Friday, August 30, 2013

GB AND I HAVE THREE-POINT LEAD IN JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY



         The four Scots in the GB and I line-up at the Jacques Leglise Trophy match

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R AND A

Great Britain and Ireland took a firm grip on the Jacques Leglise Trophy when they won four and halved one of the eight afternoon singles to lead the Continent of Europe 7½ - 4½ going in to the final day of the annual match at Royal St David’s Golf Club, Harlech in North Wales.
Peter McEvoy, the Chairman of The R and A Boys’ Selectors, was delighted with his team’s efforts but understandably cautious. “Both teams played well in difficult conditions and I’m happy with our lead,” he said. “But we take nothing for granted and I’m sure Europe will put up a fight tomorrow.”
After winning the morning foursomes 3-1, GB and I were quickly pegged back when Germany’s Dominic Foos won the first of the afternoon singles 8 and 7 against Ewen Ferguson and his morning foursomes partner, Italian Renato Paratore, won his match against the Carris Trophy winner Ben Amor 6 and 4.
At that stage there were six of the singles matches still out on the course and it looked bright for the Continent of Europe but then GB and I won four in a row.
Ireland’s Robin Dawson claimed his second win of the day when he beat Spain’s Ivan Cantero 4 and 3, England’s Marco Penge won 4 and 2 against Norway’s Kristoffer Ventura, Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil had a one-hole victory over Paul Elissalde from France, and another Scot, Connor Syme from Dumfries, defeated another Frenchman, Romain Langasque, 5 and 3 to open up a four point lead for the home side.
Spain’s Mario Galiano stemmed the tide for the European team when he holed a 25ft putt to halve his match with England captain Ashton Turner.
Then Germany’s Michael Hirmer claimed a vital third singles win for Europe in a tight match with Scot Robert MacIntyre.
MacIntyre was two up on no fewer than four occasions, the last time at the 13th. Hirmer, who was the runner-up in the recent Boys Amateur Championship, won the 14th and 15th with pars, however. They halved the 16th, then Hirmer holed a 40ft putt across the green to go ahead for the first time at the 17th, and they halved the 18th.
It was a big disappointment for recently crowned Boys Amateur Champion, Ewen Ferguson, in the opening singles when he lost the first nine holes to German number one Foos, and the match 8 and 7. 
 Foos birdied five, seven, eight and nine and, although he lost the tenth, he halved the 11th for a convincing victory.
Paratore was always in control against England’s Ben Amor. He won the second, third and fourth to go three up, then Amor pulled one back with a birdie at the fifth, but that was to be his only win. Paratore birdied the ninth, won the 12th when Amor conceded and won the match with a par at the short 14th.
Dawson, the Irish Boys’ Open Amateur Champion, claimed GB and I’s first singles point in a match which he led from the first with a winning par. 
A par was good enough to win the third and birdies at the fifth and eighth had him four up at the turn. Cantero pulled one back with a birdie at the 12th but Dawson won the 14th with a par and then closed out the Spaniard with a par at 15.
Fairhaven Trophy winner Penge was all square with Ventura after 11 but the English player won four of the next five holes with pars and took the match 4 and 2.
After losing the first hole, Connor Syme was in command against Langasque. He won the second with a birdie to get back to level and had three more birdies to be three up at the turn. He won the 11th with a par, lost the 13th to a par but then won the 14th and 15th with pars to take the match.
Neil, who represented Scotland in the recent Men’s Home Internationals, was two down after 11 against Paul Elissalde but won 12 and 13 with pars to get back to all square. He won the 17th when Elissalde got into trouble and then they both parred the 18th for the Scot to claim his second point.  
Turner was two up after five against Galiano, who won this year’s Copa Baleares, but the Spaniard pulled level by halfway.  He went one up at the 10th, lost the 11th to a birdie, went one up again at the 12th, but then lost the 13th. Turner, who won this year’s Bernard Darwin Salver, regained the lead with a winning par at the 14th but then had to concede at the 16th. 
Turner looked best placed to win when Galiano found a greenside bunker off the tee at the short 18th and splashed out to 25ft past the hole with his opponent 20ft away. But the Spaniard holed his putt and Turner had to settle for a half.
In the morning foursomes, Ferguson and Neil won 5 and 4 against Foos and Paratore; Moore and Dawson won by one hole against Ventura and Hirmer; and MacIntyre and Syme won 3 and 2 against Langasque and Manifacier. 
Galiano and Cantero notched up a point for the Europeans with a 4 and 3 win against Turner and Penge.
Tomorrow’s final day of the Jacques Leglise Trophy will see four morning foursomes and eight singles in the afternoon.
The foursomes draw (GB&I names first):
9.00am - Turner and Penge v Paratore and Foos
9.10 – Ferguson and Neil v Galiano and Cantero
9.20 – Moore and Dawson v Elissalde and Langasque
9-30 – MacIntyre and Syme v Ventura and Manifacier.
For live scoring from the match please visit championships.randa.org.

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THE NAME IS BOND - AND HE LEADS THE HANDA WALES OPEN


cid:image005.jpg@01CEA419.DFB96550                        cid:image006.jpg@01CEA419.DFB96550

 

REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS


Liam Bond took full advantage of a last-minute invite to soar to the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend at the ISPS Handa Wales Open as he aims to become the tournament’s first home winner.

The Welshman, who lives ten minutes from the famous Celtic Manor Resort and is the touring professional at the nearby St Pierre Golf Club, carded a solid three under par second round of 68 on a day when many struggled with the difficult conditions and tough pins.

One of those was first round leader Espen Kofstad, who sits in tied second place alongside Tjaart Van der Walt having followed up an opening 64 with a three over par 74. Meanwhile, the Norwegian’s playing partner and 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley moved into contention to win the first tournament of the points race to Gleneagles.

But it was Bond who stole the limelight and the 43 year old is now dreaming of a fairytale home victory having received a call the day before the tournament to accept an invite following a late withdrawal.

“I only found out I was getting in on Wednesday afternoon,” said the Southport-born professional. “I didn't have any time to over‑prepare like I have done in the past, I just turned straight up and played, and it has worked out well.

“I've been playing well all year. Since I lost my card in 2011, I've been playing regional golf and I've won three times there, so I feel like my game is still pretty good.

“It's my first tournament now for a year and a half, so it's nice to be in a position to do well.  I think the pressure's off really.  I'm not trying to grind out and keep my card, so I'm just trying to play and enjoy it.

“I played really nicely yesterday and it's nice to carry it on today. With it being so tough and windy, there is always a potential banana skin and you can drop a few early and you're in a bit of trouble. I've just been pretty steady.”

McGinley moved to within two shots of the lead on three under thanks to a two under par second round 69 and he was joined in fourth place by France’s Grégory Bourdy (73), Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello (68), Englishman Graeme Storm (67) and Peter Uihlein (70) of the USA.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) 

137 L Bond (Wal) 69 68

138 E Kofstad (Nor) 64 74, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 67 71

139 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 68, G Storm  (Eng) 72 67, P Uihlein  (USA) 69 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 67 72, P McGinley (Irl) 70 69

140 J Parry (Eng) 71 69, A Levy (Fra) 71 69,

141 R Rock (Eng) 68 73, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 70, R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 71, C Wood  (Eng) 66 75, J Luiten (Ned) 73 68, B Rumford (Aus) 72 69, J Edfors (Swe) 72 69, D McGrane (Irl) 70 71

142 S Chowrasia (Ind) 72 70, J Quesne  (Fra) 73 69, T Levet (Fra) 75 67, R Green (Aus) 66 76, C Cévaër (Fra) 70 72, R Fisher (Eng) 71 71, A Tadini (Ita) 70 72, M Foster (Eng) 67 75, A Hansen (Den) 71 71, C Doak (Sco) 72 70, P Waring  (Eng) 72 70, J Walters (RSA) 71 71, R Coles (Eng) 69 73

143 M Ilonen  (Fin) 69 74, A Marshall (Eng) 71 72, A Kaleka  (Fra) 71 72, R Enoch  (Wal) 73 70, B Koepka  (USA) 72 71, O Fisher  (Eng) 71 72, J Lara (Esp) 73 70, M Nixon (Eng) 72 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 70 73, C Paisley  (Eng) 74 69, S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 74,

144 M Kieffer (Ger) 69 75, P Hedblom (Swe) 72 72, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 74, D Higgins (Irl) 74 70, E Grillo (Arg) 68 76, M Tullo (Chi) 74 70, A Hartø  (Den) 72 72, C Lee (Sco) 77 67, A Snobeck  (Fra) 73 71, F Aguilar (Chi) 72 72, J Campillo (Esp) 71 73,

145 S Dyson  (Eng) 76 69, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 74, G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 70 75, M Jonzon (Swe) 71 74, P Erofejeff (Fin) 71 74, S Hansen (Den) 72 73, T Björn (Den) 72 73

146 E Pepperell (Eng) 77 69, A Dodt (Aus) 71 75, R Santos  (Por) 70 76, M Baldwin (Eng) 74 72, R Bland (Eng) 75 71, S Jamieson  (Sco) 74 72, G Maybin (Nir) 71 75, S Arnold  (Aus) 72 74, S Benson (Eng) 76 70, R Wattel  (Fra) 72 74, M Carlsson  (Swe) 72 74, J Lagergren (Swe) 74 72

 

MISSED THE CUT

 

