ALBERT MACKENZIE LEADING SCOT ON DAY ONE

CARMAN SETS PACE WITH A 67 AT

SENIOR TOUR SCHOOL ON ALGARVE

Englishman Paul Carman set the pace in the first round of the European Senior Tour Qualifying School Stage One, which is being played over three courses at Pestana Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.
Carman fired a three under par 67 at Silves Golf, where 58 players are battling to be in among the top 17 and ties, to lead by two strokes from compatriot Tony Lawrence and Spaniard José Buendia, who both opened with one under par rounds of 69.
There is a six-way share for the lead at Gramacho, where 58 players are competing, with the top 17 and ties progressing through to Final Stage.
Scotland’s Albert Mackenzie (club pro at Saunton GC, Devon), Sweden’s Yngve Nilsson, Canadian pair Keir Smith and Dave Wettlaufer and English duo Tim Giles and David Ray all posted one under rounds of 71 to lead the way after the first round.
At Pestana Vila Sol, where 55 players are competing to be in the top 16 and ties, Englishman Andrew George opened with a one under par round of 71 for a one shot lead over Chuck Milne of the USA, with another American, Jerry Smith, a further shot back in joint third place with Ireland’s John McHenry.
The qualifiers from the First Stage at Pestana Resort will join 22 exempt players for next week’s Final Stage, also played on Portugal’s Algarve at Pestana’s Pinta Course.

MACKENZIE LEADING SCOT AFTER DAY

1 OF SENIOR TOUR Q SCHOOL STAGE 1

Albert Mackenzie, pictured left, was the top Scot at the end of the first day of the European Senior Tour Qualifying School Stage 1, being played over three courses on Portugal's Algarve coastline.
Mackenzie, the club pro at Saunton GC, Devon, shot a one-under-par 71 to figure in six-way tie for the lead at the Gramacho course at Silves.
At the same venue, Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott was joint ninth after a 73.
Terry Burgoyne had a 78 and Campbell Elliott (Haggs castle) a 77 to be joint 23rd.
Downfield's Kenny Hutton and amateur Paul Moultrie were sharing ninth place on five-over 77 at the Vila Sol course, Vilamoura.
Overall, Englishman Paul Carman set the pace with a 67 at Silves.
The leading 17 and ties at Pestana and Gramacho and the leading 16 and ties at Vila Sol  after 36 holes will go forward to next week's Final Stage over four rounds at the Pinta course. They will join 22 players exempt from Stage 1.
Entry fee per player for the Senior Q School is £800 whether or not they get past Stage 1.

EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Stage 1
Algarve, Portugal
LEADING SCORES
PESTANA
Par 70
67 Paul Carman (Eng)
69 Jose Buendia (Spa), Tony Lawrence (Eng)
70 Ernest Kocs (USA), Richard Masters (Eng), Gary Morris (Eng)

SCOTS' SCORES
73 Colin McDonald (T17)
74 Nicky Gold (am) (T22)
78 Mike Lang (T42)

VILA SOL
Par 72
71 Andrew George (Eng)
72 Chuck Milne (USA)
73 John McHenry (Ire), Jerry Smith (USA)
SCOTS' SCORES
77 Kenny Hutton, Paul Moultrie (am) (T9)
83 Steve Craig (35th)

GRAMACHO
Par 72
71 Albert Mackenzie (Sco), Keir Smith (Can), Yngve Nilsson (Swe), Dave Wettlaufer (Can), David Ray (Eng), Tim Giles (Eng)
72 Graham Banister (Aus), Graeme Bell (Eng)
SCOTS' SCORES
73 Robert Arnott (T9)
76 Terry Burgoyne (T18
77 Campbell Elliott (T23)
78 Alan Saddington (T29)
82 Nick Robson (am) (T49).

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES AT THE THREE VENUES

CLICK HERE 

ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL FIRST STAGE

SIMPLE FOR SIMON AS HE GOES NINE 

SHOTS CLEAR IN THAILAND

England's Simon Griffiths has surged an astonishing nine strokes clear of the field after only two rounds of the Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage at the Royal Thai Army Sports Centre.
Griffiths, trying to regain playing rights he lost, has had scores of 65 and 66 for 13-under-par 131.
Lying a distant second is Australia's Mitchell Brown with scores of 74 and 66 for 140.
In third place is Indian amateur Karan Taunk with scores of 72 and 69 for 141
The only Scot in the field - a Robert Wilson, whose name and link to Scotland is not familiar to me (writes Colin Farquharson) - missed the halfway cut by 19 shots.
Wilson shot 86 and 89 for 175. Only those who shot 156 and better for the first two rounds qualified.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
131 Simon Griffiths (England) 65 66
140 Mitchell Brown (Australia) 74  66
141 Karan Taunk (India) (amateur) 72 69
142 Danny Sahl (Canada) 71 71

SELECTED SCORES
144 Blair Wilson (Australia) 69 75, Martin Keyser (S Africa) 73 71 (T5)
145 Craig Hinton (England) 74 71 (T8)
155 Laurence Warne (England) 78 77, Steven Sharp (England) 79 76 (T33)
156 Josh Swallow (England) 76 80 (T36)

MISSED THE CUT (156 and better qualified)
157 Matthew Gleeson (Australia) 79 78
159 Matthew Tweddell (England) 77 82
167 Conor Thornton (Ireland) 81 86
175 Robert Wilson (Scotland) 86 89

AMENDED 2014 ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE FIXTURES

Sponsored by the Cults Hotel

Week 1

Tuesday 3^rd June                         Thursday 5^th June

A  Banchory v Murcar Links       B  Portlethen v Ryl Aberdeen

A  Northern v Newmachar         

B  Hazlehead v Bon Accord

C  Peterculter v Craibstone     

C  Stonehaven v Nigg Bay

Week 2

Tuesday 10^th June                      Thursday 12^th June

A  Murcar Links v Northern      A  Newmachar v Auchmill

B  Bon Accord v Caledonian

B  Royal Aberdeen v Hazlehead

C  Craibstone v Stonehaven          

C  Nigg Bay v Deeside

Week 3

Tuesday 17^th June                          Thursday 19^th June

A  Newmachar v Murcar Links      B  Portlethen v Bon Accord

A  Auchmill v Banchory         

B  Caledonian v Hazlehead

C  Deeside v Peterculter             

C  Nigg Bay v Craibstone

Week 4

Tuesday 24^th June             

A  Banchory v Newmachar        

A  Auchmill v Northern          

B  Hazlehead v Portlethen 

B  Royal Aberdeen v Caledonian

C  Deeside v Stonehaven

Thursday, June 26

C  Peterculter v Nigg Bay

Week 5

Tuesday 1^st July                       Thursday 3^rd July

A  Northern v Banchory           A  Murcar Links v Auchmill

C  Craibstone v Deeside           B  Bon Accord v Royal Aberdeen

C  Stonehaven v Peterculter 

Week 6

Tuesday 8^th July                        Thursday 10^th July

B  Caledonian v Portlethen

Buffer Week for cancellations due to inclement weather.

OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

RORY McILROY'S NINE-UNDER 63 PUTS 

HIM TWO SHOTS CLEAR 

       Rory McIlroy ... an eagle and seven birdies. Today's picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

 

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Rory McIlroy did what he does best to produce a flawless first round of nine under par 63 to establish a two-shot lead after round one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. 

Chief among the Northern Irishman’s incredible array of golfing gifts is his ability to make the game look easy, and through a combination superb driving and accurate iron play the 23 year old carded an eagle, seven birdies and ten pars to stroll into a two shot lead from Edoardo Molinari of Italy.

McIlroy, playing alongside World Number One Tiger Woods, who carded a four under 68, and defending champion Stephen Gallacher, who posted a 66 to share third place, is an absolute joy to watch at his devastating best, and the man himself admitted he is close to capturing his finest form. 

“That’s definitely the lowest round I've shot in a while and the way I controlled my ball and the way I played, it's definitely up there with the best in a while,” said McIlroy.

“It may feel easy and these scores may, you know, look somewhat routine out there, but there's a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to actually be able to go out ask shoot scores like this.” 

Woods, champion at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2006 and 2008, was relatively pleased with his opening score, especially after his out-of-character missed cut at last week’s PGA Tour event in California.

“I felt like it was a good day,” said the American. “I could have got a couple more out of it, just by making a couple putts from about ten feet or so but I hit a lot of good putts which was nice.  Last week I didn't do it and it was nice to actually play well again.”

ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

 Par 72

63 R McIlroy  (NIr)

65 E Molinari  (Ita)

66 R Sterne  (RSA), J Quesne  (Fra); D McGrane (Irl); M Baldwin (Eng); S Gallacher (Sco);

67 S Hansen (Den); R Rock (Eng);

68 H Otto (RSA); T Jaidee (Tha); T Woods (USA); R Wattel  (Fra); J Campillo (Esp); S Kjeldsen (Den); P Lawrie (Sco)

69 A Quiros  (Esp); M Crespi  (Ita); D Horsey (Eng); S Hend (Aus); S Noh (SKor); B Rumford (Aus); M Carlsson  (Swe); F Molinari (Ita); T Fleetwood  (Eng); R Jacquelin (Fra); S Dyson  (Eng); A Levy (Fra); R Kakko  (Fin); M Ilonen  (Fin); D Fichardt (RSA); J Walters (RSA); B Koepka  (USA); J Donaldson (Wal)

70 M O'Meara (USA); C Del Moral (Esp); H Stenson (Swe); F Couples (USA); J Luiten (Ned); S Lowry  (Irl); G Havret  (Fra); P Casey  (Eng); L Slattery (Eng); C Montgomerie  (Sco); S Kim (Kor); B Wiesberger  (Aut); P Waring  (Eng); D Drysdale (Sco); E De La Riva  (Esp); J Daly (USA); M Hoey  (NIr)

71 K Broberg (Swe); D Willett  (Eng); G Bourdy (Fra); T Lewis (Eng); J Van Zyl (RSA); R Fisher (Eng); R Cabrera-Bello (Esp); E Grillo (Arg); Z Scotland  (Eng); G Maybin (Nir); M Kieffer (Ger); M Madsen  (Den); C Doak (Sco); J Lima  (Por); S Webster (Eng); E Pepperell (Eng); T Olesen (Den)

72 R Gonzalez (Arg); M Foster (Eng); A Otaegui  (Esp); M Warren (Sco); F Zanotti (Par); M Siem  (Ger); B Grace  (RSA); S Benson (Eng); R Santos  (Por); T Björn (Den); J McLeary  (Sco); D Van Der Walt (RSA); S Kapur (Ind); P Hanson (Swe)

73 D Howell (Eng); D Huizing (Ned); J Carlsson (Swe); C Lee (Sco); N Fasth (Swe); T Hatton (Eng); G Mulroy (RSA); C Wood  (Eng); S Jamieson  (Sco); J Kruger (RSA); R Karlsson (Swe); M El Maouas (am) (Mar)

74 E Els (RSA); N Elvira  (Esp); R Dinwiddie  (Eng); A Cañizares  (Esp); G Storm  (Eng); P Larrazábal (Esp); J Olazábal (Esp); M Nixon (Eng); J Hansen  (Den); A Wall (Eng); R Green (Aus); R Derksen (Ned); T Levet (Fra); G Stal  (Fra); A Sullivan (Eng); J Ballesteros (am) (Esp);

75 J Parry (Eng); S Thornton (Irl); V Riu  (Fra); J Singh (Ind); F Calmels  (Fra); S Dodd (Wal); L Corfield  (Eng); M Jiménez (Esp); P Uihlein  (USA)

76 R Bland (Eng); P Lawrie (Irl); P Whiteford (Sco); J Coceres (Arg); M Manassero (Ita)

77 D McKenzie (Sco); J Jeong (SKor); W Westner (RSA); A Pavan (Ita); G Bhullar (Ind); M Fraser (Aus)

78 F Serghini  (Mar)

79 B Lane (Eng)

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

DEFENDING CHAMPION HAS RECOVERED FROM BACK INJURY

MICKELSON EXPECTS TO BE FIT FOR 

START OF PHOENIX OPEN TODAY 

FROM SKY SPORTS.COM WEBSTE

Defending champion Phil Mickelson expects to be fit to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open which starts today (Arizona time).

The 43-year-old left-hander was forced to withdraw from last week's Farmers Insurance Open because of a back injury.
Mickelson made the halfway cut at Torrey Pines but then pulled out before the start of Saturday's third round.
The world No 4, who finished joint second in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour the previous week, then flew to Georgia for a consultation with back specialist Tom Boers and he is now on course to tee up in the first round at TPC Scottsdale.
He said: "I had a good practice session, though I didn't go full speed for much of it. I feel fine. I expect to play and play well."
Mickelson, who won the tournament by four shots last year, had said earlier: "If it was any other tournament I'd skip it, but I'm defending, it's my second hometown and I love the event.
"I'm itching to play, but I have to look at the big picture. I have a number of tournaments I want to play and play well this year, including the majors, so I have to be realistic about how I feel in the short term."
Watch the Phoenix Open first round live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 8pm