LAST NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE COMP OF 2014

PAUL LAWRIE WINS AT BUCKPOOL 

AGAIN - THIS TIME WITH A 64

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 
Paul Lawrie continued his "love affair" with the Buckpool golf course today when he repeated his win over the course of two weeks ago in chalking up his fifth win in six starts on this season's North-east Golfers' Alliance circuit which now takes a break until Inverallochy on January 7.
On November 19 at the Buckie venue, Lawrie won by five shots with a seven-under-par 63. This time round he shot a 64 (34-30) and won by six shots from son Craig and Ross McConnachie, the Peterculter assistant pro, joint runners-up on par 70.
It was a cold and frosty morning when Paul left his Bieldside home to head off to the Moray Firth coastline and there were a few drop-outs, leaving a field of 75.
 "It was a little cold first thing but it was again a lovely day," said Paul.
"I was only level par after eight holes but made birdies at the ninth, 10th,15th and 16th with an eagle 2 at the 12th where I hit three-wood tee shot to 30ft and holed the putt ,
"I have really enjoyed playing regular alliances again this year - a  huge thanks to the two Daves who run the show - but this will probably be my last as I head off on January 5 to start the European Tour campaign"
Paul's earlier wins in the sequence were at Newmachar (Sept 24), Peterculter (Oct 29), Buckpool (Nov 19), Newburgh (Nov 26) and now Buckpool again.
A triple bogey 7 at the seventh which made him four over par for the day put Craig Lawrie seemingly well out of the hunt with an outward three-over 38 but he kept trying and was rewarded with an inward half of 32 for a par-matching 70.
McConnachie made up his 70 with halves of 33 and 37. Bogeys at the 10th, 13th and 14th nullified his birdies at the third, fifth and 17th.
Young rookie pro Sam Kiloh (Paul Lawrie Gofl Centre) had a 71 (38-33) to finish fourth, a shot ahead of Tom Dingwall (Kemnay), Lee Vannet (Craibstone), Phil McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) and leading amateurs John Duff (Newmachar) and Kevin Duncan (Cruden Bay), all on the 72 mark.
ALL THE SCRATCH SCORES
 
Par 70 (35-35)
64 P Lawrie (Carnegie Club) 34-30
70 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 38-32, R McConnachie (Peterculter) 33-37
71 S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC) 38-33.
72 J Duff (Newmachar), P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC), T Dingwall (Kemnay), L Vannet (Craibstone), K Duncan (Cruden  Bay).
74 F Bisset (Banchory)
75 A Graham (Aboyne), D Leslie (Northern)
76 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC), T Robertson (Peterculter) 
77 J Borthwick (Craibstone), J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen).
78 R Stewart (Newburgh), S Lawrie (Portlethen), S Finnie (Royal Aberdeen).
79 D Mackay (Hazlehead), C Grant (Portlethen), G Milne (Newburgh), Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie GC), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen).
80 K Zeynalov (Paul Lawrie GC), J Duncan (Newburgh)
81 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) , P McKenna (Paul Lawrie GC), R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum), Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge).
82  C Cassie (Nigg Bay), H McNaughton (Cruden Bay), M MacDougall (Paul Lawrie GC), J Scott (Peterculter), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), G Mackie (Caledonian).
83 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 
84 B Lumsden (Northern)
85 G Craig (Aboyne), B Skene (Peterculter), D Wright (Northern), W Shaw (Banchory).
86 D Craigie (Peterculter), N Chisholm (Kemnay), J Murray (Banchory), D McKay (Caledonian).
87 R Masson (Auchmill), K McGillivray (Craibstone), D Nelson (Aboyne), W Skene (Deeside), P Walker (Cruden Bay), M Winton (Caledonian), D Bisset (Banchory)
88 R Duncan (Deeside), J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum)
90 L Duncan (Craibstone)
91 L Roger (Royal Aberdeen).
94 R Brown (Kemnay)
96 M Brown (Kemnay) 
97 D Lawrie (Aboyne) 
99 M Booth (Kemnay)
100 M Smith (Newmachar)
110 G McDonald (Craibstone)




PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - A Graham (5) (bih), S Lawrie (8) 70; J Borthwick (6) (bih), F Bisset (3), D Leslie (4) 71.
Class 2 - H McNaughton (12) 70; G Mackie (11) 71; B Lumsden (11) 73; N Chisholm (23), J Jessiman (14) 74. 

BEST SCORECARDS
Par: 445 443 434-35 444 343 544-35

PAUL LAWRIE 64
444 543 433-34 342 342 444-30

CRAIG LAWRIE 70
445 453 733-38
443 343 435-32

ROSS McCONNACHIE 70 
444 433 434-33 544 453 534-37 

SAM KILOH 71
454 553 444-38 444 343 443-33 

UPDATED Scottishgolfview.com ORDER OF MERIT

WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE TOMORROW 

Merit points won today:
100 Paul Lawrie
  85 Craig Lawrie, Ross McConnachie
  70 Sam Kiloh
  40 John Duff, Phil McLean, Tom Dingwall, Lee Vannet, Kevin          Kevin Duncan.
  10 Fergus Bisset

+STILL LOOKING FOR A SPONSOR OF A THREE-      
  FIGUE FIRST PRIZE FOR THE ORDER OF MERIT   WINNER.
  ANY OFFERS?
  E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com 

JAMES MAW LEADS BY FOUR WITH A 62 AT BOAVISTA

JAY TAYLOR LEADING SCOT ON 

ALGARVE WITH TWO-OVER 73

Scots Jay Taylor and Mark Hillson were lying joint 13th and 23rd respectively at the end of the first day of this week's Algarve Pro Tour 36-hole competition at Boavista Golf Club.
Taylor, who birdied the first, seventh, eighth and 16th, undid a lot of his good work with a double bogey 5 at the short 14th and a bogey at the 17th in returning a two-over-par 73
Hillson bogeyed four of the last eight holes after securing his only birdie at the 10th in a  round of six-over 77.
Only the leading 10 and ties in a field of 33 will gain prizemoney.
Englishman James Maw leads by four with a  nine-under-par 62.
 FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
 Par 71
62 J Maw (Eng)
66 T Hogarty (SAf)
67 M Armitage (Eng), J Carpenter (Eng)
68 M Eichmeier (Ger), T Cruz (Por), M Dewhurst (Eng)
69 H Santos (Por)
70 R Fieldhouse (Wal)
71 L Crawford (Eng), V Phillips (Eng)
72 T Hayward (Eng)
SCOTS' SCORES
73 J Taylor (T13)
77 M Hillson (T28)




TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

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AMERICAN KEY FIGURE IN GLOBAL EXPANSION

---

Tiger Woods signs $8million sponsorship deal

 with Indian manufacturer of two-wheelers

By KURT BADENHAUSEN
Forbes Staff
Hero MotorCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, announced a global sponsorship agreement this week with Tiger Woods. 
The Indian motorcycle and scooter maker is little known in the U.S., but the company plans to use Woods in its expansion outside its base in India, where it generates 98% of its sales.
The Hero announcement comes two days ahead of Woods’ return to competitive golf after four months off. Woods, who turns 39 this month, will tee it up Thursday at the Isleworth Golf and  Country Club in the tournament he annually hosts, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. 
 Hero signed on in September to also sponsor the event, now billed as the Hero World Challenge, which features 18 of the best golfers in the world, including Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler.

Woods returned to the course today for the tournament he hosts with a new sponsor in his portfolio.

When we last saw Woods, he failed to make the cut at the US PGA Championship in August in his fourth tournament back after back surgery in March. 
The four events included two missed cuts and a withdrawal, capping a disappointing year where Woods finished 201^st on the money list with $108,275 and saw his world ranking plummet to No. 24 after starting 2014 ranked first. 
The 14-time major winner pulled his name from consideration for a captain’s pick for the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
The Hero deal covers four years and is the most lucrative new sponsorship agreement for Woods since his 2009 infidelity scandal, which cost him his marriage and rich endorsements with Accenture , ATandT T -0.7% and PepsiCo PEP -0.87%. Gillette , Tag Heuer and Electronic Arts have also cut ties with Woods in recent years. 
Press reports from India put the value of the Hero deal at roughly $8 million a year.  
Hero CEO Pawan Munjal wouldn’t comment on financial terms, but when asked about the rich price tag, Munjal quipped: “It is Tiger Woods after all.”
Woods ranked sixth in June in Forbes’ annual look at the world’s highest-paid athletes with earnings of $61.2 million. His Nike sponsorship remains one of the biggest in sports with the $28.8 billion-in-sales sportswear giant building a $789 million golf division on the back of Woods.
The foundation for the partnership between Woods and Hero was laid in February when Woods played an exhibition in India hosted by Munjal and also featured Hero-sponsored golfer Shiv Kapur, who is one of India’s most high-profile golfers. 
Munjal says he was considering a handful of celebrities to help with the global expansion of Hero, but quickly settled on Woods. 
“I thought he was the best fit for our company. He is one of the biggest global celebrities and cuts across all segments,” said Munjal by phone.
“We need to very quickly make the brand recognizable and popular globally. I am very confident that with Tiger, we will be able to do that.”
Munjal has big international plans for Hero. The company will enter the European market in 2015, followed by the U.S. and Brazil in 2016. The latter will coincide with the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, which Woods has expressed interest in participating.
Hero projects to be in 50 countries by 2020 with sales volume of 12 million units, up from current totals of 21 countries and six million units.
Munjal expects Woods to play a major role in the global expansion through promoting the brand and advertising across print, TV, digital and social. Munjal says that sales outside of India should reach 10% of the company within 3-4 years.
Hero reported net income of $348 million on $4.2 billion in sales for its latest fiscal year. Analysts expect sales to increase 14% for the latest fiscal year ending in March.

NEW REGIONAL GOLF DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Action at Prestwick's first hole with the clubhouse in the background. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

Golf Tourism Swings into Action in Ayrshire!

NEWS RELEASE

Golf in Ayrshire and Arran has teed off with the unveiling of Ayrshire Golf Scotland and its new website ayrshiregolfscotland.com. The new regional golf development group has launched its “Our golf, your way” marketing initiative aimed at promoting the region as a premier golf destination to a global audience.

Ayrshire and Arran has over 40 courses including the Open venues of Royal Troon and Trump Turnberry and the birthplace of the Open, Prestwick Golf Club.

Ayrshire Golf Scotland is already over 55 members strong – including some of the region’s finest golf and accommodation businesses -  and works in partnership with Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Team, Scottish Enterprise, South Ayrshire Council and other trade industry organisations to further enhance its role in building the reputation of Scotland as ‘the home of golf’.

The launch of the initiative and website has been timed to highlight the region’s offerings in the lead up to The Open returning to Royal Troon in 2016.

Ros Halley, Ayrshire and Arran Tourism manager said, “The region is steeped in golfing tradition, from our historical championship links to our scenic hidden gems and with events such as The Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, Ricoh Ladies British Open at Trump Turnberry in 2015 and the return of The Open at Royal Troon in 2016, the world’s eyes will be firmly on this part of Scotland over the next two years.

“Golf Tourism is a key focus for the region and we are delighted to work together with Ayrshire Golf Scotland to maximize opportunities to grow visitor numbers and promote the area as a must visit golf destination”.

Ken Goodwin, Chair of Ayrshire Golf Scotland, commented, “Ayrshire and Arran is unique in the depth of experience it can offer the visiting golfer ranging from Open venues to courses suiting those with more modest abilities and all within easy reach. 

"When combined with the heritage of Robert Burns and the areas outstanding scenery there really is something for everyone! As a partnership pulling together tourism related businesses in the area we aim to firmly establish Ayrshire and Arran as one of Scotland’s pre-eminent golfing destinations.”

Jamie Darling, Project Manager for Ayrshire Golf Scotland, added, “Golf is worth £29.5m to the south west of Scotland and we’re looking to build on this through a marketing and promotional campaign highlighting key offerings and packages to our target markets both at home and abroad.

“You can play golf along our famous links coastline or amongst the rolling green hills; have a post-round dram at the Whisky Experience and settle down in one of our warm and friendly accommodation providers.

It really is ‘Our Golf Your Way’.”

 

To find out more about Ayrshire Golf Scotland, you can email enquiries@ayrshiregolfscotland.com or visit www.ayrshiregolfscotland.com     

          

                 

FORMER NORTHERN OPEN CHAMPION'S LATE SLIPS

BYRNE'S POOR FINISH AT KUALA 

LUMPUR TAKES HIM DOWN TO T59

Former Northern Open champion James Byrne bogeyed the 16th and had a double bogey 6 at the last to finish the first round with a disappointing, five-over-par 76 for a share of 59th place in the Asian Development Tour's PGM MIDF KLGCC Championship and Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club today.
"I had a poor finish so I would hope to do better in the second round," said Thailand-based Byrne who had only one birdie, at the short 15th, on his card which also included bogeys at the fifth, sixth and 12th.
England's Peter Richardson leads by one stroke with a five-under-par 66 which included six birdies, four of them in a row.
This is the last counting event in the ADT Order of Merit with the leading five at the conclusion gaining pass marks to the Asian Tour.
Byrne is 15th on the merit table.

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

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NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE RESUMES JANUARY 7

INVERALLOCHY TEE TIMES

8-00 G Esson, C Campbell, A Campbell, A Smith
8-08 C Cassie,  B Harper, C Carnegie, G Leslie
8-16 P Morrison, R Masson
8-24
8-32
8-40 H Roulston, M Rendall, L Roger
8-48 R. Brown S. Davidson A. Benton M. Brown
8-56 T Dingwall, K Zeynalov, S Kiloh, P McKenna
9-04 R. Stewart K. Duncan M. Paterson B. Ritchie
9-12 K. McGillivary, L Duncan, W Beattie, D Mackay
9-20 G. Craig J. Duff D. Lawrie M. Smith
9-28
9-36 K. Nicol P. McLean
9-44 B. Fyfe D. Craigie C. Grant S. Lawrie
9-52 J. Scott B. Skene
10-00 B. Lumsden G. McDonald T. Robertson D. Wright
10-08 J. Hopwood, Keil Beveridge, Kimberley Beveridge, Laura Murray
10-16 M. Forster D. Fleming L. Vannet A Gall
10-24 G. Thom D. Lane A. Clark R. Duncan
10-32 G. Milne J. Duncan A. Graham
10-40 D. Leslie W. Shaw H. McNaughton
10-48
10-56 G. Mackie R. Davidson S. Allison P. Walker
11-04 D Bisset F. Bisset J. Borthwick P. Low
11-12 S. Finnie D. Mckay M. Booth
11-20 M. Winton S Thompson D. McDougall
11-28 I. Grant J. Jessiman

GOLDEN BEAR OF GOLF TO BE HONOURED BY CONGRESS

Photo by Associated Press

Jack Nicklaus, shown at the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational, will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

JACK NICKLAUS TO RECEIVE 

CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

FROM GOLF WEEK
By ANDY ZUNZ
The United States Congress passed legislation on Monday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
The medal, an expression of appreciation to distinguished citizens, has been awarded to the likes of Neil Armstrong, Jesse Owens, Rosa Parks and Arnold Palmer over the past two centuries. The legislation is awaiting President Barack Obama's signature for approval.
"Jack Nicklaus is a legend, and without a doubt the greatest golfer of all time. Yet,  in addition to the Golden Bear’s career in golf, he is a dedicated philanthropist who has made a difference in communities across America," said Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Nicklaus' native Ohio, who co-sponsored the legislation with Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio.
Nicklaus, 74, the all-time leader in major-championship victories, with 18, was born in Columbus and played at Ohio State University
"I had the fortunate pleasure in 2012 to attend and participate in Arnold’s Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, and I witnessed how special and meaningful it was to him,” Nicklaus said. 
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to experience that, as well, and to be a part of a very special group of past recipients."

PROFESSOR DAVID PURDIE'S RESEARCH PAYS OFF

American golf is actually four years older than we thought it was - Charleston was birthplace

FROM GOLF DIGEST
By Luke Kerr-Dineen

If you're planning on playing a round with a know-it-all golf historian sometime soon, here's some wonky knowledge you can impress them with: The earliest signs of golf being played in America actually came in 1739, not 1743, as we previously thought.

The earliest piece of evidence linking golf to the United States had previously been a document detailing a shipment of 432 balls and 96 clubs from Scotland to Charleston, South Carolina in 1743. 

But, suspecting there was more information out there, Professor  David Purdie (pictured) of Edinburgh University decided to go digging -- and he was right. Purdie found a document describing how a man named William Wallace shipped £1 18/- (shillings) worth of golf clubs to Charleston on June 29, 1739.

"The cradle of golf in America is this city," Professor Purdie told The Charleston Post and Courier, who first reported the story. "The oldest continuous golf club in America is the Saint Andrews Golf Club in Yonkers, New York. They were founded in 1888. But 150 years earlier, this was going on in Charleston."

And just to give you an idea of what was going on in 1739: The first train was nearly 100 years away from being conceived, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews was 15 years away from being founded and George Washington was just seven years old.

+Professor David Purdie is a medical Professor Emeritus and a former Clinical Dean of the Leeds University medical school. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow of IASH last year by the late Susan Manning, his fields of interest being in the scientific and literary components of the Scottish enlightenment – specifically the works of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and David Hume.