SPANISH TOURNAMENT FOR THE OVER-48s

TIGER MOVING INTO CONTENTION AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

Tiger Woods has had a birdie and an eagle over his first six holes of the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Golf Club, Florida.
At six-under-par, he is only three shots off the pace.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE LIVE SCORING 

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PAUL LAWRIE LAUNCHESSCASTLE STUART NEW GREEN FREE INITIATIVE

Paul Lawrie and Stuart McColm, general manager at Castle Stuart golf course on the first tee today

NEWS RELEASE

Former Open Champion Paul Lawrie today visited Castle Stuart Golf Links, the host venue for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, to open the new season and launch an exciting new green fee special offer initiative.

Lawrie, who played a key role in Europe’s dramatic Ryder Cup victory at Medinah last year, visited Castle Stuart to kick-off a new playing season which will see the acclaimed Inverness venue stage the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the third year in succession from July 11-14 before the event moves on to Royal Aberdeen in 2014.

As the longest-serving Aberdeen Asset Management Ambassador, it was appropriate that Lawrie spent some time for a photocall at the 439 yard par four first hole on the banks of the Moray Firth as a prelude to the 1999 Open Champion’s bid to claim a title close to his heart. 

However, a minor neck and back problem prevented Lawrie from hitting the intended first professional tee shot of the new season.

Watched by an audience of the Castle Stuart staff, who have worked tirelessly over the winter months to prepare the course and Art Deco clubhouse in tip-top condition for the 2013 season, Lawrie undertook some media duties and said: “I’ve always said if I was only ever to win one more title in my career it would be the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

“Obviously it’s my national Open, played just a couple of hours from my home in Aberdeen so it would be a huge honour to be champion. Two of my biggest wins have been in Scotland so it’s nice when you know that people are walking round the course supporting you a little bit more than you would normally find elsewhere. And, of course, it is ideal preparation for The Open at Muirfield the following week.”

As Lawrie was displaying his acumen on the course, Castle Stuart General Manager, Stuart McColm, was revealing the club’s new special offer on green fees for spectators to play the classic links by purchasing tickets to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

As a special ‘thank you’ to everyone who has already purchased tickets for the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, or who buys a ticket between now and the conclusion of the tournament, Castle Stuart is pleased to make a special offer on a range of green fees to play the superb Championship Course.

Every person who purchases a day ticket for the event will receive a £10 voucher that can be redeemed against a green fee at Castle Stuart, or a £25 voucher on purchase of a season ticket. Only one voucher can be used on any single green fee or local four ball. Vouchers are only valid for the 2013 golfing season at Castle Stuart, from March 22 to November 24.

McColm said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed staging the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the past two years and we are confident that the third and final edition of this agreement with The European Tour will also be very special.

“Many people have expressed a desire to play this great links course at Castle Stuart, so we felt it would be a nice gesture to assist the keen amateur golfers by offering this range of special offers, which will apply until the end of the 2013 playing season.

“It is always an exciting day for all of us at Castle Stuart when a new season gets under way, but especially so this time around with a Major Champion – and Scotland’s leading tournament professional – in Paul Lawrie helping us start 2013 in great style.”

And you can purchase tickets NOW to benefit from pre-tournament savings and to obtain the discounted green fee vouchers.

A season ticket for all four days can be bought for £70 in advance of the tournament, a saving of £10 on  admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are currently priced at £30, rising to £35 on the gate.

Concessions (60 and over) start at £50 for a season ticket and £20 for any one day tickets if purchased in advance. Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free. Entrance to the Pro-Am on Wednesday is £12 in advance and £15 on the day.

Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for the Saturday (£10) and the Sunday (£15) of the event. Hospitality packages are also available.

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

 

IRISHMAN GRANT SHARES LEAD ON NGA TOUR

Gainesville, Georgia – Irishman Stephen Grant has faced plenty of tough competition in his career, but most of it was in the form of hacking defenders during his time as a striker for the Liverpool FC. But on Thursday, the soccer-player-turned golfer proved he was anything but a one-dimensional athlete.
Grant, who now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, posted four birdies and one bogey in the opening round of the NGA Tour's $200,000 Milton Martin Honda Classic at Chattahoochee Golf Course and held a share of the lead with Chris Wolfe and Will McCurdy in the clubhouse at 3-under par when play was suspended due to darkness.

Wolfe of Warner Robins posted five birdies, four bogeys and one eagle in the opening round, while McCurdy, a former Auburn University standout from Auburn, Ala., carded five birdies and two bogeys in the opening round to join Grant atop the leaderboard.
Super rookie Trent Whitekiller kept up his solid play in the first round, finishing the day tied for fourth. 
Whitekiller, a former Oklahoma State standout from Sallisaw, Okla., carded a 2-under 70 to join NGA TOUR veterans Chas Narramore (Kingston, Tenn.) and Daniel McCarthy (Syracuse, New York State) in a tie for fourth.
Seth Fair, Will Mitchell and Kent Bulle were the only other golfers to finish the first round under par on Thursday. 
Fair, a University of Indianapolis All-American from Fishers, Ind., carded three birdies and two bogeys, while Bulle, a former Middle Tennessee State standout from Glasgow, Kentucky, and Canadian Mitchell did the same, finishing with 1-under 71s.
Patton Kizzire (St. Simons Island), Andrew Medley (Athens, Ala.) and Jonathan Bartlett (Vero Beach, Fla.) were tied for 10^th at even par when play was halted at 7:48 p.m.
Chris Naegel, Renaud Langevin, Gregory Huxman, Justin Regier and Jack Newman finished the day 1-over par and tied for 13^th.
For full-field scores, click here. 
The first round of the Milton Martin Honda Classic will resume at 7:45 a.m. (local time) and the second round will begin at 8 a.m. As usual, admission is free to the public.

ALASTAIR FORSYTH FIVE SHOTS OFF LEAD IN KUALA LUMPUR

     ALASTAIR FORSYTH ... "best I've played for some time"

               Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c) 

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
 Scot Alastair Forsyth is making the most of a rare start on The European Tour at the Maybank Malaysian Open, a tournament he won 11 years ago, after reaching five under par in the second round.
The 37 year old triumphed at Royal Selangor Golf Club in 2002, edging out Australian Stephen Leaney in a play-off having opened with rounds of 63 and 65. That was his maiden European Tour victory and he added another in the 2008 Madeira Islands Open.
The last few years have been more of a struggle – he lost his full playing card in 2010 – but he believes his swing is now better than ever and is confident he can regain the form of his halcyon days.
A second round 70 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club leaves him five under overall, five shots off the lead Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
“I remember the win as if it was yesterday,” said Forsyth. “It’s a beautiful place and I’ve always enjoyed coming here. I’m just happy to be playing to be honest.
“I have limited starts just now, so it’s great to be able to come here as a former champion and get another tournament under my belt.
“I had a good few years after the win, which came on the back of a tough year. The six or seven years after that were good. It’s the past three years or so that have been pretty poor and I’ve totally lacked consistency. I don’t know what’s coming from one minute to the next.
“But it’s never far away and today was probably the best I’ve played for quite a while. I hit a lot of fairways and it makes the game a bit easier when you do that.”
Forsyth revealed his frustration at not being able to eradicate serious errors from his game, adding: “It’s not been poor shots that have been the problem; it’s been absolutely ridiculous shots.
“There have been many tournaments where I’ve had as many birdies as the leader but finished about 50th. But now I feel like I’m swinging the club better than I ever have and I’m starting to find a few feelings to hit shots rather than getting too technical and always trying to hit the perfect shot.
“I’ve still got the drive and ambition. It’s a game that hooks you and keeps you coming back for more.
“I’m happy with my position and my wedge game and the putter have been working nicely.”
 
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Kuala Lumpur: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat birdied the ninth hole to hold a one-shot edge over second round clubhouse leaders Wu Ashun of China and former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa at the energy-sapping Maybank Malaysian Open today.

First-round leader Kiradech completed only nine holes of his second round when play was suspended at 7.25pm due to fading light at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club following another day of weather disruptions.

The burly Thai, fourth at the Avantha Masters in India last week, stood at 10-under for the US$2.75 million tournament sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour after making birdies on the third, fourth and ninth holes.

Before the afternoon storm rolled in, self-taught Wu produced a solid four-under-par 68 to tie Schwartzel, who also carded a 68, on nine-under-par 135 after both players laboured to 26 and 27 holes respectively.

Italy’s Edoardo Molinary was a further shot back on eight-under after playing five holes of his second round in two under. A total of 76 players will return on Saturday morning to complete the round. The penultimate round will not commence before 1.15pm.

Liang Wen-chong, China’s first Asian Tour number one when he won the Order of Merit in 2007, fired a 68 to move up into contention as the might of Chinese golf came to the fore at the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Wu, who is playing on a sponsor’s invitation, is enjoying a purple patch. He qualified for his maiden appearance at The Open Championship through the International Final Qualifying – Asia in Thailand earlier this month and put himself in contention to win his first Asian Tour title.

“I like this course and I’m very happy to visit my old Asian Tour friends,” said Wu, who finished tied 19^th during his last visit to Malaysia in 2010.

“I think it’s important to play with a strategy in mind and choosing the right clubs will matter as well. I’ve been in a good form lately and I hope to maintain that.

“It is great that I have the opportunity to play in this co-sanctioned event. It’s going to be very competitive because we’ve got all the top players from the Asian Tour and European

Tour in the field,” added the 27-year-old, who won on the Japan Tour last season.

Schwartzel completed his first round in the morning with a 67 and then got off to hot start for his second round when he birdied the opening two holes. However, with the high humidity and heat putting a toll on the players, the slender South African dropped shots on six and seven after making mental errors.

“I can’t be too hard on myself because it’s extraordinarily hot out there. I lost a bit of concentration towards the end and made bad decisions on the sixth and seventh – poor club selections. I was in the middle of the fairway both times and made bogey,” said Schwartzel, winner of the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour last December.

“There are no excuses and you just have to get on with it. I’m glad to have given myself a chance. It’s been a very long day but through it all, I thought I played pretty well. If I had been a bit sharper, I could have separated myself from the field.”

Liang, who finished third at the Avantha Masters, continued his impressive form and believes he needs to stay patient to contend for the Seagram Trophy, which is handed to the winner of the Maybank Malaysian Open.

“I have a big chance again but I need to have more patience. I feel that my form is good. Just need to get in more short putts. I missed some two to three footers yesterday and today. My putting stroke hasn’t been too steady,” said Liang.

“Wu is a very good player. I think he’s got a chance as well. Wu always try very hard. Last year, he has got more confidence as he won in Japan which was good for him.”

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,967 

135 - WU Ashun (CHN) 67-68, Charl SCHWARTZEL (RSA) 67-68.

138 - LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 70-68, Scott JAMIESON (SCO) 66-72, Lee SLATTERY (ENG) 68-70.

139 - Rafa CABRERA-BELLO (ESP) 72-67, Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 69-70, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 68-71, Alastair FORSYTH (SCO) 69-70, Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) 71-68.

140 - Matteo MANASSERO (ITA) 69-71, Bernd WIESBERGER (AUT) 71-69, Raphael JACQUELIN (FRA) 70-70, Jean GONNET (FRA) 70-70.

141 - Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 69-72, Gavin GREEN (am, MAS) 73-68, Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 71-70, Ignacio GARRIDO (ESP) 70-71.

142 - Alvaro QUIROS (ESP) 75-67, Robert DERKSEN (NED) 72-70.

143 - KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 70-73, SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 71-72, Alejandro CANIZARES (ESP) 72-71, Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 72-71, Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) 73-70.

THE DUKE'S, ST ANDREWS BACK IN TOP 100 UK COURSES

NEWS RELEASE

The Duke's Golf Club, the golf course owned by the five red star Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews, is celebrating two accolades in one week.

