COWAN BEATS CAMERON IN OPTICAL EXPRESS PLAYOFF AT DUDDINGSTON

The PGA Optical Express Tour fourth event in the series lived up to the new circuit'ss reputation for producing exciting finishes. The rain did not dampen the excitement as Englishman George Cowan from the Newcastle club Westerhope beat Aberdeenshire man Ross Cameron from Ellon at the second extra hole at Duddingston this evening (Wed). They had tied on eight under par 136, Cowan returning a pair of 68s, Cameron and 67 and a 69. At the second extra hole, both men were about 20ft from the flag in two. Cowan putted up close, Cameron not close enough and his second putt horseshoed out to leave him with the £1,500 second prize with Cowan collecting £1,800. Stephen Gray (Hayston) finished third on 137 with scores of 67-70 to earn £1,200. Overnight leader and favourite Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) surprisingly faded into a tie for fourth place on 138 (66-72) alongside Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) (72-66) and Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) (67-71) Leading final totals Par 144 (2x72) 136 George Cowan (Westerhope) 68 68, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) 67 69 (Cowan, £1,800, bt Cameron, £1,500) at the second hole of a sudden death play-off. 137 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 67 70 (£1,200). 138 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 66 72, Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 72 66, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 67 71. 139 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 69 70, David Patrick (Elie SC) 68 71, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 67 72. 141 Paul Affleck (unatt) 70 71, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 69 72. 142 James McGhee (Duddingston( 70 72, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 72. 143 Greig McBain (Gamola Golf) 74 69, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 70, Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 72 71, Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 70 73, Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 70 73, James McKinnon (Irvine) 69 74. 144 John Gallagher (Swanston) 74 70, Mark Kerr (unatt) 74 70, Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) 75 69, David Orr (Mearns Castle) 72 72, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 71 73, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 70 74. 145 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 73 72, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 71 74, Tom Higson (Eng) 71 74. 146 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 70 76, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 71 75, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan caste) 71 75, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 75 71, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 72, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 72 74. ends

EAST OF SCOTLAND OPEN AT LUNDIN IS WEEKEND HIGHLIGHT

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY DAVID MOIR

This weekend at Lundin Golf Club, Lundin Links, the 2012 East of Scotland Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, generously presented for the second year by golf in DUBAi, is as late in the year as its traditional spot in the golfing calendar allows – three weeks before The Open Championship.

The East of Scotland now has to compete for entries with the English Stroke Play Championship since the English Golf Union changed the dates of its event and top Scots amateurs are nominated to fill exempt places. 

Fortunately the organising committee’s efforts have paid off and, to augment the otherwise strong Scottish contingent, it has attracted many overseas entrants and players from England and Ireland. This maintains the strength of the starting field and the status of the championship on the Counting Event List of RandA/USGA World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The lure of “the East” has resulted in an influx of top-class non-Scots who wish to sample competitive links golf and visit the famous golf courses of The Kingdom.

Although the 2011 East of Scotland Champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) is defending the title he won so convincingly, Fife’s trio of international players, Scott Crichton, Brian Soutar and the host club’s James White will undoubtedly be missed. However, other high WAGRanked players in the field comprising golfers from Australia, Austria, Bolivia, England, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore and USA, are New Zealanders Sam Davis and Craig Hamilton, Jack Hume from Rathsallagh and Benjamin Weilguni (Austria).

Joining Champion Ferrier, semi-finalist in last week’s Amateur Championship at Royal Troon, and past East Champions Ronnie Clark (Erskine) and Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) at Lundie are former Scottish Champion and Walker Cup man Graham Gordon (Newmachar), international players Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe), Leven specialist Ross Bell (Downfield) and current Scottish Boys Champion Craig Howie from Peebles.

The highest Scottish WAGRanked golfers are Kilmacolm’s Matt Clark, 2012 Scottish Youths Champion Ewan Scott from St Andrews, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) and North East’s Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) and the locals who are striving to be WAGRanked are Lundin’s Stuart Main and Cameron Mitchell, Mark Anderson (Leven Thistle), Jake Hogg and Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke’s), Josh Jamieson and Liam McGowan from St Andrews and Jordan McColl (Scotscraig).

The field is class, the course is great, the fairways are closely mown, the greens are true, the rough flourishes, the bunkers gather, the players compete, the spectators sweat, the spectators bask, the spectators shiver, the weather is the weather, the clubhouse invites, Lundin invites you to visit.

