DAVID PATRICK SOAKS UP ALL THE KNOW-HOW AT WENTWORTH

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
David Patrick, a former Walker Cup team-mate of Luke Donald, revelled in his debut at the BMW PGA Championship - both on and off the course.
The Elie Sports Club, Fife-attached PGA coach stepped into the shoes of Kedleston Park head pro Paul Wesselingh who competed in the US PGA Senior Championship.
Like another Walker Cup team-mate Paul Casey, the 37-year-old Patrick failed to make the cut but relished the experience and also used it as a knowledge building exercise to pass on to the talented young players he coaches.
"Teaching is my focus, and at Wentworth I watched and learned as much as I could," he said.
"After doing my own practice routines, I took some time to watch at close quarters a few of the guys and learned a few things to take back to my players.
"As a coach you are trying to instil in them discipline and attitude, work ethic and how you go about living your life if you want to be the world's best and it's great to see the world's best players up close and personal.
"It reaffirms your beliefs. The hardest working guys I know, not just in golf, are the guys that do well. The right attitude will take you a long way."
As a footnote, Rory Mcllroy who also missed the cut, spent several hours on the practice range on Saturday, working hard to rectify a few issues in his game.

DOHERTY, GALLAGHER LEADING SCOTS IN ULSTER

Former Scottish boys match-play champion Paul Doherty and John Gallagher (Swanston) were joint top Scots sharing seventh place at the end of the first round of this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Ulster Bank Open at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena today. Both shot three-under-par 69s to be five off the pace set by England's Scott Fallon. Doherty's round was bogey-free while Gallagher had an eagle 3 at the long ninth and birdies at the 13th, 15th and long 18th. Wallace Booth (Comrie) continues to make good progress along the comeback trail after a long spell out of action last season due to injury. He covered the last 10 holes in four under par for a 70 and a share of 14th place.  The Saltman brothers, Elliot and Zack (Archerfield Links) and Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) all  shot 71s to be joint 19th. Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) had six birdies but a triple bogey 7 at the 13th in a round of 72 which put him in a share of 33rd place with Duddingston's James McGhee. Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) and former Walker Cup player and past Scottish amateur champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) had 74s, one better than Ellon's Ross Cameron. It was a bad day for Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) with a 79 which included one triple bogey and two double bogeys, as well as Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) on 84 with three triple bogeys and one double bogey. PGA EUROPRO TOUR ULSTER BANK OPEN Galgorm Castle GC, Ballymena. LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 72 64 Scott Fallon (Eng) Scottish scores: 69 John Gallagher (Swanston), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel). 70 Wallace Booth (Comrie). 71 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield), Zack Saltman (Archerfield), Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey). 72 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), James McGhee (Duddingston) 74 Myles Cunningham (Longiddry), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck). 75 Ross Cameron (Ellon). 76 Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 79 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 80 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 84 John Hendry (Clydebank & Dist), Greg Nicholson (Mortonhall). ends

JASON MCCREADIE CRUISES TO TWO-SHOT WIN AT TURNBERRY AILSA

Jason McCreadie won the Brother International pro-am over the Turnberry Ailsa course today with a bogey-free round of five-under-par 64 to win the £500 first prize at the invitational event. The Buchanan Castle pro birdied the first, third, fifth, short 11th, 13th and long 17th in halves of 32 (two under par) and 32(three under). Jason's only bogey came at the par-3 sixth hole. He won by two shots from Stephen Gray (Hayston) with Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) and Scott Henderson (Kings Links) sharing third place on 69. The pro-am team event was played under a Stableford points format and Scott Henderson led the Ireland 1 team of Sean Sheehan (handicap 18), Dave Barry (13) and John Donovan (13) to victory with a total of 90pt. They won by 7pt from the Ireland 3 team piloted by Stuart Kerr (Strathaven) with Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) and the Sweden team third on 77pt.   Turnberry Hotel Ailsa Course. PRO TOTALS Par 69 64 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 66 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 67 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 69 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 70 David Fleming (Prestwick), Kenny Hutton (Downfield). 71 Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy). 72 Stuart Syme (Dumfries and Co), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg) 73 Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 74 Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Euan Cameron (Turnberry Hotel). 76 Ricky Hall (Turnberry Hotel).

GAMOLA GOLF'S GRAEME SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGE AWARD

NEWS RELEASE 

A young North-east businessman is looking to cap an incredible few months after being shortlisted for a prestigious north-east award.

Graeme Masterton, director of Gamola Golf – the Aberdeen retail, online, hospitality and leisure business – has been nominated in the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year category at the 2012 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise.

Graeme, 27, set up an online golf accessories business to pay his way through Robert Gordon University while studying for a masters degree in electrical engineering. Seven years later, the business – which now has 20 staff – has thousands of customers from around the world.

In May this year, Gamola Golf moved its online business from Portlethen to Market Street, which is also the location for its new 4,000 sq ft golf store.
The next phase of the development at the former International Casino is the opening in mid-July of The Locker Room, a bar and restaurant with five state-of-the art simulators.

