ROBERTSON AND CLARK MOVE UP IN EUROPEAN AMATEUR

Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark made a big surge up the leaderboard on Day 2 of the 72-hole European men's individual amateur championship at Carton House GC, Maynooth in Ireland today.
Robertson shot a 65 - 10 shots better than his first-day effort - and Matthew Clark improved by six shots with a 66. They are both on four-under-par 140 and sharng 13th place.
Leader on 10-under 134 is Daniel Jennevret (Sweden) with rounds of 64 and 70.
He leads by two from another Scandinavian, Thomas Sorensen (Denmark) who has had scores of 69 and 67.

TO VIEW THE IRISH GOLF UNION'S COVERAGE OF THE EVENT
INCLUDING ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

AMERICAN PAUL SIMSON LEADS BRITISH SENIOR AMATEUR OPEN

American Paul Simson is leading the British senior open amateur championship in North Wales.

TO READ A SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S PLAY AND VIEW THE SCORES ON THE R AND A WEBSITE

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SWANSTON NEW GOLF CLUB MIXED FOURSOMES OPEN

 Saturday, September 1

Entries available by logging on to www.swanstongolf.co.uk, click on Golf and go to “Opens” click on “Mixed Open” where you will get an entry form – you can also pay online via paypal.

Prize Purse of £500 (in value). Max handicap 36 for ladies and 28 for Men.

Stuart J. Campbell

Golf Manager

PGA Professional

Swanston Golf

111 Swanston Road

EDINBURGH EH10 7DS

0131 445 2239

07875 534349

www.swanston.co.uk

WALLACE BOOTH ON LEADER'S TAIL AT MAR HALL SCOTTISH CLASSIC

NEWS RELEASE
Englishman Daniel Wardrop leads the MarHall.com Scottish Classic by one shot to Comrie’s Wallace Booth after shooting a second-round four-under-par 66 to move to eight under.

Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club) registered the same score in his opening round on Wednesday but the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is set for an exciting climax on Friday with four golfers just two shots behind Wardrop.

The Manchester golfer opened his second round with a bogey at the tenth but took his card below par with birdies at 14 and 15. Two more pairs of back-to-back birdies – at the first and second and sixth and seventh – were only slightly marred by a bogey five at the fourth and Wardrop concluded the day in pole position.

Booth (Comrie Golf Club) also began his second round on the 10th tee and was three under par when he turned home after notching up successive birdies at 13, 14 and 15. He added two more at one and three but was set back by a double bogey on the fourth. He made amends with birdies at the seventh and ninth to sign for a second-round 65 when he returned to the clubhouse, putting him seven under par having shot a 68 on Wednesday.

Four golfers are tied for third, two shots behind Wardrop. Darryn Lloyd (Acrabuild ltd) and Michael McGeady (McCambridge Duffy) both shot second-round 66s to add to their opening-day 68s while Robert Harris (Francis Kirk and Son) and Martin LeMesurier carded 67s to match their first-round scores.

Lloyd, McGeady and Harris each registered five birdies in their second round, with Lloyd bogeying the fourth and McGeady the fifth. Harris dropped shots at four and  LeMesurier, who is currently fourth on the Order of Merit, shot four birdies and a bogey on his way to 67.

Finishing high up the leaderboard on Friday would help Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) cement his place in the all-important Order of Merit top five. He is tied for seventh with James Scade (Ingrebourne Links), three strokes off leader Wardrop.

Overnight leaders Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) and Warren Harmston (Wentworth Golf Club) both dropped down the leaderboard with above-par second rounds. Stewart was one over par 70 for the day and is one of seven golfers four strokes off the lead, while Englishman Harmston is a further shot from the top after a second-round 72, two over par.

A cut to the leading 50 players plus ties has been made, with all golfers who are level par or better after 36 holes proceeding to play Friday’s final round.

Among the notable casualties were two members of last year's successful GB and I Walker Cup team at Balgownie - Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and Banchory's James Byrne (IMG). Stewart shot 68-73 for 141 - two over the limit for qualifying. Byrne had scores of 70 and 74 for 144.
LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70)
132 Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury) 66 66.
133 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 68 66
134 Darryn Lloyd (England) 68 66, Robert Harris (England) 67 67
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
135 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 68 67 (T7)
136 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 65 71 (T9)
137 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 68 69 (T16)
138 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 67 71, Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 69 69, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 70 68 (T22)
139 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 69 7) (T39)
MISSED THE CUT (140 and better qualified)
141 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 68 73, Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 71 70, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) 73 68, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 67 74, John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 71 70.
143 Lorne Kelly (Prodream USA) 71 72.
144 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 71 73, John Gallagher (Turnhouse) 71 73, James Byrne (IMG) 70 74
145 Jordan Findlay (unatt) 72 73
146 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 75 71, Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) 72 74
150 Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 75 75
161 Conor O'Neil (Pollok) (am) 82 79.
Spectator entry at Mar Hall is free and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.

