ENGLISHMAN COUPLAND SETS PACE WITH EIGHT-UNDER 63

GEORGE MURRAY LEADING SCOT IN 

BELGIAN CHALLENGE

NEWS RELEASE
Englishman Dave Coupland stormed into the first round lead at the Belgian Challenge Open, courtesy of a stunning eight under par opening round of 63 at the idyllic Cleydael Golf and Country Club, close to Antwerp.
The 28 year old, playing his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour, carded six consecutive birdies in a flawless round which counts as the best of his career on Europe’s top developmental tour.
Coupland came close to a first Challenge Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Challenge last month, losing out to his close friend and fellow former EuroPro Tour player, Oliver Farr of Wales.
The man from Boston in Lincolnshire, who currently lies in 23rd position in the Challenge Tour Rankings, was delighted with his start at the picturesque Belgian venue, which boasts a 14th Century castle as a clubhouse.
“I holed a few good putts today, my putter was on fire,” said Coupland, who teed off at the tenth hole. “I am very pleased with the way I controlled the ball. I knew this golf course would suit my game as I am not the longest hitter but I hit it straight. I felt very comfortable.
“I had a very steady seven holes from the start, but then just started to hole all my putts for those six birdies in a row. It was great to keep that momentum going for so long.”
Germany’s Florian Fritsch was one shot further back on seven under par after an opening 64 and the 28 year old also avoided a single bogey over the tricky lay-out in the suburban town of Aartselaar.
“The key this morning was the putting,” said the Munich-born player, who has a fear of flying which often prevents him from travelling to far-reaching tournaments. “You cannot hole so many birdies without great putting.
“I saved three pars too, including one sand save. But even when I missed the greens, they were not big misses.
“I could not play during practice round this week because my clubs got stolen Sunday night in Antwerp,” he continued. “I was with Damian Ulrich and we left our car in a public parking but with cover on the golf clubs. They took my bag and Damian's woods.
“My wife arrived yesterday with my back0up clubs. I guess I have good memories with these clubs now!”
Spain’s Jordi Garcia Del Moral and Mexican Rodolfo Cazaubon shared third place on six under par, while there were nine players on five under par including local favourite Hugues Joannes, already a runner-up on the Challenge Tour this season, and his Belgian compatriot, amateur Kevin Hesbois.
 
