Thursday, June 28, 2012

IRISHMAN PHELAN LEADS IN BRABAZON TROPHY

FROM THE ENGLAND GOLF WEBSITE
It wasn’t so much the luck of the Irish as the undoubted skills that saw Kevin Phelan top the leaderboard at the end of the opening day of the Brabazon Trophy at Walton Heath.
On a day when only seven players bettered the tough par of 72, Phelan posted an impressive four-under-par 68, which leaves the 21 year old Irish international two strokes ahead of England’s James Burnett and three clear of five players, Billy Britton, Tom Wilde and Sean Towndrow from England, Frenchman Franck Daux and Alastair Jones from Wales.
It was a supreme effort considering Phelan had never seen the prestigious Surrey course prior to his practice round. But he appeared totally at home as he covered the back nine in 32 strokes with five birdies.
“I started slowly and lost a ball on the fifth,” he admitted. “But I was steady after that and made five birdies on the back nine.”
Phelan has honed his game across the Atlantic. He is halfway through a scholarship at the University of North Florida at Jacksonville, where his family has a restaurant business, and may consider turning professional after graduating.
Burnett, the 20 year old England cap, is on his way back after suffering a mystery wrist injury in April. But he is in good form after winning the Lincolnshire Championship at Torksey and the individual competition in the Midland Qualifier at Belton Park.
“It was a solid round and I covered both nines in 35,” he said. “I had key putts at the second, for birdie, and the sixth and seventh for pars. The wrist injury was a bit of a mystery. I just woke up one morning and couldn’t move it.”
Kent-based Britton hit the opening shot of the championship at 7am and was rewarded with 71. He got off to a flier with an eagle-two at the 289-yard third only to give them back before the turn. But a brace of back nine birdies, including one at the last, kept him in red figures.
Wilde, back from the Old Dominion University in Virginia, took advantage of the par fives on the back nine, birdying two, and coming home in 35.
Daux, the 20 year old Frenchman from Fontainebleau, didn’t appear to be joining the front-runners as he went out in two-over-par 37. But he stormed home in 34 with five birdies in the closing seven holes.
“I was not lucky on the front nine where I had some bad bounces,” he said. “But the back nine was much better and I came home in three under.”
Welsh international Jones was happy with his 71 as his swing is ‘work in progress’.
“That was better than I’ve been playing,” he admitted. “I’m in the process of changing my swing. I came back from America in a bit of a mess and I’ve been working with Welsh coach Neil Matthews. “My short game is fine but my ball striking needs to be better. But I’m happy with today so things are improving.”
A new putter helped Patrick Spraggs to shoot level-par 72 but it could have been a lot better.
“I was doing well, going out in 33, and the putter was working fine. But I tangled with the heather on the back nine and it was a scramble after that,” said the man from Suffolk.
Joining him on 72 is Lancastrian Paul Howard, who soon found himself three over par after a bogey at the third and a double at four. But he recovered those lost shots with birdies at the three back nine par fives.
Play begins at 7am tomorrow and 7.30am on the last two and admission is free. For those unable to attend, live scoring and news updates will available on the Championships Section of the England Golf website, www.englandgolf.org.

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BRABAZON TROPHY AT WALTON HEATH SCOREBOARD

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ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT PENNANT LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL


MURCAR LINKS 4, NIGG BAY 1

Played at Murcar Links

BON ACCORD 3 1/2, ROYAL ABERDEEN 1 1/2

Played at Kings Links

B Edmond and A Crawford bt S Buchan and D Macandrew 1 hole.

Mat Greig and G Somers lost to B Barclay and I Middleton 2 and 1

N Mitchell and D Grieve halved with N Macandrew and G Webster

A Shand and Mark Greig bt M Wilson and D Purdie 3 and 2

M Dunn and J Killman bt R Patterson and D Harris 2 and 1

The match was in doubt earlier in the day due to torrential rain and lightining. The teams did, however, tee off in foggy and wet conditions. The standard was high with many birdies from both sides. Match 4 halved the 4th with eagles.
The match was extremely close throughout. RAGC's 3rd pair made an excellent birdie on the 17th and par up the last to earn the team a half point and keep hopes of a Royal Aberdeen win alive.
These hopes were thouroughly extinguished by Bon Accord's 5th pair who came back from two down with six to play to win 2 and 1 and seal the win for their team.

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SINGH AND BOURDY SET PACE WITH A PAIR OF 65s

IRISH OPEN REPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
It was wet, it was windy, but nothing was going to stop fans turning out in huge numbers to see Grégory Bourdy and Jeev Milkha Singh shine at the first Irish Open in Northern Ireland since 1953.
Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the three Major Champions whose success helped to bring the event back across the border, were always going to have the biggest galleries lining the fairways.
But while none of them was able to break 70, Indian Singh and France's Bourdy were certainly not complaining about the number following them as they set the pace - either side of a 95-minute storm delay - with seven under par 65s.
"The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course is fantastic," said the 40 year old Singh. "When you have so many people cheering and watching you I think you feel great."
England's Mark Foster, part of a group on 66 with compatriot Andrew Marshall, Australian Matthew Zions, Swede Oscar Floren, Finn Mikko Ilonen and Frenchman Edouard Dubois, commented: "It was just amazing out there.
"I got a six o'clock car to the course and, I kid you not, there were people queueing to get in - even though the rain was coming sideways.
"I've never seen a buzz in the players' lounge like there is this week. People are raving about the course and the size of the crowds."
It is the first time organisers put the "sold out" signs up for a regular European Tour event, with 27,000 tickets purchased for each day's play.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy Martin McGuinness were also in attendance to witness the scenes.
McDowell was the first of the three local heroes into action, but hitting a pitch into bushes for a double bogey seven on the 581 yard 17th - his eighth - took the wind out of his sails and he had to settle for a one under 71.
Clarke, yet to make his first halfway cut of the year and out for the past month with a groin strain, contented himself with matching that after a hat-trick of bogeys had left him two over after eight.
World Number Two McIlroy, meanwhile, reached four under, but three-putted the 16th and 18th in what he called "a sloppy finish" and signed for a 70.
Before the tournament Clarke had presented Singh with a bottle of 21 year old Bushmills single malt whisky, but he is keeping that until he can share it with his father Milkha - the "Flying Sikh" who lost out on an Olympic 400 metres medal in a photo-finish in 1960 and about whom a film is currently being made.
Singh, whose own dream is to represent India on the sport's return to the Games in 2016, is a real lover of links golf.
Not that anybody who witnessed his first experience of it would have guessed that - as a 16 year old in 1988 he competed in the Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, but had rounds of 87 and 84 there and at Pyle and Kenfig to miss out on the match play stages.
"I thought 'My God, this is tough'. I wasn't used to wearing raingear." He has got used to that now - and clearly improved.
Irishman Padraig Harrington, playing with McDowell and equally thrilled at seeing the tournament come north, pitched in from around 60 yards for birdie on his penultimate hole and with a 67 is firmly in the hunt.
Defending champion Simon Dyson, the third member of the group, matched that, while Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and Scot Paul Lawrie - playing together for the third time in under two months - both shot 69.
Another former Open Champion, American John Daly, was in the first group out at 7.30am and returned a 71.
Asked if he was a good early riser he replied: "I am now. I get up when I used to get in!"
Much to everyone's relief, the event resumed in bright sunshine after the stoppage and the round was completed.
Bourdy did not finish until 8.40pm and would have been outright leader if he had birdied the long ninth, but he parred it.
“It was a lovely day, one of the best rounds I've played this year for sure,” he said. “It’s one of my best, maybe the best one I've ever played in my career on The European Tour. I played very solid.
“It’s the first time I’ve played here this week and I love it. I played like this actually with Darren Clarke on Tuesday, so I think that helped me to play well today, because he gave me a lot advice. He was great with me. It was fantastic playing with the Open Champion, and a guy like him who plays every day on the course.”


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AMERICANS' BIG LEAD IN PALMER CUP

 United States overpowered Europe through two sessions of play to end the first day of the Palmer Cup students international golf match with a commanding lead of 6 1/2 to 1 1/2 at Royal Co Down Golf Club, Newcastle in Northern Ireland today
Graeme Robertson and David Booth of Stirling University lost their four-ball match by 6 and 4.
With different partners in the foursomes, Booth was on the winning side but Robertson lost again.
FIRST DAY
EUROPE 1 1/2, UNITED STATES 6 1/2
Europe players first
FOUR-BALLS (1/2-3 1/2)
Thomas Pieters and Daan Huizing lost to Chris Williams and Andrew Yun 1 hole.
Sebastian Cappelon and Julian Brun halved with Corbin Mills and Derek Ernst.
Graeme Robertson and David Booth lost to Blayne Barber and James White 6 and 4.
 Robert Karlsson and Pontus Widegren lost to Justin Thomas and Patrick Rodgers 2 holes
FOURSOMES (1-3)
Huizing and Pieters lost to Ernst and Uyn 1 hole.
Robertson and Widegren lost to Mills and Williams 5 and 4.
Booth and Karlsson bt Barber and White 2 and 1.
Brun and Cappelon lost to Rodgers and Thomas 1 hole.

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ARNOTT WIN NUMBER FIVE AT DOUGLAS PARK

Former PGA Cup player Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) scored his fifth one-day win of the Tartan Tour this season with a seven-birdie round of five-under-par 64 to collect first prize in the Douglas Park pro-am
Arnott birdied the second, third, sixth, 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th, dropping shots only at the fourth and 12th.
He won by a single shot from Chris Kelly's bogey-free 65.
Arnott also led the Steelcase Solutions trio of Nick Lyons (handicap 15), Fraser Low (18) and Stuart Nicol (5) to victory with a two-ball net aggregate of 16 under par 122.
DOUGLAS PARK PRO-AM
Leading pro scores
Par 69
64 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
65 Chris Kelly (Cawder)
66 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links).
68 Scott Henderson (Kings Links), David Orr (Mearns Castle)Pau, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory).
69 James McKinnon (Irvine), Stephen Gray (Hayston).
70 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), David Patrick (Elie SC).
71 Craig Ronald (Carluke), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar).
72 Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).
73 Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Mark Kerr (unatt)
74 James McGhee (Duddingston)
75 Gordon Law (Uphall), Gary McFarlane (Clober)
77 Scott Gillespie (Burntisland), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle).

