is to get back in the Ryder Cup team. I feel the US Open is not a venue that's ever suited my game."

SCOTTISH DAILY EXPRESS
By JOCK MacVICAR
Bernhard Gallacher believes Paul Lawrie's elevation to genuine world status is partly due to the fact that, at last, he is thinking of himself a bit more rather than others.
"When Paul won the Open, he felt he had a responsibility to the game rather than himself," said Gallacher.
"He's done great things for Scottish golf and sport in general but time marches on. He should have been thinking more of himself and I'm pleased he is doing that now because he is so good.
"I think Paul knows now that he should have played in more Ryder Cups and won more tournaments.
"After Luke Donald, the second most impressive player on the final day at Wentworth was undoubtedly Paul Lawrie. Take the last hole. He smashed his drive to the perfect position. The flag was in a dangerous position close to the water but Paul went straight at it and was right over the flag."
Gallacher also believes that Lawrie has it in him to win another Major.
"It is not inconceivable  When the going gets tough Paul can hit the shots required. He was angry at himself after throwing away his semi-final in the World match-play the previosj week and that was a good sign. He's right up there with the best of them in terms of method and he's also putting well at the moment. He's got the total game."

THE SCOTSMAN
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Bernard Gallacher has urged Paul Lawrie, Scotland’s top-ranked golfer for the first time in his career, to reconsider a decision to skip the forthcoming US Open, claiming the on-form Aberdonian is set to miss out on a genuine chance of winning a second major.
The 43-year-old Aberdonian, who has climbed 11 places in the world rankings to a career-best 29th on the back of his second-place finish behind Luke Donald in the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday, has said for some time now that he would not be travelling to the Olympic Club in San Francisco for the second major of the season.
He believes that US Open courses don’t necessarily suit his game and, moreover, reckons he will have a better chance of making the European Ryder Cup team later in the year if he stays at home in a fortnight’s time to prepare for an important run of events on this side of the Atlantic, starting with the BMW International Open in Germany.
Bernard Gallacher, the winning Ryder Cup captain at Oak Hill in 1995, reckons Lawrie  should be heading to California.
“Paul should re-consider because his game is good enough to win it,” he told The Scotsman. “The players were talking about Wentworth having a US Open feel to it, due to it being bouncy and, apart from Luke Donald, no-one coped better than Paul. It has nothing to do with me, but I would implore Paul to think again as he might regret his decision later.
“I can see why some players might look at a trip to California upsetting their schedule, but I genuinely believe he has the game to win the US Open and he proved that at Wentworth.
“At 63, I still feel regret about not getting the chance to play in a US Open. Even though I was playing in Ryder Cups and winning in Europe, I never managed to qualify.”
“I think he will be in the team and he may already have done enough to secure an automatic spot. It’s going to take a few people to do really well over the next few months, not just one or two, to deny him,” added Gallacher. “He’s certainly good enough to be on the team again as he’s right behind Luke Donald in terms of his game at the moment.

PAUL LAWRIE WORLD RANKING

JULY 1999  (week before Open at Carnoustie) … 159^th.

JULY 1999 (week after Open win ……………… 48^th

MARCH 6, 2000 (after jt 4^th  in Dubai Desert Classic)  40^th

MARCH 13, 2000 (while resting at home) ………. 38^th

JUNE 26, 2000 ……………………………………  30^th

July 18, 2000 (week of Open title defence) ………  29^th

July 25, 2000 (week after Open title defence)……  57^th

January 1, 2011 ………………………………….. 272nd

May 28, 2012 …………………………………….  29th

2012 FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION BOYS ORDER OF MERIT

 sponsored by www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

Positions after five events:
1 Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 270 points
2 Greg Forrester (Lundin) 220
3 Ryan Walsh (Kirkcaldy) 210
4 Ryan Brown (Dunfermline) 130
5 Alisdair McDougall (St Andrews New) 100
T6 D Neilson (Aberdour) 73
T6 Kyle Ritchie (Leven Thistle) 73
T6 Robbie Spriddle (Dunfermline) 73
T6 D Stewart (Lochgelly) 73.


