Tuesday, March 24, 2015

JOHN DUFF NEEDS SPONSORS FAST TO 

MEET PGA EUROPRO TOUR COSTS  

John Duff, the Newmachar Golf Club amateur who was the dominant player on the 2014-2015 North-east Golfers' Alliance circuit, is heading for Stage 1 of the PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School at the end of the month, writes Colin Farquharson.


"I have entered it as an amateur with a view to turning pro after that, provided I get enough playing privileges. I feel I would need enough to have access to enough events to be able to keep playing at a good standard," says John who recently won the  NE Alliance 36-hole championship and its Scratch Order of Merit as he won five times in weekly competitions against opposition which often contained strong professional opposition.
Before Duff, who was born and bred in Inverurie and is also a member at Kintore, sets off to tackle Stage 1 of the EuroPro Tour School at Slaley Hall in the north-east of England, he will be having a guidance meeting with Paul Lawrie.
"John's coming in to speak to Paul ahead of the EuroPro Tour School," confirmed Michael MacDougall, manager of the Paul Lawrie Foundation.
"He's asked for some advice, which Paul is happy to provide when they sit down later this week.
"In terms of funding, we currently support 11 other professionals for the 2015 season and have allocated our budget for this activity already. Unfortunately we cannot support everyone we'd like to."
So Duff really needs one big sponsor or a group of smaller ones to help him meet the costs of competing on the EuroPro Tour, which are considerable.

And John knows that he faces an uphill struggle to get sponsors on board, particularly with the downturn in the oil industry and the cutbacks in expenditure by the smaller firms who might have helped Duff otherwise.
John says frankly: "Because I had to wait until now before I had enough funding to be able to go to Qualifying School, what support might have been available has already been allocated.
"Being new to all this, it is difficult knowing whom to approach and how best to go about it. I will not approach anyone else until after qualifying when I will be in a better position to be able to answer any queries they may have."
If you can help John Duff or know somebody who can, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com and I will pass on the information to him.
There will be 15 three-round events on its 2015 schedule which begins in mid-May at Celtic Manor  and runs through to September at Princes, Kent.
Total prize fund is £800,000 with each event worth £50,000, up £10,000 from last year when the first prize was £10,000 per competition.
Apart from the money, there is a big incentive to finish in the tour's top five at the end of the season and gain automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour.
Four of the 15 venues are in Scotland including one at Newmachar, sponsored by the Paul Lawrie Foundation, from June 24 to 26.
A week later (June 30-July 2) the EuroPro Tour moves down to Montrose Links, followed by Mar Hall, Bishopton, to the west of Glasgow, from July 15 to 17, and finally at The Carrick on Loch Lomond from August 5 to 7.
Membership of the PGA EuroPro Tour is mandatory for all Q School entrants and costs £250. Then it's an entry fee of £195 for the Q School and  £295 entry fee for each event if pass marks are gained. On top of that, John will have to meet his travel and accommodation costs.
Duff is grateful to Kintore Golf Club for its support when he was a junior and also the support and encouragement from Newmachar Golf Club "which has been a great help in getting me to this point in my career," says John.
Duff will have the company of Philip McLean and Jordan Findlay from the PLF stable at Stage 1 of the EuroPro Tour Q School. Craig Lawrie goes straight through to the Final Stage at Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire from April 8 to 10.
 


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Updated North-east Alliance tee times for Ellon tomorrow

+Last fixture of 2014-2015 season
 
8-15 C. Cassie B. Harper G. Leslie
8-23 G. Esson A. Smith B. Masson
8-31 S. Mackie B. Nicolson J. Nicholson
8-39 J. Hopwood, Keil Beveridge, Kimberley Beveridge
8-47 M. Rendall B. Robson L. Roger
8-55 H. Roulston J. Hamilton D. Mackay


9-03 S. Davidson M. Brown G. Homer
9-11 A. Benton R. Brown S. Dillon
9-19 K. Zeynalov S. Kiloh C. Lawrie
9-27 J. Duff M. Smith M. Forster
9-35 K. McGillivary,  L Duncan, W. Beattie
9-43 C. Nelson J. Forrest N. Stewart
9-51 J. Scott, S. Shand, R. McConnachie
9-59 A. Gall L. Vannet I. Clark


10-07 D. Craigie C. Grant B. Fyfe
10-15 D. Fleming J. Emslie L. Fowler
10-23 D. Wright B. Lumsden T. Robertson
10-31 G. Patterson (guest), W. Shaw
10-39 D. Fanthorp D. Leslie
10-47 M. Duncan M. Rogers H. McNaughton
10-55 D. Townsley N. Forster J. Sunley


11-03 K. Nicol J. Findlay S. Murray
11-11 D. Bisset F. Bisset J. Murray
11-19 S. Allison R. Davidson S. Finnie
11-27 J. Jessiman I. Grant D. Mckay
11-35 D. Nelson S Macneil A. Graham
11-43 G. Milne J. Duncan N. Chisholm
11-51 W. Skene D. Lane, G. Thom
11-59 J. Borthwick, P. Low, N K Parker


12-07 I. Taylor N. Macandrew S. Griffiths
12-15 K Shanks D. Law K. Duncan A. Dunton

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Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance championship


Tee Times WEDNESDAY
Gullane No.2 Gullane No.3
08:00 12:40 John Denham (Torwoodlee)
Neil Bain (Duddingston)
Philip Leggate (Musselburgh)
08:08 12:48 Kieran Cooney (Kingsfield Golf)
Liam Allison (Bathgate)
Ian Taylor (Eyemouth)
08:16 12:56 Mark Kerr (Dalmahoy)
Norman Huguet (Musselburgh)
Daniel Airens (Falkirk Tryst)
08:24 13:04 William Laing (Prestonfield)
Kevin Murphy (Gifford)
Steve Dand (Pumpherston)
08:32 13:12 David Meldrum (Uphall)
Graham MacKay (Melville Golf)
Paul Porteous (Uphall)
08:40 13:20 George Wither (Duddingston)
David Brydon (Torwoodlee)
Joshua Lamb (Peebles)
08:48 13:28 David Nicolson (Craigielaw)
Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links)
Keir McNicoll (Gullane)
08:56 13:36 James Dick (Duddingston)
Lloyd Saltman (Archerfield Links)
Martin Rennie (Uphall)
09:04 13:44 Anthony Blaney (Liberton)
Scott Grieve (Turnhouse)
Neil Henderson (Renaissance Club)
09:12 13:52 Louis Gauhan (Bathgate)
Jamie Fraser (Renaissance Club)
Ryan Buckley (Royal Musselbgh)
12:40 08:00 Thomas Cordery (Musselburgh)
Calum Smith (Royal Musselburgh)
Ewan Robertson (Longniddry)
12:48 08:08 Cameron Marr (Musselburgh)
Steven Lees (Dalmahoy)
Stuart Callan (Bathgate)
12:56 08:16 Robin Cockburn (Harburn)
Steven Doyle (Liberton)
Donny Munro (Kingsknowe)
13:04 08:24 Graham Hillan (Strathaven)
Gordon Law (Uphall)
Steven Dunsmore (Falkirk Tryst)
13:12 08:32 Daniel Wood (The Hirsel)
Duncan J Stewart (Turnhouse)
Paul Bradbury (Kingsknowe)
13:20 08:40 Ian Fyfe (Musselburgh)
Michael Louden (Glencorse)
Sandy Strachan (Deer Park)
13:28 08:48 Zander Culverwell (Dunbar)
Tony Boyle (Glenbervie)
Andrew Rothney (Deer Park)
13:36 08:56 Malcolm Pennycott (Ryl Burgess)
Nathan Free (Longniddry)
Ross Neill (Drumpellier)
13:44 09:04 Andrew Marshall (Houston G R)
Colin Fraser (Peebles)
Andrew Erskine (Ratho Park)
13:52 09:12 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh G C)
Ross Munro (Duddingston)
Chris Morris (Kingsknowe)



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SCOTLAND'S MERCHISTON CASTLE BOYS FINISH 

SECOND IN ISGA HOME INTERNATIONALS 

NEWS RELEASE

Scotland, represented by Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, finished runners-up to England's Whitgift School, Croydon (Toby Kemp, Harvey Byers, George Mullins and Alfie Fox) in the Independent Schools Golf Association Home Internationals at St Pierre Golf Club, Chepstow and the Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club, Wales.
In the duel for second place Ireland (Campbell College), who had the lowest team second-round total,  just failed to catch defending champions Scotland - Loretto won the title last year - over the second day's play and finished third, one shot behind the Merchiston Castle quartet. Hosts Wales (Monmouth) fourth.
Scoring was high in the first round with the "bumpy" St Pierre greens being blamed by the competitors for their failure to hole putts
All the teams certainly improved their aggregates on Day 2 at the Rolls of Monmouth
Ireland's Karl Eccles had the lowest individual total of 148 with rounds of 77 and 71.
FINAL TOTALS
Teams' best three  scores per round counted for team total.
1 - 458 England 234 224 (152 A Fox 73 79, 153 H Byers 80 73, 156 T Kemp 81 75, 158 G Mullins 82 76).

2 - 471 Scotland 242 229 (154 A Roberts 77 77, 156 A White 81 75, 166 M White 89 77, 170 A Meunker 84 86)

3 - 472 Ireland 250 222 (148 K Eccles 77 71, 157 C Mills 85 72, 171 P Rolston 92 79, 174 C Hill 88 86).

4 - 502 Wales 260 242 (159 G Burnett 84 75, 169 H Southall 88 81, 180 B Wellington 94 86, 181 J Dargie 88 93).


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DF Communications Aberdeen Business 

Golf League entry deadline tomorrow

NEWS RELEASE
Places are still available for the DF Communications Aberdeem Business Golf League where money raised will go to charity.
Golf-loving colleagues have until Wednesday, March 25 to book their place in the long-running competition, with matches due to take place at courses across the North-east from April.
DF Communications, an award-winning mobile phone and communications specialist to small, medium and large businesses, is sponsoring and organising the league for a fourth consecutive year.
Craig Forsyth, sales director at Aberdeen-based DF Communications, said: “We’ve been delighted with the response from teams keen to enter the competition. More than 30 companies from across the north-east of Scotland have already signed up for this year’s event, which promises to be even bigger and better.
“This is now our fourth year organising the league and in that time it has proven to be extremely popular with players, as well as providing a terrific opportunity to network with colleagues and other business people outside the office.”
The Business Golf League is played in a four-ball format with five or six teams in each division, while matches take place between April and August. The winners and runners-up of each division then qualify for the finals to be held at a top Scottish course in September.
Each year the winning team nominates a charity to benefit from funds raised during the subsequent year’s event. The 2014 champions, Greg Davidson and Mike Halliday of Fugro, will select the cause to benefit from the 2015 competition.
Teams of between two and four named players can enter at a cost of £159 plus VAT. Any businesses interested in taking part in the 2015 DF Communications Business Golf League should contact Craig Forsyth or Iain Powell at golf@dfcommunications.com or call 01224 588844.
For further information on the league, which has been running for more than 15 years, please visit the dedicated website http://www.golf.dfcommunications.com

 
Graeme Forbes

Senior Account Executive
Engage PR
Tel: 01224 914070
Engage PR, 6 Queen’s Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1XL

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LEE SUTHERLAND, BACK FROM HOLIDAY, UPDATES

YOU ON MIDLAND GOLFERS' ALLIANCE RESULTS

Amateur Birrell leads the way at Monifieth





The Midland Golfers Alliance held the Willie Miller Team Competition at Monifieth Links over the Medal course recently. Two-handicapper Stuart Birrell (Leven Thistle) won the scratch prize with a one under par score of 70. 
Steve Blady (Monifieth) won the handicap score, returning a net 70 off four. 
Winners of the team competition were Harry Salmond (Alloa),  Mike Quinn (Tulliallan) and Jim Irwin (Muckhart) with a score of 62.

Leading Scratch Scores

70        S. Birrell            Leven Thistle, 2
71        P. Jamieson      P, Dunblane New
72        G. Tough           Edzell, +2
            S. McKendrick   Dunkeld & Birnam Scr
            C. Armstrong     AP, Burntisland
73        K. Bruce            Edzell, 2
74        S. Blady                        Monifieth, 4
            M. Mackenzie    AP, Edzell
            N. Dyce                        Strathmore, 1
75        B. Stewart         Tulliallan, 1
            F. Mann            P, Carnoustie
            R. Tinker           AP, Piper Dam
Leading Handicap Scores

68        S. Birrell            Leven Thistle, 2
70        S. Blady                        Monifieth, 4
71        M. Niven           Alloa, 8
            K. Bruce            Edzell, 2
            A. Black                        Tulliallan, 14
72        D. Wilson          Monifieth, 5
            S. McKendrick   Dunkeld & Birnam Scr
73        A. Didcock        Alloa, 10
            D. Hutchison     Murrayshall, 7
            A. Mason          Thornton, 9
            K. Mackenzie     Crieff, 6
            R. Brownhill       Edzell, 7
            N. Dyce                        Strathmore, 1
 
Leading Team Scores
62           H. Salmond       Alloa, 6
            M. Quinn           Tulliallan, 9
            J. Irwin              Muckhart, 8
64bih    P. Jamieson            P, Dunblane New
            M. Penny          AP, Montrose
            M. Mackenzie    AP, Edzell
64bl6    S. Graham         Arbroath, +1
            E. Rae              Arbroath, 5
            N. Dyce                        Strathmore, 1

Qualifiers for the JTC Championship at Lundin Links
P. Jamieson      P, Dunblane New
A. McDonald     Dunnikier Park, Scr
D. Wilson          Monifieth, 5
Qualifier for the McQueen Shield
S. Birrell            Leven Thistle, 2

Graeme Brown wins at Brechin with a 67
The Midland Golfers Alliance held a meeting at Brechin Golf Club in Angus last week. Winner of the scratch prize was Graeme Brown (AP, Montrose) with a 2 under par score of 67. First place in the handicap went to Scott Graham (Arbroath, +1) with a net score of 69.

Leading Scratch Scores
67        G. Brown           AP, Montrose
68        S. Graham         Arbroath, +1
70        G. Tough           Edzell, +2
            S. McKendrick   Dunkeld & Birnam Scr
71        A. Webster        P, Edzell
            F. Mann            P, Carnoustie
72        W. Hutton          Pitlochry, 2
73        R. Tinker           AP, Piper Dam
            P. Jamieson      P, Dunblane New
            N. Dyce                        Strathmore, 1
Leading Handicap Scores

69        S. Graham         Arbroath, +1
70        W. Hutton          Pitlochry, 2
            S. McKendrick   Dunkeld & Birnam Scr
71        D. Redford        Murrayshall, 11
            R. Brownhill       Edzell, 7
72        G. Tough           Edzell, +2
            S. Taylor           Stirling, 12
            A. Black                        Tulliallan, 14
            N. Dyce                        Strathmore, 1
73        R. Baldie           Crieff, 7


Qualifiers for the JTC Championship at Lundin Links
S. Graham        Arbroath, +1
E. Rae                          Arbroath, 5
R. Brownhill       Edzell, 7
Qualifier for the McQueen Shield
S. Graham        Arbroath, +1


Next Meeting
Wednesday 25th March:
BURNTISLAND PRO AM
Sponsored by E. Sherry
Tee reserved: 8.30-12.30


Lee Sutherland

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American FootGolf League gets seal of approval from

 golf course owners' group

By John Strege, Golf Digest

Golf purists might object, but FootGolf, the relatively new hybrid soccer/golf sport, is here to stay and is growing to the extent that it has received what is tantamount to a seal of approval from the National Golf Course Owners Association of America. AFGL.jpg
Last week, the NGCOA announced that it has recognized the American FootGolf League as the governing body for the sport of FootGolf in U.S.
“Some people think we’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid or doing something strange,” Mike Tinkey, deputy CEO of the NGCOA, said.
“But what we’ve found since 2013 is that FootGolf has grown virally in our membership. It’s bringing in new customers, a lot of millennials, families and women, and they’re spending money. And their ancillary spend is very strong. It’s sort of energized a lot of facilities.”
The American FootGolf League was officially recognized, Tinkey said, for its history — it introduced the sport in the U.S. - and for “its support for owners,” Tinkey said. “We felt its heart in the right place and it provides tools to help owners understand it.”
It was welcome news at the American FootGolf League, obviously. “Our relationship with the NGCOA further validates the sport of FootGolf and the role of the AFGL in growing it in the United States,” Roberto Balestrini, founder of the league, said in a news release.
 “We’ve got great relationships with many of the leading golf course operators already and look forward to continuing to expand and introduce FootGolf to new golf facilities in 2015.”
The entry cost for FootGolf is relatively low, Tinkey said, “from under $3,000 to $5,000. And it’s bringing in tens of thousands of dollars up to a hundred-thousand dollars in one case at an 18-hole facility.”
There are two types of owners — those who would like to see the FootGolf players segue into golf and those who don’t care.
“I think in the main we’re interested in studying, as an association, whether there is a crossover to some form of traditional golf. I think we’ll be looking at that.”
Haggin Oaks in Sacramento is among those courses that have embraced FootGolf, as reported here.

+Footgolf is, as it sounds, golf played with the feet and footballs, not golf balls.  Courses have separate tees and separate greens with holes big enough to accommodate the size of a football. It might catch on in Europe ... remember where you heard about it first - THE EDITOR

PS: Don't scoff at our neighbours across the Atlantic. Remember they converted our playgound game of Rounders into a national sport called Baseball and our rugby into American grid-iron football.

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Copyright © Colin Farquharson

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