NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN SCOREBOARD AT MURCAR LINKS

SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) Round 2 CSS 75
Craig Ross 76 + 67 143 Kirkhill Golf Club
Bryan Innes 72 + 71 143 Murcar Links Golf Club
Daniel Kay 79 + 68 147 Dunbar Golf Club
David Morrison 79 + 70 149 Duff House Royal Golf Club
Sam Binning 74 + 75 149 Ranfurly Castle Golf Club
Gordon Stevenson 79 + 71 150 Whitecraigs Golf Club
Kyle McClung 79 + 71 150 Wigtownshire County
Alan Sutherland 82 + 69 151 Ladybank Golf Club
Adam Dunton 79 + 73 152 Leven Golfing Society
Barrie Edmond 78 + 75 153 Bon Accord Golf Club
George Mitchell 82 + 72 154 Newmachar Golf Club
Chris Robb 75 + 79 154 Meldrum House Golf Club
Colin A Baird 75 + 79 154 Bothwell Castle Golf Club
Clark Brechin 79 + 76 155 Portlethen Golf Club
Justin Duff 78 + 77 155 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Anthony Bews 77 + 78 155 Murcar Links Golf Club
John Duff 77 + 78 155 Newmachar Golf Club
Kyle Godsman 76 + 79 155 Moray Golf Club
Mr Jake Scott 81 + 76 157 Duff House Royal Golf Club
Andrew Hepburn 80 + 77 157 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Lyle McAlpine 79 + 78 157 Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Chris Lamb 78 + 79 157 Newmachar Golf Club
Jack Harling 82 + 76 158 Banchory Golf Club
Ryan Campbell 85 + 74 159 Falkirk Golf Club
John Mitchell 79 + 80 159 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Jordan Shaw 86 + 74 160 Boat of Garten Golf Club
Mark McLean 84 + 76 160 Fraserburgh Golf Clu
John Godward 83 + 77 160 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Stuart Irving 84 + 78 162 Falkirk Golf Club
Neil McKinnon 85 + 78 163 Murcar Links Golf Club
Kenny Gunnyeon 85 + 78 163 Murcar Links Golf Club
Corin Stewart 81 + 82 163 Murcar Links Golf Club
Lewis Bain 88 + 76 164 Musselburgh Golf Club
Kevin Duncan 87 + 77 164 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Craig Chalmers 84 + 80 164 Cawder Golf Club
Sam Kiloh 84 + 80 164 Portlethen Golf Club
Paul Reilly 83 + 81 164 Kilmacolm Golf Club
Malcolm Pennycott 81 + 83 164 Whiting Bay Golf Club
Gordon Munro 81 + 83 164 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Callum Burgess 80 + 84 164 Monkton Hall
Nathan Free 78 + 86 164 Musselburgh Golf Clu
Josua Jamieson 85 + 80 165 St Andrews Golf Club
Matthew Miller 82 + 83 165 Lundin Golf Club
Duncan Raitt 85 + 81 166 Murcar Links Golf Club
Callum Cochrane 84 + 83 167 Marriott Dalmahoy
Jordan Milne 83 + 85 168 Elgin Golf Club
Mr Alan Holbrook 85 + 84 169 Murcar Links Golf Club
Richard Barr 83 + 86 169 Newmachar Golf Club
Liam Balneaves 88 + 82 170 Greenacres N. Z.
Stephen Roger 89 + 83 172 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Fraser Milne 87 + 85 172 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Varun Varadharajan 92 + 81 173 Royal Burgess
Andy Campbell 86 + 87 173 Murcar Links Golf Club
Ryan Walsh 92 + 84 176 Kirkcaldy Golf Club
Aodan P Donnelly 88 + 88 176 Murrayfield Golf Club
Scott Green 89 + 88 177 Meldrum House Golf Club
Jack Walker 92 + 86 178 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Sam McNeil 89 + 90 179 Aboyne Golf Club
Stuart Connell 94 + 86 180 Inverness Golf Club
Craig Stephen 85 + NR NR Aboyne Golf Club
Jeff Wright 87 + NR NR Forres Golf Club
Iain Taylor 88 + NR NR Stonehaven
Sam Griffiths NR + NR NR Duff House Royal 

