SCOTS BOYS FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWEDEN NAMED

 

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

Ewan Scott, the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths champion, and Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys winner Craig Howie, will help spearhead Scotland’s bid for success at the European Boys Team Championship in Sweden next month.

The prestigious team event takes place at Lidingo Golf Club in Stockholm from 10-14 July, with a strong six-man side named by the Scottish Golf Union earlier today.

St Andrews’ Scott, who has been in hugely impressive form, and Peebles’ Howie, who defeated Scott to claim the Scottish Boys title at Murcar Links in April, both earn automatic selection as the current top two players on the Scottish Hydro SGU Boys’ Order of Merit following the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event No 3 at the weekend.

Howie was beaten into second place at the competition at Rowallan Castle on Sunday, with Lawrence Allan from Alva taking the honours. Allan’s performance continued his consistency this season and, having reached third spot on the Order of Merit, he has been picked in the team bound for Sweden.

Bradley Neil of Blairgowrie and Cawder’s Jamie Savage have also been selected thanks to their displays in 2012. Neil has been in fine form, finishing second to Scott at the Youths and defeating South African Amateur champion Brian Soutar to help Perth & Kinross to Moneygate Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship glory. Savage, meanwhile, won the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 2 at The Roxburghe and has also illustrated a consistency of performance.

Last year’s SGU Boys’ Order of Merit No 1 Greig Marchbank has been picked as the final member of the team, with Anthony Blaney (Liberton) the reserve.

Marchbank, the Dumfries and County player, impressed in the Moneygate Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship and was the top Scot in a share of eighth place at the Men’s Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship.

Blaney helped lead the Lothians to an historic third successive Dunfermline Building Scottish Boys Area Team Championship title at Cowglen and was also joint-winner of the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 1 at Gullane.

Barrie Douglas, Chairman of Selectors, said: “We’ve chosen a strong team and are all looking forward to the event in Sweden in July.

“All of the team are playing very well and a player’s recent performance is the key factor when selecting for teams representing Scotland. We also take into account previous international performances.

“We finished 13th in this event in Prague last year, just missing out on a place in the top-flight match play by a single stroke, and hope to at least finish in the top eight this year.”

 

Scotland team for 2012 European Boys Team Championship

 

Lawrence Allan (Alva)

Craig Howie (Peebles)

Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County)

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie)

Jamie Savage (Cawder)

Ewan Scott (St Andrews)

 Reserve:

Anthony Blaney (Liberton)

 

Ed Hodge PR & Media Executive

MEADE BROTHERS PULL OFF DOUBLE AT ABERDEEN LINKS

Brothers Graeme and Stuart Meade made it a family double in the Handicap and Murray Cup Finals in the Aberdeen Links championships at the Kings Links tonight. Both are Caledonian club members.

Results:

HANDICAP SHIELD FINAL
Graeme Meade bt David Oliver 2 and 1.


MURRAY CUP FINAL
Stuart Meade bt Frank Kennedy 4 and 3.

GREENKEEPERS v TULLOCH RECRUITMENT IN TRADES FINAL

Greenkeepers and Tulloch Recruitment will contest Friday's final of the Aberdeen Trades foursomes over the Hazlehead No 1 course. In tonight's (Wed) semi-finals Greenkeepers beat Lawyers by six holes while Tulloch Recruitment beat Baker Hughes by eight holes. SEMI-FINALS Tulloch Recruitment bt Baker Hughes by eight holes (T Allan, A Hewitt 3, D Stuart, S Moore 0; G Allan, S Allan 5, R Grant, K Johnstone 0). Greenkeepers bt Lawyers by six holes (G Mitchell, D Elrick 2, W Barclay, J Christie 0; R MacRae, D Grant 4, W Park, D Purdie 0). ends

GREAT SCOTT! HENDERSON WINS AGAIN

Scott Henderson, the Tartan Tour's man in form, scored his fourth win in 11 days and his third since Sunday when he included an outward half of 29 on his way to heading the pro field with a five-under-par 63 in the Duff House Royal pro-am today at the Banff course. Henderson, a former European Tour Rookie of the Year, won at Kemnay on June 9, Edzell on June 17, Spey Valley on June 19 and now Duff House Royal. The Kings Links Tour pro birdied the third, fifth, short sixth, eighth and short ninth to turn in five under par. He cooled off after that with a first and only bogey at the short 11th and only one birdie on the inward half, at the 18th in 34 home. He won the top prize of £1,270 by two shots from unattached Englishman Jonathan Lomas who had a bogey-free 65 with birdies at the first, long 12th and 14th to earn £1,015. Sharing third place on 66 were the almost inseparable Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) and Stephen Gray (Hayston), as well as Gareth Hardy (Belleisle). They each earned £596. Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle) led the "Celebrations of Turriff" trio of Barrie Evans (handicap 18), Glenn Jax (7) nd Malcolm McAuslin (14) to victory in the pro-am team event with a net two-ball aggregate of 15-under-par 121.  Leading pro scores Par 68 63 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) £1,270 65 Jonathan Lomas (unatt) £1,015 66 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Gareth Hardy (Belleisle) £596 each. 68 Nathan Keast (Renaissance), Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Christopher Currie (Caldwell) £308 each. 69 Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), James McGhee (Duddingfston), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) £187 each. 70 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) £152 71 Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Ross Dixon (Renaissance), Andrew Fullen (Largs) £120 each. 72 Gary Lochhead (Kings Links), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL), Norman Huguet (Musselburgh) £55 each 73 Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie), Craig Knowles (Panmure) 74 Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL), Mark King (Kingsfield), James Calam (Myrus GR), Ross McConnachie (Peterculter), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 75 Sandy Aird jun (McDonald Ellon), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 76 Gary Holland (Duff House Royal) 77 Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 79 Scott Clelland (North Lanarkshire Leisure), Craig Goodwin (Duff House Royal). ends

