RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

FROM DON BREMNER

 turnberry.db@gmail.com

  

YOUNG GOLFERS SELECTED FOR RENFREWSHIRE DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Under the watchful eyes of teaching professionals George Boswell, Ian Kennedy and Mark Loftus at Mearns Castle Academy, Renfrewshire’s future star golfers have commenced their programme of coaching which is the first step toward inclusion in the Scottish squad.

Although current evening temperatures are not conducive to outdoor activities, the seventeen selected golfers from throughout the County, ranging in age from 8 year old Aidan O’Hagen to 13 year old Ciaran O’Brien, are showing tremendous enthusiasm.  

In addition, George Boswell is impressed by the skill levels which already exist.  

“It makes our job so much easier when the boys are keen to learn and when they already have many of the basics required.  Our early assessment is that there are a number of very promising boys in the squad and we look forward to assisting Renfrewshire Golf Union in its developmental role”. 

The squad consists of:

Aidan O’Hagen (Old Ranfurly), Harry Kellock and Timothy Erskine (Kilmacolm), Strvan Walker (Mearns Castle), Roddy McCaulay (Fereneze), Alistair Taylor (Gourock), Ciaran O,Brien (Cochrane Castle) Scott Cummings, Liam Kerr and Lee Gillan  (Whinhill), Euan Knox and Jack McCauley (Greenock), Tom Mackenzie, Kerr Webster and Alessandro Schenini (Whitecraigs), Andrew McAlpine (Erskine) and Lewis Greenlees (Paisley)

 

Picture shows the squad after their second session

STRONG FINISH POWERS ELLIOT SALTMAN INTO SHARE OF THIRD PLACE

Elliot Saltman has his sights on a flying start to the PGA EuroPro Tour season after a strong finish hoisted him to joint third place at the end of the first day of the Motocaddy Mastgers at Wensum Valley Golf Hotel and Country Club, Norfolk.
The Archerfield Links man shook off a double bogey 6 at the first with a birdie at the third but after a bogey at the fourth he was in the doldrums for a long spell.
Then Saltman went into over drive down the home straight with birdies at the long 14th, the short 15th and long 18th for a one-under-par 72.
Saltman missed out on the Challenge Tour card that comes with finishing in  the top five on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit last year by just £73.
He is one shot behind joint leaders Max Smith (Donnington) and Luke Joy (Broadstone).
Brother Zack is sharing seventh place on 74 with Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel). Zack was on course to join Elliot on the 72 mark until he ran up a double bogey 7 at the 16th.
Another Lothians player, former Scottish amateur champion, John Gallagher (Duddingston) is joint 20th with Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) on 75.
Tartan Tour campaigner Neil Fenwick took 42 shots to come home for a 79 and joint 78th place.
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) was one shot worse with an 80 which included double bogeys at the 15th and 17th. He is sharing 100th place.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill) struggled to return an 80.

The Motocaddy Masters is a 54-hole strokeplay event. The second round will be played on Wednesday after which a cut will be made with the leading 50 players plus ties playing a final 18 holes on Thursday

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
71 M Smith (Donnington), L Joy (Broadstone).
72 E Saltman (Archerfield Links), B Fowler (Wentworth)
73 J Maw (Abbeydale), D Rawluck (The Island).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
74 Z Saltman (Archerfield Links), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) (T7).
75 J Gallagher (Duddingston), Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (T20).
79 N Fenwick (Dunbar) (T78)
80 P McKechnie (Braid Hills), P Shields (Kirkhill)  (T100)
81 M Rae (Pitlochry) (T120).
83 I Redford (St Andrews New) (T137)
86 S Mackie (Dunnikier Park) (T150).
88 C Trahan (Gleneagles) (153rd).
.

