Three-way tie at the top in the Brabazon Trophy There’s a three-way tie on three-under par 69 at the top of an international leaderboard in the Brabazon Trophy at Notts. Golf Club, supported by Your Golf Travel. England’s Ben Taylor, (image © Leaderboard Photography) who recently returned home after hitting the heights of US college golf, was first to set the pace. He was later joined by Austria’s Lukas Lipold and Lincolnshire’s Jordan Wrisdale. A group of four players are a shot behind them, among them Cheshire’s Oliver Carr, who had two eagles including a hole-in-one on the 9th. He is joined by playing partner Ben Amor of Wiltshire, Yorkshire’s Jonathan Thomson and Ireland’s Colm Campbell. They head an impressive leaderboard with 25 players at par or better on a day of sunshine, made tricky by a steadily increasing breeze. Among them is the host club’s Chris Hurrell who went round in level 72. It’s also a thoroughly international leaderboard with seven countries represented by players in the top 13 and ties. Taylor, 24, is still buzzing from playing a crucial role with his university team to win the biggest championship in US college golf. And, as he proved with a bogey-free round on the Hollinwell course, he’s clearly kept the momentum going. “I was very pleased with the round, it was very solid,” said the international from Walton Heath. “I drove it pretty well, kept myself in position off the tee and put myself on the right side of the flag.” His card was immaculate, with birdies on the 6th, 10th and 16th – where he hit his shot of the day after his drive came to rest in a divot mark. He fashioned a stroke with his pitching wedge and was rewarded when the ball stopped within a foot of the hole for a tap-in birdie. “It made the best of a bad situation and I had good pars on the last two holes into the wind,” he reported. His score was matched first by former Austrian champion, Lukas Lipold, who finished with birdies on both 17 and 18. “I hit it really good today and gave myself chances on the par fives,” said Lipold, who birdied all three of the long holes.  “I also managed to roll in some putts from 10ft.” Jordan Wrisdale, from Boston, came into this event in great form, having helped Lincolnshire qualify for County Finals with individual scores of 68, 64 at Gog Magog in Cambridgeshire. “I’ve been playing solid for some time and just waiting for it to click,” he said after today’s round. Like Lipold, he had six birdies in his round, but his most memorable score was his par four on 18. “My second leaked into a bunker, I had one foot in, one out on a downslope and I just played to get it out. I hit it to 20ft and holed the putt. It was a great save!” In the group immediately behind the leading trio is Jonathan Thomson (Lindrick) who scored two-under 70 and also had an adventurous end to his round. His drive on the 17th finished in a bush, from which he had to take a drop, his next plugged in a bunker, his fourth lipped out of the hole and he calmly holed the next for a par. “It was a pretty good par,” he said. “I’m definitely pleased with my round. If you keep the ball in play the course is pretty scorable and I did, mostly, hit the ball really well.” Oliver Carr (Heswall), who was playing in the last group on the course, had the shot of the day, with a hole in one on the 178-yard ninth hole, where he used a seven-iron. He had already had an eagle three on the sixth, together with a couple of birdies and a bogey, and he reached the turn at five-under. “I struggled a bit on the back nine,” he said, referring to loose shots on 15 and 17. “But I can’t say I’m disappointed, I’m pleased with the score, especially as it’s a four-round event. It gives you a nice look and puts you in contention.” After tomorrow’s round the field will be cut to the leading 60 players and ties who will contest the final 36 holes.  Click here for full scores. Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

Link to Brabazon Trophy first-round scores

CLICK HERE

Bradley Neil says he is not nervous about 

making pro debut

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil makes his professional debut in this week’s SSE Scottish Hydro  Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts after enjoying his adventure at the US Open Championship but the promising young Scot  (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency), thinks his previous experience in big tournaments will help keep any  nerves at bay.
The 19-year-old won last year’s British Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush to earn a place at Chambers Bay, having also played in the Masters Tournament and last year’s Open Championship.
Neil is excited to be able to make his Challenge Tour bow on home soil,  though insists he is not feeling any extra pressure now that he has left the amateur ranks behind.
“There’s  a lot of excitement this week,” said the Blairgowrie player, who last year had the rare opportunity to represent Europe in the Junior Ryder  Cup over his home course. 
“This is my debut as a professional, and I’m  getting to make that debut in Scotland as well which is very important  to me. Hopefully I can follow it up with some good golf. 
“Last  week at Chambers Bay was a bit different. It was challenging but it was the US Open and it was always going to be fun. I had fun all week and  playing in front of those crowds was incredible, and it was great to get  more experience at that level to help me in turning pro.
“This  last year has been a massive learning experience. I got to play three  of the biggest tournaments in golf, maybe not quite as well as I want  to, but it’s a great learning curve and has helped me make the step that I’ve made.
 “I  don’t really feel any added pressure, I’m not acting any differently.  It’s kind of like the day before your birthday – nothing feels  different, you don’t feel any different.
“I’ve been preparing for this all through the last year. I knew that turning  pro was going to happen, I just didn’t know what day or time.
“I’m  just hoping to play well, beyond that I’m not sure what to expect. But  I’ve made the cut in pro tournaments before so that’s something I’m  definitely aiming for, and hopefully get a cheque at the end of the week – that would be a positive week for me.”The
 Scottish Hydro Challenge, celebrating its tenth staging this week, has  not had a home winner since George Murray triumphed in 2010 but Neil is  not the only Scottish hope in a strong field.
 Heading the pack is Jamie McLeary, the 2009 winner here at the Macdonald Spey  Valley course and recent champion at the KPMG Open in Belgium.
McLeary, a member of Team SSE Scottish Hydro, which provides financial support  to emerging professionals, has made the cut in five of his seven  appearances in this event and currently lies eighth in the Road to Oman  Rankings.
A fellow Team SSE Scottish Hydro member, Andrew McArthur, will also be  hopeful of ending Scotland’s five-year wait for a home champion in the Aviemore event.
The  36 year old former Scottish amateur champion has been in great form recently, finishing second at the  Made In Denmark Challenge and third in the  Czech Challenge, and
 is playing the Scottish Hydro Challenge for the ninth time.
All the top 15 in the Road to Oman Rankings will also be in action, at the Macdonald Spey Valley course, designed by the late Dave Thomas, with  second-placed Sebastien Gros hoping to gain more ground on leader Nacho  Elvira following his dominant victory on home soil in last week’s Nateji Open

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic

Mark Young's nine-under 63 knocks Michael

Stewart (65) out of lead at Newmachar

Former Scottish amateur champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) shot one of his best rounds since he turned professional but it still was not good enough to lead at the end of the first day in the PGA EuroPro Tour's Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic at Newmachar.
After posting a bogey-free 65 (31-34), the Ayrshire man held the clubhouse lead on his own for hours. Then he was joined on seven-under by Irishman Simon Ward (32-33) and Lancashire man Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale (33-32).14th
Young birdied the third, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th in bogey-free halves of 33-30.
 Stewart's bogey-free round was highlighted with birdies at the first, second, fifth, seventh and eighth in an outward 31 and added two more birdies after the turn, at the 11th and 14th.
The top 50 and ties at the end of Thursday's second round will go forward to contest the third round. The cut mark looks like being a very low one. The winner will earn £10,000.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE)

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
par 72
63 M Young (Clitheroe) 33-30
65 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 31-34, S Ward (Ireland) 32-33, P Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) 33-32 
66 W Harmston (Wentworth) 33-33
67 M Moseley (Tenby) , G Wright (West Linton) 33-34, M Mohr (Eng),  M Laskey (Brocket Hall), D Wright (Goodwood).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES  
68 M Patterson , C Robb, G Hutcheon  (T11)
69 R Cameron  (T19)
70 M Isaacs, P McLean, J Findlay  (T27)  
71 N Fenwick, J Steven, P Shields, Z Saltman, C Sutherland, E Ramsay, M Hillson, I Redford, S Crichton (T38)
72 G McBain, C O'Neil, L Saltman, K Nicol (T57)
73 C Lawrie, J Hogg, M Rae (T77)
74 P Robinson, P Ferrier, S Henderson (T100)
75 C Lutton, K Duncan (T111)
76 T Dingwall, J Duff, S Kiloh (T122)
77 C Smith, G  O'Neill (T135)
78 N Robson (am), C Macaulay (T146)
79 S Binning, S MacNeil (T153)
83 R Colsh, N Huguet (T164)
85 B Craggs (166th)

Scottish senior professionals' championship

Everett and Mann share lead at Dalmahoy

Craig Everett (Caldwell) and Fraser Mann, who plays out of Carnoustie Golf Club, share the lead on four-under-par 64 over the West Course at Marriott Dalmahoy in the first round of the 36-hole Scottish senior professionals' championship at the Edinburgh venue.
Both men had five birdies and one bogey in halves of 32.
Everett dropped his shot early in the round - at the second, but came on to his game to birdie the fifth, seventh, ninth, 14th and 16th.
Ronald got off to a good start with birdies at the first, second and sixth, bogeyed the eighth and then birdied the 10th and 13th.
Third-placed Campbell Elliott (Haggs CAstle) on 65 (32-33) birdied the fourth, seventh, 14th and 18th. A bogey at the 15th deprived him of a share of the lead in the chase for the £600 first prize.
The second round will be played over the longer East Course at Dalmahoy.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 68
64 C Everett (Caldwell), F Mann (Carnoustie GC)
65 C Elliott (Haggs Castle)
66 K Walker (unatt), C Gillies (unatt)
67 G Law (Uphall), N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), C Ronald (Carluke)
68 D Thomson (Carnegie Club), S Craig (Craig Golf), K Hutton (Downfield)
69 K Campbell (Machrihanish), D McKay (Wellsgreen), A Hogg (Kingsbarns)
70 D Williamson (Kirkhill), A Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), P Brookes (Pitreavie), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
71 G Niven (Ping), S Strachan (Deer Park).
72 D Ross (Royal Aberdeen), A Forrow (Whitecraigs)
73 N Walton (Glasgow), P Wytrazek (Burntisland)
75 A Hutton (World of Golf)
81 C Steven (Strathclyde Park)
Retired - A Oldcorn (Kings Acre), I Seath (Liberton), I Howieson (Howieson GS)

 SECOND ROUND TEE TIMES THURESDAY
EAST COURSE, MARRIOTT DALMAHOY

  1   8:00 AM   Campbell Steven, Strathclyde Park Golf Centre
                Andrew Hutton, World of Golf

  1   8:10 AM   Paul Wytrazek, Burntisland Golf Club
                Nick Walton, Glasgow Golf Club
                Alastair Forrow, Whitecraigs Golf Club

  1   8:20 AM   David Ross, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
                Sandy Strachan, Deer Park Golf & Country Club
                Gordon Niven, PING

  1   8:30 AM   Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range
                Paul Brookes, Pitreavie Golf Club
                Alan Tait, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count

  1   8:40 AM   Duncan Williamson, Kirkhill Golf Club
                Alan Hogg, Kingsbarns Golf Links
                Donald McKay, Wellsgreen Golf Range

  1   8:50 AM   Ken Campbell, Machrihanish Golf Club
                Kenneth Hutton, Downfield Golf Club
                Stephen Craig, Craig Golf 79

  1   9:00 AM   David Thomson, Carnegie Club
                Craig Ronald, Carluke Golf Club
                Neil Colquhoun, Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Cl

  1   9:10 AM   Gordon Law, Uphall Golf Club
                Colin Gillies
                Kenneth Walker

  1   9:20 AM   Campbell Elliott, Haggs Castle Golf Club
                Fraser Mann, The Carnoustie Golf Club
                Craig Everett, Caldwell Golf Club

Open champion will win more than £1million this year for first time

NEWS RELEASE FROM RandA
The Champion Golfer of the Year will win £1,150,000 at the 144^TH Open at St Andrews.

The R&A announced that the total prize fund for this year’s Open Championship will rise to £6,300,000, an increase of £900,000 on the 2014 total.

The Champion will receive £1,150,000, up £175,000 from the previous year.

Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The Open is one of the world’s pre-eminent sporting events. The Championship represents the pinnacle for the world’s greatest golfers and this increase is appropriate for an event with The Open’s global appeal.”

Place    £                                             Place    £

1          £1,150,000                             36        £33,000

2          £653,000                                37        £31,500

3          £420,000                                38        £30,000

4          £327,000                                39        £29,000

5          £263,000                                40        £27,750

6          £228,000                                41        £26,750

7          £195,000                                42        £25,500

8          £165,000                                43        £24,250

9          £145,000                                44        £23,000

10        £132,000                                45        £21,800

11        £118,500                                46        £20,800

12        £105,500                                47        £19,800

13        £99,000                                  48        £19,000

14        £92,500                                  49        £18,200

15        £86,000                                  50        £17,800

16        £79,500                                  51        £17,400

17        £75,500                                  52        £17,000

18        £72,000                                  53        £16,750

19        £69,000                                  54        £16,500

20        £66,000                                  55        £16,250

21        £62,500                                  56        £16,000

22        £59,500                                  57        £15,800

23        £56,500                                  58        £15,700

24        £53,500                                  59        £15,600

25        £51,250                                  60        £15,500

26        £49,000                                  61        £15,400

27        £47,250                                  62        £15,300

28        £45,500                                  63        £15,200

29        £43,750                                  64        £15,100

30        £42,000                                  65        £15,000
31        £40,250                                  66        £14,900
32        £38,000                                  67        £14,800
33        £36,750                                  68        £14,700
34        £35,750                                  69        £14,600
35        £34,500                                  70        £14,500
Prize money shall be allocated only to professional golfers.

If more than 70 professional golfers qualify for the final two rounds, additional prize money will be added. Prize money will decrease by £100 per qualifying place above 70 to a minimum of £9,000.

Non-qualifiers after two rounds:  Leading 10 professional golfers and ties £4,500; next 20 professional golfers and ties £3,600; remaining professional golfers £3,000.

The 144th Open Championship will be played at St Andrews from 12-19 July 2015.

Golf in the Park Festival highlight in 

 

Edinburgh on July 4

 

FROM BILL LOTHIAN

The second Golf in the Park Festival on the historic Meadows short-hole course in Edinburgh takes place on Saturday week (July 4). To have something golf related of this size in the heart of the city is quite rare.
Among the events are demonstrations by a renowned golf trick shot artist, Dave Edwards (see link).

http://www.david-edwards.co.uk

There are kids' competitions, an event using hickory-shafted clubs and some more serious stuff with the prizes including tickets to the Open at St Andrews and Scottish Open at Gullane as well as four-ball tee times at Royal Dornoch and Kingsbarns to be won.

The event runs from 10am until 5.30pm and since it is just before the Scottish Open we've been told  there is a chance Stephen Gallacher will drop by to keep tabs on the work of his Foundation and Monty might also be there (Aberdeen Asset Management are sponsoring).

Jane Connachan will lead the SG kids event and Cliffe Jones (Glencorse) is first pro to offer his services.

To enter a team players are asked to contact edinburgh.golf.com@gmail.com

Tiger should retire now - nothing left to prove

 

 

FROM GOLF AUSTRALIA

by Mike Clayton

Tiger Woods during his second round at the 2015 US Open

 

Arnold Palmer was the best player in the game in April of 1964. He was so far ahead of the field when he stood on the 72^nd tee at Augusta he asked playing partner Dave Marr if there was anything he could do to help. ‘Yeah’ said Marr, ‘make a 12.’
When he walked off the final green of the 1964 Masters not a single person watching thought it would be Palmer’s final triumph in a major championship. He was only 34 years old.
Almost 20 years later on Royal Birkdale’s brutal 18^th hole Tom Watson hit one of the great two iron shots into the 72^nd green to win The Open Championship by a shot. He and Seve Ballesteros, who had earlier in the season won at Augusta, were the best players in the game and Watson at 33 was at the peak of his powers. 
It was assumed it was only a matter of time before he passed Harry Vardon and Peter Thomson and took his sixth Open. Instead, like Palmer before him, it would be the last of his major wins.
Then, five Opens later at Lytham, Ballesteros played perhaps his greatest round. Out with Nick Faldo and Nick Price he shot the most beautifully perfect 65. Surely there would be more, and he did come close again as did Palmer and Watson but Lytham was his last great moment at thirty-one.
Finally there is Tiger Woods and the enduring image of him holing that last extraordinary putt across the bumpy 18^th green at Torrey Pines to tie Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S Open.
 It took an extra day and an 18-hole play-off but Tiger passed Bobby Jones and won his 14th major championship. Nicklaus was only four majors away and surely his record would be reached and then passed? He was thirty-three years old.
This week Woods walked off the 36^th green at Chambers Bay having shot 80 and 76 and his game is the butt of jokes. Everyone has an opinion on his swing and what he should do from here.
 Does he go out and play week after week as he did at the end of 1996 when he only had three months to make enough money to earn an exemption for the 1997 season? He took care of that problem by winning two of the seven events he played.
Does he walk away from the tour and reflect on a career guaranteed to see him ranked as one of the greatest four players ever? Being seen in the same company as Nicklaus, Jones and Ben Hogan is seriously awesome. He has nothing left to prove.
Or does he head to the range and beat balls until, hopefully, it comes back?
For all the expert and non-expert theories only he knows what his swing feels like and only he knows what goes through his head it the critical second from takeaway to impact. Only Ian Baker-Finch knew what he was feeling and thinking when he stood on the tee with the driver but he went from being one of the most reliable drivers in the game to one of the worst. 
It’s the yips and they drove Baker-Finch and Ballesteros from the tour. No one can play this game if they can’t put the ball into play. 
 Palmer and Watson never lost the driver. Rather their issues came at the other end of the hole with the shortest club in the bag.
Whatever Woods does and wherever he goes with his game it seems he too had his last great day before his 35^th birthday. Amazingly Hogan, who struggled for years with the game, won his first major championship at thirty-three.
Maybe the pressure of being at the top of the game for a prolonged period simply wears you out? Maybe Bobby Jones understood that when he retired at twenty-eight?
Jack Nicklaus remains the extraordinary benchmark. What a player he was