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SCOT McKENZIE FINISHES FOURTH IN ASIAN DEVELOPMENTAL TOUR EVENT

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Terengganu, Malaysia, June 28: Ryan Bulloch of Australia cruised to a comfortable wire-to-wire victory at the PGM Terengganu Masters for his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title on Thursday.
Bulloch closed with a one-under-par 70 to win by two shots at the RM220,000 (approximately US$70,000) event, which was the fourth leg of this season’s ADT.
A fast charging Lindsay Renolds of Canada and Malaysian S. Murthy, who returned with a 66 and 67 respectively, settled for tied second place at the Awana Kijal Golf Beach and Spa Resort.
Derek McKenzie of Scotland, who was one-stroke off the lead after the penultimate round, failed to spark a title charge as he posted a 74 to finish in fourth place.
Bulloch was delighted to complete his transition from a greenskeeper in Perth to ADT champion courtesy of a superb opening round 64 which gave him the lead which he held on to throughout the week
“It is kind of surreal at the moment. The week has been pretty intense, having shot a low number in the first round. It has been enjoyable and exciting. I stuck to my game plan and the putter really helped me out,” said Bulloch, who posted a winning total of 11-under-par 273 and earned US$12,183.
With his closest competitor McKenzie failing to make a charge, Bulloch had a relatively comfortable day and needed only a single birdie on the par four 13th hole to steer him to victory.
“I wasn’t so much as playing it safe. I just hit a lot of fairways and greens and had a lot of two putts. I tried to take trouble out of play and sort of kept my nose in front,” said the Australian.
“I felt pretty good today. I thought a lot about my family and my wife and that kept me relaxed. I felt fantastic really. I’m glad the hard work I’ve been putting in the last six months paid off,” he added.
The Asian Development Tour will travel to the inaugural Taman Dayu Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia next week from July 4 to 7 (Wednesday to Saturday). A record total of 12 events will be played this season with the top three finishers on the Order of Merit earning Asian Tour cards for 2013.
  LEADING FINAL TOTALS
273 - Ryan BULLOCH (AUS) 64-71-68-70
275 - Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 73-70-66-66, S. Murthy (MAS) 71-71-66-67 
278 - Derek MCKENZIE (SCO) 69-66-69-74   
279 - YANG Fei-hao (TPE) 71-70-69-69, Shakhawat SOHEL (BAN) 67-72-69-71       
280 - Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS) 70-72-73-65, Zurie HARUN (MAS) 68-70-73-69, R. Nachimuthu (MAS) 76-68-66-70           
281 - Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 69-71-73-68, Grant JACKSON (ENG) 67-74-70-70, Gavin FLINT (AUS) 67-73-70-71    
282 - Chris HARTAS (AUS) 69-70-74-69, KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 70-70-68-74, Rashid ISMAIL (MAS) 73-69-66-74      
283 - Daniel OWEN (ENG) 72-72-69-70, HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE) 73-68-71-71          
284 - Rizal AMIN (MAS) 69-74-72-69, Ernie HILL (USA) 72-71-73-68           
 

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STUART AND KERRI ARE THE INVERNESS CLUB CHAMPIONS




BY ROBIN WILSON
This season's Inverness Golf Club championships climaxed last Saturday when Kerri Harper and Stuart Connell proved themselves the best golfers of 2012 on the Culcabock course.
Women's champion Kerri Harper is no stranger  to the women’s title,  her last  triumph was  in 2009,  but after taking a break from competitive play she came back this year to claim her fifth title with a comfortable result in the final against June Nicol. Harper beat Alison Gowie at the semi final stage and in her semi final Nicol punched above her weight to defeat  former champion Marion Howieson on the final green.
In his last year as a teenager Stuart Connell (21) lost the men's 2009 final but this year with impressive results against the Inverness County champion, John Forbes, and Club Secretary Ewan Forbes Connell was into his second final and immediately impressed the small gallery from the first tee by finding the green 308 yards away for an opening winning birdie against the twice former champion Bruce Thomson.
Thomson, who had claimed his first North District title on the same course last month, took a long route to the final requiring all 18 holes to beat David Joel in the quarters and Graeme Daun in the semis and after losing the first hole was soon two behind after a bogey at the par three second hole.
The District Champion's experience saw him fight back to finish the first eighteen holes one in front but he did not expect the onslaught from Connell in the rain delayed second round. His opponent again birdied the first hole then won four holes in succession from the 5th to the 8th, the fifth with birdie and the 6th with par after Thomson found the water hazard guarding this green.
Connell shrugged off losing the 9th and 10th holes to birdies by winning back the 11th hole then with the impetus of sharing the 12th hole in birdie threes claimed his first well deserved title two holes later with a 5 and  4 result. 
Robin Wilson picture of the men's finalists shows Bruce Thomson on the left and Stuart Connell on the right.
Robin's picture from the women's final is on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
Three other finals were played out in the afternoon, Sandra Campbell won the ladies handicap final beating Hazel MacNeil by 5 and 4 and Ian Ross the men's handicap winner with a 2 and 1 win over Ben Anderson. The club junior champion is Rory MacPherson who met Ross Lyle in the final and won by 4&3.

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JAMES BRAID OPEN PICTURE AND REPORT FROM BRORA




JAMES BRAID OPEN  REPORT BY ROBIN WILSON

A birdie two on the 36th hole against a bogey four separated  the leading scratch pair of James MacBeath (Brora) and Chris Mailley (Royal Dornoch) in the James Braid Open at Brora last Saturday and there was a welcome return to the trophy table by Calum Stewart who received the Royal Marine Hotel Trophy for overall nett aggregate.

Brora's  flagship open stroke play cup, The Howey, has spent the last seven years outside the club, the last four in Dornoch and  triple winner Chris Mailley posted his opening defence with a sound level par card  of 69 to have it matched by eventual winner MacBeath who was the last local winner in 2004.

Local Head Greenkeeper, MacBeath was two over par after his first three holes but put red on his scorecard for the first time  with birdie on the fourth hole and with his second red figure at the 16th  brought in a level par 69 from halves of 36 & 33.  Even on the first round Mailley erred with bogey on the final hole but still managed his 69 with 34&35 and in the clubhouse they found another 69, from Golspie exile Darren Hexley the runner up in the recent County Championship, he also dropped a shot to par on the final par three.

But leading with a one under par card of  68 was Inverness's David Joel who had teed off at 6.30am and with the aid of birdies on the 8th and ninth holes reached the turn in 35. His inward half of 33 ended with a birdie two on the final hole. A double bogey seven from the Inverness player at the par five 8th hole proved a weighty burden in his second round of 74 to drop him back to a fourth scratch place but still emerging with the low nett of 136 in Class 1 and the winner of the Kidd Cup.
Local Calum Stewart, since winning the North of Scotland Boy's championship in the spring of last year has seen his handicap rise from one to three with some sole searching scores. Albeit a handicap win  his second round one under par gross 68 (35/33) still shows he has real potential. The second round nett 65 added to his first round nett 70  edged Joel out of winning the Royal Marine Hotel Trophy by a stroke. 
Hexley faded to a second round 75, his score rescued by two 2's on his the inward stretch of 33 after struggling out in 42 leaving the afternoon duel to be fought between MacBeath and Mailley.  The Howey Cup defender went in front from an opening birdie three and forged two strokes in front with his eagle three on the par five hole. MacBeath's birdie at the ninth brought the difference back to one shot, an outward 35 against Mailley's 34 before they made the turn for home. 
The holder began his inward card 4,5,3,2 against MacBeath's 4,5,4,3 to increase his advantage to three shots before a two shot swing change at the 14th, , a MacBeath birdie three  to a Mailley bogey five after the Dornoch member  failed to find thegreen with his second shot.  After his long drive from the 17th tee Mailley failed again to find the green in regulation this time ending up in the greenside bunker to bogey the hole and the pair went to the final tee on level terms.
For the second time of the day Mailley missed the green, long and left and took three more to hole out leaving MacBeath two putts for the win from eight feet but finishing off in grandstand fashion he holed for birdie two and the Howey Cup was back in Brora.
Two more trophy winners had to be found and it was local John MacGregor who landed his first 36 hole success capturing the Duke of Sutherland's Dunrobin Cup with a nett 144, off 20 two shots ahead of Edinburgh based member Ian Blyth.
James Braid Society Captain, Malcolm Campbell, invited Braid Society member David Grounds from St. Andrews to step up for the Society's confined James Braid Trophy after he won it with scores of 83 & 74 then Marjory Mackie, a Great Granddaughter of the five time Open Champion was welcomed back to Brora to make the presentation of all the other trophies and cups.

Results: CSS members and visitors 70 each round.
Scratch – Howey Cup 137 J G MacBeath (Brora) 69/68. 139 C Mailley (RDGC) 69/70. 144 D Hexley (Muir of Ord) 69/75.  Handicap Class 1 – Kidd Cup  D Joel (Inverness) (3) 136. M MacLean (Brora) (9) 137. R Woodside (Blairgowrie) (8),  R Carr (Fortrose)  (7) 138. J Innes (Castle Heather (9) 139. Handicap Class 2 -Duke of Sutherland Dunrobin Cup   J MacGregor (Brora) (18) 144. I Blyth (Prestonfield) (15) 146.  Royal Marine Hotel Trophy, (overall nett) - C Stewart (Brora) (3) 135.     

Royal Marine Hotel Mixed Foursomes
The James Braid weekend at Brora rolled on into Sunday with the Society’s headquarters, The Royal Marine Hotel sponsoring a mixed foursomes competition which attracted an entry of forty couples.
In a stiff wind the scoring was  that normal and no couple managed to break eighty.  With a card of 80 the Lybster pairing of John Gunn and Lorna MacMillan won the Links Trophy for the best gross score after equal halves of 40. With a second podium place in the space  of twenty four hours, but this time as a runner up, was James MacBeath with his partner Lynda Mackay who grossed 83 (42/41)
The overall nett winner and recipients for the first time of the Royal Marine Hotel Trophy were summer residents from Chicago , Bill and Jan Beaton. Their nett card of 69½ from a handicap of 24½ edged home by a shot from Club Captain Ken Lorimer and Wife Sheila , nett 70½ .The Lorimers had the consolation of leading the Class 2 handicap returns while the best nett in Class 1  came from Braid Society members David and Mrs. B Grounds (St. Andrews)

Results
Scratch Links Trophy – J Gunn and L MacMillan (Lybster) 80. J MacBeath and L Mackay (Brora) 83. M and F Ford (Gullane/Murrayfield) 86.
HANDICAP
Class 1 - D and B Grounds (St. Andrews) (15) 71. J and L Beaney (Brora) (14½) 72½. J Turner and A MacBeath (Tyneside/Brora) (12) 75.
Class 2 – K and S Lorimer (Brora) (19½) 70½. D Sutherland and S Bruce (Brora) (22½) 71½. J and L Husband (Carnoustie/Forfar (22½) 71½. Royal Marine Hotel Trophy -  B & J Beaton (Brora/Chicago) (24½) 69½.
Saturday's Picture line up left to right – Malcolm Campbell (Captain James Braid Society), James MacBeath Howey Cup) Marjory Mackie, Calum Stewart (Royal Marine Trophy), John MacGregor  Dunrobin Cup.

Two Trophies now for Golspie Ladies at Inter County Club Fixtures

Golspie Golf Club with three teams entered into the Ross-Sutherland Inter club women's event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie last Saturday saw their third quartet win the Connon Trophy for handicap scores while Tain extended their hold on the scratch Gordon Salver to twelve years.
The Golspie heroines who outshone their first and second team selections were Ann Duff, Hazel Proctor, Lauren Bonner and Lesley Cranna leaving their first team of Anne Macrae, Helen Ewan, Noel Mackay and Sheila Robertson as runners up.
The Golspie winning team score from their best three cards was Ann Duff (31) 72, Hazel Proctor (25) 85, Lauren Bonner (21) 83 and Lesley Cranna (28) 83 for a total of 229 and two in front of Golspie 1, Macrae (11) 74, Ewan (16) 76, Mackay (15) 81 and Robertson (12) 82 for their 54 hole total of 231.
Tain' Scratch winning team total of 239 came from Anne Ryan 81, Claire Ross 77, Mary Smith 81 and Linda Thomson 103. Royal Dornoch's first team were second with 250 – Alison Bartlett 82, Claire Riddell 83, Dorothy Lloyd 85, and Denise McBride 96.       
The winning nett result means the Golspie women now hold both handicap trophies from inter county club competitions, the Beatrice Trophy won last September in the  Caithness/Sutherland club fixture at Brora.

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IRISH OPEN A COMPLETE SELL-OUT - MAKES EUROPEAN REGULAR TOUR HISTORY

The Irish Open has made European Tour history by becoming the first regular Tour event to sell out completely over all four days of this year’s championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
In recent weeks, the Tour has closed the sale of tickets, firstly for the weekend’s play, then Friday’s second round. Now the sale of tickets on the gate for tomorrow’s opening round has ceased, creating an unprecedented sell-out.
A total of 27,000 people each day will descend on Royal Portrush between Thursday and Sunday as Northern Ireland welcomes an Irish Open to its shores for the first time since 1953. Spectators are advised that no tickets will be sold at the gate for the duration for the tournament.
The combination of the sell-out and one of the strongest fields on The European Tour Schedule has resulted in a Major-like atmosphere at the County Antrim links course, even before a competitive ball has been struck.
Over 4,000 people attended the opening practice round at the Dunluce Links, while a crowd of 14,225 added an exciting dimension to the star-studded Wednesday Pro-Am.
“The 2012 Irish Open has exceeded all expectations in terms of advance ticket sales. Following the announcement that the last three days were sold out, we had a considerable up-take for Thursday which has culminated in us putting up the ‘sold out’ signs,” said Championship Director Antonia Beggs.

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RAYMOND RUSSELL SPARKLES WITH CHALLENGE TOUR SEVEN-UNDER 63

FROM SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Scot Raymond Russell set the pace in the first round of the Challenge Provincia di Varese with a superb seven under par 63.
In scorching heat at Golf Club Varese in northern Italy, the 39 year old produced a flawless round, which included three birdies in the last three holes, to lead by one from four players, including compatriot Andrew McArthur.
“That score was probably the worst it could have been today,” said Russell, who was limited to just two events on The European Tour last year because of a debilitating virus.
“I three-putted a par five, missed from four feet for birdie at the eighth and three feet for birdie at the ninth. But it was really solid. I just kept it in play and my iron play was very good. The longest putt I holed was eight to ten feet.
“It’s not a bomber’s course, which is perfect for me. You just have to keep it on the fairway and keep plodding along.
“My game has been showing signs of coming good. I played nicely last week for 27 holes and then not so good for the rest. But there’s a bit of momentum going.”
Despite having a medical exemption for The European Tour, Russell added: “I’m going to stick to the Challenge Tour for the rest of the season and try to get my card again that way.”
McArthur was grateful for a change in fortunes, having only made one cut from six appearances so far this season.
He said: “I’ve not been playing well at all, but today was half-decent. I holed a few putts and hit my irons a lot better, but I was just trying not to hit it in the rough. The course is set up beautifully, but it’s difficult.
“I didn’t hit many drivers or three-woods; I just hit it on the fairways with irons. I’ve been working very hard on my game lately and it’s been quite tough.
“It was good to make a decent start and maintain it. Before, even if I birdied the first couple I’d throw in a few bogeys and before you know it it’s a struggle. It’s been like that for a while, and not very enjoyable. Even if I’m under par, you wouldn’t believe the thoughts that go through my head.”
Scott Henry also started brightly with a three under par 67, one fewer than Chris Doak. Jack Doherty carded a 69, but it was more of a struggle for fellow Scots Callum Macaulay (72), Lloyd Saltman (73) and Gavin Dear (74).
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
63 R Russell (Sco) ,
64 J Walters (RSA) , N Lemke (Swe) , R De Sousa (Sui) , M Crespi (Ita) , A McArthur (Sco) ,
65 J Dantorp (Swe) , D Vancsik (Arg) , B Ritthammer (Ger) ,
66 F Elli (Ita) , S Kim (Kor) , A Tadini (Ita) , A Bruschi (Ita) , G Lockerbie (Eng) ,
67 F Keenan (Eng) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , S Henry (Sco) , A Domingo (Esp) , M Tullo (Chi) , A Maestroni (Ita) , C Mivis (Bel) ,
68 P Uihlein (USA) , P Relecom (Bel) , W Besseling (Ned) , C Doak (Sco) , J Hansen (Den) , E Bertheussen (Nor) , R Steiner (Aut) , A Kaleka (Fra) , M Korhonen (Fin) , S Bebb (Wal) ,
69 C Lanza (Ita) , T Remkes (Ned) , A Bossert (Sui) , R Karlberg (Swe) , A John (Ger) , R Dinwiddie (Eng) , M Delpodio (Ita) , S Benson (Eng) , M Quiros (Esp) , C Paisley (Eng) , M Cryer (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , A Hansen (Den) , V Riu (Fra) , N Henriques (Por) , L Goddard (Eng) , H Bacher (Aut) , D Gaunt (Aus) , G Watremez (Bel) , N Ravano (Ita) , J Doherty (Sco) , A Parr (Can) , A Tampion (Aus) , A Levy (Fra) , S Tiley (Eng) ,
70 E De La Riva (Esp) , D Geminiani (Ita) , C Ford (Eng) , P Dwyer (Eng) , O Henningsson (Swe) , P Archer (Eng) , M Glauert (Ger) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , K Eriksson (Swe) , J Clément (Sui) , G Houston (Wal) , M Ford (Eng) , M Higley (Eng) , J Lima (Por) , C Hanson (Eng) , G Stal (Fra) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , M Madsen (Den) ,
71 A Perrino (Ita) , S Engell Andersen (Ken) , R Quiros (Esp) , F Calmels (Fra) , A Kristiansen (Nor) , H Mu (Chn) , L Jensen (Den) , F Praegant (Aut) , C Brazillier (Fra) , S Davis (Eng) , A Rota (Ita) , R McGowan (Eng) , L Beneduce (Ita) , I Elvira (Esp) , T Ferreira (RSA) , A Gee (Eng) , M Kieffer (Ger) , F Fritsch (Ger) , M Bothma (RSA) , A Signor (Ita) , J Heath (Eng) , J Abbott (Eng) , B Pastore (Ita) , F Laporta (am) (Ita) ,
72 Å Nilsson (Swe) , J Gibb (Eng) , M Cidonio (Ita) , L Kennedy (Eng) , B Chapellan (Fra) , S Piaget (Mon) , A Bernadet (Fra) , L Canter (Eng) , T Cruz (Por) , R Wingardh (Swe) , C Moriarty (Irl) , A Snobeck (Fra) , C Macaulay (Sco) , J Barnes (Eng) , E Kofstad (Nor) , F Delamontagne (Fra) , S Strange (Aus) , R Echenique (Arg) ,
73 L Saltman (Sco) , J Wahlqvist (Swe) , J Kaske (Fin) , M Erlandsson (Swe) , A Knappe (Ger) , C Gane (Eng) , P Bech (Esp) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , S Pinckney (USA) , A Bolognesi (am) (Ita) , G Garbin (am) (Ita) , L Scotto (am) (Ita) , F Zucchetti (am) (Ita) , F Bergamaschi (am) (Ita) ,
74 C Lloyd (Eng) , R Kakko (Fin) , G Dear (Sco) , R Schneider (Fra) , G Molteni (Ita) , J Maurer (Aut) , T Feyrsinger (Aut) , B Ahlenback (Swe) , B An (Kor) , A Otaegui (Esp) , G Baruffaldi (Ita) ,
75 K Samooja (Fin) , M Gojcic (Slo) , N Bertasio (Ita) , G Clark (Eng) , P Gal (Cze) , B Evans (Eng) , D Brooks (Eng) ,
76 A Rosado (Por) , J Van Der Vaart (Ned) ,
77 M Haines (Eng) , N Lombardi (Ita) , C Günther (Ger) ,
79 U Weinhandl (Aut) ,
83 N Meitinger (Ger) ,
86 C Kaiser (Ger) ,

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