JOHN GALLAGHER LYING JOINT 2ND IN SPAIN

John Gallagher is lying two shots off the pace in joint second place at the halfway mark of the 36-hole Spanish Gecko Pro Tour event at La Reserva Golf Club on the Costa del Sol. The Duddingston man returned a 72 alongwith Neil O'Briain (Ireland) and Erik Tage Johansen (Denmark) to be the closest trio to Spanish pacesetter Gabrial Canizares with a two-under 70. Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) is in joint 14th place on 76. Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had an 80 to be sharing 25th place and Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) scored an 88 for a share of 58th place in a field of 60.  SPANISH GECKO PRO TOUR  La Reserve Golf Club, Costa del Sol.  LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES  Par 72 70 G Canizares (Spa). 72 N O'Briain (Ire), E T Johansen (Den), J Gallagher (Sco). OTHER SCOTS' SCORES  76 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) (T14). 80 Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (T25). 88 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) (T58). Field of 60 players

KATY McNICOLL MAKES TOP 10 IN SPAIN

Carnoustie's Katy McNicoll finished ahead of fellow Scot Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) in the 36-hole Spanish Evolve Tour's El Valle Open at El Valle Golf Club, Murcia today. Katy had rounds of 77 and 73 to finish joint seventh on 150 - seven shots ahead of Dear who had a nightmare second round of 12-over-par 83. Germany's Florian Fritsch won the 2,000 Euros first prize with scores of 70-68 for four-under 138.  He finished two shots ahead of South Korean Miss Byun Hynn Min who added to her string of top-three finishes with rounds of 71 and 69 for 140.  Min and McNicoll played off tees slightly forward of the men's tees.  SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR - EL VALLE OPEN  El Valle GC, Murcia. LEADING FINAL TOTALS  Par 142 (2x71) 138 F Fritsch (Ger) 70 68. 140 Miss Byun Hyun Min (SKor) 71 69. 143 J Haglund (Fin) 71 72. 146 W Harrold (Eng) 77 69.  SELECTED SCORES  150 Miss K McNicol (Sco) 77 73 (T7). 157 G Dear (Sco) 74 83 (T16).

DAVID LAW'S GRANDSTAND MOROCCO FINISH

David Law staged a grandstand finish to salvage a two-under-par 70 at the end of the first day of the German PGA's Pro Golf Tour event, the Amelkis Open, at Marrakesh, Morocco today .  Law covered the last five holes in four under par with birdies at the 14th and long 15th, capped by an eagle 3 at the long 18th for a four-under inward half of 32.  Earlier he had gone out in two-over 38 with a birdie at the fourth but bogeys at the short third, fifth and 18th. He cancelled out a birdie at the 11th with a bogey at the 12th before the Aberdonian, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, caught fire over the closing holes to be four shots behind the leader by three, Germany's Bernd Ritthammer.  Two other members of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre stable, Peterhead's Philip McLean and Jordan Findlay from Fraserburgh, did not fare so well.  McLean had a three-over 75 for a share of 80th place while Findlay returned a 77 for joint 102nd place in a field of 120. AMELKIS OPEN Amelkis GC, Marrakesh, Morocco. LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 72 64 B Ritthammer (Ger) 67 C Schwierz (Ger), D Wunsche (Ger)  SELECTED SCORES 70 D Law (Sco) 75 P McLean (Sco) (T80) 77 J Findlay (Sco) (T102). Field of 120 players. ends

FOUR SCOTS THROUGH TO LAST 32 IN SOUTH AFRICA

Four of the nine Scots who qualified for the South African match-play championship first round won their ties to reach the last 32 at Johannesburg Country Club.  Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) won the all-Scottish tie against Ross Bell (Downfield) by 2 and 1.Scottish youths champion Ewan Scott (St Andrews) was the biggest winner of the quartet. He beat Murray Smit 5 and 4.  Fraser McKenna (Balmore) won by 4 and 2 against Keegan De Lange.  Jamie Savage was a 2 and 1 winner over Ruben Cortzer.  Ellon's Adam Dunton went down at the 19th against Eddie Taylor. Former Walker Cup player Graham Gordon (Newmachar) lost by 4 and 2 to James Du Preez.  Scott Crichton (Aberdour) lost by one hole to Dylan Naidoo.  Conor O'Neil (Pollok) was a 3 and 2 loser against Jovan Rebula.  South African top seed Hayden Porteous, bidding to complete a national stroke-play and match-play double, lost in the first round by one hole to the last of the 64 qualifiers, compatriot Johann Germishey.  England's Toby Tree advanced to the second round with a 5 and 4 win over Teaghan Gauche. SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP  Johannesburg Country Club.  SELECTED FIRST ROUND RESULTS  Players from S Africa unless stated F McKenna (Balmore) bt K De Lange 4 and 2. J Savage (Cawder) bt R Cortzer 2 and 1. E Scott (St Andrews) bt M Smit 5 and 4. G Robertson (Glenbervie) bt R Bell (Downfield) 2 and 1. J Germishey bt H Porteous 1 hole.  T Tree (Eng) bt T Gauche 5 and 4. J Rebula bt C O'Neil (Pollok) 3 and 2. J Du Preez bt G Gordon (Newmachar) 4 and 2. E Taylor bt A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) at 19th. D Naidoo bt S Crichton (Aberdour) 1 hole.

THREE SCOTS IN TOP 20 AT ALPS TOUR OPENER IN EGYPT

Three Scots in the top 20 at the end of the first round of the Red Sea Bay Open at Sokhna Golf Club, Egypt represented an encouraging start to the Alps Tour season. Michael Stewart headed the hit parade with a storming finish for a five-under 67, which will see him start the second round in second place, only one shot behind the Italian pacemaker, Andrea Rota. The former Scottish amateur champion and 2011 Walker Cup player from Troon turned in one-under 35 with birdies at the long third and seventh, and one bogey, at the fifth. Coming home in a bogey-free 33, Stewart covered the last eight holes in four under par with birdies at the 10th, long 13th, long 17th and 18th. Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) from Fraserburgh shared ninth place on 70 after a bogey-bogey start. He covered the remaining holes in four-under-par with birdies at the short fourth, long fifth, 11th and 12th in halves of 35. Ross Kellett from Motherwell is joint 15th on 71 with a five-birdie round dragged down by bogeys at the short fourth, fifth, 11th and long 13th. His birdies came at the long third, long eighth, 12th, 15th and long 17th in halves of 35-36. John Henry (Clydebank and District) is joint 30th on 74 and Ross Cameron (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) is sharing 42nd place on 75 in a field of 78 players. ALPS TOUR - RED SEA BAY OPEN Sokhna Golf Club, Egypt LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES Par 72 (35-37) 66 A Rota (Ita) 67 M Stewart (Sco). 68 E Espana (Fra), L Guanti (Ita) 69 A Cooley (Eng), D B orda (Spa), L Motta (Ita), F Adarraga (Spa). SELECTED SCORES 70 K Nicol (Sco), P Kelly (Eng), J Palmer (Eng) (T9) 71 R Kellett (Sco) (T15). 72 S Brown (Eng), J Clarke (Eng) (T19) 73 R Enoch (Wal) (T22) 74 J Henry (Sco), M Wallace (Eng), T Sherreard (Eng) (T30) 75 R Cameron (Sco), T Shadbolt (Eng) (T42). Field of 78 players.

CLARKE, McDOWELL CONFIRM ENTRIES FOR IRISH OPEN

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell have confirmed that they will both compete in the Irish Open, completing Ireland’s line-up of Major Champions at Carton House, in Co. Kildare, from June 27-30.

The pair will join Padraig Harrington and World Number One Rory McIlroy in the field, along with Carton House Touring Professional Shane Lowry, as they attempt to become the first home winner of the event since Lowry’s sensational victory as an amateur at County Louth Golf Club in 2009.

Clarke, the 2011 Open Champion, was third behind winner Thomas Björn the last time the Irish Open was played at Carton House in 2006.

He was also joint runner up to Colin Montgomerie at Fota Island in 2001, and the 44 year old is hoping to go one better when he makes his 22^nd appearance in the Irish Open.

“The Irish Open is obviously one of the highlights of the year for us, and it is always an event I always look forward to playing in,” said Clarke.

“The atmosphere at Royal Portrush last year was unbelievable and I think we can expect some more fantastic home support at Carton House.  I played well the last time we were there in 2006 so I’d like to think I can do well again this year.”

McDowell, who reached the quarter-finals of last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona, is also looking forward to putting on a good show for the Irish golf fans. The 2010 US Open Champion finished tied 16^th last year at his home course of Royal Portrush and has yet to finish in the top ten in the Irish Open, with his best performance to date a share of 11^th position at Co. Louth in 2004.

“Carton House should be another great venue for the Irish Open,” said McDowell. “Obviously Portrush was a huge success last year and was very special for me personally, but I think the Irish golf fans will again support the event and it will be another celebration of Irish golf.

“We’ve had some great success on the international stage and so it would be nice for one of us to do it at home, in front of our own fans.

“Personally, I’d love to win the Irish Open one day and hopefully this can be the year I do it.”

Golf fans hoping to see Clarke, Harrington, McDowell and McIlroy in action at Carton House can take advantage of a special advance ticketing offer. 

An advance season ticket for all four days can be bought for €70, a saving and €10 on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are priced at €30 pre-event, and €35 on the gate. Concessions are available at €50 for a season (€60 on the gate) and €20 for any one day (€25 on the gate).

Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free. Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (€10) and the Sunday (€15) of the event.

Additionally, as part of the Irish Open ticket campaign, fans of golf and horse racing can enjoy both sports on the same day – Saturday, June 29 – by purchasing a specially priced ‘Irish Double’ ticket to enjoy the third round of the Irish Open and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day for a combined price of €50.

Corporate Hospitality packages are also available with prices ranging from €245 to €295 (plus VAT). For all enquiries please contact Joanne in CSL Hospitality on 01 676 6650 or joanne@cslhospitality.ie For further information please visit www.cslhospitality.ie

Full ticket information can be found at: www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +440800 023 2557. Irish callers can phone: 1890 252 698. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.

 

 

NEWBURGH WINTER LEAGUE REPORT

Winter League Golf Report from Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club
The Winter League approached its climax with the 15th Round
played on nearly the full Summer Course at Newburgh last Sunday.
John Finnie pulled himself up into a share of fifth place in the League
with his first win of the competition.
 His outstanding 45 points was clearly a round benefiting from putting on the summer surfaces. Stewart Clark was a close second on 44 points and his perfomance took him up to second place in the league, three behind the leader going into the final round next Sunday.
Despite failing to score league points this week, Stuart Mitchell remains as league leader. Shelley Johnstone's 38 Stableford points did not change her league position, but on 12 league points, she is just within touching distance of the top of the league going into next Sunday's 16th and final round.
Leading Scores, Winter Stableford League Round 15, Sunday 24 February 2013

John Finnie (22) 45 pts; Stewart Clark (23) 44; Bruce Finnie (11) 41;
Peter Hayward (12) 41; Norman Clubb (11) 40; Jim Allan (11) 40;
Philip Milne (18) 40; Euan Ross (7) 40; Brian Harper (5) 39;
Alex Third (16) 39; Keith Watson (5) 38; Shelley Johnstone (12) 38.

Sunday Stableford, Winter League Placings after 15 Rounds
Stuart Mitchell 16 pts; Stewart Clark 13; Shelley Johnstone 12;
Wullie Dyker 10; Sheena Cruickshank 8; Don Hawthorn 8;
Keith Watson 8; Philip Milne 8; John Finnie 8.


Robert McClymont
Seniors Convener
Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club

01358 723869

MONTY MAKES TRACKS FOR AVANTHA MASTERS IN INDIA

COLIN MONTGOMERIE  ... winner of 31 European Tour events

New Delhi: Colin Montgomerie, the most prolific British winner in European Tour history, will make his first appearance in the Avantha Masters when the €1.8million event takes place from March 14-17.

The Scot, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2010, has won 31 European Tour titles – two of them in Asia – in an illustrious career, and will now hope to add to his impressive tally when the fourth edition of the Avantha Masters is held at a new venue, Jaypee Greens Golf Course, Greater Noida, India.      

Montgomerie’s title ambitions at the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will be put to test by a stellar field that includes Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, a three-time Asian Tour winner and Australia’s Scott Hend.

The local charge will be spearheaded by Jeev Milkha Singh, Asia’s number one in 2006 and 2008 as well as Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar who have a combined total of six Asian Tour victories.  

Montgomerie said: “India is unquestionably one of the world’s biggest growth areas for golf, so I’m really looking forward to teeing up in the Avantha Masters. Having recently added a project in Goa to my golf course design portfolio, I hope to play my part in the development of the game in India.

“Whenever I have visited this fascinating country, I have always found the people to be both very friendly and enthusiastic about golf. Hopefully the crowds will come along to support the tournament, and show that golf in India is enjoying a real popularity boom.”        

Montgomerie is the latest in a long line of European Tour champions to confirm their attendance in the Avantha Masters.

The eight-time winner of Europe’s Money List will be joined in New Delhi by England’s Simon Dyson, Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen and Frenchman Thomas Levet, who between them have captured a total of 15 European Tour titles.        

Padamjit Singh Sandhu, Director of the PGTI, said: “The presence of a legend like Colin Montgomerie is an affirmation that Indian golf is going in the right direction. The Avantha Masters has established itself as a premium event on The European Tour International Schedule, and the new dates have enabled leading players to add the tournament to their schedules.

“I am sure more big names will confirm in the next few days. We are looking forward to one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a tournament in India, and that should provide for a great week of golf.”