Sunday, September 02, 2012

DES SMYTH REPEAT WIN IN SENIOR MASTERS AT WOBURN

REPORT FROM SARAH GWYNN
European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Irishman Des Smyth won his second Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters title in three years with a superb four under par 68 in the final round at Woburn Golf Club today.
The 59 year old from Drogheda, who triumphed here in 2010, finished with a ten under par total in front of record crowds, one shot clear of Australian Peter Fowler and two in front of Englishman Mark James, the pair both signing for 67.
Smyth spend much of the day level at the top with Spaniard Juan Quiros, but the 11th hole proved pivotal, with the Irishman birdieing and the Spaniard bogeying to open up a two shot gap, and Quiros ultimately had to settle for a 73 and a share of fifth place.
“It was very enjoyable,” said Smyth, who won £45,000 and his fifth Senior Tour trophy. “I’ve been playing well for a number of weeks and I felt very comfortable. I’ve won tournaments before when I’ve scrambled and got it up and down from all over the place, but this was a comfortable round. I think I only missed one or two greens and I felt in control all day.
“I kept an eye on the board and knew I had a few shots to spare, but in the end I only won by one. I expected a run from someone and it happened. I wasn’t taking any chances on the way in. I had my lead and I just wanted to hit it on the fairway, hit it on the green and wait until something happened.
“I was trying to get birdies myself without pushing too hard. When I got to the last tee I had a two shot lead and there was no point in taking any gambles. It worked out well in the end.”
Smyth is the second player to win this event twice – after Carl Mason (in 2006 and 2007) – and heaped praise on the Duke’s Course.
“It’s a really quality course and condition-wise it was fantastic,” he said. “All the rain has been hopeless for the rest of the country, but this course is built on sand and it looked magnificent all week.
“It played a bit longer than we’re used to, but it’s always a pleasure to play here. In fact I might even come and live here, it’s that nice!
“In the last few years I’ve made some changes to my game, and in the last eight or nine months I’ve felt very comfortable. I’m 60 next year and my next goal is to win in my 60s. I’m looking forward to good things.”
For James and Fowler, finishing second capped a fine week during which the former was awarded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour and the latter received the 2011 Rolex Player of the Year award having won last season’s Order of Merit.
James said: “I’m very pleased and this caps a great week. To receive Honorary Life Membership was a real honour, and it’s nice I’ve followed it up with a good performance.
“The last few weeks I’ve played pretty poorly, but I’ve been working very hard and my swing felt better and better as the week went on.”
Fowler added: “Thursday evening (the Senior Tour annual awards dinner) was an excellent night and to get the award was great. I played well last week and I’m happy with the way I’ve played this week too.
“I drove it well this week, which is important on this course. It gave me a few more birdie chances.”
 
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 D Smyth (Irl) 72 66 68
207 P Fowler (Aus) 70 70 67
208 M James (Eng) 76 65 67
210 A Sherborne (Eng) 70 71 69
211 R Drummond (Sco) 70 71 70, J Quiros (Esp) 70 68 73, R Chapman (Eng) 74 68 69, M Martin (Esp) 75 69 67
212 M Harwood (Aus) 72 71 69
213 K Tomori (Jpn) 71 72 70, S Torrance (Sco) 75 68 70, C Williams (RSA) 73 69 71
214 B Cameron (Eng) 73 72 69, T Thelen (USA) 71 69 74, M Cunning (USA) 70 71 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 70 72 72
215 M Mouland (Wal) 77 69 69, P Golding (Eng) 74 72 69
216 P Wesselingh (Eng) 73 69 74, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 73 71, G Manson (Aut) 72 70 74
217 D Durnian (Eng) 69 75 73, T Price (Aus) 73 76 68, A Franco (Par) 72 75 70, R Gibson (Can) 78 69 70, M Belsham (Eng) 70 71 76
218 J Gould (Eng) 70 76 72, B Lane (Eng) 74 71 73,
219 B Longmuir (Sco) 75 75 69, J Rhodes (Eng) 72 72 75, G Ralph (Eng) 76 69 74
220 D Hospital (Esp) 75 75 70, P Curry (Eng) 73 76 71
221 B Ruangkit (Tha) 74 75 72, C Mason (Eng) 72 75 74, G Banister (Aus) 79 70 72, A Oldcorn (Sco) 75 73 73, J Bruner (USA) 72 75 74
222 B Lincoln (RSA) 76 76 70, P Barber (Eng) 77 72 73, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 73 75 74, B Smit (RSA) 75 73 74, J Harrison (Eng) 77 72 73
223 D Merriman (Aus) 74 76 73, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 70 77 76, T Elliott (Aus) 78 72 73, E Rodriguez (Esp) 78 74 71
224 J Rivero (Esp) 73 74 77, R Sabarros (Fra) 74 76 74, K Spurgeon (Eng) 78 70 76, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 76 70 78, G Brand (Eng) 76 73 75, G Norquist (USA) 78 72 74
225 N Job (Eng) 77 71 77, S McAllister (Sco) 76 75 74, E Darcy (Irl) 79 70 76, A Fernandez (Chi) 73 81 71 J Hall (Eng) 81 75 69
226 S Cipa (Eng) 76 75 75, R Davis (Aus) 77 75 74, M Farry (Fra) 77 72 77
227 A Murray (Eng) 72 77 78
229 P Walton (Irl) 80 73 76, Z Martinez (USA) 76 76 77, L Carbonetti (Arg) 80 74 75
230 D Cambridge (Jam) 76 77 77
231 P Mitchell (Eng) 78 73 80
233 M Piñero (Esp) 80 78 75
234 A Garrido (Esp) 84 71 79
239 V Garcia (Esp) 81 75 83
 ** G Ryall (Eng) 76 78 WD
 ** C O'Connor Jnr (Irl) 83 WD  0,
 
 

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DAVID ORR WINS AT DUMFRIES


DAVID ORR ... £5,000 richer from Tartan Tour's last two events. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Former Scottish PGA champion David Orr admits that nowadays his first love is teaching at Mearns Castle Golf Academy ... which is probably just as well for his Tartan Tour colleagues.
Orr, 38, today (Sunday) followed up his joint second in last week's Aberdeen Asset Northern Open, which earned him £2,600, by winning the Kerr Investments 36-hole tournament at Dumfries and Galloway.
David, a part-time taxi driver a few years back when he needed the extra income, lifted the £2,400 prize with rounds of 67 and 63 over the par-68 course for a total of six-under-par 130.
His bogey-free closing round was studded with birdies at the first, long second, long fifth, short eighth and 10th.
Orr said earlier: "I don't play much competitive golf nowadays and I don't have the time to practise but I'm not complaining. I love teaching golf. It gives me a different kind of kick from competitive golf but it's nice to be able to come back on to the Tartan Tour when I can and find that I can still be competitive."
The three players who shot five-under-par 63s in the second and final round finished 1-2-3.
James McKinnon (Irvine) earned £1,800 for finishing runner-up, one stroke behind Orr, with scores of 68-63
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) was the third player who finished with a 63 and it pushed up the leaderboard into a tie for third place on 132 with Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) (66-66) and Edinburgh's Mark Kerr (65-67).
First round leader with a 64, Stephen Gray (Hayston) could muster only one birdie at the second time of asking and a 70 demoted him to joint ninth place on 134.
The winning amateur trio were the Kerr Investments No 5 team of Raymond Hislop (handicap 10), Dave Armitt (11) and William Wilson (13).
They played rather well for a 36-hole net score of 30-under-par 242, assisted by professionals Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) in the first round and James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) in the second.
This was the second last Order of Merit event of the Tartan Tour season.
Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) looks to have an unassailable lead in both the Order of Merit and money tables.


PRO TOTALS
Par 136 (2x68)
130 David Orr (Mearns Castle) 67 63
131 James McKinnon (Irvine) 68 63
132 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 63, Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 66 66, Mark Kerr (unatt) 65 67
133 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 69 64, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 66 67, Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 65 68
134 James McGhee (Duddingston) 69 65, Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle) 67 67, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 64 70.
135 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club) 70 65, Ian Brown (Newent) 68 67.
136 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 72 64, Greig Hutcheon (B anchory) 69 67, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 69 67, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) 68 68, Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie GC) 68 68, James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 68 68, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 67 67
137 Chris Currie (Caldwell) 70 67, Greg McBain (Gamla Golf) 69 68
138 Chris Robinson (Dumfries & Galloway) 73 65, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 70 68, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 69 69,  Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) 69 69, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 70, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 68 70.
139 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 72 67, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 71 68, Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) 71 68
140 David Patrick (Elie SC) 72 68, John Ruth (Clydeway) 72 68, Gordon Law (Uphall) 71 69, Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 71 69, Sam Cairns (Colville Park) 70 70, Mark King (Kingsfield) 68 72.
141 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 73 68
142 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 76 66, Heather MacRae (Glenbervie) 72 70
143 Andrew Fullen (Largs) 75 68, Jamie Mackay (North Gailes) 68 75.
144 Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf) 72 72
145 Ross Jack (Dumfries and Galloway) 75 70, Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL) 70 75
147 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 76 71, Stuart Roberts (Bishopbriggs) 70 77
148 Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) 76 72
151 David Nicol (Dundonald Links) 71 8
156 Michael Mackenzie (Edzell) 79 77

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ADAM DUNTON WINS SE DISTRICT OPEN




 

 ADAM DUNTON - Best season
   Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency
  
Ellon's Adam Dunton capped his best ever season today by scoring his first win in the final SGU 72-hole Order of Merit tournament of the season - the South East District Open Championship at Longniddry. 
Dunton, 22, who gained his first Scotland cap against South Africa but was overlooked for the Home Internationals, played well in the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open at Meldrum House and he carried on his good form at the Lothians venue.
Three shots off the pace with 18 holes to go, McDonald Golf Club member Dunton came through to win with a one-over-par 69 for a final total of 277, five over par for four circuits of the par-68 course. 
His earlier rounds were 69-67-72.
James Hendrick (Pollok) who had made most of the running at the head of the field after opening with rounds of 69-67 for a three-stroke halfway advantage, finished second, two shots behind Dunton.
 The 10th was the decisive hole in the final round. Dunton hole from about 100ft for a birdie while Hendrick missed frm 5ft and ran up a double bogey - a three-shot swing in favour of the Aberdeenshire player.
Lundin's James White finished joint third with Anthony Blaney from Liberton.
White was scuppered by a late double bogey and finished with a two-over-par 70 for 280 while Blaney surged up the leaderboard with a closing 67 for the same aggregate.
+The last North-east player to win the South East District Championship was Cruden Bay's Craig Cassels who went on to gain Walker Cup honours before he turned pro for a short spell.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 272 (4x68)

277 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 69 67 72 69
279 James Hendrick (Pollok) 66 67 72 74
280 James White (Lundin) 68  69 73 70 , Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 69 72 72 67
282 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 70 75 67 70, Michael Bacigallupo (Longniddry) 68 73 71 70
283 Ben McLeod (Musselburgh) 73 70 70 70, Shaun Gordon (Tantallon) 71 70 71 71
284 Neil Henderson (The Glen) 71 71 71 71
285 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 69 69 75 72, Conor O'Neil (Pollook) 72 72 70 71, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 71 72 6973, Jamie Savage (Cawder) 67 77 68 73
286 Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch) 74 72 74 66, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 72 72 68 74, Robert Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy) 71 72 70 73
287 Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) 72 72 73 70, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 69 74 70 74.
288 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 72 71 72 73
289 Cameron Farrell (Cardross) 71 72 72 74, Chris Wood (North Berwick) 71 72 73 73
290 Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) 71 73 73 73, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 72 75 70 73
291 Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 70 73 75 73, Calum Hill (Tantallon) 72 72 71 76, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 78 69 75
292 Richard Doherty (Bearsden) 77 69 70 76
293 Jonathan Mullany (Ralston) 74 69 76 74
297 Ross Noon (Craigielaw) 72 75 73 77
302 Varun Varadharajan (Royal Burgess) 72 72 80 78
NR Duncan Martin (Longniddry) 70 71 75 NR

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RAMSAY WINS EUROPEAN MASTERS BY FOUR STROKES



     EUROPEAN MASTERS CHAMPION WITH TROPHY ... RICHIE RAMSAY
                                   Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
 Aberdonian Richie Ramsay put all distractions to one side as he cruised to victory in the Omega European Masters with another masterful performance at Crans-sur-Sierre today.
After carding six birdies in a bogey free third round, Ramsay secured his second European Tour title in convincing fashion courtesy of a 66 that lifted him to 16 under.
Marcus Fraser, Fredrik Andersson Hed, Romain Wattel and Danny Willett were four shots back in second, they and the rest of the field having been left trailing in the overnight leader’s wake.
Ramsay’s previous win came at the South African Open in December 2009.
“Between then and now I’ve made a lot of big decisions about my career. Today was vindication of that,” said the 29 year old for US amateur champion.
“It’s an incredible place to play golf, so to win here is very special. You can get caught up looking at the scenery, but I knew I had a job to do here today.
“I had a clear goal in mind and all the way round I was imagining I was playing a round with my best mates from back home.
“I performed unbelievably well against two of the most in-form players around; Paul (Lawrie) is playing the golf of his life and Danny is one of the best young players around. So it was always going to be difficult, but I managed to pull it off.”
From the moment he extended his advantage to four shots with birdies at the third and fourth, victory was almost a formality for Ramsay, who showed no sign of nerves on a day when the sun finally shone brightly over the Swiss Alps.
Following a faultless front nine of 31, he dropped his first shot at the 13th, only to reclaim total control with a stunning eagle at the next when he found the cup with a delightful sand wedge.
“It was just what I needed, and it all came down to the endless hours of practice routines I went through over the winter," Ramsay added.
“Nobody's watching you and it can be a lonely business sometimes, but when you hit shots like that when you need them most, you know it's all been worth it."
A second bogey at 17 proved largely irrelevant as Ramsay followed in the footsteps of Paul Lawrie to give Scotland successive wins on the European Tour for the first time in more than a decade. Andrew Coltart and Colin Montgomerie achieved the feat in 2001.
Fraser, Andersson Hed and Wattel also went round in 66, a mark matched by Bernd Wiesberger - the man who pipped Ramsay to the Ballantine’s Championship in April.
“I played really well,” said Fraser. “It was nice to gradually gain some momentum through the week and find some form as the week went on.
“As the week went on, I got better and better and I couldn't be happier.”
Wiesberger was one of three players at 11 under, along with Felipe Aguilar and Lawrie, whose hopes of recording back to back wins quickly evaporated on the final day.

Lawrie, who triumphed in last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, drew level with his fellow Aberdonian by eagling the first, only to slip out of contention with a quartet of bogeys, either side of a birdie at the sixth.
Veteran Swede Mathias Grönberg - the champion here in 1995 - finished eight under, having provided one of the highlights of the week with a hole in one at the 194 yard third.
Lee Slattery produced the round of the day to pull alongside Grönberg; his 64 featured eagles at the first and seventh.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 283 (71-70-71-71)
prizemoney in Euros
267 Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 69 68 64 66 (350,000)
271 Hed Andersson (Sweden) 65 73 67 66, Marcus Fraser (Australia) 68 68 69 66, Romain Wattel (France) 67 70 68 68, Danny Willett (England) 67 67 68 69 (139,708 each)
272 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 69 66 67 70, Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), Felipe Aguilar (Chile) 68 69 68 67 (63,000 each).
OTHER SCOTS' SCOTS
279 David Drysdale 68 74 67 70, Stephen Gallacher 67 71 73 68 (T34) (14,710)
282 Marc Warren 76 66 68 72 (T55) (6,930)
285 Colin Montgomery 72 68 71 74 (T64) (4,725)

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