WEST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE AT KILMARNOCK BARASSIE

PAR 72

LEADING SCRATCH

68 Chris Currie (Caldwell), Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood).
70 David Orr (Mearns Academy), James Steven (Bothwell Castle).
LEADING HANDICAP
69 Stuart Clayton (Crow Wood) (4), Ross Colsh (Bearsden) (5).
71 Derek Surgeon (Hayston) (5)

73 Steven Scott (Cardross) (5

SENIORS

70 Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) (5)

72 James Nugent (Vale of Leven) (18

 

Next event

Wednesday, March 13

Venue:  Falkirk Tryst.

 

SCOTS GOLFERS TRAIL BY THREE POINTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Scotland trail South Africa by 3pt at the halfway stage of the two-day men's amateur golf international contest against South Africa at Leopard Creek, near Malelane. The Scots were leading their hosts 3-2 after the five morning ties but the the South Africans came into their own over the nine afternoon singles. Scotland's only post-lunchtime winners were Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) and Michael Daily (Erskine). They had also won as a foursomes partnership in the morning. The overall scores were level with three singles to finish - and South Africa won them all, although each tie went to the 18th green before being resolved with defeats by one hole for Ross Bell (Downfield), Jamie Savage (Cawder) and Graham Gordon (Newmachar).   Earlier Fraser McKenna (Balmore) had lost the top singles to South Africa's No 1, Haydn Porteous, by 3 and 2 and Scottish youths champion Ewan Scott (St Andrews) went down by 3 and 2 to Louis Taylor.  Scott Borrowman (Dollar) lost by 5 and 4 to Gerlou Roux. Scott Crichton (Aberdour) was four up on the 12th tee against Zander Lombard but could only square the match. FIRST DAY SCORELINE   SCOTLAND 5 1/2, SOUTH AFRICA 8 1/2  MORNING RESULTS SCOTLAND 3, SOUTH AFRICA 2 Scotland names first Ross Bell and Scott Borrowman lost to Zander Lombard and Tertius Van Den Berg 5 and 4. Garham Gordon and Jamie Savage bt Werner Ferreira and Aubrey Barnard 5 and 4. Fraser McKenna and Scott Crichton lost to Haydn Porteous and Louis Taylor 2 holes. Fraser Moore and Michael Daily bt Dylan Raubenheimer and Callum Mowat 2 holes. Ewan Scott bt Gerlou Roux 7 and 6.   AFTERNOON RESULTS SCOTLAND 2 1/2, SOUTH AFRICA 6 1/2  McKenna lost to Porteous 3 and 2. Crichton halved with Lombard Scott lost to Taylor 3 and 2. Borrowman lost to Roux 5 and 4. Moore bt Raubenheimer 5 and 4. Daily bt  Van den Berg 5 and 4. Bell lost to Barnard 1 hole. Savage lost to Ferreira 1 hole Gordon lost  to Mowat 1 hole.

SCOTLAND LEAD 3-2 IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH SINGLES TO COME

Scotland were leading hosts South Africa 3-2 after the five morning ties - four foursomes and one singles - at Leopards Creek today. There are nine singles in the afternoon and South Africa dominated the seassion, winning six ties and halving another.
Scotland's only afternoon winners were Fraser Moore and Michael Daily.
Scott Crichton had to settle for a halved match after being four up on the 12th tee. 

FIRST DAY SCORELINE
 
SCOTLAND 5 1/2, SOUTH AFRICA 8 1/2 







MORNING RESULTS
SCOTLAND 3, SOUTH AFRICA 2
Scotland names first
Ross Bell and Scott Borrowman lost to Zander Lombard and Tertius Van Den Berg 5 and 4.
Garham Gordon and Jamie Savage bt Werner Ferreira and Aubrey Barnard 5 and 4.
Fraser McKenna and Scott Crichton lost to Haydn Porteous and Louis Taylor 2 holes.
Fraser Moore and Michael Daily bt Dylan Raubenheimer and Callum Mowat 2 holes.
Ewan Scott bt Gerlou Roux 7 and 6.  

