MONTGOMERIE AND SCHOFIELD ELECTED TO WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

 Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame (2L), welcomes the new inductees to the World Golf Hall of Fame - Ken Schofield (L), the former Chief Executive of the European Tour, and Colin Montgomerie (R) with George O'Grady (2R), the Chief Executive Officer of the European Tour  at a press conference during the Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year lunch at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

FROM GOLF.COM WEBSITE
Colin Montgomerie called it a "wonderful surprise" that he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame today.
For the rest of the golf world, it simply seems it was about time for the eight-time winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy to be selected. Montgomerie - elected through the International Ballot - will be joined by fellow Scot Ken Schofield, who was also selected today, through the Lifetime Achievement category.
Montgomerie and Schofield are the final inductees for the 2013 class, joining Fred Couples, Willie Park Jr. and Ken Venturi. The induction ceremony is slated for May 6, 2013 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, kicking off Players Championship week.
“This is a very special day for golf and for The European Tour,” European Tour CEO George O’Grady said. “Colin and Ken are unique individuals and their contribution to not only The European Tour, on and off the fairways, but also The Ryder Cup makes them both very worthy candidates for the World Golf Hall of Fame.
“Colin’s achievement in winning the Harry Vardon Trophy eight times, including seven in a row, took considerable talent, skill, imagination, endurance, physical strength and mental resilience. Any aspiring and ambitious golfer on The European Tour today craves the opportunity to win The Race to Dubai, which has succeeded the Order of Merit, just once – to do it eight times is universally viewed as a superhuman feat.
“Colin became European No. 1 for the eighth time in 2005 which, coincidentally, was the year I succeeded Ken. Unquestionably, Ken’s contribution to The European Tour is incalculable. His vision, passion and reservoir of knowledge established the foundations that we enjoy today and, like Colin, he has enthusiastically supported and taken enormous joy from Europe’s recent triumphs in The Ryder Cup.”
Many of golf's governing bodies weighed in on both selections.
"Ken and Colin are truly worthy of induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” said Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director and chairman of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors.
“These two men played huge roles in golf's international development in the late 20th century. Ken provided more opportunities for top players to compete around the world, while Colin took advantage of these opportunities and set an unmatched standard of prolonged excellence on The European Tour."
“Colin Montgomerie and Ken Schofield are outstanding ambassadors of the game,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. 
“Each has made vital contributions to golf’s global expansion. Colin’s achievements on The European Tour and the Ryder Cup have gained him fans worldwide, while Ken’s tireless work during his time at The European Tour created new innovations and tremendous international growth. Congratulations to both Colin and Ken on this well-deserved honour.”
Montgomerie made eight consecutive Ryder Cup appearances from 1991, compiling a 6-0-2 singles record. He also captained the 2010 Ryder Cup squad at Celtic Manor.
“It is a wonderful surprise to hear that I will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year,” Montgomerie said. “I know I am very fortunate to have enjoyed such a successful career playing the game I love and it makes me feel very proud that my achievements have been recognized in this way. "While my eight Order of Merit wins were very special, as everyone knows my Ryder Cup experiences have provided the very best moments in my career and receiving this great honor is the icing on the cake. I am delighted that my dear friend Ken Schofield’s notable contribution to European golf will also be recognized at next year’s Ceremony and I look forward to sharing this special occasion with him.”
According to the press release from the World Golf Hall of Fame, Schofield became First Secretary and Executive Director of The European Tour on Jan. 1, 1975, succeeding John Jacobs. When he took the helm, The European Tour comprised 17 official events with an official prize fund of €599,084. When he retired at the end of 2004, there were 45 official events with official prize money of £106,010,654, in addition to 29 European Challenge Tour events and 21 European Senior Tour events.
Montgomerie was chosen by voters on 51 percent of the ballots. Graham Marsh was on 34 percent, Ian Woosnam at 21 percent, Padraig Harrington at 19 percent and Retief Goosen at 18 percent.

CAMERON, STEWART, HENRY WIN PLACES ON ALPS TOUR

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Ross Cameron from Ellon, Troon's Michael Stewart and John Henry (Clydebank and District) figured among the 70 players who earned playing rights on the 2013 Alps Tour at the Q School at La Cala Resort, Marbella today.
But Philip McLean (Peterhead), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Chris Dougill (Coventry) and Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) failed.
Cameron finished the first 36 holes in joint ninth place with scores of 68 and 72 (36-36) for four-under 140. Like the rest of the qualifiers he will be playing for as high a membership category as possible in the third and final round on Wednesday.
Cameron birdied the long fifth, the long ninth, the 10th and short 17th. He bogeyed the short third, the fourth and then had a double-bogey 6 at the par-4 15th.
Michael Stewart, pictured, looking for a tour on which to campaign since he turned pro after the 2011 Walker Cup success at Royal Aberdeen, has finally found a home. He shot 70-72 for joint 21st place on 142.
Stewart birdied the fifth, ninth, 12th and 16th, cancelling them out with four bogeys.
On the same mark was John Henry who improved by eight shots with a five-under 67.
Henry covered the first seven holes in five under par with an eagle 3 at the first and birdies at the short fourth, long sixth and short seventh.  He bogeyed the long ninth and 13th but another birdie at the long 15th got him back on track
A total of 70 players made the cut on 146 (four over par) and better.
Philip McLean missed out by nine shots with 80-75.
Kirkhill amateur Paul Shields was one shot worse than that with scores of 77-79.
Coventry-based Scottish amateur Chris Dougill nosedived out of the picture, following up a 73 with a disastrous 85
Tartan Tour regular Neil Fenwick did not bother playing a second round after an opening-day 82 left him too much ground to make up.
Italian Marco Guerisoli and Welshman Rhys Enoch, a Walker Cup team-mate of Michael Stewart, lead the field at nine-under-par 135.

ALPS TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
La Cala Resort, Marbella, Costa del Sol
LEADING CARD-WINNERS
(70 players with totals of 146 or better gained playing rights on the 2013 Alps Tour)
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Marco Guerisoli (Ita) 68 67, Rhys Enoch (Wal) 71 64
136 Carlos Pigem (Spa) (am) 72 64, Alex Christie (Eng) 68 68
SCOTS QUALIFIERS
140 Ross Cameron 68 72 (T9)
142 Michael Stewart 70 72 (T21), John Henry 75 67

SCOTS NON-QUALIFIERS
155 Philip McLean 80 75
156 Paul Shields (am) 77 79
158 Chris Dougill (am) 73 85.
Retired: Neil Fenwick 82 ret.

RORY McILROY NAMED EUROPEAN TOUR GOLFER OF THE YEAR

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Rory McIlroy has been named The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year, capping a sensational year for the World Number One.

The 23 year old Northern Irishman succeeds Luke Donald as winner of the coveted award, having also replicated the Englishman’s previously unprecedented achievement of winning both The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List in the same season.

 In August, McIlroy captured his second Major Championship, claiming the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island by eight strokes and in doing so set a new record for the largest winning margin in the Championship, beating the seven-stroke triumph of Jack Nicklaus at Oak Hill in 1980. 
It also matched the winning margin he achieved during his maiden Major triumph in the 2011 US Open Championship at Congressional.

He also won three times on the US PGA Tour – in The Honda Classic, the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship – and played a vital role in Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup winning team, before ending a magnificent personal year by winning The European Tour’s season finalé, The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, in style, birdieing the final five holes on the Earth course to triumph by two strokes.

That fifth title worldwide in 2012 also meant McIlroy finished The European Tour season with record earnings of €5,519,118, beating the previous mark of €5,323,400 set by Donald last year, as he became the youngest player to win the Harry Vardon Trophy since Scotland’s Sandy Lyle in 1980 and the fourth youngest in total behind Seve Ballesteros, Dale Hayes and Lyle.

McIlroy can now add The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year award to his list of accomplishments in 2012, which includes winning the Golf Writers’ Trophy on this side of the Atlantic as well as the PGA Tour Player of the Year honours in the United States.

The judging panel, which featured golf journalists from newspapers and magazines as well as commentators from radio and television, also reserved praise for several other worthy candidates, specifically Englishman Ian Poulter, who won four points out of four in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory as well as claiming his second World Golf Championship title in China in November, and South African Branden Grace, who won four times on The European Tour in 2012 after securing his card at Qualifying School the previous November.

But McIlroy, who was announced as the winner at the annual Golfer of the Year Luncheon at the Lancaster Hotel in London, received the unanimous vote from the panel to become only the second Northern Irishman, following his friend Graeme McDowell (who shared the award with Germany’s Martin Kaymer in 2010), to receive the accolade.

“Everyone who knows me knows how special the 2012 season was,” said McIlroy. “A couple of wins, including a Major, and consistent performances in big events all helped me win The Race to Dubai for the first time. To win that was a massive highlight of an amazing season, and I hope it will be the first of many. Now, to have been named as The European Tour Golfer of the Year puts the icing on the cake.

“It is a very special honour indeed and you only need to look down the list of players who have preceded me as the winner of this award to see precisely why – quite simply, it is a Who’s Who of golf and I’m delighted to now be a part of that in the history books.

“We play golf because we relish the opportunity to win Major Championships and world-class tournaments around the globe. But when we do that, to be recognised for these achievements is a great thrill and I thank all the members of the panel who voted for me.”

McIlroy is no stranger to the record books and this latest honour saw him add another to the annals as he became the youngest player to win Golfer of the Year since the award’s inauguration in 1985.

Bill Elliott, Golf Monthly contributor and Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “At times, selecting the winner of such a prestigious award such as this can be difficult, as was the case in 2010 when Graeme and Martin shared the accolade. But this year, our decision was straightforward.

“Rory’s performances on the golf course were spectacular but not only that, it was also the way he conducted himself on and off the golf course – with ourselves in the media and everyone else connected with this great old game – that made him a thoroughly deserved winner.”

Derek Lawrenson, Golf Correspondent of The Daily Mail, added: “The 2012 season was a remarkable one for European Tour golf with outstanding exploits from players such as Ian Poulter, who produced the greatest performance in the history of The Ryder Cup at Medinah, and Branden Grace who surpassed all expectations by winning four times the season after coming through the Qualifying School.

“Rory, however, capped all that by what he achieved across the year, but specifically at Kiawah Island and in Dubai. Both were immense performances that took not only his game, but golf as a whole to a new level.”

Iain Carter, Golf Correspondent for BBC Radio Five Live, concluded: “Rory’s win in the US PGA Championship in August was stunning and had already ensured his place in golfing history, before his win in Dubai simply put an exclamation mark on a truly remarkable season. There is no question that he is the undisputed Golfer of the Year.”

 

GOLSPIE GLEE AT BRORA ALLIANCE THREE-BALL, BEST BALL

Local prize winners at the Brora Alliance - left to right - Mike Howells, Tony Gill, Alistair Morrison and Robert Macdonald. Picture by Robin Wilson 

 

BY ROBIN WILSON

Two Golspie Golf Club members returning to the North Golf Alliance circuit this season marked their return with a first  place in the Alliance’s three-ball, best-ball Christmas fixture at Brora last Sunday.

Alastair Bell (9) and Tim Featherstone (12) linked up with Tain's Richard Hamblin (17) to be the only trio to get below a net score below 50, their net 49, seven under par, winning by a shot from Durness pair Alastair Morrison (15), an apprentice greenkeeper on the Brora course, Stephen Mackay (13) joined by local  member Robert MacDonald (5). 

Two birdie 2s contributed by Hamblin and Featherstone over the eight-hole inward stretch of Brora's 15-hole winter course that brought the winners' inward half down to 23 following their outward 26.  

Hamlin, in receipt of a stroke at the inward cut-in hole, played to the 11^th green and holed out from off the green for gross 3, net 2, which set the trio on their way. 

It was quickly followed by a nett birdie from Bell at the next hole. Hamblin again came into the frame with gross 4, net 3,  at the penultimate hole.

Then, on the final green, they all had birdie opportunities. After Bell and Hamblin both missed it was Featherstone's last effort from three feet that dropped into the hole for another birdie that put the winning tinsel on their card.

The Durness/ Brora trio also managed two birdie 2s on the inward half, but could only get to 24 for the last eight holes to add to their outward 26 to earn second place bottles of champagne.

The winners received a bottle of Brora Golf Club's exclusive special malt whisky. 

It was a credit to the Brora greenkeeping staff and helping volunteers that the event went ahead after they turned out on Saturday to clear debris that was dumped by the storm waves that ravaged Sutherland's East Coast over the previous 24hr. A stormy sea in-surge up the burn at the fifth hole swept away a foot bridge but fortunately the tractor bridge remained and the ninth green, that was covered in debris, was not in use on Sunday, the competitors turning for home after playing the first seven outward holes.

Saturday's storm abated and on Sunday the course was drenched in perfect Winter sun which enticed the next three best-ball scores of 51. 

Two of them came from Tain teams, the trio of Munro and Billy Ferries and Ali Melville, halves of 25 and 26 rewarded them with Christmas Puddings and   club mates Seann Sutherland, Raymond Lockie and Mike Sangster fifth with halves of 24 and 27. A duo of Brora members, Alliance Secretary, Tony Gill, and Mike Howells might have crept up the prize list had they had a full compliment but their third player, Club Captain Ken Lorimer, was forced to withdraw after being struck by a morning sick bug and the pair had to make do with a fourth place on the count back.

The individual fixtures recommence at Reay Golf Club on January 20

Results at Brora

Three-ball-better-ball net scores

49 A Bell (Golspie), T Featherstone (Golspie) and R Hamlin (Tain) 26-23.  

50 R MacDonald (Brora), A Morrison (Durness) and S Mackay (Durness) 26-24. 

51 M Ferries, B Ferries and A Melville (Tain) 26-25, T Gill, M Howells (Brora) 26-25, S Sutherland, R Lockie and M Sangster (Tain) 24-27.

HAPPY 92nd BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY, KEL NAGLE, CENTENARY OPEN CHAMPION 1960

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALASIA WEBSITE

One of the PGA's favourite sons will celebrate another in a long list of milestones this week.
Centenary Open champion Kel Nagle, the most prolific winner in PGA Tour of Australasia history with 61 titles, turns 92 on Saturday.
Nagle is best known for his win in the 1960 Open but it was only one highlight in a career that featured many of them.
Six times he hoisted the Joe Kirkwood Cup at the Australian PGA Championship and a record seven times won the New Zealand Open Championship.
He also twice won the Canada Cup (later the World Cup) with partner Peter Thomson and lost a play-off to Gary Player at the 1965 US Open.
Aside from his victory over Arnold Palmer in the 1960 Open, Nagle featured in the top 10 on another six occasions including a runner-up finish in 1962.
The PGA staff and all Members wish Kel the best for his birthday celebrations this week.