The next counting event for the 2012 FIFE BOYS ORDER OF MERIT is the SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP at MURRAYSHALL on June 11.

GOOD NEWS FOR AUSSIE LYLE: CANCER NOW IN REMISSION

 FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIASIA WEBSITE

Good news emerged for Jarrod Lyle last week when it was announced his cancer is now in remission, clearing the way for the Australian golfer to receive a bone marrow transplant as early as this week.
Lyle, pictured, who was diagnosed at the age of 17 with leukaemia, was told in March the cancer had returned just days before his daughter was born.
The popular US PGA Tour player has been overwhelmed by the support shown by his US Tour colleagues and was due to be interviewed live on the popular American Golf Channel show Morning Drive.
Network Ten golf commentator Luke Elvy, who is guest co-hosting the episode of the Morning Drive show, said Lyle seemed in good spirits and was keen to thank players for their support.
"It's moved him almost to tears to be honest," Elvy told Golf Channel correspondent Ryan Ballangee.
"He's been just so touched by the way the tour has got behind him and understands his fight right now."
Most players on the Tour, including Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler, have taken to wearing Leuk the Duck pins on their hats each week.
The duck is the mascot for cancer charity Challenge and is worn as a sign of support for Lyle.
American fans have also got behind Lyle with player Kris Blanks posting this photo on Twitter last week from Colonial Country Club, site of the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS ENTRY ATTEMPT BY TURRIFF GOLFER

By ROBIN WILSON  

Turriff accountant Chris Colville, who works for Edinburgh-based accountants Johnstone Carmichael Chartered Accountants, will make a start over Ross shire's Invergordon Golf Club at noon on Thursday, July 5 and continue through to noon on the following Thursday, attempting to break the Guinness Book of Records entry for playing more than 1000 holes of golf in seven days.

The Guinness rules state that the golf course used must be over 6000 yards in length and Colville, pictured left, chose Invergordon as it meets the criteria at 6041 yards. He also believes it is  far enough north to provide him with sufficient summer daylight hours to complete eight rounds each day and achieve 1008 holes in his marathon seven-day challenge. 

He is not permitted to have a caddie but hopes there will be some people out on the golf course to help him find his golf balls as he must hole out on all of the holes.

His attempt is in aid of the charity Alzeimers Scotland and he has already received sponsorship from his employers and collected some donations from the golfers playing in the recent Dornoch Firth League  matches at Invergordon on the day he visited the course for the first time to see for himself what lies ahead and thank the Invergordon Club for the use of their course.

Chris has set up a website to allow friends and supporters contribute to his chosen charity. 

It is www.justgiving.com/chriscolville2012

                                                    

BRUCE THOMSON, A CHAMPION CHIP OFF THE FATHER JOCKY BLOCK

By ROBIN WILSON 

More than two decades ago I researched a feature story for Bill McAlister's Highland Football & Sport magazine (December 1990 issue) on one of Inverness Golf Club's favourite sons, John (Jocky) Thomson, always to be found browsing through Inverness professional Alistair Thomson's shop while out on the putting green was his impish faced, pride and joy, nine year old son Bruce.

Bruce, like his father, became mad for golf and the trait of changing irons and woods like changing underwear, but their choice of clubs were always effective and Bruce, now 31, progressed to become at 16 one of the youngest ever club champions of Inverness Golf Club.

At the beginning of last year he followed his father into becoming a member of the Nairn Golf Club and with three changes of irons already since the start of the season, his third set on loan from a friend, he won the North District Championship over his first course, Inverness, last Saturday beating in the process the Inverness GC General Manager and Secretary, Ewan Forbes after a play-off.

Father Jocky is the owner of two North District titles, 1973 and 1978, and three Northern Counties Cup medals  and was on hand to watch the final hole of the play-off which gave his son his first silver medal.