The Club is back in the 'top 100' in the UK, having been selected to feature in the online 'top100golfcourses' website – and has also won a 'silver flag' from the '59 Club' for providing an 'outstanding golf experience' for members and visitors.

Duke's Manager, David Scott, is "delighted" with the news, saying: "Golfers worldwide are influenced by testimonials from their peers – so to have the Duke's ranked at 96 in the UK is wonderful." David adds: 

"There are more than 2,700 golf courses in the UK – so golfers have a huge selection from which to choose. And in Scotland, there are now more than 580 courses – so to receive the news that The Duke's is ranked at 27 in Scotland and fifth in the Kingdom of Fife, the very Home of Golf, is a fantastic testament to the hard work and attention to detail delivered by our dedicated green keeping staff."

David adds: "The 59 Club recognition is for much more than our golf course as it measures every aspect of what we deliver for golfers – from ease of booking tee times, through the golfing experience to our catering offer, club house facilities, golf shop and customer service." 

The 59 Club is a unique benchmarking company, endorsed by the PGA, focusing on member surveys and 'mystery shopper' audits to help develop, improve and maintain a high levels of customer service.

David adds: "The work undertaken by the 59 Club enables us to increase our customer satisfaction and, combined with feedback from our members and guests, helps to drive our business forward."

+The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour has been kindly granted the courtesy of The Duke's course for one of the 18-hole events on its inaugural schedule - Tuesday, August 27 (the day after the first leg of the Fife double-header, Fairmont St Andrews on Monday, August 26.

Lady pros and single-figure lady amateurs can enter these events NOW online at www.scottishladiestour.co.uk

No entry fees have to be paid until the draw for the relevant tournament is published on www.scottishladiestour.co.uk  

HOLE-IN-ONE BONUS PRIZES WHEN PAUL LAWRIE LADIES TOUR CALLS IN AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL AND DEESIDE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Co-organiser PLGC SLOT 

It has happened before in golf tournaments where there have been special hole in one prizes, that a competitor has had an ace - but NOT at the designated hole where a brand new car of a lump sum of cash was up for grabs.

So the player is left empty handed for his or her stroke of luck, which, if we are honest, a hole in one really is. Tee shot comes to rest on the lip of the cup at a par-3 hole and it is a "great shot." Tee shot rolls into the hole at a par-3 hole and it is "a fluke."

But the Aberdeen hoteliers, Bill Hogg (pictured), Gordon Sinclair and Gordon Nicoll of the Atholl Hotel and the Dutch Mill, who are financing the award of £10,000 in cash for a hole in one at the 16th (157yd) on May 6 when the Paul Lawrie Ladies Open Tour calls in at Trump International or £10,000 for a hole in one at Deeside Golf Club's first hole (from the Yellow Tees) on May 7, have come up with some great news about bonus awards.

Bill Hogg says: "One piece of positive news from the insurers is that included in the deal with them for both events is what they term a Bonus arrangement whereby if any player has a hole in one at any of a maximum of three other par-3s on the course, then the following cash prizes are payable:

A hole less than 135 yards - £250

A hole of 135 to 164 yards -  £500

A hole of 165 to 179 yards -  £750

A hole of 180 to 199 yards - £1,000

A hole of 200 yards +plus  - £1,500

The other bonus prizes are £100 cash for "nearest the pin" at the 16th (Trump International) and the first (Deeside) IF no holes in one are achieved there.

Under the last revision of the Rules of Amateur Status, amateurs are allowed to win cash prizes for Holes in One.

Rule 3-PRIZES states:

"An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a (prize voucher of retail value not in excess of £500 or the equivalent) including a cash prize for a hole-8in-one made while playing a round of golf."
View the inaugural Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour by switching to www.scottishladiestour.co.uk
Entries to all the events can be made in advance online.
No entry fees are due until the draw for the relevant tournament is displayed on www.scottishladiestour.co.uk or www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk 

BURLISON AND KEEBLE TARGET FRENCH TITLE

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF


Robert Burlison (Oxley Park, Staffordshire) and Bobby Keeble (Abridge, Essex), who both secured runners-up spots on a recent trip to South Africa, have been named among six England players for the Michel Carlhian Trophy being played at Le Touquet on 27th – 31st March.
They will be accompanied to France by Harry Ellis (Meon Valley, Hampshire), Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park, Derbyshire), Jack Singh Brar (Brokenhurst Manor, Hampshire) and Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire).

