HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

 TOP PERFORMANCE BY COUNTY GOLF TEAM.

In the six-man Scottish area team championship played at Crail recently,  Clackmannanshire finished a highly credible fifth out of the 16 teams in the qualifying round.  

Team captain Darren Hulston was delighted with the performance  “The team were gutted to lose a semi-final spot by one shot to Glasgow. Nevertheless it was a very good performance and shows that the Wee County elite golfers can compete against the top golfers in Scotland.”  

Under different qualifying rules, Clackmannanshire  did make the final of the event some years ago. With bad weather, the event was cut to one qualifying round and Fife took the 2013 title.

  L to R: Grant Murray, Rikky Alexander, Tom Carroll, Jamie McEwan, Cameron McGorgray.

  BOYS' MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP.

 The finals of the Clackmannan county boys' match play championships were held at Braehead last week. In the senior event, Rikky Alexander  (Braehead) reversed the stroke play result when he beat Grant Murray  ( Braehead).  

 In the Junior final, Alloa's Jamie McEwan did the double when he beat Calum McGorgray (Tillicoultry).

          

Lanarkshire Boys beat Renfrewshire Boys at Carluke

Lanarkshire beat Renfrewshire  in the first of the West of Scotland Boys' League matches at Carluke Golf Club today.

The margin of victory was 5 1/2 to 2 1/2.

Results:

Under 18s

    C Connacher (Wishaw) halved with S Wilson (Greenock Whinhill).

    C Farrell (Wishaw) bt S Ewing (Elderslie) 3 and 2.

    S Campbell (Cambuslang) lost to S Burns (Caldwell) 3 and 2. 
    J Walkinshaw (Wishaw) lost to P Dorrian  (Greenock) 2 and 1.

Under 16s

    K McVicar (East Kilbride) bt J Stewart (Old Ranfurly) 3 and 2.
    D Fair (Hamilton) bt P Dalrymple (Lochwinnoch) 1 hole.
.   I Ferguson (Drumpellier) bt A McNaughton (Caldwell) 4 and 3.
    A Thomson (Lanark) bt C Toal (Old Ranfurly) 1 hole.

Willie Sharpe
Lanarkshire Golf Association  past president

Switch to Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk for today's Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Tour results

TODAY'S PAUL LAWRIE 

FOUNDATION UNDER-15 

TOUR AND FLAG RESULTS 

AT TURRIFF CAN BE FOUND 

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BARRY REID SETS PACE IN ABERDEEN LINKS QUALIFYING

Barry Reid (Caledonian), the 2011 Aberdeen Links champion, began his campaign to regain the title with an impressive round of five-under-par 66 in the first qualifying round on Saturday.
He has a two-stroke lead from Ronnie Evett (Northern).
Title favourite Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) is sharing fourth place on 70.

LEADING SCORES
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Par 71
66 B Reid (Caledonian)

68 R Evett (Northern)

69 M Grieg (Bon Accord)

70 B Edmond (Bon Accord), A Shand (Bon Accord)

72 S Davidson (Northern), S Finnie (Caledonian), W Ross (Caledonian).

73 G Meade (Caledonian), M Dunn (Bon Accord), G V Somers (Bon Accord).

74 D Mullen (Caledonian)

75 S Allison (Caledonian), A Doig (Caledonian)

76 D S McKay (Caledonian), C McBain (Northern)

77 D Grieve (Bon Accord), D Leslie (Northern)

Leading scores in the other Aberdeen Links championship categories:

SENIORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

70 G V Somers (Bon Accord).
76 D Mullen (Caledonian), G Allan (Caledonian).
77 D S McKay (Caledonian), J S Gray (Caledonian).

MURRAY CUP

74 G McBeath (Caledonian).
79 F Kennedy (Caledonian).
80 J Craig (Bon Accord).
81 A McDonald (Caledonian).

ends

PLAY-OFF WINNER MANASSERO IS YOUNGEST PGA CHAMPION AT 20

Matteo Manassesro, only 20, winner of PGA Championship at Wentworth

 Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

WENTWORTH REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

BY SARAH GWYNN

Matteo Manassero became the youngest BMW PGA Championship winner in history at the age of 20 after a thrilling play-off victory at Wentworth Club.
The Italian finished level with 2010 winner Simon Khan and Scotland’s Marc Warren on ten under par after 72 holes, but after Warren exited at the first play-off hole, having driven into trees down the right, the two remaining players looked inseparable.
It was the fourth additional trip down the 18th that eventually split Manassero and Khan – the latter finding water with his second while Manassero fired a brilliant approach to 20 feet and two-putted for birdie. 

