ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE PROGRAMME, SPONSORED BY CULTS HOTEL

Programme for the 20014 Aberdeen Pennant League, sponsored by the Cults Hotel, is:

Week 1: June 3 or 5
(matches to be played Tuesday or Thursday, with home club fixing date)
Section A
Banchory v Murcar Links, Northern v Newmachar.
Section B 
Hazlehead v Bon Accord, Portlethen v Royal Aberdeen
Section C
Peterculter v Craibstone, Stonehaven v Nigg Bay.

Week 2: June 10 or 12
Section A
Murcar Links v Northern, Newmachar v Auchmill
Section B
Bon Accord v Caledonian, Royal Aberdeen v Hazlehead
Section C
Craibstone v Stonehaven, Nigg Bay v Deeside

Week 3: June 17 or 19
Secton A
Auchmill v Banchory, Newmachar v Murcar Links
Section B
Caledonian v Hazlehead, Portlethen v Bon Accord
Section C 
Deeside v Peterculter, Nigg Bay v Craibstone.

Week 4: June 24 or 26
Section A
Auchmill v Northern, Banchory v Newmchar
Section B
Hazlehead v Portlethen, Royal Aberdeen v Caledonian
Section C
Deeside v Stonehaven, Peterculter v Nigg Bay


Week 5: July 1 or 3
Section A
Murcar Links v Auchmill, Northern v Banchory
Section B
Bon Accord v Royal Aberdeen, Caledonian v Portlethen.
Section C
Craibstone v Deeside, Stonehaven v Peterculter

Buffer Week: July 8 or 10
Postponed ties to be rearranged for this week

Sunday, August 10
Semi-finals at neutral venues

Sunday, September 14
Final at Stonehaven GC

      THE ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE IS   SPONSORED BY THE CULTS HOTEL

Programme of matches for the Aberdeen Pennant League, sponsored by The Cults Hotel:

June 3 or 5
Section A - Banchory v Murcar Links, Northern v Newmachar.
Section B - Portlethen v Royal Aberdeen, Hazlehead v Bon Accord.
Section C - Portlethen v Craibstone, Stonehaven v Nigg Bay.

June 10 or 12
A - Murcar Links v Northern, Newmachar v Auchmill.
B - Royal Aberdeen v Hazlehead, Bon Accord v Caledonian
C - Craibstone v Stonehaven, Nigg Bay v Deeside.

June 17 or 19
A - Newmachar v Murcar Links, Auchmill v Banchory
B - Portlethen v Bon Accord, Caledonian v Hazlehead.
C - Nigg Bay v Craibstone, Deeside v Peterculter.

June 24 or 26
A - Banchory v Newmachar, Auchmill v Northern.
B - Hazlehead v Portlethen, Royoal Aberdeen v Caledonian.
C - Peterculter v Nigg Bay, Deeside v Stonehaven.

July 1 or 3
A - Northern v Banchory, Murcar Links v Auchmill.
B - Bon Accord v Royal Aberdeen, Caledonian v Portlethen
C - Stonehaven v Peterculter, Craibstone v Deeside.

July 8 or 10
Buffer week for rearrangement of ties not played as scheduled due to bad weather, etc.

 ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE SPONSORS


















`O

CITY OF ABERDEEN MAITLAND SHIELD FOURSOMES AT STONEHAVEN

Draw for the City of Aberdeen men's double foursomes match-play tournament for the Maitland Shield, sponsored by The Cults Hotel, at

Stonehaven Golf Club from May 19 to 23:

Monday - 5pm: First round - Bon Accord v Royal Aberdeen, Caledonian v Portlethen, Murcar Links v Deeside, Peterculter v Craibstone.

Tuesday - 5pm: First round - Nigg Bay v Banchory, Stonehaven v Auchmill, Hazlehead v Newmachar.

Wednesday - 5pm: Quarter-finals - Northern (bye in first round) v Bon Accord or Royal Aberdeen, Caledonian or Portlethen v Murcar Links or Deeside, Peterculter or Craibstone v Nigg Bay or Banchory, Stonehaven or Auchmill v Hazlehead or Newmachar.

Thursday - 5pm and 5.15: Semi-finals.

Friday - 5pm: Final.

HOT AND BOTHERED AT THE AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

FROM THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
It was a day of extraordinary weather at the 2014 Australian Amateur Championships presented by Audi as play was suspended late in the afternoon with a number of players still to finish their first qualifying rounds at The Grange Golf Club, South Australia.
On a day where the mercury topped 40 degrees, play was first suspended for 40 minutes mid-afternoon as heavy storm clouds and lightning moved in the area. 
With the storm front clearing, players returned to their positions at 4.25pm local time. Play was suspended for a second time at 5.45pm local time as a second storm front approached the course.
In the completed opening rounds of the men's championship, Kazuki Higa (JPN) is in a tie for the lead with Geoff Drakeford (VIC) and Dale Brandt-Richards (NSW) with the trio shooting 4-under par 68s.
Todd Sinnott (VIC) and Denzel Ieremia (NZL) are further shot back after 3-under par 69s.
In the completed opening rounds of the women's championship, So-Young Lee (South Korea) leads following her 3-under par 69. 
World No. 2 female amateur Su-Hyun Oh finished with a 2-under par 70 to be in second place. Grange Golf Club member Cassidy Evreniadis finished with an even par 72.
The incomplete first rounds will recommence on Wednesday morning at 6.30am.

McILROY AND MICKELSON EAGER FOR FIRST OUTING OF NEW YEAR

NEWS RELEASE BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Rory McIlroy admits he cannot wait to get his 2014 European Tour campaign under way at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, as he attempts to build on a strong finish to last year.

The Northern Irishman, who welcomed in the New Year by proposing to his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, ended The 2013 Race to Dubai with back-to-back top six finishes, before winning the Australian Open to end a frustrating season on a high note.

Add into the fray the fact that McIlroy has finished outside the top 11 only once in six appearances at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, finishing runner up twice in 2011 and 2012, and it is easy to see why the 24 year old is starting the new season in high spirits.

“I feel like I'm much better prepared heading into the first event of the season than I was last year,” he said.

“My swing is in a much better place.  I've done some really good work on that, at the end of last year, and in the couple of weeks that I've had here leading into this tournament.

“So things are really looking good.  I'm in a really good frame of mind and I feel like I've built a lot of momentum at the back end of last year and I’m going to try to continue that into this season.”

The former World No. 1 believes Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to launch the new term, having started each of the past six seasons in the same way.

“It's a golf course that's always sort of suited my eye,” he said.  “I've always done well here.  I had a couple of chances to win, and Martin Kaymer was just too good those times.  It’s a long golf course and you've got to hit it well off the tee and take advantage of the par fives, which I feel like I can do.

“It's a perfect way to start the year. It's always a very strong field and a good, competitive first event.  I don't think there's any better place to start the season, especially for me, because you get two weeks to practice either here or Dubai to lead up to this tournament and feel really well prepared.”

Also returning to action for the first time in 2014 is reigning Open Champion Phil Mickelson, who joined McIlroy in taking part in a traditional Emirati Al Razfa dance (pictured above, courtesy of Getty Images(c).

They are also paired together for the opening two rounds, along with defending champion Jamie Donaldson, and after a magnificent 2013, which included victory in The Open Championship, Mickelson is looking forward to the week and the year ahead. 

“I'm excited to be back here to Abu Dhabi,” said the American. “It's a great city, and country, and we are all excited with what HSBC has done to bring world‑class golf to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

“From a player standpoint and to start the year, it's important we start with the fundamentals and a good foundation for our golf game.  We have got great practice facilities here, as well as a golf course that can identify your strengths and your weaknesses.  

"It's a world‑class course and in immaculate shape and you can easily identify where you're playing well and where you're not, and I'm excited.”

Mickelson also revealed that he has a new driver in the bag and is excited about unleashing it around Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“As I look back on 2013, I played some of my best golf and had some huge breakthroughs.  But I did most of it without a driver.

“This year, we have the best driver I've ever hit that lowers my spin rate just like my three‑wood.  I drive it longer and straighter with my driver than I did with my three‑wood.  It's a whole different weapon in my arsenal now. 

"And if I drive the ball well, like I have been in practice and I have been this off‑season, heading into this 2014 season, it could be the best year of my career for that simple reason.”

 

FOUR SCOTS BOUND FOR SOUTH AMERICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN COLOMBIA

                   ADAM DUNTON IN ACTION. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency                                     

NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

The Scottish quartet of Adam Dunton, Craig Ross, Alyson McKechin and Gemma Dryburgh are to play in the South American men's and women's international amateur championships next week; an event again backed by The R and A as they continue their support of golf worldwide.

On Colombia’s north coast, the Scots will be part of an international field competing at Barranquilla from January 22 to 25.

A relatively new event in the world of amateur golf – featuring 72 holes of stroke play for the men’s and women’s titles – it’s a championship that continues to grow in stature, thanks to generous backing from The R and A which has supported the event since it started in 2005.

The R and A has supported various amateur golf events in South America for the past 10 years, most notably the Copa los Andes, a men’s and women’s team event which started in 1944 and which has enjoyed annual R and A support since 2002.

For the second year for the South American Amateur, The R and A has offered subsidies to up to 30 non-South American players, helping with flights and entry fees.

“The South American Amateur is a tremendously competitive and enjoyable event for players, officials and spectators, and one which we’re proud to support,” said The R and A’s Executive Director – Working for Golf, Duncan Weir.

“We’re committed to supporting golf worldwide and we want to help grow the South American Amateur to become one of the premier amateur events around the world.

“The total investment from The R and A into this year’s championship is in the region of £75,000, ensuring a truly international field enjoy a competitive opportunity at this time of year.”

Last year, four Scots competed in the event when it was staged at El Rincón in Bogota, Colombia – Jamie Savage, Fraser Moore, Graham Gordon and Michael Dailly.

Englishman Callum Shinkwin, who beat Matthew Fitzpatrick in the final of the 2013 English Amateur Championship, took the title, while Brooke Mackenzie Henderson from Canada, currently sixth on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking and recent winner of the girls' Junior Orange Bowl title in Florida, won the ladies’ tournament.

English duo Ashley Chesters, who won the European Amateur title in Spain last year, and Jimmy Mullen, who played all four rounds at The Open at Muirfield last summer, are among those competing this year, with the Scots also seeking to shine.

Dunton (McDonald), a member of the Scottish Golf Union’s Men’s Squad, finished third on the domestic Order of Merit in 2013, with Ross (Kirkhill), pictured right, a semi-finalist at the Scottish Amateur Championship last year, a spot behind him. 

Meantime, McKechin (Elderslie) is the reigning Scottish Ladies’ Amateur champion after her victory over Clara Young at Longniddry, while Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), a student at Tulane University, New Orleans, was runner-up in the Ladies’ British amateur stroke play championship at Prestwick last year.

Ahead of golf’s long-awaited return to the Olympics in Brazil in 2016, golf in South America continues to grow in popularity. With the rise of tour stars such as Colombia’s Camilo Villegas and Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Andres Romero, there is real cause for optimism.

“It's a pleasure to be able to support this celebration of elite South American golf, but it's just as rewarding to see the strides that have been made in the game at grassroots level,” added Weir. 

“While Colombia has a population of 47 million and only 51 golf courses, golf in South America continues to evolve. R and A grants are being used to encourage greater participation and develop promising South American golfers.”

Go to www.federacioncolombianadegolf.com for more information on the South American Amateur Championship.

 

CALEDONIA GOLF SIGNS AMBASSADOR AGREEMENT WITH PAUL LAWRIE

NEWS RELEASE

Frankfurt, Germany –  Caledonia  Golf GmbH, one of the world’s most advanced putter development companies, has signed an ambassador agreement with former Open Champion Paul Lawrie (pictured).   

Having won the Claret Jug, arguably the most prestigious trophy in golf, with his triumph at the Open Championship in 1999, Lawrie has accomplished an impressive career of tournament victories to include a resurgence of form over the past couple of years.  In addition to his Open Championship win, Lawrie has claimed seven further titles on the European Tour with victories in  Spain  (twice),  Qatar  (twice),  Wales  and  Scotland  (twice) - his most recent win coming at the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship. 
 Lawrie’s excellent form saw him claim his spot in the historic 2012 Ryder Cup team that achieved the Miracle of Medinah, with Lawrie producing the biggest winning margin in the singles on the final day (5 and 3 over Brandt Snedeker). 

Famous for his short game, and aptly nick-named ‘Chippy’ as a result, Caledonia Golf saw the obvious link to using Lawrie as a global ambassador to their range of putters. 

The founders of  Caledonia  Golf, Claus-Peter Maier and Ingo Pietrulla stated: “We are thrilled to complete the agreement with Paul and are looking forward to this prestigious partnership. 
"Our knowledge in building putters and Paul’s insights represent the perfect match to take the next step in developing innovative putters. It is not just having one of the finest Golfers as product ambassador - Paul admires the game of golf just like we do!”

Lawrie was equally as pleased to be announcing the association with Caledonia Golf, and commented:
 “I’m delighted to be partnering with Caledonia Golf and am genuinely excited to be working closely with them to develop new products.  I’ve been blown away by their ability to design and create new putters and I look forward to testing their new range as we go forward.”

About Caledonia Golf GmbH:

The Caledonia idea started out in the year 1996 at  Florida   State   University  with an essay on 'Innovative Sports Equipment' by Ingo Pietrulla. Today we are looking at filigree sporting equipment – not off the shelf – rather geared to the individual playing needs of each individual golfer is our inspiration. 
With our innovative 'Hosel Insert Technology', a unique portfolio of putter versions manufactured with great attention to detail has matured over the years. 
Ultimately, substantiated know-how in putter construction, leading edge technology in the pool of machinery and rich diversity in the individual composition make each  Caledonia  putter into an incomparable, attractive and unique specimen.

From the outset, the core of our philosophy involved 'maximum' playability of our products: classical shapes bundled with select raw materials and innovative fitting options that differ from conventional equipment not merely by a few nuances and find equal recognition among qualified pros and ambitious amateurs.

JOHN DALY HOLE IN ONE WINS $60,000 CAR ... OH NO HE DIDN'T!

SCROLL DOWN TO THE END OF THE ARTICLE TO READ THE LATER NEWS THAT IT WAS DALY'S
SECOND SHOT FROM THE TEE SO HE COULD NOT CLAIM THE PRIZE!

FROM THE GOLFTALK CENTRAL WEBSITE

By RYAN LAVNER

Details of the past few days read like just another chapter in John Daly’s autobiography.
Before diving into Monday’s theatrics, let’s recap his week in Hawaii:
Last week, Daly entered the Sony Open on a non-exempt medical extension, following surgery last July to repair damage to his right elbow. He needed to finish no worse than solo second to retain that status, which seemed like a tall order, until he fired a first-round 66 to appear on the first page of the leaderboard.
In typical Daly fashion, though, he followed up that good round with a Friday 73, when he tweaked his elbow and carded an eagle, three birdies, three bogeys, a double and a triple – a scorecard rainbow that rivalled any over Honolulu last week. 
The very next day, Daly came back with a 64, then struggled Sunday before rebounding with three birdies in his last five holes to salvage a T-32 finish, all while wearing comically colorful pants.
Which brings us to Monday, when Daly teed it up in the pro-am for the Humana Challenge.
With his first swing with his new Callaway 9-iron – according to a US PGA Tour official, a Callaway rep had just walked out to meet his group – Daly made a hole-in-one on the 154-yard seventh hole at PGA West’s Nicklaus Course.
“I didn’t even look at the shot,” Daly said, according to the Tour. “I leaned over to get my tee and was telling the Callaway representative that it felt pretty good. He said, ‘Good, because it just went in the hole.’” 
Any ace is sweet, of course, and surely it helped his team score, but the best, most Daly-esque part was that he walked away the proud owner of a new car: the brand-new, 2014 Hyundai Equus, a luxury sedan that goes for more than $60,000.
If you’re asking what Daly will do next, and whether it will involve his new prize, it seems there is no answer too implausible. 

OH NO HE DIDN'T WIN HOLE-ONE-CAR!

LATER NEWS
It transpires that John Daly won’t be cruising around La Quinta, California, in a brand-new Hyundai Equus, after all.
The USPGA Tour confirmed early Tuesday morning (local time) that although Daly holed out from the tee on the par-3 seventh hole at PGA West’s Nicklaus Course during Monday’s pro-am for the Humana Challenge, it was actually his SECOND attempt (and with a different club), thus making him ineligible to claim the prize. 
The US PGA Tour reported that a Callaway representative walked out with a new 9-iron to give to Daly, after he had already played one shot into the green. On his first swing with the new club, he holed out.
“I didn’t even look at the shot,” Daly told the Tour. “I leaned over to get my tee and was telling the Callaway representative that it felt pretty good. He said, 'Good, because it just went in the hole.’” 
It was believed at the time that the ace earned Daly a new car, the 2014 Hyundai Equus, a luxury sedan valued at more than $60,000.
Apparently not, which is even more apropos of his unpredictable career. 


DALY KEEPS BUSY: On the matter of schedules, John Daly might not have much status, but he sure keeps his bags packed.
The Sony Open was a sponsor exemption and the first of five in a row. He left Honolulu and headed right for the Humana Challenge, then it will be two in a row in the Middle East – Qatar and Dubai – after which he’ll tee it up at the AT and T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Daly said he had asked for an exemption into the US PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open, but in the meantime was given a spot in Qatar.