ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE THURSDAY NIGHT RESULTS

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RESULTS IN TONIGHT'S ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE MATCHES


NEWMACHAR 2, MURCAR LINKS 3

Newmachar players first

Mark McKechnie, Chris Simpson lost to Anthony Bews, Clark Brechin 3 and 1

Richard Barr, Paul Henderson lost to Andy Campbell, Iain Galbraith 4 and 2

George Mitchell, Keith Martin bt Alistair Fiddes, Neil McKinnon 3 and 2

Euan Kennedy, Brian Ritchie bt Kyle Nelson, Craig Wilkinson 3 and 2

Mike Dickie, Chris Watt lost to Iain Powell, Gregor Stewart 3 and 2

ROYAL ABERDEEN 3, AUCHMILL 2

Royal Aberdeen names first
Steve Buchan, Donald Macandrew junior bt Mike Lynch, Alex Allan 7 and 5
Bill Barclay, Roger Laird lost to Brian Nicolson, Scott Mackie 1 hole
Mike Black, Austen Buchan lost to Steve Scott, Richard Pratt 2 holes
Mike Wilson, Ian Middleton bt Gary Geddes, Graham McClaggan, 7 and 6
Willie Park, Graham Webster bt Phil Benson, Chris Polson, 5 and 4.

PETERCULTER v CALEDONIAN - postponed to Week 8

EARLIER RESULTS THIS WEEK

NIGG BAY 3 1/2, HAZLEHEAD 1 1/2
NORTHERN 1/2, BON ACCORD 4 1/2
DEESIDE 4 1/2, BANCHORY 1/2

NEXT WEEK'S FIXTURES

Section A
Newmachar v Caledonian
Murcar Links v Hazlehead
Ngg Bay v Portlethen
Section B
Northern v Stonehaven
Deeside v Auchmill
Banchory v Bon Acccord

+Ties to be played Tuesday or Thursday

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ROMINGER SETS CHALLENGE TOUR PACE WITH A 63 IN CANARIES

FROM THE CHALLENGE TOUR WEBSITE
Martin Rominger’s superb eight under par opening round of 63 gave the Swiss the outright lead after the first round of the Fred Olsen Challenge de España at Tecina Golf in La Gomera on the Canary Islands.
Scotland's Scott Henry is three off the pace on 66.
The 33 year old Rominger was two shots clear of Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, Daniel Vancsik of Argentina and Domenico Geminiani, a promising 16 year old Italian.
Rominger got off to an incredible start as he birdied the first five holes at the Canary Islands venue, before another birdie at the ninth meant he reached the turn in six under 30. A further two gained shots on the 17th and 18th meant he signed for a bogey-free 66.
"I was always close,” said Rominger, whose best result on the Challenge Tour is a tied 10th finish at the 2009 Kenya Open. “I had a lot of chances and it is always nice to start with 5 birdies. I just have been playing really well in the last couple of months.
“I have my family here and a two year old girl and it’s great to be back in Europe with them having played on the Asian Tour this year. That may be one of the reasons why I am playing well here, because I have them here with me this week.
“Mentally I am doing much better now, playing more relaxed and enjoying it a lot. I am confident with my game. It seems to come easier than what it used to, I have worked a lot on all aspects of my game during the winter. I went to South Africa to get ready for the season.
“This golf course is amazing, it is really relaxing to see the ocean from every hole. I am enjoying it a lot.”
Garcia Rodriguez, who is playing his third Challenge Tour event, carded a six under par 65 which included an eagle two at the par four ninth hole. Having bogeyed the first hole, the 22 year old dropped shots at the third, sixth and seventh before his chip-in just before the turn, and further birdies at the 10th and 16th meant he enters the second day in tied second.
“I had no rhythm from the tee but then I played some holes spectacularly,” said the 23 year old. “I want to thank Carlos Rincon that is caddying for me. I think I needed someone close to me not to give me lessons but to help me put everything together at a tournament and he helped me do that.
“Last year I felt I was too far from getting into The European Tour and now I see is the place I want to be. I’m building confidence step by step. My game is a lot more complete now, I was bad with my putting but is good now so I am really happy."
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71
63 Martin Rominger (Switzerland)
65 Domenico Geminiani (Italy), Sebastian Garcia Rodriquez (Spain), Daniel Vanczik (Argentina).
66 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (France), Luis Claverie (Spain), Scott Henry (Scotland), Jesus Legerria (Spain), Alexandre Levy (France).

OTHER SCOTS
69 Gavin Dear, Jack Doherty (T12)
71 Lloyd Saltman (T63)
72 Chris Doak (T85)
73 Callum Macaulay (T110)
75 Jamie McLeary (T122)

McALLISTER CONFIDENT OF IMPROVEMENT AT BENAHAVIS

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Scot Stephen McAllister is looking forward to getting stuck into the European Senior Tour season as he plays just his second tournament since joining the tour in this week’s Benahavis Senior Masters at La Quinta Golf and Country Club.

McAllister turned 50 in February, making him eligible to begin his Senior Tour career this season and he began with a tied 35^th finish at the season-opening Mallorca Open Senior two weeks ago.

This week he plays in the Benahavis region of Southern Spain, a place with which he is very familiar and is confident of improving on his debut performance.
“It’s only my second event,” said the two time European Tour winner. “Mallorca was a bit of a mixed bag but it’s important to keep playing a run of events and keep giving myself chances. It was a different experience in Mallorca. I've been away from tournament golf for ten or 12 years and I was going out looking for nothing spectacular, just to see how my game was and getting used to life on tour again.
“I thoroughly enjoyed Mallorca, and it wasn’t as easy as people might think. It was actually a very good, well set-up course. I'm looking forward to this week. I have a lot of friends in this area and I come down quite a bit during the year so I'm looking forward to the challenge again.
“The course this week is in pretty good shape and it’ll get better as the week goes on, the greens will get a little bit faster. It’s in lovely condition.”
“I would say the course suits me,” he continued, “I hit the ball reasonably straight and this is the kind of course that you need to do that, just get it up on the greens and give yourself a chance.
“It is a case of getting used to it now because we can all play out here but all of a sudden you have an Order of Merit to think about and it’s week on week tournaments so it’s a case of getting back into that mind set and getting comfortable with it.”
McAllister is joined at the Benahavis Senior Masters by fellow Scots Gordon Brand Junior, Terry Burgoyne, Ross Drummond, Bill Longmuir and Andrew Oldcorn.
They will be among a strong Senior Tour field competing for an increased prize fund of €200,000 for the fourth edition of the tournament on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The field includes 26 of the top 30 players from last year’s Senior Tour Order of Merit, including two-time Benahavis Senior Masters champion Carl Mason and former Ryder Cup captain Mark James.
The returning US Senior PGA champion Roger Chapman is also present after his stunning win at Harbor Shores in Michigan last week.

KELLETT LEADS IN STORMY CARIBBEAN, NICOL A SHOT BEHIND

Motherwell's Ross Kellett shared the lead  with a four-under-par 67 at the end of a weather-disrupted opening day on the Alps Tour event being held on Guadeloupe, a French colony in the Caribbean - the Open de Saint-Francois Guadeloupe at Saint-Francois Golf Club.
There was a lengthy suspension of play due to rain at one stage.
Kellett was five-under-par after only eight holes, of which he birdied the long first, the short second, the foufrth and short fifth. He parred the six and then birdied the seventh and parred the eighth.
A bogey at 9 saw him reach the turn in four-under-par 31. His second last bogey came at the long 12th but the Scot got his sixth birdie of the round at the 13th and then parred his way in from there.
On the resumption of play, Kellett was joined in teh lead by England's Jack Senior and Tom Sherreard and France's Thomas Linard.
Scottish rookie pro, Kris Nicol from Fraserburgh had a chance to make it a five-way tie on 67 but he double bogeyed the 18th for a 69.