SATURDAY ROUNDS 1-2 TEE TIMES

  7:00-12:00  Glenn Campbell                      Blairgowrie

                    Fraser Thain                             West Linton

                     Cameron Mitchell                    Lundin

  7:10-12:10  Stuart Main                             Lundin

                    Paul McPhee                           King James VI

                   Oliver Roberts                         Hong Kong

  7:20-12:20 Jake Hogg                               The Duke’s

                   Connor Neil                            Blairgowrie

                   Andrew Wallace                      Glenbervie

 7:30-12:30 Liam McGowan                       St Andrews New

                    Callum Trahan                         Meldrum House

                   Jamie Aitken                            Alloa

 7:40-12:40  Liam Johnston                        Dumfries and County

                   Jordan McColl                         Scotscraig

                   Ben Renfrew                            Wynyard

 7:50-12:50 Gordon Stevenson                  Whitecraigs

                  Neil Henderson                       Glen

                  Ewan Scott                              St Andrews

 8:00-1:00  Henry Featherstone                 Ringway

                  Lawrence Allan                        Alva

                 Eamon Bradley                        Mount Ellen

8:15-1:15 Mark Dickson                          Mortonhall

               Gabriel Ormachea                   Bolivia

               Darren Watson                        Peterhead

8:25-1:25 Jamie Savage                          Cawder
               Scott Mann                             Carnoustie

               Craig Hamilton                        New Zealand

8:35-1:35 Ross Bell                                 Downfield

               Allyn Dick                                Kingsknowe

               Graham Gordon                      Newmachar

8:45-1:45 Fredrik Edmunds                     Aldeburgh

              Craig Watson                          East Renfrewshire

              Scott Borrowman                    Dollar
8:55-1:55 Scott Stewart-Cation               The Duke’s

               Sam Davis                               NZ
              Kyle McClung                          Wigtownshire County
9:05-2:05 Matt Clark                               Kilmacolm

              Daniel Young                          Craigie Hill

              Paul Ferrier                              Baberton

9:15-2:15 Graham Robertson                 Silverknowes

              James Bunch                           Prestwick

             Benjamin Weilguni                  Austria

9:30-2:30 Ronnie Clark                          Erskine

              Alexander Culverwell               Dunbar

             Chris Robb                              Inchmarlo
9:40-2:40 Sam Binning                         Ranfurly Castle    

            John Duff                                Newmachar

            Jack Hume                              Rathsallagh

9:50-2:50 Chris Lawton                       Falkirk Tryst

             Nick Macandrew                     Royal Aberdeen

             Nicholas Borren                      New Zealand
10:00-3:00 Steven Maxwell                   Windyhill

              Tom Hayes                              West Byfleet

             Fraser Moore                          Glenbervie

10:10-3:10 Leon Ang                           Singapore

           Kyle Godsman                         Moray

           Michael Daily                           Erskine

 10:20-3:20 Jerome Titlow                   Knole Park

           Alan Sutherland                      Ladybank

          Conor O'Neil                           Pollok

 10:30 3:30 John Mathers                  Haggs Castle

          Mark Anderson                       Leven Thistle

          Scott Davidson                       USA

  10:45 3:45 Colin Thomson            East Renfrewshire

           Ross Noon                              Craigielaw

           Richard Docherty                    Bearsden

  10:55 3:55 James Hendrick            Pollok

                   Joshua Jamieson          St Andrews New

                   Charlie Macneal           Troon Welbeck

11:05-4.05 Jerram Chudleigh                     Australia

              Steven Spence                 Irvine

              Hugh Nelson                    Kilsyth Lennox

11:15-4:15 Al El Kordi-Hubbard         USA

                 Craig Howie                            Peebles

                 Anthony Blaney                       Liberton

11:25-4:25 Jordan Milne                           Elgin

                                                         John Shanks                            Irvine

                                                         Gordon Miller                          Cawder

ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT PENNANT LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL

BANCHORY 4, NORTHERN 1

Home team: Banchory


Adam Lindsay and Lee Morrice bt George H Paterson and Cameron Johnstone 1 hole. 
Fergus Bisset and Martin Gordon lost to Stuart Duff and Liam Minty 1 hole.
Shaun Strachan and Roy Black bt Cameron McBain and David Mair 3 and 2.
Craig Lindsay and Jack Harling bt David Leighton and Derek Johnstone 5 and 4.
Scott Birse and Lindsay Smart bt Jon Inglis and Gary Nicholson 3 and 2.

CALEDONIAN 1/2, PORTLETHEN 4 1/2
Home team: Caledonian.


AUCHMILL 3, STONEHAVEN 2
Home team: Auchmill

Mike Lynch and Alex Allan bt Callum Mitchell Kevin Riddel1 1 hole
John Nicolson and Scott Mackie bt Chris Taylor and Ross McAllan 5 and 4
Richard Pratt and Steve Scott bt Graeme Anderson and Steve Guzik 3 and 1
Ian Watt and Chris Forbes lost to Neil Irvine and Gordon Adamson 1 hole
Graham McClaggan and Jim Newcombe lost to Barry McGillvary and Bruce Ferguson 3 and 1

Sonny Smith and Walter Ross lost to Graham Innes and David McDowell 4 and 3.

Stewart Finnie and Roy Rimmer halved with Ryan Donaldson and Keith Horne

Mark Rimmer and Neil Carnegie lost to Lewis Shand and Ben Murray 3 and 1.

Dave Mullen and Levi Ross lost to Stephen Cook and Kevin Daglish 3 and 1.

Graeme Meade and Matty Beattie lost to Sean Lawrie and Sam Kiloh 5 and 4

18 pages of Amateur coverage In this weeks GGP

Over 18 pages of amateur golf content in this weeks Global Golf Post including Alan Dunbar's win at Troon, a preview to the British Ladies at Carnoustie and the Brabazon.

The Global Golf Post is a free digital golf magazine delivered every Monday round the World. It takes less than 2 minutes to subscribe and you can read at your leisure. To see this weeks issue click here.

SCOT McKENZIE LYING SECOND ON ASIAN DEVELOPMENTAL TOUR

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Terengganu, June 27: Ryan Bulloch of Australia is a step closer from notching his first career title after shooting a flawless three-under-par 68 for the third round lead at the PGM Terengganu Masters today.

Bulloch, a former greenskeeper at Perth, Western Australia, totalled 10-under-par 203 for a one-shot lead over Derek McKenzie (69) of Scotland in the RM220,000 (approximately US$70,000) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.

Rashid Ismail and S. Murthy flew the Malaysian flag with matching 66s to lie in tied third place with Korea’s rising star Kim Gi-hwan and Bangladeshi Shakhawat Sohel, who are five shots from the leader Bulloch at the Awana Kijal Golf Beach and Spa Resort

Bulloch, who turned professional this year, is upbeat of securing his first ADT victory despite being in an unfamiliar position where he hast not led going into the final round before.

“I need to stay relax like how I’ve been in the last three days. I’m going to calm myself down after this and get some food. I still feel okay now but it is going to be an exciting final round,” said the 34-year-old.

He turned in two-under with birdies on holes eight and nine and added another 20-feet birdie putt on the par four 17^th hole to pull one clear from joint overnight leader McKenzie.

“I didn’t hit it quite nicely as I wanted to but there were no bogeys. I just plodded along and I’m glad that I’m still leading after three rounds,” said Bulloch.

Rashid, who has two runner-up finishes on the ADT this season, hopes to overcome a five-shot deficit in his quest to be the first Malaysian to win on the ADT this year.

“My game is in good shape except for my putting but I’ve got some good results this year so it will motivate me to go out and try my best to win this. It won’t be easy but at least I have a chance,” said Rashid.

 THIRD-ROUND LEADERS

203 - Ryan BULLOCH (AUS) 64-71-68

204 - Derek McKENZIE (SCO) 69-66-69        

208 - Rashid ISMAIL (MAS) 73-69-66, S. Murthy (MAS) 71-71-66, KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 70-70-68, Shakhawat SOHEL        (BAN) 67-72-69          

209 - Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 73-70-66       

210 - R. Nachimuthu (MAS) 76-68-66, YANG Fei-hao (TPE) 71-70-69, Gavin FLINT (AUS) 67-73-70           

211 - Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 70-73-68, PARK Jin-Woo (KOR) 69-73-69, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN) 70-74-67, Masaki SAKATA (JPN) 67-75-69, Grant JACKSON (ENG) 67-74-70, Zurie HARUN (MAS) 68-70-73   

212 - Will YANAGISAWA (USA) 71-72-69, Marc KAWASOE (SIN) 74-69-69, Wilson CHOO (MAS) 73-71-68, HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE) 73-68-71, Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN) 70-69-73