ROLEX TROPHY EVENT FOR ELITE 42 ON CHALLENGE TOUR

The top two players in the Challenge Tour Rankings, Gary Lockerbie and Magnus A Carlsson, will be able to keep a very close eye on one another in the opening round of the Rolex Trophy, having been drawn together in the first group out at 8.30am on Wednesday morning.

As is traditional in this week’s elite 42-man event – which will be played at Golf Club de Genève, in the Swiss capital, for the 24^th successive season – the players are paired in Rankings order in the first round, adding a competitive edge to what is otherwise one of the most relaxed and enjoyable weeks on the Challenge Tour Schedule.
With less than €1,000 currently separating the two men at the top of the tree, and with €24,400 on offer to the winner, this week’s tournament could go a long way towards determining who ends the 2012 campaign as the Number One graduate.
Lockerbie came close to topping the Rankings in 2008, when he won the Kazakhstan Open en route to finishing runner-up behind his compatriot David Horsey.
Since then, Lockerbie has yo-yoed between The European and Challenge Tours but, thanks to a quartet of top five finishes this season including – most significantly – at the dual ranking SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC, the 29 year old has already guaranteed his place in The 2013 Race to Dubai.
That is his first mission accomplished, but after reaching the summit of the Rankings Lockerbie has since been forced to re-adjust his goals for the season, and is now determined to stay there for the remainder of the campaign.  

He said: “It would be great to get back onto the Tour as the Number One. A few people have been mentioning it to me, so I’m constantly being reminded that I’m up there to be shot at! In some ways the pressure’s been taken off me, because I’ve already guaranteed my card for next season – but in another way I’m under pressure to stay at the top of the Rankings. It’s a nice type of pressure to be under though, because I’d certainly rather be fighting for first than 20^th place.”

Lockerbie finished in a tie for fifth place on his last visit to the tournament in 2008, and is hoping to scale the same heights on his return to Golf Club de Genève, which affords spectacular views of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.

He said: “There’s some good prize money on offer here, so it’s a very important week. But you’ve got the best 40 or so players on the Challenge Tour this season, so any win is going to be very hard-earned. I’m going to have to play very well this week to stay at the top of the Rankings, so it’s a big challenge and one I’m really looking forward to.

“It’s a lovely golf course in a beautiful part of the world and we get treated very well here, so if the sun continues to shine we should be all set for a great week. It’s a fun week on and off the course, with the Pro-Am format for the tournament and the functions in the evenings. So it’s always a week the players look forward to, and I’m no different.

“I decided to miss the tournament in Denmark to prepare for this week, and I felt pretty sharp after a few days’ practice, so hopefully I can take that sharpness onto the course with me. I’ve been here a couple of times before, so I know what to expect.

“It’s not the longest of courses, but you’ve still got to play well and hole putts to shoot low because birdies aren’t just given to you on a plate. If I can get the putter going, hopefully I can shoot some low numbers and get myself into contention come Saturday night.”

 

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THE EUROPEAN TOUR. CELEBRATING GOLF. WORLDWIDE

 

ABERDEEN ASSET NORTHERN OPEN TEE TIMES FOR TUESDAY

Meldrum House Golf Club, AUGUST 28, 2012

FIRST ROUND 

8:00 AM Andrew Cooper, Newmachar Golf Club
        Scott Herald, Mearns Castle Golf Academy
        Greg McBain, Gamola Golf

8:10 AM Andrew McMahon, The Grove
        Ross MacLeod, Eastwood Golf Club
        Sandy Aird, McDonald Golf Club

8:20 AM Duncan Anderson, Murrayfield Golf Club
        Norman Huguet, Musselburgh Golf Club
        Alan Gowran, East Renfrewshire Golf Club

8:30 AM Michael Rae, Alyth Golf Club
        Jamie Fraser, Renaissance Club
        Iain Donaldson, Meldrum House Golf Club

8:40 AM Greg Watson (a), Meldrum House
        Nathan Keast, Renaissance Club
        Jonathan Cliff, Murrayfield Golf Club

8:50 AM Ian Brown, Newent Golf Club
        Steven Duncan, Carnoustie Golf Links
        Andrew McIntyre, Ranfurly Castle Golf Club

9:00 AM Greig Hutcheon, Banchory Golf Club
        David Law, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre*
        Mark King, Kingsfield Golf Range

9:10 AM Neil Colquhoun, Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Cl
        Paul Betty, Hamilton Golf Club
        John Ruth, Clydeway Golf

9:20 AM Ross Bell (a) Downfield Golf Club, Dundee 

        Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club
        Chris Kelly, Cawder Golf Club

9:30 AM Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy)
        Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range 

        Gareth Hardy, Belleisle Golf Course

9:40 AM Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd.
        Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club
        Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst Golf Club 

9:50 AM Anthony Mackrell, Playsport Golf
        Heather MacRae, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses 

        Alasdair McDonald, Dunnikier Park Golf Club

10:05 AM Emma Fairnie, Gullane Golf Club
         Chris McCalman, Turnhouse Golf Club
         Joel Hopwood, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

10:15 AM James Byrne (IMG)
         Graham Fox, Rowallan Castle Golf Club
         Greg Marchbank (a)

10:25 AM Kenneth Hutton, Downfield Golf Club
         Ian Graham, Crow Wood Golf Club
         Jonathan Sharp, Carrick on Loch Lomond

10:35 AM  Scott Crichton (a) (Aberdour)
          Iain Colquhoun, Dundonald Links
          Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre 

10:45 AM  Alastair Mackenzie, Renaissance Club
          Paul Wardell, Whitekirk Golf Course
          Gregor Wright, Ladybank Golf Club

10:55 AM  Fraser Cromarty, Castle Stuart Golf Links
          Stuart Reekie, Blairgowrie Golf Club
          Craig Gordon, Edinburgh Golf Centre

 11:05 AM  Callum Nisbet, Bathgate Golf Club
           Sean O'Donnell, Balbirnie Park Golf Club
           Daniel Wood, Hirsel Golf Club

 11:15 AM  James McGhee, Duddingston Golf Club
           Stuart Pardoe, Stuart Pardoe Golf
           Fraser Moore (a) Glenbervie

 11:25 AM  Grant Smith, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses
           Michael Patterson, Kilmacolm Golf Club
           Jamie Mackay, North Gailes Golf Centre

 11:35 AM  Mark Kerr (unattached) Gordon Law, Uphall Golf Club
           Stuart Morrison, Tain Golf Club

 11:45 AM  David Orr, Mearns Castle Golf Academy
           Andrew Crerar, Panmure Golf Club
           Lee Vannet, Carnoustie Golf Links

 11:55 AM  Jonathan Lomas (unattached)
           Alexander Culverwell (a)(Dunbar)
           Paul McKechnie, Braid Hills Golf Range

  12:10 PM Craig Haugh, Linlithgow Golf Club
           Fraser Rummins, Canmore Golf Club
           Michael Daily (a)(Erskine)

  12:20 PM Steven Taylor, Bothwell Castle Golf Club
           David Patrick, Elie Sports Centre
           Michael Stewart, Troon Welbeck 

12:30 PM  Adam Dunton (a)
                Gareth Wright, West Linton Golf Club
                Ross Dixon, Renaissance Club

12:40 PM  Neil Fenwick, Dunbar Golf Club
                Christopher Robinson, Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club
                Craig Armstrong, Burntisland Golf Club

12:50 PM  Fraser McKenna (a)(Balmore)
          James McKinnon, Irvine Golf Club
          Patrick Walker, Ballumbie Castle Golf Course

1:00 PM Calum Trahan (a) (Meldrum House)
        Murray Urquhart, Spey Valley Golf Course
        Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle Golf Club

1:10 PM David Thomson, The Carnegie Club
        Stephen Lamb, Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Coun
        Alan Lockhart, Ladybank Golf Club

1:20 PM Keir McNicoll, Gullane Golf Club
        Craig Ronald, Carluke Golf Club
        Paul Shields (a)(Kirkhill)

1:30 PM Cameron West, Scotscraig Golf Club
        Grant Robertson
        Brian Mason, Callaway Golf

1:40 PM Malcolm Murray, Bearsden Golf Range
        Mark Loftus, Mearns Castle Golf Academy
        Campbell Elliott, Haggs Castle Golf Club

1:50 PM Alan Waugh, Clydebank and District Golf Club
        Christopher McMaster, Panmure Golf Club
        Matthew Burt, Helensburgh Golf Club

2:00 PM Matthew Laughtland, Bishopbriggs Golf Range
        Richard Holt, Balbirnie Park Golf Club
        Christopher Boyle, Lanark Golf Club

ROBIN WILSON REPORTS FOR CARNEGIE SHIELD AT ROYAL DORNOCH

The scratch candidates for the Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch played their first qualifying round on Tuesday without three time winner Andrew Biggadike in their midst.

Californian Biggadike was showing some form coming into Shield and after qualifying for the match play stages of the United States Amateur Championship at the beginning of last week was looking forward to having his biggest supporter, his father Ralf, watch him play through the match-play  rounds. Sadly that did not happen for after a very brief  illness Ralf Biggadike died last Saturday.

Until he retired Ralf Biggadike was a renowned professor at Columbia University, New York, and a member of Royal Dornoch. The family holidayed in Dornoch for many years during Carnegie Week building up many friends. Andrew, his sister and mother still hope to fulfill their holiday to Dornoch at the end of this week and long time friend and club member Sir Gavin Gilbey, is arranging a short memorial service close to the 16th green on Saturday morning to which all friends of the Biggadikes are invited to attend.

Leading Tuesday's first round scores was Swedish golfer Jorg Paulus after a two under par 68. To his level par outward 35 the Swede finished off his round with two birdies for an inward 33.

Last year's losing finalist John Forbes (Inverness) did not finish his round with a flourish,  his only mistake in a previous flawless seventeen holes was an errant drive and lost ball from the final tee  to run up a triple bogey seven for 73. Holder Paul Dolton (Frilford Heath) lies back on 79 and their are two locals on 74, former winner Alex MacDonald and William Short.

ARNOTT SCORES SEVENTH WIN

GOLF COPY AND SCORES CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON MOBILE IN STORMONT, BELFAST 07843 758031 ARNOTT SCORES SEVENTH WIN OF SEASON Bishopbriggs Golf Range tour pro Robert Arnott scored his seventh win of the Tartan Tour season in today's (Tuesda) Ben shotgun pro-am over the Fidra course at Archerfield Links. Arnott shot a four-under-par 68 to win by one shot from Stephen Gray (Hayston), Christopher Currie (Caldwell) and James McKinnon (Irvine). Arnott's first prize of £875 pushed his season's winnings up to £15,505 Gray, Currie and McKinnon earned £539 each. BEN SHOTGUN PRO-AM Archerfield Links, Fidra Course LEADING PRO SCORES Par 72 68 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) (£875) 69 Stephen Gray (Hayston), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), James McKinnon (Irvine) (£539 each) 70 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Kenny Hutton (Downfield), Gordon Law (Uphall) 71 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 72 Andrew Marshall (Houston GR), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) (£122 each) 73 David Orr (Mearns Castle), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) (£92 each). 74 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Mark Kerr (unatt) (£65 each) 75 Gareth Hardy (Ayr Belleisle), Alistair Brown (Archerfield Links) (£26 each) 77 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), James McGhee (Duddingston). 78 Craig Ronald (Carluke), Stuart Bayne (Archerfield Links) ends

ROBIN WILSON'S NORTH NEWS ROUND-UP

  North District Champion golfer, Bruce Thomson, marked his choice as a Nairn Golf Club home member when he won the Nairn Challenge Trophy for a second time last week beating Nairn Dunbar's Tom Dingwall in the final on the last green.

It was a memorable return to the Nairn course for Thomson. Now aged 31, he first won the same trophy as a member of Inverness Golf Club ten years ago, and now it is twenty five years since his father, Jocky Thomson, won the annual four day competition during the Nairn club's Centenary celebrations of 1987.

Not amongst the leading seeded players after the qualifying rounds, these were Freddie Brown of Nairn Dunbar and Euan Mackenzie (Cawder), Thomson fought his way through a ruck of players to reach  the last four where after Fotheringham put out the number two seed  Thomson would meet the local favourite, Fraser Fotheringham, winner of the previous week's Tain four day competition, and strongly expected to continue his winning run.

The Thomson-Fotheringham semi-final would have made an excellent ending to the competition, each attempting to add to previous trophy wins but only one of them could go through to the final and it was Thomson. 

Playing the second hole of sudden death the District Champion produced his shot of the week when to the par five green he struck a marvellous four iron to the pin then holed out for an eagle three to better Fotheringham's birdie four.

From the Nairn Dunbar professional's golf shop Tom Dingwall, who has ideas on becoming a professional himself, went  into the final after he beat a Nairn regular visitor from Newcastle, Jonny Todd, at the 19th hole in the other semi final. Both finalists held no more than a one hole advantage over the first twelve holes. Dingwall lost a ball from the 13^th tee and Thomson found trouble in a bunker at the next hole and with the 15^th hole halved in birdie threes Dingwall remained with a one hole advantage.

As is often the way a final can slip from grasp without warning and with only three holes to play Dingwall cracked making unnecessary bogey figures on the 16^th and 17^th holes. Thomson with more experience to his belt did not make the same mistake on the final hole and with the half in par five to remain one up  secured his second Nairn Challenge Trophy.

The Class 1 handicap section final was won by Michael Cushine from the new Craibstone golf course on the outskirts of Aberdeen with a comfortable 6&5 result over Nairn's Robert Bremner but the host club did produce a local winner in the Class 2 final. Robert Beattie beat Jim Robinson (Carlisle) by 4 and 2.

