ROYAL BURGESS MAN WINS SPRING MEETING BY THREE SHOTS

FORMER SHINTY STAR JOHN FRASER 

IS TOP SENIOR AT SCOTSCRAIG 

A star shinty player in his younger days, John Fraser is still swinging a club to good effect.
Today (Friday), John (pictured) completed a three-stroke victory in the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society's spring meeting over 36 holes at Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife.
The Royal Burgess Society member, who is 61 and plays off +1 of a handicap, shot rounds of 74 and 70 for a total of 144 - against a CSS of 73-75 for 148.
Runner-up with scores of 73 and 74 for 147 was another +1 player, slightly younger - 54-year-old Graham Bell (Downfield).
Derek Sim, 67-year-old five-handicapper at Panmure), had the best net aggregate of 140, made up of scores of 68 and 72.
He won by three shots from Joe McManus, who plays off three at Uphall and had net scores of 72 and 71.
SCOTTISH SENIORS GOLFING SOCIETY
Spring Meeting
Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
SCRATCH
CSS 73 75.
144 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 74 70
147 Graham Bell (Downfield) 73 74
149 Ian Jeen (St Andrews New) 76 73, Joe McManus (Uphall) 75 74, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) 73 76
149 Les Pirie (Millport) 77 73, Michael Rust (Tillicoutry) 74 76, David Downie (Kirriemuir) 74 76, Jim McArthur (St Andrews New) 73 77, Derek Sim (Panmure) 73 77
151 David Shields (Glenearn) 78 73, Robert Craw (Glenbervie) 76 75, Malcolm Reid (Sonning) 76 75, Ian Angus (Duff House Royal) 74 77
152 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 76 76, Ronnie Clark (Erskine) 75 77, Brian Smith (Hamilton) 74 78, Jim Watt (Edzell) 72 80
153 Jalil Aman (Grangemeouth) 77 76, Barry Brooks (Meldrum House) 77 76, John Broadfoot (Turnberry) 75 78
154 David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 80 74, Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 79 75, David Imrie (Thornton) 77 77, Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) 77 77, Muir Townsley (Dumfries and Co) 76 78, George Blair (Haddington) 76 78, Keith Bruce (Edzell) 74 80, David Taylor (Dunfermline) 73 81, Gavin Hemsley (Montrose Mercantile) 73 81.
HANDICAP
140  Derek Sim (Panmure) (5) 68 72
143 Joe McManus (Uphall) (3) 72 71
146 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) (+1) 75 71, Colin Halcrow (Eindyhill) (4) 73 73, Jim McArthur (St Andrews New) (2) 71 75, Jim Watt (Edzell) (3) 69 77
147 Ian Jeen (St Andrews New) (1) 75 72, Jalil Aman (Grangemouth) (3) 74 73, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbvervie) (1) 72 75, John Broadfoot (Turnberry) (3) 72 75
148 Les Pirie (Millport) (1) 76 72, David Downie (Kirriemuir) (1) 73 75, Michael Rust (Tillicoutry) (1) 73 75, Brian Smith (Hamilton) (2) 72 76, David Taylor (Dunfermline) (3) 70 78.

ends

GREAT DOUBLE BY ALISTAIR GOODE'S GULLANE STAFF

KEIR McNICOLL TOP ROOKIE PGA 

ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR

 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Gullane Golf Club professional Alistair Goode was the proudest man at today's (Friday) PGA annual graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham.
Alistair stepped up to collect the Major John Bywater Trophy on behalf of one of his assistants, Keir McNicoll, who was the top Rookie PGA Assistant of the Year.
And a second Gullane assistant, Emma Fairnie, was also in the picture as runner-up in the Year 3 PGA Assistant of the Year, in which there was a female first three for the first time.  

Carnoustie-born Keir, son of a former Dunfermline footballer, Dave McNicoll and a Scotland international with a +6 handicap when he turned pro, was not able to attend the ceremony because he has been sitting his second year PGA exams at Cupar this week. 

Keir's younger sister Katy McNicoll plays on the LETAS and Paul Lawrie Ladies Tartan Tour.

KEIR McNICOLL: "Gullane is a great place to work."

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

A former leading Scottish amateur has successfully made the transition to being a PGA professional after landing the Rookie of the Year honour.

