SEVEN-UNDER-PAR 65 JOINT BEST AT HUMBLE, TEXAS

HAAS AND HOFFMAN SHARE FIRST

 ROUND LEAD AT HOUSTON OPEN
 

By Sean Martin, PGATOUR.COM

• • Bill Haas is currently 33rd in the FedExCup standings, but is poised for a big jump. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
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  SHELL HOUSTON OPEN: Leaderboard | Tee times | Daily Wrap-up | Rd. 1 highlights | FedExCup
  
  HUMBLE, Texas – Bill Haas is back in contention at the Shell Houston Open, shooting 7-under 65 on Thursday to tie for the lead after the first round.
  Haas was in the final group last year before shooting a Sunday 72 to fall to 10th place. He’s tied with Charley Hoffman for the lead after this year’s first round. Hoffman needs to win to get in the Masters.
  Haas made six birdies, one eagle and a single bogey Thursday. He’s 33rd in this year’s FedExCup after finishing in the top 25 in eight of 10 starts this season.
  “I feel like I’m hanging around, playing okay,” Haas said. “I certainly haven’t knocked on the door on Sunday quite yet. But I feel like I’m doing a lot of good things. It’s not like I’m just lost out there. I feel like I’m close. I think you just have to stay positive, and hopefully one week it all clicks and you find yourself in the mix on Sunday and then try to take advantage of that.”
  Hoffman was bogey-free Thursday. He’s 31st in the FedExCup thanks to seven top-25s in 11 starts this season, including three top-10s.
  

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  BACK ON TRACK: Phil Mickelson wondered whether he'd be able to play the Masters after pulling a muscle in the third round of last week's Valero Texas Open. Those concerns are gone after a first-round 68 on Thursday at the Shell Houston Open.
  "I feel a lot better," Mickelson said. "I travel with a light therapy machine, and I got on it right away, and I think that made a world of difference as far as expediting the healing process to where it doesn't hurt anymore. 
  "It just feels sore like I was working out, as opposed to kind of a painful experience."
  Mickelson did occasionally twist his torso between shots as if he was trying to stretch his back.
  Mickelson spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Augusta National as he prepares for next week's Masters. He said he hit mostly iron shots Tuesday and played nine holes the next day.
  "I was able to spend more time with short irons, chipping, putting as opposed to driving the ball, but even that was pretty good today," Mickelson said. "I hit the ball well off the tee and didn't miss very many fairways."
  He played Thursday with Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley. Bradley shot 66, while Simpson matched Mickelson’s 68. No one in the group made a bogey.

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  TEXAS TWO-STEP: Matt Kuchar is one of just a handful of players, most of whom have Texas ties, who are playing these two Texas tournaments before the Masters.
   Kuchar was born in Florida and lives in Georgia, but his instructor, Chris O'Connell, is based in Dallas.
  "We spent back-to-back weeks together. Things started clicking really well," said Kuchar, who's coming off a fourth-place finish at last week's Valero Texas Open. Kuchar has finished in the top 10 at Augusta National in each of the past two years, but didn’t play two consecutive weeks before either of those Masters. He is trying the new schedule to get more time with O’Connell before the year’s first major.
  “I’ve had pretty good success the past two years in the Masters, so it was strange to change up the formula but I figured we were on to some pretty good things,” Kuchar said. 
  He’s traditionally played well in May when he sees O’Connell during the TOUR’s back-to-back Dallas-area events, so he wanted to try a similar schedule in advance of the Masters.
  Kuchar was tied for the lead with Steven Bowditch with nine holes remaining at last week’s Valero Texas Open, but shot 39 on the final nine. Bowditch went on to earn his first PGA TOUR victory.
  "The great thing out here is you start all over the next week regardless whether you win or miss the cut," Kuchar said. "I think you kind of need a bit of a short memory out here because every week you just start over fresh."
  

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  SHORT STUFF: Rory McIlroy’s driving statistics were impressive in Thursday’s first-round 70. He averaged 307.5 yards per tee shot and hit 11 of 14 fairways. His putting stats weren’t as strong, though. His strokes gained-putting was -1.613.
  “The greens weren’t quite as fast as we’re used to here, so I struggled getting the ball to the hole,“ said McIlroy, who hit 14 of 18 greens Thursday. 
  “I just need to work on my speed a little bit, but I’m very encouraged with how I hit the ball. I just didn’t score particularly well.”

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  WIN TO GET IN: Four of the top seven on the leaderboard are not yet in the Masters: Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes, Erik Compton and Jim Renner. The Shell Houston Open is the last opportunity to qualify for the year’s first major. A player not yet exempt must win to get in to Augusta National.
  

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  OUT OF ACTION: Dustin Johnson withdrew after a first-round 80. No reason was given. He was 9 over after six holes, but made four birdies to return to 5 over through 15 holes. He made bogey on No. 16 and double-bogey on 18 to shoot 80, though. Johnson finished fourth at last year’s Shell Houston Open.
  

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FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72.  Players from USA unless stated
65 Bill Haas, Charley Hoffman.
66 Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar, J B Holmes, Erik Compton, Jim Renner.
67 Stewart Cink, Michael Thompson, Ben Curtis, Camilo Villegas (S America), Justin Hicks, Sergio Garcia (Spain), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa)

SELECTED SCORES
68 Ernie Els (S Africa), Phil Mickelson (T18)
69 Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Matteo Manassero (Italy) (T38)
70 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Jordan Spieth, Ian Poulter (England), Lee Westwood (England)
71 Jimmy Walker, Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Luke Donald (England), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (T76).
72 Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) (T97)
73 Paul Casey (England) (T114).
74 Brian Davis (England) (T124)
75 Darren Clarke (N Ireland) (T131)
76 Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) (T140)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES 

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CHRIS DOAK TAKES 86 BLOWS IN FIRST ROUND

 

Jack Doherty’s three under par 69 remained good enough for the outright lead as the first round of the NH Collection Open was completed in Spain.
After play had been delayed by two hours and 40 minutes because of heavy rain, Doherty overcame strong winds to card a three under par 69 to lead by one from Welshman Bradley Dredge after day one.
The Scot came through The European Tour Qualifying School in November at the 12th attempt, but has only made one cut so far this season, finishing joint 63rd in the Tshwane Open.
Half the 144-man field returned to complete their second rounds this morning, and Doherty was briefly caught when Tjaart van der Walt advanced to three under through 13 holes, but a bogey at the eighth – his 17th – saw him the group of players tied for second after recording two under par rounds of 70.
Dredge and van der Walt were joined by Italian Marco Crespi, while swede Jens Dantorp birdied the second hole of his second round to make it a four-way tie.

Another 11 players were on one under, amongst them former Ryder Cup star David Howell and leading Spaniard Adrian Otaegui.

Read more at http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014026/news/newsid=220188.html#xDffT1QG4ZWHLbGb.99

Jack Doherty’s three under par 69 remained good enough for the outright lead as the first round of the NH Collection Open was completed in Spain.
After play had been delayed by two hours and 40 minutes because of heavy rain, Doherty overcame strong winds to card a three under par 69 to lead by one from Welshman Bradley Dredge after day one.
The Scot came through The European Tour Qualifying School in November at the 12th attempt, but has only made one cut so far this season, finishing joint 63rd in the Tshwane Open.
Half the 144-man field returned to complete their second rounds this morning, and Doherty was briefly caught when Tjaart van der Walt advanced to three under through 13 holes, but a bogey at the eighth – his 17th – saw him the group of players tied for second after recording two under par rounds of 70.
Dredge and van der Walt were joined by Italian Marco Crespi, while swede Jens Dantorp birdied the second hole of his second round to make it a four-way tie.

Another 11 players were on one under, amongst them former Ryder Cup star David Howell and leading Spaniard Adrian Otaegui.

Read more at http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014026/news/newsid=220188.html#xDffT1QG4ZWHLbGb.99

JACK DOHERTY TAMES WIND TO LEAD 

WITH 69 AT 

SOTOGRANDE



European Tour rookie Jack Doherty, pictured, stormed into the clubhouse lead after a rain-delayed opening day of the European Tour's inaugural NH Collection Open at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf, on Spain's Costa del Sol, where the Scot carded a three-under-par 69 in difficult conditions.
The majority of the field have yet to complete their first rounds.
The 31 year old Doherty, a hugely promising amateur as a youth who earned his first season on The Race to Dubai through last November’s Qualifying School, fell to a bogey early in his round but bounced back with three birdies to reach the turn in two under. After exchanging two birdies and two bogeys late in his round, the Australian-born player edged ahead thanks to a birdie at the ninth, his last.
 Play was suspended at 8:45pm local time due to lack of light after an earlier rain delay of 2hr 40min. The first round will resume on Friday morning.
Said Doherty: “It was a tough day. We had a 20yd wind on the front nine and almost a 30yd wind on the back nine, so it was strong wind. 
"The ball is going a long way downwind and it’s hardly going anywhere into the wind, but I practise on the west coast of Scotland which is normally quite windy, so I know how to play it and I just stuck to my game plan. 
“The course is lovely, it’s my first time here and I enjoyed it. I like the way it sets up and it’s in good condition. Considering we had lots of rain yesterday and last night, the course has held up nicely and the greens are fast, especially downwind. 
“This is my first year on the main tour and my main target is to keep my card for next year. That would be the main goal, as I am limited in my starts. Every week is big, but a good week here would be huge.”
At the opposite end of the scoreboard, it was not
such a good day for Scots.
Craig Lee could do no better than a 78 and David Drysdale returned a 79. 
Alastair Forsyth toiled for an eight-over-par 80 while Chris Doak fared even worse - a 14-over-par 86.
Doak started his nightmare with a triple bogey 7.
Then he had a double bogey 6 at the second followed by a quadruple bogey 8.
The first nine holes cost him 46 blows.

CLUBHOUSE SCORES
Par 72
69 Jack Doherty (Scotland)
70 Bradley Dredge (Wales)
71 Adrian Otaegui (Spain), Lorenzo Gagli (Italy), David Howell (England), David Horsey (England, Mikko Korhonen (Finland).
SELECTED SCORES
72 Anders Hansen (Denmark), Matthew Nixon (England), Alejandro Canizares (Spain), Gary Stal (France), Connor Arendell (USA), Jorge Campillo (Spain).
73 Jamie McLeary (Scotland).
76 Andrew McArthur (Scotland)
78 Craig Lee (Scotland
79 David Drysdale (Scotland)
80 Alastair Forsyth (Scotland)
86 Chris Doak (Scotland)
Retired: Simon Dyson (England).

LARGS MAN HEADS 11 SCOTS QUALIFIERS AT EUROPRO SCHOOL

GOLF INTRO

SCORES SENT EARLIER

CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY

QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON

TEL 01224 869782

PAUL ROBINSON HEADS 11 SCOTS QUALIFIERS

FOR FINAL 18 HOLES AT EUROPRO Q SCHOOL

Only l1 of the 31 Scottish players in the field of 240 survived the PGA EuroPro

Tour Final Qualifying School cut to the 88 players with 36-hole tallies of level

par 144 and better.

They go forward to today's (Friday) final 18 holes which will decide, apart

from the prizemoney distribution, the players' rankings and how many tour events to which they will gain entry.

The Scots qualifiers were led by the relatively unknown Largs Golf Club professional

Paul Robinson. He shot 69 and and a seven-birdie 67 for 136, which sees him

start the final day in joint third place, two shots behind Irishman leader Mark

Murphy.

Ross Kellett (Aberdeen Asset Management) improved by seven shots with a 66 for 139 and joint

12th place.

Aberdour amateur Scott Crichton's pair of 70s for 140 made him a comfortable

qualifier in joint 17th place.

He is a shot ahead of Tartan Tour campaigner and Scottish Alliance champion

Chris Currie (Caldwell) (70-71 for 141) and Kemnay's Greg McBain (72-69)

Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) slipped back from 67 to 75 but progressed on 142

with Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay (70-72) in joint 42nd place.

Par 144 was the limit qualifying mark and four Scots made it through with a shot to spare

on 143 - Jordon McColl (Scotscraig) (71-72), Malcolm Isaacs (Newmachar) (74-69), Kris

Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) (71-72) and Graham Rankain (Drumpellier) (71-72).

The failures included Ellon's Ross Cameron who would have gained pass marks

if he had been able to conjure up a birdie instead of four pars for the final holes

in a 74 for 145.

Paul Lawrie's elder son Craig (71-75) and stablemate Jordan Findlay (77-69)

missed out on the 146 mark alongside Neil Henderson (Renaissance Cllub) (73-73).

ends

IS JOHN BRYDONE THE OLDEST SURVING SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPION?

E-mail from Michael Niven
 Sent from my iPad in Los Angeles

Reference John McTear's query: Who is the oldest surviving Scottish boys champion (See below)?
I can confirm that John Brydone, the winner in  1947, is alive and well (which makes John 84 or 85 years old, depending when his birthday is).
We are both members of Pitlochry GC.  John was 17 when he won

Michael Niven





E-mail from Rodney Neil
Yes, John Brydone is alive. He phoned Brads when he won the boys' championship last year. His pic is hung at Pitlochry Golf Club.
 Rodney Neil

NOTE from Colin Farquharson. If John Brydone (or Pitlochry Golf Club)  can send me a picture of himself, we would post it on this page.
Nice to hear that Michael Niven is logging on to the website in
LOS ANGELES!
.

(Earlier) E-mail from John McTear

My old golfing pal Bill Lockie is looking forward to watching the Scottish boys' chanpionship  at West Kilbride next week - an event he won exactly fifty years ago.
I met Bryan Thomson in St Andrews last year. He won the championship at North Berwick in 1952.
Would you know who is the oldest surviving Scottish boys' champion?
I too would have been a spectator at West Kilbride next week as I won the event in 1966,but I am paying my first visit to Augusta next week. 
I am sure the boys will enjoy West Kilbride G C 

John McTear

So does the honour of being the oldest surving Scottish boys champion belong to John Brydone, the 1947 winner?
If you know an older winner, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The post-war winners up to 1952 have been:
1951 I Young (Strathaven).
1950 A Miller (Marr College, Troon).
1949 D H Reid (Glasgow High School).
1948 R Nicol (Bath)
1947 J Brydone (Breadalbane Academy)
1940-46 Not played (World War II)
1939 K W Walker (Harrow)
1938 R G Inglis (Kingston Grammar)
1937 R G Inglis (Kingston Grammar)
1936 R Stewart (Rutherglen)
1935 D Blair (North Berwick).

+The Scottish boys' championship was played at North Berwick until 1975

 John McTear ... not with the Scottish boys' championship trophy he won at North Berwick in 1966, but the PGA Senior Championship Trophy a few years later!

SEQUEL TO HUGE SUCCESS AT ROYAL PORTRUSH TWO YEARS AGO

ROYAL CO DOWN TO HOST IRISH OPEN

IN 2015, LOUGH ERNE RESORT 2017

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATION 
The European Tour today confirmed that the Irish Open will return to Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2017, with Royal County Down Golf Club hosting next year’s event from May 28-31, 2015, followed by Lough Erne Resort in three years’ time. 
It will be the first time in 76 years that the Irish Open has been played at the world famous Royal County Down in Newcastle, Co. Down, as Northern Ireland hosts the event for only the second time in the last 60 years, following the hugely successful 2012 edition at Royal Portrush. 
Record crowds watched Jamie Donaldson’s victory at Royal Portrush two years ago, making it The European Tour’s first ‘sold out’ tournament. Now, following an agreement between The European Tour, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the event will return to Northern Ireland for the 11th time next year, before heading back to the country in 2017 when Lough Erne Resort, in Enniskillen, Fermanagh, hosts an Irish Open for the first time. Given the anticipated high demand, the 2015 Irish Open at Royal County Down Golf Club is likely to be another all-ticket affair, with tickets going on sale with immediate effect via www.europeantour.com/tickets on a first come-first served basis. 
Royal County Down Golf Club was recently voted fourth on Golf Digest’s 2014 list of the World’s Top 100 Courses, underlining its reputation on the global golfing stage. 
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 captured the imagination of the country after a lengthy absence, and we are delighted to confirm today that the tournament will be back in Northern Ireland next year, at another magnificent links venue in Royal County Down, before returning again in 2017 at Lough Erne Resort.

Lough Erne Resort is home to two Championship Golf Courses - The Faldo Course, designed by six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo, and Castle Hume Golf Course. The resort is set on a private 600 acre peninsula between Lower Lough Erne and Castle Hume Lough.
Tickets for the 2014 Irish Open at Fota Island Resort and for the 2015 Irish Open at Royal County Down are available at www.europeantour.com/tickets or by calling +44 (0)800 023 2557.

WINNERS OF THE IRISH OPEN IN NORTHERN IRELAND

2012	Royal Portrush	Jamie Donaldson	270
1953	Belvoir Park	Eric Brown	272
1949	Belvoir Park	Harry Bradshaw	286
1947	Royal Portrush	Harry Bradshaw	290
1939	Royal County Down	Arthur Lees	287
1937	Royal Portrush	Bert Gadd	284
1935	Royal County Down	Ernest Whitcombe	292
1933	Malone	Bob Kenyon	286
1930	Royal Portrush	Charles Whitcombe	289
1928	Royal County Down	Ernest Whitcombe	288

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

ROSS CAMERON, CRAIG LAWRIE, JORDAN FINDLAY DNQ AT EUROPRO TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL

PAUL ROBINSON HEADS 11 SCOTS 

 

QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL 18 HOLES 

 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Only l1 of the 31 Scottish players in the field of 240 survived the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School cut to the 88 players with 36-hole tallies of level par 144 and better.

They go forward to Friday's final 18 holes which will decide, apart from the prizemoney distribution, the players' rankings and how many tour events to which they will gain entry.

The Scots qualifiers were led by the relatively unknown Largs Golf Club professional Paul Robinson. He shot 69 and and a seven-birdie 67 for 136, which sees him start the final day in joint third place, two shots behind Irishman leader Mark Murphy.

Ross Kellett (Aberdeen Asset Management) improved by seven shots with a 66 for 139 and joint 12th place.

Aberdour amateur Scott Crichton's pair of 70s for 140 made him a comfortable qualifier for the last round in joint 17th place.

He is a shot ahead of Tartan Tour campaigner and Scottish Alliance champion Chris Currie (Caldwell) (70-71 for 141) and Kemnay's Greg McBain (72-69)

Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) slipped back from 67 to 75 but progressed on 142 with Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay (70-72) in joint 42nd place.

Par 144 was the limit qualifying mark and four Scots made it through with a shot to spare

on 143 - Jordon McColl (Scotscraig) (71-72), Malcolm Isaacs (Newmachar) (74-69), Kris

Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) (71-72) and Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) (71-72).

The failures included Ellon's Ross Cameron who would have gained pass marks if he had been able to conjure up a birdie instead of four pars for the final holes in a 74 for 145.

Paul Lawrie's elder son Craig (71-75) and stablemate Jordan Findlay (77-69) missed out on the 146 mark alongside Neil Henderson (Renaissance Cllub) (73-73).

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Mark Murphy (Ire) 68 66 
135 Richard Kilpatrick (Eng) 69 66
136 Paul Robinson (Largs) 69 67, Max Williams (Eng) 67 69, David Booth (Rotherham) 65 71
137 Jamie Rutherford (Eng) 70 67
138 Luke Joy (Eng) 71 67, Richard Law (Eng) 72 66, Rory Walsh (Eng) 68 70, Tom Whitehouse (Eng) 70 68, Sam Robinson (Eng) 71 67

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

139 Ross Kellett (Aberdeen Asset Managment) 73 66 (T12)
140 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) (am) 70 70 (T22)
141 Chris Currie (Caldwell) 70 71, Greg McBain (Kemnay) 72 69 (T27)
142 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 67 75, Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) 70 72 (T42)
143 Jordan McColl (Scotscraig) 71 72, Malcolm Isaacs (Newmachar) 74 69, Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) 71 72, Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) 71 72 (T57)

MISSED THE CUT 
(Players with totals of 144 and better qualified for final 18 holes)
145 Ross  Cameron (Saltire Energy) 71 74
146 Craig Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 71 75, Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC) 77 69, Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club) 73 73
147 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 69 68, Graham Forbes (Bob Torrance School) 75 72, Graham Guthrie (unatt) 73 74.
148 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 71 77, Mark Hillson (Tandridge) 73 75, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) (am) 74 74, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 72
150 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle Golf) 76 74, Graeme Brown (Montrose) 75 75
152 Connor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 77, Callum Trahan (Gleneagles) 76 76
154 Mark Rae (Aberdeen Door Systems) 81 73, Robert Reynolds (Global Sports) 77 77, Ross Bell (Downfield) 77 77.
155 Andrew Borg (Forthview GR) 76 79.


TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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BOTH MEN NOW HEAD FOR MASTERS

 PORTEOUS BEATS FITZPATRICK IN ALL-

ENGLAND GEORGIA CUP PLAY-OFF

ALPHARETTA, Georgia -- British Amateur champion Garrick Porteous defeated US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick to win the Georgia Cup on Wednesday.

In the first all-England match in the 17-year history of the event, Porteous, pictured right, won four straight holes on the front nine that led to his 3 and 2 victory on the Lakeside Course at The Golf Club of Georgia.
The Georgia Cup began in 1998 as a match between the US Amateur and British Amateur champions the week before they play in the Masters.

Fitzpatrick built a two-hole lead through three holes, only for Porteous to make three birdies and a par to seize control. Fitzpatrick holed out for eagle from 116 yards on the par-4 15th hole to extend the match. 
Porteous won on the next hole after both made bogey.
+Porteous was quoted recently as saying he would turn professional after the Masters. He is a member at Bamburgh Caste Golf Club in the North-east of England.
Fitzpatrick, who will not be 20 until September, shocked Northwestern University, Illinois - Luke Donald's alma mater - by not returning to the college after the Christmas break. He had completed only one term.
Fitzpatrick said that he was staying in England to play full-time amateur golf at least until the 2015 Walker Cup at Royal Lytham.
His US amateur triumph gained his places in the Masters, US Open and Open this year. 
Fitzpatrick, who comes from Sheffield, is a former
British boys champion and winner of the Silver Medal as leading amateur at last year's Open championship.