GARETH WRIGHT IN THE GLENMUIR PGA MIX

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA
An Irishman, Scottish-based Welshman and an Englishman are set to be the lead protagonists in the battle to lift the prestigious Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at De Vere Carden Park
Former champion John Dywer from Ashbourne in County Meath holds the aces after playing a shrewd hand to return a four-under-par 68 and establish a two shot lead going into Friday’s final round.
Within striking distance lurks Gareth Wright from West Linton near Edinburgh who is at ten under for the £78,000 tournament which is supported by Peugeot.
The Welsh ace would have been even closer on Dwyer’s heels but for a bogey on the par five last - a hole he eagled 24 hours previously.
His 71 left him a stroke in front of Minchinhampton New Golf Club left hander Stuart Little who managed a 72 thanks to a brilliant birdie on the last when he extricated himself from a tricky bunker shot to sink a 10 foot putt.
Overnight leader Craig Shave (Whetstone) slipped to a 74 but at eight under is still well in contention as the tournament reaches a potentially dramatic finale.
However it is Dywer who is in pole position to land the £10,000 first prize although despite two birdies on each nine he revealed it wasn’t quite the serene round it appeared with the 2007 winner taking advantage of three drops.
“I struggled on the front nine, I was not as sharp off the tee as usual which is normally the strongest part of my game,” he said.
“I had three free drops on the front nine, two off a buggy path and one out of an unmarked drain so I was a bit wild. That’s not me.
“But I found something on the back nine and every time I got it round the hole I was able to sink it and every time I got in trouble I was able to make pars.”
Despite his two stroke cushion, Dwyer is clear he will need another low round tomorrow to secure victory and with it near certain qualification for next year’s Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team to face America at Slaley Hall.
“There are a number of guys who can shoot low so I’m going to have to do something good under par I would imagine,” he added.
“I just need to put the ball in play. It’s really not a difficult golf course if you can put the ball in play off the tee.
“I’ve been thinking my way round the golf course well because I’m hitting a lot of three woods which again is not me because I’m not a long hitter. But I have a new three wood that I can get out 15 yards within my driver so I have hit that as often as I possibly can.”
Wright meanwhile is excited at the prospect of going out in the last group and believes his game is in good shape despite the blip on the last.
“It was one of those days where I didn’t hole any putts. I played steady didn’t do anything too drastic and played nicely,” he said.
“The last hole typified my round, I hit it good all day and didn’t really get any good yardages, it was either in between - slightly too much or too little.
“I played the par fives poorly but I had some good opportunities and can’t complain.
“It puts me in a good position tomorrow for a good last round, my swing feels good and I’m putting well.
“It’s a one round sprint. I’ve played in big events so it doesn’t really phase me playing in the last group of the Glenmuir and I played in the last group earlier in the season with Greig Hutcheon breathing down my neck and held on to win there so we’ll see what happens here.”
Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship –
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
204 John Dwyer (Ashbourne) 66 70 68
206 Gareth Wright (West Linton) 66 69 71
207 Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) 69 66 72
208 Craig Shave (Whetstone) 67 67 74
211 Robert Wragg (Robert Wragg Golf) 73 71 67, Steve Parry (North West Golf Academy) 70 67 74.
212 James Whatley (Morley Hayes Golf) 75 68 69, Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 71 71 70.
213 Jonathan Cheetham (www.1836tour.com) 73 73 67, Daniel Greenwood (Forest Pines) 70 74 69, Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) 72 71 70, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 72 70 71, Cameron Clark (Moor Hall) 68 71 74, Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) 72 69 72.

Leaderboard and event information for the championship final at De Vere Carden Park can be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi12/event/pgagbi1214/index.htm

Visit http://www.pga.info/PGAProfessionalChampionship.aspx for more information on the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship

Visit www.PGA.info for up to date reports and scores from the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship and all PGA tournaments

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR PREVIEW

REPORT FROM NEIL AHERN, European Challenge Tour Press Officer

O’Hara hoping to boost confidence in Norway

Steven O’Hara will be hoping to continue the kind of form which earned him his best finish of The European Tour season two weeks ago when he plays the Norwegian Challenge on the Challenge Tour this week.

The 32 year old claimed a tied 18^th place finish at the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity despite bogeying three of the last four holes.

While he couldn’t build on that momentum on The European Tour, O’Hara believes it may be a blessing in disguise as he looks to earn a first career win on the European circuit in just his second Challenge Tour appearance of the season.

“I had a good week in Austria,” said the Motherwell man. “It was a disappointing finish but I played well so I'm just looking forward to getting going. I'm feeling quite confident and I've been hitting the ball well in practice so I'm looking forward to the week.