After a first round three over par 72, all shots dropped over his first nine holes,Thomson junior trailed defending champion Bryan Fotheringham (Inverness) by four and Forres youth Jeff Wright by five on a sultry warn Inverness morning.

Then in the afternoon, in a rising wind, Thomson cut four shots off his morning first nine holes with birdies on the third and fifth holes. His birdie on the 17^th,  wedged between bogeys on 16 and 18, brought him into the clubhouse with a second round level par 69 to match the two gross 141s posted by Wright, a second round 74, and Forbes, bettering his first round card by nine shots with a 66.

The play-off went ahead without Wright who had to leave for an evening shift in a Forres hotel and Forbes looking back at his final two championship holes where he finished bogey, double bogey for  his 66.

The former Scottish internationalist, now 39, was in search of his first North District title although he had won the 72 hole North of Scotland open title when a member of Grantown on Spey and before his move to Turriff.

In the two hole play-off both Thomson and Forbes hit their second shots close to the pin on the first green, Forbes putted and miss from six feet but from inside him Thomson holed for birdie 3 and a one shot lead as they returned to the 18^th tee. 

From the final hole tee Thomson found the fairway  and then then the right side of the green with a four iron. Forbes, bunkered from the tee had to lay up well short of the green from where he took three more for a bogey 5.

Chipping down from just off the green Thomson had two putts for the half which he took to win his first North Association Cup and silver medal.   

Wright, before he left for work, had the consolation of knowing he had won the Murray Watt Trophy for the North District Under-21s youth championship,  edging out by one shot Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) who raced through the field with a best of the day 65 to add to his first round 77.                 

COUNTY NEWS: KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE MEN'S MATCH-PLAY

Left to right: David Stitt (semi-finalist), Ben Shamash (runner-up), Norman Russell (county vice-president), Jordan Williams (winner) and Brian Duguid (secretary, Kirkcudbright Golf Association).

REPORT FROM BRIAN DUGUID
Kirkcudbright Golf Association
The final of the Kirkcudbrightshire Golf Association men's match-play championshipship was played over the Kirkcudbrightshire course. 

The finalists were Jordan Williams (Castle Douglas) and Ben Shamash (Kirkcudbright). To get to the final Jordan had beaten David Davidson and Ross Murray, whilst Ben had defeated John Houston and David Stitt. 

The match was played in glorious sunshine with a strong wind blowing down the course. 

On the first hole Ben took the lead scoring a par to Jordan's bogey but this did not last long as Jordan birdied the second.  Both parred the third. 

Ben went ahead with a birdie 3 at the fourth and increased his lead to two holes with a birdie 2 at the 135yd fifth where his pitching wedge tee shot finished within three inches of the hole. 

Jordan came back strongly to win the seventh and eighth with pars and it was all square at the turn. 

The 10th saw Jordan take the lead for the first time. The 11th, 12th and 13th were halved in pars. Jordan hit a superb drive at the 14th, pitched to the green and sank his putt for a birdie 3 to go two up.

Ben pulled one back with a par 3 at 15th. The 16th was halved in par and on the 17th Ben hit a great second shot to within six inches of the flag for him to square the match with a birdie 3.

At the 18th both players hit long drives. Jordan's second hit the green to the right. Ben's shot was too strong and finished past the flag just off the green.  Ben was first to play and his pitch went past the hole.  Jordan became the 2012 county hampion by putting dead for par 4 to win by one hole.

 =============
EDITOR'S NOTE: I remember reporting on Ben Shamash's great run through to the final of the 2005 Scottish men's amateur championship at Southerness and his epic match against Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), which went to the 37th hole before Glenn won the title.

I often wondered what happened to Ben after that. There is so little golf news comes out of the South of Scotland that I wondered if he still played the game. I know Ben had a sister who figured in ladies competitions for a spell.

Scottishgolfview.com is glad to receive golf news and pictures from ALL the counties in Scotland. Just E-mail it to Colin@scottishgolfview.com