The competition is a match play event with the first two days comprising 36-hole stroke play, the best 32 players qualifying for the match play over 18 holes until the final which will be contested over two rounds.
A Nations Cup event will be played over the stroke play rounds, Ellis, Singh Brar and Turner will comprise the England A team while Burlison, Moore and Keeble will make up the B team.
Burlison, (Image Copyright Tom Ward) who will celebrate his 18th birthday on the day of the final, lost a playoff for the Kenako South African World Junior event at Kingswood earlier this month. He also finished second in last year’s South of England Boys Championship and has represented England at under 16 and boys levels in recent years.
Keeble, 18, finished runner-up in the Western Province under 23 Stroke Play Championship, his third second place in less than a year. He was beaten in a playoff in the English under 18 Championship for the Carris Trophy last July then finished tied second in the South of England Boys Championship. He was also third in the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship in Ireland and finished fifth on the Titleist/FootJoy England Golf Boys Order of Merit last year.
Ellis, 17, became the youngest English Champion when he won the title at Silloth-on-Solway last summer at the age of 16. The Hampshire lad then made his full England debut in last year’s Home Internationals and represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy. He was also a member of the victorious England team in the Canadian International Junior Challenge and of the England squad that won the Gold Medal in the recent Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.
Moore, 15, won the English under 14 Championship in 2011 then became an under 16 and Schools international that same year. In 2012, he enjoyed solid performances in the McEvoy Trophy, finishing fourth, fifth in the European Young Masters in Hungary and sixth in the Douglas Johns Trophy. Again capped at under 16 level last year, he was also a member of the winning team in Canada, finishing joint second in the individual rankings.
Singh Brar, 16, has been an under 16 cap for the past two years and became a boy international in 2012. The winner of the Hazards Salver in 2011 for the lowest score by a player aged under 16 at the Carris Trophy, he was a joint winner of the Junior County Champions Tournament that same year, while last year he finished sixth in the McEvoy Trophy and the English Under 16 Championship for the McGregor Trophy and finished sixth on the Boys Order of Merit.
 He was also a member of the squad at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. He has just returned from Mission Hills in China where he finished second in the Faldo Series Asian Grand Finals.
Turner, who turns 17 on the eve of the French event, was also involved in the Australian Youth Olympic festival, winning the Silver Medal in the individual rankings and his great start to the 2013 season continued with victory in the Bernard Darwin Salver at Rye, earlier this week. 
Another under 16 and boy international, in 2012, when he finished seventh on the Order of Merit, Turner won the Boys County Champions title as well as the Lincolnshire Boys Championship, was third in the Fairhaven Trophy, fourth in the McGregor Trophy, fifth in the North of England under 16 Championship and the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship. He also represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

SCOTTISH HYDRO SPONSORSHIP TO ENERGISE SGU GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIP

              ON THE GOLD STANDARD ... Ewan Scott and Bradley Neill

                           Picture by courtesy of Andy Forman

  NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

The Scottish Golf Union has today unveiled a major new sponsorship agreement with Scottish Hydro to support a new initiative aimed at boosting golf club membership in Scotland.

Launched ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Golf Show at the SECC Glasgow, the new partnership will see Scottish Hydro as the headline sponsor of the Scottish Golf Club Card, a new national membership benefits programme designed to add more value to being a member of a golf club in Scotland.

Part of an extensive project being undertaken by the SGU and SLGA, the Club Card will be made available to members of affiliated golf clubs this season. The Club Card will allow golf club members to access a range of benefits as part of their club subscription fee to the governing bodies, including preferential green fees, exclusive member competitions and special offers from other leading partner brands.

 

Also linked to the Centralised Database of Handicaps (CDH), an on-line initiative to improve the tracking of handicapping for clubs and members in Scotland with more than 160,000 golfers uploaded, it is hoped the Scottish Golf Club Card will also help clubs with their marketing efforts to attract and retain members.

 

“It is a huge boost to have Scottish Hydro on board as the headline sponsor of this exciting new initiative and their significant investment will allow us to develop a comprehensive package of benefits which adds value to being a member of a golf club in Scotland,” said Ross Duncan, the SGU’s Marketing & Sponsorship Manager.

“With Scottish Hydro’s support, our aim is to connect with all club golfers across Scotland and reward those members, which in turn should help clubs attract and retain their membership.”

 

“We’ve held the long term ambition of getting closer to our members and having something as tangible as a card in their hands will enhance that. We have listened to what our golfers want and this concept is a major step towards responding to their feedback,” he added.

 

Attending the launch were rising stars Bradley Neil and Ewan Scott, who both collected gold medals for Team GB at the recent Youth Olympic Festival in Australia. Scott, winner of last year’s Scottish Hydro sponsored SGU Junior Tour, said:

 

“It’s great to see Scottish Hydro extending their sponsorship of grass roots golf in Scotland, having benefited from their support of the Junior Tour last year. They are involved in Scottish Golf at all levels and the sponsorship the SGU generates really helps young players like myself, as well as hopefully helping clubs with their membership.”

 

Golf fans visiting the Scottish Golf Show will have the opportunity to win a team of three in the Scottish Hydro Challenge Pro-Am at Spey Valley by visiting the SGU stand and registering for the Scottish Golf Club Card, while Scottish Hydro is giving away a range of great prizes in their ‘Nearest the Pin’ challenge, with the opportunity to play against the Team Scottish Hydro Tour professionals, who will be on hand to offer their advice.

 

Jonny Petrie, Sponsorship Manager for Scottish Hydro added: “We are delighted to extend our sponsorship to the Scottish Golf Club Card programme and further our support to club level. This partnership compliments our other golf activity, including the Scottish Hydro Challenge and Scottish Senior Open and I’m sure clubs and their members will really benefit.”

 

ENDS

 

SCOTTISH HYDRO SUPPORTED TEAM 2013 ANNOUNCED

       TEAM SPIRIT (l to r): Jack Doherty, Jamie McLeary, George Murray, Andrew McArthur and Lloyd Saltman

         Picture by courtesy of Andy Forman

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SGU 

Scottish Hydro has today announced continued support for the Team Scottish Hydro programme which provides financial support and advice for emerging talented professionals on both the European Challenge Tour and the Ladies European Tour.

Now in the third year, Team Scottish Hydro has already helped Craig Lee, Chris Doak and Callum Macaulay secure places on the European Tour and it is hoped that some of this year’s recipients will follow in their footsteps. 

2011 Team Scottish Hydro graduate, Craig Lee, said: “Team Scottish Hydro is a fantastic support for young Scottish professionals. The Challenge Tour is very competitive but it is also expensive to play all the events required to secure a full Tour card. The all-round support I received helped massively.”

This morning, the five Challenge Tour players and two Ladies Tour players were announced. For the men, Andrew McArthur, Jamie McLeary and Jack Doherty return and they are joined by newcomers George Murray and Lloyd Saltman. For the ladies, Kylie Walker continues to receive support and is joined this year by Pamela Pretswell.

McArthur, who is receiving support for a second year commented: “I am delighted to be a part of Team Scottish Hydro again. I am very grateful for the continued support and I am determined to build on the successful start that I have made to this season and repeat Chris and Callum’s success of last year.” 

George Murray, one of this year’s newcomers: “Having narrowly missed out on keeping my European Tour card last season, I am well-aware of what is required to get myself back to where I feel I belong. This support is greatly appreciated at a very important stage in my career.”

Jonny Petrie, Sponsorship Manager at Scottish Hydro, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for some of Scotland’s top emerging golf professionals. Last season was a very successful one with both Chris and Callum winning their place on the European Tour and, in addition, we were also very happy for Craig as he continues to develop his game at the highest level. 