Gullane-based Keir McNicoll was recognised for his achievements at the annual PGA Graduation ceremony at the University of Birmingham.

Although unable to attend, Keir's efforts secured him a £1,000 cheque and the Major John Bywater Trophy.

The 29-year-old, who also was recognised by PGA Official Supplier GASP Systems for coming top in the first-year coaching exams, was joined in the top three by runner-up John Powell (Hampton Court Palace) and Harriett Key (Moor Park), who finished third.

McNicoll’s success crowned a big year for Gullane who were also celebrating the achievements of Emma Fairnie and Jordan Ramanauskas, who finished second and 12th in the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year awards respectively.

Keir McNicoll said: “It’s a great honour. I try to be the best in everything I do and put everything I can into doing well, like I did at high school and then university, and the PGA course is no exception.

“I don’t necessarily think I’m cleverer than anyone else. I just work very hard and get the most out of it. However, combining work, study, practice and playing is tough.

“Gullane is a great place to work as the place is always busy and you never know what you’re going to end up doing.

“There is so much to do and working with Jordan and Emma, who are slightly younger than me but a couple years ahead in terms of the degree, means we do learn a lot from each other and help each other out.

“As for the degree course, I didn’t think I would learn as much as I have. I knew I’d learn something but having played at a high level as an amateur, played on the tours and also been to university, I’m surprised at the amount I have learned.

“I wish what I have learned I knew before I turned pro as it would have been very useful.”

Following his initial success, McNicoll is refusing to get carried away as he looks to establish himself down his new career path.

“Given my past experiences I don’t look too far into the future,” he said. “I had a lot of hopes and dreams, and still have, but now I set smaller goals. To get through each year on the course is my aim at the minute and I’m not looking beyond that.

“I love playing and that’s still my main desire. I practise as much as I can and once my second-year exams are out of the way, then all my time off will be dedicated to practising or playing. I just love playing in tournaments.

“I’ve found since joining the PGA degree my game has improved, which is good. I’ve been working with Sandy Smith, who’s a PGA tutor and Fellow PGA Professional, and that’s really helped.”

Training and education remains an integral part of the PGA with the foundation degree, while the PGA also runs an honours degree in association with the University of Birmingham.

Once qualified, PGA members also undergo a process of continual professional development to keep them up to speed with all the latest developments in the sport.

Sandy Jones, chief executive of the PGA, said: “PGA graduation day is certainly one of the highlights of our golfing calendar. I congratulate each and every one of our new graduates and those who have been successful on the degree programme in year one and two.”

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, said: “PGA professionals play a key role in the development and growth of the game across all levels, and we are delighted to support the next generation of qualified professionals and to wish them well with their future careers.”

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TEE TIMES

 Round 1: King's Course MAY 5

 Tee  Time      Name

  1   7:30 AM   Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie G C
                Kenneth Hutton, Downfield 
                Paul O'Hara, Clydeway Golf

  1   7:40 AM   David Orr, Mearns Castle 
                Christopher Billows, Gleneagles Hotel
                Keir McNicoll, Gullane 

  1   7:50 AM   Alistair Brown, Archerfield Links
                Patrick Walker, Ballumbie Castle 
                Jonathan Cliff, Murrayfield 

  1   8:00 AM   Paul Edgcombe, Forrester Park 
                Andrew Hutchison, Douglas Park
                Michael Patterson, Kilmacolm 

  1   8:10 AM   Stephen Gray, Hayston 
                Derek Watters, Gourock 
                Daniel Wood, Hirsel 

  1   8:20 AM   Matthew Galley, Gleneagles Hotel 
                James McGhee, Bishopbriggs 
                Callum Beveridge, West Kilbride 

  1   8:30 AM   Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs 
                Samuel Cairns, Colville Park 
                Ross Cameron

  1   8:40 AM   Craig Sutherland, Cherry Lodge 
                Stuart Morrison, Tain 
                Anthony Mackrell, Playsport Golf

  1   8:50 AM   Gareth Wright, West Linton 
                Craig Everett, Caldwell 
                Paul Wardell, Whitekirk 

  1   9:00 AM   Gordon Law, Uphall 
                Craig Gordon, Edinburgh G C
                Craig Ronald, Carluke 

  1   9:10 AM   Greg McBain, Kemnay 
                David Fleming, Prestwick 
                Christopher Robinson, Portpatrick Dunskey 

  1   9:20 AM   Nigel Scott-Smith, Palacerigg 
                James McKinnon, Irvine 
                Paul Shields, Kirkhill 

  1   9:30 AM   Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle 
                Scott Herald, Mearns Castle 
                Gavin Hay, Nairn Dunbar 

  1   9:40 AM   Chris Kelly, Cawder 
                Stephen Lamb, Macdonald Cardrona 
                Norman Huguet, Musselburgh 

  1   9:50 AM   David Laing, Craigielaw 
                Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst 
                Greg Paxton, Ralston 

  1   10:00 AM  Mark Hillson, Tandridge 
                Alan Reid, West Lothian 
                Paul McKechnie, Braid Hills 

  1   10:10 AM  Ronan Rafferty, Monte Rei
                Malcolm Isaacs, Newmachar 
                Christopher Currie, Caldwell 

  1   10:20 AM  Scott Henderson, Kings Links 
                Tom Dingwall, Kemnay 
                Andrew Oldcorn, Kings Acre 

  1   10:30 AM  Neil Fenwick, Dunbar 
                Ross Drummond
                Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

  1   10:40 AM  Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy 
                Ian Taylor, Drumpellier 
                Steven Taylor, Bothwell Castle

  1   10:50 AM  Jonathan Lomas, Caprington 
                Andrew Fullen, Largs Golf 
                Oliver Huish, North Berwick 

  1   11:00 AM  Graeme Brown, Montrose Links 
                Mark Loftus, Mearns Castle                 David Patrick, Kingsfield 


 Round 2: MAY 6

 Tee  Time      Name

  1   7:30 AM   Nigel Scott-Smith, Palacerigg
                James McKinnon, Irvine 
                Paul Shields, Kirkhill 

  1   7:40 AM   Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle 
                Scott Herald, Mearns Castle 
                Gavin Hay, Nairn Dunbar 

  1   7:50 AM   Chris Kelly, Cawder 
                Stephen Lamb, Macdonald Cardrona
                Norman Huguet, Musselburgh 

  1   8:00 AM   David Laing, Craigielaw 
                Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst 
                Greg Paxton, Ralston 

  1   8:10 AM   Mark Hillson, Tandridge 
                Alan Reid, West Lothian 
                Paul McKechnie, Braid Hills 

  1   8:20 AM   Ronan Rafferty, Monte Rei  
                Malcolm Isaacs, Newmachar 
                Christopher Currie, Caldwell 

  1   8:30 AM   Scott Henderson, Kings Links 
                Tom Dingwall, Kemnay 
                Andrew Oldcorn, Kings Acre 

  1   8:40 AM   Neil Fenwick, Dunbar 
                Ross Drummond
                Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

  1   8:50 AM   Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy 
                Ian Taylor, Drumpellier Golf 
                Steven Taylor, Bothwell Castle 

  1   9:00 AM   Jonathan Lomas, Caprington 
                Andrew Fullen, Largs 
                Oliver Huish, North Berwick  

  1   9:10 AM   Graeme Brown, Montrose Links 
                Mark Loftus, Mearns Castle 
                David Patrick, Kingsfield 

  1   9:20 AM   Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie G C
                Kenneth Hutton, Downfield 
                Paul O'Hara, Clydeway Golf

  1   9:30 AM   David Orr, Mearns Castle 
                Christopher Billows, Gleneagles Hotel
                Keir McNicoll, Gullane 

  1   9:40 AM   Alistair Brown, Archerfield Links
                Patrick Walker, Ballumbie Castle
                Jonathan Cliff, Murrayfield 

  1   9:50 AM   Paul Edgcombe, Forrester Park 
                Andrew Hutchison, Douglas Park 
                Michael Patterson, Kilmacolm 

  1   10:00 AM  Stephen Gray, Hayston 
                Derek Watters, Gourock 
                Daniel Wood, Hirsel 

  1   10:10 AM  Matthew Galley, Gleneagles Hotel 
                James McGhee, Bishopbriggs 
                Callum Beveridge, West Kilbride 

  1   10:20 AM  Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs 
                Samuel Cairns, Colville Park 
                Ross Cameron

  1   10:30 AM  Craig Sutherland, Cherry Lodge 
                Stuart Morrison, Tain 
                Anthony Mackrell, Playsport Golf

  1   10:40 AM  Gareth Wright, West Linton 
                Craig Everett, Caldwell 
                Paul Wardell, Whitekirk 

  1   10:50 AM  Gordon Law, Uphall 
                Craig Gordon, Edinburgh G C
                Craig Ronald, Carluke 

  1   11:00 AM  Greg McBain, Kemnay
                David Fleming, Prestwick 
                Christopher Robinson, Portpatrick Dunskey 

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

GULLANE'S EMMA FAIRNIE RUNNER-UP PGA ASSISTANT OF YEAR

 Left to right: Alex Mollin, Kelly Hanwell and Emma Fairnie. Picture by courtesy of Dave Warren.

 
MAGIC MOLLIN GRADUATES WITH 

FLYING COLOURS at PGA CEREMONY

  NEWS RELEASE
Alex Mollin was leading lady on an historic day at the University of Birmingham, in which female golfers took the top three places in The PGA’s annual graduation ceremony for the first time.
The Jersey based 35-year-old said she was “honoured” to collect the Whitcombe Cox Trophy for the highest placed Year 3 assistant from Titleist brand director Matthew Johnson and Beverly Lewis, the first female PGA captain, who was the special guest. Her achievement was also marked with a cheque for £3,500.
Gullane Golf Club's Emma Fairnie was runner up with Kelly Hanwell of Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai coming third.
Meanwhile Mollin capped a successful year by also winning the Ladies European Tour award in honour of her hard work and dedication in completing the course, while her efforts were further recognised as she was named the top performing year three GASP-accredited coach.
Also picking up awards were Burford Golf Club’s Richard Talboys who collected the Lord Derby trophy as leading Year 2 assistant while Keir McNicoll from Gullane Golf Club received the Major John Bywater trophy for being top Rookie Assistant of the Year.
For Les Mielles assistant PGA Professional, Mollin, the awards add extra gloss to an impressive start to her professional career, having also taken top honours in both her first and second years and excelled at Les Mielles Golf & Country Club.

“I feel incredibly proud to have done it,” Mollin enthused. “When I won Rookie of the Year it gave me belief to go on and try to follow that up. There’s no secret, I just worked really, really hard to achieve this.

“There was huge pressure coming into the third year having won years one and two. It was a case of maintaining that as I didn’t want to fall at the last hurdle. It was huge relief when I got the results.

“I’m still carrying on studying as I am doing the advanced certificate in golf coaching, which I am hoping to complete in July. I’m looking to develop as a coach and I am considering doing a postgraduate diploma and maybe a masters in coaching.”

As Mollin now looks to develop her own career, she hopes her successes can provide the motivation for other female golfers to take their first steps towards a career in the sport.

“I’ve set up my own Jersey Golf Coaching and that is going really well,” she explained. I know a number of past winners have used the success to expand their horizons and go off working across the world, but that’s not my focus at the moment. I’m looking at developing what I’ve set up and building on it.”               

The PGA training programme, which was founded more than 50 years ago, concentrates on all aspects of golf including business, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament organisation, sports science, sports psychology and competing in tournaments.

Sandy Jones, chief executive of the PGA, said: “PGA graduation day is certainly one of the highlights of our golfing calendar and this year it is very much a year for the women.

“Each year at graduation I always wonder what the future holds for the graduates and where life will take them now that they have the PGA qualification.

“Certainly for the women, the world is their oyster and they become a great asset to the game with their invaluable ability to assist us in growing the game across the globe.

“The success of these three graduates will also be an inspiration to new women golfers and it has long been an ambition of the Association to not just attract more female golfers into the game but also to bring more women into the profession.

“I also of course congratulate each and every one of our new graduates and wish them well wherever their career takes them. I know they will all be outstandingly successful.”

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, added: “We are pleased to continue our support of the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year award, recognising this as a starting point of the PGA's commitment to provide its members with a framework for lifelong learning.

“PGA professionals play a key role in the development and growth of the game across all levels, and we are delighted to support the next generation of qualified professionals and to wish them well with their future careers.”

Ivan Peter Khodabakhsh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies European Tour, commented: “This is another significant year for The PGA as for the first time the top three graduates in the final year are all women. We would like to congratulate all of the winners and particularly Alex Mollin, the recipient of the LET award, for completing the treble having also won in years one and two.

“This award recognises her hard work and dedication to the course, but is also a testament to the inspirational PGA Professionals who provide such invaluable training at all levels of the sport.”

ends





For further information, contact Nathaniel Sylvester at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or email media@pga.org.uk

Visit www.PGA.info for the latest PGA News and tournament information

 

NO GROUPS THROUGH THE TURN WHEN PLAY CALLED OFF

CHALLENGE TOUR MEN BLOWN OFF

THE COURSE IN SPAIN 

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Strong winds hampered the second round of the Challenge de Catalunya on the European Challenge Tour, with players forced off the course early on Friday morning at Lumine Golf and Beach Club before play was eventually suspended for the day. 
Little progress was possible in the second round, with officials calling a halt to play at 9.50am after the wind rendered the course unplayable. 
With the early groups not even making it to the turn and first round leader Joakim Mikkelsen scheduled to have been among the afternoon starters, the limited play meant there was little impact on the leaderboard, with only Englishman George Woolgar making strides following a birdie on the second of the three holes he completed. 
 That moved him up to five under par, three shots behind Norwegian Mikkelsen who set a blistering pace on Thursday with a course record first round of eight under par 63. Mikkelsen is a shot clear of Frenchman Adrien Saddier, who also did not get his second round under way, with American Connor Arendell a further shot back. With the wind showing no signs of abating, the decision was taken at 12.55pm to cancel play for the rest of the day.
The second round will resume on Saturday morning at 9am, with the afternoon groups teeing off between 12.20pm and 2.20pm.

BANCHORY MAN MISSES JAKARTA CUT BY FIVE SHOTS

BYRNE CRASHES OUT OF INDONESIAN 

MASTERS AFTER AN 8 AT PAR-4 HOLE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Northern Open champion James Byrne's pro golf career continues at a low ebb. He missed the cut by five shots with a second-round 78, which included a quadruple bogey 8, in the Indonesian Masters at Royal Jakarta Golf Club.

Byrne had been alongside former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on the par 72 mark at the end of the first round but while Oosthuizen rose to a 68 for 140, the Banchory man plummeted to 150 and out of the competition. He had birdies at the third and 10th but that quadruple bogey 8 at the fifth was surrounded by other mistakes - bogeys at the first, eighth, 11th and 17th in halves of 41-37.

Rising French star Victor Dubuisson, who had been two behind Byrne after a 74, shot a second-round 69 for 143 to make the cut.

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang fired a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to take the second round clubhouse lead on 10-under 134

Inclement weather brought a halt to the day’s action at 5pm (local time) and 19 players will have to resume their rounda at 6.45am (local time) on Saturday
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage: 7,340
134 Wen-tang Lin (Tpe) 70 64
135 Cameron Smith (Aus) 68 67.

136 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 68 68, Nicholas Fung (Mas) 67 69.

137 S S P Chowrasia (Ind) 71 66

SELECTED SCORES
139 Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 68 71, Marcus Both (Aus) 69 70 (T9).
140 Jake Higginbottom (Aus) 68 72, Louis Oosthuizen (SAf) 72 68 (T16)
143 Victor Dubuisson (Fra) 74 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 72 (T38)

144 Steve Lewton (Eng) 74 70 (T46)

 MISSED THE CUT (145 and better qualified)

150 James Byrne (Sco) 72 78.

VOLVO CHINA OPEN REPORT AND SCORES

RICHIE RAMSAY LYING JOINT FIFTH  REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS Frenchman Alexander Levy produced the lowest score of his career – a brilliant ten under par 62 – to take a commanding four shot lead at the halfway stage of the 20th Volvo China Open. The 23 year old carded eight birdies and an eagle to move four clear of Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, five ahead of Alvaro Quiros and six ahead of compatriot Raphaël Jacquelin with 36 holes to play at the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen. Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay is lying joint fifth on 137 with scores of 69 and 68. Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter was moving into contention when he followed a 55ft eagle putt at the ninth with a birdie at the 11th to reach six under, but a three-putt double bogey at the short 12th and a triple bogey 8 at the next followed. Having driven a long way right into trees, Poulter had to take relief on a cart path before he could take a drop away from it. While he was entitled to two club lengths for the initial drop onto the path, the Englishman mistakenly took two lengths again for his free drop away from the path when only one was permitted, thus incurring a further penalty shot before taking two shots to find the green and two putts before signing for a 74. World No 3 Henrik Stenson safely made it through to the weekend on three under, while US PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner scraped through on the mark at level par. Key Player Quotes Alexander Levy: “I think French golf is going well at the moment. Victor Dubuisson’s performances over the last few months have helped all the French players and inspired them to try to do the same. What he has done over the past few months has been amazing and it has really had an effect on all the French players so hopefully I can try to emulate that.” Adrian Otaegui: “I know Alex (Levy) really well actually – he is a good friend of mine and a very good player. We actually turned pro the same day and have played a lot as amateurs as well over the years. I am not sure if we ever played match play but we have certainly beaten each other a few times!” Ian Poulter: “Schoolboy error. Andy (McFee) was there giving me the ruling yesterday and I have just made a mistake. We make them and I guess that was a fun one. I took two club lengths as opposed to one and it’s a two shot penalty which turned a bad six into a really bad eight, so not the best of holes. I guess I need to get the rules book back out and start chewing it. Sometimes we are a bit thick and that was one of those times.” Talking Points •  Alexander Levy’s ten under par 62 in round two set a course record for the Genzon Golf Club as well as a career low round for the Frenchman. • The 23 year old’s previous best round came at the 2013 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he posted a nine under 63 at Kingsbarns. • Levy’s best European Tour finish to date was third at last year’s BMW International Open in Munich. Complete Round Two Scores: 130 A Levy (Fra) 68 62, 134 A Otaegui  (Esp) 68 66, 135 A Quiros  (Esp) 67 68, 136 R Jacquelin (Fra) 69 67, 137 R Ramsay  (Sco) 69 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 69 68, 138 S Dyson  (Eng) 67 71, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 70 68, 139 R Derksen (Ned) 70 69, A Sullivan (Eng) 71 68, T Hatton (Eng) 68 71, S Jamieson  (Sco) 71 68, C Doak (Sco) 71 68, 140 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 70 70, M Crespi  (Ita) 71 69, F Molinari (Ita) 70 70, M Siem  (Ger) 71 69, J Quesne  (Fra) 69 71, P Il-Hwan (Kor) 68 72, 141 E Grillo (Arg) 70 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 70 71, R Green (Aus) 70 71, J Kruger (RSA) 74 67, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 70, P Meesawat  (Tha) 72 69, H Stenson (Swe) 71 70, M Madsen  (Den) 73 68, M Hoey  (Nir) 69 72, H Otto (RSA) 70 71, A Hansen (Den) 73 68, J Campillo (Esp) 71 70, G Bhullar (Ind) 71 70, T Lewis (Eng) 72 69, 142 S Strange (Aus) 71 71, L Hao-Tong (Chn) 73 69, J Lima  (Por) 72 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 71 71, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 72, M Kawamura (Jpn) 73 69 143 S Benson (Eng) 74 69, G Havret  (Fra) 70 73, I Poulter (Eng) 69 74, B Rumford (Aus) 68 75, W Ashun (Chn) 69 74, K Ji-Man (SKor) 71 72, O Fisher  (Eng) 73 70, N Elvira  (Esp) 69 74, W Kang-Chun (Chn) 73 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 72 144 S Khan (Eng) 69 75, A Wall (Eng) 72 72, J Dufner (USA) 73 71, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 70 74, R Wattel  (Fra) 70 74, R Santos  (Por) 71 73, M Brown (Nzl) 75 69, S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 72, E De La Riva  (Esp) 73 71, M Kieffer (Ger) 73 71, S Manley (Wal) 70 74, D Willett  (Eng) 73 71, L Slattery (Eng) 72 72, R Bland (Eng) 69 75, M Griffin (Aus) 71 73, O Zheng (Chn) 72 72, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 73, D Horsey (Eng) 68 76, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 71 MISSED THE CUT 145 R Fisher (Eng) 74 71, M Nixon (Eng) 75 70, N Cullen (Aus) 74 71, D McKenzie (Aus) 74 71, D Woltman (USA) 75 70, N Fasth (Swe) 70 75 146 Y Tian (Chn) 70 76, C Lee (Sco) 70 76, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 77, C Wood  (Eng) 73 73, K Broberg (Swe) 74 72, K Dae-Sub (SKor) 70 76, P Uihlein  (USA) 69 77, P Whiteford (Sco) 73 73, G Storm  (Eng) 71 75 147 M Kobayashi (Jpn) 72 75, M Baldwin (Eng) 76 71, M Carlsson  (Swe) 79 68, S Kapur (Ind) 73 74, K Bi-O (SKor) 74 73, S Kim (SKor) 77 70, D McGrane (Irl) 73 74, G Tian-Lang (Chn) 71 76 148 J Singh (Ind) 76 72, V Riu  (Fra) 72 76, P Lawrie (Irl) 78 70, P Waring  (Eng) 72 76, J Hansen  (Den) 73 75, J Edfors (Swe) 74 74, G Maybin (Nir) 77 71, L Xin-Yang (Chn) 75 73, S Zihan (Chn) 74 74 149 S Lowry  (Irl) 72 77, Z Lianwei (Chn) 77 72, J Stewart (Hkg) 77 72, J McLeary  (Sco) 78 71, C Ding-Gen (Chn) 72 77, J Cheng (Chn) 75 74 150 M Foster (Eng) 78 72, J Walters (RSA) 76 74, D Huizing (Ned) 80 70, S Dong (Chn) 76 74, G Mulroy (RSA) 74 76, T Mou (Tpe) 75 75, J Jeong (SKor) 73 77, H Ming-Jie (Chn) 75 75, D Ze-Cheng (Chn) 77 73 151 X Zhi (Chn) 77 74, F Zhi-Peng (Chn) 75 76, A Cañizares  (Esp) 76 75, R Gonzalez (Arg) 77 74, A Townsend (Aus) 74 77, R Kakko  (Fin) 80 71, S Hansen (Den) 72 79, Z Jin (Chn) 76 75, L Yan-Wei (Chn) 76 75 152 D Howell (Eng) 75 77, K Do-Hoon (SKor) 76 76, R Rock (Eng) 78 74, H Wen-Yi (Chn) 76 76, S Dodd (Wal) 76 76, H Ze-Yu (Chn) 79 73, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 77 75, M Warren (Sco) 74 78 153 J Da-Xing (Chn) 74 79, Z Guo-Wu (Chn) 80 73, H Shao-Cai (Chn) 80 73 154 J Parry (Eng) 78 76, W Xu (Chn) 76 78, R Gibson (Aus) 79 75, A Pavan (Ita) 77 77, W Ming-Hao (Chn) 78 76, C Yi (Chn) 76 78, J Carlsson (Swe) 77 77, J Lee (Aus) 76 78 155 K Sung-Hoon (SKor) 76 79 156 J Norris (Aus) 78 78 157 Y Guang-Ming (Chn) 79 78, Z Xin-Jun (Chn) 77 80, H Mu (Chn) 76 81 158 G Paddison (Nzl) 79 79, P Hedblom (Swe) 80 78, 161 T Levet (Fra) 80 81 162 F Chuan-Bing (Chn) 81 81 163 C Zi-Hao (Chn) 78 85 164 D Popovic (Aus) 82 82 Retired: S Yi (USA) 90 RT, R Han (Chn) 79 RT  -

JULY 24 to 27 DATE FOR THE OVER-50s MAJOR

MONTY,  PAVIN AND WATSON FOR 

SENIOR OPEN AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL

NEWS RELEASE

Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin, the men who led Europe and the United States respectively in the dramatic 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor Resort, are preparing to renew their rivalry on Welsh soil after confirming they will be part of the field for The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, from July 24-27.

The pair will be joined at the Bridgend Links by the current U.S. Ryder Cup captain, Tom Watson, as well as one of Montgomerie’s winning team, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, who will make his debut in The Senior Open Championship.

WEB.COM TOUR REPORT AND SCORES

• JIMMY GUNN OPENS WITH A PAR 72

  IN TEXAS WINDS

  • FROM THE WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE
    By Joe Chemycz, PGATOUR.COM

MIDLAND, Texas – The weatherman had it backwards on Thursday in West Texas, where the wind is normally non-existent in the morning and blowing steadily in the afternoon. Early starters in the first round of the WNB Golf Classic were greeted by steady, northwest winds from 20-25 miles an hour, with occasional gusts over 30 while the afternoon wave had a comfortable breeze to enjoy a leisurely walk.
Australian Rod Pampling put together the day’s best round, a 6-under 66 in the morning wind that left him tied for the lead at the Midland Country Club with Washington native Andrew Putnam and Vermont’s Trevor Murphy.
When the front half of the 156-man draw had finished play only six players had scores in the 60’s at the par-72 layout. 
When the day was done there were 27 players who had posted sub-70 scores.
Halfway through the morning the scoring average had crept just over the 74.000 mark but eventually retreated back to a more familiar 72.436.
“Six under in that wind was unreal,” said Putnam, who finished about six hours after Pampling posted his number. “We saw that the wind was going to die down this afternoon and we were kind of fist-pumping inside.”
Pampling, a transplanted Texan who calls the Dallas area home, admitted the blowing winds forced him to adjust his game plan for the course.
“If you hit it high with the wind as strong as it is the ball’s going to get caught in it so I’m just pegging it down low and let it roll,” he said.
“I think you really have to work out where the ball is going to end, which is hard when the ball is rolling 50 yards.”
Pampling’s calculations were spot on as he found nine of 14 fairways and 14 of greens en route to the clubhouse lead, which held up despite the afternoon calm.
Putnam, No. 6 on the money list after six events, was a bit more adventurous and hit only six fairways and 12 greens.
“The front side was a little scrappy,” he said. “I didn’t birdie the two easy par-5s where I had really good chances and missed some short putts.”
His only bogey of the day came late on the par-4 7th hole, where his tee shot found the trees.
“I got stuck behind a tree and had to ‘lefty whack’ it out of there,” he said. “I whacked it about 120 yards with a 4-iron. I put the toe down. I practise that shot all the time.”
Unfortunately he failed to get up and down but smashed a 6-iron on the par-3 8th to about 25 feet and made the putt to rebound with a birdie.
Murphy joined the co-leaders with his bogey-free effort a short time later.
Sebastian Vazquez, veteran Len Mattiace, Travis Bertoni and Carlos Ortiz, the Tour’s leading money winner and a two-time champion already this year, share fourth place with 5-under 67s.
Jimmy Gunn, who has yet to show low-scoring form on the Web.com tour, had to contend with the "Texas breeze" in the morning but matched the par of 72 with birdies at the long second and 17th, cancelled out by bogeys at the long 12th and 13th.

First-round notes:
• Thursday weather: Partly cloudy and windy. Wind NW 20-25 mph in the morning with gusts to 30 mph. Winds settled down shortly after noon to NW 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. High of 80 degrees.
• Rod Pampling had never shared/held the lead after the first round of a Web.com Tour event prior to today. This is Pampling’s 68th career start on Tour.
• Pampling has held/shared the first-round lead on the PGA TOUR six times in 307 career starts. The most recent time came at the 2009 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.
• Trevor Murphy is in this week’s field on a sponsor exemption from the Tour’s umbrella sponsor, Web.com. • Leading money winner Carlos Ortiz celebrated his 23rd birthday Thursday. “It was just like any other day,” he said. “I was on the golf course.”
• Harold Varner III is still in the tournament with a 4-under 68 after making a mistake on his scorecard. Varner made a birdie-3 at No. 17 but signed for a par-4 on the hole so he was given the four, which changed his score from a 67 to a 68. Had it been the other way, of course, he would have been disqualified.

• Roger Sloan posted a 1-under 71 despite hitting 14 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation. Sloan didn’t challenge the leaders because of the 33 putts he needed to complete the round. He two-putted every hole on the front nine for a 1-over 37 and closed his day with a pair of birdies on the final two holes. Sloan is T40.
•
• Brett Stegmaier (82) withdrew after the opening round. The former Florida Gator is No. 15 on the season money list after a playoff runner-up effort at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72 Players from USA unless stated
66 Rod Pampling (Australia), Andrew Putnam, Trevor Murphy
67 Sebastian Vazquez (S America), Len Mattiace, Carlos Ortiz (S America), Travis Bertoni
SELECTED SCORES
68 Richard S Johnson (Sweden) (T8)
70 Henrik Norlander (Sweden) (T28)
71 Alex Cejka (Germany) (T39)
72 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) (T65)

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