SCOTLAND'S BEST TWO UNDER-18s COULD MAKE IT A CLASSIC FINAL AT MONIFIETH

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Ewan Scott and Bradley Neil, the top two seeds in the Scottish Boys Championship supported by TaylorMade-adidas Golf, will tomorrow contest a mouth-watering match for the prestigious title after an intriguing day of play at Monifieth Golf Links.

Perhaps for the first time since 1994, when Steven Young (Inverallochy) and Portpatrick’s Euan Little met in the Dunbar final, the leading two Under-18 players in the country will contest the 36-hole Boys matchplay showpiece.

For St Andrews player and top seed Scott, there is the chance to continue his impressive start to 2013 and avenge last year’s Scottish Boys Championship loss to Craig Howie of Peebles.

For Blairgowrie’s Neil, it’s a chance to continue his own strong beginning to the year and make up for his quarter-final defeat to Scott 12 months ago at Murcar Links. Regardless, the stage is set for a classic battle between arguably the best two young players in the country, both aged 17.

“People have been saying it’s the match everyone wants to see, so it’s great to have achieved it,” said Ewan, who won a Team GB gold medal alongside Neil at the Australian Olympic Festival earlier this year, as well as thriving indvidually by reaching the semi-finals of the South African Amateur and winning his category at the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

“I don’t think anyone can predict the winner, who knows how it’s going to go,” added Neil, like Scott a member of the SGU Boys Performance Squad and both products of the Scottish Golf Academy.

Neil has been in imperious form this week, playing only 94 holes from a possible 126 in his seven matches and hasn't even played the 17th or 18th. Scott, meanwhile, has had to work harder, playing a hole more despite his bye into the second round.

The day began in serene fashion for both players, with each achieving 5&4 wins over Stuart Easton (Irvine) and Blair Carnegie (Glenbervie) at the quarter-final stage respectively.

Scott was three-under-par for his 14 holes, but he faced a far tougher test in his last-four tie – meeting his friend and fellow St Andrews player Ben Kinsley, who knocked out Euan Walker of Kilmarnock Barassie in the quarters.

Kinsley, a SGU Boys Development Squad player, raced to a three-up lead after six holes, before Scott’s recovery immediately began.

Ewan, the reigning Scottish Hydro Boys’ Order of Merit winner, said: “Ben made a solid start and the 7th hole was kind of the turning point. He three-putted there and then I made a good birdie on the 8th with a flop shot to eight feet.

“We both made birdies on 9 and he then three-putted the 10th which took it back to square. It was then nice to birdie 15 and 16 and get the job done.”

Of the final, he added: “Bradley is playing well and has not yet seen 17 or 18, so hopefully I can take him there tomorrow afternoon and try and beat him. I definitely feel I am a better player to a year ago, more all-rounded after my play this winter, so I’m sure it will be a great game.”

Great Britain & Ireland Boys' cap Neil, who saw off the challenge of Ben Craggs, son of Kevin, the SLGA National Coach, in their semi-final by the margin of 4&3, added: “The seedings have worked they should. The expectation was there for us to do it, but we still had to hold our own ends of the bargain.

“We’re both good players and know what’s it about tomorrow. He has slightly more experience than me and was in the final last year, but who knows what will happen. It’ll be about who performs the best on the day and handles the pressure.”

Earlier, Glenbervie’s Craggs edged out the No 3 seed Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden by two holes, setting up a semi-final clash with Neil.

For Ferguson, having come through two matches the day before at the 18th, there were shades of tiredness.

“I’m obviously disappointed,” said the 16-year-old. “I didn’t play as well as I can, to be honest. Driving is usually the best part of my game, but it let me down.

"I was two down after three holes and it was difficult to chase from even then, as Ben was really consistent. All morning he was hitting fairways and greens. The tough two games I had yesterday maybe kicked the stomach out of me. I didn’t have the usual spring in my step.”

Tomorrow’s final between Neil and Scott is FREE so please come along and support the players for what should be a great match. Each player is seeking to join the Boys Championship roll of honour, including such famous names as Andrew Coltart, Steven O'Hara and Scott Henry.

The 36-hole final starts at 8.30am with the second tee-off at 1pm.

