Friday, July 12, 2013

LINK TO NEWS, SCORES FROM JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

FOR NEWS AND SCORES FROM THIS WEEKEND'S US PGA TOUR EVENT, THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

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LINK TO US SENIORS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS AND SCORES

FOR THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES SENIOR OPEN

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MY GOLF RANKING INTERNATIONAL

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 1 Ben Askew (Silverdale) 1225 points, 2 John Boag (Blairgowrie) 1173
3 Gary Smith (Windyhill) 1167
4 Chris Gamrot (Lothianburn) 1150
5 Andrew Maiden (Montrose Mercantile) 1117
6 Jiles Johnson (Seacroft) 1079
7 Alan Carlyle (St Andrews GC) 1075
T8 Alan Harper (Dunfermline), Evelyn Hamilton (Kirkcaldy) 1067 10 Keith Taylor (Balbirnie Park) 1054
T11 Chris Taylor (Stonehaven), Carol Whyte (Windyhill) 1050
13 Campbell Irvine (Larkhall) 1033
14 Alan Henderson (Pitreavie) 1028
15 Kevin Turnbull (Galashiels) 1027
For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net

This week’s MyGolfRanking International Golfer of the Week is Ben Askew of Silverdale Golf Club in Cumbria who continues his run at No 1.

The MyGolfRanking International Club of the Week is Windyhill Golf Club, Bearsden in Glasgow. Windyhill is represented by two golfers, a lady and a gentleman, in the Top 15.  

David Moir

Past President
SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Hon Life President
FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION

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SALLY WATSON, DAISY DYER JOINT WINNERS ON PAUL LAWRIE TOOUR

Sally Watson and Daisy Dyer chose the same tournament to score their first wins as professionals - the Scotts Atlantic Challenge on the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour 18-hole competition at Alyth Golf Club near Blairgowrie today.
You can read the story, the scores and all the prizewinners by logging on to either www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk or www.scottishladiestour.co.uk

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HALFWAY LEADER CHRIS DOAK PAYS TRIBUTE TO COACH BOB TORRANCE

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Chris Doak praised the influence of his coach, Bob Torrance, after securing the lead at the midway stage of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
A second successive 66 saw the Glaswegian (pictured) end the second day as the surprise leader on 12 under par, one stroke ahead of the English duo of Ross Fisher and Matthew Southgate, Dane JB Hansen and America’s Peter Uihlein.
The 35 year old, winner of the Tartan Tour's Northern Open in 2005 and 2008, who has just a single top ten finish to his name on The European Tour, carded five birdies, a solitary bogey and an eagle three at the par five 12th hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness Airport between Inverness and Nairn.
Doak relinquished his playing privileges at the end of his only previous season on The European Tour, in 2009, but returned to the top tier last year courtesy of a tenth place finish in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Some tuition from Torrance, the 81 year old father of Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam and the man who coached Padraig Harrington to three Major Championships, has finally seen Doak begin to realise his undoubted potential.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal to shoot 66-66 in the first two days,” he said. “You start the week thinking you want to go low, but to actually do it is fantastic.
“I feel it has been coming all year, but just maybe haven’t put it all together. These two days, I’ve definitely put it together. 
“It helps Bob being here, as well. He’s not at many tournaments now, so it definitely makes a difference when he is.”
Doak also thanked the home crowds, who have shown their support over two sun-kissed days on the Moray Firth coastline.
“It’s fantastic, to hear all the highland accents up here cheering you on,” he said.
“I’m sure there will be a big following at the weekend. People are up for it, so hopefully a lot more will come.”
Uihlein, who recently won the Madeira Islands Open, recovered from an early double bogey with eight birdies – six of them in a back nine of just 30 – to sign for a round of 66 and an 11 under par halfway total.
He said: “It was a bad start, but then got it going a little bit. I made a good birdie on 16 and then another one on 18, and then I really got lucky on the second.
“I blocked it way right but had a clean lie, hacked it out and made a nice 15-footer for birdie, and was off and running from there.  My swing started feeling a little bit better, and coming in it started to feel much better.”
Uihlein’s compatriot Phil Mickelson enters the weekend four strokes off the pace after an up-and-down round of 70.
He said: “I was a little bit off today, and I started out with another three putt from 20 feet. But I think the reason why today was a good day is because I was off but I fought hard, I shot a couple under and I’m in a position where if I can get a hot round going, I can make up ground and I’m playing well enough to do it.”
The halfway cut was the lowest of the season - only players with four-under-par aggregates of 140 go forward to the weekend action.
The list of big names who failed to make it was headed by next week's defending Open champion Ernie Els, who shot 72-70 for 142.
The defending Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open champion, Jeev Milkha Singh also missed out with 67-74 for 141.

But Paul Lawrie  (69-71) squeezed in with a birdie 4 at the long last hole  to make it through on the limit mark of 140 alongside fellow Scots Greig Hutcheon and Gary Orr.


SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)

132 C Doak (Sco) 66 66
133 J Hansen  (Den) 68 65, P Uihlein  (USA) 67 66, M Southgate  (Eng) 69 64, R Fisher (Eng) 68 65

134 L Gagli  (Ita) 67 67, J Morrison  (Eng) 66 68, S Khan (Eng) 65 69, H Stenson (Swe) 70 64, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 68 66

135 C Paisley  (Eng) 70 65, F Molinari (Ita) 69 66

136 R Derksen (Ned) 67 69, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 67, N Fasth (Swe) 70 66, P Mickelson (USA) 66 70, J Parry (Eng) 64 72, T Olesen (Den) 67 69, R Sterne  (RSA) 67 69, D McGrane (Irl) 67 69, D Horsey (Eng) 69 67, M Siem  (Ger) 67 69, B Grace  (RSA) 71 65,

137 C Lee (Sco) 68 69, M Ilonen  (Fin) 66 71, L Slattery (Eng) 71 66, M Laird  (Sco) 68 69, T Jaidee (Tha) 66 71, J Van Zyl (RSA) 68 69, P Casey  (Eng) 70 67, M Madsen  (Den) 70 67, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 70 67, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 69

138 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 70 68, S Henry  (Sco) 69 69, J Lagergren (Swe) 71 67, B Koepka  (USA) 70 68, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 68 70, R Gonzalez (Arg) 70 68, S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 69, S Benson (Eng) 69 69, R Jacquelin (Fra) 68 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 68 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 69 69, C Wood  (Eng) 68 70,

139 A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 69, M Warren (Sco) 71 68, G Maybin (Nir) 69 70, J Campillo (Esp) 72 67, S Little (Eng) 68 71, D Lynn (Eng) 69 70, D Howell (Eng) 68 71, P McGinley (Irl) 67 72, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 66 73, D Drysdale (Sco) 70 69, R Green (Aus) 70 69, M Manassero (Ita) 69 70, S Dyson  (Eng) 70 69, S Lowry  (Irl) 66 73, A Quiros  (Esp) 68 71,

140 G Hutcheon (Sco) 69 71, J Edfors (Swe) 69 71, R Bland (Eng) 71 69, G Orr (Sco) 71 69, P Lawrie (Sco) 69 71, H Otto (RSA) 70 70, M Delpodio  (Ita) 67 73, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 71, D Fichardt (RSA) 70 70, K Horne (RSA) 67 73
MISSED THE CUT

141 A Tadini (Ita) 71 70, S Hansen (Den) 74 67, T Pieters  (Bel) 70 
71, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 71, M Lundberg (Swe) 72 69, M Foster (Eng) 71 70, C Cévaër (Fra) 70 71, E Grillo (Arg) 71 70, S Arnold  (Aus) 72 69, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 70, K Kang (Kor) 70 71, A Forsyth (Sco) 71 70, D Clarke (Nir) 69 72, T Aiken (RSA) 73 68, P Harrington (Irl) 70 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 69 72, S Gallacher (Sco) 68 73, S Thornton (Irl) 69 72, M Lafeber (Ned) 73 68, T Levet (Fra) 68 73, R McEvoy  (Eng) 71 70, M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 71, A Levy (Fra) 69 72, J M Singh (Ind) 67 74, M Nixon (Eng) 68 73, R Santos  (Por) 70 71

142 S Lyle (Sco) 72 70, S Webster (Eng) 68 74, E Els (RSA) 72 70, P Waring  (Eng) 68 74, S Wakefield (Eng) 71 71, A Kaleka  (Fra) 69 73, G Havret  (Fra) 70 72

143 R Coles (Eng) 71 72, D Willett  (Eng) 68 75, M Fraser (Aus) 69 74, B Åkesson (Swe) 70 73, M Hoey  (Nir) 74 69, E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 73, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 72, R Wattel  (Fra) 69 74, A Sullivan (Eng) 75 68

144 M Jiménez (Esp) 73 71, R Wallis (Eng) 70 74, P Larrazábal (Esp) 67 77, T Lewis (Eng) 71 73, M Tullo (Chi) 72 72, K Broberg (Swe) 74 70, R Rock (Eng) 72 72, E Goya (Arg) 68 76, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 67 77, D Brooks (Eng) 70 74, P Price (Wal) 75 69

145 R Finch  (Eng) 72 73, O Fisher  (Eng) 73 72, J Kruger (RSA) 71 74, F Zanotti (Par) 73 72, D Higgins (Irl) 71 74, J Sjöholm (Swe) 74 71, L Jensen (Den) 68 77

146 W Liang (Chn) 74 72, S Chowrasia (Ind) 70 76, A Noren  (Swe) 75 71, G Murray  (Sco) 77 69, A Snobeck  (Fra) 76 70, M Thompson  (USA) 72 74, C Macaulay  (Sco) 73 73

 147 I Garrido (Esp) 71 76, R Ramsay  (Sco) 69 78, J Walters (RSA) 78 69, J Olazábal (Esp) 74 73, G Storm  (Eng) 73 74,

 148 P Lawrie (Irl) 77 71, J Lara (Esp) 70 78, E Kofstad (Nor) 72 76, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 75

 150 J Byrne  (Sco) 76 74, S Jamieson  (Sco) 70 80

 151 A Hartø  (Den) 77 74, J Gonnet  (Fra) 75 76

 152 O Floren  (Swe) 74 78, M Wiegele  (Aut) 71 81

 154 S Henderson (Sco) 76 78

 155 A Dodt (Aus) 77 78

 ** M Lampert (Ger) 79 WD, T Björn (Den) 72 RT

 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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JAMIE ELSON LEADS BY TWO IN SWISS CHALLENGE

REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
       By SARAH GWYNN
England’s Jamie Elson stormed to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the Swiss Challenge with a five under par 66 on another glorious day at Golf Sempachersee.
At 11 under par the 32 year old leads by two shots from a quartet of players – Frenchmen Julien Guerrier (69) and Victor Riu (64), England’s Steven Tiley (65) and South Korean Sihwan Kim (66), while Stuart Manley and Ben Parker, who both had a share of the first-round lead, slipped back.
Elson again attributed his low round to some fine work with the putter, saying: “It was much the same as yesterday really. I holed a lot of putts again, which was pleasing as the greens were better this morning. Yesterday they deteriorated as the day went on. 
“I feel great with the putter – it’s amazing how you can change a little thing and all of a sudden the putts go in. I’ve not been practising my putting that much, but I’m just trying to relax more over my putts and obviously it’s working.”
Elson, who has had top ten finishes in two of the biggest events on the Challenge Tour schedule, in Saint-Omer and Madeira, this season to lie 38th in the Rankings added: “I still don’t feel great with my long game, but I was able to hit it in the right spots, and I got up and down well with the wedge, which is good because there are a lot of wedge approaches here.” 
“The finish was a bit frustrating, dropping a couple in the last few holes, but all in all I’m very happy.”
For Tiley, a good performance in Switzerland would be the perfect precursor to next week’s Open Championship at Muirfield, for which he earned a place in the field through Local Final Qualifying earlier this month. Indeed, Tiley is something of an Open qualifying specialist, having made it through three times from four attempts. 
“I’m playing well and really looking forward to next week,” said the Kent man, who shot a first round 66 in The 139th Open Championship at St Andrews in 2010. “It was nice to qualify again and I’ll be heading up there on Monday, but first I’ve got to focus on doing as well as I can here.”
Guerrier was one of three first-round leaders, but endured a more difficult day after an opening 64, saying: “It was a very frustrating day on the greens. I putted very badly, which is very different from yesterday. I had two three-putts and I missed a couple of putts from inside two metres. 
“I also had some bad luck today with good shots just missing, and the wind changing direction while my ball was in the air. But I’m in a good position and I’m excited to be in contention heading into the weekend.”
Former world number one tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov was in the field as he continues his foray into professional golf, but comfortably missed the cut with rounds of 84 and 83.
 
  SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
  A total of 69 players made the cut at one-under 141 and better.
Par 142 (2x71) 
131 J Elson  (Eng) 65 66
133 S Kim (SKor) 67 66, V Riu  (Fra) 69 64, J Guerrier  (Fra) 64 69, S Tiley (Eng) 68 65
134 J McLeary  (Sco) 70 64
135 D Huizing (Ned) 69 66, A Gee  (Eng) 66 69, A Perrino  (Ita) 71 64, B Parker  (Eng) 64 71, P Edberg (Swe) 69 66, D Griffiths  (Eng) 66 69, J Carlsson (Swe) 69 66
136 A Pavan (Ita) 65 71, D Geminiani (Ita) 72 64, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 71 65, M Crespi  (Ita) 68 68, C Hanson (Eng) 68 68, T Nørret (Den) 67 69, F De Vries  (Ned) 68 68
137 J Huldahl (Den) 68 69, R Steiner (Aut) 69 68, S Manley (Wal) 64 73, A Bernadet  (Fra) 66 71,
138 A Ahokas (Fin) 67 71, W Booth  (Sco) 69 69, N Ravano (Ita) 69 69, G Cambis  (Fra) 70 68, M Trappel  (Aut) 66 72, G Boyd  (Eng) 72 66, J Lima  (Por) 69 69, R Saxton (Ned) 68 70, J Glennemo (Swe) 70 68
139 D Nouailhac (Fra) 68 71, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 69 70, J Maurer  (Aut) 72 67, P Oriol (Esp) 70 69, E Espana (Fra) 71 68, J Frazer (Wal) 72 67, J Clément  (Sui) 71 68, M Rominger  (Sui) 66 73, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 70, C Kim (USA) 71 68, B Paolini (USA) 70 69, Z Scotland  (Eng) 73 66, A Velasco (Esp) 69 70, S Whiffin (Eng) 73 66
140 D Im (USA) 72 68, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 68, C Aguilar  (Esp) 67 73, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 70 70, D Frittelli (RSA) 73 67, N Floren (Swe) 69 71, N Quintarelli (Ita) 67 73, A Johnston (Eng) 69 71, T Murray (Eng) 69 71
141 P Relecom  (Bel) 70 71, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 73 68, B An (SKor) 74 67, A Maestroni  (Ita) 71 70, T Remkes (Ned) 72 69, D Stewart (Sco) 71 70, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 72, N Elvira  (Esp) 71 70, J Pastor Lopez (Esp) 73 68, T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 71 70, L Goddard  (Eng) 74 67, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 69 72, D Palm (Swe) 73 68
MISSED THE CUT
142 A Otaegui  (Esp) 74 68, R Enoch  (Wal) 70 72, S O'Hara  (Sco) 72 70, B Hebert  (Fra) 68 74, E Johansen  (Nor) 71 71, J Gibb (Eng) 72 70, F Svanberg  (Sui) 71 71, D Vancsik (Arg) 70 72, S Walker (Eng) 72 70
143 D Wuensche  (Ger) 68 75, C Brazillier  (Fra) 69 74, D Ulrich (Sui) 70 73, C Russo (Fra) 74 69, R Russell (Sco) 70 73, R Kellett (Sco) 68 75, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 69 74, C Ford (Eng) 72 71
144 R De Sousa (Sui) 72 72, G Molteni (Ita) 67 77, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 73, T Fournier  (Fra) 72 72, N D'Incau  (Sui) 70 74, A Rota (Ita) 73 71, G Snow  (Ken) 70 74, F Praegant (Aut) 71 73
145 G Shaw (Nir) 70 75, H Bacher (Aut) 73 72, A Domingo (Esp) 75 70, M Laskey  (Wal) 71 74, A Bossert (Sui) 74 71, D Perrier (Fra) 74 71, J Howarth (Eng) 73 72, M Ford (Eng) 71 74, P Archer (Eng) 74 71
146 J Jeong (SKor) 79 67, F Mruzek (Cze) 80 66, J Lerchedahl (Den) 71 75, F Laporta (Ita) 71 75, J Senior (Eng) 75 71, M Sell  (Eng) 70 76, S Grant  (Irl) 74 72, O Wilson (Eng) 72 74, O Henningsson  (Swe) 72 74, J Ruth  (Eng) 75 71, S Davis (Eng) 76 70, D Gaunt (Aus) 75 71, A Engell  (Nor) 73 73, J Fahrbring (Swe) 72 74, S Piaget  (Mon) 72 74, N Thommen (am) (Sui) 73 73
147 J Mommo  (Fin) 74 73, L Weber (Fra) 72 75, B Hemstock (Eng) 73 74, C Blaesi  (Sui) 70 77, D Salisbury (Eng) 73 74, M Novy  (Cze) 75 72, J Nodér (Sui) 76 71, X Ruiz Fonhof  (Ned) 71 76
148 A Hortal  (Esp) 78 70, J Johnson (Eng) 72 76, J Barnes (Eng) 77 71, F Colombo (Ita) 77 71, J Timmis (Eng) 74 74, N Bertasio (Ita) 75 73, S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 74
149 C Del Moral (Esp) 76 73, T Haylock  (Eng) 76 73, I Korvenmaa (Fin) 77 72
150 J Schmid (Sui) 79 71, Å Nilsson (Swe) 72 78
151 S Surry (Eng) 75 76, N Meitinger  (Ger) 78 73, S Hansen (Nor) 76 75, R Wiederkehr (Sui) 74 77, M Kramer  (Ger) 74 77, B Etchart  (Esp) 77 74, K Cobb (USA) 73 78
152 L Tintera  (Cze) 75 77
153 A Marshall (Eng) 81 72, P Gal  (Cze) 79 74
154 J Girrbach (am) (Sui) 78 76, M Harradine (am) (Sui) 81 73
155 L Canter (Eng) 80 75
 157 M Nichols (Eng) 74 83,
 164 A Rajmont (am) (Cze) 83 81,
 167 Y Kafelnikov (Rus) 84 83,
 ** G Houston (Wal) 77 DQ,
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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A TEN GRAND PERFORMANCE BY PAUL McKECHNIE AT LOSSIEMOUTH

                         PAUL McKECHNIE ... eight under par over Moray Old Course

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA EUROPRO TOUR
By NICK TEALE
Paul McKechnie won the inaugural Grant Property Investment Championship at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth today, beating three rivals by one stroke in the sixth event of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour season.


Edinburgh's McKechnie, the first ever winner of the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit in 2002, turned back the clock with a final round 70, one under par, to finish eight under. Richard Prophet, Will Roebuck and McKechnie's playing partner Daniel Wardrop finished one behind on seven under.


The 36-year-old from Braid Hills Golf Range opened his final round with a birdie to pull one ahead of joint overnight leader Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club), though the Manchester man drew level when he took four on the par-five second.


McKechnie completed the remainder of the front nine to par, but a dropped shot at 13 saw him fall level with Wardrop, who was having a mixed round which to that point had included three birdies and as many bogeys. 

A birdie at 14 saw Wardrop lead on eight under but when he bogeyed 16 and McKechnie birdied the same hole, the lead swapped and McKechnie saw himself home with two pars.


He wins £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy trolley and sponsors Grant Property Investment presented him a set of bagpipes, while host club Moray gave the top three a bottle of their club whisky.


"It was great that the EuroPro has been able to come up here to this fantastic golf course," said winner McKechnie. "The locals have been great and we had a huge amount of support with people coming out to watch, which was fantastic." 

A two-hour highlights package of the Grant Property Investment Championship will air four times on Sky Sports HD on Wednesday, July 24. The next 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is the Kingspan Concra Wood Open, July 24-26 at Concra Wood Golf Club in Castleblayney, Ireland.

 

  LEADING FINAL TOTALS
MORAY OLD COURSE, LOSSIEMOUTH
Par 213 (3x71)
205 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 68 67 70 (£10,000).
206 Richard Prophet (Sandwell) Park) 68 69 69, Will Roebuck (Woburn) 66 70 70, Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury) 66 69 71 (£3,066 each).
208 Daniel Gavins (Oulton Hall) 69 68 71 (£1,400).
210 Darryn Lloyd (unatt) 71 71 68, Matthew Evans (Rotherham) 73 69 68, James Kaske (Finland) 68 71 71 (£1,033 each).

SELECTED TOTALS
211 Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 71 71 69, Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 69 71 71, Kris Nicoll (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 73 65 73 (T9) (£700 each

212 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 70 69 73 (T16) (£438)
213 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 71 72 70 (T19) (£375)
216 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 70 73 73, Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 73 69 74 (T36) (£257 each).
218 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm) 69 72 77 (T44) (£222)
219 Jordan Findley (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 73 69 75 (T48) (£207)

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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CHRIS DOAK CLICKETY-CLICKS TO LEAD AAM SCOTTISH OPEN



                         CHRIS DOAK ... leading the field during the afternoon of Day 2
                                   at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
A second straight round of 66 saw Chris Doak take the clubhouse lead on home soil at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open's second day at the Castle Stuart links venue on the Moray Firth coast between Inverness and Nairn.
The 35 year old Scot, with only one top-ten finish to his name on The European Tour, carded five birdies, a bogey, and an eagle at the long 12th to lead by one on 12 under par.
Doak lost his card at the end of his only previous season on The European Tour in 2009, but regained it by finishing tenth on the Challenge Tour last year.
"The first time around I was still wet behind the ears but the Challenge Tour definitely taught me how to play four rounds and handle the travel," the Glaswegian said. 

"It's a tough environment because there are a lot of great players out there and you need to be consistent because there is not as much money.
"But anything that's worth learning takes time and hopefully it's coming together now. It's fantastic to shoot 66 and follow it up with another one and I'm really pleased."
American Peter Uihlein is second on 11 under after recovering superbly from an early double bogey.
The recent Madeira Islands Open winner took four shots more than Doak at the 12th, his third, but overcame having a seven on his card with eight birdies – six of them in an inward 30 – to sign for a 66 and 11 under halfway total.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson produced the best score of the morning session with a 64 to lie third on ten under, but Open Champion Ernie Els looked set to miss the halfway cut on two under a week before defending his title at Muirfield.


"I'm very pleased with the score but still feel like I left a few chances out there," Stenson said. "I three-putted the 18th for par and the putt on nine was more in the hole than a few that I made but somehow lipped out. That would have been the icing on the cake.
"I've just had two weeks off and been busy with other stuff so am still a bit rusty but I have another two rounds to work on it."
English pair Matthew Southgate and James Morrison were the main threats to Doak’s dominance in the afternoon session; the pair reaching ten under after 11 and seven holes respectively.

With well over 100 sub-par scores in the first round, the projected cut mark at the end of 36 holes is for players with four under par 140 and better to qualify for the Sunday action.
Paul Lawrie is not going to make it if that forecast is correct. He is two under par overall out on the course.
On one of the easiest courses on the European Tour circuit, some of the scores are astonishingly high - Richie Ramsay had a 78 (nine more than his first round) and is not going to qualify; Scott Jamieson lurched from an opening 70 to an 80 that will send him packing.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
132 Chris Doak (Scotland) 66 66
133 Peter Uihlein (US) 67 66
134 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 64

SELECTED SCORES
137 Martin Laird (Scotland) 68 69
139 Marc Warren (Scotland) 71 69

FORECAST TO MISS THE CUT
 (140 and better projected as cut-off)
141 Alastair Forsyth (Scotland) 71 70
142 Ernie Els (South Africa) 72 70, Sandy Lyle (Scotland) 72 70
146 George Murray (Scotland) 77 69, Callum Macaulay (Scotland) 73 73
147 Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 69 78.
150 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 70 80.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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IT'S ALL GONE PEAR-SHAPED FOR SCOTLAND BOYS AT MURCAR LINKS

From a high point of leading Norway 2-0 in the foursomes on Thursday lunchtime, it has all gone pear-shaped for Scott Knowles' Scotland team in the European boys' championship on another dry, bright and warm day at the parched Murcar Links.
They lost that quarter-final 4-3 to Norway and the Scots' downward spiral continued today when they lost 3 1/2 -1 1/2 to Ireland.
That means Scotland will be playing Sweden (last year's champions, by the way) for seventh and eighth places in Saturday's final programme.
Scotland's only winner today was Robert McIntyre, the left-handed Scottish youths champion from Glencruitten, Oban.
Calum Hill (Tantallon) had a square match. 
Sic transit gloria.
Speaking of Norway, they came out again, boosted by their win over Scotland, and were far too good for England, the No 2 seeds. The Norwegians won 5-2 and will play top seeds Italy in the final.

SCOTLAND 1 1/2, IRELAND 3 1/2
Foursome
Ewen Ferguson and Euan Walker lost to Alex Myles and Sean Flanagan 1 hole.
Singles
Connor Syme lost to Robin Dawson 2 and 1.
Calum Hill halved with Gareth Lapin
Ben Kinsley lost to Paul McBridge 2 and 1.
Robert McIntyre bt James Sugrue 1 hole.

DENMARK 3, SWEDEN 2

OTHER RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS
ITALY 4, FRANCE 3
NORWAY 5, ENGLAND 2


Norway add to England's agony in quest for Euro Boys' title

Image Jack Singh Brar copyright Tom Ward PhotographyEngland last won the European Boys Team Championship in 2004 and it will be at least 2014 before they can bridge that gap after they were on the wrong end of a 5-2 against Norway in the semi-finals at Murcar Links, Aberdeen today.
After losing both morning foursomes, England had a hill to climb and while new cap Adam Chapman secured the England's first point of the day with a 4&2 win and Jack Singh Brar (image copyright Tom Ward Photography) won his game by 2 holes, the other three singles were lost to a very confident Norwegian team. 
Coach Hugh Marr said: “We know that Norway have two or three very good players, they demonstrated that when they beat Scotland in the quarter finals.
“Realistically, Norway didn’t give us anything and we maybe gave them a few things – but that’s match play. We were beaten by the better team today, it’s as simple as that. Hopefully we’ll have a better day tomorrow
“I was surprised at the margin of some of the defeats. I know the lads are disappointed, but we’ll bounce back.”
England will meet Italy tomorrow in the fight for third place.
For full scores visit the championship website.
Press Office
England Golf
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SCOTLAND VERSUS ENGLAND FOR EUROPEAN MEN'S TITLE IN DENMARK

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com 
Scotland will meet England in the final of the European men's amateur team championship at Silkeborg GC, Denmark on Saturday
The Scots, with boys champion Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie playing a stormer as a late replacement for Grant "I want to prepare for the Open" Forrest, beat top seeds France 4 1/2-2 1/2.
But before we go counting our chickens, it has to be said that England were mighty impressive as they thrashed Netherlands 6-1 in the other semi-final. Their line-up includes British amateur champion Garrick Porteous.
Scotland took the morning foursomes 2-0 from France with wins by James Ross and Ewan Scott (3 and 2 over Julien Brun and  Paul Barjon) and Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald (one hole over Adrien Saddier and Joel Stalter).
Key win in the singles was Graeme Robertson's 21st hole victory in the top tie against Saddier. Two down on the 17th tee, Robertson had his head in the jaws of defeat but he kept calm and won the 17th, then the 18th .... all square ... into extra holes ... to win at the third extra!
Scottish boys champion Neil was a 4 and 3 win over Barjon. McDonald - he had been three up after nine - got a vital half point in a square match against Brun.
Ross and Scott Borrowman both lost by 4 and 3.

SCOTLAND 4 1/2, FRANCE 2 1/2
Foursomes (2-0)
James Ross and Ewan Scott bt Julien Brun and Paul Barjon 3 and 2.
Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald bt Adrien Saddier and Joel Stalter 1 hole.
Singles (2 1/2-2 1/2)
Robertson bt Saddier at 21st.
Ross lost to Clement Sordet 4 and 3.
Bradley Neil bt Barjon 4 and 3.
McDonald halved with Brun
Scott Borrowman lost to Stalter 4 and 3.

ENGLAND 6, NETHERLANDS 1
Foursomes (2-0)
Garrick Porteous and Neil Raymond bvt Rowin Caron and Michael Kraay 1 hole.
Nathan Kimsey and Max Orrin bt Robbie Van West and Lars Van
Meijel 1 hole.
Singles (4-1)
Callum Shinkwin bt Jeroen Krietemeijer 3 and 2.
Toby Tree bt Van Meijel 3 and 2.
Porteous bt Van West 4 and 2.
Kimsey bt Kraay 2 and 1.
Orrin lost to Caron 4 and 3.



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STUART EASTON IS WEST OF SCOTLAND JUNIOR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPION

Stuart Easton (left) and Chris Maclean

 NEWS RELEASE FROM RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION     turnberry.db@gmail.com        

The West of Scotland Junior Match Play Championship was played at Eastwood Golf Course in almost tropical conditions.
Chris Maclean from Clydebank and District Golf Club, having impressed in winning the qualifying stroke play competition, faced Irvine’s Stuart Easton in the final.   
Chris had had a very convincing win in the morning against long hitting Robert Johnston from Helensburgh with the match finishing at the 13th hole – 6 and 5.
Stuart had a much tougher time in his semi final where Colin Edgar from Cochrane Castle was one up with three to play before Stuart fought back to win at the 19th.
The final was a classic with both players level par at the turn and the match all square.  After both birdied the tenth, Chris found water at the next to go one down and was not able to get back in the game.  Stuart birdied the thirteenth to go two up and finally won at the 17th by 2 and 1.
Both boys were a credit to golf, competing in a friendly way and Chris has the comfort of taking the stroke play trophy home.

                     


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SIR NICK HAS NO REGRETS ABOUT THAT HEART OF MY BOTTOM SPEECH AT MUIRFIELD 1992

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
Regrets? Sir Nick Faldo has a few, but none at the course where he sang My Way. And, with that in mind, when he returns to play in next week’s Open at Muirfield he will be determined to make it rather more than an emotional walk down his memory’s most golden fairways.
Back to the scene of his prime: Nick Faldo is returning to his 'favourite golf course' to play at Muirfield
Back to the scene of his prime: Nick Faldo is returning to his 'favourite golf course' to play at Muirfield Photo: AFP
When England’s greatest golfer decided, after a three-year absence, to play in his national major, only one alarm sounded.
Faldo realised he would finally have to watch “the heart of my bottom” moment which long since entered the sport’s folklore as one of the more bitter acceptance speeches.
Think Victor Meldrew in a Pringle jumper. Or so the story goes.
“I had never seen it and didn’t intend to, but when I said I would play Muirfield recently my little daughter Emma, she’s only 10, wanted to watch what Daddy got up to,” Faldo said.
“So I’m sitting there thinking ‘oh no, wait for it. wait for it ...’ and I’m cringing. But then I saw it and thought ‘is that it? Is that what all that fuss has been over all these years?’.
“I actually did start off thanking the press from the bottom of my heart, a little sarcastically maybe, and just paused and turned that saying round.
“You could see I was laughing, that it was off the cuff, that I had done it in jest. If anyone took it in the wrong way then that’s their problem.”
Except Faldo concedes there was a measure of payback involved in that infamous moment on the 18th green in 1992.
Muirfield had been the scene of his breakthrough at the 1987 Open and in the next three years he had added another Claret Jug and two Masters titles.
Yet then he drew a blank in 1991 and by the time he arrived back at the East Lothian links the vultures were already tucking in.
“I had been beaten up,” Faldo said. “They were saying I was finished and I was getting advice from all the place. Everyone was a flaming expert.
"So that’s what made that win so special. I had taken a four-shot lead into the final round but looked up after the 14th and was two back – and still got it done.
"That’s why I sang My Way at the end of that speech.”
Faldo missed that particular pitch, but thankfully no other.
At 35, he had become just the second Englishman, after Henry Cotton in 1948 to win The Open three times and in a 20-major period had remarkably won a quarter of them, giving him justifiable claims as Britain’s greatest post-war sportsman.
“It was this unbelievable feeling of fulfilment,” Faldo said. “I’d needed a par on the last to win and with that three-iron from the middle of the fairway I’d hit one of my best shots ever.
"I actually thought about that shot again when I watched Justin last month hit his four-iron.”
Justin, is of course, Justin Rose and the four-iron was struck from the middle of the 18th fairway at the US Open at Merion.
Just like Faldo’s, it was dead on line, but, just like Faldo’s, unluckily hopped to the fringe of the green.
Just like Faldo’s, however, it was enough to secure immortality.
Watching on television, Faldo was happy to relinquish the tag of ‘last English major winner’, which he had held since the 1996 Masters.
“I’d called it, you can check the magazine articles before Merion,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I could just tell that Justin was ready.
"He had pieced it all together, got everything right in that relationship between swing and mind and, after being there a few times, was finally able to deal with it.
"You have to think that Justin’s becoming the complete golfer and I expect him to win more majors.
“Even on a bad day he’ll be good, he’ll be there. And that’s what it’s all about.
"What happens when it’s bad and how destructive is your mind when it’s bad? A lot of the guys are all over the place.
"With Justin, it’s constant levels and it’s the result of his own four-year plan, which wasn’t unlike mine in the mid-80s.
“I’ve been learning the full story about Justin by talking to Gio [Valiante, Rose’s sports psychiatrist] and it’s fascinating how he was transformed from a player who just four years ago was winning his first event in America to someone who could survive the most pressurised situation in golf.
"I’ve been texting Justin and will meet up with him at Muirfield for a practice round and any helpful observations about the old place I can share, I will.”
Intriguingly, the time with Valiante was not spent only in research for his role as CBS’s chief golfing analyst.
There might be some more Muirfield payback here, as Faldo has dipped into Rose’s mindset for advice. Perhaps Faldo is doing it Justin’s way this time around?
“I’ve actually had a session or two with Gio as I’ve been get ready for the Open,” Faldo said.
“It’s my first competitive golf in three years, probably longer in effect because I am taking it seriously, and what Gio told me has been so useful in getting me back in the routine. He said all I need is ‘enough’ and he’s right.”
Typical Faldo. The adventure has turned into rather more than, as he put it, “one last walk around my favourite course”.
“I’ve loved applying all this new science” Faldo said. “These kids don’t know they’re born, with gadgets like TrackMan telling you exactly where you’re going wrong.
"It’s amazing: I hit two drives straight left and got really down on myself. But then the machine told me ‘it’s not you, it‘s the driver’.
"Now, that’s my type of computer. If I’d had all this in my day I’d have been even happier.
“And the science behind the physio now? Wow! These kids understand every blooming golfing muscle. They were just arms and legs to us.
"It’s allowed me to do as Gio said and make sure I have enough. So there’s a putting stroke I can use – tick. There’s a swing I can use – tick. It’s enough.”
What is evident is that the ceremony of a former champion’s return will not be enough for Faldo.
In deference to Muirfield, his club-making partner in the company “Faldo By Edel”, David Edel, has ground a set of retro irons based on those he used in 1992 and Faldo is adamant that he will also tee it up with similar conviction.
“When I decided this was my last shot at playing an Open at Muirfield, that I’d be probably 66 and too old the next time it went back there, I was going to do it for Matthew [his son], who is caddying for me, and for the sheer fun of it,” he said.
“But I can’t go there thinking ‘just try to hit it nicely and don’t make a fool of yourself’ – that’s not really me.
"I want to play half decent and I know it’s a hell of a lofty goal but I want to make the cut.
"I must push myself and try to summon some of that intensity from the old days at Muirfield. Giving it 100 per cent is the very least I owe that place.”
------------------------------
What Faldo said in his winner's speech on the 18th green in 1992
Firstly I would like to commiserate with my fellow professionals. It was a hell of a day. I managed to say to myself going down 15: “You had better play the best four holes of your life” and I managed to do that.
As you can imagine I can’t believe I’m standing here. [applause]
To the crowd and to everyone who kept shouting at me and telling me “keep going”, boy do I thank you. I owe you a big one, a big scotch, I’m going to have to send a bottle of Johnnie Walker to every pub in Scotland. [laughter, applause]
I’d like to thank the R and A obviously. To organise this event, on this scale, like they do, for us players it goes without a hitch. We just waltz in and play and I can pay no better compliment. [applause]
To the greenstaff -– when I arrived here, they said the greens were fantastic and they really were. They really saved me. [applause]
To Lord Leadbetter [his coach] and his team. To good old “Funny Fanny” [Sunesson, his caddie]. [laughter, applause]
You can imagine I thought I was going to win this with a four-shot lead and I had rehearsed the audience participation bit. So you got your cue, for that great Sinatra song that is not New York, New York. You got it? [applause]
I would just like to thank everybody for all the letters they’ve written in telling me that my putting’s all wrong. [laughter]
I got one this week saying: “You’re not using your caddie properly.” I don’t know what he meant. That takes a lot of explaining to the wife. [laughter]
I’d like to thank all the TV commentators for telling me how to practise and what to and not to do. [laughter]
And obviously without the press ...What can I say about the press? I thank them from the bottom of my ... the heart of my bottom [laughter], maybe, yes.
The reasons why I say this – are you ready? – is because [breaking into song and raising arm] I did it my way.

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