Maitland Shield results from Hazlehead

Newmachar win thriller against Portlethen

with a birdie at the 19th
 
Newmachar won through at the 19th against Portlethen in the tightest of matches on the opening night of the City of Aberdeen men's double foursomes at Hazlehead, sponsored by the Douglas Hotel bar and bistro, writes Colin Farquharson
Greg Ingram and Neil Melvin were the heroes for Newmachar, winning with a birdie at the first extra hole.
Earlier Ingram and Melvin had finished one down to Portlethen's Keith Horne and Sean Lawrie - nephew of Paul - which cancelled out the one-hole victory by the Newmachar first string of Jamie Wilson and Chris Simpson over Kevin Daglish (Daglish is correct) and Clark Brechin.
Craibstone produced the turn-up result by beating Auchmill by two holes - espcially after their first string of Alan Bloice and Craig Wilkinson finished four down to Les Taylor and Johnny Gregor.
But Craibstone's second string of John Borthwick and Justin Thomas wiped out the deficit and some by finishing six up on Keith Duncan and Michael Braidwood.
Northern had a good two-hole win over Deeside while Nigg Bay knocked out the team from further up the River Dee - Peterculter - by four holes.
RESULTS:

FIRST ROUND

Portlethen lost to  Newmachar at 19th.

Kevin Daglish and Clark Brechin lost to Jamie Wilson and Chris Simpson 1 hole

Keith Horne and Sean Lawrie bt Greg Ingram and Neil Melvin 1 hole

 +Ingram and Melvin birdied 19th

Nigg Bay bt Peterculter by 4 holes

Ryan Forbes and Ross Young bt Tony Robertson and Paul Forbes 1 hole

Steve Jamieson and Nicky Slater bt John Kennedy and Gary Watson 3 holes.

Craibstone bt Auchmill by 2 holes

Alan Bloice and Craig Wilkinson lost to  Les Taylor and Johnny Gregor 4 holes

John Borthwick and Justin Thomas bt Keith Duncan and Michael Braidwood 6 holes

Deeside lost to Northern by 2 holes

David Halliday and Alan Ross lost to Marc Vass and Richard Hyland 3 holes

Tom Rennie and Jack Loggie bt Neil Walker and Liam Minty 1 hole

TUESDAY EVENING MATCHES

4.47pm Banchory v Murcar Links.

5.01 Hazlehead v Royal Aberdeen

5.15 Caledonian v Bon Accord. 

+Stonehaven have a bye through to Wednesday's quarter-finals. They will play Newmachar in the first match off the tee at 4.47pm
Then it will be Nigg Bay v Craibstone at 5.01pm on Wednesday followed by Northern against the winners of Banchory v Murcar Links at 5.15, with the last of the quarter-finals at 5.29 featuring the winners of Hazlehead v Royal Aberdeen and Caledonian v Bon Accord. 

Thanks to the Douglas Hotel for their sponsorship - they are also sponsoring the Aberdeen Pennant League.
If you are going into town for a meal or some refreshment, then the Douglas Hotel with its Molly's Bistro and Malones Irish Bar in Market Street is the place to go. 

In-form East to defend English senior title   Yorkshire’s Stephen East will defend the English senior men’s championship at Worplesdon and West Hill golf clubs in Surrey from June 3-5 – and has already fired a warning shot at his challengers. East (Moortown) had a memorable first senior season in 2014 and maintained his momentum this year with victory in the Portuguese senior championship. He finished five shots clear of the field in Estoril, having returned scores of 69-72-70. He adds that title to an already impressive record which took him to the top of the England Golf senior order of merit for 2014: wins last year in the English and Spanish seniors, runner-up places in the British, Scottish and Irish seniors and fourth place in the European seniors. In his ‘previous life’ East (image © Leaderboard Photography) won the English mid-amateur three times, together with the British, European, Portuguese and French mid-amateur titles. This year he faces an international challenge in his defence of the English senior title. The championship is open for the first time and has attracted players from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and Australia, as well as a huge entry from England. Over 330 players entered the championship and as a result the field has been increased from 240 to 288, with a handicap cut of 5.5. The competitors include all the 2014 senior internationals. East is joined by 2013 champion Richard Latham (Woodhall Spa), Tyrone Carter (Stevenage), Clive Jones (Toulouse), Tony McLure (Longhirst), Alan Mew (Stoneham) and Andrew Stracey (Denham). Other players to watch include Charlie Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds) a former winner of the Brabazon Trophy and the reigning Welsh senior champion. Host club Worplesdon is providing three players: Martin Slumbers, the incoming chief executive of the R&A, together with Ian Attoe and John Harridge. The championship will be played over 54 holes of stroke play over three days. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of the two courses over the first two days. The field will then be cut to the leading 80 competitors and ties who will play a further 18 holes on the third day at Worplesdon. Click here for more information and to view scores, reports and images during the championship. Spectators are welcome. Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 01526 354500

North of Scotland Seniors Open at Elgin on 

Thursday and Friday

By GORDON THOMSON

The second event in the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society season takes place on Thursday and Friday this week with the North of Scotland Seniors Open (sponsored by McCrea Financial Services) at Elgin.

There is a field of 104 for the event with a good mix of ages and handicaps and all are looking forward to playing one of the finest inland courses in the North of Scotland.

Winner of the 2014 Seniors Order of Merit title, Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County) starts his bid to retain his title after missing the first event to pursue the Portuguese Seniors Championship. Barry Brooks (Meldrum House) defends the North title but will face stiff competition from  the established group of leading players as well as some new faces who are keen to make their mark.

 Keith Reilly (Silverknowes), who won so impressively at Scotscraig last month, and Malcolm Reid (Sonning ) miss the event due to other commitments.

Formed in November 2006, the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society is the brainchild of former amateur international, Gordon MacDonald. It was formed to meet a significant demand for high level competition for senior amateur golfers still keen to test their games at a high level. 

All the events take place in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere on good courses.There are age group prizes and separate order of merit titles on a handicap basis and for members over the age of 65.

Membership of the Society is open to golfers over the age of 50 with handicaps of 9.4 or less. Further details can be obtained via the website –www.scottish seniorsgolf.com or by contacting Ian Kerr at admin@scottishseniorsgolf.com.

Monty outside top 20 but still earns $24,988

Colin Montgomerie finished a lot lower down - T24 - than he usually does in a Champions Tour event but the Scot still earned $24,988 for a two-under-par aggregate of 286 in the Regions Tournament at Shoal Creek.
Monty shot 69, 73, 72 and 73.
He finished 12 shots behind play-off participants Jeff Maggert (67-67-68-72 for 274) and Kevin Sutherland (68-66-69-71 for 204).
Maggert won the play-off to collect first prize of $345,000 while Sutherland's payslip amounted to $202,400 - now you know why Paul Lawrie has his sights set on playing the US Seniors Tour in four years' time when he's 50!
Sandy Lyle earned $14,145 for a T34 finished on 289 (74-74-69-72) while even Englishman Roger Chapman after high scores of 75, 79, 73 and 77 for 26-over-par 304 and a 74th place finish took home $1,610 which might pay his hotel bill for the tournament.
To view all the final scores and prize money allocation

CLICK HERE