KARLBERG LEADS BY TWO AT HALFWAY IN RUSSIAN OPEN

REPORT FROM RUSSIAN OPEN
By EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Rikard Karlberg carded a fine second round of four under par 68 in tricky, swirling winds to give himself a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the M2M Russian Open. 

The 26 year old moved to nine under at the halfway stage of the tournament, two stroke clear of England’s Matthew Baldwin, France’s Alexandre Kaleka, China’s Liang Wen-chong and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey. 

“It was a pretty tough day out there today because the wind got really strong in the middle of the round and caused quite a few problems,” said Karlberg, who birdied four of his first six holes, dropped shots at the 18th and fifth, then finished with two gains over the closing stretch to reclaim his advantage.

“But I made a really good start to the round and then when the conditions got worse I managed to hang in there and then had a great finish with two birdies in my last few holes which is very satisfying obviously. 

“I am in a great position right now but there is still a long way to go. We are only at the halfway stage and I need to keep doing what I have been doing and making birdies to have a chance.

“I am looking forward to the weekend – this is why we play the game; to get ourselves into these positions so hopefully I can keep playing well and make another good score tomorrow and we will go from there.” 

Kaleka won this event last year when it was part of the Challenge Tour schedule, and was delighted to overcome a double bogey at the 12th for the second day running with seven birdies as he signed for a round of 67 at a venue that clearly suits his eye.

The 26 year old Baldwin, who finished 76th in The Race to Dubai in his rookie campaign last year r, birdied his final hole for a 69 as he advanced to seven under. 

Overnight co-leader Liang had been level with Karlberg and England’s Simon Dyson on five under par after the first round. The Chinese Number One bogeyed the opening hole of his second round but fought back with four birdies and only one further dropped shot.

Four-time European Tour winner Hoey produced eight birdies and three bogeys in a fine 67 to move into contention. 

English amateur Jack Singh Brar shot the best round of the day with a 66 to climb more than 50 places and safely make the cut on one under, but his compatriot Dyson slipped back to three under after a 74 that included a double bogey seven on the 17th.

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

  par 144 (2x72)

135 R Karlberg  (Swe) 67 68

137 L Wen-Chong (Chn) 67 70, A Kaleka  (Fra) 70 67, M Hoey  (Nir) 70 67, M Baldwin (Eng) 68 69

138 M Foster (Eng) 69 69

139 J Morrison  (Eng) 68 71, M Nixon (Eng) 69 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 69 70, S Hend (Aus) 70 69

140 J Kingston (RSA) 71 69

141 S Wakefield (Eng) 73 68, S Dyson  (Eng) 67 74, A Tadini (Ita) 68 73, J Gonnet  (Fra) 70 71, J Roos (RSA) 70 71, A Hartø  (Den) 70 71, S Little (Eng) 69 72

142 J Singh (Ind) 71 71, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 71, J Elson  (Eng) 71 71, M Lafeber (Ned) 69 73, G Havret  (Fra) 72 70, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 70, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 72, D Horsey (Eng) 70 72, J Hansen  (Den) 72 70, D Higgins (Irl) 71 71

143 M Delpodio  (Ita) 69 74, M Campbell (Nzl) 70 73, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 72, J Campillo (Esp) 72 71, C Paisley  (Eng) 72 71, A Snobeck  (Fra) 70 73, M Tullo (Chi) 74 69, J Singh Brar (am) (Eng) 77 66

144 S Hansen (Den) 77 67, C Lloyd (Eng) 71 73, R Wattel  (Fra) 72 72, S Chowrasia (Ind) 72 72, M Wiegele  (Aut) 72 72, A Levy (Fra) 72 72, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 71

145 J Maurer  (Aut) 71 74, P Meesawat  (Tha) 71 74, O Bekker (RSA) 74 71, T Lewis (Eng) 71 74, R McEvoy  (Eng) 74 71, O Floren  (Swe) 76 69

146 S Henry   (Sco) 73 73, S Garcia (Esp) 75 71, N Floren (Swe) 71 75

147 R Finch  (Eng) 73 74, G Bhullar (Ind) 74 73, H Porteous (RSA) 71 76, P Hedblom (Swe) 73 74, M Southgate  (Eng) 73 74, E Kofstad (Nor) 74 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 78 69, J Colomo  (Esp) 68 79, A Forsyth (Sco) 74 73, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 70 77

148 A Lahiri (Ind) 78 70, J Lagergren (Swe) 74 74, C Macaulay  (Sco) 72 76, G Shaw (Nir) 71 77, D Brooks (Eng) 77 71, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 76

MISSED THE CUT
149 M Lundberg (Swe) 75 74, R Rock (Eng) 71 78, A Marshall (Eng) 76 73, J Fernandez-Valdes (Arg) 71 78, S Kjeldsen (Den) 75 74, P Price (Wal) 73 76, B Åkesson (Swe) 73 76

150 K Eriksson (Swe) 77 73, L Jensen (Den) 76 74, J Doherty  (Sco) 79 71, R Bland (Eng) 76 74

151 J Walters (RSA) 75 76, J Sandelin (Swe) 77 74, V Belov (am) (Rus) 79 72

152 C Suneson (Esp) 74 78, S Kapur (Ind) 76 76, A Pavlov (Rus) 80 72, D McGrane (Irl) 80 72, M Lampert (Ger) 79 73, C Doak (Sco) 73 79

153 M Madsen  (Den) 75 78, P Gustafsson (Swe) 80 73, L Claverie (Esp) 76 77, A Bruschi  (Ita) 77 76

154 C Lee (Sco) 76 78, A Dunbar (Nir) 75 79, M Nichols (Eng) 75 79

155 P Gal  (Cze) 78 77, K Lifanov (Rus) 79 76

156 P Erofejeff (Fin) 76 80, V Osipov (am) (Rus) 78 78, A Kleszcz (am) (Aut) 78 78

158 C Del Moral (Esp) 78 80

159 M Martinez (Ven) 77 82

162 P Goryainov (am) (Rus) 78 84, R De Heer (am) (Sui) 80 82

163 Y Kafelnikov (Rus) 81 82

165 M Morozov (am) (Rus) 82 83

169 N Ponomarev (am) (Rus) 86 83

176 J Ferraby (Eng) 89 87

 

BEN AMOR WINS CARRIS TROPHY AFTER PLAY-OFF AT WEST LANCS

For the second successive year, extra holes were required to decide the Carris Trophy at West Lancashire Golf Club before Ben Amor came up trumps to secure the biggest win of his young career.  The 18 year old from Marlborough had finished tied on 286, two under par, with Italy’s Renato Paratore and Jamie Li from Bath. Paratore was eliminated with a bogey five after an errant drive at the par four tenth, which left a head-to-head battle between the two West Country boys. At the short 17th, the second playoff hole, Li missed the green with his tee shot and took three more to get down for bogey while a solid par was enough to see Amor home. “I’m in shock but this win means a lot,” said Amor (image © Leaderboard Photography). “Words can’t describe it but it is special. It was nice to win it at 17 because it would have been a little difficult going down the 18th again. “Jamie is a fine player and hit some quality shots but I suppose everything clicked for me at the right time.” Amor began the day tied with Paratore and fellow Italian Lorenzo Scalise but after an eagle at the second and a birdie at the fifth he had opened a three-shot advantage. He turned in 34 and was still in charge. But he faltered on the homeward stretch with three bogeys in the last seven holes and while Paratore wasn’t setting the course on fire, the gap closed and the Italian drew level with a birdie-two at 17. They were tied with one to play but neither could land the knockout blow although both had birdie chances on the final green before signing for 73s and finding that Li had set the target with a fine 70 to set up the three-way tie. After sealing his win, Amor paid tribute to Andy McGeorge, who posted 78 before rushing to Amor’s side to take on caddying duties. “On the 17th in the playoff I wanted to hit a seven iron but Andy convinced me it was an eight,” added Amor. “It worked perfectly and I can’t thank him enough. “I suppose I had to win this championship twice. I knew I had a good lead but a few nerves got to me on the back nine. I putted off the green at 16 but Andy calmed me down and at 18 I raced my putt past and had to hole a tricky one back for my par. “But having worked so hard on my game and the backing I have received from my parents, it’s nice to see I’m getting some rewards.” Billy Spooner from Lincolnshire and Staffordshire’s Robert Burlison carded closing 69s to finish fifth and sixth respectively, while Li had the consolation of collecting the Hazards Salver for the lowest aggregate from this event and the McEvoy Trophy. Harrison Woan from Northamptonshire experienced the highs and lows of the game during his round of 76. He holed-in-one with a six-iron at the 159-yard third hole to complete the fifth ‘ace’ of his golfing life and he’s only just turned 18. “I hit my tee shot to the left side of the green and the ball rolled round into the hole,” he said. “It was my fifth hole-in-one and four have been in competitions. I’ve had two at my home club of Overstone Park and two more at Northants County, so this is the first one outside my home county.” With eight pars to go with the eagle, Woan reached the turn in 34 but ran into trouble at the tenth when he lost his ball with his approach shot. He dropped another but fired that into scrub behind the green, took three more to escape and eventually signed for a nine. Full scores, images and reports are available on the championship web page   Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354500

THUNDERSTROMS DISRUPT SECOND DAY IN FRENCH CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Sihwan Kim fired a second round 64 to top the leaderboard at 15 under par during a day disrupted by thunderstorms at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge. 

There is still plenty of golf to be played for those who teed off in the afternoon on day two, and the tournament will resume at 8am on Saturday morning after a total of three suspensions on Friday.

Kim began his day on the back nine, after an initial delay of one and a half hours due to thunderstorms. He remained unaffected however, and proceeded to fire four birdies from the tenth to get off to the ideal start at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil. 

Two further red figures followed on his back nine, before an eagle at the par five eighth, which left Kim one shot clear of Frenchman Edouard Espana.

"I've played two rounds of really solid golf," explained the Orlando- based South Korean. "I didnt really miss too many greens, and made some putts out there. The greens are a little soft, but I have tried to factor that into my game, and although the course doesn't really fit my eye, I was able to get it round.

"I don't really mind this kind of golf, having to make a lot of birdies. At any golf tournament, every round, if I could give myself good looks at birdies inside 20 feet then I'm OK with that. 

"I started off quite rough this year, but I have been playing pretty well since then, and I hope it gets better from here."

Two shots adrift in second is the leading Frenchman, Espana, who himself fired a 66 on day two to finish at 14 under. 

Pars at his first couple of holes on day two saw him hold steady after an opening round of 64, before things really got going with an eagle at the par five 12th.

From there Espana, who is making only his ninth start in four years on the Challenge Tour this week, carded further birdies at the 13th, 18th, fifth and eighth en route to second place. 

Two shots further back at 12 under par is another Kim - this time Chan - who posted six birdies, an eagle, and just a solitary bogey for a second round of 65.

While four players are lined up at 11 under par, with Adrian Otaegui (65) and Andrew Johnstone (69) the only ones finished on that mark. Alongside them are Jason Barnes and Dylan Frittelli who both still have holes to play on Saturday morning. 

Overnight leader Daan Huizing has only completed nine holes of his second round, and a bogey at the eighth has the Dutchman one over par on the day, and in a tie for eighth at ten under overall.

  He is alongside José-Filipe Lima (69) and Lionel Weber (70) who have both completed their second rounds, while Ireland's Niall Kearney is handily placed in the 18th fairway on the same score.

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

LANGER AND WIEBE SHARE HALFWAY LEAD IN SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

ROYAL BIRKDALE REPORT

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Bernhard Langer and Mark Wiebe share the halfway lead in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Birkdale, as Langer looks to make amends for his disappointment of 12 months ago.

The German led by one shot going into the final round at Turnberry last year, but mistakes on the back nine contributed to a closing 75 and meant he had to settle for a share of sixth place behind winner Fred Couples.

The two-time Masters Champion, who has never finished outside the top 12 in The Senior Open Championship, is determined to redress that missed opportunity, and he recovered well from a double bogey six on the sixth hole when he had a double-hit on a greenside chip.

Having birdied the fifth hole prior to that unfortunate error, he picked up shots on the eighth, 13^th, 15^th and 17th holes to move to five under par 135 for the Championship, a total matched by Wiebe who fired a superb 65. 

“I played like the weather today, pretty good,” said Langer. “I just had one little blemish with a double‑bogey where I missed the green and double‑hit my chip shot.  Otherwise it was a really good round.  I hit a lot of good shots and putted much better today.  So I’m very pleased with the position I'm in at the halfway point.”

Langer is the last European to win the Senior Open after claiming the tile at Carnoustie in 2010, and the popular 2004 Ryder Cup Captain was cheered on by large galleries at Royal Birkdale, with the crowd of 12,218 a record for the Championship, surpassing the previous highest total of 10,150 on the final day at Royal Troon five years ago.

He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by American Wiebe who produced a stunning finish for the lowest round of the Championship so far.

Wiebe, who also tied for sixth at Turnbery last year, picked up four shots in the last six holes, sinking a 15ft birdie putt on the 18^th.

“There's a long way to go, but I'm tickled to be where I am,” he said. “Last year I tied for sixth at Turnberry and I fell in love with the golf course.  It was unbelievable.  I had never played there, and I have never played here, and I have the same love affair going this week.  It is just a real test of everything in your bag, including patience.”

South African David Frost, winner of last year’s MCB Tour Championship, signed for a second consecutive 68 and is one shot back on four under par.

Australian Peter Fowler, the 2011 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner, is in a three-way tie for fourth on three under par following a 68, alongside Ireland’s Mark McNulty (67) and first round leader Gene Sauers of America (70).

Debutant Colin Montgomerie posted a one over par 71 to finish the second day in a share of 23^rd place on three over par, with 2014 US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson one shot further back after finishing with back-to-back bogeys in his round of 71.

  SECOND ROUND TOTALS

  Par 140 (2x70)

135 B Langer (Ger) 68 67, M Wiebe (USA) 70 65

136 D Frost (RSA) 68 68

137 G Sauers (USA) 67 70, P Fowler (Aus) 69 68, M McNulty (Irl) 70 67

138 R Mediate (USA) 70 68, S Lyle (Sco) 70 68, J Hart (USA) 69 69

139 P Senior (Aus) 68 71, K Idoki (Jpn) 71 68, G Turner (Nzl) 70 69

140 S Elkington (Aus) 72 68, C Pavin (USA) 69 71, B Lane (Eng) 72 68

142 S Pate (USA) 70 72, T Kite (USA) 70 72, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 69, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 70 72, T Pernice Jnr (USA) 70 72, M O'Meara (USA) 74 68, C Lutz (am) (USA) 71 71

143 S Jones (USA) 73 70, A Forsbrand (Swe) 73 70, R Spittle (Can) 71 72, K Tomori (Jpn) 71 72, B Faxon (USA) 74 69, C Montgomerie  (Sco) 72 71

144 T Lehman (USA) 72 72, T Watson (USA) 73 71, G Hallberg (USA) 69 75, J Spence (Eng) 75 69, L Mize (USA) 71 73, C Mason (Eng) 74 70, R Cochran (USA) 71 73

145 S Tinning (Den) 71 74, P Gresswell (Eng) 74 71, D Mast (USA) 72 73, P Linhart (Esp) 73 72, M Goodes (USA) 71 74, S Okuda (Jpn) 73 72, E Romero (Arg) 75 70, D Smyth (Irl) 76 69, M Allen (USA) 75 70, D Russell (Eng) 72 73

146 F Funk (USA) 75 71, P Walton (Irl) 70 76, B Tway (USA) 74 72, M Kierstenson (Eng) 74 72, F Minoza (Phi) 68 78, J Sluman (USA) 71 75, F Couples (USA) 74 72, P Wesselingh (Eng) 70 76, B Ruangkit (Tha) 73 73, A Oldcorn (Sco) 74 72, E Toledo (Mex) 74 72, W Wood (USA) 75 71, S Luna (Esp) 72 74

147 M Calcavecchia (USA) 75 72, B Vaughan (USA) 73 74, M Kuramoto (Jpn) 70 77, M Martin (Esp) 72 75, P Mitchell (Eng) 75 72, J Inman (USA) 71 76, M James (Eng) 74 73, M Brooks (USA) 74 73

148 C Lu (Tpe) 71 77, K Hanefeld (USA) 73 75, P Golding (Eng) 74 74, D Waldorf (USA) 76 72, H Buhrmann (RSA) 76 72, J Daley (USA) 75 73, P Dahlberg (Swe) 76 72, J Cook (USA) 69 79

MISSED THE CUT

 

149 C Stadler (USA) 76 73, A J Webster (Sco) 75 74, A Sherborne (Eng) 72 77, J Carriles (Esp) 79 70, B Bryant (USA) 72 77, R Chapman (Eng) 74 75, D Eger (USA) 75 74, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 75

150 G Brand (Eng) 76 74, C Williams (RSA) 73 77, J Gould (Eng) 74 76, L Carbonetti (Arg) 77 73, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 75, J King (Eng) 75 75, W Grant (Eng) 77 73, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 75 75, R Lewallen (USA) 75 75, B Cameron (Eng) 72 78

151 A Magee (USA) 76 75, L Turner (Eng) 77 74, J Blake (USA) 71 80, A Franco (Par) 78 73

152 S Cipa (Eng) 74 78, C Elliott (Sco) 75 77, R Drummond (Sco) 80 72, A Murray (Eng) 79 73, G Trivisonno (USA) 71 81, M McLean (Eng) 78 74, J Rivero (Esp) 71 81, C Rocca (Ita) 75 77, M Mackenzie (Eng) 82 70

153 S Bennett (Eng) 76 77, I Woosnam (Wal) 76 77, B Gilder (USA) 77 76, T Price (Aus) 78 75, R Roper (Eng) 78 75

154 T Thelen (USA) 74 80, J Rutledge (Can) 80 74, S Torrance (Sco) 79 75, L Tenbroeck (USA) 78 76, T Johnstone (Zim) 79 75, J Volpenhein (am) (USA) 77 77, R Latham (am) (Eng) 77 77

155 R Sabarros (Fra) 80 75, J Quiros (Esp) 85 70, B Conser (USA) 73 82, M Mouland (Wal) 78 77, M Farry (Fra) 82 73, K Smith (Can) 77 78, G Ralph (Eng) 79 76, M Cunning (USA) 74 81

156 K Tarling (Can) 78 78, K Kelsall (Sco) 75 81, C Bolling  (USA) 79 77, P Jonas (Can) 80 76, J Mathews (Eng) 76 80, K Gallacher (am) (Sco) 78 78

157 J Bruner (USA) 82 75, J Harrison (Eng) 84 73

158 F O'Donoghue (am) (Nir) 83 75

 159 R Fehr (USA) 81 78

 160 N Sugai (Jpn) 83 77

 161 M McCumber (USA) 80 81

 162 P Way (Eng) 80 82

 163 M Ure (Eng) 79 84

 164 M Lord (Eng) 84 80

 170 A Atkinson (am) (Eng) 87 83

 172 J Lubieniecki (Pol) 89 83

 ** C O'Connor Jnr (Irl) 75 RT, E Darcy (Irl) RT 

 

 

RUSSELL KNOX SHOOTS THAT MAGICAL FIGURE OF 59

FROM THE WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE
Russell Knox, pictured, has posted the fifth 59 in the history of the Web.com Tour. Knox shot the score today at Hillcrest Country Club in the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft. Knox is at 14-under 128 (69-59) after two rounds. He made a 7-foot par putt on his final hole to break 60.

Knox, 28, made birdie on his first hole Friday, Hillcrest’s 10th, then made four consecutive pars. He went birdie-eagle-birdie on Nos. 15-17 before making par on the par-4 18th to make the turn in 5-under 30. He parred the first hole before making eagle at No. 2 and made five consecutive birdies on Nos. 3-7. He made par on the final two holes to shoot 7-under 29 on his second nine and post 12-under 59.

Knox played an 11-hole stretch on Nos. 15-7 in 11 under par. He had two eagles, two pars and seven birdies during that stretch. Both his eagles came on par-5s. Knox could have posted the first 58 in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event with a birdie on either of the final two holes.

Knox, an Inverness, Scotland, native who played golf at Jacksonville (Fla.) University, is No. 71 ($50,536) on the Web.com Tour money list in eight starts.  He’s split time between the PGA and Web.com tours this season after playing the PGA TOUR in 2012. Knox’s 59 comes just two weeks after Will Wilcox shot 59 in the final round of the Web.com Tour’s Utah Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission.

+Is Russell Knox the first Scottish-born professional to post a 59? Come back to me if you know of another

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

 

RONNIE CLARK WINS ONE-ROUND CENTRAL SENIORS OPEN

 SCOTTISH SENIORS GOLFING SOCIETY           
    CENTRAL SCOTLAND SENIORS OPEN           
    KILMACOLM GOLF CLUB           
    +Bad weather caused the abandonment of the first 
round and the reduction of the tournament to 18 holes,
played today (Friday)
          
                GROSS SCOREBOARD
                (scroll down for the net scoreboard)
               
Player          Club    Age    H/cap    Gross
                
     PAR   69                         CSS              70
RONNIE CLARK    ERSKINE    52    -3    65
DAVID GILLESPIE    TURNHOUSE    58    2    67
STUART BLACK    CATHCART CASTLE    52    0    68
DAVID IMRIE    THORNTON    56    2    68
LINDSAY BLAIR    GRANGEMOUTH    56    0    68
BILLY ERSKINE    KILSYTH LENNOX    64    2    69
NEIL McGARVA    KILMACOLM    57    6    69
BARRY BROOKS    MURCAR    54    1    69
LINDSAY GORDON    TURNHOUSE    62    1    70
COLIN CHRISTY    KILMACOLM    63    1    70
STEPHEN ELLIS    COWAL    65    4    70
DAVID J MILLER    KILMARNOCK BARASSIE    58    0    71
DAVID GARDNER    BROOMIEKNOWE    57    2    71
JOHN JOHNSTON    ROYAL ABERDEEN    65    3    71
ALAN O'NEILL    WEST LOTHIAN    55    0    72
JOHN FRASER    ROYAL BURGESS    61    0    72
GORDON BROWN    STRATHENDRICK    63    2    72
PHIL DEMPSEY    TULLIALLAN    53    3    72
JIM EMSLIE    ROYAL ABERDEEN    54    2    72
IAN BROTHERSTON    DUMFRIES and COUNTY    57    0    72
SCOTT MACDONALD    DUNFERMLINE    69    3    72
BRIAN SMITH    KILMACOLM    57    1    73
WILSON BUTLER    CARLUKE    56    2    73
STEWART MILLAR    COCHRANE CASTLE    52    2    73
KEITH HOWIE    WEST KILBRIDE    67    6    73
JALIL AMAN    GRANGEMOUTH    59    2    73
BOB STEWART    TULLIALLAN    62    1    74
GEORGE RODAKS    PITREAVIE    64    2    74
ALISTAIR TAYLOR    TURNHOUSE    58    3    74
DAVID TAYLOR    DUNFERMLINE    56    2    74
ALLISTER RAPHAEL    LITTLESTONE    57    3    74
HENRY THOMPSON    IRVINE    54    1    74
JOE McMANUS    UPHALL    54    2    74
KEITH BRUCE    EDZELL    64    2    75
DEREK MURPHY    KINROSS    60    1    75
JIM WATT    EDZELL    62    2    75
IAIN STEWART    TURNBERRY    66    5    75
BOB HUMBLE    KILSPINDIE    64    2    75
JOHN BROADFOOT    TURNBERRY    65    4    75
GORDON MACDONALD    GLENBERVIE    65    1    75
JIM PATON    KIRKINTILLOCH    65    5    75
BILLY WALLACE    PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT    68    4    75
TOM CARSON    LOCKERBIE    67    6    75
WILLIE SKENE    DEESIDE    55    7    76
IAN GOURLAY    STRATHAVEN    57    6    76
MIKE BAKER    CHESTER LE STREET    60    3    76
RICKY GRAY    IRVINE    58    2    76
JOHN McDONALD    COWGLEN    58    3    76
COLIN MOIR    WORKSOP    71    6    76
ROBERT CRAW    GLENBERVIE    53    2    77
DENIS McQUADE    GLENBERVIE    62    5    77
GRAHAM McGEE    EARL OF MAR    68    5    77
MALCOLM SIM    GRANGE    61    8    77
GRAEME MILLAR    SWANSTON NEW    55    2    77
ALAN HARRINGTON    WESTERN GAILES    63    3    77
JOHN McLAY    BISHOPBRIGGS    54    6    78
GORDON MEIKLE    LADYBANK    52    2    78
IAN GILLAN    BISHOPBRIGGS    58    1    78
KEN THOMSON    BRAMMALL PARK    67    5    78
DREW WILSON    CLOBER    65    5    78
WILLIE IRVINE    LANARK    57    5    78
DAVID SMITH    STIRLING    70    4    78
BRIAN HALBERT    CALLANDER    60    6    78
DOM McLAUGHLIN    CROW WOOD    63    6    78
GORDON THOMSON    BEARSDEN    63    5    79
KEN FORREST    LENZIE    56    4    79
MARK LAVERICK    GARESFIELD    52    6    79
JOSEPH LANGFORD    CARLUKE    57    8    79
DAVID SHIELDS    DUNBLANE NEW    52    0    79
KEITH McALLISTER    SOUTH SHIELDS    56    4    79
DONNIE LINDSAY    TROON ST MEDDANS    64    6    80
JAMES JOHNSTON    NORTHUMBERLAND    60    3    80
JIM BUNTING    BALLOCHMYLE    69    5    80
ALAN NELSON    MURCAR LINKS    61    7    80
ALISTER MILLER    COCHRANE CASTLE    51    3    80
STUART BAKER    HILTON PARK     53    5    81
PETER KINLOCH    CARDROSS    67    6    81
BRIAN MITCHELL    ROYAL BURGESS    57    4    81
GORDON DOIG    SOUTHERNESS    61    4    81
KEITH ROSS    BEITH    56    6    81
IAIN SIMPSON    CRAIGIE HILL    58    4    82
JIM KINLOCH    CARDROSS    67    3    82
ANDREW STURTON    FORRESTER PARK    67    9    82
BRUCE HUNTER    STIRLING    75    8    82
ALEX HOGG    STIRLING    65    7    82
ERIC LINDSAY    BLAIRGOWRIE    55    4    83
DAVID NELSON    ABOYNE    70    7    83
JOHN DUFF    MORTONHALL    56    5    83
JIM PATERSON    RANFURLY CASTLE    56    9    84
COLIN MAVOR    ELGIN    55    8    84
IAN KERR     KILMACOLM    56    6    84
MICHAEL MATHER    BALLATER    71    9    85
IAN FRASER    DUMFRIES and COUNTY    54    5    nr
TREVOR BENNETT    GREAT BARR    68    6    nr
TOM NICOL    ELDERSLIE    69    9    nr
DAVID CAUSON    ELDERSLIE    61    7    nr
DEREK SIM    PANMURE    65    4    Rtd Inj
                
 NET SCORES

 Player          Club    Age    H/cap    Gross    Nett
                    
     SSS   69                         CSS              70   
NEIL McGARVA    KILMACOLM    57    6    69    63
DAVID GILLESPIE    TURNHOUSE    58    2    67    65
STEPHEN ELLIS    COWAL    65    4    70    66
DAVID IMRIE    THORNTON    56    2    68    66
BILLY ERSKINE    KILSYTH LENNOX    64    2    69    67
KEITH HOWIE    WEST KILBRIDE    67    6    73    67
JOHN JOHNSTON    ROYAL ABERDEEN    65    3    71    68
BARRY BROOKS    MURCAR    54    1    69    68
RONNIE CLARK    ERSKINE    52    -3    65    68
STUART BLACK    CATHCART CASTLE    52    0    68    68
LINDSAY BLAIR    GRANGEMOUTH    56    0    68    68
WILLIE SKENE    DEESIDE    55    7    76    69
LINDSAY GORDON    TURNHOUSE    62    1    70    69
DAVID GARDNER    BROOMIEKNOWE    57    2    71    69
MALCOLM SIM    GRANGE    61    8    77    69
SCOTT MACDONALD    DUNFERMLINE    69    3    72    69
TOM CARSON    LOCKERBIE    67    6    75    69
PHIL DEMPSEY    TULLIALLAN    53    3    72    69
COLIN CHRISTY    KILMACOLM    63    1    70    69
JIM EMSLIE    ROYAL ABERDEEN    54    2    72    70
IAIN STEWART    TURNBERRY    66    5    75    70
IAN GOURLAY    STRATHAVEN    57    6    76    70
JIM PATON    KIRKINTILLOCH    65    5    75    70
COLIN MOIR    WORKSOP    71    6    76    70
GORDON BROWN    STRATHENDRICK    63    2    72    70
WILSON BUTLER    CARLUKE    56    2    73    71
JOHN BROADFOOT    TURNBERRY    65    4    75    71
JOSEPH LANGFORD    CARLUKE    57    8    79    71
ALISTAIR TAYLOR    TURNHOUSE    58    3    74    71
JALIL AMAN    GRANGEMOUTH    59    2    73    71
BILLY WALLACE    PRESTWICK ST CUTHBERT    68    4    75    71
ALLISTER RAPHAEL    LITTLESTONE    57    3    74    71
DAVID J MILLER    KILMARNOCK BARASSIE    58    0    71    71
STEWART MILLAR    COCHRANE CASTLE    52    2    73    71
DENIS McQUADE    GLENBERVIE    62    5    77    72
ALAN O'NEILL    WEST LOTHIAN    55    0    72    72
JOHN McLAY    BISHOPBRIGGS    54    6    78    72
IAN BROTHERSTON    DUMFRIES & COUNTY    57    0    72    72
GEORGE RODAKS    PITREAVIE    64    2    74    72
GRAHAM McGEE    EARL OF MAR    68    5    77    72
DAVID TAYLOR    DUNFERMLINE    56    2    74    72
BRIAN HALBERT    CALLANDER    60    6    78    72
JOE McMANUS    UPHALL    54    2    74    72
JOHN FRASER    ROYAL BURGESS    61    0    72    72
DOM McLAUGHLIN    CROW WOOD    63    6    78    72
BRIAN SMITH    KILMACOLM    57    1    73    72
KEITH BRUCE    EDZELL    64    2    75    73
JIM WATT    EDZELL    62    2    75    73
BOB STEWART    TULLIALLAN    62    1    74    73
BOB HUMBLE    KILSPINDIE    64    2    75    73
MARK LAVERICK    GARESFIELD    52    6    79    73
MIKE BAKER    CHESTER LE STREET    60    3    76    73
JOHN McDONALD    COWGLEN    58    3    76    73
KEN THOMSON    BRAMMALL PARK    67    5    78    73
DREW WILSON    CLOBER    65    5    78    73
ANDREW STURTON    FORRESTER PARK    67    9    82    73
WILLIE IRVINE    LANARK    57    5    78    73
HENRY THOMPSON    IRVINE    54    1    74    73
ALAN NELSON    MURCAR LINKS    61    7    80    73
GORDON THOMSON    BEARSDEN    63    5    79    74
DONNIE LINDSAY    TROON ST MEDDANS    64    6    80    74
DEREK MURPHY    KINROSS    60    1    75    74
RICKY GRAY    IRVINE    58    2    76    74
BRUCE HUNTER    STIRLING    75    8    82    74
GORDON MACDONALD    GLENBERVIE    65    1    75    74
ALAN HARRINGTON    WESTERN GAILES    63    3    77    74
DAVID SMITH    STIRLING    70    4    78    74
ROBERT CRAW    GLENBERVIE    53    2    77    75
KEN FORREST    LENZIE    56    4    79    75
PETER KINLOCH    CARDROSS    67    6    81    75
JIM PATERSON    RANFURLY CASTLE    56    9    84    75
KEITH ROSS    BEITH    56    6    81    75
JIM BUNTING    BALLOCHMYLE    69    5    80    75
GRAEME MILLAR    SWANSTON NEW    55    2    77    75
ALEX HOGG    STIRLING    65    7    82    75
KEITH McALLISTER    SOUTH SHIELDS    56    4    79    75
STUART BAKER    HILTON PARK     53    5    81    76
GORDON MEIKLE    LADYBANK    52    2    78    76
MICHAEL MATHER    BALLATER    71    9    85    76
DAVID NELSON    ABOYNE    70    7    83    76
COLIN MAVOR    ELGIN    55    8    84    76
IAN GILLAN    BISHOPBRIGGS    58    1    78    77
JAMES JOHNSTON    NORTHUMBERLAND    60    3    80    77
BRIAN MITCHELL    ROYAL BURGESS    57    4    81    77
GORDON DOIG    SOUTHERNESS    61    4    81    77
ALISTER MILLER    COCHRANE CASTLE    51    3    80    77
IAIN SIMPSON    CRAIGIE HILL    58    4    82    78
JOHN DUFF    MORTONHALL    56    5    83    78
IAN KERR     KILMACOLM    56    6    84    78
JIM KINLOCH    CARDROSS    67    3    82    79
ERIC LINDSAY    BLAIRGOWRIE    55    4    83    79
DAVID SHIELDS    DUNBLANE NEW    52    0    79    79
IAN FRASER    DUMFRIES & COUNTY    54    5    nr    nr
TREVOR BENNETT    GREAT BARR    68    6    nr    nr
TOM NICOL    ELDERSLIE    69    9    nr    nr
DAVID CAUSON    ELDERSLIE    61    7    nr    nr
DEREK SIM    PANMURE    65    4    Rtd Inj    Rtd Inj

HENDERSON, MCGHEE SHARE VICTORY AT FOG-HIT BALGOWNIE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Thick fog delayed the start of play by nearly two hours in the Grampian Houston Junior Trip Fund pro-am - one of the richest on the Tartan Tour with over £11,000 in prize money - at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club today (Friday). 
So that the later starters could finish in daylight, it was decided, in consultation with Tournament Controller Roy Murray,  to reduce the round to 15 holes by cutting out those out at the far end of the course, the eighth (par 3), the ninth (par 4) and the 10th (par 3).
Aberdonian Scott Henderson (Kings Links) and James McGhee (unattached) tied for victory on four-under-par 56. Henderson birdied the second, had an eagle at the sixth and a birdie at the 11th in "halves" of 26 and 3o.
McGhee had and an eagle at the second and birdies at the sixth and 14th, also with scores of 26 for the first seven holes and 30 for the last eight. 
They earned £1,900 each. 
Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Chris Kelly (Cawder) finished joint third on 57 and earned £1,100 each.
The pro-am, followed by a golf memorabilia auction dinner  is staged annually to help raise funds to send a party of promising young Grampian golfers, every second year, to play courses in and around Houston, Texas.
The Grampian Houston Junior Trip was the brainchild of Banchory-born Bruce Davidson who became the Director of Golf at River Oaks Country Club, near Houston.
Fittingly, Davidson steered the River Oaks No 1 amateur trio of Ben Davidson (handicap 6), Peter Fluor (7) and Peter Fluor junior (handicap 16) to victory in the pro-am team event at Balgownie with a net better-ball of 10 under par 50.


PRO SCORES
+Tournament reduced to 15 holes (par 60)  because fog delayed start

56 S Henderson (Kings Links), J McGhee (unatt) (£1,900 each).
57 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), C Kelly (Cawder) (£1,100 each).
58 S Herald (Mearns Castle) (£735)

59 J Lomas (Caprington), G Hutcheon (Banchory), D Orr (Mearns Castle) (£531 each.
60 S Gray (Hayston), D Patrick (Kingsfield), C Russell (RAW golf course design), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) (£331 each).
61 G McBain (Gamola Golf), F Mann (Musselburgh) (£254 each).
62 S Craig (Germany), B Davidson (River Oaks, Texas), G Wright (West Linton), G Fox (Clydeway Golf ) (£193 each)

 63 G Brown (Montrose Links), J Byrne (unatt), C Currie (Cadlwell), C Ronald (Carluke) (£66 each).

64 L Vannett (Carnoustie), A Duncan (unatt), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), M King (Kingsfield), C Lawson (Wellsgreen).
65 A Crerar (Panmure), A Fleming (North Highland College).
66 J McKinnon (Irvine), G Nethercott (Deeside)
67 S Aird (McDonald Ellon), N Colquhoun (Mercahnts of Edinburgh), R Cameron (Saltire Energy), S Duncan (Carnoustie), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
68 I Alexander (unatt), C Gordon (Edinburgh GC).

69 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen).

TEAM EVENT WINNERS
50 (10 under par net best ball).
Bruce Davidson (River Oaks CC, Houston, Texas) and the River Oaks I team of Ben Davidson (handicap 6), Peter Fluor (7) and Peter Fluor junior (16).

RALSTON ROSEBOWL ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4

The Ralston Rosebowl, a  men's 36 hole scratch and handicap 

Open will be played on Sunday 4th August.

Ralston Golf Club is an extremely well maintained  parkland course situated on the boundary between Paisley and Glasgow. It has a par 70 with a sss 70.   (see www.ralstongolfclub.com)

 The competition has a handicap limit of 9 and an entry fee of £16 

which includes a soup and sandwich lunch.

There is over £1,000 in prize money on offer which includes :-

    

 6 scratch prizes with the winner receiving £250 and the RoseBowl 

itself.

    

 4 handicap prizes with the winner receiving £100

     

A team prize with 3 x £30 to the winners

     

Best under 23 player wins £50 and the Muir Jamison trophy

     

Best last 4 holes in morning and afternoon rounds combined wins £100

If you wish a time then please either email your details to our secretary (thesecretary@ralstongolf.co.uk) or phone 0141 882 1349 between 8-12am Mon-Fri next week.

Gary McCrea

SCOTS IN THE MONEY IN EUROPR0 TOUR EVENT IN IRELAND

Paul Doherty won second prize of £5,000, Elliot Saltman the third place £2,500 and Paul McKechnie earned £1,125 for joint fifth  as the Scots made their presence felt in the PGA EuroPro Tour's Kingspan Concra Wood Open at Concra Wood Golf Club, Castleblainey in Ireland today.
Doherty was pipped by two shots for the jackpot prize of £10,000 which was won by Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall) with rounds of 73, 67 and 68 for eight-under-par 208.
Doherty shot 69, 70 and 71 for 210.
Saltman birdied fourth of the last five holes for a grandstand finish that gave him a 66 to follow scores of 77 and 68. He had eight birdies in all in his final round which saw him finish third on 211.
McKechnie signed off with a 69 for 213. A double bogey 6 at the 16th marred a card that have four birdies in the first six holes and two more later, at the 12th and 15th.
Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) finished on 219  with a closing 70. Also on the three-over mark was Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) who ended with a 71. They tied for 30th place and earned £290 apiece.
Jordan Findlay's scores deteriorated each day - 70, 76 and 79th for 225 and 47th place. His payslip amounted to £220.


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
208 M Armitage (Howley Hall) 73 67 68 (£10,000)
210  P Doherty (Vale Hotel) 69 70 71 (£5,000)
211 E Saltman (Archerfield Links) 77 68 66 (£2,500)
212 R Edginton (Royal Wimbledon) 73 71 68 (£1,700)
213 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 71 73 69, J Winer (Woolston Manor) 71 72 70, N McCarthy (Moortown) 74 68 71, B Hemstock (Teignmouth) 70 71 72  (£1,125 each)

OTHER SCOTS SCORES
219 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 78 71 70, M Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 76 72 71 (T30) (£290 each)
225 J Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 70 76 79 (47th) (£220).

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA EUROPRO TOUR

Marcus Armitage recorded his first 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour victory when he shot a final-round 68 to win the Kingspan Concra Wood Open by two strokes from Paul Doherty.

Armitage finished the event eight under par after his four-under last 18 at the par-72 Concra Wood Golf Club in Castleblayney, Ireland.

The Yorkshireman began the final round one behind Scotland’s Doherty but began in some style with an eagle on the par-five first, climbing to six under alongside his playing partner Doherty, who opened with a birdie four.

Birdies on the third and fourth afforded Armitage a two-stroke advantage, but Doherty hit back-to-back par breakers at seven and eight to leave the pair tied at eight under.

Armitage dropped back one when he bogeyed the tenth but Doherty joined him three holes later when he took six at the par-five 13^th.

On the 14^th Armitage returned to eight under and as heavy rain began to engulf the course at Concra Wood, Doherty dropped to six under with a bogey on the 17^th. His English rival held his nerve to par the last and collect the £10,000 winner’s cheque and a brand new Motocaddy trolley.

“I have only played twice on this tour before and I missed the cut both times,” said Armitage on collecting his trophy. “This is my first event of the year since Qualifying School and it is great to win, I didn’t think it would feel as good as it does to win it. Concra Wood is a great test.

“The rain got heavy on the last three holes and I just had to focus and play the shots I needed too.”

Doherty takes home £5,000 after finishing six under par for the tournament, while his compatriot Elliot Saltman shot a six-under-par final round 66 to fire himself from one over par at the start of the day to five under and third place by the end.

Richard Edginton shot a four-under final round to finish fourth. The Wimbledon golfer had to putt the last 11 holes with his driver after a mishap left his putter bent.

A two-hour highlights package of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open will be broadcast on Sky Sports HD at 7pm on Tuesday, August 6, repeated on Wednesday, August 7. The next 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event takes place at Rowallan Castle, Ayrshire and begins on Wednesday, July 31.