ENGLISHMAN WHO IS US AMATEUR CHAMPION TURNS PRO NEXT WEEK

MATTHEW FITZPATRICK SEEKS TO END 

STELLAR AMATEUR CAREER ON A HIGH

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Rory McIlroy and amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick (Getty Images)

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FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick hopes he can sign his amateur career off in style when he makes his final appearance before turning professional at this week’s US Open Championship.
The 19 year old Sheffield-born Englishman - he'll be 20 in September, has achieved great things in the amateur ranks, and he is going out on a high, having been paired with defending champion Justin Rose and World Number 11 Phil Mickelson.
The cut-throat world of professional golf awaits, but Fitzpatrick has been able to absorb plenty of advice from some of the best players on the planet, including Rory McIlroy, with whom he played a practice round on Pinehurst’s No. 2 course on Tuesday.
“Rory has been a great help,” said Fitzpatrick, who topped the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2013 after his triumph at The Country Club in Massachusetts and later that year won the silver medal at The Open Championship. He had been British boys champion in 2012.
“Several of the guys have been great with me. It was nice to speak to Rory and pick his brains about a few things. I didn’t really talk to him about golf stuff; it was just nice to speak to him. He said himself that I can ask him any questions I have, so that’s nice. It was good finding someone like that who’s willing to help me and show me the ropes, and he’s certainly done that and more.”
Fitzpatrick, one of 12 amateurs in the field this week, missed out on making the cut at the Masters Tournament earlier this year by a single stroke, and he hopes he can learn from that experience to make the weekend at Pinehurst.
“That’s my aim really, to make the cut," continued Fitzpatrick, who would become the first amateur to win the US Open since John Goodman in 1933 if he were to complete a remarkable victory this week.
"Hopefully I can make the weekend and push on from there – that’s been my aim for the Majors I’ve played in so far.
“To be finishing my amateur career at the US Open, a Major, is pretty cool. I’ve played as an amateur for many years, and men’s golf for the last two or three, but it’s a different place out here on tour. It’s a big change, but you’ve got to accept that it’s the right time, and you move on.”
Of the testing, links-like track at the North Carolina venue, the 2013 Walker Cup player added: “It’s different. It’s a very different type of course to finish my amateur career on. 

"It’s sort of a mix between an Open Championship course and a US Open course, and everyone I’ve spoken to has said they’ve not seen a course like it before. I’m looking forward to it.

US OPEN GREENS ALREADY 12.7 to 13.1 SPEED ON STIMPMETER

HEAT, LACK OF RAIN COULD MAKE PARTS

OF PINEHURST No. 2 ALMOST UNPLAYABLE

FROM THE GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
By Geoff Shackelford
PINEHURST, North Carolina -- If you've paid any attention this week, you know the hype: Pinehurst No. 2 looks amazing with its rusticity and absence of snooze-inducing Bermuda hay.  Old Donald Ross' handiwork is playing as tough as anything the flatbellies have seen and will provide some unprecedented entertainment value in the form of artistic (or not) recovery shots.

Then there's the conditioning, which will take some getting used to for HD TV fans. Rest assured, the players say the actual tees, fairways and greens are as good as they've played at a major. 

Lush green, Pinehurst is not. But the opportunity to play shots from pristine lies has been provided by Pinehurst's crack maintenance team.

Yet as the first round tees off Thursday, some higher-than-expected heat and lack of afternoon showers (so far) has the course playing right up to the edge of the dreaded "fair" barometer (green speeds are already rolling at a whopping 12.7 to 13.1, according to Golfweek's Bradley Klein). 

So if you're watching Thursday, there are three parts of the course to look to if you want an indication Pinehurst No. 2 has teetered over the edge.

Is the ninth green holding up play?

This elevated par-3 green has steep short grass run-offs or bunkers all around. Weird stuff is bound to happen here. But even the USGA's Mike Davis has said that if shots are not holding here or putts that looked OK start rolling off and groups start backing up on the tee, hit the emergency record button on your DVR and get ready for some big time drama.

The fifth green is not accepting seemingly well-struck wedge shots?

One of the most inviting second shots on the planet as a par-4, the fifth is now a 576 yard par-5 from the tips. Phil Mickelson lamented the change in his Wednesday press conference. He senses most of the field will lay up in two and we'll see only 50-80 yard wedge shots all day. 

If those shots aren't holding and staying on the green, raise a red flag.

Is the short 15th  letting them carry shots to the green?

The first of two back-nine par 3s could be stretched to 202 yards but will probably play shorter, though the severe crowning of the green makes a run-up shot tough. A new hole location that makes Davis giddy is probably going to be saved for the weekend, so if you see balls continually going long here, brace for another back-up and some serious post-round griping.

TWO NEW HOLES, DESIGNED BY HAWTREE, TO BE INSERTED IN FRONT 9

Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush to host 2019 Open says source close the Co Antrim club

By GolfDigest.com Staff
PINEHURST, North Carolina -- It's finally going to happen. After years of speculation and almost seven decades on from its only previous visit for Max Faulkner's victory in 1951, the Open is to return to Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush in 2019.  While a formal announcement has yet to be made, a source close to the Co Antrim club has told GolfDigest.com that a press conference has been scheduled for later this month. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the same source revealed that the game's oldest major is also guaranteed to make two further excursions to Northern Ireland in years yet to be determined. And, as part of what has been a long rumoured move, two new holes designed by architect Martin Hawtree will be inserted midway through the current front-nine.  These will replace the present -- and relatively disappointing -- 17th and 18th, on which the championship's extensive "tented village," will be erected.
The momentous news for the often-troubled province has long been under discussion, albeit the R and A has, until now, been quick to downplay any suggestion that the event would leave the British mainland for only the second time since 1860.  Not that the reasons for any reluctance have ever been about the quality of the famous Dunluce links, which next week hosts the Amateur Championship in what will now be seen as something of a dry run for the big event five years hence. The Open's traditional dates have always been seen as a problem, the third week in July being uncomfortably close to Northern Ireland's notorious, politically sensitive and religiously-charged "marching season" that has so often descended into scenes of sectarian violence.  Then there were doubts over economically depressed Ireland's ability to provide enough in the way of corporate backing for an event of this magnitude. On the other hand, when the Irish Open returned to Portrush in 2012 for the first time since 1947, vast golf-savvy crowds turned out to see Welshman Jamie Donaldson claim the title.  Throw in the presence of three recent major homegrown major champions in Darren Clarke (a Portrush resident), Graeme McDowell (a Portrush native) and Rory McIlroy and the enthusiasm of the Irish golfing nation can surely be taken for granted. As is often said, and meant as a compliment, "the Irish will show up to watch the grass grow." Soon, it would seem, they will able to do so under the feet of golf's greatest players as they compete in the game's oldest and most important championship. Remember where you heard it first!

POWERADE ASSISTANTS CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND

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KEITH MCNICOLL AND LOUIS  

GAUGHAN LEAD SCOTS WITH 70s

Gullane's Keir McNicoll and Louis Gaughan (Bathgate) did best of the Scots involved in the first round of the Powerade assistants golf championship at Coventry Golf Club today.

McNicoll had a dream start - an eagle 3 at the first and he followed that up with birdies at the seventh and 11th but a bogey at the eighth saw him finish with a three-under-par 70 and a share of seventh place with Gaughan who had six birdies between the seventh and the 18th and also three bogeys in the middle of his round.

Cameron Farrell (Cardross) just made the top 10 with a 71.

Jack Harrison (Wildwood) leads the field of 126 with a record-equalling 65.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 73

65 J Harrison (Wildwood).

66 C Wilson (Littlestone), G Portelli (Verulam)

SCOTS' SCORES

70 K McNicoll (Gullane), L Gaughan (Bathgate) (T7)

71 C Farrell (Cardross) (T10)

73 Jordan Gallagher (Doouglas Park), Colin Robinson (Elie SC) (T27)

75 M Hillson (Tandridge), C Marr (Musselburgh), G Paterson (St Andrews LGA) (T45)

76 G Hay (Nairn Dunbar) (T59)

77 R McCance (Chippenham), A Welsh (Cathkin Braes), P Robinson (Largs) (T71)

78 R McConnachie (Peterculter), D Lee (Affordable Golf), F Cramb (Crieff) (T86)
79 R Mitchell (Paul Lawrie GC), S Costello (Strathaven) (T90)

83 E Macpherson (Auchterarder).

L;OW SCORING ON PGA EUROPRO TOUR

ZACK AND KRIS SPEARHEAD SCOTS

ON BIRDIE SHOOT WITH 65s 

Zack Saltman and Kris Nicol had 13 birdies between them as they spearhead the Scottish challenge in a field of 156, each paying a £275 entry fee, for this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the FSC Invitational at a shortish, par-70 course at Astbury Golf Club, Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Saltman and Nicol led the field jointly on 65 until Dorset man Martin Thompson came in with a 64 to relegate them to second place in the £40,000 54-hole event which offers a £10,000 jackpot prize for the winner.

Archerfield's Saltman had a bogey-free round studded with birdies at the long second, short fifth, sixth, 11th and long 17th.

Fraserburgh's Nicol, from the Paul Lawrie stable, covered the front nine in only 30 strokes. He had eight birdies in all - at the long second, short third, fourth, short seventh, eighth, 10th, long 17th and 18th. He had bogeys at the 10th, short 12th and 13th.
Only the leading 50 and ties will beat the cut at the end of the second round on Thursday. 

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 70

64 M Thompson (Eng)

SELECTED SCORES

65 Z Saltman (Archerfield Links), K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) (T2)

66 S Drummond (Sco) (T7)

67 P Shields (Kirkhill), E Saltman (Archerfield Links),N Fenwick (Dunbar) (T11)

68 L Saltman (Archerfield Links), N Henderson (Renaissance), S Crichton (Aberdour)

(T19)

69 E Ramsay (Carnoustie), F McKenna (Balmore) (T35)

70 M Isaacs (Newmachar), R Kellett (Kingsfield) (T53)

71 J Findlay  (Paul Lawrie GC) (T72)

72 J McColl (Scotscraig) (T88)

73 P Doherty (Vale Hotel) (T105)

74 R Cameron (Saltire Energy), C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) (T120)

Retired: G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC).

HOST CLUB MEMBER TRIUMPHS IN ANNUAL OPEN

STEVEN RENNIE WINS DRUMPELLIER 

CUP BY 3 STROKES WITH 69-70 FOR 139

The 2014 Drumpellier Cup
 tournament at the weekend was won by local member Steven Rennie, pictured right with the trophy, with two great rounds of golf in the very difficult, wet and windy conditions. 

The course was in great condition and held up very well during the day. 

Steven's excellent round of two-under-par 69 in the morning was followed up by a 70 in the afternoon, for a comfortable three-stroke winning margin by the +2 rated player.

 LEADING TOTALS

Par 142 (2x71). CSS 73 74

139 S Rennie (Drumpellier) 69 70

142 J Lamb (Lanark).
144 C Chalmers (Cawder) (better second round),   J Steven ( Bothwell Castle ).
148 P Gault jun (Haggs Castle) (better second round), C Watson (East Renfrewshire)  
149 G C Stewart (Drumpellier).
151 K Gallacher  (East Kilbride)          

FIFE GA MEN'S ORDER OF MERIT TOP TEN

2014 FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION ORDER OF MERIT, presented by www.MyGolfRanking.net, for The Mackay Bowl.

Positions after 5 events:

1 Alex Moir (Thornton) 140 pts

2 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 125

3 Greg Forrester (Lundin) 120

T4 Ally Hunter (Pitreavie) 60

T4 Ewan Scott (St Andrews GC) 60

T4 Ryan White (Leven GS) 60

7 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 45

T8 Steven Aitken (Leven GS) 40

T8 Fraser Carr (Crail) 40

T8 David Oldham (Crail) 40.

Event 6 that counts for the 2014 FIFE ORDER OF MERIT, is THE TENNANT CUP at GLASGOW GOLF CLUB on June 21 and 22.

2014 FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION BOYS ORDER OF MERIT presented by www.MyGolfRanking.net

Positions after 3 events:

1 Ryan Brown (Dunfermline) 180 pts

T2 Hamish Gorn (Aberdour) 130

T2 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 130

4 Niall McMullen (Lundin) 127

T5 John Paterson (St Andrews New) 63

T5 Stewart Philp (Lundin) 63

T5 Kyle Russell (Dunfermline) 63

8 Keith Bowman (St Andrews New) 60.

The next counting event for the 2014 FIFE BOYS ORDER OF MERIT is the PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP at Murrayshall on June 16.

TWO-DAY AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL AT AYRSHIRE VENUE

SCOTS LEAD SOUTH AFRICA BY 2pt

AT HALFWAY STAGE 

Scotland lead South Africa 5 1/2-3 1/2 at the end of  the first day of a two-day "Test match" against South Africa at Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire.
The Scots took the morning foursomes 2-1 and the afternoon singles 3 1/2-2 1/2.
It was not plain sailing for the home team in the afternoon  as South Africa led in four of the six ties and were square in another approaching the turn.
Bradley Neil came back from two down to beat Louis Taylor by one hole in the lead-off singles.
Jamie Savage lost by 3 and 1 to South African champion Thriston Lawrence.
Scottish title-holder Zander Culverwell halved his match with N J Arnoldi. There was never more than a hole in it either way.
James Ross, one down after six, lost by one hole to Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
With the scores level overall at 3 1/2pt apiece, Scotland's tail wagged to great effect.
Scott Gibson came back from three down after six to win by 4 and 2 against Jason Smith and Jack McDonald, one up after six, went on to record a 4 and 3 win over Zander Lombard.
The Day 2 programme will also consist of three morning foursomes and six afternoon singles.Scotland are seeking to repeat their January win over the South Africans during the weeks of warm weather training.
DAY 1 
SCOTLAND lead SOUTH AFRICA 5 1/2-3 1/2
FOURSOMES (2-1)
Scots names first
Bradley Neil and Jamie Savage bt Louis Taylor and N J Arnoldi 2 and 1.
Zander Culverwell and Scott Gibson lost to Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Zander Lombard 3 and 1.
James Ross and Jack McDonald bt Thriston Lawrence and Jason Smith 2 and 1.

SINGLES (3 1/2-2 1/2)
Neil bt Taylor 1 hole.
Savage lost to Lawrence 3 and 1.
Culverwell halved with Arnoldi
Ross lost to Bezuidenhout 1 hole.
Gibson bt Smith 4 and 2.
McDonald bt Lombard 4 and 3.

ARNOTT IS TARTAN TOUR DOUBLE-TOPPER

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ARNOTT IS DOUBLE-TOPPER ON TARTAN TOUR

Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott leads both the Tartan Tour's Order of Merit and money tables.

He is No 1 in the Merit list with 402.50pt ahead of Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (340) and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) (320) and is the biggest money-earner this season with £12,529 to his credit. Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) is close behind with £12,014 and Gareth Wright (West Linton) third with £10,329.

Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), winner of both titles last season, is currently fourth in both tables.

ORDER OF MERIT

R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 402.50; G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 340; G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 325; G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 318.75; C Currie (Caldwell) 273.75; G Wright (West Linton) 270; A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 245; J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 240; D Orr (Mearns Castle) 230; P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 211.25.

MONEY TABLE

R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) £12,529; J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) £12,104; G Wright (West Linton) £10,329; G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) £9,998; G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) £9,623; G Fox (Clydeway Golf) £8,281; C Currie (Caldwell) £6,945; D Orr (Mearns Castle) £6,945; D Orr (Mearns Castle) £6,719; S Gray (Hayston) £5,394; M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) £5,221; S Henderson (Kings Links) £5,132.

ends

PGA IN SCOTLAND NEWS RELEASE - NEWMACHAR TEE TIMES, JULY 4

PRO TEE TIMES
Fairways (GM) Ltd Ransome Jacobsen Pro-Am

NEWMACHAR GOLF CLUB

JULY 4, 2014

 Tee   Time      Name

  1A   8:00 AM   Andrew Cooper, Newmachar Golf Club

  2A   8:00 AM   Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club

  3A   8:00 AM   Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre

  4A   8:00 AM   Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club

  5A   8:00 AM   Jason McCreadie, Buchanan Castle Golf Club

  6A   8:00 AM   Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count

  7A   8:00 AM   Dean Vannet, Peterculter Golf Club

  8A   8:00 AM   Neil Henderson (a)

  9A   8:00 AM   Malcolm Isaacs, Newmachar Golf Club

  10A  8:00 AM   Fraser Clarke, Newmachar Golf Club

  11A  8:00 AM   Chris Kelly, Cawder Golf Club

  12A  8:00 AM   Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

  13A  8:00 AM   Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range

  14A  8:00 AM   Greg McBain, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

  16A  8:00 AM   Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst Golf Club

  17A  8:00 AM   Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd.

  18A  8:00 AM   Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)