Scottish boys championship Day 2 report from Dunbar

Chip off the old block Michael Lawrie impresses his Dad with 6 and 4 win

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
Report by ED HODGE
A day after securing his first-ever hole-in-one at nearby Gullane, Michael Lawrie continued his East Lothian form to ‘crush’ his opponent and march into round two of the Scottish Boys Championship.
On a breezy day at Dunbar, pleasantly without the fog that forced a four-hour delay on day one, Lawrie, 16, handled the conditions well to see off Andrew Crusher from Eastwood 6 and 4.

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Playing in his fourth Scottish Boys Championship, he was again supported by his famous father, Paul, the 1999 Open champion and two-time Ryder Cup player, who looked on impressed.
At Gullane on Monday, Michael (pictured top by Kenny Smith) warmed up for his week in practice with the first ace of his golfing career at the 13^th hole on the No 1 Course.
Given his previous best in the Scottish boys championship is to reach the third round, he is eager to maintain his form to go as far as he can over the renowned Dunbar links.

“The wind was tough to deal with, but I feel like I’m playing well,” said the one-handicapper. “It was great to get my first hole-in-one at Gullane, it felt great, and hopefully I can keep my play going here at Dunbar. I’d love to go as far as I possibly can, but I’m just taking every round as it comes.”
Lawrie Senior is impressed with the way his younger son is playing, but doesn’t want to put too much pressure on him in the knockout format.
“He has matured hugely in the last year, got bigger and stronger and is hitting it lovely,” said Paul, who is planning to tee up in next week’s China Open.
Richie Ramsay, who recently secured his third win on the European Tour, was also present at Dunbar, having played the venue back in 2000 at the Scottish Boys. Along with Lawrie, the pair are sure to have inspired the emerging young talent and enjoyed signing autographs.
Lawrie was far from the only big winner on a day when organisers did well to catch up after Monday’s delay. Anglo Scot Gregor Tait progressed with an 8 and 7 win over John Cowan (Pitlochry), while Matthew Dalrymple of Lochwinnoch impressed too in his 8 and 6 success against Ronan Johnston from Haggs Castle.
Dalrymple is targeting a place in the last eight at least and has memories of a coaching clinic with Sir Nick Faldo to call upon.
Having won the Faldo Series event at Panmure last year, the 16-year-old played in the World Series Final at the Greenbrier at West Virginia in October. “Faldo was there and gave us a group coaching session, it was fantastic.”
Meantime, Sandy Scott (Nairn) and Joseph Bryce (Bathgate) will rematch in round two, with the Lothians player out for revenge having lost in their opening round duel at West Kilbride last year.
Bryce, a member of last year’s Boys’ Home Internationals team, said: “It’s my last Scottish Boys and I’ve never been past the first round before, so this week is already going well! It will be a good match against Sandy.”
However, Nairn’s Scott, who represented Scotland against England and in the Under-16 Quads last year, is in confident mood.
“It’s tough at Dunbar in the wind, especially on the back nine, but it’s a great challenge. My ambition is to win this week, but it’s a long week so it’s all about handling your nutrition and tiredness.”
Another player from the north, Ferghus Milne, a five handicap from Banchory, made a heroic bid to compete. The 16-year-old broke his leg five weeks ago playing football in the school gym and has been in plaster and on crutches up until a matter of days ago. But after five holes of his first-round tie against Kyle Reid from Balmore he was forced to withdraw.
Late in the day on Tuesday, there was a victory for another Lothians player, Marriott Dalmahoy’s Murray Naysmith, the second seed. Naysmith saw off Cameron McArthur (Newmachar) by 7 and 6.
“I was six up after seven holes so it was great to get off to a fast start,” said Naysmith. “My strategy this week is to hit fairways and greens and try and make my opponent make mistakes.”
Of the late second round matches, Calum Fyfe, the top seed, from Cawder, came through after a battling 2&1 win over Christophe Finnie from Lockerbie. However, much-fancied Duncan McNeill (Powfoot) exited soon after, losing 4&2 to Royal Aberdeen’s Fintan McKenna.

