PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD COMES TO SCOTLAND

PAISLEY PRO ANDY CARLTON

RECEIVES TGI TOP AWARD

FROM THE PGA UK WEBSITE

Paisley Golf Club head professional Andy Carlton (above right) picked up the top honour from TGI's Ian Martin at the TGI Golf Awards at Marriott Worsley Park.
The 29-year-old claimed the Partner of the Year award, while PING took home the Supplier of the Year gong.
The 29-year-old, who has been the pro at Paisley for four years, topped a vote by his fellow Partners of TGI Golf - Europe’s leading golf retail services group, owned by PGA Professionals - seeing off the challenge of fellow nominees Carl Bianco (Woking) and Nathan Stead (Shipley).
“I’m truly overwhelmed to pick up this award, I must be one of the youngest Pros within TGI Golf, so to be recognised by guys with far more knowledge and experience than me is amazing,” said Carlton.
“When I first became a PGA Professional four years ago I joined the group, but didn’t know too much about it. However, it has proved to be the best business decision I ever made.
"In a difficult industry it’s amazing to have their support, we simply couldn’t do what we do without it.”
PING walked away with the top supplier award of the evening, pipping Galvin Green and FootJoy to Supplier of the Year.
John Clark, PING managing director, said: “It says something about the whole company and everyone in it to win this award. Everyone in the office will have a big smile on their face when I get back.
“As a brand PING is about product, service and quality, that’s what you have to touch to win awards like this, we’re great supporters of green grass pros, that’s where are roots started and that’s where they’ll stay so we thank every TGI Partner for their support.”
There were six more winners at the gala awards event, which was preceded with a special message from Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup winner Henrik Stenson, who wished all the nominees good luck.
Simon Fletcher of Morecambe Golf Club walked away with the Pro Shop of the Year award, Mark Daubney of Wetherby was crowned Most Improved Business while Stuart Williamson of Clydeway Golf Performance Centre won New Partner of the Year.
In the Partner Suppliers category the results from TGI Golf’s comprehensive annual Supplier Survey were used to crown award winners.
Galvin Green was Apparel Supplier of the Year, while Titleist won Hardware Supplier of the Year and the Callaway X Hot Driver was the Product of the Year.
Eddie Reid, TGI Golf managing director, added: “Congratulations to all of our award winners. There were some emotional guys on the stage collecting awards and that goes to show just how much it means to our partners and the high esteem in which the suppliers hold TGI Golf.
“Congratulations to our main winner Andy Carlton, who has had a tremendous 2013, throwing himself full tilt at everything we have to offer, helping him to increase his turnover and margin. 
“Like all our partners he strives to make himself a better businessman, actively promoting his brand every day.”
For further details on the TGI Golf Partnership visit www.tgigolf.com, ‘Like’ on Facebook, follow @TGI_Golf or visit the blog at www.tgigolfblog.com 

EDZELL MAN BEATS ALL THE PROS AT CARNOUSTIE

JIM WATT WINS MIDLAND ALLIANCE AT

BUDDON LINKS WITH A SIX-UNDER 59

 

This week the Midland Golfers' Alliance held the Jim Ward Team Competition at Carnoustie over the Buddon Links. 

Jim Watt (Edzell) won the scratch prize with a magical score of 59, six under par. He managed to birdie half the holes on his way to breaking 60. Winner of the handicap prize was Alistair Mason (Thornton) with a net score of 61, playing off nine.

LEADING SCRATCH

Par 65 

59 J Watt (Edzell).

64 G Brown (Montrose) ap.

65 M Rae (Alyth) ap, P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, F Mann (Carnoustie) p.

66 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), G Tough (Edzell), A Webster (Edzell) p.

67 W. Hutton (Pitlochry), C Armstrong (Burntisland) ap.

LEADING HANDICAP

56 J Watt (Edzell) (3).

61 A Mason (Thornton) (9).

63 J Rankin (Scotscraig) (5).

64 S Arbuthnott (Arbroath) (5).

65 E Rae (Arbroath) (5).

66 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) (scr), W Hutton (Pitlochry) (1), A Duncan (Murrayshall) (4), B Crosbie (Blairgowrie) (5), D Hutchison (Murrayshall) (7).

TEAM COMPETITION

50 J Watt (Edzell) (3), G Brown (Montrose) ap, M McKenzie (Edzell) ap.
55 (bih) D Jamieson (Carnoustie) (12), J Cree (Scotscraig) (12), J Cree (Carnoustie) (14).
55 A Duncan (Murrayshall) (4), A Black (Tulliallan) (12), D Hutchison (Murrayshall) (7).

Qualifiers for the JTC Kitchen Express McQueen Shield at Monifieth Links in April 
G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle)
C Armstrong (Burntisland), J Rankin (Scotscraig) 

Qualifier for the JTC Kitchen Express Midland Golfers’ Alliance Championship in April at Monifieth Links
A Mason (Thornton)

Next meeting is on Thursday, February 13
Venue: Arbroath 
+ Sponsored by Ian Cooke Catering 
Tee reserved from 8.30am to 12.30pm

Lee Sutherland 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

Job Vacancy: SGU Part-Time 

Seasonal Events Assistant

There has never been a more challenging and exciting time to work in Scottish Golf.  
With the advent of the 2014 Ryder Cup and clubs facing the most difficult trading environment seen in more than a generation, there is much to be done.
The Scottish Golf Union has a vacancy within our Events Team, with responsibility for assisting the staging and administration of our National Championship portfolio. 
We are currently seeking applications for a Part-time Seasonal Events Assistant based in our St Andrews Office to support the above functions.
You should be highly organised; the ability to work on your own initiative and within a small friendly team key for this role within the Events department. 
A sound knowledge of golf would be helpful, along with experience of using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, Word and the Internet. 
Work experience in the golf industry would be an advantage.

Click here for a full job description

Click here to complete a very brief equality monitoring survey. 

Every applicant is expected to complete this online survey which is anonymous and has no bearing on the recruitment process.
Applications, consisting of CV and covering letter with details of current remuneration, should be emailed to: seasevents@scottishgolf.org
Closing date for applications – Friday, February 28 at 12 noon.
Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at SGU headquarters, The Dukes.

LINK TO ASIAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SCORES

TO VIEW all the scores in this week's Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section B,

CLICK HERE

BLAIRGOWRIE STAR PROSPECT LEADS BY ONE WITH A ROUND TO PLAY

           Bradley Neil in action. Picture by Kenny Smith

BRILLIANT BRADLEY'S PURPLE PATCH 

PUTS HIM IN SOUTH AFRICA LEAD

Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil produced a purple patch of five birdies in a seven-hole span mid-round to
leapfrog of Ireland's Dermot McElroy and lead the South African stroke-play golf championship with one round to go at Benoni Country Club.
The reigning Scottish boys' match-play champion birdied the short eighth, long ninth, long 10th, 13th and 14th in a bogey-free third round of five-under-par 67.
On 13-under-par 203, top prospect Neil leads by one from Ballymena's McElroy (70 for 204), with a group of South Africans poised to pounce from two, three and four shots off the lead.
Neil, who has been in South Africa for several weeks with the SGU national squad, was cool, calm and collected as he surveyed the leaderboard at the end of the day.
“I got off to a pretty slow start, but the birdie at the eighth gave me a little momentum. I birdied the next two holes, and picked up two more at the 13th and 14th. Nothing too spectacular, but anytime you can finish a round with a clean card, you’ve had a great day," said Neil.
“I’ll do much the same in the final round. No need to change things. Someone will shoot a low round, so I’ll just work on giving myself enough chances to challenge down the home straight.”
McElroy holed a 20ft putt for an eagle 3 at the last to stay on the Scot's tail.
British boys champion Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden is joint 12th, six shots off the pace after a 69 for 209. 
Like McElroy, Ferguson finished with an eagle 3, having earlier birdied the short third, long 10th, and 17th, offset by bogeys at the long ninth and 16th.
Connor Syme also shot a 69 to be joint 17th on 211. Syme had the kind of start he must have dreamed of .. birdies at the first, second, third and fifth. But he cooled off to bogey the seventh, eighth, 11th and 13th, with a birdie at the 10th keeping the smile on his face.
The pro's son from Dumfries & Co finished well with his sixth and seventh birdies at the short 15th and long 18th.
Cawder's Jamie Savage is joint 23rd after a 68 for 213, highlighted by birdies at the first, sixth, ninth, 10th and 18th. Only one bogey on his card, at the 15th.
Left-hander Bob McIntyre (Glencruitten) is also on the 213 mark after a 70 in which he had three birdies and one bogey.
A third Scot on three-under-par after 54 holes is Scott Gibson (Southerness) whose 71 looked certain to be a sub-70 score when he birdies the first, second, fourth, 10th and 16th. But calamity at the last two holes. He bogeyed the 17th and then ran up a double bogey 7 at the long 18th.

LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES
Par 216 (3x72) Players from South Africa unless stated
203 Bradley Neil (Sco) 70 66 67
204 Dermot McElroy (Ire) 69 65 70
205 Jason Smith 71 66 68, Stefan Cronje 69 67 69
206 Joel Girrbach (Swi) 68 70 68
207 Keegan de Lange 72 69 66, Christiaan Bezuidenhout 64 74 69
208 James du Preez 72 69 67, Edgar Catherine (Fra) 71 70 67, Paul Elissalde (Fra) 71 66 71, Kyle McClatchie 68 72 68
209 Romain Langasque (Fra) 71 69 69, Ewen Ferguson (Sco) 67 73 69
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
211 Connor Syme 71 71 69 (T17)
212 Jamie Savage 71 73 68, Robert McIntyre 73 69 70, Scott Gibson 68 73 71 (T23).

IAN BROTHERSTON SUCCESSFUL AT LA MANGA RESORT

SCOT AND GERMAN COMBINE TO WIN SPANISH SENIOR AMATEUR DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Ian Brotherston from Dumfries and his German playing partner, Kai Flint won the Spanish senior amateur international doubles golf championship at La Manga Resort today (Thursday).

Starting the second and final round five shots off the pace, Brotherston, pictured, and Flint added a 73 to their opening 75 and their aggregate of 148 was good to pip England's overnight leaders Douglas Cameron and John Ambridge who slumped from a 70 to a 79 for 149.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

148 Ian Brotherston (Sco) and Kai Flint (Ger) 75 73.

149 Douglas Cameron and John Ambridge (Eng) 70 79.

150 Trevor Gray and Stephen East (Eng) 76 74

151 Adrian Morrow and Maurice Kelly (Ire) 77 74

SELECTED TOTALS

158 James Johnston (Sco) and Stuart Pond (Eng) 80 79 (18th)

160 Iain Jeen (Sco) and Michael Baker (Eng) 82 78 (T19)

161 Bill Methven and Andrew Laird (Sco) 78 83 (23rd)

162 Keith Bruce and John Johnston (Sco) 82 80 (T24)

BISHOPBRIGGS PRO MAKES IT ON LIMIT MARK FOR TOP 14

 Andrew Murray (left), the Senior Tour Q School winner, is congratulated by Tour Director Andy Stubbs. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c).

ROBERT ARNOTT SURVIVES CRISIS TO

EARN STARTS ON EURO SENIOR TOUR

Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott kept his nerve in a crisis to book a place on the European Senior Tour in the new season right on the limit mark of two-over-par 284 at the Final Qualifying School at the Pestana Golf Resort's Pinta course at Lagoa on the Algarve.
The top six, headed by England's Andrew Murray (276) and Steve Cipa (279), earned the right to play in every competition on the over-50s circuit.
The next eight on the leaderboard, including Arnott
will be lower down the pecking order but still guaranteed to get into the fields for the less lucrative events.
Arnott was going well enough with a birdie-bogey start and was one under par for the day when he birdied the long 11th. Then came the crisis - a double bogey 6 at the 14th.
But the Scot showed his mettle by bouncing straight back with a birdie 2 at the short 15th
and he parred the last three holes to qualify
for a card in joint 11th place on the limit mark of 286.
David James from Dumfries, winner of the Senior Q School 12 months ago but who lost his playing rights at the end of the 2013 season, failed to make the grade this time round. He finished joint 22nd on 289 after a closing 73.
Downfield's Kenny Hutton will be very disappointed that he has failed to earn a place on the Senior Tour, which had been in his sights for many months.
The man from Muir of Ord, Ross-shire eventually finished joint 42nd on 296 after a 74.
Albert Mackenzie (Saunton) and Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club) tied for 44th place on 297, Mackenzie with a last-day 77 and McAllister with a 74.

ANDREW MURRAY WINS SENIOR TOUR Q SCHOOL HONOURS.

 

Andrew Murray stormed to a three -shot victory at the European Senior Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage, thanks to a nerveless one under par final round 70, and the Englishman afterwards praised the influence of his son and caddie for the week Tom.

Murray entered the day one shot off his friend and 

compatriot Steve Cipa’s lead but threw down the 

gauntlet to his playing partner early on with two 

stunning birdies in the opening two holes.

Cipa then suffered a stroke of bad luck when he 

found a plugged lie in a bunker at the third hole 

and struggled to a double-bogey. Thereafter, 

Murray finished the job with clinical precision to 

claim his first tournament victory since his win at 

The European Tour’s Panasonic European Open in 

1989. Afterwards,the 57 year old paid an 

emotional tribute to his son Tom, who plays on the 

Challenge Tour, and spoke of how the week at 

Pestana Golf Resort’s Pinta Course could prove a 

Launchpad for further success for both players.

“I'm absolutely chuffed,” said Murray. 

“It’s the first four-round tournament I've won in over 20 years and 

the butterflies were going in my stomach coming down the stretch. 

To win in a field like this and on a course as good as this is great, 

and to have Tom alongside me makes it even more special. are 

special times for us, it’s probably not going to happen very often. 

He has played a massive part.

" We read the wind well all week and had a gameplan and stuck to

 it. I hope Tom and I can feed off this. It was terrific controlled golf 

over four days and he said he’d never seen anything like it, so it 

would be even more of a thrill if this could inspire him to win on the 

Challenge Tour this year. I think he was proud, it was very 

emotional.” 

While Murray is the proud owner of one European Tour title, he is 

hoping this victory, and the manner in which he did it, can give him 

the confidence to challenge for a maiden Senior Tour title in 2014. 

“It would be nice to win a full event this season 

but I'm just happy to play such controlled golf this 

week and I'm pleased with how I held it together,” 

said the Cheshire man.

“I got off to a great start and hit to close to a foot at 

the first, then to three feet at the second. They were 

two terrific shots. I played really controlled golf, 

just knocking it close to the hole every time and 

tapping it in from a foot every time.

“I wasn’t doing anything daft and had everything 

under control, other than a bogey at the eighth and 

a couple of poor shots coming in.

“I got it together at the last and got a bit of a 

break. I am chuffed with how I played. There were 

some quality shots so I'm delighted.”

Cipa, meanwhile, carded a four over par round 

of 75 to finish on five under for the tournament, 

and his runner-up finish sealed a return to the 

Senior Tour for the 2014 season.

The two Englishmen were joined by four others, 

including three Americans, in claiming 

unconditional cards for the coming campaign.

One of them, Jerry Smith, carded the round of the 

day - a five under par 66 - to seal the third card on

offer, while Barry Conser (72) and Gary Rusnak 

(69) finished in tied fourth alongside Italian Marco 

Bianco (69).

Smith, a former US PGA Tour player whose best 

finish came at the Walt Disney World Golf 

Classic, where he was third behind winner Josè 

Cóceres and runner-up Davis Love III, will turn 50 

in April and is looking forward to the new 

challenges a maiden season on the Senior Tour 

will bring.

“I knew I was playing well this week and I think I 

had good control over everything I was doing out 

there,” said the Arizona man. “Europe is one place 

I've never played, having played a lot in Asia years 

ago, so I'm looking forward to playing in some 

new places.”

Jean Pierre Sallat, a former professional 

footballer in France’s top league, completed an 

impressive recovery from a seven over par 

second round of 78 by carding a second 

successive 69 to earn one of the eight 

conditional  cards on offer.

He was joined by Robert Arnott of Scotland, 

Englishmen Mark Belsham, John Gould Wraith 

Grant , Gary Marks and George Ryall as well as 

Australia’s Glenn Joyner, who chipped in for a crucial eagle at the par four 17^th hole to clinch his 

spot.

Ireland’s John McHenry and England’s Tony 

Lawrence will have conditional cards for a 

definitive period, with two of the successful 
players yet to turn 50, having finished in 15^th and 16^th place respectively.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)

276 A Murray (Eng) 69 69 68 70

279 S Cipa (Eng) 70 69 66 74

280 J Smith (USA) 72 69 73 66

282 B Conser (USA) 70 69 71 72, M Bianco (Ita) 71 73 69 69, G Rusnak (USA) 76 69 68 69

284 J Sallat (Fra) 68 78 69 69, J Gould (Eng) 71 69 74 70

285 W Grant (Eng) 74 71 71 69, G Ryall (Eng) 73 70 70 72

286 M Belsham (Eng) 70 71 72 73, R Arnott (Sco) 71 70 74 71, G Marks (Eng) 69 72 69 76, G Joyner (Aus) 69 75 73 69 

FAILED TO GAIN CARDS ON OFFER TO
LEADING 14 PLAYERS

287 J McHenry (Irl) 72 71 76 68, R Roper (Eng) 72 70 70 75, T Lawrence (Eng) 74 72 69 72, E Kocs (USA) 75 70 68 74

288 J Buendia (Esp) 76 73 70 69, J Murphy (Eng) 73 73 71 71, S Mondshine (USA) 68 74 75 71

289 R Sabarros (Fra) 72 71 73 73, Y Nilsson (Swe) 76 74 69 70, J Ryström (Swe) 72 72 79 66, D James (Sco) 71 72 73 73

290 M Stokes (Eng) 72 70 75 73

291 P Mayo (Wal) 69 72 76 74, J Laforce (Can) 74 73 71 73, J Lovell (Eng) 74 73 71 73

292 D Wettlaufer (Can) 75 74 72 71, G Banister (Aus) 71 73 74 74, A Fernandez (Chi) 74 74 72 72, D Morito (Esp) 74 69 76 73, G Bell (Eng) 71 73 74 74, M Wharton (Eng) 70 77 69 76, K Smith (Can) 70 71 76 75, C Milne (USA) 76 71 72 73

293 J Harrison (Eng) 76 69 76 72

294 J Hall (Eng) 73 74 69 78, T Elliott (Aus) 73 74 69 78

295 K Tarling (Can) 73 76 70 76

296 K Hutton (Sco) 74 72 76 74, T Dodds (Nam) 74 73 74 75

297 A Mackenzie (Sco) 74 75 71 77, J Nougues (Arg) 77 73 72 75, S Bennett (Eng) 75 72 75 75, S McAllister (Sco) 78 71 74 74

298 P Gresswell (Eng) 76 73 73 76, J O'Brien (am) (Irl) 76 72 74 76

299 B James (USA) 78 75 70 76

 MISSED CUT
227 Terry Burgoyne 75 79 73.

ANOTHER GOOD REASON WHY SPOTLIGHT WILL BE ON ROYAL ABERDEEN

SCOTTISH OPEN WINNER AT BALGOWNIE WILL EARN PLACE IN VOLVO WORLD MATCH-PLAY FIELD

 FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
 By MARTIN DEMPSTER
THIS year’s Scottish Open winner will receive one of the coveted spots in the Volvo World match- play championship when it returns to England after a seven-year absence.
The event’s 25th staging will take place at the London Club, where European No 1 Henrik Stenson and defending champion Graeme McDowell have already committed to take part.
Of the 14 other spots up for grabs at the Kent venue from October 15 to 19, the one on offer at Royal Aberdeen is the only one from a regular European Tour event other than the Volvo China Open.
It creates added spice for the Scottish Open’s first-ever staging in the Granite City, where a star-studded field at the Balgownie links is set to include defending champion Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and, almost certainly, both McDowell and Stenson.
Last year's Volvo world match-play championship featured both Stephen Gallacher and Scott Jamieson.
McDowell beat Thongchai Jaidee in last year’s final at Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria, the event having been held in three of the four years prior to that at Finca Cortesin in Spain.
“I think it is fantastic that the Volvo World Match Play Championship will be played in England for this special anniversary,” said McDowell of an event held at Wentworth until 2007.
 “I enjoyed everything about my victory last year. It seems right, though, to celebrate the event’s anniversary in England, where the tournament was held for so many years.”