PING RE-SIGN WESTWOOD, WATSON AND OOSTHUIZEN

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FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
In a major move keeping the core of its Tour staff intact, Ping announced the re-signing of three of its marquee endorsers: Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.
All three players have been members of the Ping team their entire professional careers.
Their new deals require each of them to play a minimum of 11 Ping clubs, including a Ping driver and putter. In addition, the staffers are required to wear a Ping hat and carry a company staff bag. The terms of the endorsement contracts were not disclosed.
Westwood has won 40 times internationally and will play on his eighth European Ryder Cup team this week. Watson’s status as a fan favourite reached a new level in April as he earned his first major with a victory at the Masters.
 Oosthuizen’s resume lists nine career wins, including the 2010 Open Championship.
“Personally, it has been gratifying to watch these men progress in their careers and fulfill the potential they first showed at very young ages,” said John A. Solheim, Ping chairman and CEO, in a written statement.
 “… We’re proud to have played a role in helping them reach an elite level by providing them with custom-fit equipment, and supporting them on tour. They are wonderful global representatives for our brand.”

ISAACS' WIN WILL PLEASE PAUL LAWRIE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Paul Lawrie will go into this week's Ryder Cup "chuffed" that one of his new stable of players at the recently opened Paul Lawrie Golf Centre - Malcolm Isaacs - won the Sandy Pipey Young Masters 36-hole tournament at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today. The 1999 Open champion never forgets his PGA traininng roots and he will undoubtedly have sent a text of congratulations to Inverness-born Isaacs who is now based in Aberdeen. Isaacs started the final day with a four-shot lead, thanks to an excellent four-under-par first round of 66. On a day of wind and rain over the classic Dornoch links, Malcolm's four-over 74 was the joint best of the second day, matched only by runner-up Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) (71-74). Isaacs won by five shots with his level par aggregate of 140 and just about doubled his earnings for the season with the £1,000 first prize. After birdies at the 12th, 14th and 16th in the awful weather, Isaacs looked like winning by a lot more until the conditions got to him and he bogeyed the 17th followed by a double bogey 6 at the last. Fenwick's supporters would claim, justifiably, that their man would have finished a lot closer to Isaacs had he not dropped four shots over the short 13th and par-4 14th - a bogey followed by a triple-bogey 7. Fenwick earned £800. Oliver Huish (North Berwick), son the now retired David Huish, finished third on 146 with rounds of 70 and 76 to collect £650. Fourth placed Keir McNicoll (Gullane), front runner for a long time in the recent Scottish Young Professionals Championship, had a quadruple bogey 8 at the par-4 seventh in his second-round 77 for 147. He earned £525. Last year's Sandy Pipey Young Masters winner Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) came joint fifth with Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride) on 148 despite double bogeys at the ninth and 15th on his way to a 75. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 140 (2x72) 140 Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 66 74 (£1,000). 145 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 71 74 (£800). 146 Oliver Huish (North Berwick) 70 76 (£650) 147 Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 70 77 (£525) 148 Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) 73 75, Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride) 70 78 (£425 each) 149 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 75 74 (£350). 150 Andrew Rollo (Moray) 74 76, Paul Betty (Hamilton) 76 74 (£312.50 each) 151 Gordon Hillson (Dunbar) 75 76, Paul Robinson (Largs) 74 77, Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) 73 78, Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) 72 79 (£240 each). 152 Ross Leeds (Turnberry Hotel) 71 81 (£195) 153 Nikki Christie (Carnoustie Links) 76 77, Martin Shaw (Whitecraigs) 75 78, Ross McConnachie (Peterculter) 74 79, Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 70 83 (£165 each). 154 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm) 74 80 (£145). 155 David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) 72 83, Christopher McMaster (Panmure) 72 83 (£137.50 each). 156 Ross MacLeod (Eastwood) 76 80, Kevin Moran (Balbirnie Park) 75 81, Emma Fairnie (Gullane) 74 82, Craig Haugh (Linlithgow) 73 83 (£122.50 each). 157 Andrew Munro (Musselburgh) 77 80 (£110). 159 Ian Anderson (Colville Park) 80 79, Matthew Burt (Helensburgh) 75 84 (£102.50 each). 160 Graham Forbes (unatt) 79 81, Gregor Wright (Ladybank) 76 84, Joseph McBrearty (Haggs Castle) 73 87 (£61.67 each) *Above are the final totals of the players who earned prizemoney. IF YOU WANT TO VIEW THE REST OF THE SCORES ON THE PGA OF SCOTLAND WEBSITE CLICK HERE

SAM DODDS WINS ENGLISH COUNTY CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT

Dodds lifts County Champions title on countback Sam Dodds became the fourth Warwickshire player to win the County Champions Tournament and the Presidents Bowl after a three-way tie over the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa. Dodds (image © Tom Ward) finished on level par 146 alongside David Gibson from Leicestershire & Rutland and Mark Young from Lancashire but took the title on a card countback, his 73 gaining the verdict against Young’s 74 and Gibson’s 75. “It’s nice to win any event but this is a national title,” said Dodds. “I must admit I’m a bit surprised but I fancied my chances because I’ve been playing nicely. “Even so, I didn’t think I would win with 73. I thought someone would shoot better, that someone would come out of the pack and surge through. Fortunately they didn’t.” Not that the field of 31 had the best of conditions. The weather turned distinctly cold in the afternoon, a prelude to the rain sweeping in to make it thorough miserable. But Dodds, Young and Gibson didn’t allow it to affect their desire to secure this title and to see the trio finish tied was a credit to their skills on a difficult course. In the end Dodds prevailed although he was not happy with his form on the greens. “But my putting was not good. I don’t know if it was misreads or the pace but it was one of those days when the putts wouldn’t go in no matter what I tried." Dodds, 23, from Coventry also returned a level-par 73 in the morning to lie joint fourth, two strokes behind Gibson while Young and Max Orrin, the Kent champion, signed for 72. But Dodds’ remained consistent after lunch, while his rivals fell behind and although it wasn’t the best second round return, it was good enough to see him home. Dodds, who has also won the Warwickshire Open and Match Play Championship as well as the county title, went out in 35 with three birdies and had two more in a homeward 38. Young, who lines up with his Lancashire colleagues in next week’s County Championship Final at Beau Desert, was out in 35 but fell away a little on the back nine. “I tugged my drive left on the 11th and it cost me a double bogey,” he said. “Then I did the same off the 15th tee and dropped another shot.” He also had four birdies but those dropped shots proved crucial. Gibson, who has represented Leicestershire & Rutland several times in this event, was the epitome of consistency. Despite not finding a single birdie, his card showed 16 pars and just two bogeys in his 75. The last Warwickshire player to secure the title was Steve Webster, who won the championship at Lindrick in 1995. For full results visit the Championships section of the England Golf website. Lynne Fraser Marketing and PR Manager  ENGLAND GOLF Email: pr@englandgolf.org Tel: 01526 354500

ALAN MEWS WINS ENGLISH SENIORS' COUNTY TITLE

Mew finds his seniors victory hard to believe “I don’t believe it,” was Alan Mew’s reaction to his victory in the English Seniors County Champions Tournament on a dull and cold afternoon at Woodhall Spa. Despite a last hole bogey, which didn’t prove disastrous, Mew (image © Tom Ward) carded a second 76 for 152, six over par, for a one shot winning margin over playing partner Bob Aston, who also signed for 76, with John Willis from Cumbria third on 155 after a closing 77. In contrast to the first round, the 30 seniors in action were greeted by a cold day on the testing Hotchkin Course and the scores reflected that. With his county President Tony Cullen acting as caddie, Mew, the former Hampshire county captain, began the round just one ahead of Staffordshire’s Aston but he didn’t make the best of starts. “The highlight of the day was that I didn’t lose the tournament in the first few holes,” he said. “I hooked a three wood on the first and made bogey then found a bunker off the tee on the second but managed to can a 20-footer for par. “On the third I hit a four iron to eight feet for birdie but on the fourth I drove into rough, hacked out then chipped in for birdie. “After that I settled down. But I hit too many poor tee shots and if you don’t hit the short stuff on this course you are in trouble. But my irons were good and I putted better today.” With the rest of the field not making a charge, Mew was not subjected to any pressure but he still wasn’t completely happy with his game. He managed to stay two ahead of Aston and enjoyed that cushion to the 18th. “You’d have thought I’d never won anything they way I played and to finish with a bogey was disappointing,” he added. “I hit a good drive, hacked a three wood, then played what I thought was a good chip but it ran to the back of the green.” From there he took three more for a bogey-six. But Aston, having birdied the 16th, was in a greenside trap, came out well but shaved the hole with his birdie putt which would have earned him a tie. Aston, who matched Mew with a front nine of 36, double-bogeyed the tenth, which, in hindsight, probably wrecked his chances. “Bob let me off the hook on 17 when he thinned his approach into the face of a bunker and took an unplayable, which kept me two clear playing the last,” Mew admitted. At the age of 59, Mew could prove a candidate for the England seniors international team. “I think I’m good enough but my game isn’t in good enough shape at the moment”, he said. Bob Lander from BB&O shot the best round of the day, a level-par 73, which, after an opening 88, left him in eighth place on 161. Of the senior internationals on view, Tyrone Carter finished equal fourth on 156 after an 80, Andrew Carman tenth also after an 80, Geoff King shot 85 for 166 and 15th and Jon Marks 24th on 178 after a closing 90. For all the final scores visit the Championships section of the England Golf website  Lynne Fraser Marketing and PR Manager ENGLAND GOLF  Email: pr@englandgolf.org Tel: 01526 354500

£200,000 UPGRADE OF PITLOCHRY GOLF FACILITIES HAS STARTED

Left to right: Mark Pirie (PGA Professional), David Kearney (Clubhouse Manager), Stephen Carruthers (Director, Pitlochry Golf Ltd), Ronnie Lumsden (Golf Course Architect) and Eric Sammels of contractor, Edinburgh Landscapes, on-site at the course.

NEWS RELEASE

Work on the eagerly anticipated golf driving range and short game development at Pitlochry Golf Course has begun, with completion earmarked for late Spring 2013.

Diggers broke the turf last week and work will continue over the winter in order to provide the scenic course with the best golf facilities in Highland Perthshire.

The introduction of a seven-bay covered driving range and short game practice area is phase one of an expansive £200,000 Centre of Excellence vision at the course.

Directors secured funding from Sportscotland for the ambitious project and the overall long-term plan also includes an Academy course and alterations to the existing course.

Wetlands and wildlife corridors are incorporated into the design, which also provides new safe access for walkers.

The development is one of the biggest in the club's 103 year history and officials welcomed the excavators onto the site as stage one got underway.

Club professional Mark Pirie said: "This new facility will compliment the wonderful facilities which Pitlochry Golf already possesses.

“With a good winter hopefully ahead, the hard work will continue throughout the off season and everyone will be able to watch this new development grow

and come together for a spring 2013 opening.

“With the driving range and short game area open, and two PGA Professionals on site,

Pitlochry Golf hopes their vision will unearth the next Rory McIlroy or Carly Booth, as well as contributing generally to the sporting landscape of

Highland Perthshire."

When Perth and Kinross Council approved the plan, assessors noted the potential for the facility to produce the next generation of golfing protégés without players having to travel long distances to access similar facilities.

Pitlochry Golf Limited Director Stephen Carruthers said: "After a long time in the planning it is fantastic to see the project started and we can now offer our members and visitors a fantastic additional facility from spring 2013.  The completed project will rival any in Scotland and confirm Pitlochry as one of the country’s top golfing destinations as well as providing local youngsters with the opportunity to take up golf in the very best of surroundings.”

The club has 500 members at present, of which 60 are juniors, and was recently listed in Golf World magazine’s 14 Scottish Hidden Gems.

For More Information .

Web: http://www.pitlochrygolf.co.uk/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pitlochrygolf

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PitlochryGolf

Additional Information 

• Pitlochry Golf Course was designed by famous golf architect of the day, Willie Fernie of Troon, in 1908 and opened in 1909.
• Famous names to play the course have been Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Max Faulkner, Bob Charles and John Panton.
• The course sits amidst spectacular highland Perthshire scenery, with excellent views over the Tummel Valley, Craigower and Ben Y Vrackie.
• Part of the course lies on a site of historic interest, with the outline of an ancient Pictish fort clearly visible.
• There is an abundance of roe deer, otters and birdlife nearby and the picturesque town of Pitlochry was once described as the ‘Switzerland of Scotland.’
• Pitlochry Golf Estate provides luxury 4-Star self-catering accommodation at Drumchorry Cottage and Upper Balghulan.

Press Release issued on behalf of Pitlochry Golf Course by Heartland Media and PR.

www.heartlandpr.co.uk