TWO SCOTS, FERRIER AND McDONALD, SURVIVE AT ROYAL TROON

TWO Scots out of six survived the first day of match-play in the British amateur golf championship at Royal Troon. British Universities champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), playing in his native Ayrshire, beat Matthias Eggenberger (Switzerland), a Stirling University student, by on hole in a second round tie and now plays American Will McCurdy who won his tie by a big margin. Paul Ferrier, the 2007 Scottish boys match-play champion from B Baberton, had a very good 7 and 6 win over Ben Stow (Rushmore). Ferrier, who has just completed four years at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, is due to defend his East of Scotland open stroke-play title at Lundin Links next weekend. On a day of shocks, No 1 qualifier Daniel Jenneveret (Sweden) fell at the first hurdle and world No 5 amateur, Dan Huizing (Netherlands) lost at the 19th to Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire). Scots who lost were Brian Soutar (Leven GC), beaten 2 and 1 by Jordan Zunic (Australia); James Ross (Royal Burgess), beaten 5 and 3 by Max Orrin (North Foreland); Perth's Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), beaten 3 and 2 by Daniel Schmieding (Germany), and James White (Lundin), who lost 3 and to to Juan F Sarasti (Spain). SELECTED RESULTS First round  Jordan Zunic (Australia) bt Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) 2 and 1. Max Orrin (North Foreland) bt James Ross (Royal Burgess) 5 and 3. Second round Paul Ferrier (Baberton) bt Ben Stow (Rushmore) 7 and 6. Daniel Schmieding (Germany) bt Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 3 and 2. Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Mathias Eggenberger (Switzerland) 1 hole. Juan F Sarasti (Spain) bt James White (Lundin) 3 and 2. FROM THE R AND A WEBSITE ENGLAND’S CRAIG HINTON UPSETS WORLD NO. 5 HUIZING AND LEADING QUALIFIER ALSO FALLS England’s Craig Hinton pulled off a surprise upset in the 117th Amateur Championship when he defeated Daan Huizing to make it through to the last 32 at Royal Troon. Dutchman Huizing entered the championship as the highest ranked player in the field at number five on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Huizing had high expectations after winning the Lytham Trophy by 11 shots and the St Andrews Links Trophy by 14. Hinton qualified for last year’s Open Championship and won this year’s Welsh Amateur Stroke Play Championship, helping him reach number 251 on the WAGR. He had never reached the match play stages in four previous attempts. Yet the gulf in status did not show in their second round match.   23-year-old Hinton was one up playing the last hole after chipping in for birdie at 17. He had to go to an extra hole when he failed to get up and down for par at the last. However, he held his nerve on the first extra playoff hole. He hit a 5-iron off the tee and a wedge second to three feet and holed for birdie.  “He’s a great player but it’s match play so anyone can beat anyone,” Hinton said. “I knew if I played well on my day I could beat him. There’s no point putting him on a pedestal.”  Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup player Alan Dunbar also made it through to the last 32. He defeated Spain’s Borja Virto by one hole. However, he didn’t play his best golf. “I didn’t play great,” Dunbar admitted. “I drove poorly and missed greens, but I am delighted to be through. I will have to find a better swing for tomorrow.” Dunbar helped Great Britain and  Ireland win the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen last year. He won two of three of his matches in the biennial competition as GB&I defeated the United States 14-12. That experience proved vital in helping him make the last 32. “The Walker Cup has given me confidence,” Dunbar said. “I handled myself well at Aberdeen and remembering I can do that really helps.” GB and I teammate Rhys Pugh also made it through to the last 32. Pugh defeated England’s Joshua White 6 and 4 in the first round and then bettered Argentina’s Franco Romero 4 and 2. Pugh starred at Aberdeen last year, winning all three of his matches. The Welshman, who has just completed his first year at East Tennessee State University, raced to a three-hole lead after four holes against Romero and was three under for the 15 holes he played in the afternoon. “I’m playing well and hopefully I can go all the way,” Pugh said. Sweden’s Daniel Jennevret, the number one seed, lost to former British Boys’ champion Emilio Cuartero by one hole. Jennevret is the ninth player of the last 14 to lead the qualifying and lose in his first match.   Frenchman Joel Stalter had a hole in one at the 125-yard, par-3, 8th hole, “The Postage Stamp” in a one hole loss to American Tyler Raber. Raber is one of two players from the United States through to the last 32. Will McCurdy of Auburn University is the other. He defeated number two seed Geoff Drakeford of Australia 8 and 7 to reach round three. The increasing cosmopolitan nature of the Amateur Championship was reflected in the players who made it through to the match play stages. Twenty-five nations were represented, with 53 of the 78 players from outside Great Britain & Ireland. Sixteen nations are represented in the last 32. Notables to make it to the last 32 include Pedro Figueiredo, the 2009 British Boys’ champion. The Portuguese amateur is the highest WAGR ranked player left in the field at world number 14. 19-year-old Jack McDonald from nearby Kilmarnock (Barassie) is also through and will attract much local support in round three. Current Scottish Stroke Play Champion Paul Barjon also takes his place in the last 32.

OLDCORN FANCIES HIS CHANCE IN NETHERLANDS SENIOR OPEN THIS WEEK

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS STAFF

Andrew Oldcorn believes he is coming into form just at the right time as he returns to The Netherlands for this week’s the Van Lanschot Senior Open.
The 52 year old Scot has an impressive track record at Royal Haagsche Golf & Country Club, finishing runner-up to Englishman George Ryall in the inaugural tournament in 2010 and tied tenth last year, and he is hoping he can make it third time lucky in The Hague. 
Oldcorn came up just short in his bid to defend the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship a fortnight ago, finishing joint runner up to Paul Wesselingh at De Vere Slaley Hall. Having now recovered from an eye problem that blighted the second half of his 2011 campaign, he is targeting a successful summer ahead.
“Slaley Hall was a step forward,” said Oldcorn, who had an operation to remove a cataract last autumn. “It was nice to be in the position of playing under pressure again and that bodes well for the next few weeks.

