BOO WEEKLEY PULLS OUT OF SHOOTOUT AFTER FAMILY DEATHS

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

Boo Weekley has withdrawn from this week's Franklin Templeton Shootout after the deaths of his grandfather and uncle over the last 10 days.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Boo during this difficult time,” said Taylor Ives, Franklin Templeton Shootout Tournament Director. “We know he was very close with both of these gentlemen. Without question he needs to be with his family at this time.”
Weekley will be replaced by Freddie Jacobson, winner of the 2011 Travelers Championship.
Jacobson will team with Retief Goosen in the tournament at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, Florida. The event, which features 12 two-man teams, begins on Friday.

KEMNAY PRO DAVID BROWN RECRUITS GREG McBAIN, TOM DINGWALL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Coli@scottishgolfview.com
Look out, Paul Lawrie! Kemnay Golf Club professional David Brown, pictured right, is about to add two of the best under-30 pro prospects in Scotland to his staff at the Aberdeenshire venue next month.
It's an enterprising move by David but, in fact, he does not have any designs on setting up a "stable" to rival the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre's David Law, Kris Nicol, Jordan Findlay, Laura Murray and Co team.

Said Brown, who grew up in Elgin and was a junior member at Moray Golf Club before starting his pro career at Gleneagles:
"I am delighted to announce the appointments of Greg McBain and Tom Dingwall who will start working at Kemnay Golf Club's professional shop in January.
"Greg, who won the Paul Lawrie Invitational at Deeside in 2012, is a very experienced qualified professional and will now be representing Kemnay GC when he embarks on the new Tartan Tour season."
McBain, now 29, had his best season yet on the Tartan Tour this year when he won six pro-ams, finishing sixth in the Order of Merit  and fourth in the money table with earnings of £28,658.
"Greg's main aim is to take his golf to the next level with the European Tour his main aim." 


McBain, pictured left, who was a member at Newmachar Golf Club as an amateur, will be based at Kemnay when not competing and will be offering his services for teaching and club-fitting at Davis Brown's state of the art teaching studio.
"Tom Dingwall, who will join us from the Nairn Dunbar Golf Club pro staff. is about to complete his second year's training and will join the team to continue his training at Kemnay GC. Tom has a passion for golf and a real focus to succeed in his career. He too is an accomplished player and wants to play as many events as possible. He will grow his teaching skills and develop his profile at Kemnay."

Dingwall, pictured right, will be 22 in February. He started work at Nairn Dunbar in January 2010, working for David Torrance. Tom, who had a +1 amateur handicap, then turned pro in September this year to begin PGA training.
David Brown added:
"Our aim is to offer the best possible service to our many members and visitors. We want to always be able available to conduct a golf lesson when anyone requires and always give a memorable experience. Our tuition packages on offer will prove we have a great offering to anyone wishing to improve their golf."
Brown has been Kemnay's club pro since July 2007. He turned pro in 2002. When he left the Gleneagles Golf Academy staff for Kemnay, he was the senior golf professional, second in command to Russell Smith.

GERMANY'S PRO GOLF TOUR ANNOUNCES EARLY 2014 SCHEDULE

The German PGA Tour, formerly the EPD Tour but now titled the Pro Golf Tour, has announced dates for its first seven events of 2014.
There will be two events in Turkey in January followed by three in Morocco and two in Egypt.
The prizemoney to be won at each is approximately 30,000 Euros

THE 2014 SCHEDULE

JANUARY 
21 to 23 Sueno Dunes Classic (Belek, Turkey)
25 to 27 Sueno Pines Classic (Belek, Turkey)

FEBRUARY
10 to 12 Open Mogador (Morocco)
16 to 18 Open Samanah (Marrakech)
20 to 22 Open Al Madden (Marrakech)

MARCH
18 to 20 Egyptian Red Sea Classic
24 to 26 Red Sain Ain Sokhna Classic (Egypt)

TO VIEW ALL THE DETAILS ON THE PRO
GOLF TOUR WEBSITE, INCLUDING 
PACKAGE TRIPS TO ALL THE ABOVE
TOURNAMENTS

CLICK HERE

AUCHTERARDER'S HARRY CLARK BEST AT SCOTTISH JUNIOR GOLF TOUR EVENT

FROM WALTER BURNS

Here are the results from the Scottish Junior Golf Tour event at Elie yesterday on the nine- =hole Baird course. It was a Level 1 and 2 event. The golfing gods favoured the Junior Tour yet again as there was no rain in this part of Fife. 

The Elie facilities are just about perfect for juniors developing their game and I would like to thank Ian Muir and his staff for making us welcome. 

All the families had a great day. The course was in great condition for the time of year which allowed some really good scoring from the juniors. 

Harry Clark had the best score of the day with three over par 67. Connor McKinney won the Under-11s category with a 72.

