GALE-FORCE WINDS MAKE BLUE MONSTER EVEN TOUGHER

     Rory McIlroy, who hd a 74, in second-round action. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

EUROPEAN QUARTET ONE BEHIND 

FOUR JOINT LEADERS AT DORAL

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Welshman Jamie Donaldson posted the lowest round of the day in brutal second day conditions at the WGC - Cadillac Championship to sit alongside Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, and Italian Francesco Molinari, one shot behind the leaders in Miami.

With gusts of up to 36 mph swirling around the Blue Monster course at Trump National Doral, only three players were under par for the second round, with Donaldson posting a superb two under par round of 70.

McDowell was also part of that exclusive group to break par, battling to a 71 to sit alongside Donaldson on level par for the tournament, while McIlroy hit back after a front nine of 40 to card a two over par 74 and Molinari signed for a round of 75 to join them.

The European quartet share fifth position, just one shot behind Americans Dustin Johnson (74), Matt Kuchar (74), Hunter Mahan (74) and Patrick Reed (75), who are all tied for the lead on one under par.

Donaldson dropped his only shot of the day on the third hole but then birdied the eighth, 11th and 15th holes to move firmly into contention having been in a share of 33rd position after the first round.

He said: “I played nice. When it's like that, you've just got to control the spin of the ball and just try and keep it in play really.  I did that well, and missed a couple of greens, which you're going to, and I made a few good saves and then made a few good putts. Overall I was happy with the way I played.”

McDowell was similarly satisfied with his position at the halfway mark of the tournament, on a day when the scoring average for the field was 76.

The 2010 US Open Champion said: 

“I don't think I've played in conditions this difficult in America. It was an Open Championship day.  It was a real Friday afternoon at St. Andrews in 2010, before they called it.  

"It was hard out there, really, really hard, and part of me feels ecstatic to be off the golf course. Obviously I'm really happy with my 71.”

McDowell’s compatriot, McIlroy, said: “It was a day where you obviously couldn't win the golf tournament, but you could let it get away from you and you could rack up a few big numbers and play yourself out of contention, so I was very pleased just to play the back nine how I did, dig in, shoot a couple under par and be right there for the weekend.  It's good position to be in and I couldn't really ask for much more.”

Molinari added: “To shoot 75 in these conditions, I'm quite pleased with it.  It's playing really, really tough, as tough as you can imagine.  I hit a couple of loose tee shots in the water, but every shot is really, really hard to judge out there.  So I’m really happy with the score.”

American Chris Kirk (71) was the third player to break par, for a two over par total and a share of 11th position, while World Number One Tiger Woods posted a 73 to sit six shots off the pace in a share of 25th position.

Dustin Johnson, two under par overall on the 18th tee,  bogeyed the last hole, having driven into a bunker, and finished a tough day with a 74 for 143
Johnson is in a four-way tie for the lead at the halfway mark with three fellow-Americans.
Also on 143 at Patrick Reid (68-75), Matt Kuchar (69-74) and Hunter Mahan (69-74).

Certainly the Blue Monster is even more of a "monster," thanks to Donald Trump's instruction to toughen it up. When a wind of half-gale to gale proportions blows, even some big names have big scores.
Tiger Woods has scored 76 and 73 for 149. Adam Scott 75-73 for 148. Luke Donald soared to an 82 for 152.
Stephen Gallacher had a pair of 75s for 150. McDowell's one-under 71 was a brilliant score in the tough conditions and at 144 the Ulsterman is certainly in the mix.
CLUBHOUSE SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x7-2) players from USA unless stated
143 Patrick Reid 68 75, Dustin Johnson 68 75, Matt Kuchar 69 74, Hunter Mahan 69 74.
144 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 69 75, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 73 71, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 70 74, Jamie Donaldson(Wales) 74 70.
145 Bubba Watson 73 72, Zach Johnson 70 75
146 Chris Kirk 75 71, Brandt Snedeker 73 73, Harris English 69 77, Hyung Sung-Kim (S Korea) 72 74, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 70 76, Jason Dufner 69 77.
147 Thonchai Jaidee (Thailand) 73 74, Nick Watney 72 75, Richard Sterne (S Africa) 74 73. Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70 77(T17)

SELECTED SCORES
148 Adam Scott (Australia) 75 73 (T21)
149 Tiger Woods 76 73. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 73 76, Ian Poulter (England) 71 78, Phil Mickelson 74 75 (T25)
150 Stephen Gallacher (Scorland) 75 75, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 74 76, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 75 75, Russell Henley 72 78 (T34)
151 Justin Rose (England) 74 77 (T40)
152 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 76 76, Luke Donald (England) 70 82, Jordan Spieth 73 79  (T50)
153 Ernie Els (S Africa) 75 78, Victor Dubuisson(France) 72 81 (T54)
154 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 77 77, Lee Westwood (England) 75 79 (T57)
155 Jim Furyk 78 77, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 75 80 (T59)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

BRADLEY NEIL SLIPS TO JT FOURTH IN INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS AT SOTOGRANDE

SCOTS MEN LYING JT THIRD WITH ONE

ROUND TO GO IN NATIONS CUP

Scotland's team of Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) go into Saturday's fourth and final round in the European Nations Cup in joint third place at Sotogrande on Spain's Costa del Sol.
The Scots are on 660, the same mark as Denmark.
Ahead of them are Italy (655) and Ireland (659)
England are doing surprisingly poorly. They are nearer the bottom than the top of the table with a 54-hole total of 681.
In the individual standings Bradley Neil has slipped to joint fourth place after a 76 for 218.
He is now three strokes behind the joint leaders.
 In the women's event, which Scotland and Ireland did not enter, Spain (445) lead from England and France (447) with Wales joint seventh on 463.
England's 17-year-old Annabel Dimmock had a 79 for 220 and has been joined in the lead by Nanna Madsen (Denmark) who had a third-round 73.

THIRD-ROUND MEN'S TEAM TOTALS
655 Italy
659 Ireland
660 Scotland, Denmark
662 Spain
663 Holland
664 France
679 Switzerland, Belgium
680 Germany
681 England
684 Norway
688 Sweden
691 Finland

LEADING MEN'S INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
215 Lars Keunen (Holland) 71 74 70, Mario Aguilar (Spain) 75 67 73
217 Guido Migliozzi (Italy) 74 71 72
218 Jack Hume (Ireland) 73 76 69, Bradley Neil (Scotland) 71 71 76
SELECTED SCORES
219 Renato Paratore (Italy) 72 74 73 (T6)
223 Gary Hurley (Ireland) 74 73 76, Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 79 74 70, Scott Borrowman (Scotland) 80 73 70 (T15)
224 Jack McDonald (Scotland) 75 71 78, Ryan Evans (England) 74 70 80 (T21)
227 Mathias Eggenberger (Switzerland) 76 73 78 (32nd)
229 Cormac Sharvin (Ireland) 74 69 76 (T36)
230 Garrick Porteous (England) 76 78 76 (T41)
231 Matthew Fitzpatrick (England) 79 75 77(T45)
232 Graeme Robertson (Scotland) 75 75 82 (T50)
238 Paul Howard (England) 82 80 76 (T62)

WOMEN'S TEAM TOTALS
445 Spain
447 England, France
456 Denmark
461 Holland
462 Switzerland
463 Wales, Germany
464 Italy
475 Norway
488 Belgium 

LEADING WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL
220 Annabel Dimmock (Eng) 73 68 79, Nana Madsen (Den) 76 71 73
222 Luna Subron (Spa) 73 71 78
223 Albane Valenzuela (Swi) 74 75 74, Shannon Aubert (Fra) 75 73 75 


SELECTED INDIVIDUALS 
228 Chloe Williams (Wales) 76 75 77 (7th)
230 Gabriella Cowley (England) 74 77 79 (T9)
236 Sarah-Jane Boyd (England) 73 86 77 (T17)
238 Becky Harries (Wales) 77 76 85 (T19)
250 Samantha Birks (Wales) 82 86 82 (T32)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE 
SPANISH FEDERATION WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

WGC=CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP IN FLORIDA

REED LEADS WITH A 68 AS TIGER 

WOODS STRUGGLES TO A 76 AT DORAL 

The first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship was completed over Donald Trump's revamped Blue Monster at Doral, Florida earlier today with American Patrick Reed in the lead by a shot at four-under-par 68.
Tiger Woods took 76 .... Jim Furyk 78, so that tells you how tough the "new" course is if you stray off the fairways or misjudge your approach shots.
LEADERBOARD AFTER 18 HOLES
Par 72 Players from USA unless stated
68 Patrick Reed
69 Francesco Molinari (Italy), Jason Dufner, Dustin Johnson, MNatt Kuchar, Harris English.
70 Zach Johnson, Miguel A Jimenez (Spain), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Luk Donald (England), Brendon de Jonge (S Africa)
SELECTED SCORES
71 Ian Poulter (England)
72 Russell Henley
73 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Victor Dubuisson (France)
74 Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Justin Rose (England), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Phil Mickelson.
75 Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Adam Scott (Australia), Lee Westwood (England)
76 Tiger Woods, Matteo Manassero (Italy).
77 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain)
78 Jim Furyk.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES, INCLUDING
LIVE SCORING FROM THE SECOND ROUND

CLICK HERE

ABERDEEN-BORN PRO MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS A JUNIOR COACH

DAVID POCOCK WINS ANOTHER PGA AWARD

Aberdonian golf professional David Pocock, a former assistant to Hamish Love at Oldmeldrum and now director of coaching with  Valleys Golf Enterprises in South Wales, has been named the PGA Development Pro of the Year.
He received his award this week from Peter Laugher, captain of Welsh PGA (pictured above).
It is the second award Pocock has won since moving to Wales in the summer of 2010 for his first club head pro post at Rhondda Valley GC, between Swansea and Cardiff.
The first was as Club Pro of the Year in Wales in December 2011 for his success in coaching juniors and getting youngsters to take up the game.
Golf is in David's genes. His uncle Mike Pocock has been president of the North-east District Association of the Scottish Golf Union and cousin Donna Pocock is an Aberdeenshire county player and past county champion.

McARTHUR ONLY SCOT TO SURVIVE HALFWAY CUT

      

 

Oliver Wilson among star names eyeing Velasco’s Kenyan lead

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

The Barclays Kenya Open is set for a mouth-watering weekend of action as a host of star names, including former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, defending champion Jordi Garcia Pinto and home hope Greg Snow, chase down the lead held by Spaniard Alvaro Velasco.

Velasco, the 2010 Challenge Tour Number One, carded a two under par 70 at Karen Country Club to add to his opening 66 and move one clear on eight under for the tournament.

The Barcelona man will not rest easy tonight though, as experienced Englishman Wilson eyes up his first Challenge Tour victory after posting a four under 68 to move into a share of second place with South African Jake Roos, while Velasco’s close friend and room-mate Garcia Pinto is one of those placed a shot further back in tied fourth.

Snow, meanwhile, is one of the greatest young hopes in Kenyan golf, so the huge crowds expected at the Nairobi venue this weekend are sure to give him a raucous reception as he aims to become the first home winner in the tournament’s long history.

Velasco was delighted to have maintained his lead as he chases a third Challenge Tour victory, but he knows he has a tough moving day ahead of him if he is to keep his distance from the depth of talent and experience waiting in the wings to depose him from the summit.

“I'm very happy with my round,” said the 32 year old. “I know I could have shot a little bit lower but 70 is a good score. My game wasn’t as sharp today but my putting was good and I felt confident on the greens so I'm happy with that.

“It would mean a lot to win this but I don’t want to think about it too much. There are still two days left but it would be really nice to get the job done, for me and for everyone I have worked with recently.

“It will definitely be an exciting weekend and it is a very interesting leaderboard for the tournament and for the atmosphere. I'm sure it will be great.”

Wilson, meanwhile, came close to a maiden win in front of massive crowds in Northern Ireland last year, and the 2008 Ryder Cup player admitted that playing to the galleries is something which really gets his blood pumping.

“These kinds of buzzing events definitely do get me up for it,” said the 33 year old. “There are five or six tees and greens surrounding the clubhouse so there’s a great atmosphere and there are plenty of people out there watching. It’s just really nice.

“You make a birdie or hit a good shot and you get a good reaction and it helps you focus a little more. That’s how the big events all are. When you get event like this, it’s a really nice feeling.

“It was tricky today. Every hole is birdieable but it’s really hard to get close so it’s tough, especially when the wind gets up like it did today. I'm really pleased with how I finished.”

Jake Roos joined Wilson on seven under late in the day as the experienced South African carded a 68 to take a share of second place heading into the weekend and continue the form which earned him a tied 15^th finish in The European Tour’s Tshwane Open last week.

Garcia Pinto signed for a five under par 67 as he hopes to make a successful defence of his title and, while he was delighted to see his close friend Velasco sitting pretty at the top, he said it would not deter him in his efforts to repeat his feat of 2013 at this very venue.

“For me it’s really exciting to be up there with him on the leaderboard,” said the 24 year old from Girona. “He is a great player and he deserves a win soon. He’s working really hard and it’s nice to see him at the top of the leaderboard but I will still be trying to catch him over the next two days.”

Garcia Pinto was one of five players tied for fourth place on six under par, along with compatriot Pedro Oriol, Denmark’s Lasse Jensen – who was beaten in a play-off at the 2012 edition of this event – Pontus Widegren of Sweden and Kenyan Snow, who will be carrying the hopes of a nation over the weekend.

SCOTSWATCH:

Windyhill's former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur is the only Scot still standing after the halfway cut in the opening event of the 2014 Challenge Tour season - The Barclays Kenya Open at Karen Country Club, Nairobi.

McArthur had a clutch of birdies - sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th and 15th -marred only by one bogey, at the 17th, in a round of 68 for a tally of five-under-par 139. 

That leaves McArthur in joint ninth place, three shots behind the leader through the first 36 holes, Spaniard Alvaro Velasco (66-70) for 136.

The five other Scots in the field failed to beat the cut at one-over 145.
 

Aberdonian David Law, making his Challenge Tour debut, missed out by two, despite a four-birdie second round of 71. Law birdied the long third, fifth, 13th and 15th. The two bogeys that cost him a place in the weekend action befell him at the first and 16th.

Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey slumped from a promising 71 to an error-strewent 77 for 148.

George Murray from Anstruther missed out on 149 (76-73).

Tulliallan's Callum Macaulay shot a pair of 75s for 150 while Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) had disappointing rounds of 77 and 76 for 153.

ends

For extended quotes, tee times, leaderboard and other news, visit http://po.st/CTHP.

 

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72) 

136 A Velasco (Esp) 66 70,

137 O Wilson (Eng) 69 68, J Roos (RSA) 69 68,

138 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 67, G Snow  (Ken) 70 68, L Jensen (Den) 67 71, P Oriol (Esp) 69 69, P Widegren  (Swe) 69 69,

139 A McArthur  (Sco) 71 68, S Hutsby  (Eng) 73 66, D Van Tonder  (RSA) 70 69, A Bernadet  (Fra) 70 69,

140 C Aguilar  (Esp) 71 69, H Porteous (RSA) 67 73, M Lampert (Ger) 72 68, B An (Kor) 68 72, M Ford (Eng) 70 70, G Woolgar (Eng) 72 68,

141 P Relecom  (Bel) 69 72, J Huldahl (Den) 70 71, P Price (Wal) 70 71, T Linard (Fra) 71 70, A Johnston (Eng) 70 71, O Bekker (RSA) 71 70,

142 R Kind (Ned) 72 70, D Indiza  (Ken) 73 69, E Dubois (Fra) 69 73, J Elson  (Eng) 73 69, D Kemmer (USA) 69 73, A Tadini (Ita) 76 66, C Bouniol (Fra) 70 72, O Stark (Swe) 69 73, L Kennedy  (Eng) 72 70, S Brown (Eng) 70 72, T Charamba (Zim) 75 67,

143 L Gagli  (Ita) 73 70, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 70 73, B Åkesson (Swe) 75 68, N Lemke (Swe) 72 71, R Coles (Eng) 72 71, B Ritthammer (Ger) 74 69, Z Scotland  (Eng) 71 72, E Espana (Fra) 73 70,

144 S Tiley (Eng) 71 73, M Lafeber (Ned) 72 72, J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) 70 74, J Guerrier  (Fra) 69 75, J Gonnet  (Fra) 73 71, D Coupland (Eng) 72 72, A Björk (Swe) 74 70, S Walker (Eng) 71 73, O Farr (Wal) 70 74, A Marshall (Eng) 73 71, W Besseling  (Ned) 69 75, B Evans  (Eng) 73 71, K Benz (Sui) 73 71,

145 J Kennegard  (Swe) 71 74, J Legarrea (Esp) 72 73, J Lagergren (Swe) 73 72, J Winther (Den) 73 72, M Rominger  (Sui) 75 70, A Bruschi  (Ita) 72 73, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 74 71, M Wiegele  (Aut) 74 71, C Hanson (Eng) 73 72, S Little (Eng) 75 70, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 75 70, D Ulrich (Sui) 69 76,

 

  MISSED THE CUT

146 S Smith (RSA) 74 72, F Praegant (Aut) 70 76, C Lloyd (Eng) 71 75, N Quintarelli (Ita) 69 77, T Pieters  (Bel) 74 72, P Archer (Eng) 74 72, L Goddard  (Eng) 75 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 75, C Russo (Fra) 71 75, N Ngugi (Ken) 72 74, T Nørret (Den) 72 74, A Snobeck  (Fra) 72 74,

147 D Law (Sco) 76 71, D Gaunt (Eng) 77 70, B Njoroge  (Ken) 75 72, S Ngige (Ken) 75 72, P Edberg (Swe) 69 78, A Rota (Ita) 73 74, J Palmer (Eng) 70 77, C Mivis  (Bel) 73 74, D Wakhu  (Ken) 75 72, A Dunbar (Nir) 70 77, R McEvoy  (Eng) 75 72,

148 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 76 72, J Rask (Swe) 74 74, L Nemecz (Aut) 74 74, D Im (USA) 76 72, C Paisley  (Eng) 76 72, S Engell Andersen  (Ken) 73 75, M Delpodio  (Ita) 73 75, D Stewart (Sco) 71 77, D Gavins (Eng) 75 73, V Phillips (Eng) 70 78, E Kofstad (Nor) 73 75,

149 R Charania (Ken) 78 71, R Ainley (Ken) 77 72, O Floren  (Swe) 74 75, N Rokoine  (Ken) 71 78, M Haastrup  (Den) 78 71, J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 76, G Murray  (Sco) 76 73, M Orrin (Eng) 74 75, T Omuli (am) (Ken) 76 73,

150 C Macaulay  (Sco) 75 75, H Buhrmann (RSA) 79 71,

** J Karichu (am) (Ken) DQ 0,

150 A Hartø  (Den) 79 71, J Okello (Ken) 75 75, P Maddy (Eng) 74 76,

151 B Hebert  (Fra) 71 80, G Cambis  (Fra) 76 75, J Kiondo (Ken) 76 75, M Trappel  (Aut) 74 77, R Davies (Wal) 72 79, S Muthugia (Ken) 77 74, D Akope  (Uga) 73 78, M Omondi (Ken) 73 78, G Boyd  (Eng) 81 70,

152 A Domingo (Esp) 76 76, C Shinkwin (Eng) 76 76, T Lee (USA) 77 75, T Sluiter  (Ned) 74 78, N Mudanyi (Ken) 76 76, C Brazillier  (Fra) 73 79, N Johansson (Swe) 73 79, D Odhiambo  (Ken) 79 73, J Madoya (am) (Ken) 75 77,

153 R Steiner (Aut) 76 77, D Opati (Ken) 76 77, D Anguyo (Uga) 77 76, K Chiluba (Zam) 73 80, P McKechnie (Sco) 77 76,

154 D Frittelli (RSA) 78 76,

155 J Wangai (Ken) 78 77, B Simwa (Ken) 78 77, R Owiti (am) (Ken) 82 73, D Nduva (am) (Ken) 78 77,

156 T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 74 82, K Timbe  (Ken) 81 75, A Shah (Ken) 78 78,

157 J Hakizimana (Rwa) 79 78,

158 N Dougherty  (Eng) 81 77,

159 H Thethy  (Ken) 80 79,

161 G Giddie  (Ken) 84 77,

162 N Simwa (am) (Ken) 87 75,

171 M Vinaccia (Fra) 83 88,

** B Stone (RSA) 79 WD, N Ravano (Ita) RT  0,

 

CAWDER MAN SIGNS OFF WITH FOUR-UNDER-PAR 68

CHRIS KELLY FINISHES JT SEVENTH IN 

EVOLVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Cawder tour pro Chris Kelly earned 310 Euros for a joint seventh place finish in the Spanish Evolve Pro Tour Championship over 54 holes at Corvera Golf Club, Murcia today (Friday).

Kelly had rounds of 72, 72 and 68 for a four-under-par total of 212 - six shots behind the winner of the top 3,000 Euros prize, Englishman Alex Belt who scored 70, 70 and 66 for 10-under 206.

Belt, from Snainton Golf Centre, Scarborough, won by one shot from Stirling University graduate David Booth from Rotherham.

Kelly cancelled out a birdie at the third with a bogey at the fourth but then covered the remaining 14 holes in four under par with birdies at the fifth, seventh, 11th and 13th.

SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Corvera Golf Club, Murcia

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

206 Alex Belt (Eng) 70 70 66 (3,000 Euros)

207 David Booth (Eng) 72 69 66 (1,200 Euros)

207 Jordan Gibb (Eng) 70 71 68, Bradley Dredge (Wal) 69 67 73 (800 Euros each).

210 H P Bacher (Aut) 75 67 68, Florian Fritsch (Ger) 73 68 69 (550 Euros each)

212 Chris Kelly (Sco) 72 72 68, Liam Murray (Eng) 73 69 70, Gary King (Eng) 74 66 72 (310 Euros each).

SELECTED TOTAL

228 Paul McGhee (Sco) 74 77 77 (T38)

ends

EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE AT BROOMIEKNOWE

LONGNIDDRY AMATEUR WILSON PIPS 

OLDCORN FOR PATERSON MEDAL 

FROM ALAN GREENSHIELDS

A healthy Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance field of 102 members headed to Bonnyrigg to compete for the Paterson Medal at Broomieknowe Golf Club this week when favourable weather blessed the 2013/2014 season yet again.

Early in the day it looked like the level par round of 70 by Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) might secure the Paterson Medal.

However, late in the day Longniddry amateur Iain Wilson (Longniddry) matched Andrew's 70 with a superb finish of three birdies at 16, 17 and 18. 

Iain, playing off a handicap of three, not only matched the top scratch score on the day but with a net 67 secured the silverware and will have his name added to The Paterson Medal.

With Oldcorn securing the top scratch prize, runners-up awards went three ways on 71 to Andrew Erskine (Ratho Park), Norman Huguet (Musselburgh) and Duncan Martin (Longniddry).

On the handicap front four players shared second prize with net 71s, four shots behind Iain Wilson.

They were Graham Hillan (Strathaven) (75 less 4), Derek Jervis (Prestonfield) (79 less 8), Alan MacKay (Kingsknowe) (74 less 3) and Martin Rennie (Uphall) (75 less 4).

Top trainee was Gordon Hilson (Dunbar) on 74

Senior top score was shared on net 74 by Willie Marr (West Lothian) (84 less 10) and Duncan Stewart (Craigielaw) (80 less 6)

 In the Scratch Order of Merit Ross Neill (Drumpellier) consolidated his lead but changes were made in next two places:

 

1 Ross Neill (Drumpellier) 547pts

2 Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) 512pts

3 Chris Morris (Kingsknowe) 502.5pts

In the Handicap Order of Merit Martin Rennie (Uphall) moves back into the lead, having swopped places with James Silvestro (Musselburgh):

1 Martin Rennie (Uphall) 172pts

2 James Silvestro (Musselburgh) 154pts

3 Walter Forsyth (Peebles) 130pts

Play stays in Midlothian next week for the last outing of the regulation season at Duddingston prior to the annual championship in three weeks at Gullane Nos 2 and 3.
 
SCROLL DOWN FOR LIST OF PRIZEWINNERS, LEADING SCORES 

Alan Greenshields

Secretary/Treasurer

Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance

44/2 Pitt Street

Edinburgh

EH6 4DA

 

Mobile:07730 007100

Alliance Mobile: 07814 983582

Overall Winner		Iain Wilson (Longniddry)			67(net)
Scratch	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Score
1st	£100	Oldcorn	Andrew	Kings Acre	70
2nd=	£60	Erskine	Andrew	Ratho Park	71
2nd=	£60	Huguet	Norman	Musselburgh	71
2nd=	£60	Martin	Duncan	Longniddry	71
5th=	£10	Johnston	Richard	Glenbervie	72
5th=	£10	Saltman	Zack	Archerfield	72
Handicap	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Net
1st	£100	Wilson	Iain	Longniddry	67
2nd=	£50	Hillan	Graham	Strathaven	71
2nd=	£50	Jervis	Derek	Prestonfield	71
2nd=	£50	MacKay	Alan	Kingsknowe	71
2nd=	£50	Rennie	Martin	Uphall	71
Trainee	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Score
Professional	£20	Hillson	Gordon	Dunbar	74
Senior	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Net
	£20	Marr	William	West Lothian	74
	£10	Stewart	Duncan	Craigielaw	74

LEADING SCRATCH SCORES

1    Oldcorn    Andrew     Kings Acre    Professional    70
2    Wilson    Iain    Longniddry    Amateur              70
3    Erskine    Andrew    Ratho Park    Professional    71
4    Huguet    Norman     Musselburgh    Professional    71
5    Martin    Duncan     Longniddry    Amateur                  71
6    Johnston    Richard     Glenbervie    Amateur                  72
7    Saltman    Zack    Archerfield    Professional    72
8    MacKay    Graham     Melville Golf Centre Professional    73
9    Marshall    Andrew     Houston G.R.    Professional    73
10    Hillson    Gordon     Dunbar           Trainee                  74
11    Law    Gordon     Uphall                  Professional    74
12    MacKay    Alan     Kingsknowe    Amateur                  74
13    Morris    Chris    Kingsknowe    Professional    74
14    Boyle    Tony    Glenbervie    Amateur                  75
15    Dunsmore Steven     Falkirk Tryst    Professional    75
16    Henderson Neil     Renaissance Club    Professional    75
17    Hillan    Graham     Strathaven    Amateur       75
18    Neill    Ross     Drumpellier    Professional    75
19    Rennie    Martin    Uphall           Amateur               75
20    Dick    James     Duddingston    Professional    76
21    Marr    Cameron    Musselburgh    Trainee                  76
22    Munro    Ross     Duddingston    Trainee                  76
23    Cordery    Thomas    Musselburgh    Amateur           77
24    Gordon    Craig     Edinburgh G C       Professional    77
25    Wither    George     Duddingston    Amateur          77
26    Yaguez    Antonio    Kingsknowe    Professional    77
27    Brydon    David    Torwoodlee    Amateur       78
28    Cooney    Kieran    Bathgate       Amateur                  78
29    Lamb    Stevie    Cardrona          Professional          78
30    Munro    Andrew    Musselburgh    Trainee                  78
31    Jervis    Derek    Prestonfield    Senior                  79
32    Saltman    Lloyd    Archerfield    Professional    79
33    Skinner    Grant    Glencorse    Amateur                  79
34    White    Justin    Harrison (Braids)    Amateur                  79
35    Gilhooley    Tom     Torwoodlee    Amateur                  80
36    Nicolson    David    Craigielaw    Amateur                  80
37    Stewart    Duncan     Craigielaw    Senior                  80

AMERICAN WITH SCOTS-SOUNDING NAME LEADS BY ONE

BRIAN STUARD SETS PACE WITH A 66 IN 

PUERTO RICO OPEN

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM WEBSITE

Brian Stuard ended day one of the Puerto Rico Open with a one-shot lead over his rivals after an impressive opening round of 66 in Rio Grande.

The 31-year-old American, whose name sounds as if he has Scottish forefathers, starting on the back nine, sank five birdies on his way out and two more on the return before a bogey on his second-last hole slightly blemished his card.
However, his score of six under was enough to put him at the top of the leaderboard ahead of American compatriot Jason Gore and New Zealander Danny Lee.
"The wind is blowing pretty good out there, so I got to hit some good shots," Stuard said. "I did well. I kept it in play nice off the tee, didn't get in much trouble, and only made the one bogey.    

First round leaderboard

(US unless stated)
-6 B Stuard
-5 J Gore
-5 D Lee (Nzl)
-4 Seven players tied

"I've just been playing pretty solid, but been putting well. I putted really good to start off the year and then kind of last few weeks not quite as good and then good today."
Gore was flawless on his way to a round of 67 while New Zealander Lee mixed six birdies with a single bogey for the same score.
"It wasn't easy out there," Lee said. "It was very windy, and there's some tough pin placements out there, but I played very smart today and I hit it where I wanted to hit it, and I rolled it really nicely with the putter. It was a really good day for me."
Seven players were tied for fourth on four under, among them 2009 US Open runner-up Ricky Barnes, who picked up four shots after the turn on his way to an opening score of 68.
Defending champion Scott Brown was well-placed after a two-under 70, while Brooks Koepka, who is the highest-ranked player in the field at 70th in the world, was on level par. 

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