SCOTS LEGEND HEADS INTERNATIONAL FIELD OF 114 AT PANMURE

SANDY LYLE MAKES WINNING DEBUT 

IN WORLD HICKORY OPEN 

 Sandy Lyle .. a champion again! Pictures by Gillian Kirkwood.

Former Major champion Sandy Lyle made a winning debut in the 10th World Hickory Open golf championship at Panmure Golf Club this week (Tuesday-Wednesday).
The Scot headed an international field of 114 competitors by three strokes with scores of 74 and 69 for a total of 143
Runners-up on 146 were Norfolk-based pro Andrew Marshall (76-70) and defending champion Paolo Quirci (72-74), a Swiss pro who specialises in hickory golf.

“I am very honoured to have won the World Hickory Open 2014,” said Sandy, who was the first British winner of The Masters after winning the Open at Royal St George's.

 “I came into the tournament quite late when I decided that, as I was in this corner of Scotland for the Dunhill, staying on for the World Hickory Open would be a great opportunity to test my hickory skills, while also helping to advance hickory golf in Scotland.

“It’s been a very good experience which certainly got my ticker going, especially over the last two or three holes of the last round, which were very nerve wracking.”

At the presentation, WHO chairman Lionel Freedman cheekily announced that Sandy had won another Major!

Lyle has been playing hickory golf for almost three years. 

“I have a great love for hickory golf, which is about playing hickory on courses like Panmure,” continued Sandy. “I’ll hopefully be back to defend my title when the World Hickory Open is played over the Carnoustie championship links next year.”

Handicap winner Jim Rohr from Pinehurst, North Carolina also won the Veterans’ category. 

“It feels pretty good to be going home with two trophies the first time I’ve played in the World Hickory Open,” said Jim, who only took up hickory golf a year ago. 

“I really enjoy the challenge of hickory golf and the great people I meet.”

Local golfers cleaned up in the ladies' categories, with Claire Penman from Montrose winning the  scratch competition, Sheila Brunton from Carnoustie winning the handicap and Claire, Sheila and Carnoustie’s Pat Sawers clinching the women's team title. 

Over 100 competitors from all over the world participated in the World Hickory Open. In the men's team competition, a team from South African consisting of Paul Adams, Jason Mulroy and Tony Watson were named the winners, while the top place in the Amateur Scratch Competition went to Rymer Smith from The Buckinghamshire.”

David Kirkwood recovers from a bunker ...  no mean feat with a hickory club.

 Full results can be found here scratch.xls

                               

EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE FIXTURE

ELLIOT SALTMAN TOPS AT GLENBERVIE

Elliot Saltman (Archerfield) topped the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance returns at today's Glenbervie fixture with a gross 69 which was also good enough to win the Ramsay Trophy for the best overall net score.

TEE TIMES FOR NE ALLIANCE AT KINTORE ON OCTOBER 22

There is no North-east Alliance fixture next week because of the three-day, 54-hole Scottish Alliance championship at Marriott Dalmahoy.
We will have the draw for the championship on this website when it becomes available.
The next NE Alliance competition is at Kintore Golf Club on Wednesday, October 22.
Tee times booked so far:

8-00  C.Cassie. 
8-07
8-14
8-21
8-28
8-35
8-42
8-49
8-56 M. Merchant. R. Masson. M. Smith

9-03 M.Rendell.  L. Roger.  D. Lawrie
9-10 J. Hamilton. H. Roulston.  B. Ritchie
9-17 R. Brown. A. Benton. S. Davidson
9-24 B. Fife. S. Lawrie. C. Grant
9-31 A. Gall. L. Vannet.  I. Clark
9-38 K. Duncan. M. Paterson. R. Stewart
9-45 I Grant. S.  Dillon
9-52 P. Craig.  S. Thompson. J. Scott
9-59 H. McNaughton. B. Lumsden. G. McDonald

10-06 J. Forrest. N. Stewart. C. Nelson
10-13 J. Duff. M. Duncan. N. Chisholm
10-20  D. Fleming. L. Fowler. J. Duncan
10-27 J.Sunlie
10-34 G Homer. D Leslie.  W Shaw
10-41
10-48
10-55 

11-02 J Hosie
11-09 D Nelson, F Bisset, M. Rogers
11-16 J. Murray.  A. Graham
11-23 J. Smith, A. Hedley. C. Tawse
11-30 D Law,  C  Law
11-37 N. Macandrew,  K Shanks,  S. McNeil
11-44 Keil Beveridge, Kimberley Beveridge, J. Hopwood
11-51 P. Low.  J. Borthwick.  P. Walker
11-58 P. Cornfield. S. Mackie.  G. Allan

12-05 R. Davidson. S. Allison.  G. Mackie
12-12 M.  Booth. S. Finnie.  D. McKay
12-19
12-26

PORTUGAL MASTERS AT OCEANICO VICTORIA ON ALGARVE

DAVID LYNN HOPES VILAMOURA 

 

RETURN INSPIRES TITLE DEFENCE

 

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Defending champion David Lynn is looking for some inspiration as he returns to the scene of his last victory.
Since winning the Portugal Masters at Oceånico Victoria Golf Club in Vilamoura 12 months ago, the 40 year old's best finish was tied 21st at the Omega European Masters a month ago.
Lynn has juggled events on both sides of the Atlantic this season and that has contributed to him not performing consistently, but he hopes familiar territory will help give him a kick-start.
"You see the shots you were hitting last year and relive those moments," he said.
"I am hoping there is going to be some sort of inspiration again to get me going this week.
"I suppose there is a little bit of extra pressure (as defending champion) but every week comes with its own pressure as you put pressure on yourself to perform week in, week out so I'd like to perform again this week.
"I've not played an awful lot of golf this year. This is my 13th event in Europe so it is to be expected to find myself down the order of merit (108th).
"But this week if I can find a bit of inspiration from last year and crack on, who knows, maybe I could win back to back."

 

SHOCK NEWS FROM SWEDISH CAR MANUFACTURER

VOLVO AXE SPONSORSHIP OF TWO OF 

BIGGEST EVENTS ON EUROPEAN TOUR

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM
VOLVO have announced they are withdrawing their sponsorship from two of the biggest events on the European Tour schedule.
The Swedish car manufacturer, who have been associated with the European Tour for 27 years, will no longer back the World Match Play Championship or the South African-based Golf Champions event from next year.
A week ahead of the Volvo World Match Play at the London Club in Kent, the company confirmed they would focus solely on the Volvo China Open for the foreseeable future.
A Volvo statement read: "Focus will turn to one of the brand's key markets - China. The programme around the Volvo China Open with its 20 years' history will be enhanced further, with a new five-year agreement in place."
European Tour chief operating officer Keith Waters said: "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Volvo for their superb support over the past 27 years, and we look forward to continuing our association with them through the Volvo China Open.
"We anticipate releasing the initial sector of The 2015 European Tour International Schedule next week, and the full schedule of tournaments will be published next month during the week of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai."
Sports management agency IMG, who organise and promote a number of events on the European Tour, responded to the announcement by claiming they were confident of finding new backing for the World Match Play and the Golf Champions tournament next year.
"IMG and the European Tour are committed to running the Championship in 2015 and talks are already under way with interested parties regarding the position of title sponsor," said a statement.
"We thank Volvo for their support and look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of this historic event with them at the London Club next week.
"We are working with the European Tour to find a solution for the Golf Champions tournament as we both believe it is a strong event which should have a place on the European Tour schedule.

WEST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE FIXTURE

Lanarkshire team to play Dumbarton at Balmore on Sunday in a West of Scotland League fixture is:

     Steven Rennie  Drumpellier            

                   Robert Jenkins Crow Wood            

         Kenny Gallacher  East Kilbride        

          Ross Hinshelwood  East Kilbride   

         Scott Douglas  Strathclyde Pk        

       Graeme Cross  Hamilton                 

7.      Jamie Lamb  Lanark                         

8.      Craig Hughes  Drumpellier             

Team Manager 

William Sharpe

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE AT NEWBURGH-on-YTHAN

CHRIS LAW AND KEITH SHANKS SHARE 

HONOURS OVER 17 HOLES WITH 65s


REPORT BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com  
Challenge Tour player David Law's older brother Chris and David's own tour caddie, Keith Shanks, were joint winners of the top scratch prizes in today's North-east Golfers' Alliance fixture played over 17 holes at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire after being transferred from the scheduled venue of storm-hit Ballater GC.

Chris and Keith, playing together late in the field of 67 - 20 or so members withdrew because they expected bad weather; it was in fact a gloriously sunny day - sparked off each other to produce outstanding performances of matching, two-under-par 65s.

With the River Ythan in spate and a high tide due, the riverside 15th and 16th holes were not played. The par-5 18th was played as two holes - a par 3 and a par 4, giving a par of 67 (36-31).

Chris Law, who works at the Kings Links Golf Centre, is in the process of reinstatement to amateur status but alongwith Shanks is entitled to accept the £90 prize voucher for sharing first place at the head of a field of 67 players.

Law was out in two-over-par 38 but covered his last eight holes in only 27 shots, sparked off by an eagle 2 at the 10th where he pitched in from 20yd, following by birdies at the 11th and 14th.

Shanks, a member at Elie Golf Club, Fife, birdied the first, third, sixth and 12th and he had an eagle 2 at the 13th in halves of 35-30.

They finished two shots clear of joint third placed Brian Robson (Newmachar), Fergus Bisset (Banchory) and Royal Aberdeen staff pro Joel Hopwood on the par 67 mark.

There were 14 No Returns, like last week a surprisingly high number

Due to the Scottish Alliance championship at Dalmahoy next midweek, the next NE Alliance fixture will be at Kintore on Wednesday, October 22.

SCRATCH SCORES (over 17 holes)

Holes 15 and 16 were not played because of high tide at
mouth of River Ythan. Par-5 18th played as two holes - a par 3 and a par 4
Par  67 (36-31)
65 C Law (Kings Links) 38-27, K Shanks (Elie) 35-30
67 B Robson (Newmachar) 38-29, F Bisset (Banchory) 33-34, J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 37-30
68 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 36-32
70 L Vannet (Craibstone) 39-31, J Nicolson (Hazelehad) 38-32, D Buchan (Peterhead) 36-34, S Finnie (Caledonian)  37-33
71 D McDougall (Nigg Bay) 38-33, A Campbell (Murcar Links) 39-32
72 A Gall (Deeside) 39-33, D Fleming (Portlethen) 40-32, J Duff (Newmachar) 40-32, C Grant (Portlethen) 39-33, N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 37-35, Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge) 39-33. 
73 J Sunley (Northern) 36-37,  M Duncan (Murcar Links) 38-35, B Fyfe (Paul Lawrie GC) 39-34, R Stewart (Newburgh) 42-31, S MacNeil (Aboyne) 41-32 , B Nicolson (Hazlehead) 40-33, Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) 39-34, J Borthwick (Craibstone) 39-34.
75 G Craig (Aboyne), L Clark (Kemnay), A Graham (Aboyne)
76 Steve Lawrie (Portlethen ), C Cassie (Nigg Bay)
77 S Allison (Caledonian), H McNaughton (Cruden Bay).
78 G Allan (Newmachar), D McKay (Caledonian).
79 W Shaw (Banchory), D Nelson (Aboyne), D Bisset (Banchory), P Walker (Cruden Bay).
80 G Homer (Northern), A Benton (Kemnay), J Murray (Banchory), R Davidson (Caledonian)
81 M Winton (Caledonian), M Booth (Kemnay)
82 J Scott (Peterculter), J Forrest (Northern)
83 B Lumsden (Northern)
84 D Lane (Deeside), R Brown (Newburgh).
87 M Rendall (Stonehaven)
90 D Randall (Banchory).
94 S Dillon (Kemnay).

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - M Duncan (8) 65; D Fleming (6), J Emslie (2) 66'; J Nicolson (3), D McDougall (4) 67.
Class 2 - A Benton (14) 62; J Sunley (10) 63; H McNaughton  (13) 64; G Allan (13) 65; P Walker (12) 67.

FIVE-MAN COMMITTEE TO PICK NEXT TEAM CAPTAIN

HOWELL COMPLETES 2016 EUROPEAN 

RYDER CUP SELECTION COMMITTEE

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Two-time Ryder Cup player David Howell has been named as the fifth and final member of the panel which will select the European Ryder Cup captain for The 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.

The 39 year old Englishman (pictured by courtesy of Getty Images(c) – who played in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumphs in both 2004 and 2006 – was nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee at their meeting last night on the Algarve, Portugal to be their representative on the panel which will choose the successor to Paul McGinley, who led Europe to a 16 ½ - 11 ½ triumph at Gleneagles last month.
Joining Howell on the panel will be the three previous European Ryder Cup captains – McGinley himself, José María Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie – alongside the Chief Executive of the European Tour, George O’Grady.
This will be the third process used to select The Ryder Cup captain since players from Continental Europe joined the fold for the 1979 contest, under the captaincy of John Jacobs, at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.
From then until 1997, when the late Seve Ballesteros led Europe in his homeland at Valderrama, the European Ryder Cup captain was chosen by the Ryder Cup committee, who selected Jacobs again in 1981, Tony Jacklin in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, and Bernard Gallacher in 1991, 1993 and 1995.
However, in 1999, Mark James was the first European captain to be nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee and ratified by the Ryder Cup Board, a process which went on to select Sam Torrance (2002), Bernhard Langer (2004), Ian Woosnam (2006), Sir Nick Faldo (2008), Montgomerie (2010), Olazábal (2012) and McGinley (2014).
It is expected that the decision on the 2016 captain will be made in the early part of 2015.

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF LEBRON JAMES BUT ...

US basketball player knocks Tiger Woods off 

the highest-earning world sportsman spot

FROM THE AGE WEBSITE
By PATRICK BEGLEY

 Cleveland basketball player LeBron James (pictured) has become the biggest personal brand in world sport, ending six years of Tiger Woods' dominance, according to Forbes Magazine.

The James name, attached to the highest paid basketballer in the world, was valued at US$42 million 2014.
That is how much more James earned off-the-court compared to the average top-ten-earner in his competition.
"King James", named the NBA's most valuable player four times, earned $US57 million ($65 million) in the past year from endorsements for companies such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Nike.
He made a tidy $US30 million ($34 million) this year when Apple signed a deal with Beats Electronics, a brand he promoted in return for a small stake. 
Forbes had ranked Woods as the world's top athlete brand since 2008.
But his earnings tumbled because games producer Electronic Arts decided against making a 15th Tiger Woods PGA Tour game. His brand is worth an estimated US$41 million, a million less than James.
Rounding out the top five were Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (3), US golfer Phil Mickelson (4), and Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5). 
Mickelson picked up sponsorship bonuses for winning his first British Open while Dhoni made a lucrative bat sponsorship switch from Reebok to Spartan Sports. 
Nike was named the top business brand, with Forbes estimating that the $US71 billion ($81 billion) brand would be worth only $US52 billion ($60 billion) with another name. 
The Olympics was the number one event brand based on revenue per event day, while the New York Yankees (baseball) were named the biggest team brand. 
The top 10 biggest athlete brands in world sport and their value in 2014:
1. LeBron James - US$42 million
2. Tiger Woods -US$41 million
3. Roger Federer - US$36 million
4. Phil Mickelson - US$33 million
5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni - US$23 million
6. Usain Bolt - US$22 million)
7. Cristiano Ronaldo - US$19 million
8. Kobe Bryant - US$17 million
9. Lionel Messi - US$14 million
10. Rafael Nadal - US$11 million