Maria Tulley's luck changes at Montrose - first 

win as a pro

Maria Tulley from Eastbourne Downs made the long haul up to Scotland a trip to remember for the rest of her golfing life when she chalked up her first victory as a professional in the fog-curtailed Ladies Tartan Tour competiton at Montrose Links, writes Colin Farquharson.
She finished joint ninth last week in the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ladies Open at Murcar Links and now she has headed a field of 29 with a par-matching 71 at the Angus venue.
"My luck is changing at last," said Maria whose rookie season last year was plagued by injuries and illness ... she was laid low by food poisoning in Turkey, hurt her back in a LETAS tournament and then suffered a crick in her neck which ruled her out of a Morocco event.
Tulley won the PGA in Scotland women's pro event top prize of £1,575 with birdies at the fourth and sixth, limiting her number of bogeys to two - at the first and the 15th in halves of 35-36.
Montrose Links, one of the oldest lay-outs in Scotland, can be a tough test, especially for erratic hitters who cannot stay out of the fairway-bordering whins at several holes but Maria hit it straight and true all the way.
Would she still have won if fog had not forced the cancellation of Monday's first round? That's a matter of conjecture but Maria herself has no doubt about the answer ... she is looking forward already to the next Ladies Tartan Tour event, at Deer Park Golf Club, Livingston on June 2 and 3.
Three players tied for second place, a stroke behind the winner on 72 - Jane Turner (West Linton), Lucy Goddard (Hanbury Manor) and Falkirk-based California-based American Beth Allen. They each earned £400.
Of the three Lucy has the most cause to look back in anger or regret that she let a first pro win slip out of her grasp.
After an eagle 2 at the fifth and birdies at the ninth, 13th and 15th, Goddard was at the head of the leaderboard but she bogeyed the short 16th, then had a double bogey 6 at the 17th ... three shots dropped over two holes, and she only lost out by one.
Ellon's Michele Thomson, the winner at Murcar Links last week, tied for fifth place with a 73 and earned £109, in comparison to the £2,000+ in the Paul Lawrie GC tournament. Michele birdied the fourth - and did not have another one as she covered the rest of her holes in three over par with bogeys at the 10th, 11th and 15th.
*Picture shows Maria Tulley receiving her cheque from Andy Boyd, chairman of the Montrose Links Trust, who made the presentation on behalf of the organising sponsors, the PGA in Scotland.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 71
71 Maria Tulley (Eastbourne Downs) 35-36 (£1,575)
72 Jane Turner (West Linton) 38-34, Lucy Goddard (Hanbury Manor) 34-38, Beth Allen (Falkirk) 36-36 (£400 each)
73 Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie GC) 37-36, Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 35-38, Heather MacRae (Gleneagles)
38-35, Michele Thomson (unatt) 35-38 (£109 each)
74 Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 37-37, Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 36-38 (£52 each)
75 Chloe Rogers (Celtic Manor) 36-39
76 Kelsey MacDonald (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 38-38, Rachel Drummond (Buckinghamshire) 39-37, Becky
Brewerton  (Wiltshire) 37-39
77 Gillian Paton (Royal Montrose) (am) 37-40, Nastja Banovec (Abertay-Dundee Univ) 38-39, Tracy Boyes (Corhampton) 40-37
78 Laura Harvey (Darlington) 39-39, Gemma Webster (Succession Group) 41-37
79 Gabriella Cowley (Hanbury Manor) 39-40, Sarah Attwood (Gog Magog) 40-39 Ailsa Bain (Gullane) 38-41
80 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 40-40, Jorden Ferrie (Hilton Park) 40-40
83 Kirstin Scott (Gleneagles) 38-45, Nichola Ferguson (American Golf) 41-42. Jamie-Lee Casling (Brickhampton Court) 43-40
84 Keely Chiericato (Manston) 41-43, Jenny Potter (Cawder) 41-43
ends

Clackmanan home win against Angus

Perth and Kinross are the only team left with a 100 per cent forward after two matches of the Provan Salver golf tournament.

Angus, who drew their opening match, were beaten 4 1/2-3 1/2 by Clackmannan at Tulliallan (match played Sunday)

Details:

CLACKMANNAN 4 1/2, ANGUS 3 1/2

Chris Hucheon lost to Steve Horne 1 hole.

Scott Grant bt Darren Hulston 6 and 5.

Duncan Cairnie lost to Jamie Aitken 1 hole.

Calum MacKay halved with John Maxwell

Campbell Donaldson lost to Steve McIvor 3 and 2

Steve Cargill bt Gary Chalmers 2 holes

Gordon Smith bt David Milloy 3 and 2.

Danny Elder lost to John McLaren 1 hole.

Jane Tough appointed Managing Secretary of 

Edzell G C with Carol Webster as her assistant

NEWS RELEASE

Edzell Golf Club begins the new golf season with a new management team this week.

Andrew Turnbull, who has been in the role of Managing Secretary for just over three years, is standing down to pursue other interests back in Higher Education. 

Jane Tough, former Assistant Secretary, took on the mantle of Managing Secretary, with effect from April 1.  In addition to her experience in the Club office, Jane is also a highly accomplished player and passionate member, with nine Edzell Ladies club championship titles to her name.

Jane said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Managing Secretary at Edzell Golf Club. We have lots of exciting plans for the year ahead and I look forward to serving the membership in my new job.”

Carol Webster, wife of Club Professional Alastair, will support Jane in her new role as Assistant Secretary.

In further changes, David Speed takes on the Club Captaincy from the incumbent of the past two years, Ron Caithness, following the Club’s AGM at the end of March.  Former Club Secretary, Ian Farquhar, is returning to take on the Vice-Captain's badge of office.  David Johnston and Nick Yates are newly elected to the committee and Trevor Spry replaces David Speed in the Match & Handicap Secretary's position.

Members and visitors alike are encouraged to follow Edzell Golf Club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/edzellgolfclub), where the latest news and special promotions are announced daily.

For enquiries, please contact: 01356 647283 or secretary@edzellgolfclub.com

I'm fit and ready to play, says Tiger Woods

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM

Tiger Woods has declared himself fit and ready to compete for a fifth Masters title after completing 11 holes of practice at Augusta National on Monday.

Woods has started just two events in 2015, shooting a career-worst score of 82 to miss the cut in the Waste Management Phoenix Open and withdrawing through injury after just 11 holes of the Farmers Insurance Open on February 5.
That led to the 14-time major winner taking a break from competition to work on his game, during which time he dropped outside the world's top 100 for the first time since September 1996, a slide which continued on Monday as he fell from 104th to 111th.

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and the last of his four Masters wins was a decade ago, with the 39-year-old only confirming on Friday that he would compete at Augusta.
However, after showing no sign of the chipping "yips" which blighted his performance in Phoenix on the range, Woods produced some vintage shots as he completed the front nine alongside long-time friend Mark O'Meara before playing the 10th and 18th alone.
"I felt good. It was nice to get out here," said Woods, who was two under after four holes despite a wayward drive on the first and three-putting the par-five second for a par.

The Masters - Live

April 9, 2015, 7:00pm

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 Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay are expected to be among the galleries at the second day's play at Dunbar

Summary of first day's play in Scottish boys championship

Top seed Calum Fyfe quickly shows winning 

form after the fog lifts at Dunbar
 FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
 Summary by Ed Hodge
A four-hour fog delay halted proceedings on the opening morning of the Scottish Boys Championship at Dunbar, but top seed Calum Fyfe soon wasted little time in booking his spot in the second round.
With the last two stagings of the event going to form – won by Bradley Neil, making his dream Augusta debut this week, and Ewen Ferguson – Fyfe is seeking to do likewise this week in East Lothian.

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The 17-year-old won the Scottish Hydro Boys’ Order of Merit last season and impressed in South Africa on the SGU’s winter performance programme.

Despite the weather delay, with the fog clearing in the afternoon to offer wonderful sunshine over the renowned links, Fyfe soon found his form to ease into round two, beating Bobby Willan (Machrihanish) 5 and 3. In his last Scottish Boys Championship, he is seeking to go out on a high.
“I was up at 5.30am for my 7.25am start but obviously then had to hang around until we got started,” said the Cawder player, the lowest handicapper in the field off +3.4. 
“I then found a bunker with my drive on the first and lost the hole, before the fog came in again and we had to wait on the second tee for 30 minutes.
“I had to find my rhythm quickly and thankfully managed to do that. I’m just trying to play my own game this week and hopefully that is good enough to win.”
It was just before 2pm when the first match of the day was completed, but 65 of the scheduled 74 ties did start, with the SGU Events staff hopeful of catching up on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Of the matches that did finish, local lad Brodie Good (Gullane) progressed, as did Inverallochy’s Marc Watt, fresh from helping Scotland win the Under-16 Quads at nearby Archerfield Links.
Watt, who reeled off the first five holes in his 7 and 5 victory over Pumpherston’s Paul Adamson, is seeking to follow in the spike marks of Steven Young, the Inverallochy player who secured a hat-trick of Scottish Boys wins from 1993 and won at Dunbar a year later.
The 15-year-old, a Paul Lawrie North East matchplay champion, said: “I’m still young, so I’m just trying to get as far as I can. Calum Fyfe and Murray Naysmith are the players to beat, I think.”
Marriott Dalmahoy’s Naysmith begins his bid today, while scratch player Darren Howie from Peebles could also be one to watch.
Another 15-year-old, the Borderer is the younger brother of Craig, the 2012 Scottish Boys champion at Murcar, and he is keen to make his own name.
“Craig has given me a lot of advice on how to do as well as I can here,” said Darren, a 6 and 5 winner against Crow Wood’s Sean Barnes, and continuing the form he also showed in Quads action over the weekend.  “I got to the third round last year so we’ll see how we go.”
Haggs Castle’s Aidan Husenne clinched the winning point for the Under-16 Scots to win the Quads against Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands over the weekend at Archerfield, but he made an early exit at Dunbar after losing at the 22^nd to Angus Frood of Ranfurly Castle.
Late in the day, there was a 6 and 5 win for Duff House Royal’s Callum Bruce. The 16-year-old, coached by Andrew Locke, eased past Cameron Black (Royal Aberdeen) as he seeks to better his fourth-round effort from 2014.
Bruce was helped by some wayward play from Black on the par-3 3rd hole, after he pulled his tee shot left and the ball eventually found its way into the car park near the beach.