CHRIS CURRIE LEADS BY TWO IN SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Caldwell tour pro Christopher Currie will start Thursday's third and final round of the Scottish Golfers Alliance Championship at Nairn Dunbar with a two-stroke lead.
Currie shot a 71 over Nairn Dunbar in his second round today. With a five-under-par tally of 138, Currie is one of only three players under par with 18 holes to play.
His nearest rival is Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) on three-under 140 (71-69) and in third place is Neil Henderson (Renaissance) on 142 (68-74). 
Apart from being a former British boys' champion, Findlay also won the Scottish Alliance championship a couple of years ago when it was curtailed by bad weather.
Henderson, who spent four years on the US college golf circuit, is a former Scottish schoolboys champion.

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL ROUND AT
NAIRN DUNBAR
Par 143 (71 Fortrose and Rosemarkie; 72 Nairn Dunbar)
138 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 67 71
140 Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC) 71 69
142 N Henderson (Renaissance) 68 74
144 Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 73 71
145 Bryan Fotheringham (Inverness) 74 71
146 John Duff (Newmachar) 73 73

147 M Macdonald (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)  77 70, J Henry (Clydebank and District)  73 74.

153 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC)  81 72

154 S Mackie (Auchmill)  76 78

155 W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)  80 75.

156 L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie)  83 73, F Bisset (Banchory) 77,79  ,K Bruce (Edzell) 83 73, K Baxter (Buchanan Castle) 71 85, R Harrower (Boat of Garten)  79 77

157 B Nicolson (Auchmill)  81 76, A J Webster (Edzell)  78 79, K Thomson (Moray)  80 77 .

158 D Munro (Kingsknowe) 85 73

159  J Kinloch (Cardross) 80 79, B Webster (Edzell) 87 72, A Rothney (Ratho Park) 73 86, P Brookes (Pitreavie)  83 76, A Gall (Deeside) 82 77.

160 J Duncan (Newburgh) 82 78, B Stewart (Tulliallan)  83 77   

161 T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 73 88

162 R Stewart (Nairn Dunbar)  85 77, J White (Harrison)  86 76

163 A P Thomson (Inverness)  80 83, D Fleming (Portlethen) 85 78, J Smallwood (Affordable Golf)  86 77

164 A Cowie (Moray) 83 81, C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 89 75, G Wither (Lothianburn) 79 85, D Leslie (Northern) 78 86 

165 H Cowbrough (Muckhart) 78 87  

166 D Mitchell (Monifieth)  89 77

167 J K England (Moray)  84 83, A J Graham (Aboyne) 88 79

168 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) 85 83

170 P B Kinloch (Cardross) 87 83, H Roulston (Stonehaven)  91 79

SHANE LOWRY SEEKS TO REPEAT PORTUGAL MASTERS VICTORY

PORTUGAL MASTERS PREVIEW
 FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS 

 Shane Lowry is hoping to capitalise on his recent fine form to become the first player to successfully defend the Portugal Masters, which tees off on Thursday at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course at Vilamoura on the Algarve.
The Irishman captured his second European Tour title 12 months ago – his first as a professional – and has continued to impress this season with five top ten finishes, including a share of third place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on his last appearance. 
Lowry led on the back nine of the final round in St Andrews a fortnight ago, and despite not winning, he is taking the positives from another experience of being in contention. 
“It's just all about building experience and going from there,” said the 26 year old. “You learn to be comfortable when you see your name on the leaderboard on a Sunday afternoon. It's hard to not get ahead of yourself and not think about winning. 
“I gave myself a great chance. I'm playing quite well recently, so I'm coming here in good form and really looking forward to this week.
 “I feel like I've been pushing to win tournaments this year, and I just learn from every week and one of these weeks when I give myself a chance, I'm sure I'll pull it off.” 
Ryder Cup stars Paul Lawrie, Martin Kaymer, Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari are in a star-studded field for the €2million event, as is Englishman Tom Lewis, who won the title two years ago on only his third start as a professional. 
The Portugal Masters is the penultimate event on the International Schedule before the Final Series, so those players outside the top 110 in The Race to Dubai will be looking for a strong performance in order to retain their playing rights for 2014.

HEATHER STIRLING TAMES WILD WIND AT CRAIGIELAW TO SCORE SECOND WIN ON PAUL LAWRIE LADIES' TOUR

         Heather Stirling ... The most consistent player on the Paul Lawrie Ladies' Open Tour
                               Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former Scottish women's amateur champion and past Curtis Cup player, Heather Stirling scored her second win on the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour in very windy weather at Craigielaw links, East Lothian today.
Despite gusts of over 30mph, 10 of the field managed to break 80, which represents good scoring and supports the view that the Paul Lawrie Tour, in its augural season, has played its part in raising the standard of the professionals who have supported it.
Heather caddies over in Florida during the winter but the rest of the time she is based at Dairsie, Fife to be close to St Andrews where she is also a professional caddie.
She makes more money caddieing than playing golf - at the moment - but a £725 top prize at Craigielaw with a one-over-par round of 72 is not to be sniffed at.
She won the tour event at The Duke's at the end of August and has been the most consistent player on the circuit, which is the reason why she is leading the Order of Merit going into the Tour championship, over 36 holes at Marriott Dalmahoy on Thursday and Friday.
Stirling bogeyed the fourth but birdied three of the first five holes - the first, second and fifth - which was a morale-boosting start in such tough conditions. 
Out in two-under-33, she dropped shots at the 10th, 13th, 15th and 17th into the teeth of the wind but she did add one more birdie, at the 16th, which, in the final analysis, was her tournament-winning hole.
Stirling won by a single stroke from another past Curtis Cup player and record-breaking Scottish girls champion, Vikki Laing from Musselburgh. Vikki earned £400 for a 73 in which she had a dream start of eagle 2 at the first and a birdie 4 at the long second. 
Then the wind blew her to bogeys at the third, sixth, eighth, 12th, 14th and 15th before she birdied the short 17th for halves of 35 and 38.
Kelsey MacDonald finished third on 74 and won £300.

SCOREBOARD
Par 71
72 Heather Stirling (Dairsie) £725.
73 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) £400
74 Kelsey MacDonald (Robert Rock Academy) £300.
75 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) £200.
77 Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie GC), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), Michele Thomson (Ellon) £93 each; Charlotte Austwick (Fulford) (am) £93 voucher.
78 Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie)
79 Emma Fairnie (Gullane)
81 Martine Pow (Selkirk), Lisa Shervill (2doSport).
83 Pamela Feggans (Doon Valley), Abbey Gittings (Walmley).
87 Gemma Webster (Elie SC), Daisy Dyer (Chigwell), Eileen Cooper (Newmachar) (am).
89 Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) (am)
94 Nichola Ferguson (Milngavie).

NICOL AND STEWART DOWN THE FIELD IN SARDINIA TOURNAMENT

Kris Nicol is lying joint 45th and Michael Stewart 56th after the first round of the Alps Tour's Is Molas Open at Circolo Golf Club on the island of Sardinia, Italy.
Nicol shot a one-over-par 73 with birdies at the fou4rth, 10th and 15th but bogeys at the second, sixth, seventh and 13th in halves of 37-37.
Michael Stewart's 74 included an eagle, a double bogey and four late bogeys in halves of 36-38.
Leading the field is England's Ben Evans with a seven-under-par 65.

LAW LEADS THEN TWO BOGEYS PUSH HIM BACK TO RUNNER-UP FINISH

David Law birdied six of the first 11 holes to lead the Dubai Open by a shot with seven to play ...but bogeyed the 13th and 17th to finish second to Zane Scotland at Al Abdia Golf Club today.
In his final round, the 22-year-old Aberdonian birdied the first, fourth, short sixth, long eighth and ninth, with a bogey at the long fifth, in reaching the turn in four-under-par 32.
At that point he was level with Scotland, who had a hole in one in his first round and birdied the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth to match Law's outward 32.
Law's sixth birdie of the day, a 2 at the short 11th, put him a shot clear of Scotland but there was a two-shot swing in favour of the Englishman when he birdied the 13th while Law bogeyed it.
Scotland, who finished with a bogey-free 67 for 13-under 203, parred his way in from there while the Scot bogeyed the 17th to fall two shots behind.
Law finished with a 69 for 205. Scotland's first prize in the $50,000 event was $9,000.
Englishman Jake Shepherd, leader by two shots overnight, dropped three shots over the last two holes for a 73 and fifth place.
Duncan Stewart was the second highest Scot in the final totals. The Grantown on Spey man finished with a 70 for 14thg place on 211 - four shots ahead of compatriot Tom Buchanan who had a 75 for 215 and a share of 26th place.
Rookie pros Fraser McKenna (72 for 216)  and Conor O'Neil (73 for 217) finished joint 29th and joint 34th respectively.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 Zane Scotland (Eng) 65 71 67
205 David Law (Sco) 66 70 69
206 William Harrold (Eng) 68 69 69, Roland Steiner (Aut) 68 68 70
207 Jake Shepherd (Eng) 65 69 73
208 Stephen Dodd (Wal) 72 70 66, Joshua White (Eng) 68 75 65.

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
211 Duncan Stewart 73 68 70 (14th)
215 Tom B uchanan 72 68 75 9T26)
2165 Fraser McKenna 73 71 72 (T29)
217 Conor O'Neil 72 72 73 (T34).
MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
148 Greg Nicholson 73 75
150 Ted Innes Ker 78 72
156 Clarke Lutton 77 79
166 Graeme Stewart 82 84

GREIG HUTCHEON REPEATS TARTAN TOUR DOUBLE WHAMMY

    GREIG HUTCHEON in action at the Northern Open
          Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Winning the Tartan Tour Order of Merit and money table two years in a row says a lot for the consistency shown by Banchory's Greig Hutcheon who had his 40th birthday on
March 29.
And Greig really believes he has still to reach his peak!
He has won the Scottish PGA Order of Merit five times since 2006 and has been first or second in the money-winners' table for the past four seasons.
"I'm chuffed to bits winning the order of merit this year. Especially as it gives me a tee time for the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen next year, an event which will be huge in the golfing calendar next year and nice to have it not far from home," said Greig.
"After a blether with Paul Lawrie I'm also understanding it will be an event graced with a lot more of the superstars as the dry Scottish summer led to extreme links golf conditions for the Open, which took many by surprise but not the likes of Mickelson and Stenson who prepared correctly by playing the week prior at Castle Stuart before Muirfield.
"I must thank Saltire Energy, Anderson Anderson and Brown and Thistle Windows for their support during this season. Also i must take this opportunity to thank all the companies , golf clubs and individuals who support the Tartan Tour throughout the season.
"We are very lucky in Scotland that the events allow many of us to keep playing the game we love while not holding a European Tour category. With the number of course records and great scoring we have had at Scottish events this past season, perhaps the Tartan Tour proves you don't necessarily have to be on Tour to keep your game in world class condition ... well, at least make cuts with the big boys."
Of course the season is by no means over for Hutch.
"I'm looking forward to heading to Turkey for the PGA playoffs in late November when Graham Fox, Chris Kelly and myself will compete for invites to European Tour and Challenge Tour events next season, including the flagship event, the BMW championship at Wentworth."
Hutcheon, who was introduced to golf as a boy by the late Banchory Golf Club pro, Douglas Smart, was once quoted as saying he felt he was not far off European Tour standard.
"I did make it to the European Tour twice when I was younger. Not having been a regular and never getting my world ranking inside the top 200 is disappointing.
"Nevertheless I have made 100 European Tour appearances and after a potentially career-finishing injury Grade 3 separation of my right shoulder in my prime, my success story is the fact that I made it back and am making cuts at the top level."