Our regular coach, Kendal McWade, was unavailable as he was working with his very successful North of England junior squad so thanks to two of our older juniors Aidan and George for organising the skills challenges.

LEADING SCORES

 

Under 13 years

67 Harry Clark (Auchterarder)

68 Ewan Wheat (Royal Montrose)

70 Ben McKay (Crail)

71 Ian Taggart (Lenzie)

76 Jorg Irvine (Elderslie)

77 Liam Kirkham (Troon Welbeck)

78 Lewis Irvine (Craigielaw)

 

Under 11 years

72 Connor McKinney (Canmore)

74 Sebastian Sandin (Dunblane)

76 Anna McKay (Crail), Aamar Saleem (Ladybank)

77 George Cannon (Falkirk)

78 Roddy McCauley (Fereneze)        

 

The handicap prize was won by Rory McKinney with a nett 51.

Jorg Irvine and Anna McKay won the skills challenges.

Ian Taggart won the putting competition.

Next event “Tour School” at Broadlees on 15^th Dec.

 

Walter Burns

Scottish Junior Golf Tour

Mob: 07951 103 827

 

Email: walter@scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

Web: www.scottishjuniorgolftour.co.uk

‘It’s not about us, it’s about them.’

NATHAN KIMSEY TURNS PRO AFTER IMPRESSIVE AMATEUR CAREER

NEWS RELEASE

 English golfer Nathan Kimsey has announced he has signed a long term, exclusive representation contract with 4SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT, the leading Swiss sports management agency.

Nathan's decision to turn professional follows an impressive amateur career highlighted by his selection for the GB and I Team for the 2013 Walker Cup. 

His final season as an amateur saw him produce a tie for 3rd place at the Brabazon Trophy and 2nd at the St Andrew's Links Trophy. He also enjoyed numerous top 10 finishes including the Scottish Stroke Play Championship and Lytham Trophy to name but a few. 

Another highlight was being a member of the winning English team at the European Men's Championship in Denmark. This run of good results and consistency was rewarded with a place in the 10 man team for the Walker Cup at the National Golf Links of America. 

Nathan, from Woodhall Spa Golf Club in Lincolnshire, has been an integral part of the England squad since 2010. In 2011 he won the prestigious McEvoy Trophy which resulted in his selection into the European boys' team to represent his country in the Czech Republic, and into the GB and I team for the Jacques Leglise tournament against the Continent of Europe. Twelves months later he made his idebut in the men's home internationals and became the first England player in 15 years to win all six matches, following which he went on to be a semi finalist in the English Amateur Championship. 

Kimsey will now move into the professional ranks and begin the early part of the 2014 season on the (EPD) Pro Golf Tour. On signing with 4Sports, Nathan commented, 'I am very excited to begin this next phase of my golf career. I look forward to working with the 4Sports team and feel confident they can give me the support and advice to progress in the professional game'. 

Marcus Day, Managing Director of the 4sports Golf Division said: 'Nathan turns professional after a very successful amateur career and has an exciting future ahead. We look forward to working with him and helping him progress over the next few years'. 

HENRIK STENSON WINS GOLF WRITERS' POLL

NEWS RELEASE FROM 
ASSOCIATION OF GOLF WRITERS

 Henrik Stenson is the winner of the 2013 Golf Writers Trophy following a magnificent season in which he became the first player to complete the lucrative double of the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai.

The 37 year old Swede topped the annual poll despite fierce competition from the likes of Justin Rose, who became the first Englishman in 43 years to win the United States Open, and Europe’s Solheim Cup team, who made history by winning on American soil for the first time.

Stenson was clearly flattered to have come out on top, and by a convincing margin as well with almost two-thirds of members of the Association of Golf Writers making him their first choice.

‘I think when you look at what others achieved like Justin and the Solheim Cup team it does make it mean that little bit more,’ said Stenson. ‘It’s a huge honour and a great reflection on the year I had.

  ‘I’m looking forward to getting a few of these trophies I’ve won into the summer house in Sweden. It has been such a great year that I can have a few in Europe and a few in my house in America!

  ‘What a great thrill it is going to be over Christmas to sit by the fire with my family and take stock of the season, look at trophies such as this one and reflect on the year of my life.

  ‘I have always had a very good relationship with the media. I have tried to be accommodating and taken my time to give decent and honest responses. I think I have been treated very fairly by the media guys too. It is a give and take relationship and I’ve always understood that. I appreciate their support for what I’ve managed to accomplish.’

   Rose was a clear runner-up for his memorable first success in a major championship at Merion. Making up a glittering top-three were Europe’s Solheim Cup-winming women's team, who survived the febrile atmosphere in Denver, Colorado to achieve their record-breaking success against all odds.