KIWI WITH SCOTTISH ROOTS BIDDING FOR TITLE AT BARASSIE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If a Scot can't win the Carrick Neill Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Barassie, starting tomorrow, the next best thing would be one of the overseas players who has strong Scottish roots.
Step forwad Vaughan McCall. Age 20.  From Southland, New Zealand. Winner of the New Zealand stroke-play and match-play amateur titles.
Vaughan's brother Dion, who lived in Scotland for a year recently, says that the McCalls have strong family links with Ayrshire. One or more of them emigrated to New Zealand in the dim and distant past but they have not forgotten their Scottish ancestry by any means.
"There's a graveyard not far away from the Barassie course on which Vaughan is playing over the next three days, in which a lot of our forefathers are buried," said Dion in an E-mail to Scottishgolfview.com
Gives a new meaning to "visiting the relations," doesn't it?
Dion says that Vaughan lives in Gore which he described as "about the size of Turriff - where we have relations as well!"
Vaughan, pictured above,  is on his first trip to Europe and he made a good start last weekend by finishing second in Welsh open stroke-play, althoug beaten a few shots by the winner, Craig Hinton.
McCall aims to play in as many big amateur events, including the St Andrews Links Trophy and the British amateur.
Vaughan will be 21 on August 7. He's rated the best New Zealand prospect for many a day.
Unlike most top amateurs in the UK, McCall is not a full-time amateur. When he can, says brother Dion, Vaughan works on a dairy farm at Kelso - "not the one in the Scottish Borders!"
I complimented Dion on his knowledge of Scotland's geography and he confirmed my suspicion that he had beaten his brother over here:

Said Dion:

"I spent a year on exchange at the Strathclyde Uni in Glasgow in 2009. I had a great year there. I played cricket for West of Scotland CC in Partick. We even played a game at Mannofield in Aberdeen. I worked at the Cathedral House Hotel to fund my trip. 

"I was lucky enough to have time to explore Scotland well. It was fantastic to see the places my forefathers came from. I was only able to fit in one decent game of golf, playing at Lundin Links in Fife. That was a great links."

 
+In my previous life as a football writer, I remember there was a Walker McCall who played for Aberdeen in the days when the Dons won more matches than they lost, which is certainly not the case these days! Walker McCall, who was a striker and great header of a ball if I remember correctly, came from Ayrshire. Wonder if Vaughan McCall is related to him?

RORY McILROY CLAWS HIS WAY BACK FROM A QUADRUPLE BOGEY

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FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE
Rory McIlroy recovered from a terrible start at the Memorial Tournament to card a one-under 71 that keeps him in touch with the first-round pacesetters.

The Northern Irishman shot a quadruple-bogey 7 on the 12th - his third hole, having started on the 10th - at Muirfield Village Golf Club, Ohio

But four birdies and an eagle on the fifth moved McIlroy to one under - two behind the clubhouse leaders.

World No 1 Luke Donald also shot a 71, while Tiger Woods carded a 70.

McIlroy, who defends his US Open title next month, will be determined to put in a good performance following two consecutive missed cuts at the The Players Championship and the BMW PGA Championship.

The world No 2 made par in his first two holes before sending his tee shot into the bunker behind the green on the par-three 12th.

McIlroy's next shot sailed into a pond for a penalty stroke before his fourth landed in a bunker. After reaching the green, he then two-putted from 15 feet.

It was a demoralising start to the round but the 23-year-old recovered well, making birdies on the 14th and 15th.

He dropped a shot on the 17th but a birdie and an eagle coming home meant the danger of a third consecutive missed cut receded.

"It wasn't the start that I wanted to get off to, being four over through three holes, especially after the last few weeks," said McIlroy.

