AMATEURS SHARE MIDLAND ALLIANCE SCRATCH HONOURS AT CRAIL

Two amateurs, Dunkeld scratch player Stuart McKendrick and Roy Sinclair, who plays off 2 at Muckhart, held the professionals at bay to win the Midland Golfers' Alliance's last fixture of the year over Crail Golfing Society's Balcomie links in Fife.
They made the most of a fine day and a course in excellent condition to tie for the leading scratch prize with one-over-par 70s.Jim Barnet (Dunfermline), an 11-handicapper, returned a superb net score of 65 to win the leading handicap award by two strokes.

In the Dunmar House Hotel  team competition, the Monifieth quartet of Neil Anderson (scr), Ron McDonald (5), Ryan McGuigan (3) and Steve Blady (3) won first prize with a net score of 60, on a better inward half from the Scotscraig team of R Beatt (14), R Redpath (5), J Black (3) and J Rankin (5).
Pros Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) and Fraser Robertson (Elie) shared third place with amateurs Gary Tough (Edzell) and Steve Blady (Monifieth) on 71.
The Midland Alliance 2013-2014 season will resume at Lundin Golf Club, Fife on Tuesday, January 21 (tee reserve 9am to Noon).
 

MIDLAND GOLFERS ALLIANCE

Crail Golfing Society Balcomie links

Leading Scratch Scores

Par 71
70 S McKendrick (Dunkeld), R Sinclair (Muckhart).

71 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) (ap), G Tough (Edzell), S Blady (Monifieth), F Robertson (Elie) ap.

72 B Crosbie (Blairgowrie), A J Webster (Edzell) p.

73 G Brown (Montrose) p, N Anderson (Monifieth) (scr), P Brookes (Pitreavie) p. 

Leading Handicap Scores

65 J Barnet (Dunfermline) (11).

67 B Crosbie (Blairgowrie) (5).

68 S Blady (Monifieth) (3), R Sinclair (Muckhart) (2)

69 D Mason (Lundin) (9).

70 S McKendrick (Dunkeld) (scr), D Sim (Panmure) (5).

71 D West (Burntisland) (4), C Westland (Alloa) (11), A Black (Tuliallan) (12).

 

Leading Team Scores 

60 (bih) N Anderson (scr), R McDonald (5), R McGuigan (3), S Blady (3) (all Monifieth).

60 R Beatt (14), R Redpath (5), J Black (3), J Rankin (5) (all Scotscraig).

61 (bl6) C Westland (Alloa) (11), P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, D Lamont (Bathgate) (11), J Leddy (Bathgate) (10).

 LEE SUTHERLAND
 Midland Golfers Alliance 

 

MACHRIHANISH DUNES OFFER CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

                                    Machrihanish Dunes' short 14th green on a classis links lay-out

  NEWS RELEASE

Argyll, Scotland, December 17 – Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club announced today that it has created a membership club and will begin offering golf memberships to golf enthusiasts in Argyll, the UK and beyond. 

Membership at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club will offer full use of the course and short game practice areas,  priority in reserving tee times, and other benefits.  

Each member will also receive ten (10) guest greens fees passes (per membership) allowing an accompanied guest a reduced fee.  Full members will also receive membership in The Kintyre Club at The Ugadale Hotel, the resort’s private dining club; Scottish Golf Union Handicap Card; and full privileges in the Southworth reciprocal program.  

A separate Range Membership is also available offering unlimited use of the driving range. The Range Membership can be added to a Full membership for a nominal annual fee.

Membership at Machrihanish Dunes will be offered in the following categories:

Families – primary member, spouse, children under the age of 18. Full access to Club and course for full family.  Annual Dues £400.

Individuals – Full access to Club and course for individual. Annual Dues £250.

Country – primary member living 30 or more miles from the Club but within UK with full club privileges.  Annual Dues £200.

International – primary member living outside the UK with full club privileges. .  Annual Dues £125.

Under 25 – primary member between the ages of 18 – 25 with full member benefits. or Range Memberships.  .  Annual Dues £100.

Range Membership – provides unlimited use of the practice driving range, range balls, practice putting green and short game area.  Can be purchased without a golf membership, or added to a golf membership.  Annual Dues Member Family £75/Non-Member Family £125.  Annual Dues Individual Member £50/Individual Non-Member £100. 