“I like the course at Royal Haagsche and I’m looking forward to playing it again. I’ve played well in both of my previous appearances so I feel as though I can play well here.
“Last year after playing so well at Slaley Hall I suffered the eye injury and couldn’t really kick on so hopefully it might be the reverse this year.
“I started my first two seasons on the Senior Tour well, whereas this year has been more of a steady build up. I’ve got a nice block of three events coming now so hopefully it will be the start of a big summer for me. There was a lot of good in my last performance, but still a lot of work to be done. Changing my putter made a big difference for me though. I was a lot more confident on the greens.”
Oldcorn’s compatriot Peter Smith also heads to Holland hoping to build on a morale-boosting display in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship, where he finished tied fifth to record his best Senior Tour performance.
Smith is hoping he can count on some local support in The Netherlands having previously worked as the head professional at Hilversumsche Golf Club, host venue for September’s KLM Open on The European Tour.
“I know the area and the course well and I might even have a few old members come along to cheer me on,” said Smith.
“I lived an hour away so I’ve played Royal Haagsche a few times. I’m comfortable in Holland, I know the people.”

Defending his title at the Van Lanschot Senior Open is Irishman Des Smyth, who carded a superb closing 65 last year to win by two strokes from Australian Peter Fowler, who went on to win the 2011 European Senior Tour Order of Merit.

Wesselingh is also in the field fresh from his maiden Senior Tour triumph, along with fellow Englishman Gary Wolstenholme, who has already won twice so far this season.

They are joined by former Ryder Cup Captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, and the top two on last year’s Order of Merit, Fowler and Barry Lane.

BYRNE, STEWART SEEK TO RECAPTURE WALKER CUP GLORY AT AVIEMORE

 FROM NEIL AHERN

James Byrne and Michael Stewart will return to their native Scotland as professionals at this week’s Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, nine months after earning local hero status as amateurs at the 2011 Walker Cup.

The duo were part of the Great Britain and Ireland team which enthralled the people of Scotland, and beyond, by beating the USA against all the odds to claim a first Walker Cup victory in eight years at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club last September.Having both turned professional in the aftermath, Byrne and Stewart are two of a host of promising young Scots in the field at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club this week, all harbouring hopes of sealing a high finish that could kick-start their budding professional careers on the European Challenge Tour.
“Obviously it’s a home event so I want to play well,” said 22 year old Stewart. “That’s just pressure that I put on myself though. I just want to get going so I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s starting to feel like a good result is closer after a slow start to my professional career on the satellite tours. I played in Brittany on the Challenge Tour recently too and missed the cut there.
“Spey Valley is a good course, challenging in places, but if you hit it well you’ll have chances to make birdies. There are holes that suit my eye and holes that I’ll have to play smarter.
“It would be nice to get my first good finish as a pro and that’s all it takes - just one good score - and then I can kick on from there.”
Stewart’s friend Byrne has earned a little more experience on The European Tour as well as the Asian Tour and he is hoping to make that count as he tries to make an impression on the Challenge Tour.
“I played this tournament in 2008 as an amateur and was actually leading in the first round so if I could do that four years ago I should be able to do it now,” said Byrne, a 23 year old from Banchory.
“It’s one of the best tournaments on the Challenge Tour circuit and if you look at the past winners, they’ve all been really good players so I’m looking forward to it.
“Being Scottish helps and I’ll have some family coming up so that’ll be enjoyable. Making the step up from the amateur game to the professional game is not easy. There’s a wealth of really good players and the depth of quality is much better, so it’s been tough but I’m enjoying it.
“I had some experience from my amateur career of big tournaments so I’m used to crowds and, if anything, I really enjoy playing on the big stage. Hopefully in the near future I’ll be able to get on to The European Tour
“If I can get a top 10 here and build a few tournaments into my schedule, then hopefully I can climb the Challenge Tour Rankings but we’ll see what happens.”
There are a host of Scots in the field at Aviemore this week with the five members of Team Scottish Hydro – Chris Doak, Jack Doherty, Callum Macaulay, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary – all present alongside brothers Elliot and Lloyd Saltman.
Former BMW PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond and Wallace Booth, whose sister Carly won the Ladies Scottish Open on the Ladies European Tour earlier this year, are also in attendance.
Gary Lockerbie, who sits at the summit of the Challenge Tour Rankings, will be hoping to consolidate his lead at the €220,000 event, while former champions Robert Dinwiddie (2007) and Sam Walker (2006) are joined by English compatriot and three time European Tour winner Nick Dougherty.
Other former European Tour winners in the field include Ross McGowan and John Parry of England and Australian Scott Strange,
Peter Uihlein, who played against Byrne and Stewart for the USA team in last year’s Walker Cup, is also in the field.

