BIG WINS BY MURCAR LINKS, BON ACCORD and ROYAL ABERDEEN

ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE
sponsored by The Cults Hotel
Week 2 results

SECTION A

MURCAR LINKS 5, NORTHERN 0
At Murcar Links

B Innes, A Styles bt G Paterson, C Johnstone 5 and 4.
C Stewart, C Somers bt  D Mair, G Robertson 4 and 3.
A Holbrook, G Stewart bt L Minty, C Ross 4 and 3,
K Gunnyeon, L Vettese bt W West, S Kennedy 3 and 2.
R Brechin, A Campbell bt R Hyland  and  P Vass 4 and 3




SECTION B
 
BON ACCORD 5, CALEDONIAN 0
At Kings Links

B Edmond and S Murphy bt S Finnie and W Ross 3 and 2.
M Greig and D Grieve bt A Doig and L Morrice 1 hole.
R Allerton and J Annand bt D Oliver and C Gellie 3 and 1.
M Dunn and A Shand bt R Rimmer and M Beattie 2 and 1.
G Somers and G McLaggan bt S Allan and G Henderson 6 and 4.

ROYAL ABERDEEN 5, HAZLEHEAD 0
At Balgownie.
Nick Macandrew and Iain Middleton bt Scott Robertson and Iain Taylor 2 and 1.Don Macandrew and Ewan Laird bt Brian Nicolson and Steve Scott 2 and 1.
Graeme Webster and Douglas Purdie bt Scott Mackie and #Rich Pratt 2 and 1.
Michael Black and Austen Buchan bt David Ogston and Mike Winton 5 and 4.
Grant Joss and Gavin Sharp bt Phil Lawrence and Malcolm Allan 4 and 3. 

SECTION B STANDINGS
Bon Accord 3pt, Royal Aberdeen 2pt, Portlethen 2pt, Hazlehead 1pt, Caledonian 0pt. 

SECTION C

CRAIBSTONE 3 1/2, STONEHAVEN 1 1/2

D McInroy and S Gerrie bt R McAllan and G Graham 5 and 3.
I Still and A Carle lost to K Riddell and K Brown 5 and 4.
C Wilkinson and J Borthwick bt G McFarlane and C Mackay 1 hole.
J Tanser and A Ashley bt N Irvine and G Adamson 1 hole
M Smith and S Milne halved with G Taylor and B McGillivray.
 
 NIGG BAY 4, DEESIDE 1 
   At Balnagask
R  Nielsen and B Bruce bt D Halliday and K Ross 7 and 6.
I Welsh and Z Wood bt J Loggie and R Evett 6 and 5.
L O'Connor and G Stewart halved with K Willox and M Vass.
N Slater and A Thouless halved with S Hutchison and J Pryde
S Jamieson and R Forbes bt T Rennie and K Ingram 1 hole.

SECTION C STANDINGS
Nigg Bay 4pt, Peterculter 2pt, Craibstone 2pt, Stonehaven 0pt, Deeside 0pt.


STILL TO PLAY
THURSDAY - SECTION A
NEWMACHAR v AUCHMILL


E-mail the results to Colin@scottishgolfview.com



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THE TOURNAMENT SPONSORS, DINE AT 
THE CULTS HOTEL. 
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US OPEN STARTS AT PINEHURST 2 ON THURSDAY

MICKELSON SWITCHING TO CLAW 

PUTTING GRIP FOR US OPEN
 
FROM THE ESPN.COM WEBSITE 
By BOB HARIG
PINEHURST, North Carolina -- Phil Mickelson is making a significant change heading into the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, going to a "claw'' putting grip -- one he has used in the past but not significantly this year.
Mickelson experimented with the grip during the final round Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, where he matched his best finish of the year on the US PGA Tour, a tie for 11th. 
But the five-time major champion who is attempting to complete the career Grand Slam this week at Pinehurst No. 2, has not been pleased with his putting and felt the change would help on difficult and speedy greens.
Mickelson said he wants to "have a little lighter grip pressure and create a softer roll so that I get some of the hit out of it. I was running them way by last week and by taking my bottom hand off the putter, it eliminates some of that hit. Allowing me to kind of roll the ball softly into the hole.''
Mickelson feels the "claw" putting grip will give him "a lighter grip pressure and create a softer roll" on the Pinehurst greens. 
He worked with putting guru Dave Stockton on Tuesday morning prior to a practice round with Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. 
Mickelson said he often uses the "claw'' grip -- which for a left-handed golfer means the left hand does not grip the club in the palm but guides it with the shaft between the finger and thumb -- during practice rounds.
"I want to have more of a longer, smoother stroke on these greens,'' he said.
Although his game has been uncharacteristically spotty for most of this year, Mickelson -- who turns 44 on Monday -- remains optimistic about winning the U.S. Open after a record six runner-up finishes, including last year to Justin Rose at Merion. 
This will be his 24th U.S. Open and Mickelson loves the course, where he suffered his first close call 15 years ago to Payne Stewart.
"This place is awesome,'' he said. "It is just a wonderful site. I really believe that this week is testing a player's entire game. Because it forces you to make decisions, make good decisions, to choose the right club off the tee, hit solid iron shots into the green, and utilize your short game to shave strokes.
"There's no luck involved with the hack-it-out rough that sometimes we have around the greens. It's just a wonderful test that is I think the best test I've seen to identify the best player.''
Mickelson's quest for that honour has been shrouded in doubt due to his uneven performances this year. He has missed three cuts, including those at the Masters and The Players Championship. After shooting 63 in the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship to get into contention, he shot 76 in the final round. 
Last week, in Memphis, he opened the tournament with three straight rounds in the 60s for the first time since March 2013, only to let a chance to win slip away on the back nine. 
He had a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour in January, but even there had a back-nine triple-bogey and missed a play-off by one stroke.
"I feel as good about my game as I have all year; it's not saying a lot because I haven't played well all year,'' he said. "But last week was a good week for me. I started to slowly put it together.''
As for the putting switch, Mickelson said he could go back.
"It may be a spur-of-the-moment thing, I don't know,'' he said. "Right now the game plan is X, but it can certainly become Y in a matter of minutes.''
Mickelson is grouped with defending champion Rose and U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick from England for the first two rounds. They begin play off the 10th tee at 7:51 a.m. ET on Thursday.

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

  

Craig Pirie and Stewart Watt after the Renfrewshire youths' match-play championship final.

CRAIG PIRIE WINS COUNTY MATCH

-PLAY TROPHY AT RENFREW

                                 turnberry.db@gmail.com

The George Duncan Memorial Trophy is Renfrewshire Golf Union’s youth match-play tournament.

Having qualified in the stroke-play championship and fought their way through four previous rounds, the finalists were last year’s winner Stewart Watt (Old Course Ranfurly) and Craig Pirie of Renfrew Golf Club.  

 This was a repeat of last year’s final and Craig was determined to see a different result.

The quality of the match was determined early with hole two at host club Renfrew halved in birdies.  Craig then chipped in for another birdie at the long par 3 third and then moved into what appeared to be an unassailable lead with magnificent approach shots to 12ft on the par 5 ninth, to the same distance on the 10th, and to 8ft on the 11th.    

Craig was then four up and looking like the new champion. However, Stewart had other ideas and his wins at the 14th and 16th set the scene for an improbable comeback.  

When Craig missed the green with his approach at the next hole, followed by a nervy chip shot to 12 feet, it seemed that extra holes might be on the cards.  

It was not to be.  In another twist to the tale, Craig holed the long putt to close out the victory by the margin of 2 and 1. It was a great final with the quality of the golf matched by the sporting behaviour of both players.

PRO CRERAR AND AMATEUR McKINLAY REACH TURN IN 29 SHOTS

PANMURE PAIR, 7 under par after 7 holes,

WIN PLACE IN GLENEAGLES FINAL

Panmure Golf Club professional Andrew Crerar turned the clock back a decade or two for he and his amateur partner Craig McKinlay to win the Lombard Trophy Scottish qualifying round at Ladybank Golf Club today (Tuesday).

Crerar, pictured right, one of the Tartan Tour's leading players in the 1990s - he won the Order of Merit in 1997 - and McKinlay shot a blistering seven-under-par 64 round the woodland Fife course.

They hit the track running and were seven under par after seven holes, thanks to eagle 2s at the third and sixth and birdies at the first, long second and long seventh to be out in 29. Two more birdies were captured after the turn - at the long 13th and 15th - but they were cancelled out by their only bogeys of the day, at the 12th and 18th.

Crerar won £475 but more important for Andrew and his Panmure amateur partner,they will be heading to the £43,600 Lombard Trophy 36-hole Grand Final over the Gleneagles' King's Course on September 2-3, three weeks or so before the Ryder Cup takes centre stage at the same Perthshire venue.

The Panmure pair had to score very well to head the Ladybank field and they just got over the winning line by a single shot from three pairs on 65 - Deer Park's Sandy Strachan and Scott Forrest, Deeside's Frank Coutts, Deeside's pro and David Macklin, plus the Paisley pairing of Andrew Carlton and Archie Gibb.

Strachan and Forrest and one eagle and five birdies; Coutts, who was a Walker Cup team place contender in his prime as an amateur, and Macklin had seven birdies; Carlton and Gibb and one eagle and four birdies in a bogey-free round.

Each of the pros on the 65 mark earned £350.

Edzell's Alastair Webster and Stuart Reid combined for a  66 mark as did Greig McSporran (Kinross) and Russell Dunlop. Webster and McSporran earned £225 each.

Completing the prize list on 67 were Gordon Law (Uphall) and Peter MacMillan, and Paul Edgecombe (Forrester Park) and Brian Gilfillan. Law and Edgecombe earned £150 each.

LOMBARD TROPHY - Scottish qualifier

Ladybank GC, Fife

SCOREBOARD
(pros named before amateur partners)

Par 71

64 Andrew Crerar (£475) and Craig McKinlay (Panmure).

65 Sandy Strachan (£350) and Scott Forrest (Deer Park), Frank Coutts (£350) and David Macklin (Deeside), Andrew Carlton (£350) and Archie Gibb (Paisley).

66 Alastair Webster (£225) and Stuart Reid (Edzell), Greig McSporran (£225) and Russell Dunlop (Kinross).

67 Gordon Law (£150) and Peter MacMillan (Uphall), Paul Edgecombe (£150) and Brian Gilfillan (Forrester Park).

68 Ross Harrower and Craig Sutherland (Boat of Garten), Gordon Stewart and Paul Reid (Cawder), Sandy Smith and Duncan Glass (Ladybank), Ron Walker and Jeff Swan (Lundin)

69 Christopher Nugent and Russell Claydton (Dunfermline), Alan Martin and Scott Ross (The Duke's), David Murchie and Tony Reely (Crieff)

70 Simon Payne and Jim Campbell (Cowglen), Martyn Huish and Alasdair Simpson (North Berwick), Alastair Forrrow and Graeme McGuinnity (Whitecraigs)

71 Charles Dernie and Douglas McGlashan (Blairgowrie), Paul Wytrazek and Colin Wheeler (Burntisland), Ian Collins and Iain MacFarlane (Stirling), Tom Ecdkford and Alastair Frood (Ranfurly Castle)

72 John Harrison and Frank Mann (Matfen Hall), Craig Mackie and Ross Burnett (Scotscraig), Gerry Reilly and David McCluskey (Lochwnnoch).

73 Alan Reid and Lee McBride (West Lothian), David Naylor and David Bisset (Banchroy)

74 Colin Fairweather and Mark Begg (Kirkintilloch).

78 Stuart Wilson and Allan Smith (Eastwood).

ends

PGA IN SCOTLAND NEWS RELEASE

Patrons Pro Am TEE TIMES

 Round 1: Dundonald Links 26/06/2014

 Tee  Time      Name

  1   10:40 AM  Jordan Gallagher, Douglas Park Golf Club

  1   10:50 AM  Kevin McNiven, Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses

  1   11:00 AM  Gareth Hardy, Belleisle Golf Course

  1   11:10 AM  Stephen Craig, Craig Golf 79

  1   11:20 AM  Jonathan Lomas, Caprington Golf Club

  1   11:30 AM  Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club

  1   11:40 AM  Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA IN SCOTLAND

Glencruitten 36 Hole Pro-Am  JUNE 20-21 Round 1: Glencruitten Golf Club 20/06/2014 Tee Time Name 1A 1:00 PM Campbell Elliott, Haggs Castle Golf Club Fraser Mann, The Carnoustie Golf Club 2A 1:00 PM Mark King, Kingsfield Golf Range Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf 3A 1:00 PM Ross Dixon, Renaissance Club Chris Brown, Carrick on Loch Lomond 4A 1:00 PM Andrew Marshall, Houston Golf Range Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club 5A 1:00 PM Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre Stephen McAllister, Stephen McAllister Golf 6A 1:00 PM Craig Gordon, Edinburgh Golf Centre Jamie Fraser, Renaissance Club 7A 1:00 PM Stephen Craig, Craig Golf 79 Iain Nicholson, Kilmacolm Golf Club 8A 1:00 PM Steven Rettie, Callaway Golf Europe Limited Paul Robinson, Largs Golf Club 9A 1:00 PM Kenneth Walker, Castle Park Golf Club Colin Gillies, Kingsfield Golf Range 10A 1:00 PM David Andrews, Bonnyton Golf Club Joel Hopwood, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club 11A 1:00 PM Paul Gallacher, Bearsden Golf Range Christopher McMaster, Panmure Golf Club 12A 1:00 PM Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle Golf Club Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range 13A 1:00 PM Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd. Jonathan Sharp, Carrick on Loch Lomond 14A 1:00 PM Greg McBain, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Craig Ronald, Carluke Golf Club 15A 1:00 PM Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Joseph McBrearty, Haggs Castle Golf Club 16A 1:00 PM Chris Kelly, Cawder Golf Club Neil Fenwick, Dunbar Golf Club 17A 1:00 PM Iain McNab, Dundonald Links Craig Haugh, Cawder Golf Club 18A 1:00 PM Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club Iain Colquhoun, Loch Lomond Golf Club Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

ORDER OF PLAY AT MONTROSE ON SUNDAY

MONTROSE LINKS TEXAS SCRAMBLE

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 TEE TIMES

                              TEAM NAME

0700      LEADERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE

0710      CRASH ‘10’

0720      NIGG BAY

0730      GANG

0740      THE KING SWINGERS

0750      NO GIMMY’S

0800      BOYS FROM DANDARA

0810      SCOONIE SCRAMBLERS

0820      ALFORD GOLF CLUB ‘1’             

0830      ALFORD GOLF CLUB ‘2’             

0840      THREE PROS and A HOOKER       

0850      THE ACQUAINTANCES                              

0900      GAGA  

0910      GOLD WATCH STORY TELLERS             

0920      L G S    

0930      FOUR STAR HIVE

0940      PUTTING PIRATES                        

0950      GORDON MCHARDY TEAM

1000      THREE DUFFS and A NUT              

1010      THE NOMADS  

1020      DREAM TEAM

1030      McD’S BOTTLERS          

1040      TEAM TAYLOR

1050      CROW WOOD ‘1’           

1100      CROW WOOD ‘2’           

1110      CROW WOOD ‘3’

1120      CROW WOOD ‘4’           

1130      CROW WOOD ‘5’           

1140      KIRKINTILLOCH

1150      WENDY’S FAN CLUB    

1200      BILL RENNIE TEAM      

1210      MARGARET’S MARAUDING MAIDENS 

1220      BOOKER’S BLUNDERS 

1230      TEAM CLARK

1240      PA BROON and THE WEENS          

1250      THE DONSIDERS            

1300      GLAM  

1310      STEVIE FIVE PUTT         

1320      DOVEY SWEEP

1330                    

1340      GRIP IT and  RIP IT

1350      MELTON MOWBRAY MAGIC

1400      FORE OFF THE TEE        

1410      COLLEEN YOUNG TEAM            

1420      FOUR PAINS IN THE GRASS

1430      BRUCE FARQUHARSON TEAM

1440      MAUREEN MANSLEY TEAM

1450      THE CHROME STEALERS

1500      DEREK ROBERTSON TEAM

1510      GAINSBOROUGH           

1520      KEVIN DUNCAN TEAM

1530

1540                    

1550

1600      HOOF HEARTED

Late entries will be accepted by contacting 01674 672932 or email secretary@montroselinks.co.uk

                             

TEE TIMES AT PERTHSHIRE VENUE NEXT MONDAY

PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
MURRAYSHALL GOLF HOTEL, near PERTH 
Monday, June 16
First round, Murrayshall No 1 course
Second round, Lynedoch Course 
08.15 and 13.15
Duncan McNeill (Dumfries and Galloway)
Stuart Easton (N. Ayrshire)
Michael Brodie (Angus)
08.22 and 13.22
Matthew McCulloch (Dumfries and Galloway)
Callum Cochrane (Edinburgh)
Alasdair McDougall (Fife)
08.29 and 13.29
Sandy Scott (Highland)
Gavin Petrie (Angus)
Stephen Roger (N. Aberdeenshire)
08.36 and 13.36
Robert Watson Clackmannan
Rob Paterson Edinburgh
Alex Chalk Dumfries and Galloway
08.43 and 13.43
Callum McGuigan Perth and Kinross
Zack Bedford Fife
Mark Napier Edinburgh
08.50 and 13.50
Niall McMullen Fife
Calum Graham Perth and Kinross
Paul Delaney Glasgow
08.57 and  13.57
Cameron Franssen Highland
Aran Sinclair Glasgow
Michael Lawrie Aberdeen City
09.04 and 14.04
Rory Franssen Highland
Stuart Irving Stirling
Jack Thomas N. Ayrshire
09.11 and 14.11
Colin Edgar Renfrewshire
Blair Gavin S. Ayrshire
Robbie Kemsley Glasgow
 09.18 and 14.18
Adam Wilson S. Ayrshire
Daragh Cuddihy Inverclyde
Fraser Kane S. Lanarkshire
 09.25 and 14.25
Murray McCrone E. Ayrshire
Conor Toal Renfrewshire
Ryan McKinnon Aberdeen City
09/32 and 14.32
Cameron Black Argyll and Bute
Murray Naysmith Edinburgh
Paul Dorrian Inverclyde
 09.39 and 14.39
Hamish Mills Argyll & Bute
Glen Burrett (E Renfrewshire)
Andrew Thompson (S Lanarkshire)
09.46 and 14.46
Keith Bowman (Fife)
Christopher Richmond (Argyll and Bute)
Callum Bruce (N Aberdeenshire0
 09.53 and 14.53
Cameron Blair (E Lothian)
Craig McKenzie (S Ayrshire)
Matthew Dalrymple (Glasgow)
10.00 and 15.00
Dean Logan (E Dunbartonshire)
Will Porter (Perth and Kinross)
Max Brueck (Edinburgh)
 10.07 and 15.07
Andrew Ni (Edinburgh)
Jamie Stewart (Renfrewshire)
Jack Rogan (E Lothian)
10.14 and 15.14
Darren Howie (Scottish Borders)
Andrew McColl (Renfrewshire)
Ellis Hart (N Lanarkshire)
10.21 and 15.21
Jack Currie (Inverclyde)
Kieran Cantley (Edinburgh)
Adam Stott (S Lanarkshire)
10.28 and 15.28
Conor MacCallum (Fife)
Robbie Allan (S Ayrshire)
Morgan White (Edinburgh)
10.35 and 15.35
Euan Gill (Highland)
Sandy Shackles (Perth and Kinross)
Graeme Greer (S Lanarkshire)
10.42 and 15.42
Calum Griffen (Fife)
Kyle Reid (E Dunbartonshire)
Matthew Scott (Perth and Kinross)
10.49 and 15.49
Greg Buchan (N Aberdeenshire)
Jack Gater (Stirling)
Rhys Thomson (N Lanarkshire)
10.56 and 15.56
Josh Beatt (E Renfrewshire)
David Grant (Dundee City)
Jack Williams (N Lanarkshire)

Round 1, Lynedoch Course; Round 2, Murrayshall No 1
10.00 and 15.00
Ferghus Milne (S Aberdeenshire)
Calum Bauchop (Falkirk)
Scott Young (E Lothian)
10.07 and 15.07
Aidan Smith (S Aberdeenshire)
James Yarnell (Falkirk)
Gregor McEwan (Clackmannan)
10.14 and 15.14 
Andrew Moir (Moray)
Marc Watt (N Aberdeenshire)
Jordan Sweeney (S  Ayrshire)
10.21 and 15.21
Andrew Gordon (S Ayrshire)
Gavin Still (N Aberdeenshire)
Ross McGuinness (E Renfrewshire)
10.35 and 15.35
Campbell Mathieson (S Ayrshire0
Rowan Carey (Perth and Kinross)
Ellis Roberts (N Aberdeenshire)
10.42 and 15.42
Brett McNaught (E Renfrewshire)
John McKenna (Dundee City)
Hamish Gorn (Fife)
10.49 and 15.49
Josh McKenna (Dundee City)
Connor Hamill (E Dunbartonshire)
John Paterson (Stiring)
10.56 and 15.56
David Lindsay (Scottish Borders)
Andrew Johnston (Clackmannan)

GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1, Lyneoch Course; Round 2, Murrayshall No 1 Course
08.15 and 13.15 Clara Young (E. Lothian)
Emma Hale (S. Ayrshire)
08.22 and 13.22 Eilidh Watson (Forth Valley)
Claire Robertson (Angus)
08.29 and 13.29  
Danielle Ker (Scottish Borders)
Mirren Fraser (Dumfries and Galloway)
Jen Saxton (Perth and Kinross)
08.36 and 13.36 
Charlotte Munro (E. Lothian)
Kirsty Brodie (Angus)
Lauren Watson (Aberdeen City)
08.43 and 13.43
Kirsten Brown (S. Lanarkshire)
Jennifer Allan (Forth Valley)
Molly Stewart (Aberdeen City)
08.50 and 13.50
Claire Gadsby (Perth and Kinross)
Eilidh Crawford (N. Lanarkshire)
Jasmine Mackintosh (Aberdeen City) 
08.57 and 13.57  
Emily Dalgetty (Midlothian)
Shannon McWilliam (S. Aberdeenshire)
Ellie Bryce (S. Lanarkshire)
09.04 and 14.04 Joanne Free (E. Lothian)
Katie Scott (S. Lanarkshire)
Catherine Goodwin (Forth Valley) 
09.11 and 14.11  
Katie Malcolm (Dumfries and Galloway)
Emma Morrison (Edinburgh)
Molly Richmond (S. Lanarkshire) 
09.18 and 14.18
Anna McKay (Fife)
Fiona Rattray (E. Dunbartonshire)
Maria Cowan (Dumfries and Galloway) 
09.25 and 14.25 
Louise Duncan (N. Ayrshire)
Lori MacDonald (Argyll and Bute)
Beth Donoghue (Forth Valley) 
09.32 and 14.32 
Niamh Kinney (Renfrewshire)
Nuala Nearey (Argyll and Bute)
Charlene Wilson (Fife) 
09.39 and 14.39
Lauren Gilbert (N. Ayrshire)
Emily Glencorse (S. Lanarkshire)
Leah Smart (N. Aberdeenshire) 
09.46 and 14.46
Charlotte McCluskey (Glasgow)
Megan Ashley (Dundee City) 
09.53 and 14.53
Susan Woodehouse (S. Lanarkshire)
Megan Roger (N. Aberdeenshire)

STAR-STUDDED FIELD FOR NORTHERN IRELAND VENUES

29 SCOTS IN FIELD FOR NEXT WEEK'S 

AMATEUR CH/P AT ROYAL PORTRUSH

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R and A

The 119th Amateur Championship gets underway next week (June 16 to 21) at Royal Portrush and Portstewart golf clubs in Northern Ireland.

For the third year in succession all 288 competitors from 28 countries are ranked players on the WAGR.

Fifteen golfers from Ireland and Northern Ireland, 29 from Scotland, 63 from England and six from Wales have made the draw that also features 13 top players from the USA alongside competitors from as far afield as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and New Zealand.

The Amateur Champion will earn a place in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake and the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay in Washington State. 

Traditionally, an invitation is also extended to play in the Masters Tournament at Augusta.

Thirty-three of the top 100 in the WAGR™ listing will make the trip including England’s Ryan Evans, the highest ranked British player in the field.

Evans was the stroke play medalist at the 2014 Australian Amateur before winning the Lake Macquarie Amateur in January.

Last year’s quarter-finalist, Italy’s Renato Paratore, ranked 17th in the world, will lead the continental European challenge alongside Mario Galiano Aguilar of Spain and last year’s Belgian Amateur Champion Thomas Detry, who are ranked 15th and 19th respectively.

Last year's East of Ireland champion, Paul Dunne, who, like Detry, has been selected for this year’s European Palmer Cup team, will lead the Irish  challenge alongside 2013 Irish Amateur Close Champion Cormac Sharvin, a student at Stirling University. 

Also in the field is fellow European Palmer Cup team member Grant Forrest, pictured right, fresh from his play-off victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy, Bradley Neil, who lost that play-off, and 2013 Boys Amateur Champion Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden. 

Making his debut this year is Spain’s Javier Ballesteros, son of the late three-time Open Champion Seve Ballesteros.

“The support for amateur golf has always been strong in Ireland and Northern Ireland and The Amateur Championship is a wonderful opportunity for spectators to watch amateur golf at the highest level played at two of the finest links courses in the UK,” said Euan Mordaunt, The RandA’s Director – Amateur Events.  
“We have an excellent international field and it promises to be a great week of golf.”

The first two days of The Amateur Championship comprise stroke-play qualifying over both courses before the field is cut to 64 and ties and the match play format finds the champion at the end of the final four days’ play at Royal Portrush.

Several former Open Champions and Ryder Cup team members have played in the Amateur Championship including Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia, who won in 1998.
Admission and parking is free and spectators are welcome in the clubhouses at both clubs.
Full details including the championship draw can be found at RandA.org and television highlights will be broadcast from Thursday to Saturday, 19 to 21 June 2014 on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and via local satellite suppliers in other countries.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

Scottish players in the field

Lawrence Allan (Alva), Scott Barrowman (Dollar), Craig Chalmers (Cawder), Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar), Adam Dunton (McDonald), Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), Scott Gibson (Southerness), Kyle Godsman (Moray), Callum Hill (Tantallon), Craig Howie (Peebles), Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co), Daniel Kay (Dunbar), Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie), Charlie Macneal (Prestwick), Fraser Moore (Glenbervie), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Chris Robb (Meldrum House), Craig Ross (Kirkhill), James Ross (Royal Burgess), Jamie Savage (Cawder) Ewan Scott (St Andrews), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Daniel Young (Craigie Hill)

Four Scottish clubs have two players in the draw, Cawder, Dumfries and County, Dunbar and Kilmarnock Barassie.