LOGJAM OF LEADERS AT HALFWAY IN SPEY VALLEY CHALLENGE

+SCROLL DOWN PAST THE SCORES TO VIEW TOMORROW'S TEE TIMES  By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com It's tight at the top at the halfway stage of the Spey Valley 36-hole Challenge with two shots spanning the leading 10 players after a cold - frost delayed the start by 30min - and windy day at the Aviemore venue. James McKinnon (Irvine), David Orr (Meanrs Castle) and Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) share the overnight lead on level par 72 over the Dave Thomas-designed heather-lined course on the banks of the River Spey. McKinnon eagled the third but he began to scatter shots after turning in two-under 34 and needed to birdie the 17th and 18th to stay in the picture. Orr did his best work over the early holes - birdies at the third, fourth and fifth in 34 to the turn. Oldcorn had an adventu rous inward half of 35 which included a double bogey 6 at the 12th but also birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 17th and a bogey at the short 16th. Shot of the day belonged to Stephen Gray. The Hayston pro aced the 16th but then bogeyed the last two holes for joint third place with seven other players on 73. So the competition will be keen for the first prize of round about £1,750 in a tournament with a prize fund of £10,000. FIRST-ROUND SCORES Par 72 72 J McKinnon (Irvine), D Orr (Mearns Castle), A Oldcorn (Kings Acre). 73 D Patrick (Elie SC), F Dunlop (Gleneagles), K Hutton (Downfield), C Ronald (Carluke), G Hutcheon (Banchory), S Gray (Hayston), S Savage (Dalmuir), G McBain (Gamola).  74 F Cromarty (Castle Stuart), D Roger (Windyhill), S Morrison (Tain), P Robinson (Largs), G Brown (Montrose Links),C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst). 75 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), C Kelly (Cawder), G Smith (Gleneagles), J Lomas (Caprington), GH Wright (West Linton), M King (Kingsfield).  76 M Urquhart (Spey Valley), S Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), K Campbell (Machrihanish), C Russell (RAW Golf Design), C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey). 77 C Tierney (Affordable Golf), M Patterson (Kilmacolm), K McNicoll (Gullane), T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar0, I Taylor (Drumpellier), C Knowles (Panmure), Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle). 78 M Murray (Brora), P Wilson (Cawder), I Brown (Newent), P Brookes (Pitreavie), C Gillies (Kingsfield), F Robertson (Elie SC). 79 C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), A Rollo (Nairn Dunbar), J Henry (Clydebank and Dist), Andrew Munro (Musselburgh), G Hardy (Ayr Belleisle). 80 J Gallagher (Douglas Park), J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), C Everett (Caldwell), C O'Neil (Pollok (am), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), C Currie (Caldwell), C Robinson (Prestonfield). 81 J Dick (Duddingston), R McConnachie (Peterculter), E Walker (Burntisland), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle), L McLaughlin (Whitecraigs). 82 L Burnett (Mearns Castle), J Erskine (unatt), R Dixon (Renaissance), G McFarlane (Clober), S McAllister (Renaissance Club), J Cliff (Murrayfield), J Cliff (Murrayfield), G Forbes (unatt). 83 C McMaster (Panmure), P Wardell (Whitekirk), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs). 84 F Clarke (Newmachar), R Rushford (Swanston New), I Stoddart (Uphall), P Smith (Deeside), S Henderson (Kings Links), M Mackenzie (Edzell). 86 E Hogarth (Peebles), C Lawson (unatt). 87 R Harrower (Boat of Garten). 88 A Purdie (Kingsbarns). 89 R Holt (unatt). ROUND TWO TEE TIMES 1 8:00 AM Richard Holt Ross Harrower, Boat of Garten Golf & Tennis C Calum Lawson 1 8:10 AM Ewan Hogarth, Peebles Golf Club Michael Mackenzie, Edzell Golf Club Peter Smith, Deeside Golf Club 1 8:20 AM Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre Iain Stoddart, Uphall Golf Club Robert Rushford, Swanston New Golf Club 1 8:30 AM Fraser Clarke, Newmachar Golf Club Kevin McNiven, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses David McCallum, Golfsphere Ltd 1 8:40 AM Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range Paul Wardell, Whitekirk Golf Course Christopher McMaster, Panmure Golf Club 1 8:50 AM Graham Forbes, Unattached * Jonathan Cliff, Murrayfield Golf Club Stephen McAllister, Renaissance Club 1 9:00 AM Gary McFarlane, Clober Golf Club Ross Dixon, Renaissance Club Jamie Fraser 1 9:10 AM James Erskine, Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club Lewis Burnett, Mearns Castle Golf Academy Les McLaughlin, Whitecraigs * 1 9:20 AM Patrick Walker, Ballumbie Castle Golf Course Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle Golf Club Eric Walker, Burntisland * 1 9:30 AM Ross McConnachie, Peterculter Golf Club James Dick, Duddingston * Matthew Laughtland, Bishopbriggs Golf Range 1 9:40 AM Colin Robinson, Prestonfield Golf Club Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club Conor O'Neil, Pollok * 1 9:50 AM Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count Craig Everett, Caldwell Golf Club Joel Hopwood, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club 1 10:00 AM Jordan Gallagher, Douglas Park Golf Club Gareth Hardy, Belleisle Golf Course Andrew Munro, Musselburgh Golf Club 1 10:10 AM John Henry, Clydebank & District * Andrew Rollo, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Craig Gordon, Edinburgh Golf Centre 1 10:20 AM Fraser Robertson, Elie Sports Centre Colin Gillies, Kingsfield Golf Range Ian Brown, Newent Golf Club 1 10:30 AM Paul Brookes, Pitreavie Golf Club Paul Wilson, Cawder Golf Club Malcolm Murray, Brora Golf Club 1 10:40 AM Scott Herald, Mearns Castle Golf Academy Malcolm Isaacs, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Craig Knowles, Panmure Golf Club 1 10:50 AM Ian Taylor, Drumpellier Golf Club Tom Dingwall, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Keir McNicoll, Gullane Golf Club 1 11:00 AM Michael Patterson, Kilmacolm Golf Club Christopher Tierney, Affordable Golf Christopher Robinson, Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club 1 11:10 AM Christopher Russell, RAW Golf Course Design Ken Campbell, Machrihanish Golf Club Stephen Lamb, Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Coun 1 11:20 AM Murray Urquhart, Spey Valley Golf Course Mark King, Kingsfield Golf Range Gareth Wright, West Linton Golf Club 1 11:30 AM Jonathan Lomas, Caprington Golf Club Grant Smith, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses Chris Kelly, Cawder Golf Club 1 11:40 AM Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst Golf Club Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd. 1 11:50 AM Paul Robinson, Largs Golf Club Stuart Morrison, Tain Golf Club David Roger, Windyhill * 1 12:00 PM Fraser Cromarty, Castle Stuart Golf Links Greg McBain, Gamola Golf Stewart Savage, Dalmuir Golf Club 1 12:10 PM Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club Greig Hutcheon, Banchory Golf Club Craig Ronald, Carluke Golf Club 1 12:20 PM Kenneth Hutton, Downfield Golf Club Fraser Dunlop, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses David Patrick, Kingsfield Golf Range 1 12:30 PM Andrew Oldcorn, Kings Acre Golf Course David Orr, Mearns Castle Golf Academy James McKinnon, Irvine Golf Club