THIRD AND FOURTH ROUND TEE TIMES


07.30am & 12.00pm  N Free    Mussleburgh Old   L Bain    Mussleburgh
07.40am & 12.10pm   C Burgess    Monkton Hall    164    S Kiloh    Portlethen
3    07.50am & 12.20pm    164    P Reilly    Kilmacolm    164    M Pennycott    Whiting Bay
 08.00am & 12.30pm    164    G Munro    Fraserburgh    K Duncan    Cruden Bay
5    08.10am & 12.40pm    163    C Stewart    Murcar Links    163    N McKinnon    Murcar Links
6    08.20am & 12.50pm    163    K Gunneyon    Murcar Links    162    S Irving    Falkirk
7    08.30am & 01.00pm    160    M McLean    Fraserburgh    160    J Godward    Cruden Bay
8    08.40am & 01.10pm    160    J Shaw    Boat of Garten    159    R Campbell    Falkirk
9    08.50am & 01.20pm    159    J Mitchell    Fraserburgh    158    J Harling    Banchory
10    09.00am & 01.30pm    157    C Lamb    Newmachar    157    L McAlpine    Royal Dornoch
11    09.10am & 01.40pm    157    A Hepburn    Fraserburgh    157    J Scott    Duff House Royal
12    09.20am & 01.50pm    155    A Bews    Murcar Links    155    John Duff    Newmachar
13    09.30am & 02.00pm    155    C Brechin    Portlethen    155    Justin Duff    Fraserburgh
09.40am and 02.10pm    155    K Godsman    Moray    154    G Mitchell    Newmachar
15    09.50am and 02.20pm    154    C Baird    Bothwell Castler    154    C robb    Meldrum House
16    10.00am and 02.30pm    153    B Edmond    Bon Accord    152    A Dunton    McDonald
17    10.10am and 02.40pm    150    G Stevenson    Whitecraigs    151    A Sutherland    Ladybank
18    10.20am and 02.50pm    149    D Morrison    Duff House Royal    150    K McClung    Wigtownshire County
19    10.30am and 03.00pm    147    D Kay    Dunbar    149    S Binning    Ranfurly Castle
20    10.40am and 03.10pm    143    B Innes    Murcar Links    143    C Ross    Kirkhill

