Tuesday, September 10, 2013

YOU CAN JOIN THE DEBATE ABOUT WHY SO MANY GOLF
TOURNAMENTS, LONG ESTABLISHED, ARE FALLING BY
THE WAYSIDE

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JOHNSON BEATS RALSTON IN MID-AM PLAY-OFF



NEWS RELEASE
Despite a last round 83 over the Turnberry Kintyre course, Colin Johnson secured the Scottish Mid-Amateur Stroke Play title defeating John Ralston of Shotts GC on the second extra play-off hole.

Johnson had put himself 8 clear of the field after 36 holes with solid rounds of 72 and 69 and looked to have an easy task of securing the title and the World Amateur Golf ranking points that were available.  Johnson had just won his own club championship at Hainault Forest the weekend before the event and was obviously playing well.  He looked confident as he teed off on day 2 and looked to have the title in the bag with 9 holes to play as nearest challengers Ralston and Stephen Creed were not making much of a move.

Then some uncharacteristic errors from Johnson saw him drop a series of shots coming home to finish his final round with an 83 for a 54 hole total of 224.  Everyone thought that Johnson had done enough to edge out Creed who finished on 225 but Ralston was the seemingly forgotten man and he also finished on 224 to force the play-off.

Johnson and Ralston began their play-off on the Ailsa course and after a miraculous up and down from deep rough short and left of the first from Johnson the pair headed to the tricky second hole.  Ralston found a fairway bunker whilst Johnson found the green after a controlled tee shot down the right of the fairway.  Ralston played a brilliant shot to the front edge of the green just 15 feet from the flag leaving Johnson a tricky putt from 40 feet behind the hole.  Johnson rolled his put up to 4 feet and Ralston then left his first putt some 6 feet short.  Ralston then left his par putt tantalisingly on the edge of the hole and this gave Johnson 4 feet for the championship.  Johnson held his nerve and holed out for his first major Mid-Amateur title and the precious WAGR points.

“I am thrilled to win the Scottish title and especially over the links at Turnberry.  I played solidly for 36 holes but was a little nervous over the last 9 holes but glad I held on to win.  I’ve had a great 5 days of golf winning this title and my own club championship and couldn’t be happier as my two boys have been with me here in Scotland cheering me on.”

Johnson moves on to Sunningdale and the remaining events on the Mid-Amateur Golf Tour in the hope that he can continue his form and catch OOM leader Stephen Creed form Makstoke Park.

Mid-Amateur Golf is an organisation that runs golf events across the UK and also administers the Mid-Amateur Golf Tour Order of Merit and associated web site at www.midamgolf.co.uk

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PAUL McKECHNIE IN THE PICTURE AT WINDY MONTROSE

Sam Matton was the only golfer to complete his opening round under par on day one of the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters, after play at 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event was suspended for almost three hours due to the severity of the wind at Montrose Golf Links.
The Wiltshire golfer, based at Bowood Golf Resort, shot a one-under-par 70 and leads by one in the clubhouse from Steve Uzzell (Hornsea Golf Club). Marcus Armitage is one under in the field through 12 with four golfers level par and yet to complete their opening round.
Daniel Gavins (De Vere Oulton Hall) and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Centre), both winners on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour already this season, each shot 72 and are two behind leader Matton.
Play was suspended for two hours 56 minutes in the morning, with balls moving on the greens by over 15 inches in the high winds on Scotland’s east coast.
It means 42 golfers will have to complete their first round on Wednesday morning.
The second round will commence as scheduled at 7am, simultaneously with the conclusion of the first round.
Matton was two under for his front nine after birdies at five, six and eight and moved to three under with a three at the fourteenth. However, bogeys on 16 and 17 were his second and third of the round and he signed for a 70, the only player to break par for his first 18.
Uzzell recovered from a bogey-bogey start to sign for a level-par 71 thanks to birdies at eight, nine and 15 after he also bogeyed the 11th.
The tournament is a 54-hole strokeplay event with a cut to the leading 50 players plus ties to be made following the second round. Thursday’s final 18 will be filmed for a two-hour highlights programme to be broadcast four times on Sky Sports HD on Wednesday, September 25.
Spectator entry to the course is free throughout the week and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.

LEADERBOARD OF COMPLETED SCORES
70 S Matton (Eng)
71 S Uzzell (Eng)
72 D Gavins (Eng), P McKechnie (Sco)

OTHER SCOTS SCORES
73 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links)
76 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club)
77 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links)
78 Andrew Rollo (Moray)
80 Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie)
81 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Andrew Weir (unatt)
82 Ian Redford (St Andrews New)
83 Christopher Currie (Caldwell)



TO VIEW ALL THE COMPLETED AND UNCOMPLETED SCORES

CLICK HERE

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UPHILL STRUGGLE FOR BYRNE AFTER OPENING 77 AT KELSO

Repeating Northern Open champion James Byrne's hopes of making it through to the European Tour sooner rather than later took a knock today when the Banchory man shot a five-over-par 77 in the first round of the European Tour Qualifying School's 72-hole Stage 1 tournament at The Roxburghe course, Kelso
Only the leading 17 and ties at the end of four round will progress to Stage 2 in Spain.
Some Scots did well on the opening day. Former Scottish boys champion Paul Ferrier from Baberton and Scotland international James White (Lundin), playing as an amateur, are sharing second place on 69, one behind the English leader, Adam Wooton on four-under 68.
Steven O'Hara from Motherwell, back on the Q School treadmill, is lying joint 12th on 72, a shot ahead of Duddingston's John Gallagher and Clark Lutton.

LEADERBOARD
Par 72
68 Adam Wooton (Eng)
69 Paul Ferrier (Sco), Andrew Cheese (Eng), Mario Clemens (Mex), James White (Sco) (am), Matthew Daley (Eng)

OTHER SCOTS SCORES
72 Steven O'Hara (T12)
73 Clarke Lutton, John Gallagher (T21)
74 Scott Crighton (am) (T28)
75 Graeme Robertson (am), John Henry (T32)
77 KrisNicol, Paul Cormack, Philip McLean, James McGhee, Callum Trahan, Thomas Higson, James Byrne, Greg Duncan, Shaun McAllister (T45)
78 Joel Hendry (T60)
80 Blake John (T67)
81 Craig Sutherland (T70)
85 Ted Innes Ker (72nd).


Complete First Round Scored from Qualifying School First Stage Section A - Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf
 
65 G Schultes (Ger);
67 H Lipsanen (Fin); R Cazaubon (Mex); L Astl (Aut);
68 A Pavlov (Rus); A Hansen  (Den); U Weinhandl (Aut); A Engell  (Nor); K Samooja (Fin);
69 M Veijalainen (Fin); F Gustavsson (Swe); A Zemmer (Ita); J Billing (Swe); M Decott-Lafon (am) (Fra);
70 J Kim (Ita); F Praegant (Aut); J Scrivener (Aus); M Schneider (Ger); S Jeppesen  (Swe); O Zetterwall (Swe); D Lokke (Den); M Novy  (Cze); R Goger (am) (Aut); M Wolf (am) (Ger);
71 J Shepherd  (Eng); C Dennis (USA); S Matus  (Cze); C Lange  (Den); M Hansen (Den); J Steiner (Aut); A Pazzeschi (Ita); M Prihoda (Cze); N Wimmer (am) (Aut);
72 J Maurer  (Aut); B Neumayer (Aut); G Kotnik (Aut); R Han (Chn); K Svanum  (Nor); J Lupprian (Ger); O Lieser (Cze); D Mogensen (Den); R Gruber (Aut); K Ichihara (Jpn);
73 L Nemecz (Aut); W Schauman  (Swe); M Azcue (Mex); A Leitmannstetter  (Ger); S Wiedergrün (Ger); S Pitoni (am) (Ita); A Altuntas (am) (Tur);
74 T Mou (USA); J Agren (Swe); F Pogatschnigg (Aut); K Eriksson (Swe); N Viuff (Den); M Schachner (USA); S Kannler (Ger); S Whiffin (Eng); H Amin  (Aut); J White (Eng); P Oswald (am) (Aut);
75 M Amtkjaer (Den); N Thommen (Sui); B Reiter (Aut); S Cronin (Eng); J Quiros (Esp); A Funk (Can); S Fernandez (Arg); F Lagarto (Esp); S Wittmann (am) (Aut);
76 P Nic (Cze); J Orozco (Esp); C Cannon (Eng); L Tupa (Cze); W Rieder  (Aut); M Cantero Balbas (Esp);
77 C Schwierz  (Ger); A Lange (Ger);
78 M Eliasson (Swe); K Varli (am) (Tur);
79 R Hahn (Hun); N Lombardi (Ita); H Yamac (Tur);
80 M Mayrhauser  (Aut); T Toivo (Fin); M Carroll (USA); D Clarkson (Eng);
82 N Engel (Den);
83 A Werner (Den); F Mruzek (Cze); D Suchan (am) (Cze);
85 F Kök (am) (Tur);
89 G Steel (Eng);
 
Complete First Round Scored from Qualifying School First Stage Section A - The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course:
 
68 A Wootton  (Eng); 
69 M Clemens (Mex); M Daley (Eng); A Cheese (Eng); P Ferrier (Sco); J White (am) (Sco);
71 J Housby (Eng); A Wrigley (Eng); J Moul  (Eng); Z Scotland  (Eng); Z Blair (am) (USA);
72 D Mooney (Nir); T Hunt (Wal); B Fowles (Eng); S Archibald (Eng); P O'Keeffe  (Irl); P Eriksson (Swe); D Spalding (Eng); A Smith (Eng); S O'Hara  (Sco);
73 R Phillips (Eng); C Lutton (Sco); I Gregory (Eng); D Rawluk (Irl); G Wright  (Wal); J Bell (Eng); J Gallacher (Sco);
74 A Smith (Eng); S Ronold (Nor); J Westwood (Eng); S Crichton (am) (Sco);
75 J Henry (Sco); C Kresge (USA); S Reed (USA); J Chevallier (Fra); B Melton (USA); B Askew (USA); O Curry (am) (Eng); G Robertson (am) (Sco);
76 M Murphy  (Irl); J Barnes (Eng); R O'Neill (Eng); B Gielow (USA); C Corbin (am) (Eng);
77 G Duncan (Sco); P McLean (Sco); J Byrne  (Sco); K Nicol (Sco); C Trahan (Sco); P Cormack  (Sco); J McGhee (Sco); S McAllister (Sco); B McDonough (USA); T Higson (Sco); A Hogan (Irl); C Eberl (USA); B Herbert (Eng); C Cole (Wal); D Seymour (Eng);
78 O Franck (Swe); A Palmer (Eng); J Hendry (Sco); D Sugrue (Irl); M Staunton (Irl);
79 M Downes (Eng); R Crowe (Eng);
80 I Griffiths (Wal); B St John (Sco); M Ramsdale (Eng);
81 C Sutherland (Sco); G Murphy (Irl);
85 T Innes Ker (Sco);
86 A McCabe (Eng);
 
 

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GREAT ROUND BY NEIL FENWICK SPREADEAGLES CARNEGIE FIELD

Neil Fenwick shot one of the great rounds of the Tartan Tour season to lead the Carnegie Invitational by five strokes at the halfway stage of the 36-hole event over the Skibo Castle links courses in Sutherland in the North of Scotland today.
The Dunbar tour pro shot a seven-under-par 64 with a scorecard that included 10 birdies five of them 2s at short holes.
And Fenwick did not entirely escape the wind that made conditions very tough for the later starters. He had to contend with it over his last few holes but he was playing so well that he still managed to birdie the short 13th, long 14th, short 15th and 17th.
Fenwick had three bogeys in all - at the first 11th and 16th
His earlier birdies were achieved at the second, long third, short fourth, short sixth, seventh, short ninth - out in five-under-par 30.
Fenwick spreadeagle the field with Stephen Gray five shots back in second place on 69, in which he had three birdies in an outward 32 and another one at the 16th after bogeying the 12th and short 15th
Paul Lawrie, who is a member of the Carnegie Club, is in third place on 72 - eight shots off the pace.
The 1999 Open champion at Carnoustie birdie the long fifth but had a double bogey 6 at the 12th, dropped another shot at the 16th before finishing with a birdie 4 at the long 18th.
Tartan Tour Order of Merit and money table leader Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) could do no better than a six-over 77 after starting with a double bogey 6 and running up another one at the 17th in an inward half count of 40.

CARNEGIE INVITATIONAL
Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
64 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar).
69 Stephen Gray (Hayston).
72 Paul Lawrie (Carnegie Club)
74 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), Gordon Law (Uphall), Ronan Rafferty (Roxburghe).
75 Fraser Cromary (Castle Stuart)
76 David Thomson (Carnegie Club), Jamie Wales (Carnegie Club), Mark King (Kingsfield), Scott Henderson (Kings Links)
77 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Russell Smith (Renaissance Club)
78 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle)
79 Kenneth Hutton (Downfield)
81 Craig Ronald (Carluke)
82 David Reasoner (unatt)
86 Jack Bailey (Carnegie Club).

ends 

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HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

      WATSON TAKES MIDLANDS TROPHY

The annual Midlands Team Championship took place at Braehead last Sunday, with four areas competing for team and individual titles.  In the team event, with 7 scores counting from 8, Clackmannan finished third, 8 shots behind the winners Fife.

  FULL RESULTS
1 Fife, Perth and Kinross 500 (Fife win on better 8th score)
3 Clackmannan 508 (Scott Borrowman 69; Darren Hulston 81; Ross Benvie 73; David Milloy 75; Gary Chalmers 77; Davie Beaton 74; John McLaren 73; Allan Watson 67.
4 Angus   513.

There was success for County Match Play Champion Allan Watson (Braehead) when he took the individual title with a round of 67, winning on a better inward half from Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie).

 L to R: Jamie McEwan, Ryan Calder, Gregor McEwan, Scott Beattie, Rikky Alexander, Ryan Blyth, Brian McAdam.

 BRAVE TRY BY COUNTY BOYS.

  The County Boys team was in action at the weekend in the Gary Harvey Trophy held at Dunkeld and Birnam Golf Club.  Perth and Kinross won the title easily with wins over the three other areas who all shared the runner up spot. 
After losing to Perth and Kinross on the first day, the boys came out in determined mood and secured halves with Fife and Angus. Top undefeated County performers were the Boys Champions from Braehead: Rikky Alexander won all his matches, and Grant Murray won 2 and halved another.

FULL RESULTS
    CLACKMANNAN 2   PERTH&KINROSS   6
    (Clackmannan names first)

1.   R Alexander beat B Stephen (Pitlochry) 1 hole
2.   B McAdam lost to S Shackles (Murrayshall)       3/1
3.   G Murray halved with B Bannerman (Strathmore)
4.   G McEwan lost to S Young (Auchterarder) 1 hole
5.   R Blyth lost to R Stewart (Crieff) 5/4
6.   R Calder lost to C McGuigan (Comrie) 1 hole
7.   J McEwan lost to R White (Muckhart) 5/3
8.   S Beattie halved with G Stewart (Crieff)

 CLACKMANNAN 4 ANGUS 4

1.   Alexander beat R Dallas (Kirriemuir) 5/4
2.    McAdam lost to S Grant (Downfield) 6/4
3.    Beattie lost to John McKenna (Downfield) 2 holes
4.    Calder beat Josh McKenna (Downfield) 4/3
5.   Blyth lost to W Porter (Letham Grange) 3/1
6.    Murray beat D Grant (Downfield) 2/1
7.   G McEwan beat J Beedie (Montrose) 3/2
8.   J McEwan lost to F Soutar(Montrose) 5/4


      CLACKMANNAN 4 FIFE 4

1.   Alexander beat A McDougall (St Andrews) 4/3
2.   McAdam lost to A Fernie (Thornton) 2 holes
3.   Beattie beat A Miller (Canmore) 1 hole
4.    Calder lost to E Davidson (Charleton) 5/4
5.   Blyth beat R Thompson (Dukes)    2/1
6.   Murray beat C Campbell (St Andrews) 3/2
7.   G McEwan lost to R Brown (Dunfermline) 4/3
8.   J McEwan lost to G Cessford (Balbirnie)    5/3 


  This weekend the County under 16 boys are in action at Gleneagles in the Frank Thomson Trophy playing against Perth and Kinross and Fife.       

                    


                                                          

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ANOTHER LONG ESTABLISHED TOURNAMENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF ENTRIES

A sign of the times and changing values ... The Hands Across the Sea boys' tournament, to be be played at the Kings Links, Aberdeen, on Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of entries.
Many of the North-east of Scotland's leading golfers over the years played in the "Hands Across the Sea" which was regarded as one of the most prestigious junior events in Aberdeen.

On the female side, the Riccarton Rosebowl, an SLGA Order of Merit women's tournament  hosted by Hamilton Golf Club for many years, was cancelled last Sunday ... again because of lack of entries.
Other women's events that have fallen by the waywide over the years include the Ness Trophy at Inverness and the Mary Macallay Trophy at Dumfries.


If anybody has any views on this trend all over the country, send them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

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ROYAL PORTHCAWL IN LINE TO BE ADDED TO OPEN VENUE ROSTER

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
Wales may soon be in line to host to its first Open Championship. The R and A will inspect Royal Porthcawl next month to decide whether the famous links is capable of staging the British major.
It was always assumed that the South Wales layout does not have the required infrastructure to be accepted on to the Open roster. But The Daily Telegraph has learned that, after talks with the Welsh Government, the club feels it could undertake the work which would be necessary to accommodate the crowds and hospitality. 
The earliest the tournament could be held at Royal Porthcawl is 2018.
The Porthcawl members have already given their blessing with 87.5  per cent approving the project in a poll. They were then informed that “the R and A will be visiting the club in October to assess the course as a challenge ... the ability to move spectators around ... the area required for tented village ... and the traffic implications from the M4”.
Next year’s Seniors Open is ­heading to Porthcawl and it was during the bid for that event when the Claret Jug was discussed. Wales is the only country never to have staged the Open; Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush having had the honour of 1951.
There has been plenty of talk recently about the Open returning to the County Antrim links but it is understood that as far as Royal Porthcawl is concerned, the financial backing of the Welsh Assembly could be all important.
Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, is keen to raise Wales’s profile as both a tourist and business destination and after the success of the 2010 Ryder Cup, he believes the Open would be the ideal vehicle. 
Royal Porthcawl has staged the Walker Cup, which is also organised by the RandA.























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