Graeme said: “We’re delighted our hard work has been recognised with a nomination in these prestigious awards. Our aim from the outset was to create a new experience for golfers, somewhere where they could shop, eat, drink and play.”

Gamola Golf sells a wide range of clubs, clothing and accessories to its store and constantly updated website. Through attending UK and international trade shows, the business has built trusted relationships with global brands, including Nike, Callaway and Tommy Hilfiger.

The store also offers lessons from Tartan Tour professional Greg McBain as well as a demo area to try clubs, a custom fitting area and putting green.

A former pupil at Stonehaven’s Mackie Academy, Graeme added: “Opening such a unique facility was the realisation of my business dream. We feel we’ve created another significant attraction for local people, visitors and the corporate market.”
The winner of the award will be announced at a black tie dinner at the Ardoe House Hotel, near Aberdeen, on Thursday, June 21.

James Donaldson

PR Director

Engage PR

M 07894 991537

E  james@engagepr.co.uk

McCLUNG SHAVES TWO STROKES OFF STRANRAER COURSE RECORD

Kyle McClung, a member at Wigtownshire County and Stranraer golf clubs, has slashed two shots off the course record for the Stranraer lay-out.
He shot a bogey-free eight-under-par 62 in a club medal competition with birdies at the fifth, eighth, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th.
The previous record low for the Stranraer course of 6,308yd, designed by James Braid, was 64.

SANDY REID TO SUCCEED JOHN PHILP AS CARNOUSTIE LINKS SUPERINTENDENT

NEWS RELEASE

Sandy Reid is to replace John Philp as the Links Superintendent at the Carnoustie Golf Links.

Reid (35), pictured, will take over the job when the present incumbent retires at the end of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, to be played over the town’s Championship course on June 26-30.

He has spent the last seven years working as the Championship Course Head Greenkeeper and also previously worked at nearby Letham Grange. 

“We are delighted to announce that we have selected Sandy Reid as the replacement for John Philp who retires this summer after almost 30 years working as Links Superintendent here at Carnoustie,” said Gordon Wilson, the Chairman of the Carnoustie Golf Links.

“Sandy has done a tremendous job since becoming Head Greenkeeper for the Championship course seven years ago. We interviewed several excellent applicants for the post but Sandy Reid was appointed to the position as the one outstanding candidate.

 “John will be a hard act to follow but we feel sure Sandy is the man to do it,” Wilson added.

 Reid originally hails from Blair Atholl and trained at Elmwood College in Fife before starting his career at Letham Grange. He is a keen golfer and an accomplished curler whose team made it all the way through to the final of last year’s Scottish Curling Championships. He is married to Catherine and has a one year-old daughter Harriet.

“It is an honour to be asked to follow on from John and I will do my best to ensure that his high standards are maintained,” said Reid. “I’m looking forward to leading the fantastic team here at Carnoustie and to helping to maintain the town’s reputation for providing one of the best golf facilities in the world.”

 Philp was Links Superintendent at Carnoustie for 26 years and played a seminal role in transforming the fortunes of the town’s three golf courses. During his tenure he oversaw preparations for both the 1999 and 2007 Open Championships and also prepared the Championship course for the 1991 and 2001 Scottish Ladies’ Close Championships, the 1992 Amateur Championship, the 1995 and 1996 Scottish Opens, the 1997 and 2008 Scottish Amateur Championships, the 2002 Boys’ Amateur Championship, the 2010 Senior Open Championship and the 2011 Ricoh Women’s British Open.

TARTAN TRIO TAKE ON THE LEGENDS OF SENIOR TOUR

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA
A trio of Scottish PGA professionals aim to shine next week when they take on some of golf’s biggest names in the prestigious ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship.
Cowal’s Russell Weir, a Senior Tour winner in 2001 and last year’s GB and I PGA Cup captain, Garry Harvey (Kinross Golf Courses) and Alastair Webster (Edzell) will be up against a host of star players including former Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Mark James and numerous past Ryder Cup players as they tee up in the £250,000 tournament at Northumberland’s De Vere Slaley Hall from June 7-10.
All three qualified for the event, which is the longst-running tournament on the European Senior Tour, after finishing in the top 20 at the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northants County this month. Harvey was runner-up with Webster claiming a share of third place.
The tournament, which will be played over the Dave Thomas-designed Hunting Course, remains one of the flagship events on the Senior circuit and is one of only two 72-hole championships on the Tour – the other being the Senior Open Championship.
Previous champions include Open Championship winners Max Faulkner, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson, while Christy O'Connor lifted the PGA Seniors title no fewer than six times.
More recent winners competing at Slaley Hall include defending champion Andrew Oldcorn, David J Russell, record title-winner Carl Mason and Gordon J Brand.

Free tickets for the tournament are available http://www.devere-hotels.co.uk/hotel-lodges/locations/slaley-hall/golf/pga-seniors.html


+Image of Russell Weir is by courtesy of Matthew Lewis at Getty Images(c)