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ORMSBY SHIFTS UP TO TOP GEAR AT PANASONIC OPEN INDIA

PRESS RELEASE

 

ORMSBY SHIFTS INTO TOP GEAR AT PANASONIC OPEN INDIA

 

New Delhi, April 5: Australia’s Wade Ormsby cranked up the pressure on the chasing pack when he posted another five-under-par 67 to extend his advantage to two after the second round of the US$300,000 Panasonic Open India on Friday.

 

Ormsby’s two-day total of 10-under-par 134 meant that Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, who had earlier taken the morning lead, slipped to second place after he carded a 69 at the Delhi Golf Club.

 

India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia continued to stay in touch with the leaders after he matched his opening day efforts of a 69 to take third place alongside Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, who could become the oldest winner on the Asian Tour if he wins.

 

Known for his love for fast cars and motorsports, the 33-year-old Australian showed the same insatiable appetite for speed when he got off the blocks quickly with two birdies in his opening three holes.

 

He birdied the eighth hole but dropped his only shot of the round on the par-four nine before reaching the turn in 34.

 

Ormsby then made three more birdies on holes 13, 16 and 18 to put himself in a good position for his maiden breakthrough on the Asian Tour, which is celebrating its 10^th season this year.

 

“Yes, I love motorsports and racing. But that just sucks up your money while golf gives you that, so I’ll stay with golf anytime,” laughed Ormsby.

 

“There were lots of cross winds and it was tricky to try and keep them in the fairways. I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing. My short game was fantastic today and hopefully that continues,” added the Australian.

 

Meanwhile Lam knows he has to stay focused to grind out a victory despite competing on numerous occasions at the Delhi Golf Club.

 

“You can know the course very well but you still have to perform,” said Lam.

 

“I’m very happy to be where I’m. It certainly wasn’t easy out there today I felt I played solid. It was a disappointing finish but three-under for today is a very good score,” added the Singaporean.

 

Starting on the back-nine 10^th, the 36-year-old Singaporean looked set to be cruising home but stumbled home with two bogeys on his closing eighth and ninth holes.

 

“I kind of misjudged my second shot on the eighth hole. I was in the rough and I misjudged the wind which just took it left and I couldn’t get it up and down,” said Lam.

 

“Ninth hole was just a really tough pin. I was two yards out from getting into a really good position but ended up in the bunker. I had a really tough time trying to get it up and down again,” lamented Lam.

 

Chowrasia kept up his chase for his third Asian Tour win after carding another 69 under swirling wind conditions.

 

The Indian did not start off convincingly as he bogeyed his par-three 12^th, but he responded with birdies on holes 14 and 15.

 

After turning in 32, Chowrasia parred the next four holes before making further birdies on holes five and eight.

 

“I played fairly well and two successive three-under rounds is alright in these conditions as they are more difficult than normal,” said the 34-year-old.

 

“I was also happy with a couple of good par saves on sixth and ninth. That kind of a save also gives you confidence. It was quite windy and with the directions and speed changing, it became very challenging and tough at times,” added Chowrasia.

 

The weekend cut was set at five-over par with 68 players making the cut.

 

The top-three players at the Panasonic Open India will be extended invitations to the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, in Osaka, Japan in September.

 

The Panasonic Open India will be beamed live throughout four days on the Asian Tour Media’s global television platform which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes.

 

Scores after round 2 of the Panasonic Open India 2013 being played at the par 72, 6935 Yards Delhi Golf Club course (a- denotes amateur):

134 - Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 67-67.

136 - LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 67-69.

138 - S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 69-69, Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 70-68.

139 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-68.

140 - Richard LEE (CAN) 72-68.

142 - Digvijay SINGH (IND) 71-71, S Chikarangappa (IND) 72-70, SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 71-71, Jay BAYRON (PHI) 70-72, Amardip MALIK (IND) 71-71.

143 - GULFAM  (IND) 71-72, Anura ROHANA (SRI) 71-72, Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 71-72, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-72, Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 70-73.

144 - Sanjay KUMAR (IND) 70-74, Harendra P. GUPTA (IND) 72-72, Adam GROOM (AUS) 70-74, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 67-77, David LUTTERUS (AUS) 71-73.

145 - HSU Chia-jen (TPE) 73-72, Manav JAINI (IND) 75-70, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 73-72, Abhijit CHADHA (IND) 78-67, Rajesh RAWAT (IND) 73-72, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 71-74, Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 72-73, Matthew STIEGER (AUS) 71-74, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 70-75, Shankar DAS (IND) 72-73, Angad CHEEMA (IND) 70-75.

146 - Anthony CHOAT (AUS) 75-71, Elias BERTHEUSSEN (NOR) 75-71, Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 78-68, Carlos PIGEM (ESP) 76-70, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 73-73, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 71-75, KOH Deng Shan (SIN) 71-75.

 

Selected scores
147 - James Byrne (Scotland) 73 74
MISSED THE CUT (149 and better qualified)

151 - Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 76-75

160 - Oliver WILSON (ENG) 78-82.

IT'S EWAN SCOTT v BRADLEY NEIL IN SATURDAY'S 36-HOLE FINAL AT MONIFIETH

The top two seeds in the Scottish boys' match-play championship, No 1 Ewan Scott, beaten in last year's final at Murcar Links, and No 2 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) will meet in tomorrow's 36-hole final at Murcar Links.
SEMI FINAL RESULTS
over 18 holes

Ewan Scott (St Andrews) beat Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 2 and 1.

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) beat Ben Craggs (Glenbervie) 4 and 3

Ewan Scott came back to win from being three down after six holes.

PGA EUROPRO TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL

JIMMY BULLARD MAKES CUT AT PGA EUROPRO TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Former footballer is one of 196 who make it through First Stage

Former Wigan Athletic midfielder Jimmy Bullard has made it through the First Stage of PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School as he looks to make the grade on the professional golf circuit.

The 34-year-old, whose former clubs also include Fulham and Hull City, shot rounds of 75 and 76 on the par-72 Constable Course at Stoke By Nayland Golf Club to finish his 36 holes seven over par and make it through to next week’s Qualifying School Final Stage at Frilford Heath Golf Club by four shots.

“The first round was steady for me,” he said. “I felt like I could have played better but it was difficult in the wind. On Thursday we had a lot of snow but everyone is in the same boat.

“It was a little bit into the unknown for me. I am used to playing football so for me to come up here for the first time with a pencil and card in my hand was a different pressure but I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t sleep last night, I just wanted to get out there again!

“I entered PGA EuroPro Tour Q School as an amateur just in case I didn’t qualify, then I could go back and play some amateur events and some medals. But do I believe I can qualify? Yes, of course I do.

“I have enjoyed it so much and it has given me a bit of direction in my life. I finished playing football in October and coming out of a sport you have played for 15 years it goes stone dead and it is quite a surreal feeling, quite a weird feeling I had going on in myself and golf has got me out of trouble a little bit.”

Stoke By Nayland was one of three host venues for PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School First Stage. Greg Payne (Chobham Golf Club) headed the 67 who qualified from the East Anglia course to play at Final Stage. He finished four under par after rounds of 69 and 71.

At The Players Club in Bristol 68 golfers qualified to play at Frilford Heath after the tournament was reduced to 18 holes due to adverse weather delaying the start of play on both days. Benjamin Martin hit an impressive two-under-par 68 to top the leaderboard in testing conditions.

Play was also delayed at De Vere Oulton Hall, a course which stepped in to save the day last week after six inches of snow fell on De Vere Slaley Hall, the original host venue. Scotsman Paul Shields (Kirkhill Golf Club) led the 61 qualifiers, finishing three under par after rounds of 66 and 71 on the par-70 course.

Qualifying School Final Stage takes place at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire next Wednesday, April 10 over 54 holes, concluding on Friday, April 12. A total of 240 golfers will take part hoping to earn a card for the 2013 season.

The PGA EuroPro Tour is the UK’s leading professional golf tour and makes up part of the third tier of European Golf. The top five earners on the season’s final Order of Merit earn categories to play on the Challenge Tour, putting them one step away from the European Tour.

