US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RAISES 2014 PRIZE FUND TO $10million

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
For years and years, the US PGA Tour's  Players Championship has had the richest purse in golf. In 2014, though, it will have company at the top.
The US PGA Championship will increase its purse to $10 million next year, from $8 million in 2013, PGA of America president Ted Bishop announced Wednesday at the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic in Sea Island, Georgia
That will make the PGA the biggest payday of the four major championships and tie it at the top overall with The Players. Moments after Bishop announced the increase, Tour commissioner said The Players would jump to $10 million from $9.5 million.
“Or 10 million and 1,” Finchem added, smiling.
All four major championships had $8 million purses in 2013.
The two golf leaders revealed the boosts at a news conference announcing the two organizations’ joint initiatives to grow the game. Finchem called the increased cooperation a “positive movement” for the two groups – which operated under the PGA of America umbrella until touring professionals broke away in 1968 to form the PGA Tour.
The Tour will increase support of the PGA Professional National Championship and some PGA Section events. The PGA has made a change to award Ryder Cup points for fall Tour events.
The Tour will promote PGA teaching and growth programs on the Tour television and radio shows and website. PGA professionals will interact with fans at select Tour events, providing mini-lessons and information about instruction.
“To me we’re just scratching the surface,” Bishop said of the cooperative efforts.
In an unrelated subject, Finchem said fall Tour fields are stronger than expected and thus getting into tournaments has been more difficult than “some of us expected” for players among the 50 Web.com Finals qualifiers.

THREE TIE ON 69 AT MIDLAND ALLIANCE OVER TORRANCE COURSE

 Blairgowrie's +1 amateur Tom Levy tied with professionals Steve Craig, over from Germany, and former PGA Cup player Craig Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) for first scratch pize with three-under-par 69s i8n this week's Midland Golfers' Alliance competition - the Grant's Promotions pro-am - at Fairmont St Andrews Hotel's Torrance course.

Lundin pro Ron Walker and amateurs Bob Tait (Leven Thistle) (5), Ken Fraser (Leven Thistle) (8) and George Hume (Lundin) (8) won the team prize with a net score of 127.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL SCRATCH
Par 72
69 T McLevy (Blairgowrie), S Craig (Germany) p, C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) ap.
70 R Bell (Downfield), S Rennie (Brechin) p.
71 A J Webster (Edzell) p.
72 K Hutton (Downfield) p, C Armstrong (Burntisland) ap, J White (Lundin).
                

LEADING TEAM SCORES

127 R Walker (Lundin) p, R Tait (Leven Thistle) (5), K Fraser (Leven Thistle) (8), G Hume (Lundin) (8).

128 S Craig (Germany) p, J Meddicks (Murrayshall) (9), D Redford (Murrayshall) (10), M Watkin (Panmure) (14).

129 (better last 3 holes)  C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) ap, G Smith (Scotscraig) (6), A Herd (Scotscraig) (13), J Ward (Carnoustie) (13).

Next Meeting

KM Thomson Team Competition

Alloa Golf Club

Tuesday, November 12.

Tee reserved: 8.30 to 12.15

Lee Sutherland

RUSSELL, JACK DOHERTY MAKE IT TO FINAL Q SCHOOL BUT LAW AND PAUL DOHERTY MISS OUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Raymond Russell and Jack Doherty joined the Scots already through to the European Tour Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya,  on November 10, by finishing joint second and joint 12th in the Stage 2 eliminator at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, Tarragona which did not finish until today (Wed) because of high winds on Tuesday.

But Northern Open champion David Law and Paul Doherty missed out.

At the other Stage 2 event which ran into a fifth day - at Valle Romano, Estepona - Scots Paul McKechnie and Calum Macaulay were so far out of the hunt that they did not bother playing in the fourth round.

Russell earned 1,200 Euros as well as his place at the Final Q School with four good rounds of 67, 68, 70 and 69 for a 10-under-par total of 274 at Lumine. He tied for second place alongside Englishman Callum Shinkwin who shot 68, 71, 65 and 70.

Winner at this venue was another Englishman, Chris Hanson with 64, 70, 67 and 68 for 15-under 263 to collect the 1,800 Euros top prize.

Jack Doherty made it through in joint 12th place at six-under-par 278 with scores of 69, 69, 67 and 73.

Law finished on three-under 281 with rounds of 70, 73, 67 and 71while Paul Doherty finished joint 45th on 286 (72-69-72-73).

 

 Chris Hanson is congratulated by European Tour organiser, Inverness-born Mike Stewart (right), brother of former Ladies European Tour player Gillian Stewart.

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

 England’s Chris Hanson finished the protracted Qualifying School Second Stage at Lumine Golf and Beach Club on top of the leaderboard after closing with a round of 68 in Tarragona.
Hanson led 18 qualifiers from the northern Spain venue on 15 under par, five strokes clear of his nearest challengers, Scotland’s Raymond Russell and English amateur Callum Shinkwin, who signed off with respective rounds of 69 and 70.
The qualifying mark fell on five under par, with Irish amateur Dermot McElroy claiming the 18th and final berth for the Final Stage courtesy of his round of 71.

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

 

Andrew Johnston produced a magnificent six under par 65 in the final round of the Qualifying School Second Stage at Valle Romano Golf to lead the 18 qualifiers who made it through to the Final Stage.

Completing the fourth round a day late after strong winds at the Spanish venue forced play to be abandoned on Tuesday, the 24 year old carded seven birdies and a bogey to finish top of the pile on 15 under par, three shots clear of Chilean Hugo Leon (67) and Australian Scott Arnold (69). 

The big mover of the last day was American Gregory Main, whose eight under par 63 propelled him up 24 places to tied fourth, alongside his compatriot Connor Arendell, who also jumped into the qualifying spots with a gutsy 65.

With five players finishing on seven under par, a play-off was required to determine the remaining two qualifiers. Damien Perrier, Merrick Bremner, David Skinns, Nikolaj E Nissen and Max Orrin returned to the par three ninth hole, and Orin claimed the first spot with a birdie at the first attempt. Nissen then followed suit at the fourth extra hole. 

They all join the 53 other players who made it through from Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, Lumine Golf and Campo de Golf El Saler to head to PGA Catalunya for the six-round Final Stage, at the end of which the leading 25 players and ties will earn a European Tour card for 2014.

  VALLE ROMANO

   FINAL TOTALS

  QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL Q SCHOOL

269 A Johnston (Eng) 66 70 68 65,

272 S Arnold  (Aus) 69 66 68 69, H Leon (Chi) 69 66 70 67,

273 C Arendell (USA) 70 69 69 65, A Björk (Swe) 65 69 69 70, E Espana (Fra) 67 67 67 72, G Main (USA) 71 67 72 63,

274 A Bernadet  (Fra) 68 69 68 69, G Stal  (Fra) 67 65 72 70, J Watts (Eng) 67 70 72 65,

275 R Steiner (Aut) 68 70 69 68, A Maestroni  (Ita) 68 70 69 68,

276 O Lieser (Cze) 72 70 67 67, R Pettersson (Swe) 67 66 76 67, T Whitehouse  (Eng) 68 71 68 69, J Fly (USA) 70 68 69 69,

277 (after play-off) M Orrin (Eng) 68 67 74 68
NON-QUALIFIERS

277 (after play-off) D Perrier (Fra) 66 67 71 73, D Skinns  (Eng) 67 69 69 72,

278 S Einhaus (Ger) 67 70 75 66, P Widegren  (Swe) 64 74 74 66, T Bertoni (USA) 68 69 71 70, O Zetterwall (Swe) 67 66 75 70, C Hinton (Eng) 68 67 72 71

280 S Little (Eng) 70 69 68 73, J Gonnet  (Fra) 71 70 72 67, L Jensen (Den) 70 70 73 67,

281 M Trappel  (Aut) 75 65 75 66, R Hjelm (Den) 68 67 76 70, C Lange  (Den) 67 69 73 72, M Salminen (Fin) 72 68 72 69, L Cornford (Eng) 72 69 73 67,

284 M Laskey  (Wal) 70 68 72 74, B Newman (USA) 74 69 72 69, G Canizares (Esp) 72 65 80 67, A Rota (Ita) 71 70 75 68, C Aronsen  (Nor) 72 72 70 70,

286 G Piris Mateu (Esp) 73 69 73 71, D Berger (USA) 69 65 75 77, G Shaw (Nir) 73 68 72 73, R Kind (Ned) 71 68 76 71,

287 B Gielow (USA) 74 70 74 69, R Neil-Jones (Eng) 73 72 71 71, A Vongvanij (Tha) 73 71 70 73, C Corbin (am) (Eng) 73 69 73 72,

288 M Schneider (Ger) 70 73 75 70, B Fowles (Eng) 71 71 75 71, D Coupland (Eng) 71 78 70 69, J Gallegos (am) (Esp) 70 67 81 70,

289 F Ewing Iv (USA) 73 67 82 67, C Berardo (Fra) 70 70 70 79,

290 F Delamontagne  (Fra) 68 69 75 78,

291 W Strickler (USA) 67 73 75 76, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 69 76 76, T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 72 70 73 76,

292 D Markle (Can) 70 75 74 73, J Wilkinson (Eng) 70 72 79 71, R Cazaubon (Mex) 70 72 76 74, B Hebert  (Fra) 73 67 77 75, S Brown (Eng) 74 76 69 73,

293 P Mejow (Ger) 69 71 77 76,

294 S Wiedergrün (Ger) 78 69 75 72,

295 W Harmston (Eng) 77 72 73 73,

303 I Gregory (Eng) 75 75 78 75

THE FOLLOWING WITHDREW AFTER THREE ROUNDS

 ** D Wood (Eng) 76 74 75 WD, A Tadini (Ita) 69 73 73 WD, A Romano  (Ita) 72 73 74 WD, C Mivis  (Bel) 75 69 76 WD, P McKechnie (Sco) 69 70 78 WD, C Macaulay  (Sco) 72 71 75 WD, J Lomas (Eng) 76 70 71 WD, D Hupfer (Can) 74 70 78 WD, H Hilford Brander (Swe) 78 71 71 WD, R Harris  (Eng) 72 76 77 WD, J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) 78 70 73 WD, P Fendt (Aut) 69 74 77 WD, M Daley (Eng) 76 76 81 WD

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

DUBAI-BASED SCOT LUTTON ACHIEVES HIGHEST FINISH ON MENA TOUR

MUSCAT – Monaco's Sandro Piaget staged a dramatic comeback to win the MENA Golf Tour's Ghala Valley Open in Oman today.
Five shots off the pace overnight, Piaget birdied the second hole of a playoff to beat Joshua White of England after the two players finished regulation at nine-under par 207 at the picturesque course.
Joshua, four ahead going into the final round, led the field most of the day, but squandered the advantage on the closing hole when he three-putted for a bogey while Piaget calmly rolled in his birdie putt to extend the play.
Both parred the first extra hole with little fluster. They hit the green in regulation on the second where White narrowly missed his birdie putt while made no mistake in holing the winning putt from 20 feet.
"It's my first time to the Middle East and feels great to win this event which is pretty much my last competitive tournament of this season," said the 26-year-old after receiving the winner's trophy from HE Dr Mohammed bin Hamed Al Rumhy, Omani Minister of Oil and Gas.
"I made a good start with an eagle on the third which was followed by a birdie on the next. But made a clumsy double-bogey on the sixth. In fact, I dropped four shots in a four-hole stretch starting from the sixth, but finished strongly on the back nine where I made five birdies without dropping a shot," said Piaget who closed with a 68.
"I played four events on the (MENA) Tour this season and really enjoyed my stay here. I look forward to coming back next year," said Brazil-bornPiaget, who turned pro about six years back.
England's White, who led in the first two rounds, was obviously disappointed not to get the job done. "I hit a lot of good shots and also bad shots. I will try and not think about bad ones. The thinking is to learn from the mistakes," said 22-year-old from London, who a shot final round 73.
It was Germany's Bernhard Neumann who made the biggest move on the final, firing a course record-matching 65 to jump to solo third on eight-under 208.
"It was my last competitive round of the year and I wanted to enjoy it thoroughly and I did. I hit 17 greens and that helped.  Making most of the greens and solid putting was the key to my bogey-free round today," said Neumann.
The Moroccan contingent had a lot to cheer about with Faycal Serghini finishing alone in fourth on a six-under 210 while Ahmed-Reda Rhazali took a share of the ninth on three-under 213.
Kenya's Snow also kept the things interesting with a final round 67. "It was pretty windy out there, but I hung in there really well and finished strongly with birdie, eagle and birdie in a three-hole stretch from the 15th.
Michael Harradine, a Dubai-based Swiss national, and England's James Allan jointly topped the amateur division on a three-over 219, one shot ahead of Ross Hopwood of England.
SCOTSWATCH: Clarke Lutton, 25-year-old Dubai-based Scot achieved his highest finish on the MENA Tour with a joint ninth placing on 213 after rounds of 72-70-71.  He had birdies at the third, fifth, sixth and 18th.
Tom Buchanan and Conor O'Neil tied for 20th place on 217, Buchanan with rounds of 73, 73 and 71`, O'Neil with 68, 76 an d73.
Fraser McKenna finished T52 on 217 with rounds of 71, 78 and 78.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 Sandro Piaget (Monaco) 73 66 68, Joshua White (Eng) 65 69 73 (Piaget won sudden-death play-off at second extra hole).
208 Bernhard Neumann (Ger) 74 69 65
210 Faycal Serghini (Mor) 68 72 70
211 Greg Snow (Ken) 76 68 67, Hamza Amin (Pak) 69 71 71
212 Yasin Ali (Eng) 70 72 70, Ian Keenan (Eng) 71 70 71
213 Clarke Lutton (Sco) 72 70 71, Ahmed Reda Rhazali (Morocco) 69 70 74
214 Tyler Hogarty (SAfr) 70 74 70, Roberto Rodriguez Cacho (Mex) 67 71 76
SELECTED SCORES
217 Tom Buchanan (Sco) 73 73 71, Conor O'Neil (Sco) 68 76 73 (T20).
219 Michael Harradine (Switzerland) (am) 69 72 78, James Allan (Eng) (am) 74 72 73
220 Ross Hopwood (England) (am) 75 70 75
227 Fraser McKenna (Sco) 71 78 78 (T52)

ADAM DUNTON WINS NE ALLIANCE BY FOUR WITH 66 AT CRAIBSTONE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Ellon's Adam Dunton, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, showed international class form to beat the professionals - and the rest of the field of 110 - to win the £150 top voucher in today's North-east Golfers' Alliance at Craibstone Golf Centre, Bucksburn Dunton, who has a handicap of +3, played the last few holes in near-darkness yet was able to return a three-under-par 66, four shots better than the six players who finished joint runners-up.
The 23-year-old, who is off to Dubai shortly for warm weather training with the SGU elite squad followed by a trip to play in the South American amateur championship, said:
"I played solidly all the way, missing only two greens in regulation. I'm going to give it another year as an amateur, before thinking about going into the Tour Q School process."
Dunton birdied the fourth, fifth, seventh and 17th in halves of 32 (three under) and level par 34. His only bogey came at the short 12th.
Paul Lawrie's 18-year-old son Craig was one of the six on 70, which meant he collected prizemoney for the second week in a row. He is now 2 and 2 in his pro golf career as far figuring in the prize list.
Craig also won a bottle of whisky, donated by Marshalls Trailers, owners of the Craibstone Golf Centre and course,  for the pro whose tee shot ended nearest to the pin at the short 12th where he notched one of his three birdies. On the downside, he had a double bogey 6 at the 11th. 
Paul Lawrie Golf Centre team-mate Philip McLean, who was bidding to complete a hat-trick of Alliance victories, finished just outside the top 20 after losing two balls - the first at the short 12th which cost him a triple bogey 6 and the second for a double bogey 6 at the 16th.
Frosty conditions made it tough for the early starters and one ran up an 11 at the par-3 second hole, trying to get out of the frozen sand in a bunker. That's Alliance golf!
The other beneficiaries of the Marshall Trailers special prizes were Jim Murray (Banchory), the senior whose tee shot finished nearest the hole at the 10th. He won a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine.
Brian Harper (Newburgh) won a bottle of whisky for the best amateur tee shot at the short seventh.
No wonder Craibstone is likely to be asked to host the NE Alliance competition on January 29 when Newburgh were due to be the hosts but could offer only winter greens. 

 +SCROLL DOWN FOR WEDNESDAY'S TEE TIMES AT BUCKPOOL. 

+ALL TIMES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY 30min SO THAT LAST PLAYERS OUT HAVE A CHANCE OF FINISHING IN DAYLIGHT - WHICH THEY DID NOT DO AT CRAIBSTONE.
+PLAYERS ARE URGED TO SPEED UP PLAY AS THE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT DIMINISH.

 SCRATCH SCORES
p - professional.
Par 69 (35-34)
OUT: 4-3-4-5-5-3-3-4-4: 35: IN: 3-4-3-4-4-4-4-4: 34
66 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 32-34.
OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-2-4-4: 32. IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-4-3-4: 34

70 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) p 37-33, J Duff (Newmachar) 35-35, C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) p 35-35, J Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC) p 36-34, K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) p 34-36, Sean Lawrie (Portlethen) 35-35
 
71 C Dempster (Paul Lawrie GC) p 37-34,  C Nelson (Mackenzie Shop) p 36-35, L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) p 36-35, D Leslie (Northern) 38-33, B Mitchell (McDonald Ellon) 37-34, K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 38-33.
 
72 G Paterson (Northern) 35-37, N Young (Insch) 35-37.
 
73 K Beveridge (Kippie Lodge) p 38-35, S Mackie (Auchmill) 37-36.
 
74 R Lamb (Newmachar) 40-34, J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 37-37, B Nicolson (Auchmill) 38-36.     
75 C Lamb (Newmachar) 36-39, P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) p 36-39, B Fyfe (Paul Lawrie GC) p 36-39, G Munro (Fraserburgh) 36-39, D Brown (Kemnay) p 41-34, C Law  (Kings Links) p 39-36.
76 D Addison (Cruden Bay) 40-36, Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie GC) p 38-38, F Bisset (Banchory) 41-35, J Nicolson (Auchmill) 38-38.
77 A Campbell (Murcar Links) 42-35, S Kiloh (Portlethen) 41-36, M Harling (Inchmarlo) 37-40, J Pryde (Deeside) 38-39, I Taylor (Inchmarlo) 37-39
78 C Grant (Portlethen) 40-38, R Masson (Auchmill) 41-37, A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 40-38, I D Smith (Hazlehead) 39-39.
79 B Harper (Newburgh) 39-40, Michele Thomson (Ellon) p 40-39, J Duncan (Newburgh) 41-38, D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 43-36, G Sutherland (Reay) 43-36
80 D Fleming (Portlethen) 40-40, Steve Lawrie (Portlethen) 37-40, A Graham (Aboyne) 41-39
81 C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 41-40, J Hamilton (Murcar Links) 41-40, J Scott (Peterculter) 42-39, R Duncan (Royal Aberdeen) 40-41, G Joss (Royal Aberdeen) 41-40
82 A Gall (Deeside) 41-41, R McRae (Newmachar) 40-42, M Duncan (Murcar Links) 40-42
83 D Mackay (Newmachar) 42-41, S Thomson (Caledonian) 46-37, P Cheyne (Northern) 42-41
84 M Merchant (Newmachar) 39-45, H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) 46-38, D Bisset (Banchory) 40-44, T Collie (Kemnay) 42-42, W Skene (Deeside) 41-43, D Nelson (Aboyne) 42-42.
85 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) 46-39, G Dillon (Kemnay) 42-43, L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) 44-44, I Clark (Northern) 45-40, P Craig (Kintore) 44-41, R Orr (Kemnay) 44-41, A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) , P Cornfield (Auchmill) 44-41.
86 K Zeynalov (Paul Lawrie GC) 42-44, D Lane (Deeside) 43-43.
87 G Leslie (Newburgh) 46-41, D Wilson (Duff House Royal) 45-42.
88 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 43-45.
89 L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 43-46, B Lawrie (Kemnay) 47-42, B Lumsden (Northern) 45-44.
90 R Brown (Newburgh) 44-46, D Randall (Banchory) 42-48.
91 N Chisholm (Kemnay) 50-41
93 M Smith (Inverurie) 47-46, J Hosie (Kemnay) 44-49, C Brindley (Banchory) 47-46.
94 S Dillon (Kemnay) 44-50
95 D Lawrie (Aboyne) 48-47, D Wright (Northern) 48-47, M Rogers (Kemnay) 48-47
96 S Davidson (Northern) 51-45
97 N Stewart (Northern) 48-49.
103 M Brown (Newburgh) 57-46
104 J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) 50-54
106 P Leech (Oldmeldrum) 55-51

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - D Leslie (Northern) (3) (better inward half), M Harling (Banchory) (9) 68; R Lamb (Newmachar) (5) 69; B Mitchell (Cruden Bay) (1) (bih), S Mackie (Auchmill) (13) bih) 70.
Class 2 - B Masson (Auchmill) (11) (bih), I D Smith (Hazlehead) (11) 67; R Duncan (Royal Aberdeen) (13) 68; P Cornfield (Auchmill) (15) 70); H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (13) (bih) 71.

OTHER PRIZES
Pro nearest pin at 12th - C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 
Senior nearest pin at 10th - J Murray (Banchory).
Amateur nearest pin at seventh - B Harper (Newburgh).

TEE TIMES FOR BUCKPOOL NEXT WEDNESDAY

08:00 Andrew Campbell, Charlie Cassie, Brian Harper, Grant Leslie

08:09 Kevin Duncan, Adam Dunton + partners.

08:18 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Ritchie, Gibbie McDonald, Chris Duncan

08:27 Craig Dempster, Sam Kiloh, Reece Mitchell, Kamran Zeynalov

08:36 Raymond Brown, Mike Brown, Sandy Davidson, Donald Lawrie

08:45 Joel Hopwood, Keil Beveridge, Laura Murray, Chris Adam,

08:54 Manson Merchant, Robert Lamb, Chris Lamb, Grant Joss

 
09:03 Phil Morrison, Mike Rendall, John Hamilton, Les Roger
9:12 Stephen Dillon, Gaetan dillon, George Paterson, Jim Scott 

9:21 Peter Leech, Alan Gall, Iain Clark, Jamie Pryde

9:30 Jim Emslie, David Fleming, Mike Duncan, Martin Forster

9:39 Ryan McRae, Mike Smith, John Jessiman, Alister Petrie

9:48 Sandy Pirie, John Johnston, Les Fowler, Neish Chisholm

9:57 Philip McLean, Kris Nicol, Craig Lawrie, Jordan Findlay

10:06 Peter Cheyne, Dick Wright, Ben Lumsden, Graeme Clayton.

10:15 David Leslie, Gary Homer, Willie Shaw, Hamish McNaughton

10:24 David Bisset, Chris Brindley, Jim Murray, Greig Hutcheon

10:33 Gordon Milne, Jim Duncan, Robert O'Donnell, John Duff

10:42 Mark Lawrie, David Brown, Tommy Collie, Mike Harling

10:51 Phil Craig, Brian Lawrie, Robert Orr, John Hosie.

11:00 Sean Lawrie, Steve Lawrie, Billy Fyfe, Alister Graham.

11:09 Cameron Grant, Stuart Thomson, Mike Winton, David Nelson.

11:18 Willie Skene, Alister Clark, David Lane, Eric Adams

11:27 Philip Adams, Declan Addison, Keith Shanks, Neil Young.
11:36 Stewart Finnie, Mike Booth, David McKay

11:45 Paul Cornfield, Scott Mackie, Brian Nicolson, Graham Allan

11:54 Dave Wilson, Justin Duff, John Nicolson, John Borthwick

US COLLEGE FIREWORKS FROM ALISON KNOWLES, BRONTE LAW

Two English-born girl students - Alison Knowles and Bronte Law - have scored victories on the US women's college golf circuit on the same day: November 5. Speak about fireworks?
Read all about it on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

GONZALO FERNANDEZ-CASTANO EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYER OF OCTOBER

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño has been named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for October when he played a significant role in Continental Europe’s victory in the Seve Trophy by Golf+ and then captured the BMW Masters presented by SRE Group.

Fernandez-Castaño, pictured left by courtesy of Getty Images(c), who receives an engraved alms dish and a Jeroboam of Moët and Chandon champagne, earned three points out of five as his Spanish compatriot José María Olazábal captained Continental Europe to their first win since 2000 in the Seve Trophy when they overcame Great Britain and Ireland 15-13 at Saint-Nom-La-Bretéche, Paris, France.

Then the resident of Madrid belatedly celebrated his 33^rd birthday by claiming his seventh European Tour title, and his third sponsored by BMW, by compiling rounds of 71, 71, 67 and 68 for a winning 11 under par total of 277 in the BMW Masters presented by SRE Group at Lake Malaren Golf Club, in Shanghai, China.

Fernandez-Castaño, who is currently fifth in The 2013 Race to Dubai, said: “It’s a great honour, I feel very proud to receive this award for the second time.

“Who could have imagined, playing the Qualifying School back in 2004, that ten years later I would have achieved seven victories. It’s amazing how time goes by. In 2004, you are at the School thinking where your life will end up – and in 2013, you find yourself with seven titles.   

“I look back at 2011, when I had problems with my back, and I can hardly believe how dark a time it was. I was full of doubts, and getting back to being competitive again was very tough. But since then, I’ve won three times. Now I am so happy!”

The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Panel, comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from television and radio, selected Fernandez-Castaño whilst also considering the achievements of Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, who became the first player to claim a maximum five points in the Seve Trophy, and European Tour winners David Lynn (Portugal Masters) of England, and South Korea’s Jin Jeong (ISPS Handa Perth International).

EUROPE TOUR COMMUNICATIONS