CARRICK NEILL SCOTTISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

 The luck of the Irish - Gavin Moynihan with the Scottish stroke-play championship trophy. Picture by Kenny Smith.

IRISHMAN MOYNIHAN CATCHES AUSSIE 

PACEMAKER TO WIN AT PANMURE

NEWS RELEASE FROM SGU
Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan bolstered his growing reputation with a come-from-behind victory at the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Panmure, shrugging off a nine on his final day scorecard to record a famous triumph.

Six strokes behind Australian Geoff Drakeford – the event leader for the opening three rounds –Moynihan’s chances looked slim going into the final 18 holes.

But on the fast-running, tight links, with the wind picking up, Walker Cup man Moynihan flourished as Drakeford stuttered. Having carded a potentially damaging quintuple bogey at the par-4 12th in the third round, when he lost a ball and then found a hazard, Moynihan dug deep to secure a superb triumph.

The 19-year-old Dubliner, from The Island Club, responded with three birdies after his nightmare hole to card a 68. He then went one better in the final round, helped by an eagle 3 at the 14th, to set Drakeford a five-under-par target.

The Aussie, seeking his biggest title success, was well in control going into the final nine holes, only to make a double bogey at the 12th. Back-to-back bogeys at the finish, after a penalty drop on the 17th when he found the gorse, ultimately cost him.

Drakeford, 22, finished on three-under-par after his closing 75, the same mark as fast-finishing Englishman Nick Marsh and another Irishman, Jack Hume.

Moynihan, a member of the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team in 2013 and winner of the Irish Open Stroke Play in 2012, said: “After making the nine, I was just trying to finish in the top 15, to be honest. I thought my tournament was over. But I played really well from there and this win is very nice.”

Moynihan, who has just completed his first year at the University of Alabama, is the first Irish winner of the Scottish Open Stroke Play since Philip Walton in 1981, joining a roll of honour that also includes Colin Montgomerie, Andrew Coltart and Stephen Gallacher.

A sense of history was certainly in the air as the final round was played out over the par-70 layout. Three-time stroke play champion and local man Ian Hutcheon, the Monifieth great, watched on, with the players also following in the footsteps of legendary Ben Hogan, who practised at Panmure before his 1953 Open success at Carnoustie.

It’s Moynihan’s name who will now go down in the club’s history books, as Drakeford lost out. 
“I hit a couple of stray shots and paid the price,” he admitted. “It’s one of those courses where you can’t miss on. It gets a bit brutal if you do.”

Eight Scots finished in the top 20, without threatening a title charge, meaning Wallace Booth remains the last home player to win the title in 2008.

Southerness’ Scott Gibson finished in a share of seventh place on one over par, with 16-year-old Boy’s international Murray Naysmith a shot further back inside the top 10.

“It’s my first men’s stroke play event so I’ve exceeded my expectations,” said the Marriott Dalmahoy player. “If I could play all four rounds I was going to be happy, it was about experience for me, so I’m pleased.”

Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald and reigning Scottish Amateur champion Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) shared 12th spot.

Culverwell, who was tied 34th after the second round but closed with rounds of 66 and 73 to catapult up the leaderboard, said: “It was a ‘keep in play’ type of course, similar to when I won the Scottish Amateur at Blairgowrie last year, and I gave myself loads of chances. It was about plotting your way round, not overpowering, as that course can bite you.”

After Panmure, the majority of the field now head for this week’s St Andrews Links Trophy, an event that continues to attract the world’s top amateurs.

 View final scores from Panmure

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
275 Gavin  Moynihan (Ireland) 69 71 68 67
277 Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) 66 74 71 66, Geoff Drakeford (Australia) 65 69 68 75, Jack Hume (Ireland) 72 70 69 66
279  Antonio Murdaca (Australia) 69 71 66 73, Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 70 66 74 69
281 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 70 66  73 72, James McCormick(Styal) 70 81 8- 81
282 Rhys Pugh (Wales) 68 68 72 74, Jack Yule (Middleton Hall) 73 69 68 72, Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 71 71 71 69.
283 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 73 71 66 73, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 70 73 69, Richard O'Donovan (Ireland) 71 70 73 69.
284 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 70 71 71 72, Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 74 69 73 69, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 72 72 71 69
285 Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 70 72 70 73
SELECTED OTHER TOTALS
287 John Duff (Newmachar) 82 70 84 82, George Burns (Williamwood) (T20)
288 Kyle Godsman (Moray) 72 70 73 73, Daniel Kay (Dunb ar0 70 73 75 70, Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 75 69 69 76, Greg Smaill (Craigielaw) 70 72 75 73 (T25)
290 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 74 69 69 78, Gary Forrester 73 71 69 77, William Bremner (Edzell) 75 68 73 74 (T31)
291 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 70 69 81 81 (35th)
292 Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) 70 74 69 79 (T37)
293 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 71 73 73 76, Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) 75 68 77 73 (T38)
294 Daniel Elder (Carnoustie) 71 73 73 77 (T41)
295 Barry Hume (Haggs Castle) 73 71 75 76, James Steven (Bothwell Castle) 73 71 75 76 (T43)
297 John Mathers (Haggs Castle) 75 68 78 76 (46th)_

MONDAY NIGHT ;PROGRAMME OF SEMI-FINALS

ALEX CRUICKSHANK SENIOR ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPION

The Aberdeen Links senior golf champion for 2014 is Alex Cruickshank (Caledonian). He had a two-round total of 134 (68-66) to win the Jim Hunter Trophy.

The Fred Sutherland Trophy was won by Northern member Jackie Forrest with a net total of 131 off 12.
The Vic-Bon trophy for over-65s was won by Stewart Duthie of Northern with a net total of 135 off 12.

MONDAY NIGHT SEMI-FINALS PROGRAMME

CHAMPIONSHIP

5.00 Barry Reid (C) v Ronnie Evett (N)
5.10 Chris Somers (BA) v Alan Doig (C)

HANDICAP SHIELD

5.20 Alan Sheldrick (C)(7) v Matty Edmond (BA) (5)
5.30 Jackie Forrest (N) (8) v Steven Muir (N) (5)
MURRAY CUP

5.40 Chris Carson (C) (20) v Reece Smith (C) (10)
5.50 Brook Smith (C) (15) v Paul Kane (C) (21)

STEPHEN GALLACHER BEATEN IN THREE-MAN PLAY-OFF

 JUBILANT JAIDEE WINS IN SWEDEN
   
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS REPORT
Thongchai Jaidee overcame European Ryder Cup hopefuls Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher in a play-off to seal a dramatic victory at the Nordea Masters.
The Thai carded a closing 65 at PGA Sweden National, where a host of players – including World Number Two Henrik Stenson – saw their chances of victory come and go.
Having set the clubhouse mark at 16 under par after carding six birdies and an eagle on the 11th hole, Jaidee then had to wait as the last four groups made their way down the par five last – with only Dubuisson (67) and Gallacher (68) able to reach his score, the latter holing a superb 20ft birdie putt.
On the first extra hole, Jaidee produced a magnificent third shot to three feet to set up a winning birdie and seal his sixth European Tour victory, claiming only his second title outside of Asia following the 2012 ISPS Handa Wales Open.
Joint overnight leader Stenson had led by two strokes during the early stages of a dramatic final day, but dropped costly shots on the six, ninth and 12 holes, before another bogey on the last hole finally ended his chances of a popular home win. It meant he had to settle for a total of 14 under par, finishing in fifth, with Dutchman Robert Jan Derksen (65) fourth on 15 under par.

