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McArthur and Kellett lead Scots with 67s in 

Madrid Challenge

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

An eagle 2 at his penultimate hole sent Alfredo Garcia-Heredia hurtling straight to the top of affairs at El Encin Golf Hotel as the Spaniard carded an eight under par 64 in the opening round of the Challenge de Madrid.

The 33 year old from Gijon, on his nation’s northern coast, put the finishing touches on an exemplary opening salvo with a holed wedge on the par four 17th hole, which alongside eight further birdies and a couple of dropped shots sees him lead by one.

There are three players just a stroke shy of the leading Spaniard’s impressive total, however, with Frenchman Sebastien Gros, Michael Jonzon of Sweden and Ireland’s Ruaidhri McGee all seven under.

For Garcia-Heredia, however, it marked an upturn in fortunes for a man that has felt for a number of years that his play was not getting the rewards it perhaps deserved, but there was certainly no shortage of riches in return for his fine golf on Wednesday.

“I played really well and hit very good shots,” said the Spaniard, whose best European Challenge Tour performance was a runner-up finish at the 2008 Challenge de España.
Ruaidhri McGee (-7) said
“It was good today, I just played really solid. Fairways and greens, holed a few putts on the back nine too. I played well in Kenya but didn’t get much out of it, so I was looking forward to playing this week and I’m playing pretty well so I’ll see how it goes.
“I headed off to Palm Springs in California for a month over the winter, as I’ve got some friends out there, so I got in a bit of warm weather practice. I played a bit in Portugal just before Madeira too.
“I didn’t think this course would suit me as it is wide and I don’t hit it that long, but I enjoy putting and there are plenty of slopes out there, so I enjoyed it. This course is all about the second shot, and it is soft, so you know it is going to stop.
“I’ll take three more of those, so we’ll see. I’ve got a medical extension for the first three events, so I just need to get my category up so I can play more events the rest of the year.”
Scotland's challenge is headed jointly by Andrew McArthur and Ross Kellett, both of whom had five-under-par 67s. They are joint ninth overnight.
There are four more Scots on the 70 mark - Duncan Stewart, George Murray, Elliot Saltman and Jamie McLeary.

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72

64 A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) ,
65 R McGee (Irl) , S Gros (Fra) , M Jonzon (Swe) ,
66 N Elvira  (Esp) , R Gouveia (Por) , N Ravano (Ita) , J Sarasti  (Esp) 

67 A McArthur  (Sco) , S Kim (USA) , S Soderberg (Swe) , D Foos (Ger) , R Kellett (Sco) , J Glennemo (Swe) , E Cuartero Blanco  (Esp) ,
68 M Trappel  (Aut) , R Kakko  (Fin) , C Hanson (Eng) , W Harrold (Eng) , T Murray (Eng) , P Maddy (Eng) , P Lawrie (Irl) , J Billing (Swe) , J Lara (Esp) , J Fahrbring (Swe)
69 G Porteous (Eng) , A Gee  (Eng) , P Oriol (Esp) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , P Figueiredo  (Por) , J Rask (Swe) , S Wakefield (Eng) , A Hartø  (Den) , P Martin Benavides (Esp) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , S Tiley (Eng) , S Fallon (Eng) , B Stone (RSA)
70 D Stewart (Sco) , K Ferrie (Eng) , D Gaunt (Eng) , G Murray  (Sco) , V Blazquez (Esp) , C Del Moral (Esp) , A Saddier (Fra) , E Saltman  (Sco) , H Satama (Fin) , S Manley (Wal) , C Gloet  (Den) , J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) , T Linard (Fra) , S Walker (Eng) , C Berardo (Fra) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , J McLeary  (Sco), N Kimsey (Eng), A Tadini (Ita) , C Paisley  (Eng) , J Senior (Eng) , D Suazo Gonzalez (Esp)
71 A Bernadet  (Fra) , E Goya (Arg) , T Pulkkanen  (Fin) , A Velasco (Esp) , B Åkesson (Swe) , J Makitalo  (Fin) , T Sluiter  (Ned) , B Stow (Eng) , N Lemke (Swe) , L Tintera  (Cze) , F Calmels  (Fra) , S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) , H Joannes  (Bel) , J Gallegos  (Esp) , B Virto Astudillo (Esp) , S Luna (Esp) , J Dantorp (Swe) , M Orrin (Eng) , L Gagli  (Ita) , P Whiteford (Sco) , G Maybin (Nir) , V Riu  (Fra)
72 S Henry  (Sco) , C Balmaseda  (Esp) , P Archer (Eng) , M Søgaard  (Den) , C Shinkwin (Eng) , D Im (USA) , A Ahokas (Fin) , J Gonnet  (Fra) , J Walters (RSA)
73 A Hortal  (Esp) , J Bragulat  (Esp) , D Coupland (Eng) , R Davies (Wal) , M Lafeber (Ned) , C Bouniol (Fra) , L Nemecz (Aut) , B Etchart  (Esp) , D Ulrich (Sui) , J Stalter (Fra) , P Dwyer (Eng) , R Coles (Eng) , B Evans  (Eng) , J Lima  (Por) , J Guerrier  (Fra) , W Booth  (Sco) , S Grant  (Irl) , F Bergamaschi (Ita) , S Heisele (Ger) , T Nemecz (Aut) , P Herreria (Esp) , G Woolgar (Eng) , J Smith (Eng)
74 J Ballesteros (Esp) , D Law (Sco) , D Huizing (Ned) , P Widegren  (Swe) , N Raymond (Eng) , A Pavan (Ita) , J Scrivener (Aus) , M Wiegele  (Aut) , J Hansen  (Den) , J Doherty  (Sco) , J Legarrea (Esp) , A Halvorsen  (Nor) , S Thornton (Irl)
75 A Snobeck  (Fra) , K Benz (Sui) , N Quintarelli (Ita) , J Huldahl (Den) , A Rota (Ita) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , C Mivis  (Bel) , E Larrañaga (Esp)
76 K Hesbois  (Bel) , C McDonnell (Eng) , M Stewart (Sco) , R Evans  (Eng) , J Simon De Miguel (Esp) , X Ruiz Fonhof  (Ned) , N Bertasio (Ita) , M Galiano Aguilar (am) (Esp)
77 L Motta (Ita) , C Ford (Eng) , T Elissalde  (Fra) , P Gal  (Cze) , R Hahn (Hun)
78 P Relecom  (Bel) , S Brown (Eng) , A Domingo (Esp) , E Dubois (Fra) , P Howard  (Eng) , N Geyger (Chi)
80 D Suchan  (Cze) 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Fife Golf Association Order of Merit

 presented by www.MyGolfRanking.net 

The Mackay Bowl.

Positions after 2 events:

1 Connor Syme (Drumoig) 200 points

T2 Steven Aitken (Leven GS) 80, Andrew Davidson (Charleton) 80, Ryan White (Leven GS) 80

5 Fraser Carr (Crail) 60,

6 Alex Moir (Thornton) 40.

Chris Robb's T10 finish despite late bogeys

Last year's Scottish amateur champion Chris Robb (Meldrum House) achieved another top ten finish in his rookie pro year at this week's German PGA developmental tour's Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia in Morocco, writes Colin Farquharson
The Banchory-based player had rounds of 75, 67 and 69 for five-under-par 211 and a joint ninth finish.
Robb birdied the third, seventh, ninth and 13th but bogeys at the 16th and 17th deprived him of making the top six.
Ellon's Ross Cameron had double bogey 6s at the 1st and 12th in closing with a 75 after two earlier par rounds of 72. He finished T33 on 219.
Professional's son Ben Parker from England won by five shots with scores of 68, 66 and 66 for 10-under 200.

OPEN ROYAL GOLF ANFA MOHAMMEDIA
Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Morocco
 LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
200 Ben Parker (Eng) 68 66 66
205 David Antonelli (Fra) 65 73 67, Sam Erikson (Ger) 68 70 67

SCOTS' SCORES
211 Chris Robb 75 67 69 (T9)
219 Ross Cameron 72 72 75 (t33)

Read Ian Poulter's rant about why he won't play at Wentworth

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Clive, Dick, Mackay come through play-off

Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship
Qualifying Competition No 2
 Crieff Golf Club
Par 71. Leading 47 to qualify
 There was a play-off for those finishing on 78 but David Knapp (American Golf) and Shaun McBride (Everything Golf) did not 
show up for it so that left seven players to play-off for three places.
The successful trio after a play-off that last three holes were James Clive (Buchanan Castle), James Dick (Duddingston) and Graham Mackay (Melville Golf Range).
Those unsuccessful in the play-off were Brian Marchbank (unatt), Jordan Gallagher (Douoglas Park), Matthew Laughtland (Bishopbriggs) and Jamie Fraser (Renaissance Club).

		Qualifiers: 47  Alternates: 5 T1 N. Cameron Blairgowrie Golf Club -4 F 67 T1 I. Deacon Loch Lomond Golf Club -4 F 67 T3 T. Mathieson Murcar Links Golf Club -2 F 69 T3 G. Paxton Ralston Golf Club -2 F 69 T3 A. Hogg Kingsbarns Golf Links -2 F 69 T6 F. Cramb Crieff Golf Club -1 F 70 T6 S. Williamson Clydeway Golf -1 F 70 T8 R. Tinker Piperdam Golf & Leisure Resort E F 71 T8 S. Binning Mearns Castle Golf Academy E F 71 T8 D. Wood Hirsel Golf Club E F 71 T8 C. Lawson Elmwood Golf Course E F 71 T8 M. Patterson Kilmacolm Golf Club E F 71 T8 N. Scott-Smith Palacerigg Golf Club E F 71 T14 G. Niven PING +1 F 72 T14 A. Mackrell Playsport Golf +1 F 72 T14 I. Taylor Drumpellier Golf Club +1 F 72 T17 C. Adam Linlithgow Golf Club +2 F 73 T17 P. Malone Braid Hills Golf Range +2 F 73 T17 R. Gray American Golf +2 F 73 T17 J. Bell Craigmillar Park Golf Club +2 F 73 T21 P. Brookes Pitreavie Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 M. Robertson Balmore Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 A. McDonald Dunnikier Park Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 I. Anderson Colville Park Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 P. Wardell North Berwick Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 P. Kerr Hayston Golf Club +3 F 74 T21 L. Mann +3 F 74 T28 C. Tierney Carrick on Loch Lomond +4 F 75 T28 G. Hillson Dunbar Golf Club +4 F 75 T28 S. Rettie Callaway Golf Europe Limited +4 F 75 T28 G. Forrester St Andrews Golf School +4 F 75 T28 I. Hanna Strathclyde Park Golf Centre +4 F 75 T28 A. Cooper Newmachar Golf Club +4 F 75 T34 S. Speirs +5 F 76 T34 C. Haugh Cawder Golf Club +5 F 76 T34 C. Farrell Cardross Golf Club +5 F 76 T34 R. McConnachie Peterculter Golf Club +5 F 76 T34 S. Savage Dalmuir Golf Club +5 F 76 T34 M. Huish North Berwick Golf Club +5 F 76 T34 D. Ramsay Moray Golf Club +5 F 76 T41 G. Robertson Airdrie Golf Club +6 F 77 T41 N. Ferguson American Golf +6 F 77 T41 G. Cook Elie Links +6 F 77 T41 M. Patterson Cruden Bay Golf Club play-off on 78 +6 F 77 T45 G. Mackay Melville Golf Range +7 F 78 T45 J. Fraser Renaissance Club +7 F 78 T45 M. Laughtland Bishopbriggs Golf Range +7 F 78 T45 J. Dick Duddingston Golf Club +7 F 78 T45 S. McBride Everything Golf +7 F 78 T45 D. Knapp American Golf +7 F 78 T45 J. Gallagher Douglas Park Golf Club +7 F 78 T45 J. Clive Buchanan Castle Golf Club +7 F 78 T45 B. Marchbank +7 F 78 MISSED CUT T54 P. Jamieson Dunblane New Golf Club +8 F 79 T54 N. Free Longniddry Golf Club +8 F 79 T54 D. McKay Wellsgreen Golf Range +8 F 79 T54 S. Gillespie Burntisland Golf Club +8 F 79 T54 D. Williamson Kirkhill Golf Club +8 F 79 T59 A. Hutton World of Golf +9 F 80 T59 B. Lawson Wellsgreen Golf Range +9 F 80 T59 M. Penny Montrose Golf Links Ltd. +9 F 80 62 P. McKenna Paul Lawrie Golf Centre +10 F 81 T63 E. Grimes Carrick on Loch Lomond +11 F 82 T63 A. Bain Gullane Golf Club +11 F 82 T65 L. Burnett Mearns Castle Golf Academy +13 F 84 T65 K. McNiven Gleneagles Hotel Golf Courses +13 F 84 T65 D. Swinley Prestonfield Golf Club +13 F 84

Details of new Gullane Championship Course

NEWS RELEASE

Gullane Golf Club has released details of the Championship Course that will host the 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Played across the classic links turf at Gullane, the tournament will be the first European Tour event to be staged at the East Lothian venue which boasts three courses as well as a children’s lay-out.

The new Championship Course will incorporate 16 holes from Gullane’s renowned No. 1 Course and two holes from its striking No. 2 Course, which was laid out by Willie Park Jr. 

Three of the holes will feature recently built tees creating a new and challenging routing offering a modern test across a traditional links setting. 

“Although Gullane has staged many world-class tournaments such as local final qualifying for five Open Championships and the Ladies’ British Open Amateur, this will be the first time in its 133-year history that it has hosted the Scottish Open,” explained Robert Dick, captain of Gullane Golf Club.

“The Scottish Open represents a new and exciting chapter in our club’s history.”

He continued: “The Championship Course will showcase the quality of golf on offer on Gullane Hill. This is special golfing land and we look forward to welcoming the best players in the world to experience it. It should be a great week.”

The Championship Course consists of 16 holes from No. 1 – 2^nd to 16^th, and 18^th – and two holes from No. 2 – the 7^th and 8^th. New championship tees have been built for the 15^th and 18^th on No. 1 and the 8^th on No. 2. 

The variety of topography and outstanding choice of challenging golf holes that are present at Gullane has enabled the creative use of existing tees to enhance the challenge of the Championship Course. Apart from the excitement and exacting test this will create, one of the benefits is the short walking distance between greens and tees. 

With the likes of Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar competing over the course for the first time, the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is set to be a standout sporting event this summer. As Championship Director Peter Adams noted, the tournament will be one to savour.

“We can’t wait to get going at Gullane,” he said. “The professionals love testing themselves on classic links and with several of the players who featured at Augusta playing, the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will once again have an outstanding field. 

"This tournament is the first leg of a double header that will see the golfing world focused on Scotland’s east coast at Gullane from July 9-12 and then across the Forth estuary to Fife and up to St Andrews for The Open the following week.”

The Championship Course utilises many of the features that have made Gullane a firm favourite with both Scottish golfers and visitors alike. Incorporating world-class turf and stunning views across the Firth of Forth, the new lay-out will be a great test of links golf, according to David Morgan, Gullane Golf Club’s secretary.

“We are fortunate at Gullane to have over 600 acres of stunning links land on which to create a unique championship course,” he noted. “The course created for the Scottish Open has been specifically designed with today’s players in mind while retaining all the character of a traditional links layout. And with an army of volunteers from Gullane and neighbouring clubs to help run the event, we are extremely excited about this very special tournament.”

First played in 1972, the Scottish Open has been held at a number of prestigious courses including St Andrews, Gleneagles, Carnoustie, Loch Lomond, Castle Stuart and Royal Aberdeen.

  THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT GULLANE

1) Golf has been played over the links at Gullane for more than 350 years. Today, Gullane Golf Club is one of Scotland’s most prestigious members’ clubs, mixing the finest traditions with some of the most admired natural links land in the world.

2) The three golf courses are simply known by number reflecting their age. 

Gullane No. 1 (1884) has a long history of hosting national and international championship golf events, most recently the Local Final Qualifying for the 2013 Open Championship at neighbouring Muirfield.
Gullane No. 2 (1898) was laid out by the legendary Willie Park Jr and has also been used for Open Championship Qualifying as well as the Seniors Open Amateur.
Gullane No. 3 (1909) was also designed by Willie Park Jr. It may be the shortest of the three courses, but it provides a wonderful test based on shot-making skills rather than power.

3) The new Championship Course consists of the 2^nd to 14^th from Course No. 1. Course No. 2 provides the 7^th played from the blue tee on No. 1’s 15^th, and 8^th from a new tee. To finish, Course No. 1 provides the 15^th (from a new tee), 16^th and 18^th (from a new tee).
4) The club has two clubhouses. The Members’ Clubhouse was built in 1928 while the Visitors’ Clubhouse was built in 1993 and is adjacent to the opening holes of the No. 2 and No. 3 courses. The club’s original clubhouse was built in 1889.
5) Gullane Golf Club has been recognised in various rankings including Golf World’s latest poll of top courses in Scotland with both Gullane No. 1 and Gullane No. 2 appearing in the Top 50. 
6) In 2012, on the PGA website, Gullane was voted as one of the Most Picturesque Golf Spots in the World coming fifth in a list that includes Augusta National and Pebble Beach.