MICKELSON SETS EARLY PACE WITH A 67 IN UNITED STATES OPEN

PHIL MICKELSON HAS MADE A GOOD START TO THE US OPEN AT MERION WITH A ROUND OF 67

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MICHAEL STEWART SLIPS BACK IN ALPS TOUR SPANISH EVENT

Michael Stewart, the 2011 Walker Cup winner from Troon, slipped to a share of fourth place in this week's Alps Tour event, the Peugeot Open at Madrid.
He has had rounds of 67 and 73 for 140 - three shots behind the joint leaders, two Spaniards.

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HOOPER IS DANGERMAN IN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LAST ROUND

 MARK HOOPER IN ACTION. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c)

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

Slaley Hall discovered its own Man of Steel – but it wasn’t Superman but Hooperman who was performing heroics at the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

As this summer’s big blockbuster hits the silver screen tomorrow, Rayleigh’s Mark Hooper also has eyes on something silver after producing a best-of-the-week six-under 66 to move within two shots of Dan Greenwood, who remains top of the leaderboard at four-under-par after a nerve-jangling level par 72.

But the Essex ace’s appearance at the Peugeot-supported tournament had been in jeopardy all year after the 29-year-old was hit by a serious back injury, which affected him at last year’s PGA Play-Offs.

His clubs had remained in the travel case since returning from Turkey last December until getting them out last month, since which time he has retuned his swing to good effect in the PGA East Order of Merit events.

And that form finally came to bear on the third round of the £78,000 championship, where a tense final day is in prospect with six places on the GB&I PGA Cup team to take on America in September at this venue also to be determined.

Reflecting on his round, which comprised eight birdies – six of them on the back nine, and a dropped shot on each half of the course, Hooper said: “It was pretty solid from the start as I was two-under after the first three holes.

“I played nicely yesterday but today the putter was definitely a lot better. Round the back nine I hit within three feet four times and it just turned out to be one of my days.

“It’s quite exciting going into tomorrow. I won an Order of Merit event last week and it feels like it has put me in good stead for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting out there and just seeing if I can get my name on the title I suppose.

“It’s only the second time I’ve competed in this event and I didn’t think I’d be playing again after having a serious back injury last year. To come out this year with no practice and see everything going rosy has surprised me.

“The back was really bad last year as I was in a lot of pain. I’ve got a curvature at the top of my spine and I really struggled at the end of last year, including the PGA Play-Offs.

“I’ve now invented a new swing that doesn’t hurt quite so much and it seems to be working.”

Still leading the way is Forest Pines’ Greenwood, who admitted to battling the nerves over the first few holes.

Paired with West Linton’s defending champion Gareth Wright, who prior to teeing off was informed he had been called into the PGA Cup team in place of Ireland’s David Higgins, the occasion got the better of Greenwood with dropped shots at the second and third. His round comprised four bogeys in all but these were cancelled out in equal measure with four birdies.

But, as he stands just one round away from adding his name to the trophy, keeping it together will be his biggest challenge.

“It’s good to still be at the top but I was very nervous setting off as I was shaking the first few holes and hit some poor shots,” he said.

“I made a birdie at four and that settled me down because I get nervous anyway, but being where I am in the tournament heightened it.
“Today will have helped me ahead of tomorrow as it’ll be the same pressure. It’s just getting through those first few holes.

“It’s also nice to see no-one charging. The conditions were tougher today with stronger winds, so Mark’s round of 66 was fantastic.

“As for tomorrow, whatever happens, happens.”

Playing partner Wright carded a 75 to ease to two-over and into a share of fifth spot with Kings Hill’s Benn Barham (74) and Ampfield Par 3’s Jonathan Barnes (70).

Nudged up behind the top two on one-over-par are 2011 champion Craig Goodfellow (Penrith Golf Centre), who shot a one-under 71, and David Callaway, who had a 73.

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
212 Daniel Greenwood (Forest Pines)  71 69 72
214 Mark Hooper (Rayleigh Golf Range)  76 72 66
217 Craig Goodfellow (Penrith Golf Centre) 72 74 71, David Callaway (Milford GC) 73 71 73.
218 Jonathan Barnes (Ampfield) 75 73 70, Benn Barham (Kings Hill) 72 72 74, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 74 69 75.
219 James Wilkinson (Brampton) 73 71 75.
220 Nicholas Brennan (Bowood) 77 75 68, Craig Corrigan (Haigh Hall) 73 76 71, Lee Rooke (Vale of Llangollen) 75 71 74, Chris Gill (Newquay) 71 74 75, Michael Ramsden (Renishaw Park) 71 73 76.

SCOTS' SCORES
221 David Orr (Mearns Castle) 72 76 73 (T14)
223 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 72 76 75 (T24)
224 Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona) 72 74 78 (T29)
228 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 76 73 79 (T42)
229 Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 71 77 81 (T51)
233 Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 75 72 86 (55th)

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JASON WALKING ON AYR WITH 1O UNDER RECORD 61 AT BELLEISLE

Jason McCreadie harnessed a strong wind to set a professional course record of 10-under-par 61 at the Pardean pro-am over the Ayr Belleisle golf course today (Thursday).

Hitting the ball vast distances downwind, the Buchanan Castle pro had two eagles (at the long first and par-4 ninth) plus six birdies (long second, short third, eighth, 11th, long15th and short 17th)/

He won the £1,098 first prize by five shots from joint runners-up Jonathan Lomas (Caprington) and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).

Jonathan Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond) led the Barrachd Ltd amateur trio of Clark Wilson (handicap 21), Grant Smith (16) and Robbie Crawford (17) to victory with a 22-under-par net total of 120.

PARKDEAN PRO-AM

Ayr Belleisle GC.

LEADING PRO SCORES

Par 71

61 Jason McCreasie (Buchanan Castle).

66 Jonathan Lomas (Caprington), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills)

67 Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links)

68 Scott Henderson (Kings Links)

69 Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), James McKinnon (Irvine), Kenny Hutton (Downfield), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Scott Herald (MearCrns Castle).

70 James McGhee (unatt).

71 Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond), Jonathan Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy)

72 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links)

73 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), Christopher Russell (RAW golf course design), Mark King (Kingsfield), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle).

74 Andrew Munro (Musselburgh)

75 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel), Paul Robinson (Largs)

77 Nicky Sinclair (Prestwick), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).

ends

GARETH WRIGHT CALLED INTO GB AND I TEAM FOR PGA CUP MATCH BY SKIPPER WEIR

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA
West Linton PGA Professional Gareth Wright has been called into the 2013 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team.

The Scotland-based Welshman, currently defending the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, has been drafted into Russell Weir’s side after Irishman David Higgins announced his withdrawal due to European Tour commitments.

Wright capitalises by virtue of being the next player in line on the basis of last year’s Titleist PGA Play-Offs, where he lost out on an automatic place in the team in a shootout with fellow Scot Scott Henderson. Higgins was runner-up and qualified by right. Also in the team is Walmer and Kingsdown’s Richard Wallis.

A delighted Wright said: “It was a nice bit of news before I went on to the first tee as it settled me down and I didn’t have to worry about doing anything stupid.

“Making the team was my goal at the start of last year. Winning this tournament a year ago made that a lot easier, but I know it didn’t get the job done entirely.

“It’s a fantastic honour to be representing The PGA. It means lot of things as I can plan my year a bit differently and I can relax a bit more on the course this week.”

Weir, currently at Northumberland’s Slaley Hall where the PGA Cup will be hosted in September, said: “It is disappointing to lose David as he’s a quality player but I am fortunate that I can replace him with an equally strong player in Gareth.

“He won the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship last year and still was not guaranteed a place in the team, while he was equal third at the PGA Play-Offs and missed out in a play-off there.

“I know Gareth reasonably well and he’ll be a strong player. He’s long off the tee and got good methods.”

Six other members of the squad will be determined at the conclusion of this week’s championship based on points accrued this week and at last year’s tournament. The final member of the team will be determined by Weir, who has a captain’s pick.

This will be Weir’s second spell as PGA Cup captain having being in charge of the team at CordeValle, California two years ago.

GB&I are looking to regain the Llandudno Trophy having last won the trophy in 2005.

The PGA Cup is the Ryder Cup equivalent for PGA Professionals and competed for biennially.

ends

Issue date: 13 June 2013

MICHAEL STEWART LYING SECOND AFTER FIRST ROUND OF PEUGEOT OPEN IN SPAIN

Michael Stewart from Troon has made a good start in this week's Alps Tour event in Spain, the Peugeot Open in Madrid.
The former Walker Cup player shot a four under par 67 (32-35) to be lying second, a shot behind the Spanish leader, Daniel Borda
Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) from Troon had a 72 to be T37 and Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) from Fraserburgh a 73 to be T58

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GREENWOOD LEADS FROM WRIGHT AT HALFWAY IN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

       DAN GREENWOOD. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images.

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

A present for his wife’s birthday was top of Dan Greenwood’s agenda after taking charge at the halfway stage of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

The Forest Pines professional, one of four first round joint leaders at the Peugeot supported event at De Vere Slaley Hall, was poised for an afternoon in Gateshead’s famous Metrocentre to make amends for missing his spouse’s celebration – due to competing in the £78,000 championship.

And Mrs Greenwood could be looking at a better than expected gift after the Lincolnshire-based pro carded a three-under-par 69 to move to four-under-par and a three shot lead over defending champion Gareth Wright (West Linton), who also shot a 69.

The pair are the only players under par at the midway point, with another six players on level par after the Hunting Course again put the field to the test.

Greenwood, notched five birdies – four on the front nine, and dropped just two shots on the sixth and 13^th.

 “I played better than yesterday and was just consistent, dropping just a couple,” he said. “I had some good par save putts and couple of close ones, which always help.

“Seven was a good birdie and then we stood on eight for quite a while for the group in front, who lost a ball and had to come back. It was also quite a hard hole as you can normally nudge it down but I took a three wood and then got the birdie. Then I had up and down from 110 yards on nine for par, which was three good ones together.”
Greenwood finished sixth at last year’s championship, and two more consistent rounds could reap the added bonus of a place on the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup to take on the Americans at Slaley Hall in September.
Six places will be determined at the conclusion of the championship, with three already taken via the PGA Play-Offs last December. Captain Russell Weir also has one pick.
However, the jocular Greenwood, is playing everything down.
“I’m just happy I made the cut,” he said. “That’s all I think about when I’m at a tournament. I’ll just see what happens from here but I have no grandeurs of winning it. It would be nice but there’s no pressure. I’m doing OK, it’s just another two rounds.
“The last two days have just been down to a good rhythm. I’ve done no practising, just hitting 10 balls in the range each time and won’t don’t anything until tomorrow. If I go to the range now, I’ll just have swing thoughts. Instead I’m going shopping now for my wife’s birthday.
“It was on Monday and I missed it as I was here playing in the pro-am. I sent her some flowers and paid for her to go out and have a meal.
“Now though, I’m off to the Metrocentre to buy her something nice. It’s got a pound shop hasn’t it?”
Wright, like the leader, had five birdies and two dropped shots. He was level for his round at the turn, but had a flawless back nine including gains at 11, 12 and 15.
“It was easier today as I had more focus but still a few silly three putts,” he said.
“I played a lot better but still left a couple of shots out there. I was more comfortable so all in all quite happy.
“I’m happy with where I am on the leaderboard as anything can happen on this golf course. One hole can transform your whole round. There’s plenty of birdies out there but there’s disasters as well so strategy is key.
“To come back to such a great golf course and defend the trophy is an honour as it’s a great championship.”
Of the joint first round leaders, Renishaw Park’s Michael Ramsden carded a 73 to be one of the six players on level par.
A shot further back at one-over is Newquay’s Chris Gill, while Craig Sutherland carded a five-over-par 77 to ease to four over for the tournament.
A total of 55 players made the cut with scores of eight-over-par or better.
*Thursday will also see the start of the 36-hole Glenmuir WPGA Professional Championship. Eight women will compete for the title and a £1,000 top prize. Huddersfield’s Alexander Keighley is the defending champion.
 

GLENMUIR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP supported by Peugeot
Hunting Course, De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland
SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
 Par 144 (2x72)
140 Daniel Greenwood (Fores Pines) 71 69.
143 Gareth Wright (West Linton) 74 69.
144 John Wells (Snainton) 73 71, James Wilkinson (Brampton) 73 71, Grant Hamerton (Pike Fold) 75 69, David Callaway (Milford) 73 71, Michael Ramsden (Renishaw Park) 71 73, Benn Barham (Kings Hill) 72 72
145 Chris Gill (Newquay) 71 74.
146 Craig Goodfellow (Penrith) 72 74, Cameron Clark (Moor Hall) 74 72, Lee Rooke (Vale of Llangollen) 75 71, Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona) 72 74, Jon Bevan (Rhos on Sea) 73 73

SELECTED SCORES
147 Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 75 72
148 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 72 76, Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 71 77, David Orr (Mearns Castle)  72 76
149 Robert Arnott (Bishopb riggs) 76 73

MISSED THE CUT (152 and better qualified)
153 Craig Everett (Caldwell) 80 73, Kenny Hutton (Downfieldf) 77 76.
157 Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) 89 77, Christopher Tierney (Affordable Golf) 80 77.
158 Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 75 83
161 Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS) 77 84
163 David Gleming (Prestwick) 81 82
166 Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw) 83 83, Alan Reid (West Lothian) 85 81



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             GARETH WRIGHT IN ACTION. PICTURE BY COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES