MONTY GETS COUPLES AND O'MEARA AS PLAYING PARTNERS IN SENIOR OPEN DEBUT

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Fred Couples will begin his defence of The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex on Thursday alongside debutant Colin Montgomerie and American Mark O’Meara, who returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club 15 years after his Open Championship triumph. 

The trio will tee off at 13.50, with Europe’s victorious 2010 Ryder Cup Captain Montgomerie hoping to make an immediate impact after celebrating his 50^th birthday on June 23.

The Scot will be looking to follow in the spike-marks of former World Number One Couples, who captured the prestigious title on his first attempt at Turnberry last year to add to the Masters Tournament he won in 1992.

Couples and O’Meara both made the cut in last week’s Open Championship at Muirfield, and for O’Meara, this week offers the chance to return to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs.

Just three months after winning the Masters Tournament in 1998, O’Meara lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, defeating compatriot Brian Watts in a play-off.

The 56 year old also won the Lawrence Batley International at Royal Birkdale in 1987 to claim his first European Tour title, and shared third place with Couples in The 1991 Open Championship at this week’s host venue, finishing three shots back from winner Ian Baker-Finch and one behind runner-up Mike Harwood.

Another former winner of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Tom Watson, will also be able to draw upon some fond memories.

The 2014 United States Ryder Cup Captain won the last of his five Claret Jugs at Royal Birkdale in 1983, and 30 years on he is bidding for a unique feat of winning a third Senior Open title on a course where he also won an Open Championship, following previous ‘doubles’ at Turnberry and Muirfield.

Watson begins his campaign at 09.20 alongside 1989 Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia and South African David Frost.

Bernhard Langer, the 2010 Senior Open Champion, tees off ten minutes later at 09.30 alongside two-time Major Champion Sandy Lyle and 2010 US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin.

Meanwhile, Paul Wesselingh starts as the man in form on the European Senior Tour, with two victories already in 2013, and he also has the luxury of being able to draw on some local knowledge.

The Senior Tour Order of Merit leader was born in Liverpool, less than 20 miles from host venue Royal Birkdale, and played the numerous links courses on the Merseyside coast as a youngster learning the game.

He hopes that experience will prove vital this week as he takes on some of golf’s most iconic names, including 18 Major Champions.

“I was brought up no more than half an hour away from Royal Birkdale and I played it quite a lot over the years,” he said. “I really like the course and it’s in great condition, so it should be a good week. The fact that we have now had a little bit of rain has softened it up a bit.

“I grew up in Wigan so I’ve played a lot of the courses down this stretch of coastline and hopefully that can help me this week.”

Wesselingh has adapted seamlessly to life on the Senior Tour, winning the 2012 Rookie of the Year award before his two victories this season:  a successful defence of his ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship followed by a play-off victory over Kevin Spurgeon in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open.

The 51 year old will begin his Senior Open Championship campaign alongside Senior Major Champions Fred Funk and Michael Allen at 13.40 on Thursday, and Wesselingh is relishing the challenge that awaits.

“It’s been an unbelievable start to the season for me and I’m delighted with how I’ve played,” he said. “I was a bit rusty in the US Senior PGA Championship but then I came back and won the PGA Seniors.

“I then played poorly in Wales but won in Bad Ragaz, which was my type of course. I was disappointed to miss the cut in the US Senior Open, but I was ill during that week and struggled in the conditions. So I come here with confidence high and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m really happy with how I’m striking the ball and how I’m putting. Everything is coming together quite nicely. Obviously I never envisaged me winning two events in the first four, but it takes the pressure off for the rest of the season now.

“It’s great coming into The Senior Open as the Order of Merit leader. Some of these guys in the field are amazing players and it is going to be great to try to beat them.”

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

BY THE LEFT: MacINTYRE LEADS SCOTTISH UNDER-18 BOYS' STROKE PLAY

ROBERT MacINTYRE ... Left-handed leader of the pack at The Roxburghe

 Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

 Oban's Robert MacIntyre has at least two things in common with Open champion Phil Mickelson.They both play golf left-handed and they are both proven winners.

Glencruitten member MacIntyre, the Golf Data Lab Scottish youths champion, shot an excellent six-under-par 66 today to lead the field in the first round of the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Scottish Under-18 boys' open amateur stroke-play.

He leads by one from professional's son Connor Syme (Dumfries and County), Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolboys champion for the past two years, and by three from third-placed Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), current leader of the SGU Boys' Order of Merit.

MacIntyre had a big of seven birdies at the Kelso course in halves of 32-34. His only blemish was a bogey at the second.

His birdies came at the first, third, long fifth, long seveth, short eighth, long 11th and short 13th.

Syme also had seven birdies in his 67 but he had two bogeys, both at short holes in an outward 35, the fourth and eighth. His inward half of 32 was two better than MacIntyre's.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 72 SS 74 CSS 74

+The leading 40 players and ties at the end of 

the second round will qualify to play the final

two rounds on Thursday.

66 R MacIntyre (Glencruitten)

67 C Syme (Dumfries and Co)

69 E Ferguson (Bearsden)

70 R White (Muckhart), O Bergqvist (Swe), A Burgess (Nairn), J Floyd (Haywards Heath).

71 L Anderson (Deeside), E Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie), C Fyfe (Cawder).

72 R Robertson (Old Ranfurly), J Goth-Rasmussen (Denmark), F Davren (Williamwood), J Harling (Banchory), J Lelliott (Worthing), J Volden (Norway), C McAndrew (Germany), C Hill (Tantallon), R Stewart (Crieff), A Ross (Fort William).

73 G Burns (Williamwood), D McNeill (Powfoot), S Mazzoli (Italy), G Cowen (W Lothian), M McCulloch (Portpatrick Dunskey).

74 S Scott (Nairn), A Fortune (Roxburghe), G Welsh (S Herts), M Mansen (Denmark), T Watson (Fancourt), R Gordon (Alford), B Gavin (Kilmarnock Barassie), G Forrester (Lundin).

75 C Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy), A Wilson (Renaissance), C Curren (Harburn), R McKinnon (Peterculter), P Dorrian (Greenock), M Napier (Dundas Parks), R Dallas (Kirriemuir), S Eaton (Irvine).

 === PROJECTED CUT MARK AFTER TWO ROUNDS ===

 

76 A McDougall (St Andrews New), S Russell (Kilmarnock Barassie), R Alexander (Braehead), I Alexander (France), J Banks (Grange Park), G Burrett (Haggs Castle), R Franssen (Inverness), A Schmidt (Ger), S Wilson (Whinhill), A MacVicar (Glencruitten), T Simmonds (Gullane), R Hughan (Newton Stewart), C Lawrie (Deeside), S O'Brien (Stoke by Nayland), A Fisher (Newmachar).

77 A Wolstencroft (Carlisle), M Ortolani (Ita), J Wilson (Balmore), N Young (Insch), I Raisbeck (Denstone Coll), A Thurlow (Murrayfield), C Toal (Old Ranfurly) A Husenne (Haggs Castle).

78 A Mackie (Powfoot), D McCreadie (Newton Stewart), S Gillies (Gullane), J Keith (Inverness), N McConnachie (Balmore), C MacLead (Clydebank and Dist), S Irving (Falkirk), R Thompson (The Duke's), A Carrell (Royal Aberdeen), A Mackie (Powfoot), R Kemsley (Balmore), C Kendall (Furness), K Mackay (Inverness).

79 S Hamilton (Notts), C Franssen (Inverness), C Campbell (St Andrews), C Finnie (Lockerbie), J Valentine (Musselburgh), R McPherson (Kilspindie), R Malcolm (Muckhart), A McManus (Darlington), A Chalk (Dumfries and Galloway), W Kerr (Craigielaw), M Brodie (Strathmore), J Bryce (Bathgate), S Blair (Royal Musselburgh).

80 R Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon), L Bain (Musselburgh), P Alexander (Glenbervie), J Fraser (Ayr Belleilse), P Crema (Ita), L Murray (Troon Welbeck). A Thomson  (Lanark),  R Johnson (Helensburgh), B Murray (Portlethen).

81 C McGuigan (Comrie), B Stephen (Pitlochry), D Lane (Kenilworth), S McBride (Playsport), G Joss (Royal Aberdeen), I Baylet (Chartham Park).

82 L George (Downfield), B Kinsley (St Andrews), C Stephen (Aboyne), C Aitken (Kilmacolm).

83 B Carnegie (Glenbervie), C Good (Musselburgh), M Mollinson (Copt Heath).

84 O Pirdzun (Germany), R Watson (Muckhart), L McWilliam (Aboyne), A McLean (Glencruitten), B Craggs (Glenbervie), C Gorrie (Kilmarnock Barassie).

85 A Cameron (Beaconsfield), M Paterson (Bruntsfield), G Petrie (Forfar), M Tomlinson (France), D Eardley (Liberton), H Samson (Lochmaben).

87 A McColl (Erskine), E Bowden (Tantallon).

89  C Edger (Cochrane Castle).

90 M Scott (Crieff).

 

DAVID LAW HAS NINE SHOTS TO MAKE UP IN POLISH OPEN

David Law goes into the final round of the Polish Open golf championship nine shots behind the leader at Sand Valley Golf and Country Club on the German PGA Tour. 
The Aberdonian shot a second-round 73 (two birdies, three bogeys) for a 36-hole tally of level par 144 and joint 10th place behind leader Anton Kirsten (Germany) (68 for 135).
Philip McLean from Peterhead is in shoint 38th place on 148 after a seconr9und 73 which included four birdies but five bogeys.

POLISH OPEN
Sand Valley Golf and Country Club
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
par 144 (2x72)
135 Anton Kirsten (Ger) 67 68
138 Craig Farrelly (Eng) 69 69
139 Menno Van Dijk (Net) 68 71, Florian Fritsch (Ger) 69 70.
SELECTED OTHER SCORES
144 David Law (Sco) 71 73 (T10).
148 Philip McLean (Sco) 75 73 (T38).

FORTY PLAYERS COME THROUGH SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING

FROM THE EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR WEBSITE
Englishman Andrew Murray, a former European Tour winner, was among 40 players who progressed through Senior Open Qualifying at three venues on Monday, sealing their spots in the field at Royal Birkdale.
Murray, who won the European Open in 1989, posted an even par round of 72, the same as American Gary Trivisonno and Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori, to head the 14 qualifiers from Hillside.
Another European Tour winner, Stephen Bennett, also sealed his place, finishing a shot further back alongside last year’s Van Lanschot Senior Open winner Massy Kuramoto and Englishman Phil Gresswell.
Three-time Senior Tour champion Jerry Bruner carded a 74 to earn his spot, while seven-time winner Denis O’Sullivan was a shot further back. Englishman Steve Cipa secured the final place, defeating Rick Gibson and Matt Briggs with a birdie on the second play-off hole.
At Formby, American pair Kirk Hanefield and Charlie Bolling tied with Englishman John Gould on one under par 71 to earn their places in the Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, which begins on Thursday.
Argentine Luis Carbonetti, a three-time Senior Tour champion, sealed the 13th and final spot from Formby following a play-off after finishing in a ten-way tie on two over par 74.
Finally, Japan’s Seki Okuda and Canadian Keir Smith led the 13 qualifiers at Southport and Ainsdale.
Canadian Ken Tarling, Scotland's Kye Kelsall and Englishman John Harrison, winner of the Senior Tour Qualifying School three years ago, then progressed via a play-off, with former Scottish Senior Open winner Glenn Ralph among the trio of players to miss out.
All 40 of the qualifiers will now take their places in the field for the Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, alongside some of golf’s most iconic names such as Tom Watson, debutant Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Fred Couples.
It is the first time The Senior Open Championship has visited Royal Birkdale. 

For the full Hillside leaderboard click here.
For the full Formby leaderboard click here.
For the full Southport and Ainsdale leaderboard click here.



 The Senior Open Qualifying
 Southport and Ainsdale
QUALIFIERSPar 72
T1 Seiki OKUDA JPN 71
T1 Keir SMITH CAN 71
T3 John KING ENG 72
T3 Roger SABARROS FRA 72
T3 Kenny GALLACHER (AM) SCO 72
T3 Lance TENBROECK USA 72
T3 Roger ROPER ENG 72
T8 Gordon MANSON AUT 73
T8 Michael LORD ENG 73 
T8 Frank O'DONOGHUE (AM) NIR 73
T11 Ken TARLING CAN 74 
T11 John HARRISON ENG 74
T11 Kyle KELSALL SCO 74
 
Glenn RALPH ENG 74  2nd alternate spot
Nick ROBSON (AM) SCO 74  5th alternate spot
 
NON-QUALIFIERS
David HANNIS (AM) ENG 74 
Simon P BROWN ENG 75
Robert ELLIS ENG 75
Peter SCOTT ENG 75
Mike REYNARD (AM) ENG 75
Nick JOB ENG 76
Jeff OPHEIM (AM) USA 76
Mark BENTLEY ENG 76
Mark MIELKE USA 76
Gary STAFFORD ENG 76
Archie TAKAMATSU JPN 76
Dusan GAVRILOVIC ENG 76
Gilbert LITSCHKA AUT 76
P D WILLIAMS (AM) ENG 76 
Shaun BALL ENG 77 
Peter A SMITH SCO 77
Lee FICKLING ENG 77 
Bradley SMITH ENG 78
Michael STASKUS (AM) USA 78
Glyn KRAUSE ENG 78
Denis DURNIAN ENG 78
Phil HINTON ENG 78
Ray STEWART CAN 78
Gerry BURKE IRL 78 
Gary BOTHWELL ENG 79
Alan GIBSON ENG 79
Chris LINSTEAD ENG 79
Pat YOUNGS (AM) USA 79
Jack LARKIN (AM) USA 79
Arwel ROBERTS (AM) WA 79
John ROSS USA 79
Tony LAWRENCE ENG 79
Bernard WHITE ENG 79
Carlo Alberto ACUTIS ITA 79
Gary STUBBINGTON ENG 80
Gareth J BRADLEY (AM) ENG 80
Shaun ASHLEY ENG 80
Mike BROWN (AM) USA 80
Steve HAMPTON ENG 80
Mark BRIGHT RSA 80
Bob MATHERS (AM) USA 80 

LINK TO OTHER SENIOR OPEN QUALIFYING VENUES

CLICK HERE

WELL DONE, KENNY GALLACHER FROM LANARKSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION

FROM WILLIE SHARPE,

Lanarkshire Golf Association

Congratulations to Lanarkshire golfer Kenny Gallacher of East Kilbride Golf Club who qualified yesterday for the Senior British Open at Royal Birkdale starting on Thursday this week. 

Kenny scored a level par 72 to qualify.

He will be teeing up with golfing legends Tom Watson, Bernard Langer, Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie and many more.

Lanarkshire Golf Association wish him all the best.

                       

Willie Sharpe

Lanarkshire Golf Association