Godsman wins Alliance by four strokes at Nairn Dunbar - his fourth win of season
 
Kyle Godsman (Moray) won today's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance fixture at Nairn Dunbar by four strokes with a three-under-par 65 over the shorter winter course.

The Hopeman player, pictured, coped best in a field of 90 players with the early frosty conditions,
He had six birdies - first, third, sixth ,11th, 16th and 17th - with  bogeys at the fourth, seventh and eighth.
Godsman, who played four years on the US college circuit, was chalking up his fourth win of the season on the Alliance circuit, having scored at Boat of Garten, Torvean and Moray earlier.

His round of 65 takes Godsman into the lead ahead of Jeff Wright (Forres) in the chase for the K M Cameron Trophy for best six scratch rounds over the season. 
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 68
65 K Godsman (Moray)
69 W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)
70 G A Hay (Nairn Dunbar) p, D McGrouther (Inverness)
71 J S D Campbell (Grantown), B Fotheringham (Inverness)
73 G H Hay (Grantown)
74 K Thomson (Moray), W Hutchison (Inverness), D Gordon (Inverness)
75 S Wilson (Inverness), R H Stewart (Torvean), M McDonald (Boat of Garten)
76 J A Grant (Grantown), H F Urquhart (Inverness), J Wright (Forres), S Mullen (Elgin), K Barnett (Torvean)
77 W J Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), A Macintosh (Torvean);
78 D Ramsay (Moray) p, R Kinnaird (Grantown), I Murray (Boat of Garten), D Joel (Inverness), V Tilman (Muir of Ord), P Masson (Rothes), S Johnston (Elgin), F Mackellar (Grantown), P Mathieson (Grantown)
79 A W Mair (Moray), L Stewart (Grantown), G Allan (Moray), M Lyall (Torvean);
80 D F Sharp (Boat of Garten), L Hutchison (Inverness), A J England (Moray), J Shaw (Boat of Garten), W B Johnston (Moray), D Johnston (Moray)
81 D Hector (Elgin), A Waterson (Grantown), A Casey (Moray);
82 A Henry (Inverness), R Mackie (Rothes), A Imrie (Muir of Ord);
LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1 (7 and under)
65 D McGrouther (Inverness)(5);
67 W Hutchison (Inverness)  (7)
70 D Goedon (Inverness) (4), A Macintosh (Torvean) (7), W J Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (7), M McDonald (Boat of Garten) (5)
Class 2 (eight to 18)
68 L Hutchison (Inverness) (12), M Lyall (Torvean) (11)
70 A McWilliam (Moray) (16), W B Johnston (Moray) (10), F Mackellar (Grantown)(8)

ENGLAND JUST MANAGE TO HOLD ON TO WIN

MEN'S NATIONS CUP AT SOTOGRANDE 

 Terry Casey (left) and Graham Walker (right) are pictured with the England players, from left: Nick Marsh (Huddersfield,),  Ben  Stow (Rushmore), Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park), Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale)

England's quartet of Ashley Chester, Ben Stow, Nick Marsh and Paul Howard followed in Scotland's footsteps as the winners of the Nations Cup's men's team title at Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol today.
But it was much closer finish than had seemed possible when England led by five strokes at halfway an even by four with 18 holes to play.
In the end hosts Spain chased them over the winning line, metaphorically, finishing only a shot behind England who als.
Ireland, whose Jack Hume tied for third place in the individual standings behind the runaway Spanish winner, did well to finish fourth, seven shots behind England.
England's top scorers were Chesters and Stow, joint sixth. 
The Scottish Golf Union decided not to enter a team of four to defend the title they won last year when the tournament was staged at a later date and the top Scotland squad had returning from warm weather training in South Africa.
This year, because of different dates, the cream of the Scots crop are still in South Africa.England's last Nations Cup win was in March 2013
FINAL MEN'S TEAM TOTALS
1st ENGLAND 897
2nd SPAIN 898
3rd FRANCE 902
4th IRELAND 904
5th NETHERLANDS 910
6th ITALY 915
7th NORWAY 918
8th SWEDEN 928
9th DENMARK 930
10th AUSTRIA 936
11th SWITZERLAND 940
T12th CZECH REPUBLIC 945
T12th GERMANY 945
14th PORTUGAL 948
15th BELGIUM 959
16th SLOVENIA 1009

LEADING MEN'S INDIVIDUAL TOTALS 
par 288 (4x72)
1st 287 Mario Galiano (Spain) 74 70 71 72
2nd 295 Robbie Van West (Netherlands) 78 70 69 78
3rd 297 Marcus Kinhult (Sweden) 75 74 73 74 
T4th 298 Langasque Romain (France) 79 73 72 74, Jack Hume (Ireland) 75 76 71 76

SELECTED TOTALS
T6 299 Ashley Chesters (England) 76 74 75 74, Ben Stow (England) 79 72 73 75
T11 303 Gavin Moynihan (Ireland) 75 79 76 73, Nick Marsh (England) 80 72 74 77
T21 308 Paul Howard (England) 77 76 79 76 
T25 310 Gary Hurley (Ireland) 78 78 81 73
T35 313 Colm Campbell (Ireland) 79 84 74 76
 

+Spain won the women's Nations Cup with Wales a creditable fourth after languishing near the bottom of the 10-team table. Chloe Williams from Wrexham finished third in the women's individual standings. All the women's team totals and leading scores are on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

CHAWRASIA FAVOURITE TO WIN INDIAN OPEN

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
S S P Chawrasia and Siddikur Rahman will continue their head-to-head battle in the final round of the Hero Indian Open on Sunday.
The two Delhi Golf Club experts carded respective rounds of 69 and 70 in the third round, taking home favourite Chawrasia to 12 under par for the week, two clear of his Bangladeshi rival going into the final day, with Australian Marcus Fraser their closest challenger on seven under after a third round 67.
Daniel Chopra made a brilliant eagle three on the par five 18th to card the lowest round of the day, a fine six under par 65 to move from tied 23rd spot to fourth place alongside the Thai, Pryad Marksaeng.
Chawrasia has won both of his European Tour titles at the Delhi Golf Club, while Siddikur has played here on 11 occasions, winning once at the 2013 Hero Indian Open and racking up another nine top ten finishes.
Given the strength of those records, and the fact both men are playing such high quality golf (Chawrasia made his first bogey of the week on his 53rd hole of the week), it is difficult to foresee anything but a thrilling battle between the two during Sunday’s final round.
Player Quotes

S S P Chawrasia: I feel great. I missed a few putts but I’m still happy. I missed my eight iron on the 17th hole or else, I would have still been bogey free. My tee shot landed in the trees but it wasn’t as bad as it looked. I hit a low shot and I was able to save par. I want to think and play positive on the final day. The final round is always special so I will play aggressively. 
The wind changed today and it was totally different from the last two days. I just kept playing low ball flights. I played my own game and not thinking that I’m playing match play. That’s my target. If anyone is coming closer, let them. I just want to focus on my own game. I’m trying to be calm but I’m feeling very frustrated inside!

Siddikur Rahman: “It was a good day. I had a nice rhythm and picked up a couple of shots until the double bogey. But I managed to recover well and made a great par save on 17 and then managed to birdie the last so overall I am happy with one under today. The birdie at the last was very important. Anything can happen in this game – I am looking forward tomorrow and hopefully I can play the way I did on Thursday. I tried not to look too much at what SSP was doing today – I tried to focus on my own game and keep hitting the greens in regulation and try to make some birdie putts.”

Marcus Fraser: “Today was really good. I didn’t make the same mistakes I made the first couple of days. It could have been better but I am pretty sure the majority of guys say that to you when they walk off the course no matter what they have shot. I love this golf course – I wish we could play here every week. It’s just a proper golf course and you have to play the way the game should be played around here in my opinion. Most weeks nowadays you tee it up as high as you can and hit it as hard as you can and that isn’t the way the game should be played. You should have to think your way round and that’s what you have to do here.
 I have a little chance tomorrow but I will have to shoot pretty low and hope that SSP and Siddikur don’t do that which is difficult to see at the moment. Those two guys play here like it’s their back yard. They just love the course as well and you can see why in their results. But hopefully I can go out there tomorrow and give it a go.”

THIRD-ROUND SCORES
Par 213 (3x71)
201 S Chawrasia (Ind) 65 67 69
203 S Rahman (Ban) 65 68 70
206 M Fraser (Aus) 69 70 67
207 D Chopra (Swe) 70 72 65, P Marksaeng (Tha) 68 70 69
208 P Peterson (USA) 69 68 71, A Lahiri (Ind) 73 65 70
209 M Perera (Sri) 67 72 70, J Lagergren (Swe) 65 71 73, R McEvoy  (Eng) 70 67 72, A Da Silva (Bra) 71 70 68
210 J Palmer (Eng) 70 71 69, P Lawrie (Irl) 69 70 71, A Otaegui  (Esp) 70 70 70, B Evans  (Eng) 72 70 68
211 R Wattel  (Fra) 70 74 67, J Roos (RSA) 70 69 72, K Richardson (Aus) 67 74 70, C Nirat (Tha) 65 71 75, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 73 70 68
212 K Pratt (Aus) 75 69 68, J Hahn (USA) 70 71 71, S Chikkarangappa (Ind) 69 75 68, A Vongvanij (Tha) 72 72 68, J Randhawa (Ind) 74 69 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71 72, J Singh (Ind) 72 72 68, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 72 72, M Jiménez (Esp) 70 71 71, A Wall (Eng) 72 70 70, C Lloyd (Eng) 74 70 68
213 C Kumar (Ind) 69 74 70, M Jaini (Ind) 73 69 71, M Orrin (Eng) 71 72 70, M Kumar (Ind) 71 73 69, J Parry (Eng) 70 74 69, A Cheema (Ind) 72 70 71
214 L Weber (Fra) 68 74 72, C Pigem (Esp) 70 72 72, J Knutzon (USA) 71 72 71, V Riu  (Fra) 71 72 71, K Kumar (Ind) 72 72 70, A Groom (Aus) 74 69 71, S Sharma (Ind) 69 72 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 71 72, R Khan  (Ind) 71 72 71, P Meesawat  (Tha) 71 71 72, W Ormsby (Aus) 75 68 71, M Tullo (Chi) 72 69 73
215 R Lee (Can) 65 75 75, P Pittayarat (Tha) 72 71 72, T Khrongpha (Tha) 68 74 73, D Chia (Mas) 68 76 71, A Malik (Ind) 75 69 71, A Atwal (Ind) 70 70 75, M Tabuena (Phi) 72 72 71, S Kapur (Ind) 73 69 73, J Janewattananond (Tha) 68 74 73
216 J Scrivener (Aus) 72 72 72, J Campillo (Esp) 71 73 72, S Walker (Eng) 72 72 72, A Velasco (Esp) 71 71 74, M Mamat (Sin) 73 71 72
217 N Holman  (Aus) 71 73 73, O Chouhan (Ind) 71 73 73, G Maybin (Nir) 72 70 75, S Soderberg (Swe) 72 71 74,
218 N Thangaraja (Sri) 71 73 74
221 C Paisley  (Eng) 75 68 78

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

CLOSING THE DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE 
SGU SHOULD HAVE SENT A TEAM TO SOTOGRANDE

Editor: This is the last view we are displaying on the debate about whether the SGU was right or wrong not to send a team to defend the Nations Cup at Sotogrande this past week.

FROM MARK FERGUSON
I would like to ask Michael Niven - why would you choose to question our squad in South Africa? Especially as the lads embark on further tournaments. Are you a Scot? Probably not!
 Your comments show a complete lack of respect for the hard working lads out in South Africa - who are more than holding their own and doing a good job for Scottish Golf and South African relations!
Money in our game is limited - let's keep it for the right reasons and the crop coming through who have made sacrifices! Caps have to be earned. Let's not give them to anyone, just because our real quality is committed elsewhere!
Mark Ferguson

Editor's note: Michael Niven is not only a Scot, he has played for Scotland at senior international level.

GRAEME LESLIE DEFENDS SGU DECISION

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
We are winding down  the Scottishgolfview.com debate on whether the Scottish Golf Union was right or not in its decision not to send a four-man team to defend the Nations Cup title at Sotogrande this past week. 
Thanks to all contributors

FROM GRAEME LESLIE
Some facts: 
1. The date change for this year’s European Nations was very late.

2. Scotland’s best players were committed elsewhere.

3. Whilst Scott Borrowman is certainly of the right quality, I understand that he is committed to a career in the professional ranks for 2015 and even if he had been available, he was the only one of the top 16 Scots in the World Amateur Golf Rankings who was.

4. We as a nation have an incredible propensity towards seeing the negative in everything that we look at.
 
5. Richie Ramsay has been the last Scottish amateur who made it all the way to the main tour.

6 Some see this as a reason to criticise our governing body and therefore, our own country, our future development, our own folk.

7 We have some fantastic talent in this country, some of whom, teenagers, I believe are hugely exciting prospects.
 
8. Scotland golfers' record in amateur golf last year was phenomenal. You do the maths. Look at the events, the finishes, the wins, the diversity of winners and tell me any nation in the whole of Europe that beat us?

9 Messrs Neil (Bradley), Forrest, Savage, Borrowman, McDonald and Robertson brought home major international wins last year, with many other high finishes including play-offs.

Yet some has-beens and never-will-be-ever decide it’s open season to criticise our own country?

Pathetic.
Graeme Leslie

FROM GLEN McALPINE

Regardless of the date of The Nations Cup, the SGU would have known well in advance and should have been able to make arrangements to send a team to defend the title. 
At any level of golf or any other sport a title should be defended. Its been the case for several years now that something must be wrong in the selection process and a wider range of players should be considered. 
Why do we now find that Scotland is lacking on the professional tours in Europe? Is this down to the SGU selection process, maybe, maybe not? With golfing numbers in decline surely any kind of positive publicity for Scottish golfers at The Nations Cup should be encouraged.
I'm sure if a Scotland team had been selected from outwith the 'performance programme players' they would have been delighted and risen to the occasion of representing their country. 
There are several players who have had multiple wins at club level, county level, district level and national level - and they have never been considered for selection, which is very sad. 
These players are the ones who will be out practising in all weathers during the winter months in between working and studying and should be considered in future along with all the others who are treated to the winter training programs!
Glen McAlpine

  

CAN BEN LUMSDEN CATCH HAMISH McNAUGHTON 

OVER LAST FEW WEEKS OF N.E. ALLIANCE?

No change in the top five placings of the North-east Golfers' Alliance Handicap Class 2 Order of Merit points table, sponsored by teaching pro Willie McKenzie's WLM Golf company, writes Colin Farquharson.
Willie will give a £50 voucher to the winners of Class 1 and Class 2 at the end of the Order of Merit counting tournaments, i.e. the second round of the Alliance championship at Craibstone on March 18.
The final event of the Alliance season, at Newburgh on March 25, is a non-counter for Order of Merit points.

Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay), the long-time leader, is still occupying the No 1 position with 1650pt.
Second-placed Ben Lumsden (Northern) is on 1350. Can he make up the difference over the last few weeks of the season? Watch this space.
Nigel K Parker, pictured below, is the big climber of the top 10 this week.  The

Murcar Links member has gone up from No 9 to No 6 on 725pt.
Thanks again to Royal Aberdeen GC Senior Assistant Professional Joel Hopwood for devising the Order of Merit scheme and for updating the points tallies after every week's competition.



                                                                      POSITION AFTER     POSITION AFTER    
                                                           POINTS      MURCAR           SPEY BAY
                                                           TOTAL                          
1    HAMISH McNAUGHTON            1650                 1                         1          0 (no change)
2    BEN LUMSDEN                            1350                  2                         2         0
3    GRAHAM ALLAN                        1125                  3                         3        0
4    DEREK CRAIGIE                           850                   4                         4        0
5    LES ROGER                                    775                   5                         5        0
6    NIGEL PARKER                             725                    9                        6        3   (up 3 places)
7    MIKE  SMITH                                 650                     6                        7        -1  (down 1 place)
8    GRAHAM MACKIE                       625                     7                        8        -1
9    STEVEN DILLON                          575                      8                       9        -1
10    MIKE WINTON                           550                      9                       10        -1
11    ALAN BENTON                          500                     11                       11        0
11    L.DUNCAN                                  500                    11                        11        0
13    GARY HOMER                           450    13    13        0
14    PETER WALKER                       400    14    14        0
15    G.LESLIE                                   350    15    15        0
16    JOHN SUNLEY                          300    21    16        5
16    R.BROWN                                 300    36    16        20
18    NEISH CHISHOLM                   250    35    18        17
18    CHARLIE TAWSE                     250    16    18        -2
18    DON LAWRIE                           250    17    18        -1
21    WILLIE SKENE                         225    18    21        -3
21    JOHN JESSIMAN                      225    18    21        -3
21    DEREK TOWNSLEY               225    18    21        -3
24    DICK WRIGHT                        200    21    24        -3
24    PAUL CORNFIELD                 200    21    24        -3
26    MANSON MERCHANT          175    24    26        -2
26    STUART MELVIN                    175    24    26        -2
28    ROBBIE DUNCAN                  150    30    28        2
28    J.HOSIE                                    150    26    28        -2
28    J.MURRAY                               150    26    28        -2
31    JOHN SMITH                           125    28    31        -3
31    GRAHAM THOM                     125    28    31        -3
33    ALISTAIR CLARK                   100    30    33        -3
33    GRAHAM MOIR                      100    30    33        -3
33    MIKE BROWN                        100    30    33        -3
33    SANDY DAVIDSON               100    30    33        -3
37    PETER LOW                            50    36    37        -1

+Points awarded to top five Class 2 net returns every week
250 for 1st, 200 for 2nd, 150 for 3rd, 100 for 4th, 50 for 5th.

GUNN GETS ACE - PITY ABOUT THE DOUBLE BOGEY 

AS HE FINISHES T5 AND EARNS $3,700 IN CALIFORNIA

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn, now based in Scottsdale, Arizona, achieved the third hole in one of his golfing career as he finished tied fifth in the latest Egolf Gateway Tour event at Rustic Canyon Golf Club, Moorpark in California.

Jimmy had rounds of 70, 66 and 69 for a total of 11-under-par 205, earning $3,700 but nothing extra for the hole in one!
Gunn might just about have won the $14,000 first prize had he not run up one double bogey and three bogeys in his final round, which wiped out the two eagles.
He finished only four shots behind the winner, American Scott Harrington, with 67, 68 and 66 for 201 - a shot ahead of runner-up, fellow-American Kyle Souza (71-65-66) who earned $7,400.