Chris Kelly, Gareth Wright and Chris Currie in picture

THREE SHARE NORTHERN OPEN HALFWAY LEAD
 - AND SEVEN MORE ARE ON THEIR HEELS
The Northern Open title is still up for grabs by any one of ten players spanned by only four strokes at the top of the halfway leaderboard at Cruden Bay.
Late finisher Gareth Wright looked as he would be the overnight leader on is own ntil he bogeyed the 17th after going out in 32.
He finished with a second-round three-under-par 67 for a five-under tally of 135 and a share of the lead with Gleneagles Scottish professional champion Chris Kelly (69-66) and Caldwell's Christopher Currie who was certainly hot stuff with ea best of the day, bogey-free six-under 65.
Kelly, Currie and Wright have a two-stroke lead from David Orr (Eastwood) (71-66) and Paul Robinson (Largs) (68-69).
That would be an exciting enough scenario for the last two rounds - there's more!
Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), celebrating his captain's selection for the GB and I PGA Cup team in September is on 138 - only three off the pace - alongside Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill).
And tied ninth on 139 are Scott Henderson (Kings Links), already a winner of a Northern Open at Cruden Bay, and up and coming Kilmacolm tour pro Michael Patterson.
The amateur race for the Bookless Cup is also tight with Moray's Kyle Godsman and home course player John Godward tied 11th on 140.

LEADING HALFWAY SCORESRer

Par 140 (2X70)

135 C Kelly (unatt) 69 66, C Currie (Caldwell) 70 65, G Wright (West

Linton) 68 67

137 D Orr (Eastwood) 71 66, P Robinson (Largs) 68 69

138 P Shields (Kirkhill) 68 70, G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 69 69, G Fox (Clydeway

Golf) 69 69=

139 M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 71 68, S Henderson (Kings Links) 68 71

140 J Godward (Cruden Bay ) (am) 71 69, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 69 71, C Ronald (Carluke) 70 70, K Godsman (Moray) (am) 68 72

141 P Wardell (North Berwick) 70 71

142 S Gray (Hayston} 75 67, J McCreadie (Largs) 74 68. P OHara (Clydeway Golf) 71 71, N Fenwick (Dunbar) 73 69, G McBain  (Paul Lawrie GC) 70 72, R Dixon (Renaissance) 71 71
143 C Marr (Musselburgh) 72 71
144 J McGhee (Bishopbriggs) 74 70, M Isaacs (Gamola Golf) 70 68, A Welsh (Cathkin Bra R Tinker (Piperdam) 7 71, G Paxton (Ralston) 69 75.
145 Murray Patterson (Cruden Bay) 75 72, M Cjristie (Cruden Bay) (am) 73 72, G Brown (Montrose Links) 76 69, S Binning (Mearns Castle) 71 74
146 C Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 72 74, A Reid (West Lothian) 72 74, A Coopr (Newmahar) 73 73, D Watson (Cruden Bay) (am) 74 72.
147 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 70 77, C Everett (Caldwell) 76 71, G Smith (Abu Dhabi) 75 72, P Walker (Ballumbie Castle) 76 71, J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 74 73, S Roger (Cruden Bay) (am) 76 81
148 S Savage (Dalmuir) 75 73, F Fotheringham (Nairn) (am) 79 69, R Buckley (Royal Musselburgh) 78 70, M Hillson (Tandridge) 70 78, A Holbrook (Murcar Links) (am) 74 74, C Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 77 71, M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 71 77, G Hardy (Ayr Belleisle) 74 74.

A total of 53 players with totals of 148 and better qualified for the final two rounds.