147 T Olesen (Den) 74 73, G Havret  (Fra) 70 77, J Kruger (RSA) 74 73, S Strange (Aus) 76 71, L Gagli  (Ita) 76 71, K Horne (RSA) 70 77, C Lloyd (Eng) 75 72, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 74 73, J Olazábal (Esp) 71 76

148 A Cañizares  (Esp) 74 74, C Macaulay  (Sco) 70 78, G Boyd  (Eng) 76 72, S Hend (Aus) 76 72, J Sjöholm (Swe) 80 68, I Garrido (Esp) 74 74

149 S Kapur (Ind) 72 77, S Henry  (Sco) 71 78, P Price (Wal) 72 77, R Dinsdale (Wal) 75 74, S Thornton (Irl) 78 71, O Floren  (Swe) 77 72

150 S Webster (Eng) 74 76, A Forsyth (Sco) 76 74, S Khan (Eng) 80 70, P Meesawat  (Tha) 74 76, T Lewis (Eng) 71 79, F Zanotti (Par) 75 75, M Warren (Sco) 77 73, P Lawrie (Irl) 73 77, H Otto (RSA) 73 77, M Campbell (Nzl) 73 77, F Molinari (Ita) 73 77,

151 R McEvoy  (Eng) 73 78, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 74 77, M Madsen  (Den) 74 77, E Goya (Arg) 73 78, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 73 78, M Jiménez (Esp) 78 73, L Jensen (Den) 77 74, J Singh (Ind) 76 75, P Larrazábal (Esp) 74 77, B Åkesson (Swe) 76 75, M Lundberg (Swe) 76 75, A Sullivan (Eng) 79 72, M Southgate  (Eng) 75 76, D Clarke (Nir) 78 73, S Little (Eng) 73 78, R Karlberg  (Swe) 72 79, R James (am) (Wal) 76 75, D Boote (am) (Wal) 78 73

152 K Broberg (Swe) 72 80, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 75 77, J Morrison  (Eng) 77 75, D Willett  (Eng) 73 79

153 M Wiegele  (Aut) 78 75, J Gonnet  (Fra) 78 75

154 S Dodd (Wal) 79 75, N Fasth (Swe) 73 81, R Wallis (Eng) 71 83, G Orr (Sco) 81 73, D Fichardt (RSA) 79 75, A Quiros  (Esp) 77 77, G Wright  (Wal) 74 80

155 M Lampert (Ger) 80 75, Z Lam (Sin) 77 78

156 D Gaunt (Aus) 77 79

157 R Davies (Wal) 78 79, R Finch  (Eng) 80 77, M Moseley (am) (Wal) 77 80

158 M Delpodio  (Ita) 77 81

159 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 75 84, T Innes Ker (Sco) 78 81

160 P Whiteford (Sco) 76 84, D Brooks (Eng) 81 79

162 S Bebb (Wal) 84 78, C Del Moral (Esp) 79 83

170 M Kobayashi (Jpn) 88 82

** S Gallacher (Sco) 72 retired, L Slattery (Eng) 75 DQ, D Howell (Eng) 76 RT, R Gonzalez (Arg) 76 DQ, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 75 WD, M Lafeber (Ned) RT  0,

 

ENDS
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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DAAN HUIZING LEADS BY THREE IN NORTHERN IRELAND CHALLENGE

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS


Daan Huizing mastered the blustery, swirling winds that whipped around the Galgorm Castle Golf Club on Friday morning to establish a three shot lead at the halfway stage of the Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah and XJET. 

The young Dutchman, who reached Number Two on the Amateur World Rankings before turning professional, was in brilliant form as he posted a second round of five under 66 to move to 11 under for the week and into a three stroke lead over Sweden’s Jens Dantorp and Englishman Ross McGowan.


Despite the testing conditions, Huizing dropped just one shot on the first hole before producing a classy display of ball-striking and control to finish with three birdies in his last four holes to move clear of the field. 

“The conditions were quite tough but I actually enjoy playing with a breeze like that because it helps me to focus and allows you to shape the ball and try to use the wind to your advantage in some ways,” said Huizing.


“I am swinging the club well and playing with confidence at the moment so hopefully I can keep that going over the weekend and try to get my first win on the Challenge Tour.”


Dantorp and McGowan both carded second round of two under 69 to share second place on eight under, with four players – Marcus Armitage, Andrew McArthur, Bernd Ritthammer and James Ruth – a further shot back. 

The home challenge over the weekend will be led by young amateur Dermot McElroy and his professional countrymen Jonathan Caldwell and Mick McGeady, who all reached the halfway stage on five under.

McElroy played a lot of amateur golf with Huizing and is not surprised to see the 22 year old Dutchman flying high at the top of the leaderboard.

“The last two events I played with Daan he won them so I am not surprised to see his name up there," said McElroy. 
He won the Lytham Trophy and the St Andrews Links Trophy by miles and is just a quality player,” said McElroy after his second round 70.

“I played okay today – I hit the ball off the tee a lot better but I haven’t played as well as I usually can around here. Maybe I am just a little burnt out as I have played a lot of golf this summer, but hopefully I can make a move over the weekend.”

Caldwell and McGeady carded respective second round scores of 69 and 72 and will be looking to move into contention with a strong third round.

One man who won’t be making a move over the weekend is Michael Hoey. The five-time European Tour winner has been a fine tournament ambassador this week but after calling a two shot penalty on himself midway through his second round, the 34 year old could not get back inside the cut line as he ended the day with a five over 76 for four over par total.

Playing the 11th hole at Galgorm, Hoey found his ball in thick rough. “The ball moved a little bit in this thick clump of rough,” he explained.

“I hadn’t grounded my club so I didn’t think it was a penalty but then I spoke to my partners and they were saying even if you didn’t ground the club it might still be a penalty. I wasn’t too comfortable with that so I spoke to one of the referees a few holes later and he basically said it was my call and I was 70 per cent sure that I had to call the penalty on myself.
"It’s a disappointing way to end really but I gave it everything I could today and just couldn’t do enough to make the cut.”


SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)

131 D Huizing (Ned) 65 66

134 J Dantorp (Swe) 65 69; R McGowan  (Eng) 65 69

135 M Armitage (Eng) 70 65; B Ritthammer (Ger) 64 71; A McArthur  (Sco) 65 70; J Ruth  (Eng) 64 71

136 M Crespi  (Ita) 67 69; D Im (USA) 67 69; G Houston (Wal) 67 69; B Hebert  (Fra) 67 69; O Wilson (Eng) 66 70; D Stewart (Sco) 70 66

137 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 66 71; J Carlsson (Swe) 68 69; M McGeady (Irl) 65 72; N O'Briain (Irl) 67 70; J Caldwell  (Nir) 68 69; D McElroy (am) (Nir) 67 70

138 J Mikkelsen (Nor) 69 69; J Heath  (Eng) 67 71; J Guerrier  (Fra) 68 70; D Perrier (Fra) 68 70; H Porteous (RSA) 68 70; C Russo (Fra) 67 71

139 T Hatton (Eng) 67 72; B An (Kor) 68 71; P Widegren  (Swe) 67 72; D Vancsik (Arg) 69 70; N Lemke (Swe) 70 69; H Joannes  (Bel) 71 68; M Glauert (Ger) 70 69; N Dougherty  (Eng) 66 73; G Murray  (Sco) 67 72; A Johnston (Eng) 66 73; B Parker  (Eng) 68 71

140 N Kearney (Irl) 69 71; R Kakko  (Fin) 70 70; G Shaw (Nir) 68 72; R McGee (Irl) 70 70; V Riu  (Fra) 70 70; J Lima  (Por) 70 70; L Goddard  (Eng) 69 71; M Ford (Eng) 71 69; S Kim (SKor) 69 71; F Calmels  (Fra) 69 71; R Whitson (am) (Nir) 71 69

141 A Bernadet  (Fra) 71 70; J Barnes (Eng) 68 73; D Griffiths  (Eng) 68 73; G Stal  (Fra) 68 73; J Senior (Eng) 68 73; J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 71; R Steiner (Aut) 71 70; P Archer (Eng) 69 72; P Dwyer (Eng) 70 71; E Dubois (Fra) 72 69; T Nørret (Den) 66 75; S Walker (Eng) 71 70; M Murphy (Irl) 72 69; S Tiley (Eng) 70 71; J McLeary  (Sco) 66 75; N Ravano (Ita) 71 70 

MISSED THE CUT

142 D Dixon (Eng) 70 72; H Bateman (Nzl) 71 71; A Dunbar (Nir) 68 74; L Bjerregaard  (Den) 69 73; K Borsheim  (Nor) 73 69; C Moriarty (Irl) 69 73; T Remkes (Ned) 72 70; J Jeong (Kor) 69 73; T Sluiter  (Ned) 72 70; P O'Keeffe  (Irl) 74 68; N Elvira  (Esp) 74 68; L Richard (Bel) 72 70

143 B Paolini (USA) 71 72; K Ferrie (Eng) 70 73; O Farr (Wal) 71 72; P Maddy (Eng) 72 71; C Hanson (Eng) 74 69; W Besseling  (Ned) 68 75; J Glennemo (Swe) 70 73; R Kellett (Sco) 66 77; J Abbott (Eng) 76 67; T Murray (Eng) 73 70; P Figueiredo  (Por) 72 71

144 D Geminiani (Ita) 74 70; J Moul  (Eng) 74 70; J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 74 70; T Haylock  (Eng) 74 70; R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 72 72; P Edberg (Swe) 73 71; A Gee  (Eng) 75 69; J Doherty  (Sco) 68 76

145 L Corfield  (Eng) 74 71; N Quintarelli (Ita) 75 70; R Russell (Sco) 68 77; T Fournier  (Fra) 72 7

146 P Cutler (Nir) 74 72; C Brazillier  (Fra) 67 79; Å Nilsson (Swe) 69 77; R Kilpatrick (Nir) 74 72; A Domingo (Esp) 72 74; M Hoey  (Nir) 70 76; L Saltman (Sco) 73 73; F McGuirk  (Eng) 68 78; D Palm (Swe) 72 74

147 B McCarroll  (Irl) 75 72; M Haines  (Eng) 74 73; S Choi (Kor) 80 67; C Aguilar  (Esp) 72 75; H Santos  (Por) 77 70; J Elson  (Eng) 74 73; O Whiteley (Eng) 73 74; D Mooney (Nir) 71 76; S Franklin (Irl) 76 71; A Velasco (Esp) 72 75; J Gibb (Eng) 73 74;

148 S Piaget  (Mon) 77 71; D Wuensche  (Ger) 73 75; C Devlin (Nir) 71 77; J Frazer (Wal) 75 73; J Fahrbring (Swe) 74 74; J Maurer  (Aut) 72 76; D Kemmer (USA) 74 74

149 W Booth  (Sco) 72 77; D Coupland (Eng) 74 75; M Sell  (Eng) 74 75; E Saltman  (Sco) 75 74; S Forgan (Eng) 73 76; S Hutsby  (Eng) 72 77; S Campbell (Eng) 73 76

150 J Howarth (Eng) 74 76; F Bergamaschi (Ita) 74 76; D Rawluk (Irl) 74 76; R Weldon (Irl) 72 78

151 S Manley (Wal) 73 78; J Mommo  (Fin) 73 78; B Chapellan (Fra) 77 74

152 C Molloy (Irl) 73 79; P Oriol (Esp) 76 76; C Ford (Eng) 72 80; J Timmis (Eng) 77 75; F Praegant Aut) 73 79; T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 72 80; A Rota (Ita) 76 76; F De Vries  (Ned) 71 81;

153 S Ward  (Nir) 79 74; N Turner (Irl) 75 78; L Reilly (Nir) 74 79;

157 D Leathem (Nir) 81 76

158 A Perrino  (Ita) 78 80

160 S O'Hara  (Sco) 78 82

161 C Carroll (am) (Nir) 77 84

172 S Wilson (Nir) 86 86

** R Saxton (Ned) 76 retired

 

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MONTY IN THE SENIOR PICTURE AT HAPPY HUNTING GROUND

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Only an unfortunate bogey at the last stopped European Senior Tour rookie Colin Montgomerie from grabbing a share of the lead following an intriguing first round at the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn Golf Club. 
The eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winning Scot played an unblemished 17 holes before failing to get up and down from in front of the green at the par four last to finish a sunny, fine first day with a four under par 68, one shot shy of Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti, the 2004 Senior Masters Champion.
Also at four under following the first round was South African Steve van Vuuren, while the trio of former Ryder Cup Captain Mark James, Ireland’s Philip Walton and Englishman Andrew Sherborne all signed off with three under par 69s for a share of fourth place heading into the weekend at Woburn. 
With the Duke’s Course bathed in glorious sunshine, around 7,000 fans flocked to the venue which is this week hosting the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters for a 13th successive edition and Montgomerie, billed as the star attraction in just his third Senior Tour appearance, did not disappoint, firing four birdies in his first six holes to reach the turn in 33.
Driving superbly all day on the often narrow, tree-lined layout, a fifth gain of the day followed at the tenth to send Montgomerie top alongside morning starter Carbonetti, but seven straight pars preceded an unlucky conclusion as he bogeyed the last after missing his first fairway of the day at the 356-yard 18th hole.
 
“It could have been a lot better obviously,” said a philosophical Montgomerie. “I was five under after ten and didn’t make another birdie with two reachable par fives to come and it was the relatively easy 18th that I messed up.
 
“But it’s safe. You don’t win here in the first round, just get into a good position to move forward and that’s what I’ve done so all-in-all I’m quite satisfied.”
 
Montgomerie has had some excellent performances on the Duke’s Course over the years, having finished in the top ten on four occasions at Woburn in the British Masters between 1994 and 2000 and he said his straight-hitting had paid off once again.
 
“I think it is a golf course that suits my eye,” he continued. “I hit most fairways and if you do that then you usually score well around here.
 
“The conditioning of the course is superb, I’ve played here a dozen times or more and this is the best I’ve ever seen it.
 
Carbonetti, who nine years ago completed a two-shot triumph at Woburn in this tournament, played in the opening grouping of the day and negated the chilly early conditions with some accurate striking of his own to sign for a five under par 67.
 
The 60 year old missed only one fairway all day – at the 16th where he made his one and only bogey – while all his five birdies, including an excellent effort at the last, came from within ten feet.
 
He said: “I was straight down the middle all day long, it’s one of the best rounds I’ve ever had at Woburn.
 
“Nine years ago was by far the best tournament of my life and hopefully after that start I can hope to try to repeat that.”
 
Two-time Senior Masters winner Carl Mason is three off the lead following the opening exchanges after a two under par 70, while defending champion Des Smyth, also looking to complete a hat-trick of victories this week, struggled to find his best golf in a one over par 73.
 FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
 par 72
 
67 L Carbonetti (Arg) ,
68 S Van Vuuren (RSA) , C Montgomerie  (Sco) 
69 M James (Eng) , P Walton (Irl) , A Sherborne (Eng) 
70 J Spence (Eng) , R Drummond (Sco) , R Gibson (Can) , J Quiros (Esp) , C Mason (Eng) 
71 A Oldcorn (Sco) , T Thelen (USA) , J Bruner (USA) , P Golding (Eng) , J Rivero (Esp) , C Williams (RSA) , G Ryall (Eng) , M Martin (Esp) , G Norquist (USA) 
72 P Linhart (Esp) , M Farry (Fra) , I Woosnam (Wal) , S Brown (Eng) , T Johnstone (Zim) , M Cunning (USA) ,
73 P Jonas (Can) , M Harwood (Aus) , S Cipa (Eng) , S Torrance (Sco) , D Smyth (Irl) , B Cameron (Eng) , S Tinning (Den) , A Franco (Par) , S McAllister (Sco) ,
74 P Wesselingh (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , G Ralph (Eng) , M Kuramoto (Jpn) , R Thompson (USA) , G Manson (Aut) , P Fowler (Aus) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) ,
75 H Buhrmann (RSA) , T Elliott (Aus) , S Luna (Esp) , J Harrison (Eng) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , P Mitchell (Eng) , S Bennett (Eng) , P Curry (Eng) ,
76 G Banister (Aus) , P Barber (Eng) , N Job (Eng) , W Grant (Eng) , C Rocca (Ita) ,
77 T Price (Aus) , A Murray (Eng) , M Piñero (Esp) , D Hospital (Esp) , J Laforce (Can) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) ,
78 A Garrido (Esp) , B Stevens (Eng) , P Eales (Eng) , D Durnian (Eng) 
79 J Carriles (Esp) , J Gould (Eng) ,
81 M McLean (Eng) 
82 D James (Sco) 
85 V Garcia (Esp) 
 ** P Way (Eng)
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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SOUTH OF SCOTLAND AMATEUR ORDER OF MERIT


Positions after South Matchplay Championship

Position Player/Club Points Total
1 Neil Hamilton (Powfoot) 193.3
2 Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick) 163.3
3 Ross Murray (Southerness) 150
4 Connor Syme (Dumfries & County) 125
5= Duncan McNeill (Powfoot) 115
5= Scott Gibson (Southerness) 115
7= Michael Grunwell (Powfoot) 100
7= David Brodie (Portpatrick) 100
9 Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire County) 90
10 Dean Armstrong (Lochmaben) 80
11 Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) 70
12 Craig Hill (Pines) 60
13 Martin McNae (Lochmaben) 55
14 Clark Riddick (Southerness) 50
15 Andrew Kerr (Crichton) 43.3
16= Alan Birdsall (Dumfries and County) 40
16= Gary King (Kirkcudbright) 40
16= Iain Thomson (Powfoot) 40
19 Mark Nicoll (Dumfries & County) 35
20= Robert O'Keefe (Stranraer) 30
20= Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County) 30
20= Robbie McBeth (Pines) 30
23= Graham Findlay (Castle Douglas) 20
23= David Davidson (Kirkcudbright) 20
23= Malcolm Kirkwood (Kirkcudbright) 20
23= Jordan Magee (Stranraer) 20
23= Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County) 20
23= Steven Parker (Dumfries & County) 20
29 David McCreadie (Newton Stewart) 15
30= Connor Bennewith (Newton Stewart) 10
30= George Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) 10
30= Stephen Cairns (Southerness) 10

Next Counting Event: Lennox Trophy, 14th September

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CRAIGIELAW'S SHAUN McALLISTER IS TOP SCOT AT EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

Craigielaw's Shaun McAllister earned £625 as the highest placed Scot in joint 12th place at the PGA EuroPro Tour event, the WPT Championship at the Oxfordshire Resort.
McAllister had rouns of 71, 70 and 68 for a total of seven-under-par 209 - four shots behind play-off participants from England, William Harrold and George Woolgar.
Woolgar won the play-off to take the £10,000 jackpot prize with Harrold receiving £5,000.
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) tied for 16th place on 210 with rounds of 72, 69 and 69. He earned £429.
Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) earned £355 for a joint 24th place finished with scores of 72, 71 and 69 for 212.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill), the last of the four Scots who survived the 36-hole cut, finished joint 37th on 215 with scores of 68, 74 and 73.
He earned £247.

LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
205 George Woolgar (Eng) 66 66 73, William Harrold (Sheringham) 69 64 72. Woolgar (£10,000) won play-off, Harrold (£5,000).
206 Greg Payne (Chobham) 70 71 65, Max Smith (Donnington Grove) 68 69 69, Tim Dykes (Penrith) 70 67 69 (£1,866 each).

SCOTS' SCORES
209 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 71 70 68 (T12) (£625)
210 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 72 69 69 (T16) (£429)
212 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 72 71 69 (T24) (£355)
215 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 678 74 73 (T37) (£247).

Chesterfield golfer first to win two events this season
NEWS RELEASE 
George Woolgar won a play-off at the end of a remarkable WPT Championship at The Oxfordshire to become the first 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour player to win two events this season.
The Chesterfield golfer looked to be cruising after extending his overnight lead to four shots but a bogey on 16, a double at 17 and a bogey on the 18th – achieved with a superb up and down – saw him conclude the tournament at 11 under, joining William Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) in a play-off.
Harrold had shot a final-round 72, level par, to remain at 11 under, while Woolgar shot a 73 to add to two rounds of 66.
The play-off took two plays of the 18th to complete, and Woolgar won with a par on the second play after Harrold bogeyed despite coming close with his birdie putt.
Woolgar claimed his second £10,000 winner’s cheque of the season, and a brand new Motocaddy trolley. He tops the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and is now almost certain to earn a Challenge Tour card, the reward for finishing in the top five at the end of the season.
“I was flying, a few under after the first nine and birdied one of the holes going in as well to go to 16 under for the tournament,” he said. “I don’t quite know what happened on the last few but you have to stay patient and I tried to do that and ended up coming out on top.
“On the last I thought I had to chip in to make par, it was a tricky shot but I had a chance. I have been putting well all week and that was the difference.
“I’m top of the Order of Merit now but it isn’t over until the fat lady sings as they say, anything can happen in the last few events. I just want to keep making cuts, get some more money on the board and then see what happens.”
Greg Payne (Chobham Golf Club), Max Smith (Donnington Grove Country Club), Tim Dykes (Penrith Golf Club) tied for third on ten under.
Highlights of the WPT Championship will be shown four times on Wednesday, September 11. The next 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose Golf Links, beginning Tuesday, September 25.

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BEMBRIDGE AND CURLE WITH PGA SUPER-60s tournament




Former Ryder Cup player Maurice Bembridge and his amateur partner, Michael Curle (pictured above by courtesy of Getty Images (c). won the PGA Super-60s 36-hole tournament at Thorpeness with rounds of 68, 68.
Bembridge collected £1,250.
Scots Graham Cant and amateur Jim Armstrong finished runners-up on 136 with rounds of 69 and 67. Cant collected £1,000.
And other Scot, Martin Gray, filled third place with amateur partner Nicol Wilson on the 138 mark. They had scores of 68 and 70 for a share of third place. Greay earned £683.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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Press Release

MAURICE REKINDLES MASTERS MEMORIES TO LAND PGA SUPER 60S TITLE
Maurice Bembridge displayed some of the shot-making skills that once saw him hold the course record at Augusta as he and lifelong pal Michael Curley captured the PGA Super 60s at Thorpness Hotel and Golf Club.
The former Ryder Cup ace reeled off three straight birdies from the first which helped them card a four-under-par 66 and secure a one-stroke victory in the £10,000 tournament.
Finishing in second on four-under-par were Northumberland-based pro Graham Cant and his Glasgow partner Jim Armstrong.
Host pro Frank Hill and the hotel chairman Tim Rowan-Robinson shared third at two-under alongside Martin Gray and Nicol Wilson and Hugh Jackson and James Clynch who picked up the Superb 70s for leading pair aged over 70.
First round leaders Lawrence Farmer and Roger De Courcey had to settle for tied sixth while the PGA pair of Phil Weaver and Sandy Jones posted the low round of the day with a six-under-par 64.
Bembridge, who is based in St Gallen, 50 miles from Zurich, revealed at 68 that he still has a passion to practise and it showed as he provided the platform for victory which earned him a first prize of £1,250.
“I like to play well, I play four times a week and hit balls and still work at my game although I don’t play in the rain,” said Bembridge who shot a 64 at Augusta in 1974 which stood for 12 years.
“Ben Hogan used to say if you stop trying to improve at this game then it’s time to dig yourself under.”
He added: “It’s always nice to win, it’s what you play for but it was quite a surprise to win at five-under. Everybody must have fallen down.
“The last six holes were difficult though.
“Michael came in with a very solid par at 11 when I made a complete hash of it from 10 feet and he came in a couple of other holes.”
Leicestershire-based Curley is no stranger to playing with golfing heroes having played with 76 Ryder Cup players in his time with one of his companies sponsoring  a Ryder Cup legends tournament.
But he admitted this victory was extra special for a couple of reasons.
“I first met Maurice 53 years ago when I joined Worksop Golf Club and he worked for David Snell as the assistant so to win a PGA national title, particularly partnering a friend, is such an honour it’s incredible.
“And it’s even more so as it has been won twice in the past by David (Snell) and Jack Timms who are close friends of ours.”
Cant and Armstrong signed for a closing 67 which included an eagle on the 322-yard par four first when the former Arcot Hall and Longhirst Hall pro holed a wedge from 120 yards.
“You can’t ask for anything better to get you going,” said Cant.
“We actually felt unlucky yesterday when I hit it to three feet and three putted so sometimes you feel that makes up for it.
“We combined well, we played what I call pro-am golf, birdie, bogey in and out and both contributed.”
Armstrong, who worked for John Letters golf clubs in its heyday in the 1960s when they supplied most of the leading European players, was delighted to finish second and enjoy the picturesque Thorpeness setting.
“The place is fantastic although it’s not easy to get to from Glasgow!
“But it was nice to play on a course that was burnt a bit, instead of soggy and wet. We played well in what were quite tricky conditions but I really enjoyed it and to finish second is terrific.”



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BERNARD GALLACHER IN "CRITICAL CONDITION" IN ABERDEEN HOSPITAL



                          BERNARD GALLACHER .... after-dinner speech at The Marcliffe Hotel
                                            Picture by courtesy of Getty Images
FROM THE BBC SPORT WEBSITE
Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher OBE is in a "critical" condition in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after collapsing with a suspected heart attack last night.
He was making an after-dinner speech at a Future Energy sponsored evening for invited guests at The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, Aberdeen.
The 64-year-old former No 1 on the European Tour is being treated in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian has confirmed.
Nephew Stephen, who withdrew from the Wales Open during today's second round with a back injury, said: "I understand that he is critical but stable.
"My family is in disarray at the moment and it is obviously a worrying situation. We are all anxious."

Bernard Gallacher celebrates the Ryder Cup win in 1995
Bernard Gallacher led Europe to Ryder Cup victory as non-playing captain in 1995
Gallacher,  is the father of three children, the most famous of whom is television presenter Kirsty.
George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said: "We are in touch with Bernard's wife, Lesley, and the Gallacher family and, obviously, we join with everyone in wishing Bernard a speedy recovery."
According to "The Press and Journal," Gallacher had driven from his home in Spain to Gibraltar frm where he had flown to London and then caught a flight to Aberdeen."
He was due to return by the same route on Friday.
Bathgate-born on February 9, 1949, Gallacher led Europe to victory over the United States in the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill 1995, having twice previously been losing captain.
He had also been a player in the competition eight times and won 10 tournaments on the European Tour and 30 worldwide.
Gallacher turned professional in 1967 and was attached to the Wentworth Club, Surrey. He was named the Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year the following season.
In 1969, he became the youngest winner of the prestigious PGA Championship at 20 years and 97 days.
That record stood until earlier this year, when Italian Matteo Manassero triumphed at Wentworth aged 20 years and 37 days.
Gallacher won the Scottish professional championship four times over a span of 10 years -
1973 at King's Links, Aberedeen.
1974 at Drumpellier
1977 at Barnton, Edinburgh
1983 at Dalmahoy.

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RENFREWSHIRE JUNIOR ORDER OF MERIT WINNERS


RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION

PRESS RELEASE



With only the Kilmacolm Junior Open left to play in the sixteen events which qualify for the Renfrewshire Golf Union’s Junior Order of Merit, it was a very close run contest with Sean Burns, pictured right, of Caldwell Golf Club having amassed 760 points and his nearest rival, Josh Beatt from Fereneze Golf Club, with 737.5 points.   
Both boys played well but Sean’s score of 74 for third place was enough to ensure that he takes the 2013 award.  Josh shot a respectable 77 and this meant that he held on to second place in the Order of Merit.  Fourteen year old Jack Currie (Greenock) was third.

In the under 15 section, it was also very close.  Old Ranfurly’s Jamie Stewart (pictured left) won his section of the Opens at Greenock, Renfrew and Fereneze and these points were enough to give him a 15 point lead at the end of the season from Aiden Wilson (Erskine).  In third place was Jack Currie of Greenock.












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LINK TO PGA SUPER-60s SCOREBOARD

FOR NEWS OF THE PGA SUPER-60s. TOURNAMENT AT THORPENESS HALL

CLICK HERE

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