CRAIBSTONE GOLF ACADEMY'S STATE OF ART 

FACILITIES BEHIND LEE VANNET'S  ALLIANCE FORM



By COLIN FARQUHARSON
At the age of 47 - he was introduced to golf when he was seven - Craibstone Golf Academy teaching professional Lee Vannet has hit a rich seam of form on this year's North-east Alliance circuit.
The Carnoustie-born and bred man followed up his victory at Inverallochy last Wednesday by heading a field of 60 to win the £100 first prize with a three-under-par 61 in cold and windy conditions at Newburgh-on-Ythan's winter course today.

In all, Vannet, a former British boys champion (in 1984), the only other player apart from David Robertson to play for amateur Scotland as a boy, youth and man in the same year (1984), and a European Tour player for three years - "I actually rate that achievement higher than winning the British boys' title" - has put together an almost double-figure total of top-10 Alliance finishes during this 2014-2015 season.
So what's his secret?
"Basically, hard work and perseverance, which is the message I try to get across to my clients at the Craibstone Golf Academy," said Lee, pictured above in the Newburgh golf course after his latest victory.
"But, on reflection, I would have to say, that the facilities at the Craibstone Golf Academy have definitely been a factor in my goood form.
"The indoor studio with all the state of the art video equipment has made it possible for me to analyse my own game. And the short game facility at Craibstone is fantastic, which has allowed me to sharpen my own short game.
"Anyone keen on improving their standard of golf in 2015 should pay us a visit and pick one of the many Improvement Packages on offer.
"You can book with me direct on 07968025781 or email leepro67@hotmail.comLee had a bag of seven birdies in halves of 33 (one over par) and 28 (four under).
His sub-par figures came at the fourth, sixth, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th. He bogeyed the third, eighth, ninth and 18th.

Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), looking forward to her debut on the Ladies European Tour in Morocco, finished runner-up to Vannet, two shots behind on 63 (32-31).
Considering she plays off the same tees as her male rivals, that was an excellent performance by Murray. Her long-hitting powers enabled her to drive several of the par-4 holes and two-putt for birdies.

Lossiemouth-born Ross McConnachie, pictured right, assistant pro at Peterculter, Golf Club, finished third on 67 (38-29) after holding the clubhouse lead for a spell. Ross was runner-up last week.
Finally, Nigel Parker (Murcar Links) won the Class 2 handicap section for the second week in a row following his return from a new-hip operation. He had a net 59 off 16 and had another two shots lopped off his handicap.
So Nigel is back to the 14 handicap he had BEFORE his hip replacement and recuperative months away from golf. Certainly life in the old dog yet.

SCRATCH SCORES
Par 64 (32-32)
61 L Vannet (Craibstone) 33-28
63 Miss L Murray (Paul Lawrie GC) 32-31
67 R McConnachie (Peterculter) 38-29
68 B Harper (Newburgh) 35-33
69 J Duncan (Newburgh) 37-32
70 B Nicolson (Hazlehead) 34-36, T Robertson (Peterculter) 36-34
71 K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 35-36, D Mackay (Hazlehead) 39-32, J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 39-32
72 A Campbell (Murcar Links) 40-32, J Nicolson (Hazlehead) 38-34, J Duff (Newmachar) 35-37, Miss K Beveridge (Aboyne) 39-33, B Lumsden (Northern) 40-32
73 C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 39-34, K McGillivray (Craibstone) 35-38, K Beveridge (Kippie Lodge) 37-36, D McKay (Caledonian) 37-36
74 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 39-35, D Fleming (Portlethen) 39-35, P B Walker (Cruden Bay) 38-36
75 J Forrest (Northern) 39-36, J Scott (Peterculter) 39-36, A Graham (Aboyne) 41-34, N K Parker (Murcar Links) 41-34
76 A Smith (Turriff) 38-38
77 L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) 39-38, L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 42-35, G Milne (Newburgh) 41-36
78 S Mackie (Hazlehead) 38-40, S Davidson (Northern) 41-37, P Low (Craibstone) 40-38
79 G Thom (Kemnay) 44-35
80 G Allan (Newmachar) 44-36, W Beattie (Craibstone) 42-38, G Homer (Northern) 41-39, W Shaw (Banchory) 42-38, J Borthwick (Craibstone) 42-38
82 D Nelson (Aboyne), A Clark (Newmachar), J Murray (Banchory)
83 M Smith (Newmachar), N Stewart (Northern), B Skene (Peterculter)
84 S Dillon (Kemnay), M Murray (Craibstone), D Wright (Northern), H McNaughton (Cruden Bay)
86 R Masson (Auchmill), D Lawrie (Aboyne)
87 M Brown (Kemnay)
90 M Rendall (Stonehaven)
95 A Benton (Kemnay)
 
HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS  
Class 1 - B Harper (6) 62; D Mackay (7) 64; D McKay (8) 65; C Cassie (7) 66; J Forrest (9) 68.
 Class 2 - N K Parker (16) 59; B Lumsden (11) 61; P  B Walker (12) 62; S Davidson (13) 65; P Low (11) 67. 

BEST SCORECARDS
Par 64: OUT: 4-3-4-4-3-4-3-3-4: 32 IN: 4-4-4-3-3-4-4-3-3: 32

LEE VANNET 61
OUT: 4-3-5-3-3-3-3-4-5: 33  IN: 3-3-4-3-2-3-3-3-4: 28

LAURA MURRAY 63
OUT: 4-3-3-4-4-3-3-3-5: 32  IN: 3-3-4-4-3-4-3-3-4: 31 

ROSS McCONNACHIE 67 
OUT: 4-4-5-4-4-5-3-4-5: 38  IN: 4-3-3-3-3-4-3-3-3: 29 

BRIAN HARPER 68
OUT: 4-5-4-5-3-3-3-4-4: 35  IN: 4-4-5-4-3-3-4-3-3: 33