MISSED THE CUT
149 S Burgess (Nairn) (am) 80 69, F Cromarty (Nairn) 76 73, N Murray (Cruden Bay) 76 73, T Dingwall (Kemnay) 74 75, L Gaughan (Bathgate) 74 75, C Robinson (Elie Links) 69 80, C Goodwin (Duff House Royal) 72 76
150 R Neill (Drumpellier) 75 75, C Billows (Gleneagles) 77 73, L Vannet (Craibstone) 80 70, C Armstrong (Burntisland) 76 74, S Fay (Royal Dornoch) 73 77, C Brown (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 73 77, F Clarke (Kings Links) 78 72, J Porteous (Craigielaw) 71 70.
151 T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 76 75, C McMaster (Wellsgreen) 75 76, R Walker (Lundin) 75 776.
152 G Law (Uphall) 76 76, J Lomas (Caprington) 74 78.
153 A Burgess (Nairn) (am) 79 74, N Robson(Meldrum House) (am) 78 75, C Tierney (Bishopbriggs) 78 75, A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC) 78 75, R McConnachie (Drumoig) 81 72, N Huguet (Musselburgh) 82 71, P Malone (Braid Hills) 76 77
154 G Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 82 72, V Brown (Logos Golf) 77 77, J Gallagher (Douglas Park) 75 79,
B Mason (Callaway Golf) 75 79
155 K Moran (Balbirnie Park) 82 73, C Haugh (Cawder) 84 71.
156 D Snodgrass (Crail GS) 77 79
157 A Hutchison (Douglas Park) 83 74.
158 S Morrison (Tain) 80 78, D Laing (Craigielaw) 77 81, I Donaldson (Meldrum Hus) 86 82, A McDonald (Dunnikier Park) 84 74.
159 P Jamieson (Dunblane New) 81 78 A McCandlish (Kingsbarns) 84 75

Montrose Open Week Qualifying tee times

DRAW FOR MONTROSE OPEN WEEK QUALIFYING ROUNDS
MONDAY 27th JULY AND TUESDAY 28th JULY 2015
0700
0710
0720
0730 S McGurk (DC); R Coull (RM)
0740
0750
0800 J Monteith (PP); G Low (MC)
0810 R Wishart (MM); J Young (RM); B McKay (RM)
0820 G Young (MM)
0830
0840 K Scappaticci (MM)
0850 J Adams (E); C Frew (RM); Derek Reid (F)
0900 C Robertson (S); J Storey (Dh)
0910 G Hemsley (MM); G Shephard (Gb)
0920
0930
0940 C Penny (N); P Rawlings (N); David Reid (RCC)
0950 A McKenzie (G); S Loney (P); G Marr (MM)
1000 G Laing (T); T Davidson (Dun); B Dryden (MM)
1010 R Laing (Mon); G Strachan (RM); L Geddes (MM)
1020 A Reoch (MM); S McCracken (Gb); R Cutler (LM)
1030 D Hinshelwood (Br); A Wilson (Br); J Eeles (MC)
1040 W Beedie (MM); B Densham (Dur); J Lloyd (MM)
1050 G Stalker (RM); P Woods (SL); A MacDonald (RM)
1100 B Coull (MM); W Pearson (SL); S Brand (MM)
1110 K Kane (SL); S Melrose (MM)
1120 B Welch (B); M Penches (SL); P Jackson (ND)
1130 M Welch (B); J Reilly (SL); A Robertson (MC)
1140 C Connelly (SL); M McGuiness (SL); G Alexander (B)
1150 Alistair Frame (C); G Garscadden (SL); J Spark (MM)
1200 M Friscourt (GC); Andrew Frame (DP); G Clancy (SL)
1210 R Craig (MOE); Deryk McLean (RM); J King (MM)
1220 D Gove (MM); A Robb (MM)
1230 R Spark (MM)
1240 A Spark (MM)
1250
1300 S McMillan (E); R Duffy (Cw)
1310 M Henderson (Pr); I Buist (MM); P Duffy (Cw)
1320 J Mayor (Pr); J Campbell (Br)
1330
1340
1350
1400
1410
1420
1430
1440
1450
1500 H Riddell (K); C Carnegie (K)
1510
1520
1530 A Forsyth (RM)
1540 A Maiden (MM); J Collier (MM)
1550 M McKenzie (MM); K McKenzie (MM); I Hamilton (E)
1600 M Taylor (MM)
Abbreviations
B – Balmore; Br – Brechin; C – Cawder; Cw – Crowwood; DC – Dubai Creek; Dh – Dunnerholme;
DP – Douglas Park; Dun – Dunwhinny; Dur – Durham City; E – Edzell; F – Forfar; G – Gullane;
Gb – Glenbervie; GC – Grange Castle; K – Kemnay; LM – La Moye; MC – Montrose Caledonia;
MM – Montrose Mercantile; MOC – Merchants of Edinburgh; Mon – Monifieth; N – Newbiggin;
ND – Nairn Dunbar; P – Piltdown; PP – Port Patrick; Pr – Preston; RCC – Raintree Country Club;
RM – Royal Montrose; S – Scotscraig; SL – Sheddens Lethamhill; T – Tarland
Late entries will be accepted by contacting 01674 672932 or emailing admin@montroselinks.com

FOX IS CAPTAIN’S PICK FOR PGA CUP

THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS’ ASSOCIATION
PRESS RELEASE
Graham Fox has been handed the captain’s pick to make the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup line-up to face the United States at CordeValle Golf Club in September.
The seasoned Tartan Tour regular Scot completes Jon Bevan’s 10-man team that will bid to win the trophy on US soil for the first time in California from September 18-20.
Fox from Clydeway Golf Centre got the call from Bevan en route back to his West Kilbride home, having narrowly missed out on automatic qualification at last week’s Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship at Burnham and Berrow where six spots were on the line.
The 37 year old beat off stiff competition from the likes of fellow 2013 PGA Cup team-mates Greig Hutcheon and Benn Barham to earn the call.

“It’s great to get the captain’s pick and very 









humbling when Jon has got the entire GB&I to pick from,” said Fox, who was part of the GB&I team that tied at Slaley Hall two years ago.

“The PGA Cup is a great event, there was a strong camaraderie with the guys last time and it was a shame we didn’t win two years ago when we came so close.

“Looking at the team this time out, if they all play well then there will only be one outcome.

“It’s an added incentive given the fact we’ve never won in America but once the gun goes off you’ve just got to concentrate winning your match.

“I played a lot of amateur team events and it is something you miss when you turn pro. A PGA Cup week is very intense and it’s only after it’s finished that you realise just how good it is so I’m over the moon to make another team.”

Fox joins 2013 team-mate Gareth Wright in the 2015 version alongside Cameron Clark (Moor Hall), Lee Clarke (Beeston Fields), David Dixon (Enmore Park), Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Jason Levermore (Channels), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool).

With eight rookies in his side, Bevan believes Fox will add some valuable experience both on and off the course.

“At Slaley Hall in the last PGA Cup matches, there was definitely an air of calmness and doggedness about Graham and the right kind of attitude and character.

“His playing qualities are exceptional – I saw him at first hand shoot 61 in Turkey last year around a very challenging course.

“And with eight rookies we felt it was important to have someone who had PGA Cup experience under the belt so I expect both Graham and Gareth to be leaders on and off the course.”

The PGA Cup is played along the same format as the Ryder Cup with foursomes, fourballs and singles.
America has a stranglehold on the biennial event with 17 wins compared to just five GB&I wins with four ties. The last of those came at the Northumberland resort of Slaley Hall where GB
 and I swept the singles 7.5-2.5 to tie the match although as holders the US retained the Llandudno Trophy which the teams contest.

 Lanarkshire Seniors Handicap Competition   June 9^th  2015

At Bothwell Castle Golf Club

Lanarkshire Golf Association enjoyed a sun drenched day for their annual Seniors Handicap Competition played at Bothwell Castle Golf Club. All vouchers will be sent to clubs.   CSS  72

Winners:     Overall scratch for Frank B Craig  Quaich

Ian Danskin   Strathaven    74       £100

Overall  Handicap  for Frank B Craig  Cup

Bobby Roberts    Hamilton     78-12  66   £100

Class1    age 50-59

1^st I Doole                         Airdrie          75-7  68            £60

2^nd  R McCrum      Strathclyde Park    90-19  71          £50

3^rd  R Milton           Hamilton                 75-4  71            £40

4^th  P O’Neil            East Kilbride            78-6  72            £30

Class 2   age   60-64

1^st   J Hunter        Hamilton                     83-16  67         £60

2^nd  D Donaldson  Bothwell Castle         82-12  70        £50

3^rd  J Kennedy       Wishaw                       86-16  70         £40

4^th  W Brown        Strathaven                  75-5  70           £30           

Class 3    age  65-69

1^st  A Moffat          Crow Wood                83-12  71        £60

2^nd  J Barr               Torrance House          80-8  72          £50

3^rd  J N Rennie       Bothwell Castle           74-2  72          £40

4^th  T Watt             Kirkhill                            77-5  72          £30

Class 4      age   70+

1^st  M Chicarella   Kirkhill                             80-9  71         £60

2^nd  W Houston    Torrance Park                 87-15  72       £50

3^rd  A Murphy       Kirkhill                              86-12  74       £40

4^th  T Welsh           Hamilton                          99-25  74       £30          All ties decided on back 9,6,3 ,1 hole

Link to Day 2 of Northern Open at Cruden Bay scores

To view the scores from the second day of the Northern Open at Cruden Bay

CLICK HERE

NEWS RELEASE

INTERNATIONAL FIELD TO PLAY THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT CARNOUSTIE and PANMURE

The 120th Amateur Championship gets underway next week from 15-20 June at Carnoustie and Panmure in Angus, Scotland with two-thirds of the field travelling to the UK from overseas to compete. There will be players from 30 different countries in the starting field and all 288 competitors are ranked on the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™ (WAGR™).

The Amateur Champion will earn a place in the 144^TH Open at St Andrews and the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.  Traditionally, an invitation is also extended to the winner to play in the Masters Tournament at Augusta.

More than 30 players in the WAGR™ top 100 feature in the draw including five of the world’s top 20: Australia’s Ryan Ruffels, the reigning Australian Junior Boys champion, two-time European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters of England, 2015 Lytham Trophy winner Marcus Kinhult of Sweden, Austin Connelly of Canada and Mario Galiano of Spain.

The field also includes 16 players from the GB&I Walker Cup squad who will be looking to perform well ahead of final team selection in August for the 45th Walker Cup match at Royal Lytham and St Annes on 12 and 13 September.

The first two days of The Amateur Championship comprise stroke play qualifying over both courses before the field is cut to 64 and ties and the match play format finds the champion over the final four days’ play at Carnoustie.

Carnoustie is one of the world’s most famous links courses and has hosted The Open on seven occasions, most recently in 2007 when Padraig Harrington lifted the Claret Jug for the first time. It will host the Amateur Championship for the fifth time in 2015, while Panmure has strong ties to the Amateur as one of the 24 clubs that funded the trophy commissioned in 1886.

Several Open Champions and Ryder Cup players have played in the Amateur including Jack Nicklaus, José Maria Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, who won in 1998.

Euan Mordaunt, The R and A’s Director – Amateur Championships, said, “The Amateur Championship will bring together an international field to compete over two of Scotland’s most historic and challenging links courses for the prestigious title of Amateur Champion. With exemptions into two of golf’s Major Championships at stake, as well as a traditional invitation to the Masters Tournament, it promises to be an exciting week of golf and the opportunity to watch the talents of some of the world’s finest amateur golfers should not be missed.”

Admission and parking are free and full details including the championship draw can be found at RandA.org

Television highlights will be broadcast Friday through Monday, 19 to 22 June 2015 on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and via local satellite suppliers in other territories.

Jimmy Gunn is first reserve for place in US Open field

FROM WENDY GUNN
Hi there, exciting news today - Jimmy is first alternate for the US Open,

he missed out by 1 stroke (story of his life !), on 5 under for the two

rounds, made up of 8 birdies and 3 bogeys.  I see on the scoreboard

that Martin Laird was playing but failed to qualify.  Here is the link for

the scoreboard/website, if you click on the mall + sign on the left hand

side the scorecard opens up.  Fingers crossed someone drops out !

http://www.usopen.com/en_US/news/qualifying/sectional/r_201504211429639612946.html

Regards, Wendy

Enefer stages last round charge in Germany England’s Will Enefer staged a last round charge in the German boys’ and girls’ open at St Leon Rot and snatched the runners-up spot with a closing score of five-under par 67. The 17-year-old from Wrekin in Shropshire finished the 54-hole event on eight-under par and two shots behind the boys’ champion, Thomas Roenmueller of Germany. Enefer’s finish kept him one shot ahead of the two players who shared third place. They included Denmark’s John Axelsen – the English U16 boys’ open champion – who also shot 67 in the final round. Enefer was in the mix throughout the championship. He opened with three-under 69 and was one shot off the lead; then a level par second round saw him drop to fourth place and five shots back. But in the final round he chased the leader hard and got to within one shot of him before taking his only bogey of the day on the 15th. England’s teams also came second to Germany in both the boys’ and girls’ Nations Cup events. The boys’ team was Enefer with Toby Briggs of Dunston Hall, Norfolk, and Harry Hall of West Cornwall. The girls’ team was Sophie Lamb of Clitheroe, Lancashire; Hollie Muse of West Lancashire, and Lizzie Prior of Burhill, Surrey. Muse, 15, led the way for England in the girls’ event, holding the lead after two rounds and eventually finishing in seventh place on three-under par. The championship was played in very warm weather, particularly on the first day when the temperature reached 42 degrees. One of the England boys had to spend an hour in the first aid tent after play, despite having drunk 12 bottles of water and four bottles of apple juice during his round. The coolest temperature during the championship was 34 degrees. Caption: The England boys' team, from left, Harry Hall, Will Enefer and Toby Briggs. Click here for full scores    Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer