Wednesday, August 28, 2013

FLETCHER LEADS FOG-HIT EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

NEWS RELEASE
Connor Fletcher holds a one-stroke clubhouse lead after shooting a seven-under-par 65 in the WPT Championship at The Oxfordshire, but the first round will not be concluded until Thursday morning after heavy fog caused a near two-hour delay to the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event.

Daniel Aldridge and George Woolgar are one behind on six under in the clubhouse, with Stiggy Hodgson and Will Roebuck shooting 67s for five under and tied fourth.
Leading Scot is Glasgow's Paul Shields in joint sixth place on 68.
Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) is joint 32nd on 71, a shot ahead of Paul Doherty (T44)

Fog delayed the start of the event by 20 minutes but play was halted for a further one hour 35 minutes when the fog came back down at The Oxfordshire.

Fletcher - based at Chart Hills, a sister course of The Oxfordshire – began his round on the tenth tee, but actually played the course in its usual format as the nines have been switched for this week’s tournament.

He was one under at the turn but came home in 30 thanks to an eagle at two and birdies on the third, fourth, sixth and seventh.

“I like the style of the course,” he said after his round. “I like long courses; they suit my game a bit better. Every hole here looks good to me.

“I can hit it a fair distance. My long irons are pretty good, I played some long irons pretty close and holed the putts to get a good score.

“It is my first year as a pro. I have played a few EuroPro events but haven’t made a cut yet. I didn’t feel like I was playing to seven under, so I want to keep doing what I am doing for the rest of the week.”

Aldridge shot an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for his 66 and shares second place with Sweetspot Classic winner Woolgar  who shot eight birdies but dropped shots on the tenth (his first) and the seventh.

Twenty-seven players will conclude their first round at 7am on Thursday, with the second round commencing as scheduled at 7:30am.

Entry to the 54-hole event is free throughout the week, and Sky Sports HD will film Friday’s final round for a highlights programme to be shown four times on Wednesday, September 11. 

LEADERBOARD 
Par 72 
65 Connor Fletcher (England)
66 Daniel Aldridge (England), George Woolgar (England)

SCOTS' SCORES
68 Paul Shields (T6)
71 Shaun McAllister (T32)
72 Paul Doherty (T44)
75 Jordan Findlay (T91)
76 Zack Saltman (T105)
81 Gavin Dear (T144)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE


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DEVON STUN TYKES TO LEAVE ENGLAND BOYS' TITLE CHASE WIDE OPEN



Image Danny Guy copyright Leaderboard PhotographyOn a day when winners became losers and losers became winners, it is anyone’s guess who will become 
England boys' county champions after the event was turned on its head at Kedleston Park. 
Devon, beaten on the opening day, responded by beating Yorkshire 5½ - 3½, while Staffordshire, also losers in round one, hit back by upstaging Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands by the same score.
That means there is everything to play for on the final day tomorrow (Thursday) when, depending on the results, the title could be decided on countback of game points and there is only one separating all four counties.
After Devon followed up their 2-1 foursomes success by also winning the singles, their captain Graham Moore said: “The boys have exceeded my expectations today. After yesterday’s defeat, I couldn’t criticise them because they are all very young.
“But we had a meeting to boost their confidence and they came fast out of the traps this morning and it could have been 3-0.
“The foursomes have been our downfall in the past but we are more settled now and the boys stuck to our game plan and got their rewards.”
The defeat is a blow to Yorkshire but they can be depended on to come back hard in their final match against Hampshire.
Gary Brown, their captain, was gracious in defeat. “We didn’t play our best today and Devon deserved to win,” he said. “We will need an exceptional day tomorrow and need to come out with all guns blazing.”
That was what was expected in the singles after Yorkshire went into lunch a point behind. But Devon stood their ground and Jacob Tinsley gave them the best start with a 2 and 1 win over Ben Brewster.
However, Kealan Lowe replied for the Tykes by beating Tom Trowbridge by 1 hole after being 4-up after ten, but Danny Guy (image © Leaderboard Photography) stormed to a 5 and 4 win over Sam Wilkinson to put Devon on the brink of victory.
A half by Robbie Thompson against Bradley Hudson meant they couldn’t lose while further halves from Harry Konig and Ollie Cowl against Jack Kelley and Ben Hutchinson respectively gave Devon their success.
In the other match, Staffordshire came back from losing the foursomes 2-1 to take 4½ points from the six singles.
Robert Burlison led from the front by beating Tommy Donaldson 5 and 4 while Gianmarco Petrozzi got home by 5 and 3 against the previously unbeaten Mason Banger.
With Daniel Sutton completing a 2 and 1 win over Jordan Sundborg, the Staffordshire surge was on. Billy Watson gave Hampshire a lift with a 5 and 4 victory over Peter Booker but with Cameron Long getting home by one hole against Ryan Harmer the Midlanders’ victory was assured.
The final game brought a half between Harrison Quirk for Staffordshire and Josh Oddy to leave one of the closest Boys' Finals ever.
Hampshire captain John Moore was naturally disappointed. “I am a bit disappointed after winning yesterday,” he said. “But we didn’t quite click today when we needed to get off to a good start.”
Staffordshire skipper Mike Tunnicliffe said: “The boys played to their known potential. There is everything to play for but we need to find some more points from the foursomes because you can’t expect to win so many singles each time.”
For more information visit the championship website.
Press Office
England Golf
pr@englandgolf.org
01526 354500