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
63 D Coupland (Eng) ,
64 F Fritsch  (Ger) ,
65 J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) , R Cazaubon (Mex) ,
66 H Joannes  (Bel) , C Paisley  (Eng) , G Murray  (Sco) , A Rota (Ita) , N Ravano (Ita) , R Kind (Ned) , J Palmer (Eng) , T Pilkadaris (Aus) , K Hesbois (am) (Bel) ,
67 R McGowan  (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , S Little (Eng) , A Velasco (Esp) , P Edberg (Swe) , A Perrino  (Ita) , P Gal  (Cze) ,
68 E Espana (Fra) , W Roebuck (Eng) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , X Puig (Esp) , B Hebert  (Fra) , J Stalter (Fra) , T Lee (USA) , O Farr (Wal) , P Dwyer (Eng) , M Jonzon (Swe) ,
69 R Steiner (Aut) , S Hutsby  (Eng) , N Henriques  (Por) , A Dunbar (Nir) , L Richard (Bel) , P McKechnie (Sco) , D Gaunt (Eng) , R McEvoy  (Eng) , F Bergamaschi (Ita) , M Glauert (Ger) , A Bernadet  (Fra) , A Domingo (Esp) , J Wilson (Aus) , M Southgate  (Eng) ,
70 F Delamontagne  (Fra) , R Russell (Sco) , G Main (USA) , N Dougherty  (Eng) , J Legarrea (Esp) , W Harrold (Eng) , W Booth  (Sco) , A Björk (Swe) , M Rominger  (Sui) , J Lucquin (Fra) , F Becker (Ger) , J Moul  (Eng) , B Parker  (Eng) , C Arendell (USA) , P Relecom  (Bel) , B Stone (RSA) , E Johansen  (Nor) , M Dobias  (Sui) , J Kelly (Nor) , P Erofejeff (Fin) ,
71 D Ulrich (Sui) , V Phillips (Eng) , J Gibb (Eng) , W Besseling  (Ned) , N Quintarelli (Ita) , J Makitalo  (Fin) , J Winther (Den) , B Henson (USA) , C Ford (Eng) , M Haines  (Eng) , Z Scotland  (Eng) , J Gonnet  (Fra) , B Chapellan (Fra) , L Gagli  (Ita) , J Lara (Esp) , N Kearney (Irl) , L Goddard  (Eng) , G Boyd  (Eng) , J Mikkelsen (Nor) , J Fahrbring (Swe)
72 R Davies (Wal) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) , C Russo (Fra) , P Maddy (Eng) , D Van Doren (Bel) , M Ford (Eng) , G Houston (Wal) , T Murray (Eng) , N Johansson (Swe) , C Mivis  (Bel) , R Megens (Bel) , F Laporta (Ita) , S Arnold  (Aus) , A De Bondt (am) (Bel) ,
 73 M Haastrup  (Den) , D De Vooght (Bel) , K Le Sager  (Fra) , J Barnes (Eng) , M Lafeber (Ned) , M Novy  (Cze) , J Timmis (Eng) , B Virto  (Esp) , M Trappel  (Aut) , J Rask (Swe) , G Seegmuller  (Bel) , O Wilson (Eng) , D Merckx (am) (Bel) ,
74 G Watremez (Bel) , A Hortal  (Esp) , S Hansen (Nor) , B An (Kor) , O Lieser (Cze) , D Perrier (Fra) , C Macaulay  (Sco) , N Nissen (Den) , J Huldahl (Den) , A Dumont (Bel) , J Lando Casanova  (Fra) , R Coles (Eng) ,
75 M Vyncke (Bel) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , K Benz (Sui) , G Gresse  (Bel) , T Sluiter  (Ned) , N Lemke (Swe) , N Meitinger  (Ger) , O Floren  (Swe) , C Brazillier  (Fra) , F De Vries  (Ned) , G Pinto (Por) ,
76 J Gallegos  (Esp) , R Enoch  (Wal) , X Ruiz Fonhof  (Ned) , T Pulkkanen  (Fin) , J Pastor (Esp) , M Boesmans (am) (Bel) ,
77 G Snow  (Ken) , J Howarth (Eng) , A Beaupain  (Bel) , D Suchan  (Cze) , G Debusscher (am) (Bel) ,
78 L Saltman (Sco) ,

EUROPRO TOUR REPORT AND LINK TO SCORES

SEVEN SCOTS SURVIVE CUT AT 

CUMBERWELL PARK, WILTSHIRE

  NEWS RELEASE

Luke Joy will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the HotelPlanner.com Championship after carding a second-round 68 to move from eight under to 11 under and extend his 18-hole lead to two strokes by the end of Thursday’s play at Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire.

Nick McCarthy and Marcus Armitage share second on nine under, while seven golfers are tied fourth on eight under. Among those three behind the leader is Dave Thomas, who shot the day’s best round – an eight-under-par 63 on the par-71 Red and Yellow Course.

Joy (Broadstone Golf Club) began the day one ahead of the field after opening with a 63 on Wednesday. His second round began on the tenth tee and he got off to a promising start with birdies at 11 and 12. He broke par again at the first to sign for an unblemished second-round 68.

“I played very solidly again today,” he said. “It wasn’t the fireworks with the putter I had in the first round but overall I was happy with the day’s work. The weather was very pleasant again and the course is in great shape.

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of me tomorrow. I will go out to have fun, see how low I can post and then see if it is enough to win.”

McCarthy (Moortown Golf Club) was four behind Joy at the start of the day but a second-round 66 saw him move to within two of the leader. Armitage (Howley Hall Golf Club) was a winner on the Tour at Concra Wood last year and shot a six-under 65 to join McCarthy in second ahead of the final round.

Eight golfers will begin Friday’s conclusive 18 just three off the lead and having seen course-record rounds of eight under carded twice this week will know a low score for victory is possible.

A further nine players are just four behind Joy and will also take realistic hopes of finishing top of the pack into Friday’s. The winner will take home £10,000 from the £40,000 prize fund. 

Some of Europe’s best young golfers are in action in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event, and the final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be aired on Sky Sports on July 1.

A cut to the leading 50 players and ties has now been made, with the 67 players whose 36-hole scores are two under par or better proceeding to play the final round on Friday. Spectator entry is free and live scoring can be found at 
www.europrotour.com

LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
131 Luke Joy (England) 63 68
133 Nick McCarthy (England) 67 66, Marcus Armitage (England) 68 65

SCOTS' SCORES
135 Zack Saltman 67 68, Ross Cameron 69 66, Elliot Saltman 66 69 (T11)
136 Sam Binning 71 65 (T20)
137 Paul Shields 69 69 (T25).
139 Kris Nicol 66 73 (T38)
140 Conor O'Neil 66 74 (T50)

MISSED THE CUT (140 and better qualified)
142 Ross Kellett 72 70
144 Paul Doherty 74 70, Graham Rankin 72 71
145 Jordan McColl 71 74, Scott Crichton 71 74
150 James Hendrick 75 75
151 Michael Patterson 74 77
152 Jordan Findlay 78 74
160 Callum Trahan 78 82
162 Paul McGhee 81 81 

FLYING FINN ILONEN SETS PACE IN IRISH OPEN

CHRIS DOAK IS TOP SCOT WITH AN 

OPENING 69 - FIVE BEHIND LEADER

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS REPORT
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen fired five birdies in his closing seven holes to establish a two-shot advantage after the opening round of the Irish Open at Fota Ireland Resort. 
Ilonen, a three-time winner on The European Tour, signed for a superb seven-under-par round of 64, to head an international leaderboard, with the Swedish pair of Robert Karlsson and Magnus A Carlsson sharing second place alongside Germany’s Marcel Siem on five under par. 
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open Champion, and fellow Ulsterman Michael Hoey lead the Irish challenge on three under par in a share of ninth position, with three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington a further shot back alongside defending champion Paul Casey. 
 However, former World Number One Rory McIlroy faces a battle to make it to the weekend after a mixing three birdies with six bogeys in a three over par round of 74, which left him in a tie for 125th place after the first day. 
Key player quotes  
Mikko Ilonen: “It was a slow start really - the first four or five holes, I felt like I couldn’t get anything going. But I stayed patient and then the birdies kept coming, especially in the end, and I managed to hit a couple of good putts which was nice.” Robert Karlsson: “Every time you come back to a course which you like and have done well, it's always a positive. I like the atmosphere here.” Marcel Siem: “I played pretty solid on the front nine, but I couldn't hole a putt. I felt like I should have been two or three under. I misread a few putts unfortunately, then I said, let's shoot five under on the back nine. I shot six under, so I’m happy.” Magnus A Carlsson: “It's a good start. The game felt pretty solid today. I put in some nice practice the last couple of weeks, and shots were going the right way today. Putts were dropping, as well, so that was a good start.” 
Graeme McDowell: “It was nice to birdie three of the last four there. I had a bit of a whoopsy on 17, trying to throw myself with a five iron and nearly fell over but these things happen.
" Generally I was happy enough with the way I hit it coming down the stretch. There is room for improvement throughout the game but I'll take three under par and run.” 
Rory McIlroy: “I was very sloppy with the scoring clubs today, the wedges, the short game and the putting. All that was just a little off. I drove the ball beautifully again, putting myself in great positions off the tee and just not being able to capitalise on them or take advantage of those positions that I've put myself in. 
"So hopefully I’ll do a better job of that tomorrow and obviously I'll need something in the mid-60s just to be here for the weekend.” 

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 M Ilonen (Fin)
66 M Carlsson (Swe) , M Siem (Ger) , R Karlsson (Swe)
67 A Hansen (Den) , E Molinari (Ita) , D Huizing (Ned) , M Baldwin (Eng)
68 A Gee (Eng), R Rock (Eng), G McDowell (Nir) , J Roos (RSA) , T Lewis (Eng) , M Crespi (Ita) , J Singh (Ind) , M Hoey (Nir) , R Finch (Eng) , R Fisher (Eng) , D Fichardt (RSA) , G Bourdy (Fra) , J Walters (RSA)
69 P Harrington (Irl) , G Storm (Eng) , C Wood (Eng) , K Broberg (Swe) , C Doak (Sco) , J Olazábal (Esp) , P Lawrie (Irl) , P Casey (Eng) , P Sjöland (Swe) , R Wattel (Fra) , S Khan (Eng) , B Paolini (USA) , R Gonzalez (Arg) , S Kim (Kor) , L Hao-Tong (Chn) , G Moynihan (am) (Irl) 
70 M Korhonen (Fin) , E Goya (Arg) , W Ormsby (Aus) , J Heath (Eng) , M Madsen (Den) , M Lundberg (Swe) , M Manassero (Ita) , A Quiros (Esp) , G Havret (Fra) , S Dyson (Eng) , S Manley (Wal) , J Campillo (Esp) , H Otto (RSA) , L Bjerregaard (Den) , J Carlsson (Swe) , G Stal (Fra) , S Webster (Eng) , M Nixon (Eng) , D Brooks (Eng) , F Zanotti (Par) , L Slattery (Eng)
71 S Lowry (Irl) , A Forsyth (Sco) , K Phelan (Irl) , A Pavan (Ita) , T Fleetwood (Eng) , J Dantorp (Swe) , D Drysdale (Sco) , J Kelly (Irl) , M Warren (Sco) , R Santos (Por) , A Wall (Eng) , R Kakko (Fin) , S Kjeldsen (Den) , C McNamara (Irl) , G Maybin (Nir) , D Stewart (Sco), V Riu (Fra) , J Doherty (Sco), A McArthur (Sco) , P Whiteford (Sco) , A Saddier (Fra)
72 P Lawrie (Sco) , D Clarke (Nir) , D Howell (Eng) , D McGrane (Irl) , R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) , B Rumford (Aus) , S Hansen (Den) , A Levy (Fra) , S Thornton (Irl) , S Walker (Eng) , A Otaegui (Esp) , D Higgins (Irl) , T Pieters (Bel) , M Fitzpatrick (Eng) , R Jacquelin (Fra) , C Del Moral (Esp) , A Cañizares (Esp) , E Pepperell (Eng) , D Horsey (Eng) , P Larrazábal (Esp) , G Hurley (am) (Irl) 
73 N Elvira (Esp) , S Dodd (Wal) , A Hartø (Den) , H Wen-Yi (Chn) , S Henry (Sco) , R Dinwiddie (Eng) , J Knutzon (USA) , R Green (Aus) , T Hatton (Eng) , A Kaleka (Fra) , F Calmels (Fra) , J Parry (Eng) , D Willett (Eng) , C Lee (Sco) , T Levet (Fra) , B McElhinney (Irl) , R Ramsay (Sco) , O Fisher (Eng) , P McGinley (Irl) , M Miller (USA) , M Foster (Eng) , R Bland (Eng) , S Gallacher (Sco) , D McElroy (am) (Nir) 
74 S Jamieson (Sco) , R McIlroy (Nir) , J Kruger (RSA) , J Quesne (Fra) , S Kapur (Ind) , B Grace (RSA) , E Dubois (Fra) , M Kieffer (Ger) , E De La Riva (Esp) , G Porteous (Eng) , J McLeary (Sco) , G Bhullar (Ind) , P Waring (Eng)
75 S Wakefield (Eng) , T Van Der Walt (RSA) , J Morrison (Eng) , 76 D Sugrue (Irl) , J Lima (Por) , G Shaw (Nir) , M Staunton (Irl) , E Brady (Irl) , J Hahn (USA) , F Aguilar (Chi) , A Sullivan (Eng) , 77 J Hansen (Den) , R McGee (Irl) , E Grillo (Arg) , D Mooney (Nir) , J Jeong (Kor) , D Im (USA) 
79 R Cannon (am) (Irl)
82 B McGovern (Irl) 

SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

BARRY BROOKS GOES 3 CLEAR AT 

BLAIRGOWRIE WITH A ROUND TO GO

Barry Brooks (Meldrum House), winner of the 1992 Aberdeen Links championship when he was a Northern Golf Club member, surged into a three-stroke lead with a second-round 69 over the Rosemount course, Blairgowrie in the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship today (Thu)

Brooks is on five-under-par 139 with 18 holes to play and has a four shot lead over the "old maestro" and past champion, Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth).

Ian is on 143 with so steady rounds of 71-72.

The big surprise of the second day was the performance of overnight leader Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co).