Key player quotes

Thongchai Jaidee 65 (-16 total)
“It is a special week for me, to win a trophy outside of Asia for the second time. I keep performing better. I thought top ten this week was my goal, and then to get in the play-off and win was special. I started very well on the first three holes and then came back well on the back nine. The key was my putting.
“I was nervous the last few holes - 16, 17 and 18 are tough holes – but 16 under was good enough for a play-off.”
Victor Dubuisson 67 (-16 total)
“I haven’t played for five weeks before this tournament, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I’m a little bit disappointed. I made some good putts, but it is like it was not meant to be today. I’m happy with the way I played this week though. You always want to win but to finish second is a good result, especially after five weeks out with my shoulder injury.”
Stephen Gallacher 68 (-16 total)
“I had a good week and I was delighted to get into the play-off. I holed a lovely putt on the last after lipping out on both 16 and 17. Jaidee just hit a lovely shot there, or lovely three shots, on the last, which was playing really tough. But overall though it was a good tournament, great crowds and I’m really please
“I was hoping to peak for a couple of weeks. I knew I was playing well, so to finish fifth and then second is not bad. I’m delighted with that.”
Henrik Stenson 71 (-14 total)
“It was one of those days when I didn’t quite get it going and missed a few chances and a couple of bogeys slipped onto the card too easily. You can’t afford that if you are going to win the tournament. I was still fighting and in with a chance on the last, but I just missed it in the wrong place. It left me in a bad spot.
“It would have been nice to win in front of home fans, but there will be more chances and there will be more chances to win other golf tournaments, so you can’t be too disappointed.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 T Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 68 65, S Gallacher (Sco) 67 72 65 68, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 69 69 67 67,
 273 R Derksen (Ned) 70 71 67 65,
 274 H Stenson (Swe) 69 70 64 71,
 275 E Pepperell (Eng) 66 72 65 72, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 70 72 63, A Quiros  (Esp) 71 67 66 71,
 276 D Howell (Eng) 73 70 67 66, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 68 72 67 69,
 277 R Wattel  (Fra) 71 70 66 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 74 67 66, J Quesne  (Fra) 72 71 70 64,
 278 T Pieters  (Bel) 73 69 68 68,
 279 R Karlberg  (Swe) 67 75 68 69, T Björn (Den) 70 71 68 70, D Fichardt (RSA) 73 71 68 67,
 280 C Lee (Sco) 68 74 71 67, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 69 73 67, M Hoey  (Nir) 69 75 69 67,
 281 E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 72 70 67, T Lewis (Eng) 71 71 68 71, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 72 70 70, M Kinhult (am) (Swe) 71 72 69 69,
 282 J Campillo (Esp) 68 76 70 68, P Hanson (Swe) 69 71 73 69, B Dredge (Wal) 69 70 67 76, R Jacquelin (Fra) 72 70 69 71, C Doak (Sco) 70 69 69 74, S Lowry  (Irl) 71 73 72 66, A Levy (Fra) 72 73 71 66,
 283 F Aguilar (Chi) 70 75 70 68, J Doherty  (Sco) 70 74 68 71, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 72 68 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 75 70 68, N Fasth (Swe) 71 70 70 72, M Ilonen  (Fin) 70 71 71 71, N Elvira  (Esp) 73 71 68 71, M Manassero (Ita) 74 70 70 69,
 284 K Phelan (Irl) 71 70 73 70, A Pavan (Ita) 74 71 71 68, O Fisher  (Eng) 69 75 69 71, P Lawrie (Irl) 75 70 72 67, J Morrison  (Eng) 70 73 66 75, P Waring  (Eng) 68 76 70 70, R Green (Aus) 72 69 76 67,
 285 L Bjerregaard  (Den) 70 75 70 70, J Carlsson (Swe) 68 77 71 69, D Im (USA) 72 72 74 67, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 74 72 70, F Calmels  (Fra) 73 70 75 67, J Lima  (Por) 71 74 69 71,
 286 S Jamieson  (Sco) 69 72 73 72, R Ramsay  (Sco) 72 72 71 71, J Kingston (RSA) 72 70 72 72, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 73 75 67,
 287 D Huizing (Ned) 67 78 70 72, J Dantorp (Swe) 66 73 71 77, E Dubois (Fra) 70 73 68 76,
 288 S Kapur (Ind) 76 68 72 72, S Soderberg (Swe) 67 76 74 71, K Broberg (Swe) 70 74 68 76, M Lundberg (Swe) 69 75 72 72,
 289 M Baldwin (Eng) 71 73 73 72, J Singh (Ind) 71 74 70 74, G Havret  (Fra) 71 74 70 74,
 290 G Maybin (Nir) 67 75 74 74, E Grillo (Arg) 73 72 71 74, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 70 74 72,
 291 M Jiménez (Esp) 69 73 75 74,
 292 R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 73 75 75,
 293 S Manley (Wal) 69 74 77 73,
 298 A Gee  (Eng) 68 75 76 79,

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT AND FINAL TOTALS

Linard lights up Czech Republic to claim maiden title
  
Thomas Linard fired a superb 64 at Golf and Spa Kunetická Hora to claim a maiden professional title at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge. Starting two shots behind the leading threesome, the Frenchman raced to the turn in 30 strokes, carding seven birdies in his first ten holes to elevate himself to the top of the board. 
A further red figure followed at the 13th, before a bogey two holes later had looked like derailing his title chances. A ninth birdie of the day followed at the 16th though, which saw him finish at 19 under par and a stroke clear of Daniel Gaunt.
 This is Linard’s first season on the Challenge Tour, having only claimed a spot on European golf’s second tier by €23 through last year’s Alps Tour Order of Merit. He clearly looks like he belongs though, and while his English was limited, his delight was clear to see. “I am very happy because I played very good this week,” said the man from Bourges. 
“It was fantastic, as this is my first professional victory and it is brilliant. I just focused on my game today, and that’s it. I have a flight tonight, but I will celebrate afterwards in Paris.” England’s Gaunt had led at the end of all three rounds, and entered Sunday with a one stroke lead alongside compatriot Chris Lloyd and Sweden’s Pontus Widegren. His 68 on the final day would have been enough to take a third Challenge Tour title in normal circumstances, but he was still delighted with his form this week, and believes a victory is just around the corner. “I played awesome today,” said Gaunt. “It was the best I’ve felt for the four days mentally, but Thomas shot eight under and he deserves to win. It was a good week, and there’s one coming. I will definitely win before the end of the year. “I’m playing in Austria next week on The European Tour, so now I’ll try and win that as I need to get back out there somehow. I shot 17 under, which equals my best out here when I won, and I wanted to beat that. I was pressing at the last for birdie and dropped a shot, but I can’t complain with second. “This moves me up the Rankings though, and the higher the better. My game is in good shape, so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year.” Ross McGowan reaped the fruits of his recent hard work at home in Dubai, firing a 69 on Sunday to finish four strokes behind Linard in third place. The past few years have been tough for the Englishman after a couple of wrist injuries, but this is a step in the right direction, and his best finish on the Challenge Tour since a tie for seventh at last year’s Montecchia Golf Open presented by POLAROID. Lloyd and Widegren had lead alongside Gaunt heading into Sunday’s final 18 holes, but neither quite fired in the final round en route to finishing in a share of fourth place after a pair of 71s. Englishman Phillip Archer headed a log jam in sixth spot, after a 65 to finish in the Czech Republic. He was alongside compatriots Steven Brown (66), Robert Coles (68) and Lloyd Kennedy (68), as well as Germany’s Florian Fritsch (69) and Switzerland’s Ken Benz (67) on 12 under par. As the only Czech player to make the cut, Lukas Tintera took a big crowd on the final day, and he gave them plenty to shout about with a level par 72 en route to tie for 46th spot. - 
 FINAL TOTALS
269 T Linard (Fra) 70 68 67 64
271 D Gaunt (Eng) 64 69 70 6
273 R McGowan (Eng) 70 68 66 69
274 C Lloyd (Eng) 68 66 69 71, P Widegren (Swe) 70 67 66 71
276 L Kennedy (Eng) 72 69 67 68, P Archer (Eng) 70 73 68 65, F Fritsch (Ger) 70 68 69 69, K Benz (Sui) 77 63 69 67, R Coles (Eng) 71 70 67 68, S Brown (Eng) 73 68 69 66
277 E Espana (Fra) 70 67 69 71, J Huldahl (Den) 72 67 68 70, B Hebert (Fra) 71 69 68 69, G Main (USA) 71 71 68 67
278 A Engell (Nor) 71 72 67 68, W Booth (Sco) 73 67 70 68, P Erofejeff (Fin) 71 69 65 73
279 J Winther (Den) 70 70 66 73, T Murray (Eng) 72 68 73 66, A Velasco (Esp) 69 72 69 69
280 M Wiegele (Aut) 71 71 69 69, L Gagli (Ita) 73 66 70 71, A Tadini (Ita) 72 67 68 73, P Relecom (Bel) 68 73 68 71, J Makitalo (Fin) 72 68 69 71, M Glauert (Ger) 68 71 68 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 70 72 69 69, J Harrison (Eng) 71 67 71 71, 281 O Farr (Wal) 73 65 73 70, M Southgate (Eng) 71 68 74 68, C Bouniol (Fra) 69 69 73 70, G Cambis (Fra) 71 68 70 72
282 P Maddy (Eng) 70 71 70 71, N Ravano (Ita) 70 72 66 74, S Little (Eng) 70 70 71 71
283 S Hutsby (Eng) 75 68 73 67, O Henningsson (Swe) 69 72 73 69, N Quintarelli (Ita) 70 70 70 73, Z Scotland (Eng) 77 67 71 68, A Bernadet (Fra) 74 68 72 6
284 R Kind (Ned) 74 70 69 71, A Marshall (Eng) 73 67 71 73, H Bacher (Aut) 73 70 69 72, N Johansson (Swe) 71 69 72 72
285 L Tintera (Cze) 76 67 70 72, B Chapellan (Fra) 70 74 69 72, L Nemecz (Aut) 73 71 69 72, T Lee (USA) 73 69 73 70, T Remkes (Ned) 70 72 72 71
286 R McEvoy (Eng) 73 67 71 75, J Roos (RSA) 72 70 74 70, 287 J Fahrbring (Swe) 70 71 74 72, D Vancsik (Arg) 73 70 67 77, R Russell (Sco) 71 71 73 72, D Coupland (Eng) 73 71 70 73, N Kearney (Irl) 71 69 73 74, J Rutherford (Eng) 76 66 71 74, S Arnold (Aus) 73 69 68 77, 288 J Sjöholm (Swe) 76 68 73 71, 289 J Barnes (Eng) 72 69 78 70, J Wilson (Aus) 72 72 70 75, E Johansen (Nor) 74 70 69 76, 290 M Delpodio (Ita) 74 69 74 73, C Russo (Fra) 73 71 71 75, 291 O Floren (Swe) 72 72 72 75, 293 C Brazillier (Fra) 73 71 77 72, C Macaulay (Sco) 73 70 77 73, EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

LINK TO SCORES AT SCOTTISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY

To view the Sunday scores in the third and fourth rounds of the Carrick Neill Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Panmure Golf Club, near Carnoustie 

CLICK HERE 

AUSSIE 1-2 WITH 18 HOLES TO PLAY
Australian Geoff Drakeford from the Commonwealth Club, Victoria is making every post a winning one through three rounds of the 72-hole Carrick Neill Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Panmure Golf Club, just north of Carnoustie.
Drakeford, with rounds of 65, 69 and 68 (against a par of 70), has lead throughout and a 54-hole tally of 202 gives him a four-stroke lead to carry over into the final round at the Angus venue.
And it's an Aussie 1-2 at the moment with another man from Down Under at the top, Antonio Murdaca on 206 (69-71-66), ahead of the joint third-placed GB and I Walker Cup players, Rhys Pugh from Wales (68-68-72) and Gavin Moynihan from Ireland (69-71-68), both on 208
Leading Scot is Scott Gibson in fourth place on 209 with scores of 70, 66 and 73.

LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
202 Geoff Drakeford (Aus) 65 69 68
206 Antonio Murdaca (Aus) 69 71 66
208 Rhys Pugh (The Vale, South Wales) 68 68 72, Gavin Moynihan (The Island, Ireland) 69 71 68
209 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 70 66 72
210 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 73 71 66, Henry Tomlinson (Royal Lytham) 69 70 71, Jack Yule (Middleton Hall) 73 69 71, Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 70 66 74, Jamie Savage (Caw\der) 70 68 71, James McCormick (Styal) 69 71 70
211 Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) 66 74 71, George Burns (Williamwood) 73 66 72, Jack Hume (Naas) 72  70 69
212 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 74 69 69, Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 70 71 71, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 70 72 70, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (S Africa) 71 71 70.

NEWS FROM MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

LEADERBOARD IN US PGA TOUR'S MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
at Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio
THIRD ROUND
204 Bubba Watson (USA) 66 69 69
205 Scott Langley (USA) 72 66 67
206 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 70 67 69
207 Adam Scott (Australia) 69 70 68
208 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 72 69 67, Jordan Spieth (USA) 69 72 67, Billy Horschel (USA) 71 69 68, Robert Streb (USA) 72 67 69, Brendon Todd (USA) 71 68 69, Paul Casey (England) 66 66 76.
SELECTED SCORES
210 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 63 78 69 (T14)
212 Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) 71 67 74 (T31)
213 Luke Donald (England) 71 69 73 (T39)
214 Phil Mickelson (USA) 72 70 72 (T47)
 


TO VIEW THE REPORT AND SCORES

CLICK HERE