“It's been an amazing week,” said Manassero, the 2009 British Amateur Champion. “I've always felt something really special about this place and this tournament.  Everything has come together this week, and I managed to play well and stay in contention after a tough day on Friday, and pull it off in this play-off. 

“To be honest, I was less tense (in the play-off) than walking the last few holes, because you know you've done what you could for 72 holes.  The rest is just about trying to hit good, regular shots, just try to make it as easy as possible and see what the other guys do.

"I managed to hit four good tee shots, and on a hole like 18 it's probably the most important.

“I'm really excited.  Besides this victory, you get all of these achievements that are amazing, but right now, I'm just thinking of winning the BMW PGA Championship.”
Manassero's financial reward for the biggest win of his career was 791,660 Euros.

Lee Westwood looked to be marching towards the title, but the Englishman dropped four shots in four holes on the back nine to slip away, but there was better fortune for veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, who finished birdie-eagle in his 600th European Tour event to take a share of fourth spot.
Manassero  is the youngest player to win the PGA title since Bernard Gallacher, who was 20 years and 97 days when he won it back in 1969. The rising star from Verona beats that by 60 days.

SCOTSWATCH: When Westwood "blew up" Marc Warren took up the running but could not maintain the lead to the finish. Still, a great effort by the Scot who earned 412,560 Euros. There were two Scots in the top 10 with Richie Ramsay finishing joint ninth on 281 - only three shots away from being in the play-off. His Saturday-Sunday rounds of 66-69 saw him climb up within striking distance of the leaders. Pity there was not a fifth round! Richie earned 219,430 Euros.

David Drysdale also had good weekend scores of 69-70 for a 283 total, which earned him 55,385 Euros. Chris Doak (28,957 Euros) finished on 287 and Colin Montgomerie (24,,325 Euros) on 288.

Hard luck for last year's Tartan Tour supremo Greig Hutcheon from Banchory. Having survived the pressure to make the cut, he then gave himself a chance of earning a big cheque when he shot five-under-par 67 on Saturday.

But the "magic" disappeared over the closing round which cost Greig 79 blows. Still, he made the cut, which is more than Messrs McIlroy, McDowell and Donald could claim. 
Greig's cheque for 11,638 Euros was a lot more than he can win in Scotland for one tournament.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)

278 M Manassero (Ita) 69 71 69 69, S Khan (Eng) 69 72 71 66, M Warren (Sco) 69 70 70 69 (Manassero won sudden death play-off)

279 M Jiménez (Esp) 76 69 67 67, A Cañizares  (Esp) 69 70 68 72,

280 E Els (RSA) 72 69 72 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 69 71 69, J Kingston (RSA) 66 77 69 68

281 R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 75 66 69, L Westwood (Eng) 70 71 67 73, F Molinari (Ita) 70 68 73 70

282 N Fasth (Swe) 70 71 72 69, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 73 71 70 68, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 73 67 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 73 70 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 67 76 70 69, P Uihlein  (USA) 72 73 68 69, S Lowry  (Irl) 70 71 69 72

283 R Bland (Eng) 71 71 69 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 73 69 70, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 71 69 72, S Garcia  (Esp) 72 71 68 72, G Havret  (Fra) 70 71 71 71

284 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 72 70 73 69, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 73 69, F Zanotti (Par) 71 75 70 68, G Coetzee (RSA) 69 70 75 70, P Price (Wal) 73 69 70 72, M Foster (Eng) 70 69 72 73, B Grace  (RSA) 71 73 71 69, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 71 74 68 71

285 A Noren  (Swe) 74 71 71 69, D Willett  (Eng) 73 72 73 67, R Fisher (Eng) 72 73 68 72, D Clarke (Nir) 74 70 72 69, A Quiros  (Esp) 70 73 69 73

286 L Slattery (Eng) 71 71 69 75, A Hansen (Den) 70 74 73 69, J Donaldson (Wal) 71 75 73 67

287 C Doak (Sco) 74 71 72 70, M Siem  (Ger) 75 71 71 70, T Björn (Den) 69 74 75 69, T Jaidee (Tha) 74 71 72 70, G Storm  (Eng) 73 71 69 74

288 G Mulroy (RSA) 74 71 72 71, J Van Zyl (RSA) 75 69 73 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 74 72 70 72, O Fisher  (Eng) 70 75 73 70, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 71 75 72 70

289 M Kaymer (Ger) 70 74 73 72, J Rose (Eng) 72 74 69 74, T Levet (Fra) 71 75 70 73, P McGinley (Irl) 71 75 70 73, J Kruger (RSA) 71 74 72 72, W Liang (Chn) 75 68 72 74, R Santos  (Por) 73 72 76 68

290 P Lawrie (Irl) 74 72 72 72, R Sterne  (RSA) 71 74 71 74

291 D McGrane (Irl) 72 73 72 74, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 71 74 73 73, J Sandelin (Swe) 76 69 74 72

292 B Rumford (Aus) 75 71 72 74, G Hutcheon (Sco) 72 74 67 79, A Tadini (Ita) 73 71 74 74, G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 68 75 74 75

293 J Levermore (Eng) 72 70 73 78

294 A Dodt (Aus) 75 71 73 75

295 J Quesne  (Fra) 71 75 78 71

296 J Olazábal (Esp) 75 71 78 72, S Drummond (Sco) 70 75 75 76, R Coles (Eng) 75 71 75 75
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EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

McBAIN AND GRAY TIE ON SEVEN-UNDER 64 AT BISHOPBRIGGS

 Aberdeen's Greg McBain continued his good start to the PGA of Scotland season by tieing with Stephen Gray (Hayston) for the individual honours in the Bishopbriggs Golf Club, Glasgow pro-am today (Sunday).
McBain, 29, finished joint first at Buchanan Castle on May 18 and joint second in the Spey Valley 36-hole event at the start of the month.
Greg, who represents Aberdeen golf store Gamola,  posted an excellent round of seven-under-par 64 to set the clubhouse target very early and the only man to match that score was 39-year-old Stephen Gray (Hayston) much later in the day.
McBain bogeyed the second hole before transforming his fortunes with eight birdies from the sixth to the 17th.
Gray had a bogey-free round of seven birdiies, the crunch ones coming at the 17th and 18th to earn £1,020, the same as McBain.
Englishman Jonathan Lomas, now playing out of Ayrshire golf club Caprington, finished third on 66 and earned £680.

BISHOPBRIGGS PRO-AM
Bishopbriggs GC, Glasgow
PRO SCORES
Par 71
64 Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), Stephen Gray (Hayston) £1,020 each.
66 Jonathan Lomas (Caprington) £680.
67 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), David Orr (Mearns Castle), Chris Kelly (Cawder) £388 each.
68 Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), James McKinnon (Irvine), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Paul Robinson (Largs) £197 each.
69 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) £147.
70 Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Christopher Currie (Caldwell) £130 each.
71 Mark King (Kingsfield), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) £90 each.
72 Kenny Walker (Castle Park), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst0, Christopher McMaster (Panmure).
73 Paul Wilson (Cawder), Christopher Tierney (Affordable Golf), Jole Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), Neil Colquhoun (Mercahnts of Edinburgh), Paul Gallagher (Bearsden), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Christopher Russell (RAW golf course design), Greg Paxton (Ralston), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle).
74 Jonathan Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel).
75 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Links).
76 Paul Jamieson (Dunblane New0, David Patrick (Elie SC).
77 Norman Huguet (Musselburgh), Callum Lawson (unatt).
78 Fraser Dunlop (Gleneagles Hotel), James McGhee (unatt), Stuart Reekie (Royal Troon), Ian Graham (Crow Wood).
79 Kevin Campbell (Greenock).

ends

AUSSIE GAUNT WINS CHALLENGE TOUR PLAY-OFF IN HOLLAND

 

                            

 

Daniel Gaunt banished the demons of a difficult two years with one stupendous flick of a wedge as the Australian defeated Wil Besseling of The Netherlands in the first hole of a play-off to win the Telenet Trophy.

It was a real piece of genius on the first extra hole which sealed a 

second Challenge Tour title for the Melbourne-born man as he 

flicked a delightful chip from 47 yards stone dead to guarantee a 

birdie.

Besseling, from a more difficult lie in the rough, could only 

knock his chip 15 feet past and his missed putt meant Gaunt 

could tap in for a birdie and the win.

The 34 year old had held his nerve, but only just, during a dramatic 

final round at Royal Waterloo Golf Club, where many players were 

in with a shout until late in the day before falling at the final hurdle.

Instead, a stunning performance and a six under par 65 propelled 

Besseling through the field early on as he claimed the clubhouse 

lead on 11 under par, having teed off 11 groups before the final 

pairing.

Gaunt, who shared the lead going into the final round, needed a 

birdie at the final hole of regulation play to take his Dutch 

counter-part to extra holes and a superb second shot into the green 

against the wind meant he two putted for a two under par 69 to bring it back down the 18^th.

There, he wowed the crowds with a magnificent show of short 

game ingenuity before raising his hands high in the air in a show of 

joy and relief, in equal measures, when his putt dropped.

“I'm a bit emotional at the moment to be honest,” said Gaunt, who 

had only made one cut in nine appearances on both The European 

Tour and Challenge Tour this year. “After how the last two years 

have gone for me it’s massive to get a win under my belt.

“Getting to 12 under early on in the final round, I thought I had a 

great chance but anything can happen around there. I got a little 

edgy with my putting but I have been working hard on my short 

game and that shot in the play-off was the one I had been 

struggling with.

“I just trusted it though and I couldn’t have hit it any better to 

be honest"

Besseling, meanwhile, was disappointed to have missed out in the 

play-off having come so close but the 27 year old was encouraged 

just to have come so close, after climbing from four shots back 

going into the final day.

“At this moment it’s only the feeling of losing a play-off, losing a 

play-off is never fun, but coming back from so far behind to finish 

second outright is really great stuff,” he said.

José-Filipe Lima also had a chance to join the play-off but he missed a seven-footer for birdie at the 18^th and had to settle for a 

share of third place, alongside fellow former European Tour winner 

Daniel Vancsik and Welshman Stuart Manley.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)

273 D Gaunt (Aus) 69 66 69 69, W Besseling  (Ned) 69 68 71 65

274 S Manley (Wal) 67 70 67 70, D Vancsik (Arg) 66 71 69 68, J Lima  (Por) 72 65 68 69

275 S Kim (Kor) 69 69 70 67, B Koepka  (USA) 68 70 68 69, C Aguilar  (Esp) 71 66 71 67

276 D Kemmer (USA) 67 68 72 69, R Kakko  (Fin) 65 68 73 70, S Tiley (Eng) 71 69 68 68

277 P Maddy (Eng) 72 66 70 69, A Otaegui  (Esp) 67 70 69 71, W Booth  (Sco) 70 68 71 68, R McGowan  (Eng) 72 68 67 70, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 68 65 71 73

278 T Hatton (Eng) 71 68 66 73, D Ulrich (Sui) 74 65 69 70, G Shaw (Nir) 70 70 65 73, B Parker  (Eng) 70 70 75 63

279 L Goddard  (Eng) 64 71 72 72, R Russell (Sco) 70 70 70 69, J Guerrier  (Fra) 68 70 72 69, A Hortal  (Esp) 71 69 69 70, V Riu  (Fra) 68 69 72 70, J Glennemo (Swe) 69 72 72 66, T Sluiter  (Ned) 68 67 73 71, J Ruth  (Eng) 67 71 72 69

280 B Etchart  (Esp) 73 68 68 71, B Hebert  (Fra) 69 70 70 71, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 66 69 74, N Quintarelli (Ita) 72 67 70 71, D Im (USA) 71 66 71 72

281 S Thornton (Irl) 71 70 71 69, E Johansen  (Nor) 72 69 71 69, C Kim (USA) 72 67 69 73, A Pavan (Ita) 72 69 73 67, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 72 71 69, F Calmels  (Fra) 70 67 73 71, C Russo (Fra) 69 66 72 74

282 D Dixon (Eng) 71 70 68 73, P Dwyer (Eng) 68 69 72 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 71 69 72, R Davies (Wal) 67 68 73 74, S Hutsby  (Eng) 69 67 72 74, A Perrino  (Ita) 69 71 69 73, A Rota (Ita) 71 70 72 69

283 S Kapur (Ind) 70 67 74 72, A McArthur  (Sco) 71 70 71 71, D Brooks (Eng) 68 72 70 73, G Watremez (Bel) 71 70 69 73, F De Vries  (Ned) 70 71 72 70, L Weber (Fra) 70 70 70 73

284 A Bernadet  (Fra) 69 72 70 73, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 70 77 67

285 Å Nilsson (Swe) 64 75 73 73

286 M Sell  (Eng) 66 69 77 74

287 S Piaget  (Mon) 70 70 72 75, D Denison  (Eng) 66 73 71 77

288 O Floren  (Swe) 68 72 77 71

289 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 69 71 79 70

290 T Fournier  (Fra) 70 71 74 75

293 K Borsheim  (Nor) 70 71 75 77

295 E Bertheussen (Nor) 72 69 75 79

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

CONNOR MCKINNEY WINS PAR-3 SJT COMPETITION AT DUNFERMLINE

FROM WALTER BURNS

Here are the results from the  Junior Tour Development Day at Dunfermline. It was a Level 1 and 2 event. 

Junior Tour Coach, Kendal McWade began the day with a clinic on how to make bunker shots simple. The rest of the morning session consisted of a series of skill challenges. 

A competition was held on the par 3 course in the afternoon. Connor McKinney had the best score of the afternoon session on the par 3 course with 58 to a par of 54. He equalled his own winning score of last time.

As part of the continuing parental support programme a lunchtime seminar was held on what to say during a competition to the boys by Kendal and Peter McLachlan.

Thanks once again to Dunfermline Golf Club for allowing us to use their great facilities.

Results

58 Connor McKinney (Canmore)

63 Craig Jackman (Dunblane)  

65 Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck)

71 Aamar Saleem (Ladybank)

75 Roddy McCauley (Fereneze)

79 Toby Appleyard (Dalmahoy), Cameron Walker (Falkirk)

The handicap prize was shared by Toby Appleyard and  Rory McKinney (Canmore) with nett 45’s.

 Liam Kirkham won the short game skill challenges and putting.

 Congratulations to 14 year old Rory Franssen in finishing fifth equal in the Stephen Gallacher Trophy today. Three great rounds.

 Next event: Level 5 on Wednesday^, June 5 at Rowallan Castle.

 

Walter Burns

Scottish Junior Golf Tour

Mob: 07951 103 827

 

Email: walter@scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

Web: www.scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

 

MANASSERO WINS WENTWORTH PLAY-OFF, WARREN, KHAN JOINT RUNNERS UP

LATER NEWS
It's a three-way play-off for the title between Scot Marc Warren, England's Simon Khan and Italy's Matteo Manassero.
They all finished on 279 - nine under par.
Khan made up most ground with a closing 66.
Manassero and Warren both scored 69s
LATEST:
Warren eliminated at first hole of sudden-death play-off. Manassero and Khan both had birdies.
THE VERY LATEST
Manassero (20) wins play-off

EARLIER NEWS
Marc Warren is leading the field with only a few holes to go in the BMW PGA Championship at sunny Wentworth.
Lee Westwood took up the running on the outward half of the final round but then dropped three shots - a bogey, then a double bogey - early in his inward half to fall back out of contention.
Warren leads at 11 under par after 13 holes.
Simon Khan  is 10 under par after 18 holes.
Matteo Manassero is 10 under par after 13 holes
Ernie Els is eight under par after 18 holes.
Alejandro Canizares is eight under par after 12 holes.

SELECTED SCORE
Lee Westwood is seven under par after 12 holes.

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LEWIS SMITH (CALDWELL) WINS FREEDMAN TROPHY

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

turnberry.db@gmail.com

Lewis Smith of Caldwell Golf Club is the Renfrewshire Golf Union Boys’ Match Play Champion.  He received the Freedman Trophy at host club, Kilmacolm Golf Club. 

Lewis was one of three Caldwell Golf Club members who had made it to the semi finals where he met Old Course Ranfurly’s Jamie Stewart.  He won that one 4 and 2 while his club colleagues Sean Burns and Alistair McNaughton battled it out in a tight contest which saw Sean make it to the final with a 2 and 1 victory.

In the final, played in excellent conditions, Sean was four down after five holes but fought back and the better ball at the turn was 6 under par.  

 By the tenth Sean had reduced the deficit to one down but Lewis birdied the fourteenth to go two up and a par at sixteen was enough for a 3 and 2 victory.