AFTERNOON RESULTS
SCOTLAND 2 1/2, SOUTH AFRICA 6 1/2 
McKenna lost to Porteous 3 and 2.
Crichton halved with Lombard
Scott lost to Taylor 3 and 2.
Borrowman lost to Roux 5 and 4.
Moore bt Raubenheimer 5 and 4.
Daily bt  Van den Berg 5 and 4.
Bell lost to Barnard 1 hole.
Savage lost to Ferreira 2 holes
Gordon lost  Mowat 1 hole.  
   

DAVID LAW FINISHES SIXTH IN MOROCCO

David Law staged a storming finish to climb up the final leaderboard and finish sixth in the German PGA Developmental Tour's Al Maaden Open at Marrakesh, Morocco.  The Aberdonian, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, packed seven birdies into a five-under-par 67 for a 54-hole aggregate of eight-under-par 208.  He birdied the first, long fourth, long seventh, eighth, long 13th, 14th, short 15th and long 16th, offset by bogeys at the second and llth.  Law earned 1,125 Euros for finishing four shots behind the winner, Dutchman Robin Kind, who beat Germany's Bernd Ritthammer at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on 12-under-par 204.  Had Law not had two double bogeys on his outward half in the second round he would have made it a three-way play-off.  Kind won the 5,000 Euros top prize with a bogey at the extra hole after Ritthammer, winner of last week's Amelkis Open, also at Marrakesh, went into water and could do no better than a double bogey 6. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 216 (3x72) 204 Robin Kind (Net) 65 67 72, Bernd Ritthammer (Ger) 69 69 66 (King, 5,000 Euros, bt Ritthammer, 3,000 Euros, at first hole of a sudden death play-off).  205 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 66 69 70 (2,000 Euros) 207 Dennis Kupper (Ger) 71 67 69, Alexander Knappe (Ger) 68 67 72 (1,125 Euros each).  208 David Law (Sco) 66 75 67 (1,210 Euros).

DUTCHMAN KIND OF WINS THE AL MAADEN OPEN IN MOROCCO

Robin Kind from the Netherlands is the champion of the Open Al Maaden 2013. On Tuesday afternoon he won the title with a play-off victory against German Bernd Ritthammer on the first extra-hole.

Marrakech/Morocco (mat) - For the Dutchman this triumph is his first success on the Pro Golf Tour. After both players were on 12 under par after 54 holes a bogey was good enough for Robin Kind to secure himself the trophy on the first extra hole. Bernd Ritthammer's second shot had found the water hazard of the 18th green and after his drop he could only make a double bogey on this par 4 in front of the Al Maaden clubhouse. On the final day Bernd Ritthammer, winner of the Open Amelkis last week, had forced the Dutchman into the play-off with scoring a brilliant round 66 despite stromy winds on the course. Third place went to Francois Delamontagne from France, 4th position of the final tournament ranking is shared by Dennis Küpper and Alexander Knappe, both from Germany.
Fine consolation for German Bernd Ritthammer after loosing the play-off at the Open Al Maaden: With his 2nd place he is not only the new No. 1 of the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit but also secures himself the wildcard for the Trophée Hassan II, a tournament of the European Tour in Agadir by the end of March.

DEER PARK BLAZE THE TRAIL FOR WEATHER-RESISTING COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

NEWS RELEASE
Deer Park Golf are leading the weather resisting improvements for Scottish Golf 2013! 
We are preparing fairways and greens for members and other events to minimise disruption to this year's calendar. 
With the Mixed Classic Tournament taking place on 8th June and the Deer Park Masters Pro-Am Tournament on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th August, the greenkeepers are working around the clock.
PGA of Scotland quote “Almost every golf course in Central Scotland has suffered due to the weather in the past couple of years, and it’s good to see that Deer Park has taken huge steps to overcome these problems over the winter months. Everyone should see benefits from the hard work for years to come.”
The course has been land drained, verti drained, scarified, covered in sand to alleviate the issues severe rain and snow had on the Lothians during 2012, come and see the improvements!