“Team Scottish Hydro is a key part of our golf programme for 2013 and we are pleased to welcome the players for this year. We hope that they can all perform to their potential.”

 

Team Scottish Hydro 2013

 

Jack Doherty, Andrew McArthur, Jamie McLeary, George Murray, Lloyd Saltman, Pamela Pretswell, Kylie Walker.

 

TWO ENGLISH WINNERS ON US COLLEGE CIRCUIT

There have been two English-born winners on the US men's college golf circuit this past week - Jonathan Grey (Georgia State), pictured, from Kent and Ben Johnson (Bethany College, Kansas) from West Sussex.
It was Grey's fourth win of his freshman year and he is heading for a place in the Europe team for the Palmer Cup students' international.

Read our men's and women's coverage of the US college golf circuit by switching to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

WEB.COM TOUR TEES OFF WITH PETERSON, ELLIS SHARING LEAD ON 65

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Joe Chemycz, Web.com Tour staff
BROUSSARD, Louisiana  – Local favourite John Peterson and 42-year old Danny Ellis matched 6-under-par 65s Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open, the first domestic stop on the Web.com Tour’s 2013 schedule.

Peterson, who played college golf at nearby Louisiana State, was among the last to finish in the morning and rolled in 10-foot birdie putt to move into temporary possession of the lead.
“Anytime you get to play in front of hometown fans it’s always nice,” said Peterson, who bought a house in Baton Rouge last year and is commuting the 50 miles each way. “This close to home is a treat. To be in a tournament this close, and a big tournament that means something is really cool.”
Ellis, who has bounced around the mini tours for the past several years, chalked up seven birdies during his trip around the Le Triomphe CC course and grabbed a piece of the lead – the first time in his 83 Web.com Tour starts he’s held or shared a lead after any single round.
“I just tried to keep it simple,” said Ellis, who tied for third here in 2005. “This course plays fast all the time. It’s kind of crucial that you get the ball in the fairway. I wasn’t trying to pick specific holes to try and make birdies. I just putted great today.”
Ellis made a couple of birdies in the 20-foot range but nothing crazy like Peterson, who rolled one in from 65 to 70 feet on the par-3, third hole.
“I think I made the longest putt of my life,” he said. “When I was over that putt I was thinking that 2013 was the year of the bomb. It was just crazy.”
Chasing the leaders are Ben Martin, rookie Ryan Spears and Australia’s Nick Flanagan – all tied at 5-under 66.
Another 15 players are knotted together with 4-under 67s.
Lurking three shots off the pace are 13 more players – including John Daly, two-time Chitimacha winner Brett Wetterich, and Kevin Kisner, winner of the Chile Classic in Santiago two weeks ago.
That makes 33 players piled up within three shots of each other and a total of 47 within four of the lead.

