ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE'S FIRST WEEK COMPLETED

PORTLETHEN START WITH CLEAR-CUT 
 
HOME WIN OVER ROYAL ABERDEEN

Portlethen did not lose a game in scoring a resounding 4-1 home win over Royal Aberdeen in tonights (THU)' final match of the first week of the 2014 Aberdeen Pennant League, sponsored by the Cults Hotel.

Details (Portlethen players first):
C Brechin and K Spence halved with N Macandrew and I Middleton.
G Innes and L Shand bt Don Macandrew and G Webster 2 and 1.
B Murray and K Horne bt W Park and Donald Macandrew 5 and 3.
K Daglish and R Donaldson halved with M Black and G Joss
Sean Lawrie and R Murdoch bt E Moore and M Annand 7 and 6.
 
WEEK 1 RESULTS:
Section A - Banchory 2, Murcar Links 3; Northern 2, Newmachar 3.
Section B - Hazlehead 2 1/2, Bon Accord 2 1/2; Portlethen 4, Royal Aberdeen 1.
Section C - Peterculter 3 1/2, Craibstone 1 1/2; Stonehaven 1 1/2, Nigg  Bay 3 1 /2


SUPPORT THE SPONSOR - CULTS HOTEL - WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO FIX UP A LUNCH OR NIGHT OUT

 LUNDBERG, GEE SHARE LYONESS OPEN

 LEAD WITH FIVE-UNDER-PAR 67s

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR  COMMUNICATIONS
Mikael Lundberg claimed a share of the first-round lead at the Lyoness Open at Atzenbrugg, Austria  as the Swede seeks a first European Tour title for six years.
Lundberg, a winner of the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008, has had to come through Qualifying School in each of the last three seasons but fired a five under par 67 to join Adam Gee at the top of the leaderboard.
The Swede posted six birdies against a single bogey at Diamond Country Club, while Gee eagled the 13th hole before adding four gains including a tap-in birdie at the last.
Wales’ Rhys Davies and the English pair of Matthew Baldwin and Richard Finch are a shot further back, with home favourite Bernd Wiesberger one under and defending champion Joost Luiten level par.
KEY QUOTES
Mikael Lundberg
Nothing was spectacular today, but everything was pretty solid. I’ve been working well with my new coach, and we’ve made a lot of progress over the past four weeks. My long game is working well, my short game comes and goes so I’m still a little bit inconsistent around the greens, but I’m getting there.
Adam Gee
I started off with three pars, so that [the eagle on 13] was the kick-start I needed. Funnily enough, I’d done some work yesterday on the range on a few different distances, and a similar one came up on 13. You obviously need a slice of luck to hole one from range, but it was nice to see it disappear. You get enough bad breaks in this game, so it’s nice when one goes your way.
Miguel Angel Jimenez
On my front nine I finished on one over par after a birdie on the 18th, but I played very well on my back nine and shot three under par. So I’m quite happy, because anything under par on this course in these conditions is pretty good
Bernd Wiesberger
I really wanted to hole that par putt on the last to stay under par, because it would’ve been really disappointing to have finished on level par. That wouldn’t have really been very fair on me, because I basically only had one bad hole in the whole round. So I was pleased to finish under par, and it gives me something to build on over the next three days. 
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
 Par 72

67 M Lundberg (Swe) , A Gee  (Eng)  
68 R Davies (Wal) , M Baldwin (Eng) , B Henson (USA) , R Finch  (Eng)
69 P Archer (Eng) , R McGowan  (Eng) , R Bland (Eng) , F Zanotti (Par) , T Levet (Fra) , S Henry  (Sco) , V Riu  (Fra)
70 D Im (USA) , F Praegant (Aut) , S Wakefield (Eng) , S Dodd (Wal) , G Bhullar (Ind) , A Wall (Eng) , M Nixon (Eng) , T Van Der Walt (RSA) , L Slattery (Eng) , M Jiménez (Esp) , R Dinwiddie  (Eng) , S Kim (SKor)  
71 B Wiesberger  (Aut) , T Lee (USA) , T Nørret (Den) , D Vancsik (Arg) , J Singh (Ind) , S Thornton (Irl) , K Ferrie (Eng) , J Smith (am) (Eng)  
72 A Marshall (Eng) , J Luiten (Ned) , T Hatton (Eng) , B Dredge (Wal) , J Kingston (RSA) , T Pieters  (Bel) , L Kennedy  (Eng) , A Haindl (RSA)
73 J Morrison  (Eng) , G Stal  (Fra) , L Astl (Aut) , B Rumford (Aus) , J Roos (RSA) , D Horsey (Eng) , J Olazábal (Esp) , E De La Riva  (Esp) , M Hoey  (Nir) , R Karlberg  (Swe) , A Hansen (Den) , P Whiteford (Sco) , R McGee (Irl) , J Hansen  (Den) , A McArthur  (Sco) , S Walker (Eng) , J Lagergren (Swe) , S Straka (am) (Aut) 
74 L Nemecz (Aut) , C Lee (Sco) , U Weinhandl (Aut) , S Hansen (Den) , G Porteous (Eng) , E Dubois (Fra) , K Broberg (Swe) , F Calmels  (Fra) , K Horne (RSA) , M Grönberg (Swe) , J Knutzon (USA) , R Gonzalez (Arg) , P Hedblom (Swe) , D Kemmer (USA) , S Kjeldsen (Den) , F Fritsch  (Ger) 
75 S Chowrasia (Ind) , R Kakko  (Fin) , J Wilson (Aus) , J McLeary  (Sco) , D Gaunt (Eng) , M Mayrhauser  (Aut) , K Phelan (Irl) , J Lara (Esp) , R Rock (Eng) , M Korhonen (Fin) , J Doherty  (Sco) , J Kruger (RSA) , R Santos  (Por)
76 M Foster (Eng), A Otaegui  (Esp) , P Price (Wal), P Lawrie (Irl) , N Elvira  (Esp), A Forsyth (Sco) , A Hartø  (Den) , J Heath  (Eng) , J Lima  (Por) , R Wattel  (Fra) , C Arendell (USA)
77 E Goya (Arg) , C Hanson (Eng) , L Tintera  (Cze) , O Bekker (RSA) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , M Davis (Eng) , J Dantorp (Swe) , D Higgins (Irl) , A Saddier (Fra) , L Lipold (am) (Aut) , A Kleszcz (am) (Aut)
78 D McGrane (Irl) , S Manley (Wal)
79 J Parry (Eng) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , R Gruber (Aut) , J Edfors (Swe) , J Colomo  (Esp) , M Tullo (Chi) , P Sjöland (Swe) , Y Kafelnikov (Rus) , B Paolini (USA) , M Habeler (am) (Aut) , G Folk (am) (Aut)  
80 B Reiter (Aut) , B An (Kor) , J Carlsson (Swe) 
81 G Schultes (Ger)  
82 C Davies (Wal), C Bouniol (Fra)
83 P Gal  (Cze)
84 S Wittmann (am) (Aut)  
87 A Pavlov (Rus) 
Withdrew: D Drysdale (Sco)

