Wednesday, July 30, 2014

FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

CHRIS ROBB COULD BE DARK HORSE IN 

LAST 32 AT DOWNFIELD

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
Summary by ED HODGE, SGU Press Officer
Meldrum House’s Chris Robb has landed two domestic titles this season and now feels at home at Downfield as he chases the SGU’s flagship event.
SCROLL DOWN TO THE END OF THIS ARTICLE TO SEE THE THURSDAY 
MORNING ROUND 4 LINE-UP
At the Fairstone Scottish amateur championship, Robb (pictured) could be a dark horse for the silverware after booking his place in round four.
The 23-year-old from Banchory came through two ties yesterday to book his place in the last-32 against another in-form player, St Andrews’ Ben Kinsley, the Scottish boys championship runner-up.
Robb returned to Scotland for this season after finishing his college career in the US, claiming All-American golf honours at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
The North-east man quickly went on to win claim emphatic wins on the SGU Men’s Order of Merit at the East of Scotland Open at Lundin and the Cameron Corbett Vase at Haggs Castle. 
Now Robb he is chasing more success at Downfield, having already achieved his best-ever run in the event.
“It’s so far so good,” said Robb, who crushed James Wilson of Balmore 5 and 4 in the afternoon. “I’ve been trying to do what I do in strokeplay and just play my own game, not worrying about my opponent.
“I also like tree-lined courses, I guess that’s from being in America, so Downfield suits me fine. I’ve won two Merit events this season and reached the knock-out stages at The Amateur, losing to Bradley Neil in the second round. Hopefully I can keep things going.”
As Robb chases the title, Dunbar’s Alexander Culverwell is seeking to defend the crown, the eighth seed also moving into the fourth round having seen off a dangerous opponent, Thornhill’s Greig Marchbank on the 18th.
“I played Greig at almost the same stage last year and knew it was going to be a tough match. He has had a good season so I was pleased to get through,” said Zander, seeking to become the first player to defend the title since the late Charlie Green in 1983.
“I think Greig would agree with me in saying it wasn’t our greatest game, it was scrappy, but I got over the line.”
On a day when the wind picked up and the temperature cooled, various notable players kept their title challenges on track.
Neil, the top seed, was one of them, setting up an intriguing last-32 tie with his Blairgowrie clubmate Glenn Campbell, the 2005 champion at Southerness. Campbell is 41-years-old and Neil is 18, but the Amateur champion certainly won’t be taking the older man lightly.
“It was a big thing for the club when Glenn won in 2005,” said Bradley, who is 1-0 down to Campbell in their competitive head-to-head clashes after losing in the Perthshire county quarter-finals in 2010. 
“I know what Glenn can do and the course suits us both, as it’s a little like Blairgowrie.”
Campbell added: “I think we saw the potential of Bradley when he was 10 or 11-years-old. He works very hard and is reaping the rewards. It’s fantastic, and hopefully it goes on… but not tomorrow! I still feel I can compete out here, even though I don’t play as much as I used to.”
Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald, the fourth seed and last year’s SGU Men’s Order of Merit winner, continued his serene progress with a 7 and 6 triumph over Greig Kennedy of Hazlehead.
Josh Jamieson (St Andrews New) also booked his fourth round berth, seeing off Boys’ international Murray Naysmith of Marriott Dalmahoy.
Elsewhere, the five-time Downfield club champion Stewart Smith kept the home flag flying as he set up a tie with Williamwood’s Fraser Davren, conqueror of Wayne Crole of Blairgowrie.
Crole knocked out British boys champion Ewen Ferguson 24 hours earlier but lost down the first extra hole to SGU boys’ squad player Davren.
Sixth seed Connor Syme (Dumfries and County) stayed on course for success, as did Barry Hume, the 2001 champion at Downfield. 
Hume won 3 and 2 against Anthony Blaney in round three, ending the hopes of the Lothians man who had earlier been five-under-par in defeating St Andrews’ Ewan Scott.
Late in the day,  seventh seed Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and the 2012 champion Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), seeded second, eased into the fourth round also, along with the likes of Kilmacolm’s Matt Clark.

  View latest results from the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship

View event photos and video clips on SGU Facebook

THURSDAY MORNING: ROUND 4 TIES
8.00 Glenn Campbell v Bradley Neil
8.08 Stewart Smith v Fraser Davren

8.16 Josh Jamieson v Kenny MacAskill
8.25 Kyle McClung v Zander Culverwell

8.32 Jack McDonald v Euan Bowden
8.40 Cameron Buist v Duncan McNeill

8.48 Chris Robb v Ben Kinsley
8.56 Liam Johnston v Ben Ferguson

9.04 Connor Syme v Calum Hill
9.12 Barry Hume v Gordon Munro

9.20 Campbell Donaldson v Euan Walker
9.28 Steven Stewart v Daniel Hendry

9.26 Graeme Rob ertson v John M8itchell
9.44 Mark Cameron v Matthew Clark

9.52 Scott Brown v Craig Ross
10.0 Grant Forrest v Jamie Lamb

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PGA EUROPRO TOUR STAYS IN IRELAND THIS WEEK

WONDERFUL WATTS LEADS WALK IN 

MY SHOES OPEN IN IRELAND

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA EUROPRO TOUR
James Watts shot six birdies on his first eight holes to lead the Walk In My Shoes Open by two strokes on six under par in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Country Club in Co. Carlow, Ireland.

The Englishman won his first event on Europe’s leading development tour at Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh two weeks ago and currently lies fifth on the Order of Merit. The top five at the end of the season earn a Challenge Tour card for 2015, and a strong finish in Ireland this week would strengthen Watts’ position.

His pars on one and six were the only two of the first eight holes he didn’t birdie, and his level-par back nine ensured he signed for a six-under-par 66 and take a two-stroke lead into Thursday’s second round.

Sam Connor and Stuart Archibald share second on four under while Steve Uzzell, last week’s winner of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open, and Stirling University graduate David Booth (a former Scottish youths champion) from Rotherham , who was celebrating his 26th birthday, are tied fourth on three under par.

“I was six under through eight and had a good chance on 11,” said leader Watts. “I missed that chance but parred in and had a few more chances which didn’t drop.

“I got the putter going. I hit it the same all day but the ones on the front nine dropped and those on the back didn’t. There are lots of slopes on those greens, the course is good and if you can get the putter going you can do well.

“It is the same every week. You need to go out there and concentrate on what you are supposed to do and see what happens. I relaxed a bit more today than I did last week and it happened for me.”.
Leading Scots at the end of the first day were Jordan McColl (Scotscraig) and Archerfield's Ellito Saltman, in joint sixth place on 70 - a shot ahead of Ross Kellett.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
66 J Watts (Eng)
68 S Connor (Eng), S Archibald (Eng)
69 D Booth (Eng), S Uzzell (Eng)

SCOTS' SCORES
70 J McColl, E Saltman (T6)
71 R Kellett (T12)
72 M Isaacs (T22)
73 P Docherty, L Saltman, N Fenwick, C Lawrie (T28).
75 C O'Neil, J Findlay, P Shields (T52)
76 J Mullaney, P Robinson (T65)
77 K Nicol, T Innes-Kerr (T74)
81 J Dick, P McGhee (T95)

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SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPION PIPS THREE CLUBHOUSE LEADERS

GARETH WRIGHT WINS DUDDINGSTON

CHALLENGE BY A SINGLE SHOT

Scottish PGA champion Gareth Wright, in the last group to finish, pipped clubhouse leaders Scott Henderson, Paul O'Hara and Robert Arnott, to win the PGA in Scotland's 36-hole Duddingston Challenge by a single shot at the Edinburgh venue.
Wright shot 68-71 for five-under-par 139
Henderson (71-69), O'Hara (70-70) and Arnott (68-72) tied for second place instead of being involved in a play-off which looked a possible outcome until Welshman Wright's round moved into red figures after bogeys at the second and 11th had cancelled out a first-hole birdie.
The West Linton man moved up a gear with a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th and he had enough in hand to be able to bogey the 16th and still pick up the first prize of £1,500.
Henderson put himself in the title picture with an eagle 3 at the 17th, a whole which O'Hara birdied.
Senior Arnott birdied the first and ninth and then wiped out his gains with a double bogey 6 at the 11th. He could do no better than pars down the run-in.
Henderson, O'Hara and Arnott each earned £1,033.
Joint fifth on 142 were Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (73-69), Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) (71-71) and Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) (71-71), each receiving £600.
Kevin Phillips (Winterfield) and Keir McNicoll (Gullane), in a four-way tie with Wright and Arnott for the overnight lead on the four-under 68 mark, both came to grief with second-round 75s as they were overshadowed by playing partner Wright in the last trio out on the course.
Phillips had a triple bogey 7 at the ninth and a double bogey 6 at the 16th.
McNicoll's bogeys (five) outnumbered his birdies (2). 
They finished joint eighth on 143 alongside five others, including Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) (73-70). All seven earned £325.


DUDDINGSTON 36-hole CHALLENGE FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
139 G Wright (West Linton) 68 71 (£1,500)
140 S Henderson (Kings Links) 71 69, P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 70 70, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) 68 72 (£1,033 each)
142 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 73 69, G Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 71 71, A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 71 71 (£600 each)
143 Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) 73 70, J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 72 71, C Ronald (Carluke) 71 72, M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 69 74, J Cliff (Murrayfield) 69 74, K Phillips (Winterfield) 68 75, K McNicoll (Gullane) 68 75 (£325 each)
144 L Gaughan (Bathgate) 75 69, S Gray (Hayston) 70 74 (£210 each).
145 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 75 70, A Crerar (Panmure) 74 71, G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 74 71, C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 74 71 (£166 each)
146 K Hutton (Downfield) 75 71, P Betty (Hamilton) 74 72, C Currie (Caldwell) 73 73, M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 72 74, S Savage (Dalmuir) 72 74, G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 72 74. J McGhee (Bishopbriggs GR) 71 75, R Clarke (Gamola Golf) 70 76, S McAllister (S McAllister Golf) 70 76 (£125 each)
147 S Catlin (Greenburn) 77 70, C Marr (Musselburgh) 75 72, C Mathison (Falkirk Tryst) 74 73, A Mackrell (Playsport) 71 76 (£25 each).
148 D Orr (Mearns Castle) 77 71, C Dick (Royal Burgess) 74 74, R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel) 72 76
149 P Wardell (Whitekirk) 78 71, P Wytrazek (Burntisland) 75 74, J McKinnon (Irvine) 72 77
150 A Waugh (Clydebank and Dist) 76 74, D Flannery (Caldwell) 76 74, G Law (Uphall) 75 75, C Moore (Kingsknowe) 74 76, J Fraser (Renaissance) 74 76, R Munro (Duddingston) 73 77, G Paxton (Ralston ) 72 78
151 A Brown (Archerfield) 73 78, P Walker (Ballumbie Castle) 74 77, S Craig (Craig Golf) 79 72, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 76 75, C Haugh (Cawder) 76 75, A Reid West Lothian) 75 76, C Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 75 76,
152 D Broadfoot (Kirkcudbright) 80 72, S Watters (Balbirnie Park) 77 75, T Dingwall (Kemnay) 75 77, S Grieve (Turnhouse) 75 77, C McMaster (Panmure) 73 79, R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh) 73 79.
153 G Smith (Gleneagles) 80 73, M Burtt (Helensburgh) 79 74, G Robertson (Airdrie) 78 75, S Herald (Mearns Castle) 76 77, R Dixon (Renaissance) 76 77, F Rummins (Canmore) 76 77, C Smith (Royal Musselburgh) 74 79, G Mackay (Melville GR) 74 79, C Kelly (unatt) 73 80.
154 D Laing (Craigielaw) 80 74, J Porteous (Craigielaw) 78 76, I Stoddart (Uphall) 77 77, I MacFarlane (FGS ltd) 76 78, G Brown (Montrose) 76 78.
155 J Lomas (Caprington) 82 73, Emma Fairnie (Gullane) 81 75, D Wood (Hirsel) 80 75, G Hillson (Dunbar) 80 75
156 A Hutchison (Douglas Park) 77 79, C Goodwin (Duff House Royal) 77 79, A Forrow (Whitecraigs) 76 80, J Gallagher (Douglas Park) 75 81
158 C Billows (Gleneagles) 81 77, F Robertson (Lundin) 79 79, P Malone (Braid Hills) 79 79, Ailsa Bain (unatt) 78 80
160 P Scanlan (unatt) 81 79, R Millar (unatt) 79 81
161 M Mackenzie (Edzell) 81 80,N Huguet (Musselburgh) 76 85
162 C  Adam (Linlithgow) 78 84
163 M Patterson (Cruden Bay) 81 82, N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh 80 83.
164 N Cameron (Blairgowrie) 85 79
167 S Clelland (Arabian Ranches) 80 87
168 P Brookes (Pitreavie) 86 82

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UNDER-18s' HOME INTERNATIONALS AT WESTERN GAILES


FISHER, LUMSDEN AND BRYCE NEW 

CAPS IN SCOTLAND  BOYS' SQUAD
Newmachar's Adam Fisher, Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon) and Joseph Bryce (Bathgate) make their debuts for Scotland in next week's boys' home golf internationals at Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire.
Fisher (pictured) recently won the Paul Lawrie Junior Jug competition.
Scotland were bronze medal winners in the recent European boys' team championships but they have not won the Under-18 boys' home internationals title since they were played at Lossiemouth in 2006.
Ireland are the defending champions.
The three-day tournament tees off on Tuesday and the Scotland squad under the captaincy of Scott Knowles is:

Joseph Bryce (Bathgate) 16, George Burns (Williamwood) 17, Stuart Easton (Irvine) 18, Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) 18, Adam Fisher (Newmachar) 17, Calum Fyfe (Cawder) 17, Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 18, Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon) 17, Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 18, Niall McMullen (Lundin) 16, Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 17


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LINK TO TODAY'S RESULTS IN FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR CH'SHIP

TO VIEW TODAY'S RESULTS IN THE FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AT DOWNFIELD

CHECK HERE

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ENTERPRISING MOVE BY MARSHALL LEISURE AT BRIMMOND BISTRO



BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY? NO, THE 

CRAIBSTONE GOLF CLUB PODS ARE 

FOR MEALS AND REFRESHMENTS

 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

It looks like a scene out of Dr Who with space-travel vehicles landing.
Actually, they "pods" at Craibstone Golf Club, Bucksburn near Aberdeen for customers at the club's "Brimmond Bistro" to dine and drink outwith the clubhouse if complete privacy is sought.
The pods can rotate if those inside want to change the view and there is a zip to let them get in an out (as club manager Billy Sim demonstrates in the picture below).
 
Each pod cost a four-figure sum and I have to say I have 
(a) Never seen the like before.
(b) Never seen anything like it at a golf club/course.

But full marks to the Craibstone Golf Club and Brimmond Bistro owners, Marshall Leisure.
A commendable piece of enterprise, apparently stemming from a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show where the pods were on display. 
It may take a while for the customers/golfers to get use to these pods but Billy Sim says that they are becoming increasingly popular for those who want to have a bite to eat with friends away from the hubub of the dining lounge in the clubhouse.

Craibstone Golf Club is one of the success stories of North-east golf. Four years ago, when it was owned by a Dundee company, it closed its doors, and the course, when it went into liquidation.
Marshall Leisure saw its untapped potential, bought it - and the rest is history.
The appointment of the experienced manager, Billy Sim, was a key factor, as well, in Craibstone Golf Club rising from the ashes as it were. Membership continues to rise steadily and is increasingly popular with businesses who want to give their staff and clients a day out on the golf course with a meal as well.
Craibstone Golf Club general manager Billy Sim tries one of the pods for size. More room than you think inside round the table.

Pictures by Cal Carson Golf Agency

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Copyright © Colin Farquharson

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