Fergus Bisset, Hamish McNaughton lead chase for WLMgolf 


Alliance Handicap Merit prizes

Banchory's Fergus Bisset, pictured left, and Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay) are the front-runners in Class 1 and Class 2 of the Scottishgolfview.com North-east Alliance handicap Order of Merit tables, writes Colin Farquharson.
Teaching pro Willie McKenzie and his WLMgolf company are sponsoring the £50 amateur voucher prizes to the leaders of each handicap category at the conclusion of the Alliance championship second round at Craibstone on March 18.

Bisset has amassed 320pt from four top-10 Class 1 finishes but is only 10pts ahead of Portlethen's David Fleming who has also figured in the top 10 four times.
Jim Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) is in third place on 260pt, having picked up points from three top-10 finishes.

Consistency is the key to topping Order of Merit tables and Hamish McNaughton, pictured right, is the "Mr Consistency" of the Class 2 handicappers.
Hamish has figured in that section's weekly top 10 no fewer than nine times so far, winning the Class 2 category at two fixtures.
With a massive total of 720pt so far, McNaughton has a lead of  370pt from George Allan (Newmachar). It looks an unassailable lead, but there are still 10 counting fixtures to go, so one never knows. Watch this space for developments!

CURRENT POINTS TOTALS IN THE 
WLMgolf Handicap Orders of Merit

CLASS ONE
320 F Bisset (Banchory) 85+85+80+70
310 D Fleming (Portlethen) 65+85+100+60
260 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 75+85+100
245 D Leslie (Northern) 95+80+70
245 G Esson (McDonald Ellon) 80+85+80
245 M Forster (Cruden Bay) 80+80+85
240 S Lawrie (Portlethen) 65+80+95
235 A J Smith (Turriff) 90+85+60
230 J Nicolson (Hazlehead) 65+65+100
230 T Robertson (Peterculter) 60+80+90
210 S Allison (Caledonian) 80+60+70
185 S Shand (Kemnay) 100+85
185 D Mackay (Hazlehead) 85+10
165 C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 65+100
165 A Graham (Aboyne) 70+95
165 J Borthwick (Craibstone) 95+70
155 A Campbell (Murcar Links) 70+85
140 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 80+60
130 N Foster (Peterculter) 65+65
100 C Carnegie (Kemnay) 100
100 G Craig (Aboyne) 100
100 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) 100
100 M Duncan (Murcar Links) 100
100 R MacRae (Newburgh) 100
100 W Shaw (Banchory) 100
90 G Dillon (Kemnay) 90
90 K McGillivray (Craibstone) 90
80 D Buchan (Peterhead) 80
80 R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum)  80
80 G Milne (Newburgh) 80
75 N Duncan (Murcar Links) 75
65 I Taylor (Hazlehead) 65
65 J Turner (Kemnay) 65
65 J Duncan (Newburgh) 65
65 D McDougall (Nigg Bay) 65
65 R Davidson (Caledonian) 65
60 K Stewart (Kemnay) 60
60 J Hamilton (Murcar Links) 60

CLASS TWO
750 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) 100+75+65+70+80+95+80+85+100
380 G Allan (Newmachar) 75+70+75+60+100
370 D Craigie (Kemnay) 85+90+95+100
310 B Lumsden (Northern) 75+70+85+80
300 M Winton (Caledonian) 100+65+60+75
275 G Mackie (Caledonian) 100+85+90
250 A Benton (Kemnay) 100+70+80
250 M Smith (Newmachar) 70+90+9
240 L Duncan (Craibstone) 65+100+75
205 J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) 70+70+65
190 G Homer (Northern) 100+90
170 S Dillon (Kemnay) 100+70
165 L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) 90+75
150 D Lawrie (Aboyne) 90+60
145 D Townsley (Peterculter) 60+85
135 R Masson (Auchmill) 65+70
100 C Tawse (Strathlene) 100
100 N K Parker (Murcar Links) 100
90 P Cornfield (Hazlehead) 90
90 J Sunley (Northern) 90
90 D Wright (Northern) 90
90 L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) 90
85 S Melvin (Newmachar) 85
80 G Leslie (Newburgh) 80
75 J Smith (Strathlene) 75
70 R Duncan (Deeside) 70
70 A Clark (Deeside) 70
70 G Moir (Oldmeldrum) 70
70 B Skene (Peterculter) 70
65 N Chisholm (Kemnay) 65
60 P Walker (Cruden Bay) 60
60 M Rendall (Stonehaven) 60
60 M Brown (Kemnay) 60

South African Open Championship report, scores

DRYSDALE (7 birdies) SHOOTS A 68, 

DOAK AND LAWRIE HAVE 71 APIECE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
with some additional words by Colin Farquharson 

Last year’s runner-up Jbe Kruger and England’s Andy Sullivan from Nuneaton share the lead on six-under 66 after the opening round of the South African Open Championship at Gauteng, Johannesburg.

 Scot David Drysdale, pictured, finished the day with a 68 after carding seven birdies. He is in joint sixth place.

Kruger and Sullivan completed matching six-under-par rounds of 66 following an afternoon delay due to thunder and the threat of lightning to lie one shot ahead of tournament host and five-time winner Ernie Els, 2009 champion Richard Sterne and Denmark’s Lasses Jensen.
Kruger’s only previous European Tour win came in India three years ago, but he produced six birdies in a flawless round.
“I think this is probably the perfect start,” said the South African. “When you have a couple of weeks off you can’t ask for better start just to get the confidence back up and going.
“I think this is probably the biggest one you can win as a South African. I’ve been ready for the last six or seven months, but it’s not up to me.
“I’m trying as hard as I can, but if it’s not in His will then you just have to accept it. Last year I had a bad second or third round and wasn’t in with a chance, but I shot 65 on the final day – I’d just like to be in with a chance.”
Former Walker Cup star Sullivan pitched in for eagle at the 15th and made six birdies after a double bogey at the fifth had threatened to spoil his day.
“I’m just thrilled to be in the position that I am,” he said.
“I played really good today. I took the course on a little bit, took driver as much as possible, and it paid off for me.
“I’ve had a history of not doing well after weather delays, so it was nice to get back out there and do what I did. There’s a few times where it hasn’t turned out great, so to do that means I’m improving in the right areas.
“On the 15th I actually missed the fairway. I drew some sort of good lie in the rough, I got it to the front edge with a rescue and as soon as I hit the chip it checked up on the third bounce and it was tracking – it’s nice when they come off.”
Sullivan won a trip to space for a hole-in-one at last year’s KLM Open, but revealed he is in no rush to live up to his ‘rocket man’ billing.
“It only starts in December,” he added. “They’re testing a few things at the moment.
“It looks like I’ll be getting shot up there at some point - I can take it when I want, so I might just take it when I’m 80 and think ‘Well, I’ve had a good life now’. I’ll definitely let a few go before I entertain it!”
Earlier Els had carded six birdies and one bogey to set the morning’s clubhouse target at Glendower Golf Club in his native Ekurhuleni.
The 45 year old started on the back nine and recovered from a bogey on the 12th with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th to be out in 34, before picking up further shots on the second and fifth.
Els missed a good birdie chance on the seventh from 15 feet, but finished his round in style with a superb iron shot to two feet on the ninth for a closing birdie as he looks to make amends for a winless season in 2014 on both sides of the Atlantic.
"That was nice," said Els, who failed to register a top-three finish on The European Tour last season for the first time since 1992. "I was a little nervous here and there but it was so nice to play Glendower in front of my home crowd."
Els has reverted to a normal putter ahead of the ban on anchored strokes which comes into effect in 2016, and admitted short putts were "still a little bit nerve-wracking".
However, the home favourite and four-time Major winner was delighted with his iron shots on a course featuring thick rough surrounding the narrow fairways.
"I have been working on that a little bit, taking a little distance off and trying not to hit them too hard," he added.
"Coming off the fairway they were coming out nice and crisp so I enjoyed my iron shots today.
"We have had a nice start now and I want to keep it up, get better on the greens a little more and see where we end up."

SCOTSWATCH: David Drysdale birdied the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th on his way to a four-under 68, two shots off the lead. Drysdale had seven birdies in all and will start the second round in a share of sixth place.
The man from Cockburnspath (on the coastal route between Edinburgh and Berwick), finished sixth at Leopards Creek and stayed on in South Africa to spend Christman at the Kruger National Park before seeing in the New year at Stellenbosch.
Drysdale told "The Scotsman" golf correspondent, Martin Dempster: 
“South Africa has become a second home for me over the past decade or so and I love it down here. Fillet steaks, red wine, great weather and great golf courses – what more can you ask?”
Chris Doak and Paul Lawrie both signed for 71s and a share of 28th place.
Lawrie, determined to climb the world rankings from his current 323 position after a dreadful 2014 season - by his standards - birdied the fifth, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th. He bogeyed the second, seventh, 16th and 18th.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERS

Par 72. Players from South Africa unless stated
66 Andy Sullivan (England), Jbe Kruger
67 Ernie Els, Lasse Jensen (Denmark), Richard Sterne.
68 Jordi Garcia Pinto (Spain), David Drysdale (Scotland), Charl Schwartzel, Colin Nel.
69 Niclas Fasth (Sweden), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Raphail Jacquelin (France), Tom Murray (England), Erik Van Rooyen.

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
71 Chris Doak, Paul Lawrie (T28)
77 Scott Henry (T126)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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John Duff leads Brimmond Bistro Order of 

Merit by 210pt, hot favourite for £125 prize

Newmachar amateur John Duff's 25pt award for finishing joint eighth in yesterday's North-east Golfers' Alliance fixture at windy Inverallochy enabled him to boost his lead to a massive 210pt  in the Scottishgolfview.com scratch Order of Merit, sponsored by Craibstone Golf Club's Brimmond Bistro, writes Colin Farquharson.

Duff, pictured left, with 700pt in the bag already, is a hot favourite to win the £125 first prize (as an amateur voucher) which will go to the player with the most scratch Order of Merit points at the conclusion of the second round of the Alliance championship at Craibstone on March 18.
Paul Lawrie is lying second with 490pt after winning five times out of six appearances but he does not expect to play in any Alliance events in the second half of the season because of his European Tour commitments.
Royal Aberdeen pro Joel Hopwood moved up to third on 485 after collecting 80pt for third place at Inverallochy.
Craibstone teaching pro Lee Vannet has jumped up to fourth place on 387 with the 100pt that goes to scratch competition winners - but he still has 313pt to make up on leader Duff over the last 10 fixtures of the 2014-2015 Alliance season.
The runner-up in the Brimmond Bistro scratch order of merit will earn £70 and the third-placed finisher come March 18 will win £50.

HOW THEY STAND IN BRIMMOND BISTRO
 SCRATCH ORDER OF MERIT

Pts                                        Placing
700 John Duff (Newmachar) 1
490 P Lawrie (Carnegie Club) 2
485 J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 3
387 L Vannet (Craibstone) 4
325 N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 5
320 K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 6
285 D Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 7
277 S Finnie (Caledonian) 8
275 C Law (Kings Links) 9
250 S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC) 10
237 T Robertson (Peterculter) 11
235 C Brechin (Portlethen) 12
217 A Campbell (Murcar Links) 13
215 K Shanks (Kings Links) 14
202 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 15
175 R McConnachie (Peterculter) 16
160 C Lamb (Newmachar) 17
156 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 18
140 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) 19
131 C Nelson (Mackenzie Shop) 20
115 G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 21
105 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 22
102 P McKenna (Paul Lawrie GC) 23
100 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) 24
98 J Nicolson (Hazlehead) 25
98 F Bisset (Banchory) 25
97 D Leslie (Northern) 27
92 K Zeynalov (Paul Lawrie GC) 28
92 I Taylor (Hazlehead) 28
92 G Esson (McDonald Ellon) 30
70 B Robson (Newmachar)
70 B Nicolson (Hazlehead)
65 R Manson (Kemnay)
65 D Buchan (Kemnay)
63 M Patterson (Cruden Bay)
61 B J Ritchie (Newmachar)
60 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh)
55 T Mathieson (Murcar Links)
55 A J Smith (Turriff)
45 Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)
45 G Ingram (Inverurie)
40 C Carnegie (Kemnay)
40 B Fyfe (Paul Lawrie GC)
40 T Dingwall (Kemnay)
35 S Henderson (Kings Links)
35 Sean Lawrie (Portlethen)
30 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne)
30 Colin Campbell (Trump International)
30 Craig Goodwin (Duff House Royal)
25 R Stewart (Newburgh)
25 D Mackay (Hazlehead)
12 S McNeil (Aboyne)
12 D Fleming (Portlethen)
12 R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum)
10 J Duncan (Newburgh)
10 G Dillon (Oldmeldrum)
10 Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie GC)
8 R McKinnon (Peterculter)
6 G Craig (Aboyne)
5 C Cheyne (Newmachar)
2 S Griffiths (Duff House Royal)
 +The Scottishgolfview.com Handicap Order of Merit points 
    will be displayed on this website tomorrow.

 THERE'S MORE AT CRAIBSTONE THAN  JUST THE GOLF!

The clubhouse at Craibstone Golf Course forms the hub of all activities at the course.

No clubhouse would be complete without a restaurant and Craibstone is no different; the Brimmond Bistro serves fresh, wholesome food prepared by our experienced chef. The next time you visit Craibstone be sure to explore the clubhouse and see all these facilities for yourself. The Brimmond Bistro, open 9.30am to 4pm daily, is open to non-members of the golf club. Drop in by when you feel like it a cup of tea/coffee and a scone!

The Brimmond Bistro

The Brimmond Bistro menu changes regularly, but please take a look at the sample menu to get an idea of what is typically served. This normally includes sandwiches, light snacks, the signature “Brimmond Burger” and a variety of desserts.

In addition to this the bistro also has the facility to cater for birthday parties, anniversaries, funeral teas, BBQs or any other large scale events. 

If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us on 01224 716777 or by email at golf@marshall-leisure.co.uk.

EDINBURGH and EAST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE NET SCORES AT GULLANE No. 3 ON WEDNESDAY

No	Surname	Forename	Club	Category	Gross	H/cap	Net
1	Rennie	Martin	Uphall	Amateur	72	4	68
2	Boyle	Ross	Ratho Park	Amateur	72	3	69
3	Fyfe	Ian	Musselburgh	Senior	72	3	69
4	Boyle	Tony	Glenbervie	Amateur	74	4	70
5	Jervis	Derek	Prestonfield	Senior	79	9	70
6	Johnston	Richard	Glenbervie	Amateur	69	-1	70
7	Miller	William	Falkirk Tryst	Senior	79	9	70
8	Roberts	Graham	Liberton	Amateur	82	12	70
9	Cockburn	Robin	Harburn	Amateur	76	5	71
10	Forsyth	Walter	Peebles	Amateur	78	7	71
11	Laing	William	Prestonfield	Amateur	77	6	71
12	Nicolson	David	Craigielaw	Amateur	75	4	71
13	Airens	Daniel	Falkirk Tryst	Amateur	82	10	72
14	Blaney	Anthony	Liberton	Amateur	71	-1	72
15	Bradbury	Paul	Kingsknowe	Amateur	76	4	72
16	Brydon	David	Torwoodlee	Amateur	77	5	72
17	Devlin	Alan	Pumpherston	Senior	86	14	72
18	Johnston	Graeme D	Glenbervie	Amateur	75	3	72
19	McElhinney	Andrew	Harburn	Amateur	81	9	72
20	Murphy	Kevin	Gifford	Amateur	76	4	72
21	Rothney	Andrew	Deer Park	Amateur	75	3	72
22	Brown	Stuart	Dunbar	Amateur	78	5	73
23	Fraser	Colin	Peebles	Amateur	73	0	73
24	Jeavons	Ian	Dunbar	Amateur	78	5	73
25	Silvestro	James	Musselburgh	Amateur	80	7	73
26	Watson	James	West Lothian	Senior	85	12	73
27	Allan	Bob	Cardrona	Amateur	84	10	74
28	Cowie	Keith	Dunbar	Senior	86	12	74
29	Jeffrey	David	Whitekirk	Senior	83	9	74
30	MacMillan	Peter	Uphall	Amateur	80	6	74
31	Murray	Roy	West Lothian	Amateur	79	5	74
32	Porteous	Paul	Uphall	Amateur	78	4	74
33	Roberts	Malcolm	Duddingston	Amateur	81	7	74
34	Wilson	Iain	Longniddry	Amateur	76	2	74
35	Carrigan	Michael	Greenburn	Amateur	86	11	75
36	Denham	John	Torwoodlee	Senior	81	6	75
37	Kay	Michael	Dalmahoy	Amateur	87	12	75
38	Louden	Michael	Glencorse	Senior	78	3	75
39	Pennycott	Malcolm	Royal Burgess	Amateur	74	-1	75
40	Wardlaw	Stuart	Harburn	Senior	86	11	75
41	Wight	Andrew	Glencorse	Senior	79	4	75
42	Doyle	Steven	Liberton	Amateur	81	5	76
43	Marr	Michael	Musselburgh	Amateur	82	6	76
44	Sokolowski	Mark	Archerfield Links	Amateur	81	5	76
45	Watson	David	Peebles	Senior	89	13	76
46	Marshall	Robert	Greenburn	Amateur	86	9	77
47	Leggate	Philip	Musselburgh	Amateur	86	8	78
48	Robertson	Ewan	Longniddry	Senior	83	5	78
49	Chrystal	Brian	Baberton	Senior	88	9	79
50	Allison	Liam	Bathgate	Amateur	84	4	80
51	Scott	Jim	Minto	Senior	89	8	81

Experienced physio Lindsay Smart gives Paul

Lawrie Golf Centre a new dimension
 
The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre at Banchory Devenick on the south side of the River Dee, Aberdeem  is now offering another service to ‘take your game to the next level’, writes Colin Farquharson
The centre already offers expert PGA advice on the latest golf equipment and gear, tuition from Andrew Locke, Billy Fyfe and Alan Stuart, a nine-hole par-3 course, an excellent short-game practice area ... and let's not forget the Clarets Coffee Shop/Restaurant for a hot cuppa and a wide range of cakes, scones, etc

Now you can go to the centre for physiotherapy. 
The Greenside Health and Performance Practice has been set up on site at the golf centre by specialist Musculo-Skeletal Physiotherapist, Lindsay Smart, pictured.
A keen golfer from an early age, Lindsay has had a two-handicap for some 20 years and his new venture will specialise in golf specific injuries and physical screening.
"A physical screening and intervention can help you achieve your golfing goals by reducing pain, allowing you to play and practise more often.   It can also improve your swing mechanics, improving distance and consistency," said Smart
Paul Lawrie is delighted to have Lindsay on board.

“We want the Golf Centre to be the best of its kind and the addition of a physiotherapist of Lindsay’s experience and skill allows us to provide an even more comprehensive service for golfers looking to improve their game and well-being," said the 1999 Open champion.
"I’ve been working with Lindsay for the past while now and the physio and fitness we do is really benefitting me.”
Since he graduated from Aberdeen University and then Robert Gordon University in 2003, Lindsay has gained a wealth of experience working at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Monklands District General Hospital, Arbroath Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital.  He has also worked for the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Rugby Union and the Scottish Football Association and several football clubs, including Rangers, Dumbarton and Queen's Park.  Lindsay joins the team at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre after completing nearly six years working within the Aberdeen Physiotherapy Clinic.
Greenside Health and Performance Aberdeen offer a professional physiotherapy service for expert assessment, treatment and advice. Lindsay also hopes to help if you are suffering pain or injury from leisure time activities, sports, employment or your everyday life.
To make an appointment with Lindsay, phone 01224 865 750 or E-mail him at info@paullawriegolfcentre.com
+Lindsay comes from a golfing background. His late father, Douglas Smart, was professional at Banchory Golf Club and his mother Ann, who also has had her moments on the golf course, is currently secretary of the Banchory club of which Lindsay has been a long-time member

Nick Marsh T15, Paul Howard T23  after three 

rounds of Aussie Amateur Masters
 
England's match-play national champion Nick Marsh, who won the Scottish youths title last year, had a third-round 72 to be sharing 15th place on 215 going into the final day of the Australian Master of the Amateurs tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

Marsh, pictured right with the Scottish youths championship trophy,  is nine shots behind Aussie leader Zach Murray (67 for 205).
English stroke-play title-holder Paul Howard is T23 on 215 after a 73.
The third Englishman in the field, Ben Stow, is T58 on 222 after his best round so far, a 72.
 

Following article courtesy of Jim Conway, Victoria Golf website
On a day of amazing golf at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, a course record that’s stood for 59 years has been equalled and a 17 year old Wodonga schoolboy has skipped away to a two-shot lead going into Friday's final round of this truly world class tournament, the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship.
Nineteen-year-old Sydney player Cameron Douglas  said everything just felt right about his round today …  and why wouldn’t  it? 
He’d just fired off eight birdies and an eagle; a bogey on the 4th his only blemish, on his way to a round of 63 which equals a record that’s stood since 1956.
The man who set that record for the West Course, former Royal Melbourne Golf Club member Tom Crow said he was delighted for Cameron and passed on his warmest congratulations. The founder of the Cobra company, Mr Crow who is now 83, said “putting the Royal Melbourne greens you need to be “damn” good, so Cameron must be some sort of golfer”.   
Cameron goes into tomorrow’s final round of the Championship with a share of sixth place, seven shots behind the leader.
That spot is held by Wodonga teenager Zach Murray whose round of 67 gives him a two-shot break on the rest of the field. The 17 year old  said he’d improved from the first two rounds because he’d been “smarter off the tees”… and he’s feeling good about tomorrow!
Zach will be teeing off with his really good mate Frazer Droop from Yarrawonga who had a round of 68. The best performed international so far is 21 year old American Bryson DeChambeau whose round of 66 leaves him five shots off the lead.
Perhaps the hard luck story of the day came from Queenslander Jake McLeod who had a double bogey on the last but still had a final round of 66 …what might have been!
After a drama packed day, everything is set for a final round for top quality golf to decide the winner of the Green Jacket.             

Play starts at 8am and admission to the four days is free … and for all tournament news and scores go to www.masteroftheamateurs.com.au and click on tournament update at the top of the page or visit Australian Master of the Amateurs Facebook page.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
205 Zach Murray 69 69 67
207 Frazer Droop 71 68 68
208 Jake McLeod 71 71 76, Ben Eccles 66 74 68

SELECTED SCORES
214 Nick Howard (England) 69 73 72 (T15)
215 Paul Howard (England) 73 69 73 (T23)
222 Ben Stow (England) 75 75 72 (T58)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE