CHEERS FOR HUNTLY PAIR AT FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE SGU
 Graham Nicol and Graeme Farquharson from Huntly Golf Club are the new Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Champions after edging out Arbroath Artisans to lift the title at the Fairmont St Andrews Torrance course this afternoon
The North East duo, one the reigning Huntly club champion and one a former club champion, fired an excellent better ball four-under par 68 in breezy conditions on the Fife coast to top the leaderboard in Scotland’s biggest participation golf event.
They pipped the Arbroath Artisans pairing of Keith Ewart and Steve Cargill courtesy of the better inward half, with Huntly one shot better on the back nine.
Nicol, a 4-handicapper and Farquharson, playing off one, dovetailed to perfection and a steady round in testing winds was illuminated by birdies at the 3rd, 7th, 12th and 15th, with no dropped shots on a course which recently hosted the SSE Scottish Seniors Championship.
Stirlingshire club Earlsgate, represented by Brian Coyle and Colin McClure, clinched third spot with a three-under par 69, staving off Lothians clubs Castle Park and Turnhouse again by the better inward half.
Dalbeattie’s David Berry and Alan Learnmonth, winners of the South Regional Final at Eyemouth last month, looked set for a repeat win the national Final after storming to the turn in six-under par, but they were left to rue dropping six shots in the closing four holes to settle for a share of seventh place.
Nicol, 51, an insurance broker from Huntly, was delighted with the title success, after winning the coveted trophy together with a dream weekend golf break at the host venue among a great package of prizes:
“It feels tremendous to win the Championship, although we felt very fortunate to be here after just scraping through the regional final in tenth place. My golf’s not been great this season but I went to the driving range last night and managed to find something, which obviously worked today.
“The course was superb and in great condition, but the wind made it really tough. We played really steady golf and dovetailed well. We’re used to playing a shorter inland course so this was very different, but to come out on top of the 24,000 golfers who started the event is excellent.”
Farquharson, the younger of the duo at 28, paid tribute to his playing partner:
“The old man certainly led the way today and he played great! I contributed on a few holes but Graham’s golf was very good out there. It’s been a great event to play in and it’s fantastic that the SGU stages a championship that all golfers can take part in.”
Andrew Young (Turnhouse) took the Nearest the Pin prize (8th hole) while Alan Learnmonth (Dalbeattie) won the Longest Drive.

>> Results from the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship Final
 
Photo: Kenny Smith Photograph

HULDAHL HANGS ON TO LEAD IN CATALUNYA CHALLENGE

Jeppe Huldahl held on to his lead after the second round of the Challenge de Catalunya but only just, as the Dane recovered from a double-bogey to card two birdies on the way to a two under par round of 70.

That left Huldahl one shot clear of a chasing pack which included four-time European Challenge Tour winner and one-time winner this year, Alessandro Tadini, former Walker Cup player Luke Goddard, American Brooks Koepka and Germany’s Nicolas Meitinger.

In much tougher conditions at Golf La Graiera in Calafell, Northern Spain, Huldahl started the day steadily with five pars, having entered the second round with a two shot lead.

The former European Tour winner birdied the sixth hole to reach the turn in one under par before another gained shot at the 10^th moved him to two under par, seemingly headed towards an extended outright lead going into the weekend.

He suffered a big blip in his round with a double bogey six at the par four 11^th, but back to back birdies at the 15^th and 16^th saw him home in two under par to move to ten under for the tournament.

"It was a bit trickier out there today,” said Huldahl, winner of the 2010 Wales Open. “The wind came and we had three or four holes of heavy rain. It was also raining when I was playing the 11^th and that is the toughest hole on the course so I double-bogeyed there.

“I played all right though, I hit some good shots and I was pretty much cruising there for a while. There is still a long way to go but I am happy. I am in a good position for the weekend and I hope I can continue this way.”

Tadini might well have joined Huldahl at the top only for a bogey at the ninth, his final hole, but the Italian remains on course for a return to The European Tour next year.

The 38 year old is currently in eighth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings and a good finish this week would nigh on secure a top ten finish.

Having teed off at the tenth, Tadini reached the turn in three under par thanks to four birdies and another birdie at the second moved him to ten under par and in line for the tied overnight lead.

A bogey at the par five seventh was followed by a birdie at the par three eighth but a bogey at the ninth saw him home in three under par for the day and nine under for the tournament.

"I am very upset,” said Tadini, winner of this year’s ECCO Tour Championship hosted by Mercedes Benz and Thomas Björn. “I played just great on the front nine but I finished missing an easy putt for birdie and then a three putt - that made me really upset.”

Sam Hutsby, meanwhile, carded an albatross two at the par five 16^th but it was not enough for the Englishman to make the two under par cut.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

134 J Huldahl (Den) 64 70

135 B Koepka  (USA) 68 67, L Goddard  (Eng) 66 69, N Meitinger  (Ger) 69 66, A Tadini (Ita) 66 69

136 E Kofstad (Nor) 66 70, A Perrino  (Ita) 71 65, P Edberg (Swe) 67 69, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 68 68

137 J Abbott (Eng) 69 68, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 66 71, A Hansen  (Den) 68 69, C Gane (Eng) 67 70

138 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 70 68, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69, S Davis (Eng) 66 72

139 A Domingo (Esp) 70 69, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 71, D Gaunt (Aus) 73 66, J Parry (Eng) 69 70, B An (Kor) 69 70, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 69 70, A McArthur  (Sco) 68 71, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 69 70, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 70, S Buhl (Ger) 67 72, J Doherty  (Sco) 71 68, C Doak (Sco) 65 74, P Bech (Esp) 67 72, R Kakko  (Fin) 68 71

140 J Russell (USA) 73 67, M Korhonen (Fin) 69 71, C Aguilar  (Esp) 74 66, S Tiley (Eng) 70 70, M Nixon (Eng) 68 72, T Feyrsinger  (Aut) 67 73, R Quiros  (Esp) 71 69, L Claverie (Esp) 70 70

141 M Carlsson  (Swe) 68 73, M Crespi  (Ita) 71 70, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 70, A Kaleka  (Fra) 71 70, R Russell (Sco) 68 73, A Levy (Fra) 71 70, W Besseling  (Ned) 71 70, G Stal  (Fra) 72 69, V Riu  (Fra) 76 65, A Tampion  (Aus) 73 68, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 70, K Eriksson (Swe) 74 67, G Houston (Wal) 73 68, H Bacher (Aut) 69 72, J Gibb (Eng) 68 73

142 X Guzman (Esp) 73 69, R Echenique (Arg) 72 70, S O'Hara  (Sco) 72 70, P Oriol (Esp) 72 70, J Mommo  (Fin) 71 71, P Dwyer (Eng) 71 71, K Borsheim  (Nor) 74 68, E Dubois (Fra) 68 74, J Busby (Eng) 68 74, B Åkesson (Swe) 73 69, S Kim (Kor) 73 69, R De Sousa (Sui) 70 72, C Garcia Simarro (Esp) 68 74, S Grant  (Irl) 70 72

MISSED THE CUT

143 A Parr (Can) 68 75, C Macaulay  (Sco) 70 73, C Brazillier  (Fra) 72 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 73, A Hartø  (Den) 69 74, S Luna (Esp) 71 72, L Saltman (Sco) 72 71, C Suneson (Esp) 73 70, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 72

144 D Brooks (Eng) 69 75, R Hjelm (Den) 74 70, P Archer (Eng) 73 71, D Vancsik (Arg) 71 73, A Otaegui  (Esp) 73 71, A Bernadet  (Fra) 74 70, S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 70

145 C Aronsen  (Nor) 74 71, J Heath  (Eng) 73 72, M Tullo (Chi) 74 71, J McLeary  (Sco) 70 75, A Salto (Esp) 72 73, J Walters (RSA) 71 74, I Elvira  (Esp) 70 75, U Weinhandl (Aut) 73 72, F McGuirk  (Eng) 77 68

146 C Hanson (Eng) 74 72, T Sluiter  (Ned) 70 76, B Barham (Eng) 71 75, A Bossert (Sui) 75 71, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 75 71, B Ritthammer (Ger) 74 72, S Benson (Eng) 74 72, M Ford (Eng) 73 73, N Dougherty (Eng) 75 71

147 R Gallardo (Esp) 77 70, M Delpodio  (Ita) 74 73, S Pinckney (USA) 77 70, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 74 73, J San Felix (Esp) 73 74

148 Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 74, C Russo (Fra) 76 72, J Guerrier  (Fra) 74 74, S Garcia (Esp) 79 69,

149 A Hortal  (Esp) 76 73, S Gonzalez Garcia  (Esp) 73 76

150 M Kieffer (Ger) 75 75, I Giner (Esp) 77 73, D Lokke (Den) 81 69

151 N Dahlgren (Fin) 72 79, J Bragulat  (Esp) 73 78, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 79 72, E Bertheussen (Nor) 77 74,

152 J Mancebo (Esp) 75 77, M Haastrup  (Den) 79 73

153 A Velasco (Esp) 73 80, A Ahokas (Fin) 77 76, F Delamontagne  (Fra) 74 79

154 A Gee  (Eng) 76 78, A Snobeck  (Fra) 76 78, B Etchart  (Esp) 74 80

156 P Herreria (Esp) 80 76

157 J Gallardo (Esp) 81 76

166 C Gonzalez Lopez (Esp) 84 82

Withdrew: M Southgate  (Eng) 76 RT, S Walker (Eng) WD  0,

Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey

RYDER CUP AFTERNOON FOUR-BALLS DAY ONE

READ THE REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE

MORNING FOURSOMES RESULT

UNITED STATES 2, EUROPE 2

+Daily Telegraph correspondent James Corrigan said Jose Maria Olazabal's decision to leave Ian Poulter out of the four-balls line-up was the worst decision by a Europe team captain since Nick Faldo left out Lee Westwood in the last Ryder Cup match in the States.

AFTERNOON FOUR-BALLS

US PAIRS                                  EUROPE PAIRS

Watson and Simpson            Lawrie and Hanson

    US four up after six holes
    US six up after 10 holes 
+Watson and Simpson out in better ball of 29
    US five up after 11 holes 
    US win by 5 and 4

=============
Mickelson and Bradley          McIlroy and McDowell

    US three up after five holes
    US three up after nine holes
    US three up after 10 holes
    US three up after 12 holes

=================

Woods and Stricker             Westwood and Colsaerts


                  All square after four holes
                  All square after nine holes.
                     Europe one up after 11 holes  

===============================

D Johnson and Kuchar          Rose and Kaymer
                  All square after three holes
                  US two up after six holes
                  US three up after seven holes 
                  US three up after nine holes
  ================================

FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association

Week 37 ending September 16

1 C Nelson (St Michaels) 993.18 pts

2 G Cramb (Canmore) 982.17

3 A L White (St Andrews New Club) 975

4 M Elvin (Forrester Park) 968.75

5 A Davidson (Charleton) 966.67

6 A Duncan (Drumoig) 950

7 I Fleming (Auchterderran) 926.92

8 E Davidson (Charleton) 918.8

9 A R Medcraf (Balbirnie Park) 912.09

10 G Angus (Scotscraig) 911.63

11 O McCue (Kirkcaldy) 910

T12 T W Corke (St Andrews GC) 908.33

T12 G Lowe (Pitreavie) 908.33

14 BAA Kinsley (St Andrews GC) 907.14

15 C Malcolm (Canmore) 897.57

T16 A Liddle (Cupar) 893.75

T16 J Woods (St Andrews GC) 893.75

18 D Paterson (Leven GS) 888.89

19 D G G Begbie (Ladybank) 883.65

20 J Henderson (Ladybank) 881.37.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and National ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

RYDER CUP DAY 1 FOURSOMES LATEST

UNITED STATES   2, EUROPE 2

Mickelson, Bradley bt Donald, Garcia                                               4 and 3

Furyk, Snedeker lost to
                      McIlroy, McDowell 1 hole
        
Dufner, Johnson bt Westwood, Molinari
                                            3 and 2.

Woods, Stricker lost to Poulter, Rose
                                            2 and 1

WHEN AND WHERE TO SEE SAM TORRANCE SIGNING NEW BOOK

Sam Torrance will be signing copies of

his new book 

OUT OF BOUNDS:

Legendary Tales from the 19^th Hole

 
on

Monday 8th October

1pm at Waterstones 153-157 Sauchiehall Street  GLASGOW G2 3EW

 

and

Tuesday 16th October

10am  Waterstones 101-103 Market Street, St Andrews   KY16 9NX

1pm at Waterstones 83 George Street  EDINBURGH EH2 3ES

 

 

                                      

TAIWAN MASTERS SUMMARY AND SCORES

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

Taipei: Baek Seuk-hyun of South Korea battled through swirling wind and rain for one-over-par 73 to share the halfway lead at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters today.

Baek was tied with Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna (73) and Chinese Taipei trio Wang Shih-jui (73), overnight leader Lien Chi-wei (77) and Tsai Chi-huang, the only player to break par with a 69 for one-under-par 143 at the US$600,000 Asian Tour event.

The halfway cut was set at six-over-par 150 with a total of 54 players making the weekend rounds.

ROUND 2 SCOREBOARD

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,923

143 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 70-73, BAEK Seuk-hyun (SKOR) 70-73, WANG Shih-jui (TPE) 70-73, LIEN Chi-wei (TPE) 66-77, TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 74-69.

144 Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN) 71-73, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 71-73,  SIDDIKUR (BAN) 72-72, Danny CHIA (MAS) 72-72.

145 Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 73-72, CHEN Tze-chung (TPE) 73-72, Angelo QUE (PHI) 70-75, YEH Wei-tze (TPE) 74-71, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 73-72, Guido VAN DER VALK (NED) 73-72.

146 David LIPSKY (USA) 72-74, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-75.

147 Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 71-76, SUNG Mao-chang (TPE) 72-75, LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 72-75, CHANG Yao-pin (TPE) 73-74, LU Chien-soon (TPE) 77-70, LIN Keng-chi (TPE) 73-74, HSIEH Chin-sheng (TPE) 71-76, HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE) 70-77.

 

RYDER CUP LIVE SCORING SERVICE

RYDER CUP LIVE SCORING ON THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

IAN POULTER TOUR BAG ON OFFER IN GAMOLA GOLF FUND-RAISER

NEWS RELEASE

Aberdeen city centre store, Gamola Golf, is teeing up for the Ryder Cup by offering horth-east golf fans the chance to win an exclusive prize – a signed Cobra Ian Poulter tour bag.

Gamola Golf is also hoping to raise funds for two local charities, Roxburghe House, a specialist palliative care unit which concentrates on symptom control for patients with life-limiting illness, and Homestart Aberdeen, an organisation which offers practical help and support to parents of young children.

For a chance to win the Cobra tour bag signed by Ryder Cup golfer Ian Poulter, simply visit the Gamola Golf store or the Locker Room, on Market Street.

Individual squares can be purchased at £5 each. All money raised will be split evenly between the two charities. The draw to announce the winner will only be made once all 100 squares have been sold.

Graeme Masterton, the driving force behind Gamola Golf and the Locker Room, said: “It really is a terrific prize and obviously it’s all the more significant with Ian Poulter playing in the Ryder Cup this weekend. We’re always eager to support local causes and are pleased to help these two great charities in any way we can.”

 TV coverage of the Ryder Cup, starring Aberdeen’s Paul Lawrie and Ian Poulter, can be seen at the Locker Room from Friday, September 28 until Sunday, September 30.

The Gamola Golf complex is home to a 4,000 sq ft retail store as well as the company’s thriving online business. Both feature a host of leading brands including Callaway, Mizuno, Nike, TaylorMade, Titleist and Vega. 

The store is open from 9am to 7pm during the week, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

Tartan Tour professional Greg McBain, winner of this year’s Paul Lawrie Invitational, is on hand to provide golf lessons as well as advice on custom-fit clubs, while the top floor includes training facilities and meeting rooms available for hire.

The Locker Room can host more than 120 people in the bar and restaurant areas and at its five large golf simulators – offering virtual access to more than 130 of the world’s premier golf courses, including Kingsbarns, The Belfry and Celtic Manor.

Prices for virtual golf at the Locker Room are £30 per hour per simulator for a maximum of four people, with special packages available for group bookings. The venue is open from 10am to midnight, seven days a week.

The Gamola Golf complex is located at 47-53 Market Street - next to The Aberdeen Douglas Hotel and near the Union Square Shopping Centre.

For further information please call 01224 592900, visit www.lockerroomaberdeen.co.uk or email lockerroom@gamolagolf.co.uk.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE PETRIE LEAVES ENGLAND GOLF

John Petrie, Chief Executive of England Golf, is leaving the organisation after five years in the role.  He was appointed Chief Executive of the English Golf Union in 2007 and has worked for the national governing body during one of the most significant times for the game of golf in England when the English Golf Union merged with the English Women’s Golf Association to form England Golf.  
Petrie was appointed as Chief Executive of England Golf in January this year and has completed the implementation of the merger on time and within budget. 
Petrie said “To be appointed to this position was a great privilege and I have thoroughly enjoyed the many challenges that faced us.  I have been supported throughout by excellent staff and so many outstanding volunteers across the country.  The merger leading to England Golf was a hugely significant moment and now it has been implemented, England Golf needs to look to the future with a new Chief Executive.” 
Nigel Evans, Chairman of the Board of England Golf said “I thank John for his contribution during the past five years.  The future of England Golf post merger will bring new challenges and we will start the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive shortly.” 
Craig Wagstaff, England Golf Finance Director, will assume the role and duties of Chief Executive for an interim period until a replacement is found.

 Lynne Fraser
Marketing and PR Manager
ENGLAND GOLF

LOTHIANS WIN SENIOR MEN'S AREA TEAM TITLE AT DUNFERMLINE

NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH SENIOR GOLFING SOCIETY

For the SSGS inter-area team championship, the greens staff at Dunfermline worked tirelessly to prepare a course in great order after three days of torrential rain and storms. Understandably pins were located in high points on Pitfirrane’s subtle slopes and success on the greens needed sure touch and positive thinking.

Defending champions South had a good run at retaining their trophy and inaugural winners Stirling were also right in the mix until the end.

However it was 2009 winners Lothians who prevailed with an excellent aggregate of 372. This took them one clear of Stirlingshire, who took Silver medals on the basis of their lower discard score, and South, winners of the bronze medals.   

The Lothians victory was due in no small part to a fantastic  eagle, eagle finish by current Scottish Seniors match-play  hampion David Gardner.
The Lothians team with their scores was:
David Gardner 71, Ian Taylor 73, Lindsay Gordon 74, David Gillespie 77, Robert Jack 77, George Blair 79.
The Stirlingshire team was:
Kevin Brunton 70, Gordon MacDonald 73, Jalil Aman 75, Lindsay Blair 76, David Smith 79, Bill Erskin e80.
The South (defending champions) team was:
Ian Brotherston 70, Muir Townsley 72, Robbie Nairn 76, David Dickson 77, David Fulton 78, Graeme Sharp 81.

The annual event is becoming increasingly competitive with the gap from top to bottom a mere 20 shots, around half of that seen in earlier years.

Lindsay Gordon accepted the trophy on behalf of the winners and gracefully acknowledged the efforts of our hosts in giving us an excellent venue.

Inter Area Team Championship, Dunfermline G.C.
TEAM	Plr 1	Plr 2	Plr 3	Plr 4	Plr 5	Plr 6		Totals
LOTHIANS	79	71	77	74	77	73		451 372
STIRLINGSHIRE	75	73	79	70	80	76		453 373
SOUTH OF SCOTLAND	70	81	77	72	78	76		454 373
GLASGOW	73	71	79	79	78	81		461 380
NORTH EAST	73	75	78	81	75	80		462 381
PERTH and KINROSS	75	81	71	83	78	76		464 381
DUMBARTONSHIRE	80	78	75	75	81	77		466 385
FIFE	76	82	77	80	77	79		471 389
AYRSHIRE	77	79	81	76	81	78		472 391
ANGUS	83	78	83	77	78	76		475 392
ARGYLL and  BUTE	73	79	79	83	78	84		476 392

Leading Individual Scores

Ian Brotherston	South	70
Kevin Brunton	Stirlingshire	70
Ian Gillan	Glasgow	71
David Gardner	Lothians	71
Derek Murphy	P and K	71
Muir Townsley	South	72
Alan O'Neil	Argyll and Bute	73
George Crawford	Glasgow	73
Nick Robson	North East	73
Gordon MacDonald	Stirlingshire	73
Ian Taylor	Lothians	73
Lindsay Gordon	Lothians	74
David Logie	P and K	75
Bill Barclay	North East	75
Ken Forrest	Dumbartonshire	75
Colin Halcrow	Dumbartonshire	75
Alasdair Macgregor	North East	75
Jalil Aman	Stirlingshire	75
Lindsay Blair	Stirlingshire	76
Ricky Gray	Ayrshire	76
Dougal Chalmers	Angus	76
Iain Simpson	P and K	76
Robbie Nairn	South	76
George Rodaks	Fife	76