2016 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP GOES TO ROYAL TROON

The  Open Championship will be hosted by Royal Troon Golf Club in July 2016, 12 years after it was last held at the Ayrshire venue where an almost unknown American Todd Hamilton beat South African Ernie Els in a play-off to claim the Claret Jug.
Royal Troon has hosted the event eight times in all.
The Open will be held in Scotland three times in four years, beginning with Muirfield in 2013, St Andrews in 2015 and Royal Troon 12 months later.
 

ERNIE ELS CALLS DAVID FEHERTY A SHOCK JOCK

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
In an interview in the July issue of Golf Magazine, Ernie Els says David Feherty's jokes about Els's putting stroke were "a low blow" and called the CBS Sports analyst a "shock jock."
Feherty made the comments about Els at the Tavistock Cup, a hit-and-giggle exhibition in Orlando in March featuring several top pros, including Tiger Woods. Els had missed a couple of short putts in the final holes of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which prevented him from qualifying for this year's Masters. 
The next day at the Tavistock Cup, Feherty introduced Els to the gallery on the first tee by saying that Els would be “putting with a live rattlesnake.”
"I've known David for a long time, but for him to have said that was totally shocking and -- well, not out of character, because he tries to shock the world all the time, but it was a low blow," Els told Golf Magazine. "It wasn't a gentlemanly think to do. I wouldn't have done that.
"It made the whole group very uncomfortable for the first few holes -- it was a very s-----y feeling," Els continued. “It wasn't a very classy move, but then again it's how he makes his living these days. He's kind of a shock jock.”
At the same event, Feherty also said that people had always wondered how Els lost with his beautiful swing and that “now we know.”
"I knew he was going to say something," Els said of Feherty's remarks. "Shock the world, get your two minutes of fame. As an athlete, going through those emotions, it's not the greatest feeling to have, especially when he calls you a friend. At the end of the day, I screwed up in front of a lot of people on live television. But I'm still in the game. I didn't quit.
"I'm still trying to win tournaments and majors, and the people who are criticising you, their life journey was to [play golf for a living] and now they're a journalist," Els said. 
"I shouldn't take it seriously, but you can't help but take it personally. If you're going to take the piss out of me, fine, but don't do it with a microphone in your hand and in front of the whole world."
In response to Els's comments, Feherty told Golf Magazine that he did not intend to offend Els.
"I gave everybody a hard time at the Tavistock Cup, and I did it in proportion to how much affection I have for the person,” Feherty said. “If that backfired with Ernie, I unreservedly apologize, because I love the guy."
Els has four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2012. He finished ninth at the U.S. Open last week to climb back into the top 40 in the World Rankings.