North of Scotland Championship at Tain this weekend.

 Four of the successful Scottish men's golf team who won the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes last week are included in the field for the North of Scotland Open Amateur stroke-play championship for the David Blair Trophy being played at Tain this weekend.

This is the first time the championship has been hosted on the Tain golf course  and the Internationalists in the field  include the defending champion James White (Lundin Links) joined by three of his Gailes team-mates who just also happen to be the leading three in the Scottish Order of Merit table, number one, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 258 points, second Ross Bell (Downfield) 247 points  and third Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm) 225 points.

LANARKSHIE COUNTY STROKE-PLAY TEE TIMES

LANARKSHIRE  GOLF  ASSOCIATION

COUNTY STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

COLVILLE PARK GOLF CLUB - SUNDAY 26^TH AUGUST 2012

Competitors must report to the Recorder at least 10 mins prior to starting time.

DMD’S – Devices that measure distance only are allowed.

1 8.00-12.15  K.LOUGHRIE             C.LONGMUIR              D.BROWN

                    Cambuslang              Bellshill                     Carluke

2 8.07 -12.22 S.GILLESPIE             A.STEVEN                 C.KELSO       

                     Cambuslang             Easter Moffat            Bellshill

3 8.15-12.30  D.CLELAND              A.READ                     S.WHITTERS

                    Hamilton                Bothwell Castle            Crow Wood

4 8.22-12.37  A.McDONALD           G.HADDOW                K.TURNBULL

                   Crow Wood              Colville Park               Hamilton

5 8.30-12.45  D.LOUDON               A.FAIRBAIRN              C.DICKSON

                   Hamilton                  Kirkhill                      Colville Park

6 8.37-12.52  S.FISHER                G.McALPINE               D.HAYES

                   Colville Park             Bellshill                      Hamilton

7 8.45-1.00   D.DAVIDSON            J.HICKSON                 G.CROSS

                   Colville Park             Bellshill                      Kirkhill

8 8.52-1.07   S.LUTTON                B.LINDSAY                WILLIAMSON

                   Bellshill                    Colville Park              Bothwell Castle

9 9.00-1.15   D.LEE                      J.RALSTON               J.WHITELAW

                  Crow Wood               Shotts                     Hollandbush

10 9.07-1.22 M.LUTTON                D.DOOEY                 W.STEELE     

                  Bellshill                     Colville Park             Carnwath

11 9.15-1.30 C.GRAHAM                S.DURNO                 G.SEMPLE

                  Hamilton                   Wishaw                   Colville Park

12 9.22-1.37 D.GRIFFITHS             J.BRADLEY               K.MULDOON

                  Bellshill                     Colville Park             Bothwell Castle

13 9.30-1.45 C.MacLEAN               B.MURPHY               R.WILSON

                  Hamilton                   Lanark                    Bellshill

14 9.37-1.52 D.FEARON                S.MURRAY               K.PRENTICE

                  Colville Park              Drumpellier               Hamilton

15 9.45-2.0 S.DUNBAR                 J.J.SMITH                D.CARDWELL

                 Easter Moffat            Cambuslang              Hamilton

16 9.52-2.07 C.FARRELL               C.HARRISON             N.FAGAN

                  Wishaw                   Carluke                    Bothwell Castle

17 10.0-2.15  M.O’DONNELL           S.KANE                   S.REILLY

                   Hamilton                  Cambuslang             Wishaw

18 10.07-2.22 R.MAIN                   S.McKERRON           D.NICHOLLS

                    Airdrie                    Strathclyde Park      Carluke                                                                                                                  

19 10.15-2.30 R.LIVINGSTONE        D.LAING                 C.GARDNER

                    Colville Park             Carluke                  Bellshill

20 10.22-2.37 D.FINDLEY               J.WALKINSHAW       A.WATT

                    Bellshill                    Wishaw                 Airdrie

21 10.30-2.45 J.LAMB                    J.STEVEN              J.McHENRY

                    Lanark                     Bothwell Castle      Lochview

22 10.37-2.52 D.MELVILLE              R.MILTON               R.MARDEL

                    Lochview                 Playsport              Torrance House

23 10.45-3.00 D.GRIEVE                 S.WYLIE                S.HENDERSON

                    Carnwath                 Airdrie                   Hamilton

24 10.52-3.07 F.KANE                    D.DOUGAN              J.HAINIE

                   Cambuslang               Colville Park           Hamilton

25 11.00-3.15 S.DOUGLAS             C.BOYD                  S.CAMPBELL

                    Strathaven              Lanark                   Cambuslang