BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS LOOKS A SHOO-IN FOR GREAT DANE

THOMAS BJORN LEADS BY FIVE
 EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS REPORT BY PAUL SYME
Thomas Björn set a new tournament record of consecutive birdies en route to establishing a five- shot lead on the third day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth
 The great Dane, who opened with a double bogey six, notched six straight birdies from the 11th hole before closing with his eighth gain of the day to sign for a round of 67 and a 15 under par aggregate total.
 Björn’s nearest challenger is two-time BMW PGA champion Luke Donald, who notched two birdies and an eagle at the fourth hole to move to ten under par, one stroke clear of Shane Lowry (73).
 Lowry’s fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy is currently in a share of fourth place with Joost Luiten after the duo carded respective rounds of 69 and 67.
 Key quotes  
Thomas Björn “Putts just started dropping, and all of a sudden you get in that frame of mind, and everything just goes your way. I even hit a poor tee shot on 17 and got away with it. 
 “So it just became one of those days where things roll your way. I’m proud of the way I handled my round. To be three over after five holes and then shoot 67 was pretty good. I was very proud of my determination and the way I stayed with my golf today.” 
Luke Donald “It was-stress free. It probably wasn’t that interesting to watch at home, but any time you play this course without making any mistakes, that’s fun. I had some chances around the middle of my round but just didn’t quite get the putts in, and didn’t hit my irons really close enough. “Obviously to birdie the last two, though, was a big momentum shift for me. It got me into the last group tomorrow, which is where I want to be.”
 Shane Lowry “I’m disappointed, but it could have been a lot worse. I didn’t play great today. I hit some poor drives, and just didn’t feel comfortable out there. My alignment felt a bit off and I just didn’t feel that comfortable, simple as that. 
“But I still have half a chance, and if you’d have given me this position going into tomorrow on Wednesday, I would have taken your hand off, so I can’t really complain.” 
Rory McIlroy “It’s a golf course that I’ve always liked. I like the layout of it, but it can sometimes play a little bit tricky because of the conditions. “But with the golf course being soft, I think I can play it a little bit better. It’s not a course that I’ve had much success on in the past, but I feel like I’m handling myself pretty well around it this week.” Talking points 
 Thomas Björn’s six consecutive birdies set a new record for the BMW PGA Championship. He also becomes the first player in the history of the BMW PGA Championship to shoot 30 on the back nine at Wentworth Club on two occasions. 
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
 201 T Björn (Den) 62 72 67
206 L Donald (Eng) 71 67 68
207 S Lowry (Irl) 64 70 73
208 J Luiten (Ned) 70 71 67, R McIlroy (NIr) 68 71 69, 209 P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 71 69
210 H Stenson (Swe) 68 71 71, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 71 69, T Aiken (RSA) 68 72 70, F Molinari (Ita) 71 74 65, J Donaldson (Wal) 73 69 68, E Pepperell (Eng) 69 73 68, A Wall (Eng) 67 76 67, C Doak (Sco) 69 72 69
211 J Blixt (Swe) 68 71 72, G Stal (Fra) 66 76 69, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 73 73
212 F Zanotti (Par) 67 72 73, M Siem (Ger) 69 71 72, M Kaymer (Ger) 68 75 69, S Dyson (Eng) 69 74 69,
 213 S Gallacher (Sco) 70 75 68, M Foster (Eng) 72 71 70, M Hooper (Eng) 71 71 71, S Benson (Eng) 71 69 73, R Green (Aus) 70 73 70, M Warren (Sco) 73 69 71, J Rose (Eng) 70 73 70
214 R Finch (Eng) 71 72 71, A Hansen (Den) 71 69 74, D Horsey (Eng) 68 76 70, T Olesen (Den) 71 73 70, C Wood (Eng) 73 72 69, A Levy (Fra) 71 73 70, L Westwood (Eng) 71 71 72
215 G Coetzee (RSA) 75 70 70, R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 75 70, S Thornton (Irl) 74 68 73, G Havret (Fra) 69 76 70, A Quiros (Esp) 73 72 70, B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 71 74, T Hatton (Eng) 75 70 70
216 M Jiménez (Esp) 72 72 72, R Ramsay (Sco) 70 72 74, I Poulter (Eng) 70 72 74, P Lawrie (Sco) 72 71 73, R Karlsson (Swe) 74 70 72, T Lewis (Eng) 73 72 71
217 J Campillo (Esp) 73 73 71, G Storm (Eng) 71 73 73, B Grace (RSA) 70 75 72, C Del Moral (Esp) 71 75 71, E Molinari (Ita) 75 70 72
218 P Waring (Eng) 72 72 74, R Rock (Eng) 73 73 72, G Bourdy (Fra) 72 73 73, R Kakko (Fin) 75 71 72, N Colsaerts (Bel) 77 69 72, D Willett (Eng) 73 73 72, S Hansen (Den) 73 72 73
219 J Carlsson (Swe) 71 75 73, R Derksen (Ned) 70 76 73, M Ilonen (Fin) 71 71 77, T Jaidee (Tha) 72 73 74, R Wattel (Fra) 72 74 73, P Harrington (Irl) 69 76 74
220 R Santos (Por) 72 69 79, D McGrane (Irl) 71 75 74, A Otaegui (Esp) 72 73 75, D Huizing (Ned) 72 74 74
221 E De La Riva (Esp) 71 72 78
223 P Hanson (Swe) 71 72 80
225 K Broberg (Swe) 73 72 80, 228 O Fisher (Eng) 69 75 84

 EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

NAIRN DUNBAR GOLF CLUB'S 115th 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

NEWS RELEASE

Nairn Dunbar Golf Club celebrated turning 115 today with balloons, birthday cakes and the formal placing of the Dallas Opening Day medal (recently recovered and purchased by the club) in pride of place in the club trophy cabinet.

The day started with a shock for three visiting golfers from the Palace Hotel in Inverness. The club starter, and past captain, Sandy MacRae invited them on to the tee for a small presentation of club memorabilia. 

It was at 11am on May 24, 1899, that the first ball was driven by Provost William Dallas to open Nairn Dunbar Golf Club Dallas.

Some 115 years on, the 11am tee time players got a special bonus for taking their place in the history of the championship links.

Later, in the clubhouse, club president, David Ellen, cut a ceremonial birthday cake; and he, and club captain, Brian Ford, toasted the memory of past players and also the future success and vitality of the club. 

The Dallas Medal was then placed in the centre of a small presentation, marking the club’s milestone year.

 

Dr Rob Macpherson

Manager

Nairn Dunbar Golf Club

 

t: 01667 452741 m: 07866 734012

e: manager@nairndunbar.com

 

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Second Round Report from European Tour Communications Shane Lowry closed with a brace of birdies to join Thomas Björn at the top of the leaderboard on the second day of the BMW PGA Championship, The European Tour’s flagship event. Lowry responded to a double bogey on the ninth hole by blitzing the back nine in just 33 strokes. His round of 70 moved the Irishman to ten under par alongside Björn, who signed for a level par round of 72. Third place is currently shared between Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and two-time BMW PGA Champion Luke Donald, whose superb round of 67 was the lowest of the day. Key quotes Shane Lowry: “To finish birdie-birdie was nice. I played the back nine lovely, especially after a sloppy double bogey on the ninth. “Mentally I was very good out there today, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy this golf course. It was tough, very tough for the front nine with the rain. But it was nice on the back nine, and I managed to take advantage of it.” Thomas Björn: “It was a testing day. It was one of those days where you just had to try and stay focused. But I worked hard and I got myself around the golf course with a decent score, especially taking the conditions into consideration. So I’m pretty pleased with my day’s work to be honest.” Luke Donald: “I really enjoyed myself today. Obviously when we first went out, it was raining and windy and it wasn’t very nice. I think we all thought we were going to struggle with the conditions. “But the wind actually dissipated and it became a decent day out there, especially on the back nine. The sun came out and the wind dropped and the greens were soft, so it was a good opportunity to take advantage.” ROUND TWO BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN NUMBERS 67 – The low round of the day by Luke Donald                                 70 – The score Robert Karlsson shot for a 144 level par total in his 500th European Tour event. 3 – The number of European Tour Number Ones in the top five of the leaderboard. 8 – The number of different countries in the top ten. 34 – The number of places Luke Donald has moved up the leaderboard to be tied third, after starting the day in a tied for 37th. 3 – The number of former BMW PGA Champions to make the cut. They are: Anders Hansen, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Luke Donald.      Second Round Scores:  134 T Björn (Den) 62 72, S Lowry  (Irl) 64 70,  138 L Donald  (Eng) 71 67, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 73,  139 F Zanotti (Par) 67 72, J Blixt  (Swe) 68 71, H Stenson (Swe) 68 71, R McIlroy  (Nir) 68 71,  140 T Aiken (RSA) 68 72, A Hansen (Den) 71 69, P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 71, S Benson (Eng) 71 69, M Siem  (Ger) 69 71,  141 C Doak (Sco) 69 72, R Santos  (Por) 72 69, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 70 71, J Luiten (Ned) 70 71, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 71,  142 M Ilonen  (Fin) 71 71, I Poulter (Eng) 70 72, E Pepperell (Eng) 69 73, L Westwood (Eng) 71 71, J Donaldson (Wal) 73 69, S Thornton (Irl) 74 68, R Ramsay  (Sco) 70 72, G Stal  (Fra) 66 76, M Warren (Sco) 73 69, M Hooper  (Eng) 71 71,  143 P Lawrie (Sco) 72 71, A Wall (Eng) 67 76, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 72, J Rose (Eng) 70 73, P Hanson (Swe) 71 72, R Green (Aus) 70 73, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 74, M Foster (Eng) 72 71, M Kaymer (Ger) 68 75, R Finch  (Eng) 71 72,  144 G Storm  (Eng) 71 73, R Karlsson (Swe) 74 70, O Fisher  (Eng) 69 75, T Olesen (Den) 71 73, P Waring  (Eng) 72 72, A Levy (Fra) 71 73, D Horsey (Eng) 68 76, M Jiménez (Esp) 72 72,  145 T Lewis (Eng) 73 72, S Hansen (Den) 73 72, A Quiros  (Esp) 73 72, A Otaegui  (Esp) 72 73, T Hatton (Eng) 75 70, K Broberg (Swe) 73 72, B Grace  (RSA) 70 75, R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 75, G Havret  (Fra) 69 76, S Gallacher (Sco) 70 75, G Bourdy (Fra) 72 73, C Wood  (Eng) 73 72, G Coetzee (RSA) 75 70, T Jaidee (Tha) 72 73, P Harrington (Irl) 69 76, F Molinari (Ita) 71 74, E Molinari  (Ita) 75 70,  146 R Wattel  (Fra) 72 74, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 77 69, R Kakko  (Fin) 75 71, R Derksen (Ned) 70 76, D McGrane (Irl) 71 75, C Del Moral (Esp) 71 75, D Willett  (Eng) 73 73, R Rock (Eng) 73 73, D Huizing (Ned) 72 74, J Carlsson (Swe) 71 75, J Campillo (Esp) 73 73,   n MISSED THE CUT 147 M Kieffer (Ger) 74 73, P Whiteford (Sco) 70 77, I Ellis (Eng) 72 75, D Lynn (Eng) 73 74, M Hoey  (Nir) 71 76, J Singh (Ind) 72 75, M Nixon (Eng) 72 75, M Baldwin (Eng) 76 71, A Pavan (Ita) 73 74, R Fisher (Eng) 71 76, G Hutcheon (Sco) 74 73, M Kawamura (Jpn) 73 74,  148 B Koepka  (USA) 73 75, D Howell (Eng) 71 77, A Cañizares  (Esp) 75 73, J Olazábal (Esp) 77 71, D Brooks (Eng) 76 72, J Edfors (Swe) 71 77, F Aguilar (Chi) 71 77, G Fox (Sco) 71 77, J Walters (RSA) 67 81, S Drummond (Sco) 76 72, C Lee (Sco) 70 78, N Fasth (Swe) 72 76,  149 P McGinley (Irl) 74 75, L Slattery (Eng) 76 73, S Kapur (Ind) 70 79, G Bhullar (Ind) 73 76, D Clarke (Nir) 75 74, D Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 76, P Price (Wal) 76 73, V Riu  (Fra) 73 76, G Mulroy (RSA) 71 78, F Calmels  (Fra) 72 77, J Levermore (Eng) 70 79, J McLeary  (Sco) 78 71, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 72 77, D Fichardt (RSA) 75 74,  150 E Els (RSA) 72 78, J Quesne  (Fra) 78 72, S Jamieson  (Sco) 71 79, J Kruger (RSA) 75 75, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 75 75,  151 M Cort (Eng) 75 76, B Rumford (Aus) 73 78, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 73 78, D Drysdale (Sco) 73 78, S Kim (SKor) 75 76, P Lawrie (Irl) 75 76, J Jeong (SKor) 80 71, M Manassero (Ita) 80 71,  152 E Grillo (Arg) 81 71, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 81, J Hansen  (Den) 78 74, M Crespi  (Ita) 77 75, T Levet (Fra) 74 78,  153 C Schwartzel  (RSA) 75 78, R Gonzalez (Arg) 79 74, S Khan (Eng) 74 79, S Kjeldsen (Den) 79 74, R Bland (Eng) 75 78,  154 M Madsen  (Den) 77 77,  155 N Elvira  (Esp) 79 76, D Mooney (Nir) 79 76, G Maybin (Nir) 77 78,  156 J Parry (Eng) 78 78, J Lima  (Por) 76 80, T Pieters  (Bel) 75 81,  157 C Kelly (Sco) 79 78,  161 M Ford (Eng) 81 80,  ** R Goosen (RSA) 74 RT, A Noren  (Swe) 76 WD, S Garcia  (Esp) 73 WD, L Bond (Wal) DQ  0, P Uihlein  (USA) RT  0, H Otto (RSA) RT  0, - Ends -

FIFE v RENFREWSHIRE UNDER-18s MATCH AT LUNDIN LINKS ON SUNDAY

E-mail from David Orr
PGA Professional

My fellow pro Mark Loftus and myself have taken over the coaching of the Under-18s and Under-14s in Renfrewshire Golf Union and are committed to taking them forward. 
It's great for us to be involved with these players.  We are taking a seven-boy squad through to Lundin Links this Sunday for a friendly match with Fife Under-18s who are coached by good friend and fellow pro David Patrick.  
This will hopefully be first of many friendly matches within their busy schedule in order to increase their match experiences. Spectators welcome to come along and watch some young and exciting talent!!

David Orr
Pga Professional

LINK TO US PGA TOUR'S CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL

American Bruce Garnett is the halfway leader in this weekend's US PGA Tour event, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at the Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas.
He has had rounds of 67 and 66 for seven-under-par 133 and leads by one shot from fellow Americans Chris Stroud (66-70) and Robert Streb (66-68)
TO VIEW THE COMPLETE HALFWAY SCOREBOARD

CLICK HERE