RUSSELL KNOX - 74 IN JOHN DEERE CLASSIC - AFTER OPTING OUT OF SCOTTISH OPEN

Inverness-born Russell Knox, pictured, had the choice of playing in the Aberdeen Scottish Open at Castle Stuart or the John Deere Classic on the US PGA Tour.
He plumped for the latter because he has missed far too many cuts for his own good and is in the danger zone for losing his player's card.
Perhaps Russell would have been better coming home to boost his morale rather than his bank balance because he shot a 74 at the Illinois venue, alongside Englishman Brian Davis, to be T141, needing to shoot in the mid-60s in the second round to beat the cut.
The scoring at Silvus, Illinois looks on a par with the Scottish Open ... Troy Matteson is leading with 10-under 61

LEADERBOARD

FIRST ROUND
Par 71
Players from US unless stated
61 Troy Matteson
64 Ricky Barnes
65 Robert Garrigus, Scott Piercy, K J Choi, Brian Harman, Steve Stricker, Luke Guthrie, Gary Christian (England).

SELECTED SCORES
74 Brian Davis (England), Russell Knox (Scotland) (T141).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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TO VIEW A FULL SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S PLAY AND READ THE
INTERVIEWS WITH LEADING PLAYERS

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Holly and Laura will take the Road to Morocco in October - You can too!

Curtis Cup player Holly Clyburn and Scottish women's amateur champion Laura Murray have accepted invitations to be star guest players at the 3rd Morocco Golf Festival, played over five courses at Marrakech from October 7 to 14.

READ ALL ABOUT IT on our sister website: www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Whether you are a low or long handicapper, man or woman, boy or girl, there is also a place for you at the 3rd Morocco Festival.
Play golf at Marrakech for a week - and brag about it at your club for a year!

ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT MEN'S PENNANT LEAGUE SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL

VENUE: KINGS LINKS

BON ACCORD 3, DEESIDE 2

Bon Accord players first

B Edmond and A Crawford bt A Ross and D Jarvie 5 and 3.

Mat Greig and M Edmond bt S Cruickshank and M Vass 1 hole.

A Shand and Mark Greig lost to R Evett and J Pryde 1 hole.

W Smith and P Coutts lost to R Freeland and T Rennie 5 and 4.

M Dunn and R Allerton bt A Powell and K Ingram 2 and 1.
Deeside's first defeat?

McLEARY BATTLES BACK FOR SOLID 68 IN LUCERNE

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

FROM NEIL AHERN

nahern@europeantour.com

Jamie McLeary, pictured, overcame a difficult start to card six birdies on the way to a solid three under par 68 in the opening round of the Credit Suisse Challenge at Golf Sempachersee, near Lucerne.

The 31 year old from Edinburgh began with back to back bogeys in Switzerland but chipped in for birdie on the third hole to begin an admirable come back which included birdies at the seventh, tenth, 14^th and 17^th holes to finish the day tied for 11^th, six shots behind runaway leader Joachim B Hansen.
“I didn’t actually play the first two holes too badly,” said McLeary. “But I hung in there and made some easy birdies and holed a couple of big putts.
“I was toiling after the first two bogeys so it was nice to chip in on the third, even if was quite an easy chip. My driving isn’t great at the moment and with the rough here, it’s quite nasty.

SCOTS UNDER PAR 

“I just managed to hit the fairway on the holes I needed to and didn’t do too much else wrong."
Andrew McArthur and Callum Macaulay were amongst the players a shot further back on two under while Chris Doak finished the day on one under par.
Leader Hansen, meanwhile, described it as the best round of his Challenge Tour career as the young Dane stormed to the top of the leaderboard after the opening day thanks to a stunning nine under par round of 62.
The 21 year old carded 10 birdies, including six in a flawless front nine, as he took a four shot lead into the second day at Golf Sempachersee, ahead of his compatriot Lasse Jensen, England’s Matt Ford and his fellow country man and 2008 Ryder Cup star Oliver Wilson.

FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 71

62 J Hansen  (Den)

66 M Ford (Eng), L Jensen (Den) , O Wilson (Eng) 

67 C Moriarty (Irl) , A Levy (Fra) , S Wakefield (Eng) , S Tiley (Eng) , A Snobeck  (Fra) , H Joannes  (Bel) 

68 P Archer (Eng) , C Hanson (Eng) , J McLeary  (Sco) , D Ulrich (Sui) , D Vancsik (Arg) , R Steiner (Aut) , J Wahlqvist (Swe) , A Domingo (Esp) 

69 J Busby (Eng) , S Pinckney (USA) , D Brooks (Eng) , J Mommo  (Fin) , J Heath  (Eng) , C Macaulay  (Sco) , D Lokke (Den) , J Gibb (Eng) , A McArthur  (Sco) , J Mikkelsen (Nor) , D Gaunt (Aus) , F Fritsch  (Ger) , G Houston (Wal) , G Stal  (Fra) , J Clément  (Sui) , A Perrino  (Ita) , A Hartø  (Den) , M Rominger  (Sui) , E De La Riva  (Esp) , Å Nilsson (Swe) , N Meitinger  (Ger) , J Abbott (Eng) , B Rusch (am) (Sui)

70 E Bertheussen (Nor) , J Walters (RSA) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , A Maestroni  (Ita) , S Grant  (Irl) , A Tadini (Ita) , V Riu  (Fra) , N Sulzer  (Sui) , N Lemke (Swe) , M Carlsson  (Swe) , B Parker  (Eng) , C Blaesi  (Sui) , B Evans  (Eng) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , B Chapellan (Fra) , C Doak (Sco) , N Ravano (Ita) , P Gustafsson (Swe) 

71 S Davis (Eng) , L Goddard  (Eng) , M Madsen  (Den) , B Åkesson (Swe) , P Relecom  (Bel) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , A Knappe (Ger) , F Praegant (Aut) , M Glauert (Ger) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , M Bothma (RSA) , J Parry (Eng) , N Dougherty  (Eng) , N Bertasio (Ita) , D Geminiani (Ita) , S Buhl (Ger) , P Edberg (Swe) , B Koepka  (USA) , K Benz (Sui) , T Remkes (Ned)

72 A Velasco (Esp) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , M Nixon (Eng) , A Bernadet  (Fra) , J Bragulat  (Esp) , A Tampion  (Aus) , P Fendt (Aut) , A Gee  (Eng) , E Kofstad (Nor) , P Karantzias (Gre) , P Baker (Eng) , M Kieffer (Ger) , R Quiros  (Esp) , J Girrbach (am) (Sui)

73 F Delamontagne  (Fra) , S Jeppesen  (Swe) , M Haines  (Eng) , F Svanberg  (Sui) , A Ahokas (Fin) , R De Sousa (Sui) , H Bacher (Aut) , J Schmid (Sui) , B Etchart  (Esp) , F McGuirk  (Eng) , A Hortal  (Esp) , I Elvira  (Esp) , J Lima  (Por) , G Watremez (Bel) , S Benson (Eng) , M Brown (Nzl) , B Barham (Eng) , E Amacher (am) (Sui) 

74 R Harrison (Eng) , R Kakko  (Fin) , R McGowan  (Eng) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) , M Higley (Eng) , W Besseling  (Ned) , J Kaske (Fin) , M Cryer (Eng) , F De Vries  (Ned) , R Dinwiddie  (Eng) , R Russell (Sco) , S Henry  (Sco) , J Barnes (Eng) , C Russo (Fra) , M Iten (am) (Sui) 

75 J Burnier (Sui) , E Pepperell (Eng) , A Parr (Can) , B Pastore (Ita) , C Gane (Eng) , J Rask (Swe) , J Huldahl (Den) , S Franky (Col) , M Crespi  (Ita) , R Echenique (Arg) , J Maurer  (Aut) , I Giner (Esp) , C Brazillier  (Fra) , M Dobias (am) (Sui)

76 P Erofejeff (Fin) , J Johnson (Eng) , U Weinhandl (Aut) , F Calmels  (Fra) , P Dwyer (Eng) , N D'Incau  (Sui) , D McKenzie (Aus) ,