A host of former PGA EuroPro Tour players have gone on to win on the European Tour including major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and Ryder Cup winners Ross Fisher and Nicolas Colsaerts. The Tour’s 2009 Order of Merit winner Scott Jamieson won his first European Tour event at the Nelson Mandela Championship last December.

www.europrotour.com
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SCOTT, KINSLEY, CRAGGS, NEIL THRO TO SCOTTISH BOYS SEMI-FINALS AT MONIFIETH LINKS

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
It's an all-St Andrews semi-final between top seed Ewan Scott and Ben Kinsley, while Ben Craggs (Glenbervie) meets second seed Bradley Neil (Blairgowie) in the other semi at Monifieth Golf Links this afternoon.

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS

Ewan Scott (No 1 seed) bt Stuart Easton 5 and 4

Ben Kinsley bt Euan Walker 2 and 1.

Ben Craggs bt  Ewen Ferguson (3rd seed) 2 holes

Bradley Neil (2nd seed) bt Blair Carnegie 5 and 4

RORY HAS PAR 72 IN OPENING ROUND OF TEXAS OPEN

 FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By JAMES CORRIGAN in San Antonio

Rory McIlroy came to this Texas Open on a mission “to eliminate the silly mistakes” in time for next week’s Masters. Thursday’s first round underlined the urgency of those judgment adjustments.

Up and down: Rory McIlroy started brightly but ended up with an opening round 72 at the Texas Open

It is enough to drive a 23-year-old mental. At 9.50am on April 4, he had finally claimed a lead for the first time in 2013. An hour later he was bemoaning three bogeys in a row which perfectly highlighted his weakness at the moment. It is between the ears, not between the shoulders.

“If you take out those silly mistakes I came here to fix then it would have been a good score,” McIlroy said. Indeed, it would have been a 69 instead of a level-par 72 and he would have been so much closer to Padraig Harrington, his fellow Irishman who was clubhouse leader on four-under.

As it is, he is far from out of contention, but aware that he must repair his broken course management – and soon. The 18th (his ninth) was a case in point. On a cold and gusty morning in the San Antonio hills he had strode to two-under and to the top of the scoreboard, birdieing the par-five 14th and the par-four 17th – the latter courtesy of almost driving the green – and making a 20-footer for par in between on the 15th. McIlroy was left with a little over 100 yards with his third on the par-five 18th, with the hole cut in the front and a creek guarding. Then came the brain freeze.

“I thought I hit a good shot and it came back into the water,” McIlroy explained. In truth, he had taken on too much – the wise shot was to the left of the flag. His head dropped and the look at his caddie, JP Fitzgerald said “here we go again”.

There it went again, as he bogeyed the par four first when misjudging his approach with a wedge shot and then failed to get up and down just off the back of the green. He was at it again on the 602-yard par-five second when going for the green with his second and slicing it into the trees. McIlroy’s body language resembled his play – sloppy. “I think what happened on the 18th got to me,” McIlroy said with trademark honesty.

McIlroy regrouped and a 50-yard chip to five feet on the fifth (his 14th) and a 120-yard wedge to the same distance on the next took him back under par. A closing bogey, after another pushed tee-shot in the wind, left him with mixed emotions. “How do I stop these errors?” he said. “I don’t know.

“Just stop doing them, I guess. It’s hard to explain. It’ll just come with play and that’s why I’m here this week.”
As McIlroy said, experience is important when the winds are up and the fairways are tight. Padraig Harrington would definitely not disagree after his 68. “It was cold and it was windy out there – and that combination is not a day for ball striking,” he said. “I’m not walking away from this round thinking 'wow, I hit so many pure golf shots’ or anything like that. This more of a test of mental fortitude than ball striking today.”
Even then, there was a maddening moment for Harrington to ping around his cranium. On the 18th, Harrington believed he had holed the 30-footer for birdie. But it dribbled four feet past and he missed the putt for his only bogey of the round. “It was a stinker and it kind of takes the shine off the day,” he said. The 41-year-old was later joined on four-under by the young American Billy Horshel, with England’s Brian Davis maintaining his recent upturn in form on three-under.

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ST ANDREWS INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB AT FEDDINCH

“A FIRST FOR ST ANDREWS”

NEWS RELEASE

This week, SOL Golf commenced the construction of the course at Feddinch, part of a £40m development being created for St Andrews International Golf Club, (SAIGC) which will be the first, and only, private golf club, at St. Andrews, limiting play to members and their guests.

Located at Feddinch, a 244 acre estate on the Southern boundary of St. Andrews, the facilities will comprise an 18 hole golf course with a bye hole and practice range, all  designed by former ‘Open’ champion, Tom Weiskopf, and a luxurious Clubhouse.

Along with CNN, who are to film the club’s development, Tom Weiskopf is due to visit soon to cast his eye over progress and to ensure the course meets his exacting standards.

The traditionally designed clubhouse will afford the highest standards in luxury and comfort and will combine the best elements of a private golf club with the amenities of a leading resort. It will incorporate a feature lounge and restaurant, private wine cellar, separate attended locker rooms, a "spikes" bar, business centre, video conference facility, spa, full service professional shop and 38 luxurious suites.

The suites, ranging in size from 40 sqm to 100 sqm will be individually designed to provide comfort, elegance and style, and all will enjoy panoramic views.

            With a focus on exclusivity and member service, the facility will fulfil the prime objectives of providing a private club of the highest quality for the benefit of its members and their guests and of establishing SAIGC as an internationally renowned, member only, residential golf club at St. Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf.’

Quality will be the hallmark of all facilities, service and cuisine - from the limousine uplift at the point of arrival in Scotland, to bell staff for arrival and departure assistance, to a dedicated butler service and a concierge service to make all member arrangements.Close attention to detail will be reflected throughout, providing the highest level of care and attention, with security and privacy being of paramount importance.

 

SAIGC will be owned by its members and will be, first and foremost, an exceptional and world class private golf club. SAIGC will operate as a not-for-profit organisation, managed solely for the benefit of its Members.

 

Membership may be acquired only by invitation and numbers will be limited to ensure ideal conditions for members and their guests, both on the course and in the clubhouse

 Timetable of Events

Commencement of Course Construction	April 2013
Commencement of Clubhouse Construction	September 2013
Completion of Course	September 2014
Completion of Clubhouse Construction	February 2015
Grand Opening	May 2015

 

Further information may be sourced from the website, standrewsigc.com or by contacting Paul McPhail on paulmcphail106@gmail.com.

SCORES IN ALPS TOUR EVENT

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KENNY HUTTON WINS MIDLAND ALLIANCE TITLE PLAY-0FF

 

 FROM LEE SUTHERLAND

This week the Midland Golfers’ Alliance held the JTC Kitchen Express Championship at Crieff Golf Course 

in Perthshire.

 After 36 holes their was a three way tie for the championship between Gary Tough, Edzell (Scr), Willie Hutton, Pitlochry (1) and Kenny Hutton, Downfield (P) all returning 4 over par scores of 145. Gary bowed out at the first play off hole after a bogey 4, with Kenny winning the 3rd extra hole with a birdie 3 to become champion for the 5th time.

 Mike MacKenzie, Edzell (AP) had the shot of the day holing a pitching wedge at the 124 yard 4th hole for a hole in one. 

Leading Scratch Scores

 145 72,73 K. Hutton Downfield (P) 74,71 W. Hutton Pitlochry (!) 69,76 G. Tough Edzell (scr)

 147, 72,75 M. Pirie Pitlochry (P) 148, 77,71 J. Strachan Royal Montrose (2) 149, 76,73 K. Bruce Edzell (2) 150, 75,75 S. Craig Germany (P) 151, 73,78 S. Graham Arbroath (2) Leading Handicap Scores 144, 75,69 J. Strachan Royal Montrose (2) 145, 74,71 K. Bruce Edzell (2) 147, 71,76 S. Graham Arbroath (2) 150, 76,74 S. Hills Monifieth (8) 71,79 C. Ferguson Muckhart (2) 76,74 T. Jamieson Dunnikier Park (3) McQueen Shield (over 18 holes) Leading Net Scores 70, BIH D. Sievwright Drumoig (13) 70, A. Glass Alloa (13) 72, B. Bell Tulliallan (6) G. Pendrich Downfield (10) Last Meeting Dukes Thusday 11th April 8.30 – 12.30

Lee Sutherland