About The Village at Machrihanish Dunes
The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, voted “Scotland’s Best Resort Experience” by Golf Tourism Scotland, is a world-class seaside resort featuring a U.K. Top-100 links golf course, four-star accommodations, five casual and fine dining options, plus a host of other resort amenities, all located in one of Scotland’s most beautiful regions.  
The Ugadale Hotel and Cottages in Machrihanish offer 22 rooms and suites plus eight luxurious two-bedroom cottages. 
The Royal Hotel, with 23 rooms all overlooking Campbeltown Harbour, is located in downtown Campbeltown, a mere 5 miles away.  
The resort is ideally suited for golfers; non-golf visitors; golf group visits; family reunions; corporate meetings, events, and retreats; weddings and other social functions; and more.  
The Machrihanish Dunes course, the first 18-hole course in the U.K. to earn certification from the Golf Environmental Organization, is consistently ranked as one of the most ecologically-friendly courses in the world.  
Designed by David McLay-Kidd, it opened in 2009 on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the first course ever to be built on such a site and also the first to be built on the west coast of Scotland in over 100 years.   
For more information on The Village at Machrihanish Dunes or to book reservations, visit www.machrihanishdunes.com. 

        Machrihanish Dunes' ninth green at sunset. Beautiful!

KELLETT, CRICHTON, CAMERON AND HENDERSON MISS CUT IN ALPS TOUR Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Four Scots - Ross Kellett, Scott Crichton, Ross Cameron and Neil Henderson - missed the cut after two rounds of the 54-hole Alps Tour Final Qualifying School at La Cala Resort on Spain's Costa del Sol.

Motherwell man Kellett, pictured, a previous winner on the Alps Tour, is the biggest surprise among the non-qualifiers.

He shot two 74s for 148, only one stroke more than the limit mark.

Aberdour amateur Scott Crichton suffered a similar agonisingly close fate with scores of 73 and 75.

Ellon/'s Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) shot 150 (71-79) and Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club) 152 (75-77).

On the credit side, James White (Lundin), playing as an amateur, is lying third after a 69 for 137 - only two shots behind the Irishman leader, Brian Casey, while John Hendry (Clydebank and Dist)  has had a pair of 69s for a share of fourth place on 138 and John Gallagher (Duddingston) is joint 12th on 140 with scores of 71 and 69.

ALPS TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL

La Cala Resort, Spain

LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES

Par 144 (2x72)

135 Brian Casey (Ire) 65 70

136 Curtis Griffiths (Eng) 69 67

137 James White (Sco) (am) 68 69

138 Alex Christie (Eng) 68 70, Javier Gallegos (Spa) (am) 70 68, John Henry (Sco) 69 69

SELECTED QUALIFIERS

140 Alan Dunbar (NIr) 68 72, Josh White (Eng) 70 70, John Gallagher (Sco) 71 69

SCOTS' NON-QUALIFIERS (+3 147 and better qualified for final round)

148 Scott Crichton (am) 73 75, Ross Kellett 74 74

150 Ross Cameron 71 79

152 Neil Henderson 75 77

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE

Casey feels at home in La Cala

Brian Casey from Ireland (c) Agathe Séron

Brian Casey from Republic of Ireland is still leading the final Stage of Alps tour Q School in La Cala after scoring 70 on Asia course for -9 total. England’s Curtis Griffiths fired the best score of the day of same course, 67 to be one shot back. Eventually, Scotland’s James White signed for 69 and climbed on third step of the 100% GB&I podium.
The weather conditions were wetter than during first round and the sun totally missed the call today. The leader confessed that this second round was hard to manage.
“Tough day, the greens are small and they are quite firm. I dropped one shot on the 8^th, missed the green again with a wedge, same mistakes as yesterday but I managed to stay focus. I eat a lot on course, that’s the key, it’s my secret weapon but ssshhhh…, don’t tell!”
But the young Irish man has another trick in his bag. He’s been staying in the area for six weeks now with his girlfriend who knows the course perfectly as she used to live here. And they are staying by the Captain’s home of La Cala.
“He is American and he is such a great support! It helps to feel confident.”
Surrey’s Curtis Griffiths, 20 year old, turned pro last June when he was +4 handicap and decided to come to the Alps Tour as some of his friends are former or current members –Steven Brown, Warren Harmston, Alex Christie–.
“I started off quite well with a birdie then I holed three in a row from the 4^th, it was a good momentum and I stayed steady. I hit fairways and greens and that’s it!”
The cut eventually fell at +3 to let 23 players from GB&I continue the race with 19 Italians, 16 Frenchmen, 10 Spaniards, 2 Austrians, and one native of Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Norway, Portugal and Czech Republic.
From La Cala Resort
Agathe Séron

Irishman Casey feels at home in La Cala

Brian Casey (pictured by Agathe Seron)(c) from Republic of Ireland is still leading the final Stage of Alps tour Q School in La Cala after scoring 70 on Asia course for -9 total. England’s Curtis Griffiths fired the best score of the day of same course, 67 to be one shot back. Eventually, Scotland’s James White signed for 69 and climbed on third step of the 100% GB and I podium.
The weather conditions were wetter than during first round and the sun totally missed the call today. The leader confessed that this second round was hard to manage.
“Tough day, the greens are small and they are quite firm. I dropped one shot on the 8^th, missed the green again with a wedge, same mistakes as yesterday but I managed to stay focus. I eat a lot on course, that’s the key, it’s my secret weapon but ssshhhh…, don’t tell!”
But the young Irishman has another trick in his bag. He’s been staying in the area for six weeks now with his girlfriend who knows the course perfectly as she used to live here. And they are staying by the Captain’s home of La Cala.
“He is American and he is such a great support! It helps to feel confident.”
Surrey’s Curtis Griffiths, 20 year old, turned pro last June when he was +4 handicap and decided to come to the Alps Tour as some of his friends are former or current members –Steven Brown, Warren Harmston, Alex Christie–.
“I started off quite well with a birdie then I holed three in a row from the 4^th, it was a good momentum and I stayed steady. I hit fairways and greens and that’s it!”
The cut eventually fell at +3 to let 23 players from GB&I continue the race with 19 Italians, 16 Frenchmen, 10 Spaniards, 2 Austrians, and one native of Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Norway, Portugal and Czech Republic.

From La Cala Resort
Agathe Séron

 

HENRIK STENSON VOTED EUROPEAN NO 1 FOR 2014

             Henrik Stenson, European Tour Golfer of the Year
                         Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)
 
NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR

Henrik Stenson has been named The 2013 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year after an astonishing season.

The 37 year old from Gothenburg became the first player from Sweden to win the coveted award after creating history by completing an unprecedented transatlantic double by capturing the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and The Race to Dubai on The European Tour International Schedule following his success in the Tour Championship and FedExCup on the PGA TOUR. 

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “There is absolutely no doubt that Henrik Stenson is a fully deserving winner of The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year award. 

"Henrik’s unprecedented success was the result of the most tremendous consistency and hard work, and to finish it all off in such style at the DP World Tour Championship to secure The Race to Dubai was quite remarkable.”

Stenson’s commanding six-shot victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship offered a perfect microcosm of his season as he tamed the immaculate 7,675 yards Earth Course by missing only five fairways and four greens in compiling rounds of 68, 64, 67 and 64 for a tournament record 25 under par total of 263. 

After winning the South African Open Championship at the end of last year, Stenson embarked on a “dream season” which saw him produce a remarkable level of consistency in golf’s biggest events. 

A tie for second place in the Shell Houston Open earned Stenson a place in The Masters Tournament where he finished in a tie for 18^th place.

“I took a lot of confidence from winning in South Africa and then the performance in Houston which got me in the Masters was another big one in terms of the way the season was shaping up,” said Stenson.

More consistent play – including being tied fifth in The Players Championship in Florida – took Stenson into the summer and a tie for third place in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open set the tone for an incredible run of results that would see him become the best player on the planet for the rest of the year.

Stenson finished second at The 142^nd Open Championship, quickly followed that up with a tie for second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational then a third place finish at the US PGA Championship with which he led The 2013 Race to Dubai. 

Then came the start of that transatlantic double which would earn him a place in golf’s record books. Stenson charged to victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship then two weeks later claimed the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola to win the FedExCup.

Next on the agenda came The European Tour and The Race to Dubai’s inaugural Final Series. A tie for seventh at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was followed by

one of the greatest performances in European Tour history in Dubai, where he claimed No. 1 honours and earned the Harry Vardon Trophy. 

“It’s a big honour to be voted The European Tour Golfer of the Year,” said Stenson. “It just reflects the stellar year I have had. You can call it a dream season, year of my life, whatever you want. It has been an unbelievable year and I am delighted to win this award, especially as I am the first Swede to do so.

“You look at the past winners of this award and most of the greats of European golf are on there, which just adds to the prestige of winning it. To win the FedExCup and the American Tour Championship in some style and then follow that by taking The Race to Dubai was very special. 

“Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where I had made my home for ten years, in the style I won it, in front of so many family and friends, was something I will never forget. I’m not sure how I top it to be honest. I am not sure many people will get the chance to do what I did this year but I just need to keep working hard and pushing forward.

“The Majors are the biggest goal for me now and if I can continue to play at the level I have been then I feel I can have a pretty good shot at them.” 

The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year panel, which featured golf journalists from newspapers and magazines as well as commentators from radio and television, also reserved praise for several other worthy candidates, specifically Justin Rose, who became the first Englishman for 43 years to win the US Open Championship after his unforgettable performance at Merion in June.

But Stenson, who was announced as the winner at the annual Golfer of the Year Luncheon at the Lancaster London Hotel, received the unanimous vote from the panel to succeed Rory McIlroy. 

Derek Lawrenson, Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers and Golf Correspondent of The Daily Mail, said: “The 2013 season was another remarkable one for European Tour golf and quite simply a dream year for Henrik Stenson. To be the unanimous winner of The European Tour Golfer of the Year in a season which saw Justin Rose win his first Major Championship really speaks volumes to Henrik’s frightening level of consistency.

“I cannot recall a more devastating performance in a European Tour event than Henrik’s at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. He was playing at a different level to the rest of what was a truly world-class field and is unquestionably The 2013 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year.” 

Iain Carter, Golf Correspondent for BBC Radio Five Live, added: “When Justin Rose won the US Open so brilliantly at Merion I thought well that’s one thing sorted – The European Tour’s Golfer of the Year. Little did we know the quite astonishing run of form that Henrik was about to embark on! So while Justin’s was the greatest single achievement of the year there can be no question that Henrik Stenson was The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year.”

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

 

  ­­  

ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL DATES, VENUES JANUARY-FEBRUARY

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
The Asian Tour's 2014 Qualifying School will be held in Hua Hin, Thailand from late January till mid-February next year.

Sponsored by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Qualifying School will be held over two stages, the First Stage and Final Stage.
The First Stage will be held over two sections, with Section A to be held at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Royal Thai Army Sports Center, Suan Son Pradipat from January 29 to February 1.
Section B will be staged over three courses – the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, Springfield Royal Country Club and Royal Thai Army Sports Center – from February 5 to 8.
The all-important Final Stage, where players will fight for top-40 finishes to earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour in 2014, will be held at the Springfield Royal Country Club and Imperial Lakeview Golf Club from February 12-15.
Players who wish to receive the 2014 Qualifying School Entry Form should write to Q-School2014@asiantour.com The form will also be made available on www.asiantour.com . 
Closing date for entries is January 8, 2014.
Officials said players can expect to enjoy the opportunity to play in between 26 to 28 Asian Tour tournaments next year.
With golf returning into the Olympic programme in 2016, the Asian Tour will also provide the best opportunities to collect Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points which will be used to determine the 60-man field in Rio De Janeiro.
Players who compete in the 2014 Qualifying School will also be eligible to play on the region’s secondary circuit, the Asian Development Tour (ADT), which has grown into a record 15-tournament Schedule in what is only its third season this year.

JIMMY GUNN HANGING ON IN THERE AT WEB.COM TOUR Q TOURNAMENT

FROM THE US PGA WEB.COM TOUR STAFF

LA QUINTA, California – Former Arizona State Sun Devil Scott Pinckney posted a solid round of 68 on Monday to increase his lead to two shots entering the final round of the 2013 Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament at PGA West in the Southern California desert.

Full leaderboard
Round 6 tee times
Q-School field list
What's at stake?

Pinckney stands at 25-under par after five trips around the TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament Courses. Trailing him at 23-under par is Zack Fischer, who posted the day’s second-best round, a 64, on the TPC Stadium layout, the same course Pinckney played.
Another shot back at 22-under par is Jimmy Gunn (pictured above). The Scot recorded a 70 on TPC Stadium.
Pinckney, whose brother Brad is caddying for him, reflected on a fairly stress-free round under the circumstances. “I played good today and handled the pressure pretty well,” the leader said. “Tomorrow is hugely important. Leaving here with a “W” would be big, knowing you’re fully exempt and don’t have to worry about the reranks.”
The 24-year-old Orem, Utah native collected five birdies and one bogey, the result of a flier lie, en route to his nines of 32-36. He sealed his two-shot lead with an 8-foot birdie putt on his final hole, No. 9.
Knowing what’s on the line on Tuesday, Pinckney and family members and friends plan to relax over an early dinner before taking in the new “Hobbitt” movie.
Fischer lit up the TPC Stadium Course with five birdies on his front nine and three on the back. “I’m glad to get the Stadium behind me,” the 24-year-old from Texarkana, Texas said. “Pete Dye just destroys you mentally, particularly on that back nine.”
Fischer’s gallery will be lighter by two key members on Tuesday. His parents had to leave after nines hole to catch a flight home.
The leaders will play the Nicklaus Tournament Course tomorrow, which has played almost 1.5 shots easier than the TPC Stadium.
Fifth-Round Notes

* Monday weather: Sunny skies. Overnight low 38. Daytime high 78. Winds light and variable.
* The field will be re-paired for the sixth/final round but only with their course. The tournament leaders will play the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Tuesday.
* Fifth-round leader Scott Pinckney is from Orem, Utah and a 2011 graduate of Arizona State University. He made the cut in just one of seven starts on the Web.com Tour in 2013 and managed to break par in only six of 15 rounds. His lone paycheck for $1,836 came for a T63 at the Air Capital Classic in Wichita, Kan.
* Zack Fischer moved up to challenge the lead Monday and is in position for a shot at medalist honors. Fischer’s 8-under 64 bumped him to 23-under par and solo second place. Fischer, 24, grew up in Texarkana, Texas and played his college golf at Texas-Arlington, where he graduated in 2011.
* Scott Pinckney (1st) and Tony Finau (4th) are the only two players in the field to post sub-70 each of the first five rounds.
* Tournament leader Scott Pinckney leads the tournament with the fewest above-par holes this week. Pinckney has made only four bogeys over 72 holes. He played bogey-free in the second round and has made one bogey each of the other four rounds.
* Steve Saunders (T5) leads the field with 34 birdies thus far.
* Of the top-40 players on the current leaderboard, only three posted above-par rounds Monday: Chris Baker (73/T33), Blayne Barber (73/T21) and amateur Michael Kim (74/T17).

* Florida State All-American Daniel Berger continued his climb up the leaderboard Monday with a 4-under 68 on the TPC Stadium Course. Berger, who turned pro earlier this year after two years in Tallahassee, opened with rounds of 71-75 and was T118 after 36 holes. Since then Berger has shot 63-68-68 to move to T24, T17 and now T12. He is 17-under for his past 54 holes and 15-under total.
* Zach Sucher was the day’s biggest mover, thanks to a pair of eagles and a 9-under 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Sucher jumped 65 spots in the standings and is now T42 heading into the final round.The Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament is a six-day, 108-hole competition that ends on Tuesday Dec. 17.
* There were more than 1,000 entries for the tournament, which has included previous Pre-Qualifying, First and Second stages that began in August.
* Players in this event are competing for positions on the 2014 Web.com Tour priority ranking, which will be used to form tournament fields. The medalist (or co-medalists) will be guaranteed fully-exempt status next year. Players #2-10 (and ties) will be exempted through the first two reshuffles (12 events) next year and players #11-45 (and ties) will be exempted through the first reshuffle (8 events).
* This week’s medalist will earn $25,000. Players #2-10 (and ties) will earn $15,000 each. Players #11-45 (and ties) will earn $10,000 each.

LEADING FIVE-ROUND TOTALS
Par 360 (5x72)
335 Scott Pinckney (US) 68 67 67 65 68
337 Zack Fischer (US) 75 67 66 65 64
338 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) 68 70 64 66 70

TO VIEW THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

CLICK HERE