Cawder quartet in Glasgow team of six

Glasgow's squad of six for the Scottish men's area team golf championship over the Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie Golf Club  from May 15 to 17, includes four members of Cawder Golf Club.

 It is:

Jamie Savage (Cawder), Gordon Miller (Cawder), Callum Fyfe (Cawder), Craig Chalmers (Cawder), Barry Hume (Haggs Castle), Gordon Sangster (Cathkin Braes).

Team manager - Stephen Machin.

Dumbartonshire team for Blairgowrie

Dumbartonshire squad for the Scottish men's area team championships at Blairgowrie Golf Club is:

Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden)

Stephen Stewart (Clydebank Overtoun)

Chris McLean (Balmore)

Angus Carrick (Douglas Park)

George Duncan (Windyhill)

James Wilson (Balmore)

Team manager:; Jim Paton

Chris Robb ties for fifth place but rues weak finish
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Last year's Scottish amateur champion Chris Robb (Meldrum House) from Banchory continues to add to his list of top five and 10 finishes in his rookie pro year - but he must have been annoyed with himself after his latest joint fifth position at the German PGA's developmental tour's Open Madaef at El Jadida in Morocco.
Robb shot 73, 70 and 75 for two-over-par 218 - sux behind the winner of the 5,000 Euros first prize, Frenchman Mathieu Decottignieswho shot a closing round of 74 for 212 and a two-stroke victory margin.
The Scot started his final round badly with bogeys at the third and fourth but got back to par for the round with birdies at the ninth and 10th. Robb then dropped four shots over the last six holes with a double bogey 6 at the 14th and bogeys at the 13th and 18th.
 A birdie at 16th could not repair the damage which cost him at least second or third place.
Saltire Energy-sponsored Ross Cameron from Ellon finished tied 24th on 224 with scores of 74, 74 and 76. The outward half was his undoing, requiring 40 shots for the first nine holes.

OPEN MADAEF
El Jadida GC, Morocco
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
212 M Decottignies (Ffra) 72 66 74
214 T Bakker (Fin) 74 70 70, S Einhaus (Ger) 72 67 75
215 A Kaleka (Fra) 73 68 74
SCOTS' TOTALS
218 C Robb 73 70 75 (T5)
224 R Cameron 74 74 76 (T24)


TO VIEW ALL THE TOTALS
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Wentworth's star-studded field for PGA 

championship, May 21-24 

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE
The stars have aligned for this season’s BMW PGA Championship, with defending champion Rory McIlroy headlining a field that includes a host of major champions, World Number Ones and Ryder Cup players all set to tee it up at Wentworth Club from May 21-24.

McIlroy will be joined by current US Open Champion Martin Kaymer, as well as form-horse Justin Rose, who will arrive home fresh off a runner-up finish at the Masters Tournament and having claimed his seventh US PGA Tour title last week.

His victory in New Orleans was Rose’s seventh across the Atlantic, and his narrow one-stroke victory saw him overtake Sir Nick Faldo as the most successful Englishman on American soil.

Rose will hope to follow in the footsteps of World Number One McIlroy, whose victory at Wentworth last year spurred him on to a summer of success in which he went on to win the Open Championship and US PGA Championship, before being crowned Race to Dubai Number One for the second time.

Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke, Irishman Padraig Harrington, Spain’s Jose Maria Olazábal, Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and YE Yang of Korea will also be in the field, having each claimed one of the game’s big four titles.

Home favourite Luke Donald will be one of ten former Wentworth winners playing, having won in consecutive years from 2011 to earn his place on top of the Official World Golf Rankings. Alongside Els, Kaymer and the current incumbent McIlroy, fellow Englishman Lee Westwood is the fifth man set to tee it up having also played his way to the summit of the sport.

The 23 time European Tour winner will be one of 101 players in the field to have triumphed on The Race to Dubai, while also forming part of a nine-strong representation from last year’s victorious European Ryder Cup team.

Of those triumphant charges, the Great Dane Thomas Bjørn, Scotland’s Steven Gallacher and Jamie Donaldson, who clinched the crucial point on Sunday at Gleneagles, will also join Kaymer, McDowell, McIlroy and Rose.

Advance tickets, with a discount on the gate price, are available via the ticketing hotline on 0800 023 2557, or the following link: www.europeantour.com/tickets.

A limited number of hospitality packages are also available. For more information or to book one of the packages, please call 0800 023 2557 or email enquiries@europeantourhospitality.com.

- Ends -

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About The European Tour

The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour's innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future. The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2015, will feature a minimum of 48 tournaments spread across five continents; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday. The European Tour’s corporate identity features the iconic silhouette image of six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon who gives his name to The Harry Vardon Trophy, presented to the player who is crowned European Tour Number One and winner of The Race to Dubai at the end of the season.

Craig Ronald leads Scots qualifiers to Somerset

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carluke's Craig Ronald headed the 10 qualifiers for the Titleist & Footjoy PGA club professionals' championship by three strokes with a four-under-par round of 68 in chilly but dry conditions for the Scottish qualifying round  at Blairgowrie Golf Club's Lansdowne course.

Ronald, pictured, had an eagle 2 at the 13th and birdies at the first, fourth, 15th and 16th in halves of 34.

The only other player in the field of 40 with a sub-par score was runner-up Alan Stuart (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) with a 71, in which he birdied the first, fifth and 18th.

The other Scottish qualifiers who will head for the 72-hole championship at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, Somerset from June 2 to 5 were: Mark Loftus, Ian Taylor and Craig Everett with 7u2s; Jonathan Cliff, Graeme Brown with 73s, and Martin Huish, Paul Wardell and Patrick Walker on the 74 mark.

This was one of nine regional qualifiers .

QUALIFIERS

Par 72

68 C Ronald (Carluke)

71 A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC)

72 M Loftus (Mearns Castle), I Taylor (Drumpellier), C Everett (Caldwell)

73 J Cliff (Murrayfield), G Brown (Montrose Links)

74 M Huish (North Berwick), P Wardell (North Berwick), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle).

NON-QUALIFIERS

75 F Mann (Carnoustie GC), C Armstrong (Burntisland), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), S Savage (Dalmuir), J Porteous (Craigeielaw).

76 D Watt (St Andrews Links GA), P Edgcombe (Forrester Park)

77 R Neill (Drumpellier), S McLaren (Blairgowrie), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), L Burnett (Mearns Castle)

78 R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh), K Campbell (Machrihanish, A Cooper (Newmachar)

79 C Tierney (Bishopbriggs), L Vannet (Craibstone).

80 P Jamieson (Dunblane New), F Rummins (Canmore), A Mackrell (Playsport Golf), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond), G Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond)

81 N Sinclair (Prestwick), G Cook (Elie Links)

82 R Fyvie (Pumpherston)

83 E Grimes (Carrick on Loch Lomond), R Murdoch (Dumfries & Galloway)

84 O Leslie (Piperdam)

87 P Malone (Braid Hills)

88 R Walker (Lundin)

NR D Nicol (Dundonald Links)

Withdrew: D Williamson (Kirkhill)

 

