TOP THREE SEEDS STILL STANDING IN LAST 32 OF FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

By ED HODGE

On a day when the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship sprung up typical surprises, the top three seeds in the initial 256-man field were all left standing.

Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest, the defending champion, continued his comfortable progress to round four, with Jack McDonald of Kilmarnock Barassie and Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson joining him late in the day after tough tests. But, elsewhere, the seeds simply tumbled.

Most impressively, part-time baker boy Greig Marchbank found all the ingredients to dish up third-round success against the fourth seed, Scott Borrowman.

Marchbank, 19, has failed to make a cut this season but has found his form over Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne layout.

Dollar’s Borrowman helped Scotland reach the final of the European Men’s Team Championship earlier this month, but he was on the end of a 7 and 5 defeat.

Ex-Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion Marchbank, who works nightshift at his dad’s bakers in Thornhill, said: “This year has not been great, but I’ve found my confidence this week.

“I’ve just been trying to get better and play more consistently. With helping my dad at night, I sleep during the day and play golf later on – but he has given me time off this week.”

Borrowman was one of four seeds to fall yesterday, with James Ross, Daniel Young and Blairgowrie member Bradley Neil also exiting.

Neil, the Scottish Boys champion, lost four of the opening six holes to fellow Scotland squad player Lawrence Allan (Alva) and was unable to claw back the deficit, losing 4 and 3.

Neil, 17, said: “I could easily sit and mope around, but I’ve got to get over this and prepare for the Europeans next week and then the Home Internationals.”

But Allan, who recently completed his first year at Southeastern Louisiana University, then lost out to Royal Aberdeen’s Nick Macandrew, while Ross’s conqueror, Fraser McKenna, was beaten by Mark Riddell of Baberton. Bradley’s brother, Connor Neil, also lost out to end the five-strong Blairgowrie challenge as early as round two.

While Forrest eased past Bathgate’s Simon Lockhart, there were far harder tests for McDonald and Robertson.

McDonald hurt his right wrist escaping from under a tree at the 16th and was visibly in pain as he came through at the 18th against Marc Owenson of Longniddry.

“The wrist hasn’t swollen up so, touch wood, I’m okay,” said McDonald, who faces past quarter-finalist Conor O’Neil of Pollok in round four. “I’ve had tight matches so far, but at least I’ve been under pressure.”

Robertson, meanwhile, staged brilliant late comebacks in both his ties yesterday to oust Steven Hume of Craigie Hill and Bothwell Castle’s Colin Baird. The Glenbervie man birdied 15, 16 and 17 in the Hume game, before reaching the last-32 thanks to a holed bunker shot for an eagle 3 at the long 17th against Baird.

The fourth-round has now thrown up some intriguing ties, with James White of Lundin notably meeting fellow SGU Men’s Performance Squad player Robertson.

White played a gruelling 42 holes today, going to the 24th to finally dispatch Keith Shanks of Golf House, Elie, before coming back from four down after five to beat Murray Naysmith (Marriot Dalmahoy).

Kilmacolm’s Matt Clark, who ended the run of Craig Lawrie, also has an exciting tie, on paper, against Scottish Schools champion Connor Syme.

Clark said: “Connor is not someone I’m familiar with, but I hear he is a talented player with loads of ability, so it’s going to be a tough match. I’ve putted well, but nothing has dropped so I’m due some.”

>> Click here for scores from the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship

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SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHO PLAYS WHOM
IN THE ROUND OF THE LAST THIRTY-TWO 

LAST 32 IN FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Ryan Lumsden v Grant Forrest (No 1 seed)
Daniel Flannery v Jamie Savage
Matthew Clark v Connor Syme
Liam Halliday v ameron Kirkwood
Greig Marchbank v Greg Forrester
Adam Fisher v Alexander Culverwell
Stuart McLaren v Kyle McClung
Mark Riddell v Chris Lamb
Nick Macandrew v Fraser Moore
Craig Ross v Paul Reilly
Greg Smail v Martin Anderson
Conor O'Neil v Jack McDonald (No 3 seed)
Ewen Ferguson v Charlie Macneal
James White v Graeme Robertson (No 2 seed)
Allyn Dick v James Bunch


TO VIEW ALL THE RESULTS ON THE SGU WEBSITE


CLICK HERE

SCOTS TO FORE IN EUROTOUR PRO EVENT AT ROWALLAN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE

Scots are well to the fore again in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Rowallan Castle Open at the Ayrshire golf club.

Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) shot a five-under-par 66 with five birdies in his last seven holes to be in third place overnight, three shots behind Welshman leader Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) who also finished like a train with six birdies in his last eight holes for a 63.

Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) had a 67 for joint fifth place and Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) is sharing 11th place on 68, a shot ahead of Jack Doherty (North Gailes).

Paul Shields (Kirkhill) had a 69 for joint 17th position while Paul Shields is joint 23rd with a 70, one shot ahead of Shaun McAlister (Craigielaw).

Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had a 72.

John Gallagher (Duddingston), Greg Nicolson (Morytonhall), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) and Gavin Dear (Noah's Ark) crowed on to the 73 mark.

ROWALLAN CASTLE OPEN

Rowallan Castle Golf Club, Ayrshire

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 71

Players from Scotland unless stated

63 M Laskey (Wal).

65 T Rice (Ire)

66 P Doherty

SELECTED SCORES

67 P McKechnie

68 E Saltman

69 J Doherty

70 P Shields

71 S McAllister

71 M Isaacs

73 J Gallagher, G Nicolson, N Fenwick, G Dear.

74 C Trahan, Z Saltman, N Huguet

75 P McGhee.

77 C McMaster

78 I Stoddard

79 J Findlay, M Stewart

81 S Mackie

83 M Rae

88 E Walker.

ends

OPEN MEDAL WINNER FITZPATRICK EASES THROUGH

Fresh from his exploits at The Open, Matthew Fitzpatrick overcame some awkward moments to books his place in round two of the English Amateur Championship at Frilford Heath but knows he must up his game if further progression is assured.The Sheffield teenager (image copyright Leaderboard Photography), who finished as leading amateur at Muirfield, edged through 2 and 1 over Ben Wall from Hayling then declared: “I played very average. But I putted well and was probably one or two under when it finished.“I was behind for a long time but I won the 12th to level and the 13th to go ahead for the first time and I also won the 15th to stay in front.”On a day littered with showers, Jonathan Thomson and Daniel Brown traded blows for 16 holes in an all-Yorkshire tussle before Thomson came out on top 3 and 2. “It’s dreadful playing a team-mate,” said Thomson. “Dan and I are good friends and it’s tough to play such a match. But you’ve just got to knuckle down and get the job done.”Thomson was 1 up at the turn, Brown levelled with a birdie at 11 but Thomson edged in front again with a birdie at 12, took the 14th with a par and 15 with another birdie. The end came with a half in bogeys at 16.The only problem tomorrow for Thomson is that he plays another Yorkshire team-mate in Nick Marsh who came from 2 down to beat Cumbria's Seb Crookall-Nixon by one hole. “I missed two green on the front nine, failed to get up-and-down and found myself 2 down,” said Marsh. “But I managed to birdie the tenth and 18th, the last from 20 feet, while Seb missed his 15 foot birdie on 18.”Crookall-Nixon, back from college in San Francisco, said: “It was a good game but I made a couple of mistakes and paid for it. I fancied my chances this week but you’ve got to learn and move on.”Nathan Kimsey, a semi-finalist last year at Silloth-on-Solway, came through 3 and 1 against Devon’s Jimmy Mullen in an even contest for 14 holes. But Kimsey took the next three par-concession-birdie to move on, “it was nip-and-tuck most of the way,” said Kimsey. Mullen was punished for poor tee shots at 15 and 16, while Kimsey holed a ‘monster’ from 50 feet on 17.With two significant stroke play victories under his belt in the last month, Ryan Evans from Northamptonshire was never behind against Tom Berry but had to go to the 19th to shake off the Wentworth man. “I started well but got a bit complacent in the middle,” said Evans.“I didn’t want to lose holes but I did. Tom is a fine player and he birdied 13 and 14, but I was still 1 up playing the last but missed from three feet on the final green.” However, Evans birdied the 19th to go through.“I always think the first match is the toughest,” added Evans. “You always like to get a win under your belt but I’m still there. To win this championship would cap my season.”Brabazon Trophy winner Jordan Smith, beaten in the semi-finals last year, eased through 4 and 2 over Chris Chilton and now meets Ben Wheeler, who enjoyed a 6 and 5 win over Ben Horton, while in an all-international clash, Jamie Rutherford got the better of Craig Hinton 6 and 5.Rutherford, from Hertfordshire, was 3 up after four holes and 4 up at the turn despite a bogey at the eighth. “It’s important to get a quick start, which I did,” said Rutherford. “I didn’t drop any more shots after the eighth and managed to keep the pressure on. But if you chase too hard around here there are holes which can bite you.”Rutherford now faces Yorkshire youngster Joe Dean, a 3 and 1 winner over Danny Keddie.One of the shots of the day was performed by Nick Watson on the 19th hole to overcome Billy McKenzie. Watson was stymied behind a tree with his drive but cut his second shot around the obstruction to find the green and managed to secure a winning par while McKenzie saw his approach clip overhanging branches while his putt for a half lipped out. Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354500

Web: www.englandgolf.org

GREIG HUTCHEON CLICKETY-CLICKS TO WIN GLENEAGLES SPGA TITLE

And the winner is ... GREIG HUTCHEON. Image by Andy Forman

Banchory's Greig Hutcheon won the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship for a second time today - some 14 years after his first win when he was based at Bristol.

In a remarkable last-day turnaround over the par-71 King's Course at the Perthshire golf resort, Hutcheon made up four shots on overnight leader Gareth Wright (West Linton) with a five-under-par 66 for a total of 17-under-par 267 to win the £9,000 first prize.

Wright failed to break 70 for the first time over the four days and a par 71 for a total of 268 relegated him to second place and a £6,500 cheque.

The two men finished well clear of third-placed Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) who had made the running over the first two rounds. McCreadie signed off with a 70 for 273 and a payslip for £4,500.

Welshman Wright's four-stroke advantage disappeared over the first three holes with a bogey (three putts), double bogey, par start compared with Hutcheon's par-par-birdie for the same holes.

Wright took double-bogey 6 at second after his approach took a big bounce through the green and landed in bushes, from where he had to take a penalty drop.

Hutcheon's birdie at the third saw him draw level but it was still nip and tuck until the Banchory man birdied the 14th and 15th, holding from some 30ft at the latter hole to go two shots clear.

Hutch still led by two coming down the par-5 18th where he raced his putt for an eagle 3 five feet past the hole.

Wright holed from 25 feet for his eagle 3

Hutcheon held his nerve to hole for a birdie for a one-shot win

Said the 40-year-old Hutcheon, who was No 1 on the Tartan Tour last year, heading both the Order of Merit and the Money table:

"I'm really chuffed to win this event, especially as it was part of the European Tour event in 1999 and I won as the leading Scot in that.

"I managed to claw my way back into it this week after an opening 73 and the main reason I was able to do that was definitely my putting.

"Gareth and I both played some loose shots today as well as some good ones and it all came down to some lucky breaks here and there."

Wright said

"It's disappointing to have lost a four-shot lead. I didn't get off to a goods start but all credit to Greig as he putted well all day.

"I've shot level-par in the final round, meaning Greig had to break par to beat me. I was due the putt for my eagle at the last but I didn't expect Greig to miss his and was proved right."

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
KING'S COURSE, GLENEAGLES HOTEL, PERTHSHIRE

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)28
267 G Hutcheon (Banchory) 73 64 64 66 (£9,000).
268 G Wright (West Linton) 65 67 65 71 (£6,500).
273 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 64 66 73 70 (£4,500).
275 D Orr (Mearns Castle) 74 68 65 68 (£3,250).
278 G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 71 67 71 69 (£2,750).
279 S Henderson (Kings Links) 71 67 73 68, S Gray (Hayston) 75 65 72 67 (£2,075).
280 J McKinnon (Irvine) 70 70 69 71 (£1,650).
281 M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 71 70 74 66 (£1,350).
282 J Lomas (Caprington) 73 69 67 73, C Currie (Caldwell) 69 70 71 72, K McNicoll (Gullane) 72 71 69 70, G Brown (Montrose Links) 75 66 71 70, D Patrick (Kingsfield) 72 67 74 69, S Lamb (Cardrona) 73 70 73 66  (£933).
283 C Kelly (Cawder) 71 68 73 71 (£700).
284 C Ronald (Carluke) 67 73 70 74, D Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co) 73 68 72 71 (£662)
286 C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey) 70 72 68 76, J McGhee (unatt) 73 72 71 70 (£390).
287 M Loftus (Mearns Castle) 76 69 72 70 (£550).
288 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 69 72 76 71 (£522).
291 S Herald (Mearns Castle) 70 73 76 72, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 71 74 72, S Catlin (Greenburn) 70 76 73 72  (£462).
293 A Duncan (unatt) 78 67 71 77 (£390).
294 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 72 72 77 (£360).
295 D Wood (Hirsel) 74 71 76 74 (£350).
296 A Mackrell (Playsport) 71 73 76 76, Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm) 72 71 80 73, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 74 80 70 (£330). 
300 Murray Patterson (Cruden Bay) 76 70 78 76 (£310).
304 A Reid (West Lothian) 73 73 73 85 (£300)

SEEDS BRADLEY NEIL, JAMES ROSS KO'd AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Two more seeds have been knocked out of the Scottish amateur championship at Blairgowrie.
Home course teenager Bradley Neil, the Scottish boys' champion this year, lost by 4 and 3 to
US college student from Alva, Lawrence Allan, by 4 and 3.
Bradley was the No 6 seed.
James Ross (Royal Burgess), the No 5 seed, lost by 2 and 1 to an accomplished campaigner who might well have been seeded himself - Fraser McKenna (Balmore)
FULL REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS AT THE END OF WEDNESDAY PLAY

STRONG INTERNATIONAL FIELD FOR BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE FROM R AND A

 A 252-strong field comprising the world’s leading boy golfers will contest the 87th Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) and Wallasey golf clubs next month (13-18 August, 2013).

More than half of the draw, 142 players, are set to travel to England from around Europe, America, South America, Africa and Asia.

Commenting on the Championship starting line-up of players aged 18 years and under, The R and A’s Director - Amateur Events, Euan Mordaunt said:

“The best boy golfers from around the world will be on show in the North West in two weeks’ time and we encourage golf fans from around the region and beyond to turn out and support the golfing stars of the future.”

Many of the world’s finest players first showed promise at The Boys Amateur including Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald. While last year’s Boys Champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick, recently won the Silver Medal at the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield as the leading amateur in the field.

The qualifying stroke play stage of The Boys Amateur Championship is played on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 August 2013 at both Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) and Wallasey golf clubs. Thereafter the field is cut to 64 and ties. The match play stage is played over the final four days from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 August 2013, at Royal Liverpool.

Admission and parking is free at both clubs and public catering is available.  Full details including the qualifying round draw can be found at championships.randa.org.

NINETY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD FORGOT HE'S JUST HAD A HOLE IN ONE

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
Playing nine holes of golf is a common ritual for Charles Towner, a soon-to-be 95-year-old Colorado Springs, Colorado, resident.
On Friday, Towner returned home from the course, thinking his round was nothing to write home about.
But it certainly was.
“His golf buddy Harold Poe brought Charles home from golf,” Towner’s wife, Pauline Towner explained. “Then, after a little while, Harold called me and asked if Charles told me anything. I said, ‘No.’
“And he said, ‘That guy got a hole-in-one.’”
Charles Towner aced hole No. 2 Friday at Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods North Course in Colorado Springs. His club selection? 3-wood for the 160-yard par-3.
There’s a simple reason behind the hole-in-one slipping Towner’s mind: he didn’t remember.
The estimated 29-handicap – Towner plays nine holes three or four times a week – has dementia and short-term memory loss.
“We couldn’t find (the ball) on the green,” Poe said. “I said, ‘I can’t believe it, it’s supposed to be right there.’ The next thing we know, we walk over and there it was in the hole.”
Said Gene Gabelmann, director of golf at Garden of the Gods Club: “Harold came into the golf shop and told me Charlie had gotten a hole-in-one. It was very exciting and, of course, I went to congratulate Charlie. He looked at me and said, ‘It would be great to get a hole-in-one.’”
Towner stays active, playing golf at his local course and driving his wife to and from the doctor’s office when needed.
His memory loss hardly affects his game, with a little help from his friend.
“He’ll go to the ball and always turns the club upside to make sure he has the right number when he reaches the ball,” Poe said. “I talk to him about the numbers he’ll use. I’ll say, ‘Charlie, it looks like you’re about 100 yards out, your 6- or 7-iron should do the trick.’
“He’s played the course enough to know where he is and how to handle it.”
Poe calls Towner an exceptional putter and adds that he’ll hit his tee shot down the middle 99 percent of the time.
While short-term memory loss may not keep Towner from playing his favorite game, that was not always the case.
“He’s better than he was,” Poe said. “A couple of years ago, he had to quit in the middle of (a round) and he was driving his cart. I said, ‘All right Charlie, I’ll see you tomorrow.’ And he said, ‘I don’t know how to get home, will you help me get home?’”
Now, Towner can navigate just fine and is “very active and intelligent” for his age, according to Poe, 82.
As far as how often Poe will remind his friend of his unlikely ace …
“Let me put it this way,” Poe said. “We went to a party Friday night, the day that it happened, and a friend of ours made an announcement at the party that Charlie had made this hole-in-one. He was very shy about it and just waved.
“Some of the other guys walked up when I was there and Charlie said, ‘It wasn’t me, it was [Harold] that had the hole-in-one.’ I said, ‘Charlie, you don’t remember too well, but you had a beautiful shot.’”
Towner may be hearing about it a lot. Pauline Towner said that, after the local paper wrote an article on her husband’s feat, she’s been hearing from people all over town about his hole-in-one.
Some people are lucky enough to know the joy of finding out they made a hole-in-one once in a lifetime.
Charles Towner may be the lucky one. He’ll get to hear the news over and over again.