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SENIOR PGA CHAMPION KENNY HUTTON HAS A DISAPPOINTING 77

DES SMYTH SETS PACE WITH A 67 AT 

HANDA SENIORS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth holed a snaking 25ft birdie putt on the 18th green to take the early lead at the ISPS Handa Seniors PGA Championship at the Stoke by Nayland Golf, Hotel and Spa today.
Smyth had key-hole surgery to ‘clean up’ a troublesome knee problem a couple of months ago and has not played much golf in the build-up to the new Senior Tour season.
“Maybe that’s the secret – play less golf!” he smiled after signing for a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over 2013 Senior Rookie of the Year, Steen Tinning of Denmark.
Both Smyth and Tinning made four birdies in their first five holes during round one, but while Tinning followed that up with 13 straight pars, Smyth dropped a shot at nine before bouncing back straight away with a sublime chip-in on the tenth.
“I have to admit I would have taken your hand off for a four when I was looking that chip,” said Smyth. 
“But it was one of those days where I got a couple of breaks and when you get those breaks all of a sudden you find yourself leading the tournament.
“It was a very enjoyable day and a great start for me. I honestly had no clue what to expect this week as I haven’t played much since that little procedure on my knee so I am delighted to be in the lead.”
The Irishman is relishing the chance to be one of Paul McGinley’s lieutenants when Europe defend the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September, but he is also looking forward to a summer of playing good golf before he throws himself into The Ryder Cup.
“The Ryder Cup is something so big these days that it is a great honour to be involved and when the Captain asks you for some help as Paul has done with me then it is impossible to say no to that.
“It will be a great experience at Gleneagles but we have a bit of time until then and I would like to go there with a Senior Tour title or two under my belt – that would be very nice indeed.”
FIRST-ROUND SCORES

66 D Smyth (Irl);
67 S Tinning (Den)
68 P Fowler (Aus); S Luna (Esp); M James (Eng); J Smith (USA); P Eales (Eng); M Mouland (Wal); J Sallat (Fra); G Ryall (Eng); A Murray (Eng)
69 C Williams (Eng); J Quiros (Esp)
70 T Thelen (USA); W Grant (Eng); J Spence (Eng); B Cameron (Eng); G Emerson (Eng); A Mackenzie (Sco); G Bell (Eng); T Johnstone (Zim); R Rafferty (NIr); L Carbonetti (Arg)
71 P Linhart (Esp); P Mayo (Wal); G Marks (Eng); B Lane (Eng); R Gibson (Can); G Manson (Aut); M Cunning (USA); C Mason (Eng); C Monasterio (Arg);
72 G Brand Jnr (Sco); P Walton (Irl); G Wolstenholme (Eng); M Mackenzie (Eng); P Wesselingh (Eng); J Remesy (Fra); M Martin (Esp); M Farry (Fra); N Job (Eng); J Bruner (USA); M Bianco (Ita); T Lawrence (Eng)
73 S Bennett (Eng); R Sabarros (Fra); J Carriles (Esp); G Banister (Aus); A Sherborne (Eng); H Buhrmann (RSA); A Webster (Sco); P Golding (Eng); D Russell (Eng); J Harrison (Eng); D O'Sullivan (Irl); S Brown (Eng); A Bossert (Sui); S McAllister (Sco); A Oldcorn (Sco); A Franco (Par)
74 G Rusnak (USA); D Hospital (Esp); S Cipa (Eng); N Ratcliffe (Aus); R Arnott (Sco); K Kelsall (Sco); Z Martinez (USA)
75 B Sharrock (Eng); F Mann (Sco); P Gresswell (Eng); M Wharton (Eng); J Laforce (Can); B White (Eng); T Price (Aus); P Curry (Eng); R Masters (Eng); B Longmuir (Sco)
76 J Mathews (Eng); G Potter (Eng); J Lovell (Eng); A George (Eng); K Spurgeon (Eng); F Illouz (Fra); L Turner (Eng); R Fish (Eng); R Ellis (Eng)
77 J Gould (Eng); R Drummond (Sco); C Johnson (USA); J Pinsent (Eng); K Hutton (Sco); C Grenier (Aut); F Kiddie (Eng); G Davies (Wal); B Larratt (Eng); S Craig (Sco); R Williams (Wal); P Barber (Eng)
78 P Jonas (Can); T Rastall (Eng); M Piñero (Esp); J Hoskison (Eng); M Booth (Eng); M Squire (Eng); S McNally (Eng); R Adams (Eng); M Harwood (Aus);
79 P Way (Eng); P Walker (Eng);
80 K Phillips (Eng), B Marchbank (Sco); B Conser (USA); M McLean (Eng)
81 D Durnian (Eng), V Ross (Eng);
82 J Drummond (Eng), G Brand (Eng);
83 P Mitchell (Eng)
84 M Few (Eng)
87 K Worm (Den)


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

FIRST AT POLLOK ON WEDNESDAY, THEN AT WEST LOTHIAN TODAY

BACK TO BACK WINS FOR PAUL O'HARA

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Paul O'Hara made it two wins in two days with success in today's West Lothian Golf Club pro-am, having 24 hours earlier scored his first victory of the season at Pollok.
The Clydeway Golf tour pro carried on where he left on on Wednesday, carding a bogey-free, six-birdie round of 65.
The highlights were birdies at the fifth, ninth, long 12th, 13th, 14th and 18th, which earned him £1,000 to add to the £833 Pollok payslip.
Buchanan Castle's Jason McCreadie who has hit a rich seam of form. He won at Strathaven on Tuesday, finished second at Pollok - and chalked up another runner-up finish at West Lothian.
McCreadie tied with Stephen Gray (Hayston) for second place on 66 and each earned £700. 
Another similarity was their match scorecards of six birdies and one bogey.
Not everybody had a good day at West Lothian.
Gareth Wright (West Linton), recent winner of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship, could do no better than a 75 in which he had only one birdie but five bogeys.
Also on 75 was Gleneagles' Heather MacRae who had a mixed bag of four birdies, one double bogey and six bogeys. 
LEADING PRO SCORES
Par 72
65 Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) (£1,000)
66 Stephen Gray (Hayston), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) (£700 each)
67 Craig Ronald (Carluke), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Derek Watters (Gourock), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) (£42 each)
68 Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), Chris Currie (Caldwell), Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC) (£174 each)
69 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Jonathan Lomas (Caprington), David Orr (Mearns Castle), David Patrick (Kingsifled), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) (£110 each).
71 James McKinnon (Irvine) (£80)
72 Ryan Buckley (Royal Musselburgh) (£70)
73 Gordon Law (Uphall) (£60)
74 Scott Henderson (Kings Links)
75 Alan Reid (West Lothian), Gareth Wright (West Linton), Danield Wood (Hirsel), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles).
78 Chris McMaster (Panmure), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).

EUROPEAN MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

LONE SCOT FOWLIE 

TIED FOURTH AFTER 

FIRST ROUND IN

PRAVERS, BULGARIA

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former North-east youths champion Andy Fowlie (pictured), a country member at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, is lying joint fourth with a three-under-par 69 after the first round of the European mid-amateur men's championship at Pravers Golf Club, Bulgaria.

Fowlie, a Nokia software program manager, has lived and worked in Finland for the past decade and has maintained a low handicap despite not being able to golf from October to May because of the winter weather closes in early and lasts longer in Finland.

The only Scot in the field, he birdied the long first, second, sixth, 10th and short 13th, offset by bogeys at the seventh and 14th, to be three shots behind the German leader, Alexander Koller.

The 54-hole event is being contested by a field of 112 players aged 35 or over.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72

66 A Koller (Ger)

68 F Banzhaf (Ger), N De Lucis Barni (Ita)

69 A Fowlie (Royal Aberdeen), R Heath (Lausanne), R Rattansi (Queenwood).

SELECTED SCORES

73 T Burley (Burnham and Berrow) (T19)

74 P Jackson (Woking), F Flynn (Layton and Bettystown, Ireland) (T29)

79 S Crolla (Blackpool North Shore) (T66)

80 A Irvin (Silloth-on-Solway) (T72)

81 S Hodgson (Silloth-on-Solway) (T85)

QUEEN'S CUP OPENING DAY HIT BY RAIN IN THAILAND

 

BOOM! ROOKIE POOM SURGES INTO 

CLUBHOUSE LEAD AT QUEEN’S CUP

 

Samui, Thailand: Thai newcomer Poom Saksansin snatched a surprise clubhouse lead in the rain-hit first round of the Queen’s Cup following a superb five-under-par 66 today

The 21-year-old rookie ensured a memorable debut at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event by firing five birdies for a blemish-free card at the Santiburi Samui Country Club to lead by two shots from countrymen Chinnarat Phadungsil, the 2009 champion, Varut Chomchalam and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon.

A weather suspension of one hour and 25 minutes meant that 27 players will return on Friday morning to complete their rounds, including India’s Manav Jaini who was three-under through 15 holes when play was halted due to darkness.

Canadian Richard T. Lee, the 2013 rookie of the year, Filipino Antonio Lascuna, Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, Englishman Steve Lewton and Bangladeshi Zamal Hossain were amongst those bunched on 69 at the Queen’s Cup, which is sponsored by Bangkok Airways and Sports Authority of Thailand.

The soft-spoken Poom rode on a hot putter as all his birdies came from 15 feet and beyond.  With winds swirling around the tricky par-71 track, the young Thai scrambled beautifully to save pars on four occasions.

“I hit my tee shots good and it gave me the opportunity to make a good score. My putting was also very good. Conditions were difficult as the winds kept changing. I decided what club I would play and just hit the shot. I committed myself to every shot,” said Poom.

After helping the Thai national amateur team lift the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar last year, Poom joined the play-for-pay ranks as he wanted to support his own career. He has made three cuts this season, with a tied 15^th finish at the Solaire Open in Manila being his best outing to date.

“I turned professional as I wanted to earn money. I didn’t want to ask my mum for money anymore as she’s supported my career,” he said.

“I always play well in the first round as I’m always trying to make the cut. But this week I’m thinking that if I miss the cut, it won’t matter. 

"In other tournaments, I have finished 50^th or 60^th which gets me nothing. I want to finish higher. My thinking is a bit different this week,” added Poom.

The 25-year-old Chinnarat, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, put himself in position to end a five-year title drought with a round that included an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys. He started strongly with a chip-in birdie on 10 before going on to birdie 16 and eagle 18 from 15 feet.

But with winds picking up on his inward nine, the stocky Chinnarat dropped two shots coming home. “I hit a lot of greens but missed many putts on my front nine before making that birdie and eagle to turn in four under. Then on the first hole, I had a three putt, which is an easy bogey. On the back nine, I didn’t hit it too good. It was very windy before the rain came in,” he said.

 

Lee was delighted with his 69 which included two closing birdies as he kept up his chase for a second title of the season after his breakthrough triumph at the Solaire Open in Manila earlier in the year.

 

“The (weather) delay allowed me to get in some food and some water in me and I finished it off with two birdies. It’s definitely nice to finish strong,” said Lee. 

“It’s a challenging course. All the players are frustrated by the winds and the slopes on the course. Putts are not easy to make out there but all you have to do is hit good drives and hit your second shots well. It’s the same as with other courses.”

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Anirban Lahiri of India, who got married last week, struggled to a 75 after carding a triple bogey seven, three bogeys and two birdies. 

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 71. Yardage: 6,823

66 - Poom SAKSANSIN (THA).

68 - Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA), Varut CHOMCHALAM (THA), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA).

69 - Zamal HOSSAIN (BAN), Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA), Stephen LEWTON (ENG), Martin ROMINGER (SUI), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Richard T. LEE (CAN), Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA), BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR).

70 - Akinori TANI (JPN), Porameth SONTHIRATI (THA), Shankar DAS (IND), Suppakorn UTHAIPAT (THA), Bryce EASTON (RSA), MO Joong-kyung (KOR).

71 - Nirun SAE-UENG (THA), Wongsakorn CHOOWONG (THA), Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA), Chris RODGERS (ENG), Chiragh KUMAR (IND), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Jay BAYRON (PHI), Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND), Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA)

 

JOINT THIRD AT MANILA AFTER ROUNDS OF 68-69

ROVING SCOT LUTTON IN THE MIX

AT ADT EVENT IN PHILIPPINES

 

Manila: Rufino Bayron of the Philippines fired a sparkling 10-under-par 62 to hold a commanding five-shot lead over home favourite Angelo Que at the halfway stage of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship on Thursday.

Bayron had two eagles and eight birdies against two bogeys for a 13-under-par 131 total. 

Roving Scots-born Clarke Lutton (Qatar International) is in joint third place, six shots off the lead after rounds of 68-69 for 137.

Lutton, ranked 60^th on the Asian Developmental Tour Order of Merit after playing in one event, fired five birdies on his homeward nine to recover from a slow start where he had one bogey and eight pars in his first nine holes.

“Things started to click after the turn. Everything seemed to happened nicely and there was no disaster. I just kept to my simple plan which was to keep to the fairways and the birdies came in abundance,” smiled Lutton, who is playing in his third year on the ADT.

The halfway cut was set at one-over-par 145 with a total of 56 players qualifying for the last two rounds.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72)
131 Rufino BAYRON (PHI) 69 62

136 Angelo QUE (PHI) 67 69

137 Clarke LUTTON (SCO) 68 69, Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN) 68 69

138 Tomokazu YOSHINAGA (JPN) 71 67, Cassius CASAS (PHI) 67 71

139 Keanu JAHNS (PHI) 71 68, James Ryan LAM (PHI) 71 68, Brett MUNSON (USA) 70 69, Arie IRAWAN (MAS) 69 70, Jhonnel ABABA (PHI) 69 70, Rene MENOR (PHI) 76 63, Arnold VILLACENCIO (PHI) 68 71

140 Benjie MAGADA (PHI) 74 66, Clyde MONDILLA (PHI) 68 72, Michael BIBAT (PHI) 70 70, Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) 69 71

141 Yuki USAMI (JPN) 68 73, Dino VILLANUEVA (PHI) 72 69, Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 71 70, R.J. CARACELLA (AUS) 67 74, Ferdinand AUNZO (PHI) 72 69, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 70 71, Robert PACTOLERIN (PHI) 72 69, Matthew McBAIN (AUS) 67 74, Casey O'TOOLE (USA) 73 68, Mhark FERNANDO (PHI) 72 69

142 Miguel OCHOA (PHI) 71 71, Reynaldo PAGUNSAN (PHI) 72 70, Carl SANTOS-OCAMPO (PHI) 73 69, Orlan SUMCAD (PHI) 73 69, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN) 72 70, Gerald ROSALES (PHI) 71 71

143 Edward REYES (PHI) 73 70, Elmer SABAN (PHI) 71 72, Tenka TERADA (JPN) 72 71, Victor LEE (KOR) 69 74, Marvin DUMANDAN (PHI) 71 72, PARK Jin-Woo (KOR) 74 69, Erwin VINLUAN (PHI) 71 72

 

ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS FRIDAY EVENING

The revised programme for the Aberdeen Links championship finals on Friday evening is:

SCRATCH
5pm - Barry Reid (Caledonian) v Alan Doig (Caledonian).
HANDICAP
5.15 Alan Sheldrick (Caledonian) (7) v Steven Muir (Northern) (5).
MURRAY CUP
5.30 - Chris Carson (Caledonian) (20) v Brook Smith (Caledonian) (15).

RENFREWSHIRE COURSE IS 125 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR

Ranfurly Castle celebrations boost: 

To host two PGA in Scotland events

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Ranfurly Castle will mark its 125^th anniversary by hosting two PGA in Scotland events.
The Renfrewshire venue, widely recognised as one of the finest courses in Scotland, will stage a seniors pro-am on July 15 and a GORE-TEX® Products Assistants’ Tartan Tour event on September 1.
Geoff Urie, captain of Ranfurly Castle, commented: “Ranfurly Castle is a superb golf course, in terms of condition, lay-out and setting. It is a great test of golf for all levels. We are delighted to welcome The PGA in Scotland during our historic year.”
Money raised from the senior event will go towards funding defibrillators for clubs hosting the PGA in Scotland PGA Seniors Tour with the target to buy five in support of the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign.
Brian Mair, secretary of The PGA in Scotland added: “It is a privilege to take our seniors and assistants to this great course – and we are grateful to everyone at Ranfurly Castle for the opportunity to share their celebrations.”
The senior event is open to all PGA Professionals (who will be 45 years old or over on July 15 ) and are invited to enter a team (three amateurs – any age) via Blue Golf or by calling the office on 01764 661840.
To keep costs to a minimum, organisers are still looking for team prize donations. TaylorMade-adidas has donated a four-ball at Turnberry. If anyone can help (ideally four items  and individual prizes for nearest the pin). please contact brian.mair@pga.org.uk if you can assist.
Full details of both events will appear on Blue Golf – alternatively contact PGA in Scotland headquarters on 01764 661840.

GREENBURN ASSISTANTS' MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

TEE TIMES

Stroke-play Qualifying Round

Greenburn Golf Club, West Lothian

JUNE 9, 2014

Leading 15 players qualify for 

match-play ties on June 23.

Semi-finals and final on June 24. 

 Tee  Time      Name

  1   8:30 AM   Paul Betty
                Louis Gaughan

  1   8:39 AM   Scott Costello
                Jordan Gallagher

  1   8:48 AM   Ian Anderson
                Andrew Hutchison

  1   8:57 AM   Peter Scanlan
                Tim Poyser

  1   9:06 AM   Craig Haugh
                Robert King
                Cameron Farrell

  1   9:15 AM   Alan Welsh
                Daniel Flannery
                Ryan Stirling

  1   9:24 AM   Riccardo Scarafile
                Callum Beveridge
                Stuart Milne

  1   9:33 AM   Iain McNab
                Keir McNicoll
                Sam McLaren

  1   9:42 AM   Ross Jack
                Ciar Porciani
                Allan Todd

  1   9:51 AM   Fraser Thomson
                Fraser Clarke
                Michael Mackenzie

  1   10:00 AM  Ross McConnachie
                Tom Dingwall
                Sean Fay

  1   10:09 AM  Richard Mackenzie-Smith
                Ross Munro

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

GREAT DANE TO MISS MAJOR AT PINEHURST NEXT WEEK

INJURED BJORN OUT OF US OPEN

 

Thomas Bjorn has been forced to pull out of the US Open because of neck and shoulder injuries.

The Dane, who came close to winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month, will be replaced in the field at Pinehurst by amateur Andrew Dorn.
Dorn was the first alternate from the sectional qualifier in Springfield, Ohio.
Bjorn, ranked 23 in the world and a candidate for the European Ryder Cup team, had appeared to be in good form for three rounds in the PGA but he struggled in the final 18 holes of the tournament eventually won by Rory McIlroy.
South Africa's Richard Sterne has also withdrawn from the tournament, which starts on June 12, citing a slow recovery from an undisclosed injury.
His place has been taken by Scott Langley, who was the first alternate from the Memphis sectional qualifying event.
Watch live coverage from all four rounds of the US Open at Pinehurst live on Sky Spor

FRED COUPLES STEPS DOWN TO BE ASSISANT SKIPPER

  JAY HAAS TO CAPTAIN USA TEAM FOR 

2015 PRESIDENTS CUP IN SOUTH KOREA
FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES WEBSITE
RIDGEDALE, Mo (AP) - Jay Haas will be going to the Presidents Cup for the fourth straight time, and this time he’ll be giving the speeches.
The US PGA Tour selected Haas to be the U.S. captain for the 2015 matches in South Korea in what amounts to a role reversal. After three years as an assistant captain to Fred Couples - all three U.S. victories - Haas will in charge and Couples will be his assistant.
Nick Price was selected to return as captain for an International team that has won only once since this event began 20 years ago.
“I didn’t really aspire to be a captain - never thought that would be in the cards for me,” Haas said. “But being involved with the last three teams along with Fred … maybe thought someday that could happen. 
"There’s so many people who are deserving of this seat right here. I just feel like I’m very blessed to be sitting here representing the United States. And hopefully, I won’t screw this thing up too badly.”
Couples had been captain three straight times, twice opposite Greg Norman and last year against Price at soggy Muirfield Village. The Americans won, 18½-15½, to remain unbeaten at home. The International team’s only win was in 1998 at Melbourne. The teams tied in 2003 in South Africa.
Haas played in the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994, and was a captain’s pick for the 2003 team.
The Presidents Cup will be Oct. 8-11, 2015, at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, the first time it has been held in Asia.
Price called last year a “learning experience” and was happy to get another chance.
“I just want to thank the players who were on the team last year because without them, I don’t think I’d be sitting here again,” he said, adding that PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem polled the players “so I must have done something right.”
Price appointed K.J. Choi of South Korea to be his vice captain. Choi played on three teams, but not since 2011.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/4/haas-named-us-captain-for-2015-nick-price-returns/#ixzz33kSHH9sg
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HAPPY COUPLE MET AT THIS WEEK'S TOURNAMENT THREE YEARS AGO

Mrs and Ms Miguel Angel Jimenez

       Picture by courtesy of Getty Images

 

JIMENEZ SETS UP HOME IN VIENNA 

WITH HIS NEW WIFE SUSANNE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR
Whilst Miguel Angel Jiménez is – and indeed will always remain – the proudest of Spaniards, having recently moved to Vienna following his marriage to Austrian wife Susanne, there is something of a homecoming feel to his appearance in this week’s Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.
The pair met at the tournament three years ago and tied the knot last month in a ceremony at the Golf Academy Miguel Angel Jiménez in Torremolinos, Spain.  
Shortly after the ceremony, they relocated to the Austrian capital and so are staying at home this week, when Jimenez will go in search of his 22nd European Tour title.
Ahead of his sixth appearance in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity, Jiménez and Susanne – a keen golfer with a handicap of nine – played together in the Wednesday Pro-Am at Diamond Country Club, in Atzenbrugg, which is a member of the European Tour Destinations network.
And whilst they were unable to take home the first prize, Jiménez thoroughly enjoyed the curtain-raiser to this week’s €1 million event.
He said: “The weather was great and we had a lot of fun today. I love playing with my wife – she’s a keen player and her handicap is nine, so she knows what to do on the course. 
"It was very nice and relaxed and everyone enjoyed themselves. I hit the ball very nicely and I’m happy with my game, so hopefully I can take that into the tournament and play well.
“The course is looking in very good condition, and it tests every part of your game. You need to drive the ball well, because some of the holes are long and some of the fairways are quite narrow. 
"So you need to hit it straight, and then some of the approach shots to the greens are also quite tricky, which puts pressure on your short game. So it’s a very good course, I like it.”
Since winning his 21st European Tour title in the Open de España last month, Jimenez has suffered a slight dip in form, following up a tied 35th finish in the BMW PGA Championship with a joint 70th finish in last week’s Nordea Masters.
But the Spaniard boasts an excellent record in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity – he is yet to finish outside the top 20 in five previous appearances in the tournament – and so is confident of consigning the last fortnight to history.
He said: “You’re always looking for improvement as a golfer, because you always want to make the most of the opportunity every time you tee up.  
"That’s not always possible, but it’s always the aim. I was disappointed with how I played at the weekend in Sweden, especially my short game.
“But I feel very comfortable here this week, and it’s nice to stay at home. After this I will play in the US Open, so this week is good practice for Pinehurst. These next two weeks are very important to me, so hopefully I can do well.”
Jiménez has been paired in the first two rounds with local hero Bernd Wiesberger and five-time European Tour champion Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland. 

Read more at http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014044/news/newsid=225156.html#WpxS14XuorCRbY54.99