Given the nature of these feats, perhaps it wasn’t surprising they dominated the leading positions, but members were also keen to recognise the achievement of Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick in becoming the world’s leading amateur golfer.

   Voted on by members of the AGW and dating back to 1951, the award recognizes outstanding achievements during the year from golfers born or resident in Europe, and European teams. Stenson is the first male Swedish golfer to win. Annika Sorenstam was victorious on two occasions, in 2003 and 2005.

   Also featured in the voting this year were: Charley Hull, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Suzann Pettersen, Caroline Hedwall, Ian Poulter, Andrea Pavan, and Victor Dubuisson.   

ZACH JOHNSON BEATS TIGER WOODS WITH A STORYBOOK FINISH

 

 

 Zach Johnson acknowledges the cheers of the crowd. Picture by courtesty of Getty Images(c).

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

THOUSAND OAKS, California - In the final round of the 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, Zach Johnson holed an 68- yard chip shot from a drop area to save on the par-4 18th hole.

That tied him with Tiger Woods on 13-under-par 275. Then Johnson won a sudden-death play-off at the first extra hole to win the one million dollars first prize.

Johnson put together a storybook finish at Sherwood, rallying from four shots behind with eight holes to play to to force a playoff, and beat the No. 1 player in golf when Woods missed a 5ft par putt on the first extra hole.

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"Pretty impressive what he did," Woods said. "He got me."
It was an extraordinary send-off at Sherwood, which hosted the World Challenge for the 14th and final time before it moves to Florida next year.
The big surprise was the winner in so many ways.
"I feel very fortunate, and a bit lucky," said Johnson, the 2007 winner of the Masters, who moved into the top 10 in the world ranking for the first time in his career.
For Woods, it was only the fourth time in his career that he lost a lead of at least two shots going into the final round, the second time at Sherwood. Graeme McDowell overcame a four-shot deficit in 2010 and beat Woods in a play-off.
This was far more dramatic.
They were tied after Johnson hit his tee shot to 4 feet for birdie on the 17th hole. Playing from the left rough, Woods came up just short and watched his approach tumble down the elevated green and into the bunker. Johnson followed with his worst shot of the week, an 8-iron so weak that it came up well short and into the hazard.
Johnson knew Woods had a difficult bunker shot, and if he figured if he could stick his wedge close from 58 yards away in the drop zone, a bogey might be enough to get into a playoff. The ball bounced three times and then spun back a few inches into the cup for an unlikely par and a 4-under 68.
"A little too dramatic for me," Johnson said.
Woods' hit a superb bunker shot to 2 feet and matched his par for a 70. They finished on 13-under 275.
Woods was between clubs from the 18th fairway in the play-off and tried a smooth 7-iron that he lost enough to the right that it again found the bunker. He hit an exquisite sand shot, this one sliding 5 feet by the hole, and the par putt spun out of the left side.
Johnson won $1 million and should go to No. 9 in the world.
Woods ended what he called a "damn good year" -- five wins, the most of anyone in the pro golf world -- with a shocking loss to Johnson. Two years ago, Woods ended the longest drought of his career when he went birdie-birdie at Sherwood to beat Johnson by one shot.
Matt Kuchar (67) and Bubba Watson (70) tied for third at 9-under 279.
The attendance Sunday was 24,922, a record for any round in 14 years at Sherwood. Traffic outside the club in the Santa Monica foothills looked like a Los Angeles freeway in what could be the last chance in the near future to see Woods in southern California.
Woods appeared to have his sixth title at Sherwood sewed up when Johnson missed a short par putt on the 10th hole to fall four shots behind with eight holes to play.
Woods had said on Saturday that Johnson wasn't the kind of player who went away easily, and he was right.
Johnson picked up birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, and then got back in the game on the 14th when Woods three-putted from long range on the 14th, and Johnson saved his par with an 8-foot putt to get within one shot.
The rest of the way looked like the final rounds of a heavyweight fight, even if only one of them looked the part.
Johnson laid up on the par-5 16 and nearly holed a sand wedge from 88 yards, setting up a tap-in birdie. Woods, with a tough chip left of the green, rehearsed the shot over and over and it came out perfectly for a matching birdie. 
Johnson finally caught him with a tee shot to 4 feet for birdie on the 17th, leading to the big finish.
Johnson looked almost apologetic when Woods missed his par putt in the playoff, and it was shocking to see. No one from his generation has made more clutch putts than Woods, who spoke about the topic earlier in the week.
But not this time. It was not the way he wanted to leave Sherwood, where Woods has five wins and now five runner-up finishes. The only consolation was $400,000 for finishing second, bringing to just over $14 million the earnings he has donated to his foundation from the three tournaments (AT and T National, Deutsche Bank Championship, World Challenge) that support his education programs.