77 P Gal  (Cze), T Hatton (Eng) , R Wiederkehr (Sui) , G Dear (Sco) , J Doherty  (Sco)

78 J Dantorp (Swe)

79 M Eggenberger (am) (Sui) 

91 J Svoboda (Cze)

DEFENDING SENIORS CHAMPION BROTHERSTON LOSES AT 22ND

Title-holder Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co), pictured, was beaten by Richard T Gray (Irvine) at the 22nd hole in the quarter-finals of the Scottish senior amateur men's match-play golf championship at West Kilbride GC today. In another last-eight surprise result top seed John Fraser (Royal Burgess) was well beaten, 5 and 4, by Derek Murphy (Kinross). In Friday morning's semi-finals, it will be Gray versus Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Murphy versus David Gardner (Broomieknowe). TODAY'S RESULTS: SECOND ROUND John Fraser (Royal Burgess) bt Lindsay Godon (Turnhouse) 1 hole. Derek Murphy (Kinross) bt Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) at 20th. David Gardner (Broomieknowe) bt Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) at 20th. Graham Cox (Pollok) bt Fraswr McCluskey (Royal Burgss) 3 and 2. Richard T Gray (Irvine) bt Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 3 and 2. Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) bt Keith Bruce (Edzell) 3 and 2. Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) bt George Paterson (Northern) 1 hole. David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) at 20th. QUARTER-FINALS Murphy bt Fraser 5 and 4. Gardner bt Cox 1 hole. Gray bt Brotherston at 22nd Taylor bt Miller 2 and 1.

FRANCESCO MOLINARI SETS COURSE RECORD 62 AT CASTLE STUART

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Francesco Molinari spared a thought for his brother Edoardo after a truly dazzling start to his bid for a notable family double in Inverness.
The 29-year-old Italian leads the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after a 10-birdie course record 62 at Castle Stuart Golf Links against a field that includes World No 1 Luke Donald and ten Major champions.
Edoardo won the Scottish Open title at Loch Lomond two years ago, three months before he and Francesco became partners in The Ryder Cup.
But the older of the pair had left wrist surgery two weeks ago and, having not played for a month, is likely to spend the entire summer rehabilitating.
"It would be nice to do well this week for him as well - to cheer him up a little bit," said Francesco, who looks in the form of his life after finishing second in the Alstom Open de France on Sunday, thanks to a closing 64.
If he wins this weekend it would be only the second time in European Tour history that brothers have won the same event. Spaniards German and Antonio Garrido were Madrid Open champions in 1973 and 1977, respectively.
CHANCE OF A 59
At ten under after 15 holes, Molinari - on course to earn a seond cap against the Americans in September - admits he did work out that three more birdies would give him the circuit's first-ever 59.
It did not happen - he parred them all - but he can still claim to have broken 60 for 18 holes. In Paris he played his last nine in 29 and here he turned in 30.
The 62 matched the lowest round of his European Tour career and was a far cry from his first experience of links golf.
That came in an amateur event at St Andrews over a decade ago when he shot an 89.
Molinari is now a Ryder Cup and Omega Mission Hills World Cup winner, also has a World Golf Championships victory to his name, and will see his odds for next week's Open Championship cut even more if he goes on like this.
"I know it's not going to last forever," he added, "but I hope to keep this going a little bit longer - obviously next week, but the next month or so is really big for The Ryder Cup.
"That, probably more than The Open, is in my mind."
Two behind is Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares, who birdied his last six holes to match Molinari’s 29 strokes on the front nine.
DONALD'S 67 START
Dane Søren Kjeldsen and France’s Raphaël Jacquelin lie one further back on seven under, while defending champion Donald began well with a five under par 67.
Phil Mickelson, who missed out on a trip to the Vatican to play, might need some help from above to win it after an opening 73 left him 11 behind Molinari.
Not that the three-time Masters Tournament champion is waiting for divine intervention.
"I think everybody is looked on equally and you have to make your own destiny," said Mickelson, who left his family in Italy because he felt the need to play more before going to Royal Lytham for next week's Open Championship.
The 42 year old, joint runner-up behind Darren Clarke at Sandwich last summer, began well enough with two birdies in his first three holes.
But his problems of late resurfaced with three bogeys and also a seven at the long 12th.
At one over, the same as playing partner Paul Lawrie, Mickelson is well outside the top 100 going into the second round.
Only the top 65 and ties make it through the 36-hole cut.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
 Par 72
62 Francesco Molinari (Italy)
64 Alejandro Canizaares (Spain)
65 Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Raphael Jacquelin (France)
66 Shane Lowry (Ireland), Robert Coles (England), Peter Lawrie (Ireland), Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), Alexander Noren (Sweden), Andrew Marshall (England), Jeev Milka Singh (India).

