Greig Hutcheon wins PLF Pro Series No 3   with a one-under 70 at Murcar Links

FROM MICHAEL MacDOUGALL

Paul Lawrie Foundation Manager

Conditions were benign for the Paul Lawrie Foundation Pro Series No 3 event as the guys teed off mid-morning at Murcar Links with beautiful sunshine and little wind.  

The course, which will host the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay in late July, has undergone some changes (notably at the Par-3 5th, the 12th and also the Par-5 14th) and was in very good condition so early in the season.
The temperature dropped and the wind picked-up on the back nine, making scoring trickier over the closing holes.
Michael Lawrie, Sam Locke and Adam Fisher are all part of the Foundation's elite programme and it was more good experience for them to play alongside experienced professional players.  

Michael Lawrie, a quarter-finalist in the recent Scottish boys' championship, played very nicely in the group with Paul (his father) and Greig Hutcheon, whilst Sam Locke and Adam Fisher joined David Law.

Tartan Tour supremo Greig Hutcheon won the £400 top prize with a one-under-par round of 70.Michael Lawrie finished ahead of his dad with a par 71 and earned the amateur voucher.

Paul Lawrie finished thired with a 72

 SCOREBOARD
 Par 71
70 Greig Hutcheon (£400)
71 Michael Lawrie (am) (voucher)
72 Paul Lawrie (£200)
73 John Duff (£100)
74 Gary Forbes
75 Craig Lawrie, Greg McBain
76 Malcolm Isaacs
79 Sam Locke (am)
80 David Law
81 Kris Nicol
82 Adam Fisher (am) 
+Picture note: Greg McBain could not stay for the picture session. He had to dash away to keep an appointment.

Calum Fyfe leading Scot in joint 10th place at Copt Heath

 Penge pulverises Paul McEvoy Trophy opposition


By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Marco Penge (Goodwood), pictured, blew away the opposition with a final round of five-under-par 66 to win the Peter McEvoy Trophy boys' tournament by eight strokes at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in the West Midlands today.
Penge, who started his victory campaign with an impressive 65 on Wednesday, led from wire to wire with subsequent rounds of 71, 70 and then that 66 for a professional class 12-under-par total of 272 over the par-71 course.
Runner-up was the 2013 winner and 2014 runner-up, Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park) with scores of 69, 69, 71 and 71 for 280, a total sometimes low enough to win the prestigious title. But not this year against the sustained brilliance of Penge.
Calum Fyfe (Cawder) finished as the leading Scot in joint 10th place with scores of 75, 72, 69 and 73 for a total of 289.
Christopher Curran (Harburn) and Sandy Scott (Nairn) came next on the 292 mark, Curran with scores of 71, 73, 73 and 75; Scott with 74, 69, 71 and 78.
That last round took the shine off Scott's performance which had seen him play steadily over the first three rounds.
Will Porter (Carnoustie), the new Scottish boys champion, missed the halfway cut.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
272 Marco Penge (Goodwood) 65 71 70 66
280 Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park) 69 69 71 71
282 Thomas Mulligan (Laytown and Bettystown, Ireland) 70 70 68 74
284 Matty Lamb (Hexham) 72 70 72 70
285 Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor) 73 66 75 71
287 Arrun Singh Brar (Ham Manor) 70 77 71 69 
288 Ben Chamberlain (Padeswood) 74 71 72 71, Jamie Li (Bath) 73 70 74 71, Matthew Lees (Woolley Park) 69 72 75 72
SCOTS' TOTALS
289 Calum Fyfe (Cawder) 75 72 69 73 (T10)
292 Christopher Curran (Harburn) 71 73 73 75, Sandy Scott (Nairn)  (T17)
299 Kieran Cantley (Liberton) 71 77 78 73 (41st)
300 Niall McMullen (Lundin) 74 72 81 73 (T42)
301 Mark Napier (Turnhouse) 70 77 78 76 (44th)


MISSED THE CUT
149 Joseph Bryce (Bathgate) 77 72
150 Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 74
151 Duncan McNeill (Powfoot) 76 75
152 Robbie Kemsle (Balmore) 74 78
154 Will Porter (Carnoustie) 78 76
155 Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick Dunskey) 81 74
157 Jack Thomas (Irvine) 79 78 

Home hero Huang hits the high notes in Shenzhen, China
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
He may not have picked up a golf club until the age of 22, but China’s Huang Wen-yi seems determined to make up for lost time after grabbing the lead on the first day of the inaugural Shenzhen International. The home favourite opened with a sparkling round of 66 at Genzon Golf Club to hold a one shot lead over Chile’s Felipe Aguilar, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Korea’s Byeong Hun An and America’s Peter Uihlein. Huang worked as a labourer and then a caddie before falling in love with the game, and his decision to pursue a career in golf looks a shrewd one after he carded eight birdies against two bogeys on a sun-kissed day in Shenzhen. While Huang produced the round of the day, Challenge Tour graduate An enjoyed the shot of the day when he aced the par three eighth. Two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson was part of a group on two under par, the American carding a hat-trick of gains from the fifth. Key quotes Huang “Last year I didn’t play very well at all. But this year I have changed my swing, and yesterday I changed to a new driver, which I like very much. I like this course, the green speed is very good and I holed a lot of putts. Aguilar “I hit the ball quite well today. I didn’t drop any shots, which is always good on this course. “You are going to miss a couple of shots out here, which I did, but I made a pretty good recovery afterwards so I’m pleased.” Peter Uihlein “It’s nice to finish with three birdies in a row and four in the last five holes. “I played in Thailand and had to withdraw with food poisoning, played in Puerto Rico and then I got a wrist injury so had to take some time off. Then I switched coaches, so I’ve had a strange six weeks or so. “But I feel like I did a lot of things really, really well today, and even though I felt like I went back to some of my old habits, I’m pleased with five under, for sure.” Bubba Watson “It was a slow start, but that was mainly because it took time to get used to the speed of the greens. Coming from Augusta to here is a little different, and the grain on the greens changes everything. “I three-putted one hole, and some of my chips didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. But slowly I got into the round, and managed to make three birdies in a row on my back nine to get me to two under, so that was a nice finish. Round One Scores 66 H Wen-Yi (Chn) 67 P Uihlein  (USA) , F Aguilar (Chi) , K Aphibarnrat (Tha) , B An (SKor) , 68 D Fichardt (RSA) , 69 G Mulroy (RSA) , M Crespi  (Ita) , R Fisher (Eng) , R Wattel  (Fra) , A Wall (Eng) , M Ford (Eng) , R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) , M Manassero (Ita) , A Sullivan (Eng) , S Kapur (Ind) , 70 B Watson (USA) , B Dredge (Wal), R Finch  (Eng) , G Havret  (Fra) , F Zhi-Peng (Chn) , B Hebert  (Fra) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , D Horsey (Eng) , W Wei-Huang (Chn) , T Fleetwood  (Eng) , S Hend (Aus) , G Stal  (Fra) , Y Yi-Nong (Chn) , 71 T Fisher Jnr (RSA) , M Tullo (Chi) , L Hao-Tong (Chn) , J Kruger (RSA) , J Quesne  (Fra) , P Edberg (Swe) , M Korhonen (Fin) , O Yangzheng (Chn) , A Levy (Fra) , R Jacquelin (Fra) , D Brooks (Eng) , R Bland (Eng) , D Howell (Eng) , E Grillo (Arg) , M Madsen  (Den) , Y Yechun (Chn) , 72 Z Hui-Lin (Chn) , A Quiros  (Esp) , A Cañizares  (Esp) , J Lando Casanova  (Fra) , Z Xin-Jun (Chn) , R Paratore (Ita) , J Campillo (Esp) , Z Jia (Chn) , J Carlsson (Swe) , L Bjerregaard  (Den) , M Fraser (Aus) , R Ramsay  (Sco) , T Lewis (Eng) , Y Yang (SKor) , T Hatton (Eng) , G Bourdy (Fra) , M Kieffer (Ger) , 73 N Colsaerts  (Bel) , H Ren (Chn) , M Nixon (Eng) , H Ze-Yu (Chn) , C Yi (Chn) , L Yan-Wei (Chn) , K Broberg (Swe) , M Carlsson  (Swe) , E Pepperell (Eng) , M Schneider (Ger) , H Mu (Chn) , S Kjeldsen (Den) , N Fasth (Swe) , D McGrane (Irl) , L Xin-Yang (Chn) , W Ormsby (Aus) , A Noren  (Swe) , O Fisher  (Eng) , P Larrazábal (Esp) , M Lampert (Ger) , D Lipsky (USA) , 74 K Phelan (Irl) , E Espana (Fra) , P Lawrie (Irl) , S Dong (Chn) , M Lundberg (Swe) , D Drysdale (Sco) , O Farr (Wal) , M Hoey  (Nir) , R McEvoy  (Eng) , J Van Zyl (RSA) , L Gui-Ming (Chn) , S Barr (Aus) , A Johnston (Eng) , 75 Z Lianwei (Chn) , C Lee (Sco) , C Zi-Hao (Chn) , L Ding-Feng (Chn) , Z Xiongyi (Chn) , D Ze-Cheng (Chn) , L Wen-Chong (Chn) , J Morrison  (Eng) , G Bhullar (Ind) , E Molinari  (Ita) , B Evans  (Eng) , C Wood  (Eng) , S Hutsby  (Eng) , J Cheng (Chn) , W Yichen (Chn) , 76 H Ming-Jie (Chn) , C Ding-Gen (Chn) , S Hansen (Den) , A Dodt (Aus) , A Otaegui  (Esp) , J Edfors (Swe) , H Zeming (Chn) , G Storm  (Eng) , K Wei (Chn) 77 P Waring  (Eng), J Scrivener (Aus) , W Xu (Chn) , M Foster (Eng) , P Hanson (Swe), R Karlsson (Swe) , O Wilson (Eng) , 78 X Zhi (Chn) , Y Bin (Chn) , J Palmer (Eng) , Z Jin (Chn) , T Pieters  (Bel) , L Hao-Yuan (Chn) , H Shao-Cai (Chn) , B Ning (Chn) , W Kang-Chun (Chn) 79 B Lein (USA) , S Jamieson  (Sco) , C Hai-Meng (Chn) , C Xiao-Ma (Chn) , 80 L Fangyi (Chn) , Y Tian (Chn) , X Bowen (Chn) , W Ming-Hao (Chn) , G Tian-Lang (Chn) , 81 Y Hao (Chn) , 82 Z Guo-Wu (Chn) , C Weirong (Chn) , 83 C Doak (Sco) , 84 W Wei (Chn) , X Se (Chn) , D Chen Xiao (Chn) , W Dongyu (Chn) , 86 J Da-Xing (Chn) ,  ** J Jeong (Kor) , H Yong-Le (Chn)

Chris Robb ties for 2nd, Ross Cameron slips to joint eighth finish in Casablanca

Ellon's Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) fell out of a share of the second-round lead to finish joint eighth in the German PGA Developmental Tour's Casa Green Open at Casa Green Golf Club in Casablanca, Morocco, writes Colin Farquharson.
But there was still a North-east player - Banchory-based Chris Robb (Meldrum House) - in contention over the closing holes of the final round.
Robb, who had rounds of 71, 69 and 68 for eight-under-par 208, eventually figured in a four-way tie for second place, one shot behind the winner of the 5,000 euros first prize, Germany's Nicolas Meitinger, with scores of 66, 75 and 66 for 207.
Robb, last year's Scottish amateur champion who played for four years on the American college circuit as a student at Chattanooga University, Tennessee, birdied the second, seventh, 14th, 17th and 18th in his final round.
His only bogey, at the fourth, eventually cost him a play-off with the winner who had seven birdies in his last circuit, including the 16th and 17th.
Another of the four who tied for the runner-up spot was England's Ben Parker (67-74-67), son of a Germany-based club pro.
Robb's latest top 10 finish on the tour earned him 1962 Euros.
Cameron slipped to a joint eighth finish on 211 with scores of 69, 69 and 73, earning 827 euros instead of the 5,000 he had his eyes on as joint leader at the start of the final day.
He birdied the 13th and 16th but bogeys at the second, 14th and 15th cost him dearly. 
The Duke of Roxburghe's son, Ted Innes-Krr finished joint 17th on 214 (70-72-72) and earned 456 euros.
Peterhead's Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) earned 365 euros for a joint 26th place finish on 217 (71-74-72)

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 Nicolas Meitinger (Ger) 66 75 66 (5,000 euros)
208 Ben Parker (Eng) 67 74 67, Chris Robb (Sco) 71 69 68, Julien Kunzenbacher (Ger) 66 74 68, David Antonelli (Fra) 69 69 70 (1,962 euros each).

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
211 Ross Cameron (Sco) 69 68 73 (T8) (827 euros)
214 Ted Innes-Ker (Sco) 70 72 72 (T17) (456 euros)
217 Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (T26) (365 euros)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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Nairn's Sandy Scott enters the final round of the 72-hole Peter McEvoy Trophy boys' tournament in joint fourth place at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull.
Scott, the leading player from North of the Border at halfway and again after the third round, has had scores of 74, 69 and 71 for a tally of one-over-par 214 over the par-71 lay-out.
He is eight shots behind the long-time leader, Marco Penge (Goodwood) who is on seven-under 206 with scores of 75 81 and 70 for a two-stroke lead over Ireland's Thomas Mulligan and by from third-placed former champion, Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park).
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3x71). Halfway cut: 148 and better qualified.
206 Marco Penge (Goodwood) 65 71 70
208 Thomas Mulligan (Laytown and Bettystown) 70 70 68
209 Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park) 69 69 71
214 Sandy Scott (Nairn) 74 69 71, Matty Lamb (Hexham) 72 70 72, Charlie Strikland (Ham Manor) 73 66 75, Cameron Bell (Woodcote Park) 70 68 76

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
216 Calum Fyfe (Cawder) 75 72 69 (10th) 
217 Christopher Curran (Harburn) 71 73 73 (17th)
225 Mark Napier (Turnhouse) 70 77 78 (41st)
227 Niall McMullen (Lundin) 74 72 81 (45th)

+No other Scots qualified for the final two rounds 

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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:Lanarkshire team for boys' friendly against Fife at Thornton, April 19

Lanarkshire Boys are playing Fife Boys at Thornton GC in their Annual Friendly on Sunday April 19^th  11am start. The match will be 10 a side with under 18’s, 16’s and 14’s.

Lanarkshire Team:

Kieran McVicar          East Kilbride

Mitchell Ronald         East Kilbride

Lewis Irvine                 Kirkhill

Greg Dalziel                Kirkhill

Callum Paterson       Strathaven

Kieran McAllister     Easter Moffat

Zac Geddes                Cambuslang

Jonathan Torrance     Drumpellier

Liam Martin               Bothwell Castle

Scott Thomson           Mount Ellen

Willie Sharpe    

 Lanarkshire Golf Association

Press Officer  

Top 21 in Ladies' Tartan Tour OM table will play in Paul Lawrie Invitational double header 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The field for the final event on the 2015 Ladies Tartan Tour - the Paul Lawrie Ladies Invitational/Tour Championship - at Deeside Golf Club, Aberdeen on September 15 and 16 will be limited to only 21 players.

This is the first time there will be both a men's and ladies' Invitational supported by Paul Lawrie and both events will be held at the same time and at the same venue. 

The 54 hole Paul Lawrie Invitational Tartan Tour event is September 15-17 - and the 36 hole Ladies Invitational (which doubles up as the Tour Championship with the Stewart Spence Trophy going to the winner) is on the 15th - 16th.

The 21 lady pros who will make up the field for the Ladies Invitational will be decided by the Ladies Tartan Tour Order of Merit, which provides an incentive for competitors to enter the first four events.

We have ticked off the ones at Murcar Links (April 1 and 2), won by Michele Thomson, and Montrose Links, won by Maria Tulley.

That leaves Deer Park, Livingston (June 2 and 3) and Marriott Dalmahoy (June 24 and 25) in which Order of Merit points can be gained.

The Order of Merit table after the first two events reads:

1515 Michele Thomson

1375 Maria Tulley

1350 Beth Allen

1275 Laura Murray

1100 Kiran Matharu

1030 Lucy  Goddard, Jane Turner

900 Heather MacRae

850 Annabel Dimmock

815 Gabriella Cowley

795 Becky Brewerton

700 Trish Johnson

650 Chloe Rogers, Kelsey MacDonald

620 Jess Wilcox

585 Tracy Boyes

535 Sarah Attwood

525 Rachel Drummond

520 Gillian Pato

460 Alyson McKechin

425 Kelly Chieratico

419 Nichola Ferguson

495 Jorden Ferrie

395 Kirstin Scott

290 Nastja Banovec

280 Emilee Taylor

270 Lisa Shaw

265 Laura Harvey, Gemma Webster

Uihlein and  An set pace in China 

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Peter Uihlein birdied the last three holes of his opening round to set the clubhouse pace at the Shenzhen International in China, but Byeong Hun An joined him at the top of the leaderboard on five-under-par 67 in even more spectacular fashion.

Former Madeira Islands Open and Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Uihlein was only level par at the turn, but the American birdied the tenth and 14th before a fine finish in which he holed from six feet at the 16th, almost holed out from a bunker on the 17th for eagle and rolled in a 15 footer at the last.

 South Korean An aced the short eighth, his iron shot pitching two feet short and rolling into the cup, as the Challenge Tour graduate matched Uihlein’s five under par 67.

“Nice three in a row and four of the last five,” Uihlein said of his finish. “I'm definitely pleased.

“I played Thailand, and had to withdraw with food poisoning, then played one in Puerto Rico, and then I had a wrist injury and had to take some time off. 

“Then I switched coaches, so I’ve had a strange six weeks or so.

“I feel like I did a lot of things really, really well and I felt like I did some of my old habits and hit a couple squirrelers, but I'm pleased with five under, for sure.”

An has made every cut so far in an impressive rookie campaign, and also had four birdies and a bogey as he joined Uihlein in second, with Darren Fichardt and Kiradech Aphibarnrat also five under out on the course.

France’s Romain Wattel, South Africa’s Garth Mulroy and English pair Ross Fisher and Anthony Wall were all on three under, while double Masters Tournament winner Bubba Watson was a shot further back thanks largely to a hat-trick of gains from the fifth.

Richie Ramsay was lieing T39 after a par 72.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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