Phone number at Deer Park is 01506 446699

 

KELLETT, NICOL LEADING SCOTS AT RED SEA

Ross Kellett and Kris Nicol were sharing third place on one-under-par 71 at the end of the first round in the Alps Tour's Red Sea Little Venice Open at Sokhna Golf Club, Egypt today.  Kellett, from Motherwell, deviated from par only four times - an eagle at the 319yd par-4 first, a birdie 3 at the 11th and bogeys at the short fifth and par-4 15th.  Fraserburgh's Nicol, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, in contrast had six birdies - at the first, second, 10th, 11th, 15th and 16th - but also a bad run where he dropped five shots over five holes: bogey at the fourth, double bogey at the sixth and bogeys at the seventh and eighth.  But that splendid, bogey-free inward half of 32 repaired most of the damage.  Ross Cameron from Ellon is sharing 33rd place on 73 which included a triple bogey 7 at the second.Troon's Michael Stewart, beaten in a play-off in his last outing, is back in joint 42nd place in this one.  He subsided to a two-over 74 after birdieing the long third, long seventh and short eighth on his way to an outward 34. Stewart's birdie-less inward half of 40 included bogeys at the 10th, 14th, 15th and long 17th.  John James Henry from Clydebank & Districti had a 75, which left him in joint 53rd position in a field of 77 players. He had a double bogey 6 at the 15th followed by birdies at the 16th and long 17th. Welshman Rhys Enoch and France's Pierre-Ludovic Couvert lead the field on the five-under 67 mark. RED SEA LITTLE VENICE OPEN  Soknha GC, Egypt  LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES  Par 72 67 R Enoch (Wal), P-L Couvert (Fra).  68 J Foret (Fra), X Puig (Spa). 69 J Palmer (Eng), R Neil-Jones (Eng). SCOTS' SCORES  71 R Kellett, K Nicol (T13). 73 R Cameron (T33). 74 M Stewart (T42). 75 J J Henry (T53).

RORY McILROY ADMITS THAT WALKING OFF COURSE WAS NOT RIGHT THING TO DO

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN in Miami, Florida
Rory McIlroy has sought to take the heat out of his press conference here on Wednesday by telling an American magazine that walking off mid-round in last week’s Honda Classic “wasn’t the right thing to do."

Since his premature exit last Friday, McIlroy has been criticised by his playing partner Ernie Els as well as the game’s most garlanded player, Jack Nicklaus. 
Even Tiger Woods chimed in, telling McIlroy “ to think about it a little bit more before saying or doing something”. 
But presumably Woods would approve of this “control the story” PR strategy which pre-empts many of the questions heading in his direction here at the WGC Cadillac Championship.

“It was a reactive decision,” McIlroy told Sports Illustrated. “What I should have done is take my drop, chip it on, try to make a five and play my hardest on the back nine, even if I shot 85. 
"What I did was not good for the tournament, not good for the kids and the fans who were out there watching me – it was not the right thing to do.”

There can be no doubting McIlroy’s sincerity. The 23-year-old understands his responsibilities as the world No 1 and also recognises that they would double-fold in Palm Beach Gardens as he was the defending champion. 
But after dropping seven shots in eight holes in the second round he was “seeing red” and when he hit his second into the water on the 18th (his ninth) he decided enough was enough.

The article claims McIlroy was in severe pain with a dental condition which affected his concentration, but did not address why he told three journalists immediately afterwards that his reasons to withdraw were not physical.

Apparently, his Belfast dentist, Mark Conroy, faxed a letter to the US PGA Tour HQ on Monday, detailing McIlroy’s condition with both of his wisdom teeth. McIlroy had 14 days to provide medical evidence to excuse his withdrawal or else he could have faced a fine or even a ban.

But, as if to confess that it was more of a mental than dental problem, McIlroy revealed he and Bannon went to the range that very afternoon to try to fix a faltering swing which also caused him to miss the cut in Abu Dhabi and lose in the first round at the World Match Play in his other two starts this year.
However, McIlroy still maintains that none of the blame can be attached to his January switch to Nike clubs in a £78m deal. 
“The driver and the ball took some time to get used to, but I had weeks at Nike before the start of the year, and I feel comfortable with the equipment,” he said. 
“The problem is, I’m bringing the club too upright on the backswing then dropping it in too much on the downswing.” 
McIlroy claims not to have read or listened to any of the outcry.
“Whatever people are saying, I probably already said to myself,” he said. He also vowed to try to emulate Woods’s competitive spirit. “He might be the best athlete ever, in terms of his ability to grind it out. I could have a bit more of that, if I’m honest,” he said.

 

FIRST-EVER ALL-FEMALE SCOTTISH LADIES OPEN GOLF TOUR

PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE
SCOTTISH LADIES OPEN TOUR 
INAUGURAL SCHEDULE 2013

APRIL

18 Marriott Dalmahoy East Course, Edinburgh (£2,500).
19 Ratho Park, Edinburgh (£2,500)

MAY
6 Trump International Links, 12 miles north of Aberdeen (£3,500). Hole in one prize at 16th - £10,000 or £100 for nearest the hole.
7 Deeside GC, Aberdeen (£3,500). Hole in one prize at 1st - £10,000 or £100 for nearest the hole.

6-7 Saltire Energy 36-hole championship (Prizes based on the best two-round aggregates from Trump International and Deeside) (£1,250).

JUNE
No events because of British women’s open amateur championship and Vagliano Trophy which will involve all the elite amateurs.

JULY
2 Downfield GC, Dundee (£2,500)
3 Carnoustie Burnside (£2,500)

11 Blairgowrie Rosemount, Perthshire (£2,500).
12 Alyth GC, Perthshire (£2,500)

AUGUST
26 Fairmont St Andrews Torrance Course (£2,500).
27 The Duke’s, St Andrews (£2,500)

SEPTEMBER
23 Haggs Castle GC, Glasgow (£2,500)
24 Drumpellier GC, Glasgow (£2,500)

OCTOBER
7 Craigielaw, East Lothian (£2,500)
9-10 Marriott Dalmahoy Tour Championship (36 holes, 2 days) (£5,000)

+Entry fee for the Tour Championship is £100. All other entry fees during the season are  £50 per player which do not need to be paid until the draw has been made for the relevant tournament.

+Sponsorship is being pursued to raise the £2,500 prizefunds. Sponsorship opportunties are still available to individuals, companies or even golf clubs who wish to host an event. E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com ASAP if you are interested in becoming involved in the most exciting development in Scottish women's golf since Mary, Queen of Scots played the game.

 The inaugural Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour will call in at some of Scotland's best links and inland courses in its 14-event schedule which tees off in April and runs through to mid-October.
The experimental tour is designed to provide a testing ground for lady professionals so that they  can raise their game to the standard required to qualify for the Ladies European Tour.

But the organisers would also welcome entries from competitors who are already members of the Ladies European Tour and also LETAS so that keen competition is assured.

PLGC SLOT events are also open to female amateurs with single-figure handicaps so they can assess, by playing alongside professionals, whether or not they are good enough players to turn pro.

The tour, which is also being backed by the R&A, is modelled on the no-frills Scottish alliance format of 18-hole, one-day competitions which will be held in back-to-back double-headers at relatively adjacent courses to save competitors' accommodation expenses.
Only the 14th and last event on the 2013 schedule - the
Tour Championship at Marriott Dalmahoy, Edinburgh (a Solheim Cup
venue in the past) - will be over two days and 36 holes.

Ryder Cup hero and Open champion at Carnoustie in 1999, Aberdeen-born Paul Lawrie is thrilled by the fact that the fledgling tour, which bears his name, will be hosted by a variety of  links and inland courses, enabling the players to hone their skills.

“It's fantastic news. Many, many thanks to everyone involved in allowing the lady professionals and up-and-coming amateur girls the chance to play on such high profile courses," said Paul.

Nicola Melville, the only lady PGA teaching professional at St Andrews, and veteran golf writer Colin Farquharson are co-organisers of the first all-female open pro tour to be held in Scotland. Nicola will be the focal point for competitors at all the events

Nicola said:                                  
"The fact that so many quality courses appear on our first schedule is
bound to help us attract competitors from outwith Scotland - which is a
necessity as there are not enough lady pros in Scotland, even if they all
turn up on the same day, to make the enterprise a viable proposition.
"There has been a great deal of interest shown in our new tour already
with would-be player registrations from outwith Scotland - England,
Germany and Spain among others to date."

Christopher Campbell, the Grantown-on-Spey-born head professional at Trump International Links, said:
“We are pleased to support Paul Lawrie and the local businessmen behind this initiative aimed at developing Scottish female professionals and the top amateur golfers in the country.

“What Paul has done for Scottish junior golf, especially in the North-east of Scotland is great for the game of golf and the well-being of children growing up in the area. He has now put his name to a Scottish Ladies Open Tour which will further enhance the game in Scotland so we were happy to offer the required tee times for the competitors on Monday, May 6.”

The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour will debut at Marriott  Dalmahoy, Edinburgh on April 18 and call at venues such as Trump International Links, Carnoustie, Blairgowrie, The Duke's, Fairmont St Andrews, Craigielaw and Haggs Castle before returning to the Edinburgh venue for its closing fixture of 2013,  the Tour Championship, which will have prize money of £5,000 (based on a field of 30 players),  over 36 holes on October 9-10.

The remainder of the events, if they attract 30 entries, will have prizefunds of £2,500 or £3,500, depending on the level of sponsorship. All entry fees will go into the prizefunds.  In all, the inaugural PLGC Scottish Ladies Open Tour will be offering total prize money well in excess of £30,000.

News of the PLGC SLOT entries and directions to the courses, where to stay and how to go about obtaining practice rounds, is available on its website: http://www.scottishladiestour.co.uk/home

Entries can be made online and no entry fees have to be paid until the draw for that particular tournament has been made.

There is no minimum or maximum age for the lady/girl amateurs as long as they have single-figure handicaps. Ten amateurs is the maximum entitlement in a field of 30. If the amateurs do not take up their entitlement, the vacant places will go to lady professionals in order of entry.

Most of  the fields will be limited to around 30 players because the host clubs are giving the courtesy of the course. It will be first come first served for lady pro entries. If there are more than 10 amateur entries for a tournament, the lower handicap players will be given priority. 

The organisers will be consulting competitors throughout the season with a view  to expanding the size of the fields next year when, subject to the players' wishes,  two-day events will become the norm.

As a player-friendly tour, no official prizegiving ceremonies will be held except for the Tour Championship. Otherwise players can leave the venue as soon as they have checked and signed their scorecards, leaving a mobile telephone contact number with Nicola Melville.

Players can collect their prize money (or amateur voucher) from Nicola at the next venue if they do not wish to hang around until the end of play when Nicola will draw up a list of final scores and prize money distribution.

End of tournament information will be posted on www.scottishladiestour.co.uk and www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk ASAP.

Estimated prize funds are based on fields of 30 players. A breakdown of the distribution of prize money is also available on www.scottishladiestour.co.uk.

  

Amateurs will not have separate prizelists. They are competing against the professionals and, depending on their position in the final standings at any tournament, can win vouchers up to a maximum value of £500 (limited by the Rules of Amateur Status).

The leading pro in the PLGC SLOT Order of Merit at the end of the Tour Championship in October will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Morocco for the 2013 LET Q School or to compete in the Moroccan Ladies Challenge which is planned to be played between Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Q School at Marrakesh.

The leading amateur in the Order of Merit will win a stay at self-catering accommodation at Gleneagles Village (to the value of £500).

To allow for players travelling long distances to the courses, in general the first tee times will not be until around 1.30 or 2pm with the odd exception.