SELECTED SCORES
Players from Scotland unless otherwise stated
67 Luke Donald (England) (T12)
68 Stephen Gallacher, Marc Warren, Gary Orr, Martin Laird (T20).
69 Scott Jamieson, Steven O'Hara, Kevin Na (US), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) (T41)
70 Craig Lee, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) (am), Sandy Lyle, David Drysdale, Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Ernie Els (South Africa). (T61).
71 Colin Montgomerie, Alastair Forsyth, Peter Whiteford, James Byrne, Marcel Siem (Germany) (T83).
72 George Murray, Richie Ramsay, David Law (T101)
73 Paul Lawrie, Phil Mickelson (US), Tom Lewis (England) (T123).
75 Brian Soutar (Leven GS) (am) (T146)
78 Stephen Gray (T153)
80 Michael Stewart (156th).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

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EDITOR: Exactly 100 players broke the par of 72; 60 players got under the 70 mark. Which leaves me asking the same question I posed 12 months ago - Is Castle Stuart the easiest course on the European Tour? Don't think they'll ever play the Open or Ryder Cup there! Donald Trump will have a fit if somebody can get round his new course in 62.

WALLACE BOOTH IN EUROPRO TOUR PICTURE IN IRELAND

Perthshire's progressive Wallace Booth, pictured, took over from the faltering Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) as Scotland's front runner after two rounds of the PGA EuroPro Tour event in Ireland, the Concra Wood Open at Concra Wood GC, Co Monaghan. Booth shot a bogey-free 67 with birdies at the first, third, fourth, seventh and 15 to share second place on four-under 140 with Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth) (73-67). Another Englishman, Liam Burns (Sundridge Park) leads by two with 74-64 for 138. Stewart had three birdies and two double bogeys over his last eight holes for a 74 to slip out of a share of the lead down to joint 21st position on 144 with the improving Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) who had a second-round 69. Younger brother Zack shot a 74 for a share of 28th place on 145. Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) and Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) share 57th place on 149. Kerr had a 72, Isaacs a 73. John Henry and Chris Kelly are joint 64th on 150. Henry had a 76 and Kelly a 73. The cut to the top 50 and ties meant that all those with 36-hole totals of three-over-par 147 or better progress to Friday's final round.  LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES Par 144 (2x72) 138 Liam Burns (Eng) 74 64 140 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 73 67, Billy Hemstock (Eng) 73 67. SELECTED SCORES 144 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 70 74, Elliott Saltman (Archerfield Links) 75 69 (T21) 145 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 71 74 (T28) MISSED THE CUT (147 and better qualfied for final round) 149 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 7 72, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 76 73 (T57). 150 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 74 76, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 77 73 (T64)

KELLETT LEADS IN ITALY WITH A 63

GOLF COPY AND SCORES CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON TEL 01224 869782   KELLETT SHOOTS EIGHT-UNDER 63  FOR ITALY LEAD   Motherwell's Ross Kellett shot one of the lowest scores of his golfing career - an eight-under-par 63, to lead by one shot at the end of the first round of this week's Alps Tour event, the Montecchia Open at the Golf Club della Montecchia in Italy. Kellett began with a bogey and then fired nine birdies in the next 17 holes. He birdied the short second, the fifth and sixth to be out in 33 before coming home in six-under 30 with birdies at the long 12th, the 13th, 15th, 16th, short 17th and long 18th. Fellow Scots Kris Nicol and Philip McLean from the North-east had contrasting fortunes. Nicol was three over par after seven holes but covered his last 11 holes in four under par for a 70 (38-32). He is joint 26th. McLean had a 77 after taking 41 blows for the inward half, including double bogey 6s at the 10th and 13th. He is tied for 106th place.   ALPS TOUR - MONTECCHIA OPEN - Golf Club della Montecchia, Italy LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 71 63 Ross Kellett (co) 64 Dominque Nouailhac (Fra) 65 Tom Sherreard (Eng) SELECTED SCORES 68 Jason Palmer (Eng) (T17) 70 Kris Nicol (Sco) (T26) 77 Philip McLean (Sco) (T106).   ends

SCOTTISH SENIOR AMATEUR MEN'S MATCH-PLAY SCOREBOARD

Venue: West Kilbride Golf Club

SECOND ROUND

John Fraser (Royal Burgess) bt Lindsay Godon (Turnhouse) 1 hole.
Derek Murphy (Kinross) bt Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) at 20th.
David Gardner (Broomieknowe) bt Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) at 20th.
Graham Cox (Pollok) bt Fraswr McCluskey (Royal Burgss) 3 and 2.

Richard T Gray (Irvine) bt Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 3 and 2.
Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) bt Keith Bruce (Edzell) 3 and 2.
Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) bt George Paterson (Northern) 1 hole.
David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) at 20th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Murphy bt Fraser 5 and 4.
Gardner bt Cox 1 hole.
Gray bt Brotherston at 22nd
Taylor bt Miller 2 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS FRIDAY MORNING
Murphy v Gardner
Gray v Taylor

ROOM FOR MORE COMPETITORS AT TAIN GOLF WEEK

FROM MAGI VASS

Tain Golf Club secretary

We still have spaces for all competitions in our Golf Week which also includes a full evening entertainment programme.

Saturday 4^th August – Gents' 36 Hole Open

Sunday 5^th August – Gents' 18 Hole Open including Seniors

Monday 6^th – Thursday 9^th August - Gents and Ladies Four-Day Opens

Friday 10^th August – Mixed Foursomes

Saturday 11^th August – Ladies Open

 

Magi

WOOSNAM WANTS TO BE ONE OF OLLY'S RYDER CUP ASSISTANTS

FROM BBCSPORT.COM

Ian Woosnam has admitted he would "love" to be one of Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal's Ryder Cup assistants.

Olazabal will name four vice-captains for September's event at Medinah, Illinois as Europe hope to retain the trophy won at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Woosnam assisted Sam Torrance to Ryder Cup victory in 2002 at the Belfry and the Welshman was a victorious skipper in a record win the K Club in 2006.

"If he rings, I would definitely be interested in helping," Woosnam said.

Woosnam, the former world number one played, alongside Olazabal in five Ryder Cups, beginning in Europe's defeat at Muirfield in 1987.

Olazabal beat Woosnam to the 1990 Benson and Hedges International Open at St Mellion but the Welshman went on to beat the Spaniard by a shot in his only major triumph at the 1991 Masters in Augusta.
Under Woosnam's captaincy, Olazabal scored three points for the European team in their 18-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half victory over the United States in Ireland in 2006.
NO CONTACT
Woosnam has had no contact from the 46-year-old double Masters champion, who has been a Ryder Cup vice-captain to Nick Faldo (2008) and Colin Montgomerie (2010), but feels his experience may be beneficial.
"I know Jose well and I feel I know the way he will manage and captain the team," eight-time Ryder Cup player Woosnam told BBC Sport.
"I have known Jose since 1987 and I am sure he will do a great job whoever he has in his team.
"He is a two-time major winner, he's the type of guy I'd want to play for. I would have loved to play underneath him, he has a great Ryder Cup record which demands the respect of everybody.
"He has a lot of ambition, he is very emotional and is very good at getting the best out of people - he will definitely get the best out of his team.
TWELVE STALLIONS
"The players are top golfers, I liken them to 12 stallions who have all got their own minds and own wills, and the challenge is to encourage and get them to play together.
"You must get them to enjoy the occasion and take the pressure off them and ensure both players in each pairings are comfortable with each other when they go out on the course.
"Jose will already be working out his team and his partnerships.
"I can help give my experience, advise what it was like when I was captain, help with the pairings and just be there for Jose to take the pressure off.
"Jose will have so much to deal with like press commitments, getting his teams in and monitoring his pairings out on the course - assistants are there to give him a feel of who is playing well or playing badly and making his job just the little bit easier.
"But I'm looking forward to the Ryder Cup whether I'm sat down watching it on the television or actually at Medinah, but I think it will be really close again which is good for the Ryder Cup."

LIVE SCORING FROM THE ABERDEEN AM SCOTTISH OPEN AT CASTLE STUART

READY FOR THE OFF AT CASTLE STUART .. Martin Laird, Paul Lawrie, Luke Donald, Kevin Na, Louise Oosthuizen  and a hundred pipers and a.. (well, half a dozen) from the Royal British Legion Inverness Pipes and Drums . Image from the European Tour website.

TO VIEW THE ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT SCOTTISH OPEN LIVE SCORING SERVICE ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE