ANOTHER YOUNG STAR BOUND FOR US COLLEGE

SCOTLAND BOY CAP NIALL McMULLEN COMMITS TO 

ELON UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA NEXT AUGUST

 Niall McMullen (Lundin), pictured above on his way to winning the SGU Junior Champion of Champions' rescheduled 2013 tournament last March, has signed a Letter of Intent to join Elon University, North Carolina in August 2015. 
Heather Munro from Monifieth is already a freshman at the same university.
To reach the full story, switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

ITALIAN HOTSHOT PARATORE (17) MAKES IT

 ICEMAN MIKKO  KORHONEN WINS TOP 

CARD AT FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Mikko Korhonen, pictured above by courtesy of Getty Images(c), became the first Finnish winner in the history of The European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage after another dramatic finale at the six-round marathon of golf, where 27 players from 12 different countries earned their cards for The 2015 Race to Dubai with totals of seven-under-par 421 or better
Myriad dreams were made and many more were dashed at PGA Catalunya Resort as one of the most intense events in golf reached a gripping conclusion, both at the top of the leaderboard and further down on the all-important card cut-line.
At the summit, a breathless battle unfolded in the final group as 17 year old Italian hotshot and overnight leader Renato Paratore attempted to fend off the challenge of his much more experienced playing partners, Ricardo Gonzalez and Korhonen, on the sun-drenched fairways of the picturesque Stadium Course outside Girona and near Barcelona in north-east Spain.
While Paratore came out of the blocks quickly with a birdie at the second, Korhonen drew level with the two-time Junior Ryder Cup player courtesy of an eagle at the par five seventh before a birdie at the 12th meant he took to the front for the first time.
The 34 year old negotiated the next six holes in level par and, while Paratore fell back after a difficult finish, with three bogeys in the final five holes, Gonzalez birdied four of the last six holes.
That wasn’t enough to deny Korhonen his maiden professional victory, however, as he finished two shots clear of the Argentinian on 20 under par courtesy of a five under par final round 67.
“It feels fantastic,” said Korhonen, whose win means he has qualified from Qualifying School for a third year running. For him the difficult task is to retain his European Tour place for at least a year.
 “It’s the first win of my professional career, finally. I haven’t challenged for the win very often in my career but it feels absolutely amazing.
“Of course, being first of all the guys here gets me into more tournaments so that’s good, but it’s not like any other tournament. You don’t exactly come here to win, even if you should, you just come to get your card. But victory makes it sweeter.
“I was a bit nervous even coming into this round knowing I had my card. This is my fourth time coming through Q-School and I’m confident now I can stay on tour next season. Getting my first win, even if it is Q-School, is still important for me.
“I wasn’t too nervous and that was a surprise for me. I did think about Mikko (Ilonen) today when I was on the first tee. I just thought, ‘be like Mikko’, just walk on the course like an Iceman and do your stuff.”
While Gonzalez was disappointed to miss out on outright victory, he was over the moon with his achievement and ranked it alongside the four European Tour titles he has amassed in a long and fruitful career on the top tier.
“This is right up there with winning on The European Tour,” said the Rosario player, who signed for a final round 67 and an 18 under total. “You need to be patient and keep yourself happy, and that happened this week. I said to my caddie that I needed to enjoy the week, and I’m very happy now.
“I felt the pressure at the start as I thought I’d lost my career. I’m 45 years old, so to earn one more year, it’s a big achievement.”
Hearts were in mouths in a tense final hour for those on the bubble as the cut-line shifted back and forth several times, from seven to eight under par.
When the axe eventually fell on the lower number, Frenchman Cyril Bouniol emerged as one of the most heart-warming stories of the day as he followed a bogey at the 16th and a double-bogey at the 17th with a nerveless birdie at the last to make it on the mark.
“The 18th was a dream come true,” said the 27 year old, who finished 19th in the Challenge Tour Rankings this year. “I’ve been playing my heart out all year just to get on The European Tour, and it was slipping away tournament after tournament, so I’m just glad to have walked onto the 18th and just believed in myself.
“I said to myself, ‘You’re good, this has to happen at some point, so make that birdie! It’s all the more meaningful to do that under so much adversity, and having not made a putt all day.
“I was standing over it at the 18th and I knew what it was for – either I would be on Tour or I would be back to what I’ve done all year, so I told myself to take a chance and it’s incredible it went in. I’m so happy.”
Paratore, meanwhile, became the third youngest player in the history of the Qualifying School to earn a card and, while he could not hold out for the victory, he was delighted to earn a rookie season in The Race to Dubai, where he will join his close friend and four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero.
“It would have been nice to have won but the card is like winning for me,” said the 2014 Youth Olympic individual gold medal winner, who carded a one over 73. “I’m really looking forward to playing in all of the big tournaments with the best players. I can’t believe it’s happened so quickly.
“It would be great to follow in Matteo’s footsteps. Seeing what he has done at such a young age on The European Tour has been a real inspiration and I hope I can do the same.”
Matt Ford, in fourth place, was the leading Englishman in the final aggregates.
Former US amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick of England was another young former amateur star to seal his place in the big time on the first time of asking, while World Number 75 Anirban Lahiri of India will also play his maiden season on The Race to Dubai.
+SCROLL DOWN PAST THE SCORES TO 
   READ DUNCAN STEWART'S COMMENTS
   AS HE GAINS CHALLENGE TOUR PLACE

 FINAL TOTALS
    par 428 (4x72, 2x70)
408 M Korhonen (Fin) 72 65 65 71 68 67
410 R Gonzalez (Arg) 68 68 65 72 70 67
412 R Paratore (Ita) 67 70 66 69 67 73
413 M Ford (Eng) 74 64 65 68 72 70
415 A Otaegui  (Esp) 67 71 68 72 70 67; J Parry (Eng) 68 68 71 69 72 67; E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 68 69 67 69 71;
416 R McEvoy  (Eng) 73 65 64 72 70 72;
417 R Karlberg  (Swe) 67 68 67 73 71 71;
418 A Dodt (Aus) 66 71 68 74 72 67; M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 70 66 67 76 71 68; E Kofstad (Nor) 72 67 64 74 72 69; P Maddy (Eng) 67 72 68 69 72 70; T Murray (Eng) 76 64 63 73 72 70; C Lloyd (Eng) 72 66 66 71 73 70
419 J Lagergren (Swe) 66 72 69 70 73 69; A Lahiri (Ind) 65 68 66 73 75 72
420 J Scrivener (Aus) 77 64 67 74 72 66; B Virto  (Esp) 77 63 67 73 70 70; P Oriol (Esp) 70 66 68 69 77 70; P Edberg (Swe) 73 62 63 75 76 71; C Paisley  (Eng) 70 69 68 70 69 74; A Pavan (Ita) 69 67 70 71 69 74; L Jensen (Den) 69 74 67 66 70 74
421 A Tadini (Ita) 72 67 69 71 74 68; D Woltman (USA) 72 72 71 68 69 69; C Bouniol (Fra) 72 68 67 71 70 73


FAILED TO MAKE TOP 25 AND TIES

422 S Kim (USA) 73 67 67 75 72 68; W Homan  (USA) 77 68 70 65 71 71; P Lawrie (Irl) 71 67 67 74 72 71; R Gouveia (Por) 74 68 64 72 73 71; S Gros (Fra) 67 75 67 74 67 72; J Makitalo  (Fin) 66 74 71 67 72 72;
423 J Walters (RSA) 73 70 77 62 72 69; S Thornton (Irl) 68 69 67 76 72 71;
424 B Evans  (Eng) 73 68 66 74 73 70; S Fallon (Eng) 72 65 71 74 69 73; P Widegren  (Swe) 70 71 68 70 72 73; S Soderberg (Swe) 67 70 67 74 73 73; J Hansen  (Den) 71 71 64 74 69 75; S Manley (Wal) 66 72 67 71 73 75; C Del Moral (Esp) 68 74 65 70 70 77;
425 D Stewart (Sco) 67 76 71 68 74 69; S Walker (Eng) 66 71 68 75 76 69; E Goya (Arg) 71 68 71 73 72 70; N Geyger (Chi) 66 74 66 77 69 73; P Archer (Eng) 68 74 72 67 71 73; D Im (USA) 66 73 69 70 74 73; M Jonzon (Swe) 69 73 68 72 69 74;
426 J Knutzon (USA) 66 76 67 72 76 69; J Gonnet  (Fra) 68 73 70 72 73 70; P Whiteford (Sco) 77 66 65 73 75 70; A Marshall (Eng) 69 71 69 68 78 71; S Griffiths (Eng) 76 68 67 72 71 72; J Huldahl (Den) 67 79 70 66 72 72; J Hahn (USA) 67 79 72 58 78 72; D Dixon (Eng) 68 72 65 74 74 73;
427 G Maybin (Nir) 74 71 72 65 74 71; A Ahokas (Fin) 66 76 71 69 73 72; B Åkesson (Swe) 72 68 63 75 75 74; E Cuartero Blanco (am) (Esp) 74 65 66 71 77 74;
428 L De Jager  (RSA) 73 68 69 73 74 71; J Fahrbring (Swe) 74 70 71 67 75 71; M Delpodio  (Ita) 68 68 71 71 75 75; K Phelan (Irl) 69 72 65 72 74 76; C Gloet  (Den) 64 74 66 72 75 77;
429 A Saddier (Fra) 66 73 71 73 74 72; G Lockerbie  (Eng) 76 67 70 69 75 72; M Orrin (Eng) 69 73 66 70 79 72; K Ferrie (Eng) 66 75 65 72 76 75;
430 S Henry  (Sco) 70 72 68 73 75 72
432 D Coupland (Eng) 76 70 69 68 75 74; M Schneider (Ger) 72 74 72 65 75 74;
433 A Velasco (Esp) 69 74 68 71 78 73; G Porteous (Eng) 80 64 69 69 72 79;
435 M Soegaard  (Den) 67 73 68 73 76 78;
436 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 76 69 72 66 76 77;


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

FULL CHALLENGE TOUR STATUS GAINED

DUNCAN STEWART'S SILVER LINING TO
 
 FAILING TO MAKE Q SCHOOL TOP 25

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Duncan Stewart (joint 43rd on 425) pictured right, Peter Whiteford (jt 50th on 426) and Scott Henry (71st on 430) failed to make the top 25 and ties at seven-under-par 421 and better in the European Tour Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya but Stewart was last night looking on the positive side after six mentally and physically exhausting rounds of golf at the north-east Spain venue.
Said Grantown on Spey's Stewart:
"I'm thrilled with my overall result after the season I've had. Going into Stage 2 of the qualifying process and only having limited status. then shooting three over in the first round, I thought I was done.
"But I made it through Stage 2 and now I've turned it around at the Final Stage and by making the final day, I've gained full Challenge Tour status and limited appearances on the European Tour.
"I could sit here and say I'm gutted not tp finish in the top 25 but I was fighting my swing all week and was not at my best. I'd put my fourth-round 68 up there as one of my best ever.
"Over the whole six days. I have never been so stressed or nervous on the course before because everything was at stake. In my eyes it is job done and gives me a good go at it again next year. "


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)
408 Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 72 65 65 71 68 67
410 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 68 68 65 72 70 67
412 Renato Paratore (Ita) 67 70 66 69 67 73
413 Matt Ford (Eng) 74 64 65 68 72 70

SCOTS' TOTALS
Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)
425 Duncan Stewart 67 76 71 68 74 69 (T43)
426 Peter Whiteford 77 66 65 73 75 70 (T50)
430 Scott Henry 70 72 68 73 75 72 (T75).

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 MEETING AT BIELDSIDE

NE DISTRICT OFFER GOLF+LUNCH TO

THOSE ATTENDING AGM AT DEESIDE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

So low have been the attendances at recent annual general meetings of the North-east District Association of the Scottish Golf Union that club officials are being offered nine holes of golf plus a soup and sandwiches lunch as a "carrot" to attend this year's meeting at Deeside Golf Club on Sunday, December 7 (2pm)

  

In a letter to all member clubs, NE District secretary George Young writes:

"Due to the poor attendance at the AGM in the past couple of years the President would like to invite the Captain and Secretary/Manager (or two representatives) from your club to nine holes of golf, followed by soup and sandwiches at Deeside GC prior to the AGM.

"It is important that as many clubs as possible are represented at the AGM and for their members to support the district committee in encouraging and fostering golfers of all abilities to enjoy this great game."

EUROPEAN TOUR'S 2014 SEASON FINALE

McILROY, LOWRY SHARED LEAD ON 66
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
World Number One Rory McIlroy made a scintillating start to his coronation as Race to Dubai winner, firing a bogey-free opening round of 66 in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to share the lead with Shane Lowry on six under par.
Having not played competitively since the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, McIlroy admitted he was raring to go in the European Tour’s season-finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and he was quickly out of the blocks with four birdies in his opening five holes.
The  four-time Major Champion followed that with nine consecutive pars before back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to move to the top of the leaderboard alongside Irishman Lowry, who had earlier set the clubhouse target after finishing his round with four birdies over the closing six holes.
It was the sixth time that McIlroy has carded a round of 66 over the Earth Course, matching his lowest score previously in 2010, 2011 and three times in 2012.
Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen, who had reached seven under par before a double bogey six on the 16th hole, and Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay are a shot adrift of the leading pair on five under par, while defending champion Henrik Stenson opened with a 67 to sit a further shot back on four under par, alongside Argentine Emiliano Grillo.
Key Player quotes
Rory McIlroy
“It was a great way to start.  You never expect to start like that, but I've been hitting the ball well for the last couple of weeks that I've been, and it was just a matter of trying to take that good range play on to the course. I was able to do that today, which I'm really happy about.”
Shane Lowry
“Any time you shoot 66 anywhere, it's quite decent.  But this golf course can be difficult at times.  I went out there today and played nicely.  I played one real bad hole and other than that, I played beautiful golf.  I’m pretty happy.”
Henrik Stenson
“I thought I played quite nicely.  I hit the ball well.  On the greens, I missed a couple of chances, good chances for birdie early on, and I made two bogeys in a row, which was a little frustrating. But from there on, it was pretty steady and made some good birdies coming in.  I was pretty unlucky when I ended up in a bad spot on the seventh off the tee with no stance but I guess I got the luck back on 18 when I had a heck of a bounce from my approach to the green. It was nice to get one back and four under is good.”

FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 R McIlroy  (Nir) , S Lowry  (Irl) 
67 R Ramsay  (Sco) , T Olesen (Den)   
68 H Stenson (Swe) , E Grillo (Arg)   
69 T Fleetwood  (Eng) , D Willett  (Eng) , L Oosthuizen  (RSA) , R Fisher (Eng) , E Molinari  (Ita)   
70 L Westwood (Eng) , J Blixt  (Swe) , G Coetzee (RSA) , J Luiten (Ned) , K Broberg (Swe) , T Hatton (Eng)  
71 M Warren (Sco) , R Karlsson (Swe) , R Sterne  (RSA) , R Wattel  (Fra) , H Otto (RSA) , D Howell (Eng) , P Larrazábal (Esp) , J Rose (Eng) , A Levy (Fra) , T Bjørn (Den) , V Dubuisson  (Fra) , M Jiménez (Esp)
 72 G McDowell  (Nir) , T Jaidee (Tha) , C Schwartzel  (RSA) , S Gallacher (Sco) , B Wiesberger  (Aut) , B Grace  (RSA) , J Donaldson (Wal) , D Fichardt (RSA) , M Kaymer (Ger) , O Fisher  (Eng)
 73 A Sullivan (Eng) , R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) , N Colsaerts  (Bel) , M Hoey  (Nir) , W Ormsby (Aus) , F Zanotti (Par) , S Dyson  (Eng) , F Molinari (Ita) , S Garcia  (Esp)
 74 M Ilonen  (Fin)
 75 M Baldwin (Eng) , I Poulter (Eng) , M Manassero (Ita) , O Wilson (Eng) , E Els (RSA)
 76 T Aiken (RSA) , L Donald  (Eng) , E Pepperell (Eng) , D Lipsky (USA) , M Siem  (Ger)
 78 B Koepka  (USA)


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

ABERDONIAN ONE OFF THE PACE IN DUBAI

RAMSAY ON TAIL OF JOINT LEADERS 

LOWRY AND McILROY

Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay is on the tail of the joint leaders, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy, after the first round of the DP World Championship in Dubai today.
Lowry and McIlroy had matching six-under-par 66s.
Ramsay a 67, alongwith Thorjborn Olesen (Denmark).
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 Shane Lowry (Ireland), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland)
67 Richie Ramsay (Scotland), Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark)
68 Emiliano Grillo (Argentina), Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
69 Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Danny Willett (England), Tommy Fleetwood (England), Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa), Ross Fisher (England)

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
71 Marc Warren (T18)
72 Stephen Gallacher (T32)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

DEFENDING CHAMPION SHOOTS A 73

 ADAM SCOTT SIX OFF THE PACE AT

END OF AUSSIE MASTERS DAY ONE

Defending champion Adam Scott struggled in the blustery conditions at Metropolitan Golf Club on Thursday as he carded an opening-round 73 to leave him six strokes off the lead in the Australian Masters.

The 34-year-old Australian, who won last year’s US Masters, is aiming to make it three successive victories at this tournament.
The event is led by a four-strong Australian group, comprised of Michael Wright, Stephen Allan, Steven Bowditch and amateur Todd Sinnott, who all shot 67s.
Bowditch would have led outright but for a bogey on his final hole.
Australians Rhein Gibson and Aaron Price were a stroke further adrift on four-under after shooting 68s.
Geoff Ogilvy scored 69 and was in a group tied for seventh with Kyle Stanley, while the latter’s fellow Americans Zac Blair (70) and Boo Weekley (72) were just behind them.
Scott began his round on the back nine, bogeying the 15th and dropping two shots at the 18th before an eagle on the par-5 sixth repaired some of the damage.
"A strong northerly (wind) from the get-go was always going to make it tough," Scott said.
"I played pretty well but didn't take any of my chances. I'm a little behind the eight-ball at the moment but it's nothing a good round tomorrow won't fix."          
Ogilvy, who grew up in Melbourne, said he was prepared for a challenging day.
"That's about as tough as Melbourne can provide weather-wise," he said.
"The early tee time, you see the forecast last night, northerly, you're like hopefully it doesn't start picking up and we get a few holes without it coming, but it was windy from the first hole.
“But I hit the ball better and better as the day went on."
Bowditch, who celebrated his maiden U.S. Tour win at the Texas Open in March, rolled in four birdies and an eagle in mostly foul conditions at Metropolitan Golf Club before ruing a missed tap-in putt on the 18th that cost him the outright lead.
"I don't know what I did on 18," said Bowditch. "It was tough off and on. It got really windy early, then slowed down, windy (again), changed direction.
"It can get tough out there." 

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72 
Players from Australia unless stated
67 Michael Wright, Stephen Allan, Todd Sinnott (am), Steve Bowditch
68 Rhein Gibson, Aron Price
SELECTED SCORES
70 Robert Allenby (T12)
72 Craig Parry (T23)
73 Adam Scott (T51)
 

JOHN DUFF CLEAR NE ALLIANCE MERIT LEADER

SCOTTISHGOLVIEW.COM
NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE
ORDER OF MERIT
+based on points awarded
for top-10 and ties placings

545 John Duff (Newmachar) 1
335 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 2
325 N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 3
300 P Lawrie (Carnegie Club) 4
275 C Law (Kings Links) 5
245 L Vannet (Craibstone) 6
240 K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 7
220 S Finnie (Caledonian) 8
215 A Campbell (Murcar Links) T9
215 K Shanks (Kings Links) T9
205 C Brechin (Portlethen) 11
195 D Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 12
180 T Robertson (Peterculter) 13
160 C Lamb (Newmachar) 14
156 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 15
140 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) 16
131 C Nelson (Mackenzie Shop) 17
115 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) T18
115 G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) T18
110 S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC) 20
105 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC)
102 P McKenna (Paul Lawrie GC)
97 D Leslie (Northern)
92 K Zeynalov (Paul Lawrie GC)
92 I Taylor (Hazlehead)
90 G Esson (McDonald Ellon)
88 F Bisset (Banchory)
70 B Robson (Newmachar)
70 B Nicolson (Hazlehead)
65 R Manson (Kemnay)
65 D Buchan (Kemnay)
63 M Patterson (Cruden Bay)
60 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC)
60 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh)
55 T Mathieson (Murcar Links)
55 A J Smith (Turriff)
45 Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)
45 G Ingram (Inverurie)
43 J Nicolson (Hazlehead)
40 C Carnegie (Kemnay)
40 B Fyfe (Paul Lawrie GC)
35 S Henderson (Kings Links)
35 Sean Lawrie (Portlethen)
30 C Goodwin (Duff House Royal)
25 R Stewart (Newburgh)
12 S McNeil (Aboyne)
12 D Fleming (Portlethen)
12 R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum)
10 J Duncan (Newburgh)
10 G Dillon (Oldmeldrum)
8 R McKinnon (Peterculter)
6 G Craig (Aboyne)
6 B J Ritchie (Newmachar)
5 C Cheyne (Newmachar)
2 S Griffiths (Duff House Royal)