He followed up a brilliant opening round of five-under-par 67 with an 83, a slump of some 16 shots.

LEADERBOARD

Par 144

139 Barry Brooks (Meldrum House) 70 69

143 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 71 72

146 Stephen East (Moortown) 70 76

147 Roy Smethurst (Crewe) 70 71, Richard Latham (Woodhall Spa) 73 74

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

148 Malcolm Reid (Sonning) 73 75

150 Laurie Chancellor (Inverness) 74 76, David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 72 78, Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) 67 83,

Bob Humble (Kilspindie) 77 73, Brian Smith (Hamilton) 79 71, Joe McManus (Uphall) 75 75

151 David Dickson (Lochmaben) 72 79, John Johnston (Lanark) 72 79, George Kodaks (Pitreavie) 74 77, David Pearson (Royal Dornoch) 74 77, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) 74 77, Andrew Campbell (Glenbervie) 78 73
152 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 78 74, Hamish Sutherland (Alnmouth) 79 73..
153 Len Salariya (Forfar) 75 78, D J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 77 76.
154 Alan Elder (Kirkcaldy) 77 77, Jim Watt (Edzell) 73 81, Robert Stewart (Tulliallan) 77 77
155 William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 79 76, Ian Angus (Duff House Royal) 81 74.

MISSED THE CUT (155 and better qualified for final round)

157 Alan McEwan (Hamilton) 76 81
158 Brian Reid (Dunbar) 79 79, Alastair Harkness (Southerness) 79 79, I Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 79 79, John Broadfoot (Turnberry) 81 77.
159 David Millar (St Andrews New) 78 81, Brian Grieve (King James VI) 79 80, Keith Bruce (Edzell) 79 80, David Downie (Kirriemuir) 80 79.
163 Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) 78 85
165 David Taylor (Dunfermline) 79 86
175 Albert Smith (Turriff) 83 92 

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE 

WHEN TO SEE THE LEADERS 
ON FRIDAY
10.10 Brotherston, Gardner.
10.18 Chancellor, Nelson

10.26 McClure, Mew

10.34 Reid, Latham

10.42 Smethurst, East

10.50 Hutcheon, Brooks

 

TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND

STARTING TIMES

 

CLICK HERE

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LAW'S WIRE TO WIRE NORTHERN OPEN WIN

DAVID LAW BECOMES THE HISTORY 

MAN IN WINNING NORTHERN OPEN AS 

AN AMATEUR AND PRO

  AND THE WINNER IS .... David Law, by three strokes from

Paul Lawrie Golf Centre stablemate Greig Hutcheon. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Another great chapter in the ongoing David Law Success Story.
The 23-year-old Aberdonian, who won the Scottish boys championship, then the Scottish amateur title twice, today (Thursday) became the first man in the Northern Open's 83-year history to win the title both as an amateur (in 2011), and now as a professional.
The only other amateur winner prior to Law was fellow Hazlehead Golf Club member Sandy Pirie in 1970 at Cruden Bay. Sandy was a career amateur.
Law led from start to finish at Murcar Links in the fog-shortened 54-hole event, sponsored by the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre with a £35,000 prize fund.
David claimed the £6,000 lion's share with rounds of 68, 68 and 71 for a six-under-par total of 207 over one of the toughest tracks this event has ever been played on - thanks to Murcar Links course manager Bob Mackay.
Law, who did not play a single shot on Wednesday, when the second round was eventually abandoned, tamed the 20mph wind, gusting up to and over 25mph, which swept the links throughout the final day.
A second-round, three-under-par 68 for 136 put Law four clear of Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) with 18 holes to go and six ahead of third placed Greig Hutcheon who had a 69 for 142
Hutcheon, even with a new set of irons unwrapped and gripped only the night before, became the main challenger. He got to within two shots of leader Law after 12 holes of the final round.
That was as close as he got to his Paul Lawrie Golf Centre stablemate.
Law came through a sticky patch by holing some vital six to eight-footers for par and then birdied three of the last five holes (the 14th, 15th and 18th) while Hutch, who earned £4,000 as runner-up, could manage only five pars and one birdie, at the 15th, for the same stretch.
"That's my fourth win as a pro and it's great to do it in the Northern Open which has to be my favourite tournament," said Law.
"I won it as an amateur in 2011, and then finished second to James Byrne in both 2012 and 2013. Playing on the Challenge Tour has given me a lot of confidence and helped to bring my game up to the level needed to win the Northern Open from this field.
"I'm gaining experience all the time. How good a player could I become? Who knows? I just have to keep improving every year and see where that takes me."
The nicest aspect of the David Law Story is that success has not gone to his head in the slightest. He is still the nice guy he was as a teenage member of Hazlehead Golf Club. 
Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) had a 67 in the final round to have the honour of producing the lowest single score of the championship.
Home club amateur Anthony Bews won the Bookless Cup as the leading amateur. He finished with a 74 for 223, winning comfortably from the only other amateurs who beat the cut - clubmate Corin Stewart (81 for 229) and Ross Noon (Craigielaw), who had an 82 for 230.
Bews was a +3 player at one stage when he was just about a full-time amateur. But now he has an oil-related job and a wife and children to support so, with less time for golf, his handicap is now "only" scratch.
"I suppose it was local knowledge that won me the Bookless Cup. I know where all the trouble is round Murcar Links - what a terrific test of golf Bob Mackay has made it since his arrival here as course manager" said Anthony.

Anthony Bews(left) with the Bookless Cup and David Law with the championship trophy. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE NORTHERN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Murcar Links.

FINAL TOTALS and PRIZEMONEY

Par 213 (3x71)

207 David Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 68 68 71(£6,000)

210 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 73 69 68 (£4,000)

213 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 69 71 73(£3,200)

215 Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 72 72 71(£2,500)

217 Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 74 73 70, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 77 71(£1,750 each)

218 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 73 75 70(£1,250)

219 David Patrick (Kingsfield) 71 73 75(£1,100)

220 Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 74 79 67, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 72 74 74 (£950 each)

221 Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 72 78 71 (£850)

223 Craig Everett (Caldwell) 74 75 74, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 74 75 74, Lindsay Mann (unatt) 73 72 78 (£750 each), Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) (am) 73 76 74

224 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 75 75 74 (£650)

225 Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 75 73 77, Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 75 77 73 (£575 each)

226 David Orr (Mearns Castle) 73 81 72(£500)

227 Stuart Morrison (Tain) 73 78 76, Stephen Craig (Craig Golf) 72 76 79 (£462 each)

228 Mark Hillson (Tandridge) 75 80 73, Malcolm Isaacs (Newmachar) 75 77 76, Alan Reid (West Lothian) 74 74 80, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 74 80 74(£415 each)

229 Corin Stewart (Murcar Links) (am) 75 73 81 

230 Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 74 80 76, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 81 76 (£385 each), Ross Noon (Craigielaw) (am) 73 75 82

231 Ross McConnachie (Peterculter) 75 78 78, Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 79 78, Alistair Brown (Archerfield) 74 78 79, Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 73 79 79 (£355 each)

232 Colin Robinson (Elie SC) 72 80 80 (£330)

235 Ron Walker (Lundin) 74 85 76(£320)

237 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 75 79 83  (£310)

238 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 73 81 84(£300).

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DAVID LAW WINS NORTHERN OPEN FOR A SECOND TIME IN 4 YEARS

   David Law pitching on to the second green in his final round after coming up short into the wind with his approach shot. He bogeyed the hole. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.


OLDCORN'S 67 IS LOWEST  OF WEEK 

-AND HE NEARLY DIDN'T GO OUT

Andrew Oldcorn, pictured below, shot the lowest round of the tournament, a four-under-par 67, in the final session of play. The Edinburgh man, a former PGA championship winner at Wentworth, finished on 220.
He had five birdies and one bogey in his final round after playing so badly - his words - over a spell in his morning round of 79 that he was inclined not to go out again in the afternoon.
He took 44 blows to the turn in his second round - "only pride kept me going. I didn't want to shoot a very high number for the round.

"But playing 36 holes in a day is quite a lot for me nowadays," said Senior Tour campaigner Oldcorn, "but I'm so glad I did now. Having the lowest round of the tournament is something to be proud of, especially as it is more than 20 years since I played in a Northern Open." 
Home course scratch amateur Anthony Bews won the Bookless Cup as the leading amateur. He finished with a 74 for 223, winning comfortably from the only other amateurs who beat the cut - clubmate Corin Stewart (81 for 229) and Ross Noon (Craigielaw), who had an 82 for 230.
"Nice to win the Bookless Cup. I supposed it was down to local knowledge. I used to have a +3 handicap but I am now working in the oil business and have a wife and children to look after," said Anthony who is 28.

NEWS FROM ROYAL PORTRUSH

 FIVE SCOTS WIN THEIR OPENING 

TIES IN BRITISH AMATEUR

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R and A

England’s Jordan Smith pulled off an upset in the second round of the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush today as he defeated highly rated Italian Renato Paratore.

The Bowood Golf Club member knew he was in for a hard challenge before he teed off. At number six on the World Amateur Golf Ranking^TM, Paratore was the highest ranked player in the field. Smith, ranked 63^rd, had already been given a sneak preview of what he was up against but got off to a fast start and held his lead until he dispatched Paratore 3 and 1.

“I got off to a bit of a flier with five birdies in the first nine holes to go four up,” said Smith, a member of the Great Britain and Ireland 2013 Walker Cup team. “I just played steady from there on in. I played for fairways and greens because I didn’t have to do anything special after the front nine.

“I played with him in the qualifying rounds and he was awesome. He putted really well so I knew I was in for a really tough match.”

“I couldn’t believe the length of putts I holed over the front nine. I putted really poorly in qualifying so I was surprised at how well I putted.”

The 21-year-old made his first start in a professional tournament last month when he played in the Lyoness Open on the European Tour. He made the cut in Austria and eventually finished 32^nd.

Scotland’s Bradley Neil was another who arrived in Northern Ireland in good spirits after finishing second in the St Andrews Links Trophy, where he lost a play-off to Grant Forrest over the Old Course.

Neil moved into a four-hole lead after nine holes today against Ireland’s Stuart Grehan. Yet the Blairgowrie man needed to go to the 18th green to secure the win. “That’s a match I never want to play again,” he said.

The 18-year-old from Blairgowrie gave a hole back with a double bogey six at the 10^th hole, lost the 11^th to a birdie and then a wayward drive off the 12^th tee led to him losing the hole to Grehan’s bogey five and his lead was cut to one.

 Neil steadied himself to birdie the next hole and managed to par the last five holes to squeeze into the second round.

Elsewhere, England’s Paul Howard claimed another surprise victory with a two-hole win over Belgium’s Thomas Detry, the current 12^th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking^TM.

Daniel Brown, who led the 288-man qualifying field with an 8-under-par total of 133, continued his fine form with a 2 and 1 victory over American Myles Lewis to advance to the third round.

Toby Tree had a slightly easier time in reaching the second round than his English international teammate, but still had to concentrate over the closing holes to see off France’s Hubert Tisserand 3 and 1.

Cormac Sharvin continued Northern Irish hopes by defeating Scotland’s Calum Hill. The member of Ardglass Golf Club in Co Down and a student at Stirling University won 2 and 1 to go one round better than 12 months ago when he lost to eventual champion Garrick Porteous in his opening round.

Spain’s Emilio Cuartero won’t follow in the footsteps of Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal and complete the double as Boys Amateur and Amateur Champion. 

The 2007 Boys Amateur Championship winner lost 4 and 3 to Denmark’s Victor Fasmer Henum.

For the results of the later matches please visit championships.randa.org and follow @Randa on Twitter.

SUMMARY OF HOW THE NINE SCOTS IN THE MATCH-PLAY FARED
(five won, four lost) 
James Ross won 4 and 3.
Calum Hill lost 2 and 1.
Bradley Neil won 1 hole.
Jack McDonald lost 4 and 2.
Chris Robb won 3 and 2.
Grant Forrest lost 2 and 1. 
Jamie Savage won 1 hole
Liam Johnston lost 2 and 1.
Connor Syme won 2 and 1.

PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE NORTHERN OPEN FINAL DAY

LAW LEADS BY FOUR WITH ONE ROUND

TO GO IN A HALF-GALE AT MURCAR

By

David Law on the first tee at windswept Murcar Links today. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Overnight leader David Law tamed a wind gusting at 25mph to surge four shots clear of the field with one round to go in the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Northern Open championship at Murcar Links this morning.
Law is out on his own at six-under-par 136, after repeating his first-round, three-under-par 68, thanks to covering his last 11 holes in four under par in his second round.
Aberdonian David, 23, was one of 33 players who did not hit a competitive ball on Wednesday when the second round was finally abandoned due to the haar which hung around most of the day - and then disappeared at 7.30pm last night after Tournament Director Roy Murray had abandoned hopes of getting the second round completed.
In the windiest conditions of the week, 20mph northwesterly wind gusting up to and above 25mph, Law played brilliantly to take a stranglehold on the £6,000 first prize ... and he could become the first player to win the title first as both an amateur (which he did at Meldrum House in 2011) and as a pro. He was runner-up to James Byrne last year after leading him by five shots at halfway in the 72-hole event 12 months ago
Law dropped a shot at the third this morning but got it back with a birdie at the long fourth. Then  he slipped to another bogey at the short fifth before he set off on is bogey-free run studded with birdies at the long eighth, 10th, long 14th and 18th.
Neil Fenwick starts the final round four shots behind leader Law after a par 71 for 140, two shots ahead of Greig Hutcheon, now lying third on 142 after a 69. 
Law and Hutch were the only players to break 70 in the wild northwesterly.
Jason McCreadie, Law's closest challenger at the start of the day, never recovered from a bad start to his second round and posted a 77 for 146.

ROUND 2 TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
136 David Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 68 68
140 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 69 71 
142 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 73 69.
144 David Patrick (Kingsfield) 71 73, Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 72 72 
145 Lindsay Mann (unatt) 73 72 
146 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 72 74
147 Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 74 73, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 77
148 Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 75 73, Corin Stewart (Murcar Links) (am) 75 73, Alan Reid (West Lothian) 74 74, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 73 75, Ross Noon (Craigielaw) (am) 73 75, Stephen Craig (Craig Golf) 72 76
149 Craig Everett (Caldwell) 74 75, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 74 75, Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) (am) 73 76
150 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 75 75, Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 72 78
151 Stiart Morrison (Tain) 73 78
152 Malcolm Isaacs (Newmachar) 75 77, Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 75 77, Alistair Brown (Archerfield) 74 78, Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 73 79, Colin Robinson (Elie SC) 72 80
153 Ross McConnachie (Peterculter) 75 78, Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 74 79, Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 79
154 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 75 79, Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 74 80, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 74 80, David Orr (Mearns Castle) 73 81, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 81, Craig Ronald (Caldwell) 73 81
155 Mark Hillson (Tandridge) 75 80 
159 Ron Walker (Lundin) 74 85

+Prize money: 
1 - £6,000
2 - £4,000
3 - £3,200
4 - £2,500
First nine will all earn four-figure cheques (£1,000 for ninth).
The leading amateur will win the Bookless Cup.

PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE NORTHERN OPEN FINAL DAY

David Law drives off from the first tee, watched by playing partner Jason McCreadie, at Murcar Links this morning. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

THEY'RE PLAYING AGAIN AT MURCAR LINKS - BUT IT IS VERY WINDY!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Normal service was resumed in the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Northern Open championship at Murcar Links this morning.

As forecast last night by course manager Bob Mackay, no fog left - in fact it disappeared by 7.30pm last night - but a strong northwesterly wind.blowing over the links and it will be a tough test for the 37 players who survived the cut at four-over-par 75 and better, declared on the first-round scores alone following the abandonment of the off-on-off second round yesterday.
Perhaps an indication of how tough it will be at Murcar Links today, Anglo-Scot Mark Hillson (Tandridge), first out this morning and playing with a marker, returned a nine-over-par 80.

If you are interested in coming out to watch, the fourth round will start about 12.30. They are playing in pairs. Leaders David Law and Jason McCreadie will be going out for a last time at 2.54pm or thereabouts.
No admission fee for spectators and no car parking charges. 

Just a recap on that first-round leaderboard

68 David Law

69 Jason McCreadie, Neil Fenwick

71 David Patrick

72 Stephen Craig, Graham Fox, Gavin Hay, Stephen Gray, Colin Robinson. 
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ROUND 2 SCORES

    Jason McCreadie's first shot of the PLGC Northern Open third round.

PLGC NORTHERN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP