JAMES MAW COLLECTS 2,000 EUROS PRIZE AT GUADALHORCE

SHEFFIELD PIPS RODILES FOR FIRST 

PLACE ON SPANISH GECKO PRO TOUR

Sheffield's James Maw (Abbeydale) nipped past overnight leader Carlos Rodiles (Spain) to win the first prize of 2,000 Euros in this week's Gecko Pro Tour 36-hole event at Guadalhorce Golf Club.
Maw shot 70-68 for six-under-par 138.
Rodiles, who had looked set to chalk up yet another "home win" on the Gecko Tour after oepning with a 65, faded to a second-round 74 to collect 1,000 Euros.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 James Maw (England) 70 68
139 Carlos Rodiles (Spain) 65 74
140 Manuel Quiros (Spain) 68 72
142 Gervasio Cuquejo Mechan (Spain) 74 68
143 Gonzalo Ganiedos (Spain) 74 70, Luke Johnson (England) (am) 72 71, Ondrej Lieser (Czech Rep) 68 76
SELECTED TOTALS
146 James Watts (England) 76 70, Jack Winer (En gland) 75 71 (T10))
147 Simon Ward (Ireland) 75 72 (T15)
 

HEAD PRO AT TORRANCE HOUSE GC, EAST KILBRIDE FOR MANY YEARS

LONG-SERVING SCOTTISH CLUB PRO
 
JOHN DUNLOP DIES AT 72

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
John Dunlop, head professional at Torrance House Golf Club, East Kilbride from 1969 for many years, died on Tuesday night. He was 72.
After stepping down from that post he was attached to the Broadlees Driving Range at Strathaven.
As a Level 1 Tutor he was heavily involved in promoting the Scottish Golf Union's Clubgolf programme between 2005 and 2012.

Lynne Boyd, golf manager at Broadlees Golf, said: 

"From 2005 until 2012 John Dunlop was involved in our Junior Golf Academy . John and Ann Lang started up the academy in 2005. He was a great asset to us as he helped get us on the way with this.

"John and Ann did the coaching for us on a Monday and Thursday night and from there we now do coaching six days a week and coach some 120 children. 

"In addition we opened the Broadlees golf course in May 2009 and John and Ann  both assisted us with this."

Several PGA pros on both sides of the Border have fond memories of their PGA training under Dunlop at Torrance House.
The most notable is possibily Craig Ronald who was playing out of Torrance House when the Scottish PGA Order of Merit in 1999. Five years later, Ronald won the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship.
Craig looks back:
"John was head pro at Torrance House where I started playing at the age of four, and he took me under his wing from then on.
"He was one of the best ball strikers I have ever seen but after playing in the African Tour he didn't play that much after he took over at Torrance House. But, when teaching me, John would hit a few and the strike never left him.
"He was a gentle giant of a man, loved his 20 Regal and a half pint. His father before him was also a pro, up North as I recall. John's wit was brilliant, very dry and funny.
"One story I remember when I was caddieing for him as a boy at the Kirkhill pro-am, there was a long drive competition at the 17th. All the guys said John couldn't get near it.
"I was like 'Show them, John.' As I recall it was a very good prize for the longest drive and John opened his shoulders and pitched his drive past the leading long drive. Before I picked the competition pin out of the ground to write his name on it, John asked whose name was on it.
"It was a young player by the name of Alistair Taylor. John said to me 'Leave it there for the boy. He needs it more than I do. A mark of the man. A legend and I will miss him."

SCOT IN ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY FOR DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

STEPHEN GALLACHER TEES OFF WITH 

RORY McILROY and TIGER WOODS

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will aim to continue their remarkable records in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic when they tee up alongside defending champion Stephen Gallacher, pictured below, during the first two rounds of the US $2.5 million tournament, which celebrates its 25^th anniversary this week.

The duo boast three victories and six top ten finishes in a combined 13 appearances, with Woods having contributed two wins to McIlroy’s one. Since securing his maiden European Tour title at Emirates Golf Club four years ago, courtesy of a superb up and down from the bunker over the back of the 18^th green, McIlroy has risen to superstar status, thanks chiefly to his brace of Major victories.       

But the Omega Dubai Desert Classic will always hold particular resonance for the World Number Seven. He said: “The Dubai Desert Classic has always been a tournament that I’ve liked to come and play. I played twice as an amateur here, in ‘06 and ‘07, so the organisers were very good to me in giving me those invites, and it was fitting in a way that I won my first tournament here as a pro in ‘09. 

“So obviously whenever you come back to a place where you’ve had a win like that, you’re going to have fond memories. It’s nice to come back – I missed it when I didn’t play last year.

“The course is in great shape, as it always is. It’s shaping up to be a great week, especially as it’s the 25^th anniversary this year.” 

Unlike McIlroy, pictured above in practice by Getty Images(c), who finished in a tie for second place in Abu Dhabi on his last appearances, Woods is on something of a recovery mission after shooting a 79 to miss the cut at Torrey Pines last week.     But the World Number One has consigned that blip to history after an improvement in his ball-striking in the Wednesday Pro-Am

He said: “I hit it a lot better today, which was nice. I feel like I even putted a lot better, too. I made a few changes on the range last night, and felt pretty good about what I was doing out there today. 

“The aim is just to improve every day. Tuesday was better than Monday, and Wednesday was better than Tuesday. So hopefully tomorrow will be even better than today.”

Gallacher completes the marque three-ball, who will tee off at 8.05am local time from the tenth tee. 

The Scot, who won by three shots from South African Richard Sterne 12 months ago, is relishing the prospect of going head to head with two of the very best in the business.

“You want to be playing the top guys,” he said. “They’re up there for a reason, so if there’s anything that you can pick up on or just watch how they play their game, and see if their game is close to yours, that can give you a bit of a boost. I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully it brings the best out of me.”

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SAD NEWS RELAYED BY CRAIG RONALD ABOUT HIS FIRST PGA BOSS

JOHN DUNLOP DIED LAST NIGHT

E-mail from Craig Ronald

Just thought I would let you know that John Dunlop passed away last night, One of the great Scottish pros, he was my first boss/teacher and friend. He will be sadly missed. 
There will be lots of pros out there that would like to hear of John's passing so thought Scottishgolfview.com should know.

Craig Ronald

Colin Farquharson writes: We are trying to put together an obituary tribute to John Dunlop. If
you have any stories of the past about him, please E-mail me any details you know.
If you can E-mail me a picture of John, that would be a big bonus.

ENGLISHMAN SHOOTS SEVEN-UNDER 65 IN FIRST ROUND

Featured News

SIMON GRIFFITHS MAKES FLYING 

START TO ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL

Hua Hin, Thailand: Englishman Simon Griffiths opened with a flawless seven-under-par 65 at the Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section A on Wednesday to ignite his ambitions of regaining playing rights on the region’s premier Tour.
Griffiths, who played on the Asian Tour from 2006 to 2012, shot seven birdies to hold a four-shot advantage over Australia’s Blair Wilson at the Royal Thai Army Sports Center.
The Englishman enjoyed some measure of success on the Asian Tour but lost his Tour card in 2011. He regained his card at Qualifying School but had to return to Qualifying School again in 2012 where he failed to make the grade.
Danny Sahl of Canada and Peter Erofejeff of Finland shot identical 71s to share third position as they aim to qualify for the all-important Final Stage in a fortnight where the top-40 and ties will earn playing rights on the new Asian Tour season.

For full Rd 1 Royal Thai results, click here

For  full Rd 2 Royal Thai tee times, click here