“It’s been a disappointing year. I've been hitting the ball well but my chipping and putting hasn’t been good. If I can just finish a tournament off at the weekend I’ll be ok and I’m coming down a level this week but in a way it’s a good thing because I feel like I can compete for the title so I hope to get some confidence from that.

“Hopefully I can play well in the next few weeks and push myself up the Challenge Tour Rankings. That would give me a boost so, like any tournament, my goal is to get a win. If I do well I think I’ll probably stick with the Challenge Tour for the rest of the year.

“Austria was the best finish I've had on The European Tour this year and if I had parred the last four holes I would’ve been sixth I think. It’s a confidence boost though and I'm playing well enough so it’s about confidence.”

Other Scotsmen in the field include Chris Doak, who also had a good week at the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity, picking up his best result on The European Tour with a tied sixth finish, Alastair Forsyth and Lloyd Saltman.

There are plenty of stars present with former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson present, as well as European Tour winners Nick Dougherty, José Filipe Lima and Ross McGowan.

Other notable names in the field for the €175,000 event include Challenge Tour Rankings leader Gary Lockerbie, Frenchman Gary Stal, who has won two Challenge Tour titles this season, and Austrian Florian Praegant, who lost out to Andrea Pavan in a play-off for this title at Hauger Golf Club last year.

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF

New champion Ellis in England Home Internationals squad
New English champion Harry Ellis (Meon Valley, Hampshire) has been selected in the England squad for the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club next week (August 15 to 17).
He is one of five new caps along with Seb Crookall-Nixon (Workington, Cumbria), Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire), Jamie Rutherford (Knebworth, Hertfordshire) and Jordan Smith (Bowood G and CC, Wiltshire).
The rest of the squad that will defend the Raymond Trophy is:
Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford, Essex), Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland), Neil Raymond (Corhampton, Hampshire), Callum Shinkwin (Moor Park, Hertfordshire), Ben Stow (Rushmore, Wiltshire) and Josh White (Chipstead, Surrey).
Ellis (image © Tom Ward), who won’t turn 17 until next month, won the English Amateur Championship at Silloth-on-Solway in Cumbria last weekend, beating Lancashire’s Henry Tomlinson 2 and 1 in a weather delayed 36-hole final.
He was capped at under 16 level and although a member of the England boys squad, now steps up to a full international. A former Hampshire junior champion, this year he has finished fifth in the McEvoy Trophy and equal sixth in the South East boys qualifying.
Crookall-Nixon’s selection comes just 13 weeks after he was injured in a car accident in his native Cumbria and follows his quarter final defeat by Ellis in the English Championship. The English under 16 champion in 2008 and 2009, he was also an under 16 cap and finished fourth in last year’s Brabazon Trophy.
Kimsey, 19, steps up from a boy international, while he has also represented GB and I against Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Winner of the McEvoy Trophy in 2011 which saw him finish fourth in the Titleist/FootJoy English Boys Order of Merit, this year he has won the Darwin Salver and finished third in the South East of England Links Championship while reaching the semi-finals of the English Amateur.
Rutherford, 20, earns his first international call at any level having won the County Champions tournament in 2011. This year, he finished third in the Brabazon Trophy, winning the Henriques Salver for the lowest aggregate for a player aged under 20, and fourth in the South of England Open Amateur as he did last year.
Smith, 19, also earns his first international honour having been a member of the victorious Wiltshire team in last year’s County Championship finals at Ganton. In successive weeks last month he finished joint runner-up in the Chiberta Grand Prix and tied fifth in the Biarritz Cup and was beaten by Ellis in the English Amateur semi-finals.
Hiluta, 23, made his full England debut against France in May, having earlier won the Spanish Amateur, while Porteous, 22, joint seventh in the Brabazon Trophy, reached the last 16 of the English Amateur.
Raymond, 26, has been an England regular since his debut against Spain in 2011. He has won the Brabazon Trophy for the past two years and just failed to add the English title last week, losing in the quarter finals. Last winter, while in Australia, he won the New South Wales Medal.
Shinkwin, 19, won all four of his games on his full England debut against France in May. A semi-finalist in last year’s English Amateur, in 2012 he has won the Hampshire Hog, finished equal third on the Berkhamsted Trophy and tied fifth in the Darwin Salver.
Stow, 20, another member of Wiltshire’s winning County Championship team, debuted in last year’s Home Internationals and was runner-up in the County Champions tournament. He finished seventh in the Scottish Stroke Play, ninth in the Brabazon Trophy and won the individual competition at the recent European Men’s Challenge Trophy in Iceland.
White, 21, was another to make his full England debut against France in May having been a boy cap. This summer, he has won the Berkshire Trophy, the Scrutton Jug for the best aggregate score from the Berkshire and Brabazon Trophies, and reached the last 16 of the English Amateur.
England has won the last three Home Internationals matches.

Lynne Fraser
Marketing and PR Manager
Email: pr@englandgolf.org
Tel: 01526 354500