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FISHER HOPING FOR FIFTH EUROPEAN TOUR WIN AT RYDER CUP VENUE


                       
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Ross Fisher returns to the scene of one of the greatest moments of 

his career for this week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open, where he is 

hoping to turn his impressive recent form into a fifth European Tour 

victory.

The Englishman was a member of the European team which 

clinched a dramatic victory in The 2010 Ryder Cup at The Celtic 

Manor Resort, outside the city oF Newport. 

Fisher won two points playing alongside Ireland’s Padraig 

Harrington as Colin Montgomerie’s men claimed a 14½ - 13½ 

victory over Corey Pavin’s USA team, so it is no wonder he is glad 

to be back on the hallowed turf of the Twenty Ten Course this 

week. 

“It’s nice to be back in Wales and a sunny Wales this time, so 

hopefully we'll get four good days of sun,” said the 32 year old.
“It’s always nice to be back at a place that holds such fond memories, after The Ryder Cup in 2010 and coming close to winning here last year. I’m delighted to be back in the UK and looking forward to a good week.”
While Fisher has not been able to add to his four European Tour titles since his Ryder Cup debut, he has been on stunning form this season, finishing in the top 35 in all of his seven European Tour appearances thus far.
He will be hoping to hit the ground running as the race for The Ryder Cup begins in Wales this week and maybe go one better than last year, when he led at the midway point of the tournament before entering the final round one shot off the lead en route to a tie for sixth place.
“I really like the golf course and have really fond memories,” he said. “After last year it would be nice to get my own back on it a little bit. I will be out there trying to put in another strong performance this week.
“I feel like the course suits my game and I feel comfortable on it. I like the way the greens roll. Having been away from Europe so much this year, it's nice to be back and playing some good golf.”
The 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley will strike the first tee shot in the race for the Gleneagles showcase next year as he plays in the first group, alongside 2012 Challenge Tour Number One Espen Kofstad and 2012 Qualifying School winner John Parry.
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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DAVID LAW LEADS NORTHERN OPEN BY THREE AT HALFWAY





                    
DAVID LAW LEADS BY THREE AT
HALFWAY IN NORTHERN OPEN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
David Law, winner of the title as an amateur two years ago, came storming home in six-under-par 29 for the second day in a row to surge three strokes clear of the field at the halfway stage of the Northern Open, sponsored by AVC Media, at Meldrum House Golf Club, Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire.
With rounds of 63 and 65 over the par-70 course, the 22-year-old former Scottish amateur kingpin, who plays out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, is on the 12 under par mark.
Late finisher Law dislodged overnight leader and fellow Aberdonian Scott Henderson who, despite a return of his putting problems, had led for several hours on nine-under 131 after following up an opening 62 with a 69.
"It was slightly more difficult today. There was a one-club wind on certain parts of the course that made it tricky and explains why the overall scoring was not quite as good as on Tuesday," said David who has two or three wins under his belt as a professional - but not in the United Kingdom.
"I led the Northern Open by two shots after three rounds when I won the title in 2011. To lead by three after two rounds is fine but it won't make any difference to my game plan. I still have to go for the birdies.
"I made a slow start today and was one over par after nine holes with bogeys at the fourth, sixth and ninth cancelling out birdies at the first and fifth.
"But I stayed patient, knowing that the birdie chances on the inward half had still to come. And I was able to take them."
Law birdied the short 10th, the long 11th, the 13th, the short 15th, the long 16th and the 17th.
"I left one in the jaws at the last  but I can't complain about 29 shots for an inward half."
Henderson, winner of the Northern Open in 1996, lost the putting touch he thought he had recaptured in the first round. He missed some three or four-footers early on, which did not do his confidence with the flat stick any good, and he three-putted three times later on
"Apart from failing to hole some short putts, basically, I failed to take advantage of the three par-5 holes, the fifth, the 11th and

16th, all of them birdie chances, but I could only par them all," said Henderson.
His four birdies came at the sixth - a tap-in putt - the eighth - he was able to hole out from 3ft at this one - the 15th, where he holed his best putt of the round, from about 20ft, and the 17th where he sank a 6ft putt.
Sharing third place at halfway on 133 are defending champion James Byrne (Banchory) (67-66) and Panmure's Andrew Crerar (68-65)
Byrne felt it was not one of his better ball-striking rounds so he was quite pleased to come off with a four-under-par round.
"Even a year ago, I might have become quite frustrated out there but I am a little bit wiser and older and I just kept calm and waited for things to work themselves out," said James.
Crerar birdied the long fifth, the short sixth, the long 11th, the 12th, short 15th and long 16th with only one bogey, at the ninth in a 65
The race for the leading amateur trophy, the Bookless Cup, is a straight fight between the new Scottish amateur champion Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) and Cawder's Jamie Savage,recent winner of the East of Scotland Open.

Culverwell is on 138 after rounds of 71 and 67. Savage is a shot behind after scores of 66 and 73. Savage, 19, had 37 putts in the second round.

Scottish PGA champion Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), like Henderson and Byrne for that matter, a former Northern Open title winner, got "in the mix" with a five-under 65 for 134.
"I'm rueing that double bogey 7 at the 16th in the first round but six birdies and one bogey was not a bad day," he said.
"I changed the shaft in my driver between rounds and I think that helped"
Hutcheon's birdies came at the second, the eighth, the 12th and then a closing three in a row from the 16th.
His only bogey was a 6 at the 11th where, by his own admission, he took too much club for his approach, went through the back and finished up three-putting.
Hutch felt better after a 20-footer dropped for a birdide at the 12th.
Former PGA Cup player Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), who had a 65 in the first round improved to nine under par when he reached the turn in 31 but it all went pear-shaped for the 50-year-old over the last seven holes.
He bogeyed the 12th, short 15th, 17th and short 18th, with only one birdie, at the 13th, in an iwnard half of 38.
STATS
A total of 38 players with 36-hole totals of one-over-par 141 and better qualified for tomorrow's final 36 holes.
There were 25 first-round scores under 70 - and the same number under 70 again in the second round.
Lowest score in the first round was eight-under 62. Lowest scores in the second round were 65s, achieved by David Law, Chris Kelly, Stephen Gray, Andrew Crerar and Greig Hutcheon.

THERE WILL BE A TWO-TEE START TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH ROUNDS OF THE NORTHERN OPEN

THIRD ROUND TEE TIMES
FROM TEE ONE 
8.00 Fraser Mann and Paul Wardell
8.09 Stephen Lamb and Kenny Hutton 
8.18 Mark Loftus and Alexander Culverwell (am)
8.27 David Orr and David Patrick
8.36 Stephen Gray and Greg McBain
8.45 Christopher Currie and Robert Arnott
8.54 Greig Hutcheon and Jonathan Lomas
9.03 Graham Fox and Chris Kelly.
9.12 James Byrne and Andrew Crerar
9.21 Scott Henderson and David Law.
FOURTH ROUND
Add 4hr 45min to the third round tee times.
12.45 Mann and Wardell
12.54 Lamb and Hutton
1.03 Loftus and Culverwell (am)
1.12 Orr and Patrick
1.21 Gray and McBain 
1.30 Currie and Arnott
1.39 Hutcheon and Lomas
1.48 Fox and Kelly
1.57 Byrne and Crerar
2.06 Henderson and Law.


SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
+38 players with totals of 141 and better qualified for
Thursday's final two rounds.
128 D Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 63 65
131 S Henderson (Kings Links) 62 69
133 A Crerar (Panmure) 68 65, J Byrne (Banchory) 67 66
134 C Kelly (Cawder) 69 65, G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 64 70, J Lomas (Caprington) 67 67, G Hutcheon (Banchory) 69 65, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 65 69
135 C Currie (Caldwell) 68 67,  G McBain (Gamola Golf) 68 67
136 S Gray (Hayston) 71 65
137 D Orr (Mearns Castle) 69 68, D Patrick (Kingsfield) 66 71, M Loftus (Mearns Castle) 70 67
138 A Culverwell (Dunbar) (am) 71 67, K Hutton (Downfield) 68 70, S Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona) 72 66
139 P Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 67, F Mann (Musselburgh) 69 70, G Brown (Montrose Links) 70 69, P Walker (Ballumbie Castle) 71 68, M Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 68 71, G Paxton (Ralston) 70 69, C Ronald (Carluke) 69 70, J Savage (Cawder) (am) 66 73
140 M King (Kingsfield) 70 70, P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 71 69, C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) 69 71, J Cliff (Murrayfield) 68 72, C Russell (RAW golf course design) 70 70
141 J McKinnon (Irvine) 71 70, J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 72 69, I Donaldson (Meldrum House) 71 70, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 67 74, R Dixon (Renaissance) 70 71, C Lawson (Wellsgreen) 71 70, J Savage (Cawder) (am) 66 73, P McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 69 72
MISSED THE CUT
142 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 74 68, D Kay (Dunbar) (am) 73 69, M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 70, G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) 70 72, S Herald (Mearns Castle) 68 74, R King (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 71 71
143 K McNicoll (Gullane) 73 70, Colin Robinson (Prestonfield) 72 71, J Fraser (Renaissance) 70 73
144 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 74 70, Christopher Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey) 72 72, P Wilson (Cawder) 70 74, G Watson (Meldrum House) (am) 71 73, N Robson (Meldrum House) (am) 69 75, J Duff (Newmachar) (am) 71 73, C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 69 75
145 R MacLeod (Clydeway Golf) 73 72, A Duncan (Elgin) 73 72, C Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 73 72
146 P Lovie (P1 Corporate) 70 76, R Rushford (Swanston New) 77 69, P Robinson (Largs) 71 75, J Porteous (Craigielaw) 72 74, F Cromarty (Castle Stuart) 70 76, G Law (Uphall) 73 73 
147 M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 76 71, D Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co) 72 75, C Tierney (Airdrie) 76 71, S Aird (McDonald Ellon) 73 74, J McGhee (unatt) 72 75, C Everett (Caldwell) 74 73, C Lutton (Dubai) 71 76
148 S Savage (Dalmuir) 77 71, K Baxter (Buchanan Castle) 78 70
149 C McMaster (Panmure) 81 68, C Tortolano (Gleneagles) 75 74, S McLaren (Blairgowrie) 77 72, R McConnachie (Peterculter) 71 78, A Munro (Musselburgh) 79 70, B Mason (Callaway Golf) 74 75, A Cooper (Newmachar) 78 71
150 C Smith (Royal Musselburgh) 75 75, N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 77 73, A Sorrie (Meldrum House) (am) 73 77, C Beveridge (West Kilbride) 72 78, J Ramanauskas (Gullane) 74 76, J Gallagher (Douglas Park) 73 77, J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 76 74
151 D Wood (Hirsel) 79 72, G Nicolson (Mortonhall) 75 76
152 J Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 78 74
153 T Poyser (Renaissance) 78 75, D Williamson (Kirkhill) 74 79
154 A Weir (Montrose) 84 70, P Brookes (Pitreavie) 77 77, C Coull (Meldrum House) (am) 81 73, D Laing (Craigielaw) 80 74
155 Michele Thomson (Ellon) 78 77
156 C Campbell (Trump International) 79 77, G Oxton (Roxburghe) 81 75
159 J Stephen (Aberdour) 82 77 
168  M Mackenzie (Edzell) 85 83
No Return - N Huguet (Musselburgh) 74 NR
Disqualified - C Knowles (Panmure)

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FIVE NEWCOMERS IN ENGLAND U16 BOYS TEAM TO PLAY WALES




England have named five players new to international team golf in its eight-strong squad to face Wales in the annual under 16 international at Oswestry Golf Club on Sunday 1st September.
The newcomers are Will Enefer (The Wrekin, Shropshire & Herefordshire), Chris Handy (South Moor, Co Durham), Louis Lazarus (Romford, Essex), Jamie Li (Bath, Somerset) and Matthew Myers (Northants County, Northamptonshire).

The other three members of the team are Lewis George (Delamere Forest, Cheshire), Harry Hall (West Cornwall, Cornwall) and Herman Loubser (Mount Murray, Isle of Man).

Enefer (image copyright Leaderboard Photography) is the Shropshire & Herefordshire boy and youth champion. He finished tied fourth in the Midland Regions Schools Championship and equal sixth in the English Boys under 16 Championship for the McGregor Trophy.

Handy was the leading individual in the Northern Group Boys Qualifying and finished joint third in the North Region Schools Championship. He also represented England Golf in the recent RB German Junior Championship.

Lazarus finished fifth in the McGregor Trophy and equal 14th in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters.

Li lost a three-way playoff for the Carris Trophy, the English Boys under 18 Championship, at West Lancs, beaten at the second extra hole by fellow West Countryman Ben Amor, while he was also 18th in the McGregor Trophy.

Myers is following his older brothers Andrew and Adam into championship golf having finished tied tenth in the McGregor Trophy.

George and Hall made their England debuts in last year’s under 16 international with Wales. George finished tied seventh in this year’s McEvoy Trophy, while Hall was equal 14th in the English Boys under 18 Championship for the Carris Trophy. Loubser, the latest talent to emerge from the Isle of Man, was equal fourth in the English Boys under 14 Championship for the Reid Trophy at North Hants having been equal ninth in the Northern Group Boys Qualifying. He also won both his games in the recent under 16 international with Spain.

The match with Wales will consist of four morning foursomes and eight singles.
 
:
Lynne Fraser
Marketing and PR Manager
pr@englandgolf.org
01526 354500

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DAVE THOMAS DIES IN SPAIN

Sad  news from Spain that Dave Thomas died in hospital in Estepona last night.
Dave was a former  Ryder Cup player, a former PGA captain and a top-class golf course designer.
Up in the North-east of Scotland he designed the two courses at Newmachar.
Dave had been ill for some time.


FROM BILLY SIM, Craibstone GC general manager
Who knew Dave Thomas well
Dave Thomas was a great player , course designer and nice person.
I worked with Dave on various projects all over Europe and got know him and his family very well over many years and  worked with his now course designer son Paul Thomas who is very proud to be following in his father's footsteps.
Dave had the game of golf in his heart and designed some stunning courses all over the world .
His memory for those he met worked with  and played golf with in his lifetime was immense.
I enjoyed many a glass of Rioja with him, listening to these stories.
I will miss these times. Dave was just a really nice man.
His funeral will take place at Manilva Cremetorium Estepona Spain of Monday 2nd Sept at 1.30pm thereafter to the San Roque Club Sotogrande which he also desinged.



Billy Sim
Golf Manager.
Craibstone Golf Course,


David Thomas – Ryder Cup Golfer and Renowned Golf Course Designer
 1934 - 2013

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Dave Thomas, who has died, aged 79, was a four-time Ryder Cup golfer who followed an illustrious playing career in which he twice finished runner-up in The Open Championship by becoming a renowned designer of more than 100 courses.

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady, who presented Thomas with Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour earlier this year, led the tributes: “Dave became a household name in the 1950s and 1960s when he helped to build the game in Britain and all over the world. He was a larger than life character, a truly great guy, and our condolences are with his partner Carol and Dave’s sons Michael and Paul.

“Wherever The Tour has travelled from Britain to the Continent to the Rest of the World we have played on courses designed by Dave and both as a player and an architect he leaves a lasting legacy to the game he truly loved.”

Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the Professional Golfers’ Association, said: “I am very sad to learn of the passing of Dave Thomas. He was the proud Captain of The PGA in our Centenary Year of 2001 and everyone would agree he was a legend of the professional game. He was always great company and a kind and gentle man.

“I feel a great privilege to have shared many enjoyable times in his company when he would enthral me with great stories from his life in golf as we enjoyed a glass of red. He will be very sadly missed by me and all who knew him.”

Thomas, born and raised in Newcastle, turned professional in 1949 when he watched some of the game’s great champions including Fred Daly, Max Faulkner and the legendary Sam Snead competing in The Ryder Cup at Ganton in Yorkshire, England, which left such a lasting impression that he was determined as a player to aspire to the same standards.

Ten years later Thomas made his Ryder Cup debut at Eldorado Country Club in California against Cary Middlecoff, three times a Major Champion, and Snead himself and with Harry Weetman halved their foursomes.

He would play in three more Ryder Cups with the last in 1967 at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, where he partnered a young Tony Jacklin in all four fourballs and foursomes, earning 2 ½ points, before halving his match with Gene Littler in the singles.

Thomas, who was elected to The Welsh Sports Hall of Fame (WSHF) in 2002, represented Wales 11 times in the World Cup of Golf between 1957 and 1970 and, following his win in the 1955 British Assistants, he captured more than 20 titles including the Belgian Open (1955), the Dutch Open (1958), the French Open (1959) and the PGA Match Play (1963).

In 1958 Thomas tied the Australian Peter Thomson for The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, losing the 36-hole play-off, and in 1966 at Muirfield he finished tied second with Doug Sanders one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus.

Thomas was recognised throughout his career for his long, straight driving – in 1967 during a practice round for The Open Championship at Hoylake he hit a drive onto the green at the 420 yards second hole.

After arthritis brought a premature end to his playing career, Thomas immersed himself in his other great passion of golf course designing. Together with Peter Alliss, he designed The Belfry’s famous Brabazon Course on which The Ryder Cup was played in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002.

His CV also includes De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland where GB and Ireland will play the United States in the PGA Cup in September,  St Leon Rot, a European Tour Destination Course in Germany, where Europe will defend the Solheim Cup in 2015, the Roxburgh in Scotland, San Roque in Spain, Cannes Mougins, La Baule and Terre Blanche in France and courses in Africa, China, Japan, South America and Taiwan.

Former Ryder Cup golfer John O’Leary, Ambassador of Buckinghamshire Golf Club and a lifetime friend of Thomas, said: “I first met David at Little Island Golf Club in Cork in 1969 and from that day until this I, along with so many other people, received his wonderful generosity of spirit towards life. David’s passing is a huge loss to everyone around the world who knew, loved and respected him. The legacy that David leaves is immense.”

Brian Huggett, who partnered Thomas in representing Wales in the World Cup of Golf on three occasions and played on two Ryder Cup teams together, said: “He was a great friend and a lovely man. I remember playing with him in the World Cup in 1969 in Singapore and we came to 250 yard par three where he was the only player in the field who could reach. There was a hole-in-one prize of two first class tickets round the world and some spending money and sure enough he holed his tee shot. On the flight home he simply asked if I minded if he kept the two tickets but would give me £1,000. There was never any discussion about splitting the prize, and I hadn’t even considered it but just shows the generosity of the man.

“He really was a fantastic player – one of the longest hitters and there was nothing like watching his drives soaring way in his heyday. He was also one of the first pros to become a first class course designer around the world and he was very proud of that. Everyone who knew him will miss him.”

Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour from 1975 to 2004, said: “The legacy of David Thomas is unique in that of the modern British professionals he has twinned championship play with a quantity and quality of golf course designs that will endure as long as the game is played. David was the ultimate gentle giant.”

Thomas is survived by his partner, Carol and two sons, Michael and Paul. His wife, Robbie, and another son, Philip, predeceased him.

A funeral service will be held at the Manilva Crematorium on Monday, September 2, at 1.30pm and afterwards at the San Roque Club, Sotogrande, Spain. No Flowers. Donations to the PGA Benevolent Fund c/o David Wright, The PGA, Centenary House, The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 9PT

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

TRIBUTE FROM PETER ALLISS
 
“The death of David Thomas closes  a major chapter of my life, both on and off the golf course.
“We met in the mid 1950s and remained friends until his passing.  We played hundreds of rounds together in exhibition matches and tournaments throughout the length and breadth of the world.  We travelled together.  Dare I say, we knew each other’s innermost secrets.  We designed over 50 golf courses together, though perhaps our partnership was rather forgotten over the latter years.
“He was good company and over indulged, certainly on good food and good wine.   How he lived to be 79 is a miracle of the human spirit.
“My thoughts are with Carol and boys at this sad time.   He leaves behind a big footprint which I’ve always been delighted to walk alongside.
“Rest easy old friend"
PETER ALLISS

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