First-Round Notes & Quotes:
-- Thursday weather: Sunny skies. Wind SE 10-20 mph. High of 70.
-- Peterson, 23, made six cuts in nine starts on the PGA TOUR in 2012. His only top-25 finish came at the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Peterson opened with rounds of 71-70 and was paired with fellow LSU alum David Toms for the third round when he aced the par-3, 13th hole. A final-round 70 put him 3-over par and T4, just two shots back of winner Webb Simpson.
His money earned in the event was enough to gain him conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year. He has finished T28, T36 and T16 in his first three starts this year and is No. 37 on the money list.
-- Ellis has made 113 career starts on the PGA TOUR but none since 2007. Ellis has four career top-10s on TOUR, his last coming at the 2006 Zurich Classic of New Orleans (T7).
Ellis missed the cut in his first two starts this year at the Panama Claro Championship and the Colombia Championship in Bogota.
-- Ellis is making his seventh career start in this event. His best effort was a T3 in 2005 and then finished T44 in ’06. He missed the cut in his other four starts.
-- The first three tournament winners in 2013 are competing this week:
Panama Claro Championship Kevin Foley 72; Colombia Championship Patrick Cantlay 71; Chile Classic Kevin Kisner 68
-- Clemson University has a defined presence on the first-round leaderboard as Ellis (65/T1), Ben Martin (66/T3) and D.J. Trahan (67/T6) all played for the Tigers.
-- Brian Duncan, who also played in college at Clemson, held a share of the lead during the afternoon before faltering with two bogeys and a double bogey in his final six holes. Duncan was 6 under after only seven holes, thanks to eagle-3s at the par-5 first and seventh holes. He ended the day at 2-under 69.
-- Rookie Ryan Spears (66) missed out on his second career hole-in-one when his ball flew in and then out of the cup at the par-3, 11th hole.
Spears’ 6-iron “never left the flag” and crashed into the back of the hole before bouncing back out and stopping six inches from the cup.
“They said I was robbed,” he said. “My ball landed in the back of the cup, where the plastic sits and shot out that whole side of the hole. They had to come out and fix it. I destroyed the hole. It was weird but you can’t be too mad with a tap-in birdie.”
-- Joe Durant, Randall Hutchison, Ben Martin and Troy Merritt each hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
-- Veteran Chris DiMarco fired a 6-over 77 today in the opening round – his first on the Web.com Tour since the conclusion of the 1997 season.
DiMarco, 44, has been a full-time member of the PGA TOUR for the past 15-plus years. DiMarco’s last start came at the Tour Championship at Grand National GC in Opelika, Ala. in October of ’97 -- a span of 15 years, 5 months and 1 day.
DiMarco finished T5 (1993) and T15 (1997) in his only two previous starts at Le Triomphe.
Here are some PGA TOUR-related numbers for DiMarco since he last played on the Web.com Tour: 425 starts 1388 rounds 3 wins 58 top-10s 295 cuts made $22,164,303 earned.
His career wins came at the 2000 SEI Pennsylvania Classic, the 2001 Buick Challenge (playoff) and the 2002 Phoenix Open.
DiMarco has made one start on the PGA TOUR in 2013 and missed the cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
-- Mike Standly, 48, also returned to the Web.com Tour after a lengthy layoff. Standly last start was a missed cut at the 2008 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open.
Standly’s only career win came at the 1993 Freeport-McMoRan Golf Classic. Over the years, Standly has seven previous starts in this event with his best finish a T5 in 2000. He shot a 6-over 77 Thursday.
-- Also making his first start on Tour in several years was Trahan, who posted a 4-under 67 and is tied for sixth.
“I didn’t hit it great today but I scored well,” he said. “The wind picked up and I misplayed it a little bit. It was a good day with the putter and I’m excited with the way things are going. Obviously I’d like to hit the ball better tee to green.”
Trahan played one full season on the Web.com Tour in 2004 and won the Miccosukee Championship, beating Nick Watney by two strokes in Miami.
Trahan finished T7 in this event in 2004, his only previous start at Le Triomphe.
“The greens are pretty quick and if the wind blows they won’t be easy to putt in the wind,” he said. “It’s out there but I think 15 or 16-under is a realistic number for the week. Twenty would be great and probably would win the tournament.”
Some PGA TOUR-related numbers for Trahan since his last appearance on the Web.com Tour:
236 starts 721 rounds 2 wins 26 top-10s 132 cuts made $9,343,477 earned.
Trahan’s two wins came at the 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic (playoff) and the 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He wound up No. 135 on the PGA TOUR money list last year.
“It’s been 10 years but that doesn’t matter. You’re playing where you’re playing,” he added. “Sure, I’d rather be playing at Bay Hill this week, who wouldn’t? There isn’t a guy in this field who wouldn’t want to be at Bay Hill. 
"It’s one of those things where I have to pick myself back up. I fell down off the horse and I’ve got to get back up on it. That’s what I’m working towards now. The reality of it is you’re here, so you need to pick yourself up.”
In 2013, Trahan has made two cuts in four PGA TOUR starts, with a T8 at the Puerto Rico Open a few weeks ago.