Paul Lawrie favours sudden-death match-play  for Saltire Energy-supported Euro Tour event    Paul Lawrie and his football star guest, Dons' captain Russell Anderson in the Murcar Links                                               clubhouse today. Picture by courtesy of Kenny Smith Paul Lawrie prefers sudden-death match-play for  Murcar Links format instead of three-game pods NEWS RELEASE with a few extra words by Colin Farquharson   Former Aberdeen FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson and current Aberdeen FC captain Russell Anderson have both given their backing to the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay that will take place at Murcar Links Golf Club, Aberdeen, from July 30 until August 2, 2015. The inaugural event, which is the brainchild of Aberdeen's own golfing hero, Paul Lawrie, will run for a minimum of three years on The European Tour's Race to Dubai. Sir Alex, who has a big affinity with the Aberdeen community following his hugely successful stint as the manager of Aberdeen Football Club from 1978 to 1986, commented:  "I think it's a fantastic achievement for Paul to be launching a new event on The European Tour and I wish him every success with the tournament. “Paul has achieved so much in his sport and has given so much back through his Foundation so it is very fitting that he now has a European Tour event named after him. " I have a big affiliation to Aberdeen and this is great for the region to have another top sporting event being hosted there." Russell, who is currently in his second spell at Aberdeen, and who has made 11 appearances in the dark blue of Scotland, said: “I'm delighted to lend my support to Paul as he launches his inaugural event at Murcar. As an ardent Dons supporter Paul is usually the one offering support to the team from the stands at Pittodrie so it's great to be reciprocating. "To be able to bring such a prestigious tour event to the North-east is a significant achievement for Paul but it's also a huge coup for the city. On behalf of everyone at Aberdeen Football Club, I wish Paul every success with the event." The Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match-play, which has a prize fund of €1million, will pit 64 leading professional players on The Race to Dubai against each other.  The European Tour Order of Merit will decide who gets into the field. Four players will be invited .. which will ensure that host Paul Lawrie plays in his own tournament if he does not climb into a high enough place on the Order of Merit. It will not necessarily be the leading 64 in the Order of Merit, but the pecking order will be established by the rankings and the top 60 (+4 invitations) who enter will make up the field.   The North-east event will offer up-and-coming players the opportunity to gain vital match play experience on one of Scotland’s top links courses.  Big crowds are expected to make their way to Murcar Links for the tournament and a one-way system will be established to cope with the increased traffic. A temporary exit road will be laid through a farmer's field. Still to be decided is whether or not to build a grandstand for specators, if not at the 18th - none of the matches is guaranteed to get to that green! - then at the first tee which would give a good view of the 18th hole as well. This week's Cadillac world match-play championship in America guarantees each of its field of 64 players at least three matches, having divided the field into 16 "pods" of four players who will play each other to produce a 16 "pod" winners. This is a major change from the usual format. But Paul Lawrie says he favours and prefers the sudden-death format which will be in place at the Murcar Links tournament. "I think it makes it a little bit more exciting, certainly for the fans," said Paul. "There is a danger that all the leading players are knocked out in the first round but that's all part and parcel of match-play golf as I understand it. "We don't play enough of it on the European Tour. In fact, as you know, this is the only match-play event apart from the Ryder Cup on our calendar. "A lot of the pros, certainly the ones who have not made Ryder Cup or Seve Cup, etc appearances, have not played match-play since they were amateurs."       Lawrie had a handicap of five but his game came on in leaps and bounds once he joined the Banchory Golf Club pro staff under the late Doug Smart.   "I wasn't good enough to play in the boys' events as an amateur so my first real go at match-play was probably the World match-play championship at Wentworth," said Paul.  This is the first time that\ Lawrie has hosted an event at the top level of European golf, having previously supported the game at grassroots level through the Paul Lawrie Foundation.    Mike Loggie, pictured, Chief Executive of Saltire Energy, said: “We are proud to support Paul as he brings this new European Tour event to the Granite City. It is championships such as this which will see Aberdeen recognised for its immense sporting talent on a global stage. “We are strong advocates of encouraging young people to get more involved in sports through our Saltire in the Community Programme. It is great that the rare Match Play format of this event gives promising golfing professionals the chance to play it on Tour and raise their profiles. This new and exciting golf event is also sure to appeal to sports fans of all ages due to the incentives there are on offer for families. “Saltire Energy is a long-time supporter of local sports teams and initiatives including Aberdeen Football Club and its Youth Academy. It is great to see the sporting community coming together to show their backing of a new North East tournament.” Murcar Links may or may not be the venue for the guaranteed three editions (2015-2016-2017) of the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie European Tour match-play tournament. "We are only thinking about the inaugural tournament at the moment," said Paul. "Whether it goes on again at Murcar Links next year or elsewhere is something for us to decide after it has been played for the first time and we can sit down and take stock of the situation."  Saltire Energy became the sponsor of Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) in June 2014, which saw the Group enter a three-year deal to support the first-team Pittodrie squad and youth teams. Saltire Energy has been the sponsor of AFC’s youth development programme, AFC Youth Academy, since 2008, and become the sole sponsor in 2014 as part of the agreement. The Paul Lawrie Foundation was launched in 2001, two years after Paul famously won The 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie. It provides opportunities for juniors of any age to start playing golf, compete at golf and improve their capabilities to the highest level. The mission of the Foundation is to encourage as many young people to play golf as possible, but also to give youngsters the chance to develop their golf with the Foundation and go on to win on tour, and ultimately, win a Major Championship.