EWEN FERGUSON THROUGH TO FINAL OF BRITISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE R AND A WEBSITE

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson will play Germany’s Michael Hirmer in the final of the 87th Boys’ Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) tomorrow.
On a blustery day marred by intermittent showers, 16-year-old Ferguson, from Bearsden Golf Cub near Glasgow, beat Spain’s Ivan Cantero by 2 and 1 in the quarter-finals and then in the semi- finals defeated 15-year-old English international Bradley Moore by 4 and  3.
Hirmer started the Championship by posting a nine over par 81 in the first qualifying round at Wallasey but scraped into the match play with a 69 at Royal Liverpool and since then has been displaying the sort of form that saw him finish sixth at the recent German Boys’ Championship at St Leon-Rot.
The 16-year-old German came from behind to beat England’s Ben Robinson in the morning and then in the afternoon survived a late scare before ending the challenge of France’s Paul Elissalde on the final green. Tomorrow’s 36-hole final will have a distinctly Scottish tinge to it because Hirmer is currently at the Golf Academy at Loretto School near Musselburgh and he plays a lot of golf on the East Lothian links.
Ferguson went into the semi-finals with a fine win over Italy’s Renato Paratore under his belt the previous evening and he was three up over Cantero after seven holes before seeing that lead evaporate completely by the time he lost the 15th hole. He regained the initiative with a birdie on the 551-yard par-5 16th and then closed out the match with a par one hole later.
In the semi-final, there was not much to choose between Ferguson and Moore until around the turn where the Scot won both the 9th and 10th holes. He also won the 522-yard par-5 14th with a birdie and then confirmed his place in the final when Moore three-putted from just off the back edge of the 15th green.
“It was all a bit scrappy,” admitted the Scot, who won this year’s inaugural Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy and came second at the Stephen Gallacher Scottish Boys’ Stroke Play Championship at The Roxburghe.
“Neither of us played anything like our best golf. We both had to scramble a lot but I holed a few more putts than Brad and that’s what made the difference.
“I think my Mum and Dad might well come down to watch the final,” he added.
Hirmer had history against him during his semi-final clash against Robinson because the English player’s great grandfather was Dr W Tweddell, the former Walker Cup player and R & A captain, who won The Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool back in 1927. Robinson’s father, Jeremy, also played Walker Cup golf but even with that pedigree behind him his son could not see off his German opponent.
Robinson was two up after 13 holes but he lost the 15th and the 16th to a birdie before a majestic chip to the last green took the match into extra time where he promptly drove out-of-bounds to hand the game to Hirmer.
The German looked to be having a much easier time of it in the semi-final when he went three up over Elissalde after 11 but he promptly lost the next three holes in succession before a majestic 6-iron to the 17th set up a birdie and gave him a one hole lead he held on to down the last.
“To be honest I can’t quite believe I’ve made it all the way to the final,” said Hirmer. “When I shot 81 at Wallasey on Monday I thought I’d be going home before the match play, but my 69 here on Tuesday gave me a lot of confidence and I’ve been playing pretty well ever since.
“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” he added. “It’s a big day for me but I know I’m going to enjoy it and hope I can continue to play well.”
The first round of the 36-hole final of the Boys Amateur Championship will tee off at 8.30am. For scoring from the final please visit championships.randa.org.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

MURCAR LINKS
Par 72, SS 73 CSS 76 (Reduction Only)
Weather: Very windy with early rain
Bryan Innes 72 Murcar Links Golf Club
Sam Binning (v) 74 Ranfurly Castle Golf Club
Colin A Baird (v) 75 Bothwell Castle Golf Club
Chris Robb (v) 75 Meldrum House Golf Club
Kyle Godsman (v) 76 Moray Golf Club
Craig Ross (v) 76 Kirkhill Golf Club
Anthony Bews 77 Murcar Links Golf Club
John Duff (v) 77 Newmachar Golf Club
Justin Duff (v) 78 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Barrie Edmond 78 Bon Accord Golf Club
Chris Lamb (v) 78 Newmachar Golf Club
Nathan Free (v) 78 Musselburgh Golf Club
Daniel Kay (v) 79 Dunbar Golf Club
Adam Dunton (v) 79 Leven Golfing Society
Clark Brechin (v) 79 Portlethen Golf Club
John Mitchell 79 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Gordon Stevenson (v) 79 Whitecraigs Golf Club
Lyle McAlpine (v) 79 Royal Dornoch Golf Club
David Morrison (v) 79 Duff House Royal Golf Club
Kyle McLung (v) 79 Wigtownshire County Golf Club
Andrew Hepburn 80 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Callum Burgess (v) 80 Monkton Hall
Malcolm Pennycott (v) 81 Whiting Bay Golf Club
Corin Stewart (v) 81 Murcar Links Golf Club
Mr Jake Scott (v) 81 Duff House Royal Golf Club
Gordon Munro 81 Fraserburgh Golf Club
George Mitchell (v) 82 Newmachar Golf Club
Alan Sutherland (v) 82 Ladybank Golf Club
Matthew Miller (v) 82 Lundin Golf Club
Jack Harling (v) 82 Banchory Golf Club
Paul Reilly (v) 83 Kilmacolm Golf Club
Richard Barr (v) 83 Newmachar Golf Club
Jordan Milne (v) 83 Elgin Golf Club
John Godward 83 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Stuart Irving (v) 84 Falkirk Golf Club
Callum Cochrane (v) 84 Marriott Dalmahoy 
Hotel & Country Club
Mark McLean (v) 84 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Sam Kiloh (v) 84 Portlethen Golf Club
Craig Chalmers (v) 84 Cawder Golf Club
Kenny Gunnyeon (v) 85 Murcar Links Golf Club
Mr Alan Holbrook (v) 85 Murcar Links Golf Club
Craig Stephen (v) 85 Aboyne Golf Club
Duncan Raitt 85 Murcar Links Golf Club
Neil McKinnon (v) 85 Murcar Links Golf Club
Josua Jamieson (v) 85 St Andrews Golf Club
Ryan Campbell (v) 85 Falkirk Golf Club
Jordan Shaw (v) 86 Boat of Garten Golf Club
Andy Campbell 86 Murcar Links Golf Club
Kevin Duncan 87 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Jeff Wright (v) 87 Forres Golf Club
Fraser Milne 87 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Liam Balneaves (v) 88 Greenacres N. Z.
Mr Iain Taylor (v) 88 Stonehaven Golf Club
Aodan P Donnelly (v) 88 Murrayfield Golf Club
Lewis Bain (v) 88 Musselburgh Golf Club
Scott Green 89 Meldrum House Golf Club
Stephen Roger (v) 89 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Sam McNeil (v) 89 Aboyne Golf Club
John Ross (v) 90 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Sean Lawrie (v) 91 Portlethen Golf Club
Varun Varadharajan (v) 92 Royal Burgess
Jack Walker (v) 92 Fraserburgh Golf Club
Ryan Walsh (v) 92 Kirkcaldy Golf Club
Stuart Connell (v) 94 Inverness Golf Club
Cameron Johnstone (v) N/R Northern Golf Club
Liam Chambers (v) N/R Cardross Golf Club
Sam Griffiths N/R Duff House Royal Golf Club
George Paterson (v) N/R Northern Golf Club
Ross G S Bell (v) N/R Downfield Golf Club

EARLY BIRD FOWLER MISSES BAD WEATHER TO LEAD SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN

FROM STEVE TODD

European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Australian Peter Fowler fired a superb six under par 66 before the rain came down at Fairmont St Andrews to surge into the lead in the second round of the SSE Scottish Senior Open.

The 2011 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner benefited from a 7.20am tee time, finishing before the worst of the weather arrived on the Fife coastline, as he shot three strokes lower than anyone else in the field to move to five under par 139.

He will take a one shot lead into the final round, ahead of England’s Peter Mitchell, Spaniard Santiago Luna and Irish pair Denis O’Sullivan and  Philip Walton, with the latter the only other player to break 70 with a three under par 69.

“I hit the ball well today,” said Fowler, who finished third in the SSE Scottish Senior Open in 2011 and sixth in 2010. “They moved a few tees up because of the weather and I was driving it well, so I had a lot of short irons in. When it rains up here and is cold the ball doesn’t go anywhere. The greens were perfect today though.”

Fowler, who started on the tenth tee, began with a birdie on his opening hole before picking up three shots in a row before the turn to move up the leaderboard, having started the day in a share of 37^th position.

His run came after he sank a 10ft par putt on the 15^th, with a superb 40ft birdie putt on the 16^th igniting his round. The 54 year old then holed a ten foot birdie putt on the 17^th and two putted from the back of the green on the par five 18^th,   before his only bogey of the day came on the third hole.

He hit straight back with consecutive birdies on the fourth and fifth holes, rounding off a magnificent performance with a further birdie on the last hole.

The former BMW International Open winner had a knee operation at the start of the year, but is slowly returning to form after finishing sixth in last month’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Birkdale and he admits that links courses are to his liking.

“I played well in the Senior Open this year,” said Fowler, who is chasing a third Senior Tour victory. “I like the firm fairways because it rewards good shots off the tee. If you hit a low one you can still get it to run, even into the wind. I like that and you have to analyse it. It’s good fun.”

Walton, who secured the winning point for Europe in the 1995 Ryder Cup, has yet to record a top ten finish on the Senior Tour after turning 50 last year. He carded five birides in his round of 69, while compatriot O’Sullivan, who at the age of 65 is chasing his eighth Senior Tour title, signed for a level par 72 to stay on four under par. 

O’Sullivan’s playing partner Luna, who is playing in his first season on the Senior Tour, admitted he struggled during the worst part of the weather, but he showed plenty of resolve to card a one under par 71. 

“For a Spaniard, that was very tough,” he said “Normally in this weather, we stay at home. I’m really happy though because I played very steadily and made some putts. I kept my head on the course, when it was easy to lose it.

“For someone like Denis O’Sullivan, who I played with, it’s not so bad playing in this, but for me it is tough! It was difficult to know what clubs to use, so I’m pleased with my round.

“I’m in a good position too. I will have an opportunity tomorrow. I’m really enjoying being on the Senior Tour. I was on The European Tour for 26 years and the last couple I was playing with the youngsters, and I felt like I was playing a different golf course. Now I’m playing with my own people, so it is great to be back in contention.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell is also enjoying being back at the sharp end of the leaderboard after winning the SSE Scottish Senior Open title in his rookie season in 2008 at the tournament’s previous venue, the Marriot Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club.

“It was horrific out there today and it felt like a grind and a battle, so I just stuck in there and it was great to finish a couple under for the day,” said the Englishman, who posted a 70. “It was a gutsy round and I was pleased to hang in there.

“It’s nice being in contention again. I’ve started playing well again this week. In the Pro-Am I was five under so I’ve showed some good signs.

“I’ve not been practising much as I’ve been busy elsewhere, but my short game is holding up. I’ve hitting the ball nicely though and I wouldn’t be surprising if I went out tomorrow and won. I’m playing that well.”

When Mitchell won the title five years ago he beat former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance by two shots, and Torrance is also in contention again after a level par 72 kept him three shots off the pace in a share of eighth place.

Torrance, an 11-time Senior Tour winner, is hoping for one more victory before he turns 60 next Saturday.

“I’m not quite playing as well as I was when I was 50,” said Torrance. “I did yesterday though. I think there is another win in me. At least one more.”

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

 

139 P Fowler (Aus) 73 66

140 P Mitchell (Eng) 70 70, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 68 72, P Walton (Irl) 71 69, S Luna (Esp) 69 71

141 S Tinning (Den) 71 70, M Martin (Esp) 68 73

142 S Torrance (Sco) 70 72, T Price (Aus) 71 71, R Gibson (Can) 72 70

143 K Spurgeon (Eng) 69 74, N Job (Eng) 73 70, G Brand (Eng) 71 72, P Golding (Eng) 73 70, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 72 71, P Wesselingh (Eng) 71 72, B Longmuir (Sco) 70 73, S Brown (Eng) 71 72

144 M James (Eng) 72 72, J Harrison (Eng) 71 73, A Franco (Par) 71 73, A Oldcorn (Sco) 72 72, M McLean (Eng) 71 73, G Ryall (Eng) 74 70, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 73 71

145 A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 74, C Williams (RSA) 72 73, R Drummond (Sco) 73 72, G Norquist (USA) 75 70, M Cunning (USA) 73 72, A Fernandez (Chi) 72 73, B Cameron (Eng) 73 72, P Smith (Sco) 72 73, R Thompson (USA) 70 75, M Farry (Fra) 72 73,

146 P Eales (Eng) 74 72, J Spence (Eng) 68 78, J Bruner (USA) 73 73, D Smyth (Irl) 71 75, P Curry (Eng) 74 72, P Way (Eng) 73 73, I Woosnam (Wal) 74 72, G Manson (Aut) 68 78

147 P Linhart (Esp) 71 76, B Lane (Eng) 73 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 73 74, J Gould (Eng) 71 76, A Murray (Eng) 75 72

 148 D Hospital (Esp) 72 76, T Elliott (Aus) 74 74, H Buhrmann (RSA) 75 73

 149 W Grant (Eng) 73 76, G Ralph (Eng) 69 80, S Cipa (Eng) 71 78, T Thelen (USA) 75 74, E Darcy (Irl) 69 80

 150 M Belsham (Eng) 76 74, D Durnian (Eng) 75 75

 151 S McAllister (Sco) 74 77, S Bennett (Eng) 72 79, T Johnstone (Zim) 75 76

 152 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 74 78, A Sherborne (Eng) 79 73, J Quiros (Esp) 74 78, C Mason (Eng) 75 77

 153 J Laforce (Can) 73 80

 154 J Chillas (Sco) 76 78, J Carriles (Esp) 77 77

 155 M Piñero (Esp) 75 80, D Russell (Eng) 78 77

 159 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 77 82

 160 D James (Sco) 75 85

 ** G Banister (Aus) 74 WD

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

REES WINS NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIOR OPEN

Glyn Rees, 66-year-old two-handicapper from Fleetwood, Lancashire, won the North of Scotland Senior Open at Cruden Bay.
Rees had rounds of 73 and 72 for a five-over-par total of 145 (CSS 74-72). He won by a shot from three players - Tony Patterson (Sunningdale) 76-70, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) 72-74, and Barry Brooks (Murcar Links) 72 74
Ian Morrison (Royal Aberdeen), playing off three, and Glyn Rees, jointly had the best net aggregate of 141. Morrison had net rounds of 73-68, Rees 71-70.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIOR OPEN
Cruden Bay
LEADING FINAL SCRATCH TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70) CSS 74 72
145 Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 73 72
146 Tony Patterson (Sunningdale) 76 70, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) 72 74, Barry Brooks (Murcar Links) 72 74
146 Ian Morrison (Royal Aberdeen) 75 73
148 David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 74 74, James T Johnston (Northumberland) 75 73
149 Nick Robson (Meldrum House) 78 71
151 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 78 73, Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 78 73, Andrew Ironside (Fraserburgh) 76 75
152 David Taylor (Dunfermline) 78 74, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) 74 78
153 David Gillespie (Turnhouse) 81 72, Kenny Gardiner (Lethan Grange) 76 77, Keith Bruce (Edzell) 75 78, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 75 78, Jalil Aman (Grangemouth) 75 78
154 Alasdair Macgregor (Newmachar) 78 76, John T Johnston (Lanark) 78 76, Scott Macdonald (Dunfermline) 77 77

LEADING NET TOTALS
141 Ian Morrison (Royal Aberdeen) (3) 73 68, Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) (2) 71 70
142 James T Johnston (Northumberland) (3) 72 70.

CHANGE IN SELECTION POLICY FOR EUROPE'S RYDER CUP CAPTAIN

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

The European Ryder Cup Captain, from the 2016 contest onwards, will be decided by a select five-man panel; it has been announced by Ryder Cup Europe.

 

The 15-strong Tournament Committee of The European Tour – led by Chairman Thomas Björn – decided upon the change at their last committee meeting, held during the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, a decision which has since been ratified by the Board of Ryder Cup Europe.

 

It means the change will come into effect for the identification of the successor to the current captain, Paul McGinley, for The 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.

 

The composition of the five man panel will be as follows: the three previous Ryder Cup Captains – for the 2016 selection that means McGinley himself, José María Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie – the Chief Executive of The European Tour, and one representative from the Tournament Committee, to be nominated beforehand by the committee itself.

 

It also means that the timing and venue of the announcement for the 2016 Captain will be determined by Ryder Cup Europe and announced in the early part of 2015.

 

Europe’s Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills said: “This decision has come after a series of Tournament Committee meetings and, after much reflection, it was felt that this change would see the most suitable candidate being invited to follow on from Paul McGinley at Hazeltine.

 

“The job of Ryder Cup Captain is an ever expanding and ever demanding role, and I think this decision perfectly focuses the three vital ingredients required in any selection process.

 

“These are: the immediate experience of the three past Captains which brings six years of vital knowledge to the table; the office of the Chief Executive of The European Tour, which outlines the wide-ranging political and practical requirements; and the Tournament Committee representative who will, having canvassed his colleagues on Tour, bring the feelings and wishes of the players to the discussion.”

 

Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the Professional Golfers’ Association, said: “With the expertise of three Ryder Cup Captains, as well as representation from The European Tour’s Tournament Committee and Chief Executive, we believe the new process to select Europe’s Captain is the best way forward. 

 

“The Ryder Cup continues to grow and evolve, and we hope this new process will enable the European Team to continue the success they have enjoyed in recent years.”

 

This will be the third process used to select The Ryder Cup Captain since players from Continental Europe joined the fold for the 1979 contest, under the captaincy of John Jacobs, at The Greenbrier in West Viriginia.

 

From then until 1997, when the late Seve Ballesteros led Europe to a memorable 14½-13½ victory in his homeland at Club de Golf Valderrama, the European Ryder Cup Captain was chosen by the Ryder Cup Committee, who selected Jacobs again in 1981, Tony Jacklin in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, and Bernard Gallacher in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

 

However, in 1999, Mark James was the first European Captain to be nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee and ratified by the Ryder Cup Board, a process which went on to select Sam Torrance (2002), Bernhard Langer (2004), Ian Woosnam (2006), Sir Nick Faldo (2008), Colin Montgomerie (2010), José María Olazábal (2012) and Paul McGinley (2014).

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey | GU25 4LX | UNITED KINGDOM

Tel:  +44 (0)1344 840400

Email: media@europeantour.com

Twitter: @European_Tour

Facebook: European Tour

Web: www.europeantour.com

 

THE EUROPEAN TOUR. CELEBRATING GOLF. WORLDWIDE.

 

FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD IN SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN

                Jamie Spence in action.  Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c)

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR PRESS OFFICER

European Senior Tour rookie Jamie Spence took advantage of the par fives on the back nine at Fairmont St Andrews to share the first round lead with Gordon Manson, Miguel Angel Martin and Denis O’Sullivan in the SSE Scottish Senior Open.

Spence, a two-time winner on the European Tour, is playing in only his fifth event on the Senior Tour after turning 50 in May, and he used the windy conditions to his benefit to birdie the tenth, 12^th and 18^th holes on the way in for a four under par opening round 68.

Encouraged by his tied 14^th finish in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Birkdale last month, Spence admits he is still ‘testing the water’ after six years away from the competitive game.

But there was plenty more cause for optimism for the Englishman, after he built on the foundations laid by front nine birdies on the second and fifth holes.

“I didn’t play great but I really took advantage of the par fives on the back nine,” said Spence, whose only bogey of the day came on the 15th. “The wind changed direction from the pro-am, so I got it on in two on all of the pars fives and had tap-ins for birdies. I think I can play better and probably shoot worse, so I’m happy.

“Most people can’t wait to get to 50 but I hated it. I still do. But I ‘m enjoying playing some competitive golf again and it’s nice to do well.”

Mason also birdied all of the par fives after the turn on the Torrance Course, as well as the par four 14th, dropping his only shot of the day on the 17th.

After finishing tied fourth last year and tied tenth in 2011, the Home of Golf once again appears to be bringing out the best in Manson, who was born in St Andrews but plays under the Austrian flag having lived there for nearly 30 years.

“Coming back here is great,” he said.” I’ve had a tenth place and a fourth, so it seems to suit me. I like the area obviously. I’m from here and I’ve still got family here, so it seems to inspire me when I come back. I was born in St Andrews and I visited family last night, so I feel comfortable here. I feel good in the place and relaxed, so I think it helps my game.

“I’ve been steady this season and played some good stuff. I’ve had some good rounds but I’ve just missed some putts. The odd three putt or a poor shot out of a bunker has cost me this year. But I’ve played some really good stuff and I’ve been trying to be patience. Today it came together for a good round of golf.”

With strong winds forecast for Saturday, there will be a two-tee start at Fairmont St Andrews from 7am, and the conditions could prove to the liking of Spaniard Martin, who carded five birdies in his round of 68.

“I’m happy with my form and the last few weeks I’ve played well, but not scored too well,” he said. “I finished fourth in Germany two weeks ago and I feel like I’m hitting it even better this week.

“I love playing in the wind too. I hit the ball really low so it suits my game. I’ve no problem with the wind at all. When I came here and saw it was going to be windy I hoped it would help me.”

Irishman O’Sullivan managed to keep the bogeys off his card and profited from an ‘outrageous’ chip in from 40 yards off the back of the 15^th green, before a birdie on the last to join the other three pacesetters on four under par.

“I’ve been playing well recently but not putting well,” he said. “I’ve been messing about with putters and on Sunday I tried one with a thicker grip and it seems to have done the trick. I didn’t three putt once today.

“When I was first on the Senior Tour the holes seemed like buckets, but the last couple of years I’ve struggled. This new putter helped me today. I saw Jason Dufner was using one in the US PGA Championship and there are few guys starting to use them.”

Another Irishman, former Ryder Cup player Eamonn Darcy, is a further shot back on three under par following a 69, and he is joined by English pair Kevin Spurgeon and Glenn Ralph, the 2009 champion, and Spaniard Santiago Luna, who eagled the last hole.

Former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance, who redesigned the course at Fairmont St Andrews, signed for a round of 70 and is the joint leading Scot with Bill Longmuir in a share of ninth place alongside American Robert Thompson and 2008 champion Peter Mitchell. Swede Anders Forsbrand, the defending champion, is a further shot back after battling back from a double bogey five on the par three 11^th to card a one under par 71.

  FIRST ROUND SCORES

  Par 72

 

68 M Martin (Esp) , G Manson (Aut) , J Spence (Eng) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) ,

 69 S Luna (Esp) , E Darcy (Irl) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , G Ralph (Eng) ,

 70 R Thompson (USA) , P Mitchell (Eng) , S Torrance (Sco) , B Longmuir (Sco) ,

 71 A Forsbrand (Swe) , J Gould (Eng) , S Brown (Eng) , S Tinning (Den) , T Price (Aus) , P Wesselingh (Eng) , J Harrison (Eng) , M McLean (Eng) , A Franco (Par) , P Walton (Irl) , P Linhart (Esp) , S Cipa (Eng) , D Smyth (Irl) , G Brand (Eng) ,

 72 P Smith (Sco) , M James (Eng) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , S Bennett (Eng) , R Gibson (Can) , C Williams (RSA) , D Hospital (Esp) , A Fernandez (Chi) , A Oldcorn (Sco) , M Farry (Fra) ,

 73 J Laforce (Can) , B Lane (Eng) , M Cunning (USA) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , W Grant (Eng) , R Drummond (Sco) , P Golding (Eng) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , P Way (Eng) , B Cameron (Eng) , J Bruner (USA) , N Job (Eng) , P Fowler (Aus) ,

 74 I Woosnam (Wal) , P Curry (Eng) , G Ryall (Eng) , P Eales (Eng) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) , T Elliott (Aus) , G Banister (Aus) , S McAllister (Sco) , J Quiros (Esp) ,

 75 G Norquist (USA) , D James (Sco) , M Piñero (Esp) , H Buhrmann (RSA) , T Johnstone (Zim) , D Durnian (Eng) , A Murray (Eng) , T Thelen (USA) , C Mason (Eng) ,

 76 M Belsham (Eng) , J Chillas (Sco) ,

 77 J Carriles (Esp) , N Ratcliffe (Aus) ,

 78 D Russell (Eng) ,

 79 A Sherborne (Eng) ,

 

 

Steve Todd

Press Officer

European Tour