"I was just like, 'Here we go again'. But I hung in there well, and I'm proud of myself for the way I fought back. To finish the round under par I thought was a really good effort."

Woods, who has won the tournament four times before, shot a double-bogey six on the 18th - his ninth - but that was the only blemish on his scorecard as four birdies saw him back in the clubhouse on two under.

"It certainly could have been a lot lower, but I'm pleased with the way I hit the golf ball," he said. "I didn't do anything great and I didn't do anything poorly."

Donald, winner of the BMW Championship at Wentworth in his last appearance, also ran up a double bogey on the 18th but three birdies in his round keeps him in contention.

"There are some tougher pins out there and overall I'll take one under and try and play better the next three days," said the Englishman.

With half the field still to head out onto the course, South African Rory Sabbatini, Australian Aaron Baddeley, Argentina's Andres Romero and Blake Adams of the United States are the clubhouse leaders on three under.

SLATTERY GETS HIM EVERYWHERE ... ANOTHE GOOD SCORE BY LEE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
England's Lee Slattery followed one great performance with another at The Celtic Manor Resort to lead after the first round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
Three days after shooting 66 at Walton Heath to earn himself a US Open Championship debut, the 33 year old took a one shot advantage with a four under par 67.
And if that does not sound special consider this - there were more than a dozen scores in the eighties, one in the nineties and a handful of players could not keep a ten off their cards.
A stiff wind and fast-running conditions made life tough on the course where Europe beat America two years ago in a Ryder Cup remembered for its thrilling finish.
Slattery's round was not without its scary moments. He was an inch from going in the water on the short third and was relieved to find his ball in bounds at the 580 yard ninth.The hole still cost him his only dropped shot, but he said: "It was very difficult. The wind was stronger than anticipated and if you get round without a bogey it's an amazing achievement." Nobody did.
Slattery had already made eight trips to The European Tour Qualifying School by then, but his career turned around last October when, on his 183rd start, he captured the Bankia Madrid Masters - even with a double bogey seven on the final hole.
Now he is planning for a trip to San Francisco for the US Open, which will include not only his first tournament in the States, but also a visit to Alcatraz and possibly the baseball game at which Rory McIlroy is throwing the ceremonial first pitch.
"I know Olympic Club is going to be difficult, but I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
"It's more the atmosphere. I remember The Open at Hoylake (his only previous Major was there in 2006) and I thrived on it."
In-form German Marcel Siem and Dutchman Tim Sluiter share second place after rounds of 68, with Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm and Ireland’s Simon Thornton joining Spanish pair Pablo Larrazabal and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño on two under.
Siem, who has already had five top-12 finishes this season and led going into the final round here two years ago, said: “It was gusty, windy and there were firm greens, so three under was good.
“It’s really nice to play out here. I love the course and I've had a lot of very good rounds here already. The greens are firm, which suits my high ball flight. You have to think a bit more around the course now because it's a lot firmer and the traps are in play all of a sudden.”
Paul Lawrie, second on the Ryder Cup points table, needed to birdie two of his last three holes for a 74, the same score as 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie, while his successor José María Olazábal took 76 and defending champion Alex Noren signed for an 81 before withdrawing with back trouble.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71
67 Lee Slattery (England)
68 Marcel Siem (Germany), Tim Sluiter (Netherlands)
69 Gastano Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Joel Sjoholm (Sweden), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Simon Thornton (England)

SCOTS' SCORES
70 Steven O'Hara (T8)
71 Richie Ramsay (T12)
72 David Drysdale  (T21)
74 Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie (T47)
75 George Murray, Marc Warren (T71)
76 Peter Whiteford, Scott Jamieson (T76)
77 Gary Orr, Stephen Gallacher (T91)
79 Craig Lee (T123)
86 Ted Innes-Kerr (153 out of 156)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS

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SIX SCOTS BEAT ULSTER OPEN CUT, BUT 11 SCOTS ON WAY HOME

Six Scots survived the second-round cut on level par 144 but 11 compatriots did not in the PGA EuroPro Tour's Ulster Bank Open at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena. Former Scottish boys match-play champion Paul Doherty, based in South Wales, led the Tartan Army with scores of 69 and 66 for nine-under-par 135 which has him in close-up third place behind Londoner leader Scott Fallon (64-69 for 133) and Bristol's Paul Reed (68-66 for 134). Doherty had seven birdies and one bogey. The Saltman brothers, Elliot and Zack, seemed to be joined at the hip this week. The Archerfield Links pair are shared eight place on 138, both following up opening 71s with 67 each. Elliot had seven birdies, Zack two eagles and three birdies. The other Scots in theory chasing the £10,000 jackpot prize over the final round are Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) and John Gallagher (Swanston),. both on 141, and Wallace Booth (Combrie) on 142. Stewart has scored 71-70, Gallagher 69-72 and Booth 70-72. Ellon's Ross Cameron missed the cut by one with a 70 for 145. Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) shot a second-round 67 but missed the cut by two shots on 146. Former Walker Cup player and past Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) just cannot get his pro career off the launching pad. He missed out with a pair of 74s for 148, the same total as Ed Wood (Crow Wood) (76-71) and Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) (74-74) Craigielaw's Shaun McAllister scored 72-77 for 149, one shot better than James McGhee (Duddingston) (72-78). John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) totalled 154 but would have been happy with a second-round 70, 14 shots better than his first circuit. Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) made a giant leap forward from an opening 84 to a 71 but 155 was still 11 shots too many. Mark Rae (Alyth)  finished on 157 (81-76) and Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) scored 80-78 for 158. Leading second round scores Par 144 (2x72) 133 Scott Fallon (Eng) 64 69. 134 Paul Reed (Eng) 68 66 135 Paul Doherty (Sco) 69 66 OTHER SCOTS SCORES 138 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield) 71 67, Zack Saltman (Archerfield) 71 67 141 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 71 70, John Gallagher (Swanston) 69 72 142 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 70 72 MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified) 145 Ross Cameron (Ellon) 76 72. 146 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 79 67 148 Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 76 72, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 74 74, Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 74 74 149 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 72 77 150 James McGhee (Duddingston) 72 78 154 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 84 70. 155 Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) 84 71 157 Mark Rae (Alyth) 81 76 158 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 80 78.

IRISH PRO WITH SCOTTISH ROOTS, DAVID BROWN, DIES AT 59

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Irish regional secretary Michael McCumiskey has paid tribute to David Brown who passed away this week at the age of 59.
His passing severes another PGA link with the past and cast another cloud over professional golf in Ireland.
"David came from a long family line associated with the professional game, a family with a long history and tradition of service in the PGA," said McCumiskey.
"It started with his great grandfather, also called David, who came from Scotland with other pros. He was based at Cork Golf Club, working as a club-maker, the same profession as his son James. Both are mentioned in the Irish Census of 1901.
"David trained with his father George who worked in locations such as Kilkenny and Waterford, before becoming resident professional at Newlands Golf Club in Dublin.
"This was where David started his training under the supervision of George in 1969, before moving to Rathfarnham and later to Leopardstown Golf Centre. In more recent years, before his illness, David worked at Greystones Driving Range and Pro Golf of America."
The late David resided in Rathnew, Co Wicklow, and leaves behind his wife Caroline, son Ian and daughter Jennifer; three grandchildren, mother Vera and brother Jimmy. To them all we offer sincere condolences.

TUGER ADAMANT THAT HE CAN STILL OVERTAKE NICKLAUS'S 18 MAJORS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By OLIVER BROWN
Tiger Woods is adamant that, even at the age of 36 and without a major championship win in four years, he still had time to overtake Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major victories.
On the eve of the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, hosted by Nicklaus himself, Woods predicted: “I figure it’s going to take a career. It took Jack 24 years.

"This is my 17th year into it. I still feel like I have plenty of time — it’s about giving myself the greatest amount of opportunities to win them on the back nine on Sunday. The more chances I give myself, I figure I’m going to clip a few of them.”

Woods was speaking at a question-and-answer session with fans, which he undertook in place of his customary pre-tournament press conference.

The 14-time major champion has experienced a wretched run of form since his win at Bay Hill in March, failing to finish above 40th in either the Masters or Players Championship, while missing the cut for the second time in three years at Quail Hollow.

But still he claimed to be encouraged by the continued swing adjustments he has made with his coach, Sean Foley. “We’re excited about what we’re working on,” he said. “I hadn’t played well in a couple of weeks but we know what it is. It’s a matter of getting reps in and getting the trust in the swing.” ”.

Meanwhile, José María Olazábal has indicated that Paul Casey could still overcome his injury battles to contend for a place in his Europe Ryder Cup team.
While Olazábal teed it up in today's first round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, Casey, who missed the first two months of the season after dislocating his shoulder in a snowboarding accident, is out of action once more.
Casey pulled out of the Players after nine holes and failed by nine shots to qualify for the weekend at Wentworth. “I feel really sorry for him,” Olazábal said. “We all know how well he can play. All I am hoping is he gets healthy again and shows form. I wish him the best.”
The Spaniard also confirmed that Paul Lawrie, who has revived his Open-winning form in a superb season, was “pretty much in” for September’s duel with the US in Chicago.

RORY McILROY GOES INTO OVER-DRIVE TO GET BACK IN GROOVE

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM

Rory McIlroy has explained his decision to play three tournaments in as many weeks ahead of the defence of his US Open crown.

"These two-day weeks aren't really that good for me, so I just want to get some competitive rounds in," HE SAID.

Having missed the cut by at both Sawgrass and Wentworth in his last two outings, McIlroy is opting to cram his schedule with competitive golf rather than spend extra time in practice.
The world number two tees up at this week's Memorial Tournament before heading to Memphis for the FedEx St Jude Classic, with the US Open the following week in San Francisco.

"These two-day weeks aren't really that good for me, so I just want to get some competitive rounds in.

"I'm working on a few things, and I feel trying to put them into competition will be the best way for me to prepare going into the US Open.
"When you've been on a run where you've hardly finished outside the top five and then all of a sudden two missed cuts, it's more of a shock than anything else.
"It's something I haven't really had to deal with in a while. I just have to knuckle down and figure it out and get back to the way I was at the start of the year."

TOP QUALITY FIELD FOR CARRICK NEILL SCOTTISH STROKE-PLAY AT BARASSIE

SGU MEDIA RELEASE

By ED HODGE 

All eyes will be on Ayrshire in late July when Tom Watson makes his return to Turnberry for The Senior Open Championship, but a feast of golf in the region begins when some of the best amateurs in the world gather at Kilmarnock (Barassie) this week for the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship from Friday to Sunday (June 1 to 3).

Watson, who won his ‘Duel in the Sun’ with Jack Nicklaus in 1977 before almost also tasting Open glory back at Turnberry 32 years later, will help draw in the crowds to Ayrshire from 26-29 July, as will The Amateur Championship being staged over Royal Troon and Gailes Links from 18-23 June. 

But it’s Barassie that will get the ball rolling on a superb run of events for the area, with the club welcoming a truly international entry list to celebrate its 125th anniversary year. Located on the outskirts of Troon, Barassie has a rich history of hosting high-profile tournaments.

As an Open Championship qualifying venue and host to The British Boys Amateur Championship, staging the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship will further add to its reputation. 

Since hosting the British Boys in 2010, a number of enhancements have made to the renowned links, including the construction of 10 new fairway bunkers and significant course drainage improvements, which are sure to meet with approval.

Past winners of the national Stroke Play Championship include Colin Montgomerie, Stephen Gallacher, Andrew Coltart, Dean Robertson, Alastair Forsyth and Richie Ramsay, with a quality field to assemble on the west coast in a bid to have their name etched on the silverware. 

Indeed, a handicap ballot as low as +1.8 – the lowest ever for a Scottish Golf Union event according to records – illustrates the quality of the competition, with some of the world’s best amateurs from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and France all competing in the 143-man field.

South African Stroke Play champion Haydn Porteous and the Rainbow Nation’s rising star Brandon Stone, defeated by Brian Soutar (Leven GS) in the final of the South African Amateur, are among the leading names from South Africa, together with the likes of Shaun Smith and Charles du Plessis. 

Jake Higginbotham, the world’s sixth-best amateur from Australia, and compatriot Cameron Smith, ranked 15th in the world, also tee-up, ahead of many of the international players going on to contest the St Andrews Links Trophy (8-10 June), as well as The Amateur Championship.

Interestingly, New Zealander Vaughan McCall, who finished second to runaway winner Craig Hinton in the Welsh Open Stroke Play on Sunday, has his family roots in Scotland, with many of his ancestors actually buried in a graveyard in Newton-on-Ayr near Kilmarnock. 

SGU National Men’s Squad players will also start at Barassie with high hopes, especially having successfully competed against their South African counterparts during a winter performance programme, where they defeated the host nation in an international Test Match.

Balmore’s Fraser McKenna, twice a winner on the domestic circuit already this year, Craigmillar Park Open champion Graeme Robertson from Glenbervie, Kirkhill’s Paul Shields – joint-winner of the Northern Amateur Open in South Africa – Scott Crichton (Aberdour), James White (Lundin), Daniel Kay (Dunbar), Conor O’Neil (Pollok) and Soutar are all in the field. Scott Gibson (Southerness) and Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) have also returned from their studies in America to compete in the domestic summer season.

 So too are Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys champion Craig Howie and Barassie members Jack McDonald and Euan Walker, as well as former Scottish Amateur champion Glenn Campbell who finished fifth in the event last year over his home club of Blairgowrie.

 Crichton, who beat Stone three times in the Test Match victory, is coming off a fine share of fourth place at the Welsh Open Stroke Play.

The 24-year-old Fifer said: “I had a pretty decent week in Wales so hopefully that is something to build on. We are now into a six-week spell which shapes almost your whole season, so hopefully all the preparation work I did over the winter and at the start of the season produces some good results.” 

Crichton, who has recovered from a pulled neck muscle that forced him to withdraw from the Lytham Trophy, added: “It’s as good a field as you’ll get this week in a non-Walker Cup year. You will have to play well to be in contention.”

Andrew Sullivan, who went on to help Great Britain and Ireland to Walker Cup success before moving into the pro ranks, was the victor in 2011, a shot ahead of Steven Brown (Wentworth) with Shields in third place.

David Miller, Golf Director of Carrick Neill, said: “We are delighted to support the prestigious championship for the second year in a row and help the development of amateur golfers. 

“Given the quality of field assembled, we are looking forward to an excellent championship over the three days.

“Carrick Neill have been the Scottish Golf Union’s official insurance partner for many years and we are proud to have the association.” 

The 2012 Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship is a 72-hole stroke play event, with 18 holes played on each of the first two days. The 40 competitors returning the lowest scores over the first 36 holes and those tying for 40th place play the final 36 holes. It is an R and A World Amateur Golf Ranking event and for Scottish players counts toward the SGU Order of Merit.

Entry to spectators for the competition is free and the venue is easily accessible via road and rail.

 Carrick Neill, who are also endorsed and recommended by England Golf and the Ladies' Golf Union, provide market-leading specialist golf insurance policies for individual golfers as well as providing cover for hundreds of golf clubs across the UK.

>> Click here for the draw for the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship