Scottish Young Professionals Championship at West Lothian GC

2013 champion Paul O'Hara leads  despite a 

quadruple bogey 8

Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) has made a solid start in his bid to regain  the Scottish Young Professionals Championship he last won in 2013.
In this week's 72-hole tournament at West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness, O'Hara teed off  with a tournament-leading round of four-under-par 67 today.

Astonishingly, O'Hara is in the pole position in a field of 75 players after the first of four rounds despite a quadruple bogey 8 at 16th hole.

Paul (pictured) had an eagle 3 at the 12th and birdies at the third, fourth, fifth, eighth, 14th and 17th in halves of four-under 32 and level par 35.

The quadruple were the only shots he dropped all day.

O'Hara could have been several strokes clear going into the second round but the fact that he is only a shot ahead of Steven Maxwell (Eastwood) and Ross Munro (Duddingston), and two in front of three players on the 69 mark, Michael Mackenzie (Edzell), Sam McLaren (Blairgowrie) and Colin Robinson (Elie Links) but not be good for Paul but it is for the competitiveness of the championship.

Maxwell, Munro and Robinson all came back in 31, jointly the lowest inward halves of the day. Robinson had a birdie 3 at the hole which cost O'Hara 8 and the Elie Links man surged into the leading six overnight with birdies at the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th.
Title-holder Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) is under pressure to make the cut after opening with a seven-over-par 78
There will be a cut after the second round with the qualifiers playing two rounds on the final day.

ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 71

67 P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf)

68 S Maxwell (Eastwood), R Munro (Duddingston)

69 M Mackenzie (Edzell), S McLaren (Blairgowrie), C Robinson (Elie Links).

70 L Gaughan (Bathgate), K McNicoll (Gullane), A Welsh (Cathkin Braes).

71 P Mitchell (Stirling), R Clarke (Gamola Golf), C Goodwin (Duff House Royal), J Gallagher (Douglas Park).

72 N Cameron (Blairgowrie), M Penny (Montrose Links), T Dingwall (Kemnay), J Treasurer (Loch Ness), S Craigon (Balbirnie Park).

73 S Binning (Mearns Castle), C Marr (MusselC Aburgh), K Moran (Balbirnie Park), S Watters (Balbirnie Park), G Paterson (St Andrews Links GA), C Farrell (Cardross), S Fay (Royal Dornoch).

74 S Milne (Balbirnie Park), D Flannery (Caldwell), R Tinker (Piperdam), F Robertson (Lundin), J Bell (Craigmillar Park).

75 C Armstrong (Burntisland), J Fraser (Renaissance), C Porciani (Turnberry Hotel)

76 S Speirs (Swanston New), F Cramb (Crieff), M Kaney (Bruntsfield Links), I Anderson (Colville Park), F Thomson (Turnberry Hotel), G Forbes (Mar Hall), C Beveridge (West Kilbride), A Hutcheson (Douglas Park)

77 G Wright (Ladybank), J Dick (Duddingston), R Black (Inverness), C Billows (Gleneagles), Ailsa Bain (Gullane), P  Whelan (Bathgate), R Mitchell (Paul Lawrie GC), J Thorburn (Kingsbarns), Helen Searle (Gailes G and L), D Stein (Ranfurly Castle).

78 D Thorburn (Braid Hills), B Harvey (Glasgow), G Hay (Nairn Dunbar), R Mackenzie-Smith (Carnegie Club)

79 J Brown (Dumfries and Co), S Smith (Scotscrag)

80 A Todd (Downfield), R Stirling (Lanark), M Thomson (Panmure), C Fountain (Buchanan Castle), Kirstin Scott (Gleneagles).

81 D Ramsay (Mory), S Costello (Strathaven), D Lee (unatt), R King (Carrick on Loch Lomond), R Miller (Kings Acre), M Patterson (Cruden Bay), S Wilson (Carrick on Loch Lomond).

82 R Delaney (unatt), D Swinley (Prestonfield)

83 A Todd (Prestwick), C Dick (Royal Burgess)

86 K Cooney (Kingsbarns), Nichola Ferguson (American Golf)

Tee times for Panmure Golf Club pro-am
July 22, 2015

  1   8:30 AM   Andrew Crerar, Panmure Golf Club

  1   8:40 AM   Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd.

  1   9:00 AM   Gareth Hardy, Belleisle Golf Course

  1   9:10 AM   Garry Forrester, St Andrews Golf School

  1   9:20 AM   Christopher McMaster, Wellsgreen Golf Range

  1   9:30 AM   David Orr, Eastwood Golf Club

  1   9:40 AM   Sam McLaren, Blairgowrie Golf Club

  1   9:50 AM   Fraser Mann, The Carnoustie Golf Club

  1   10:00 AM  Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club

  1   10:20 AM  Greg McBain, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

  1   10:40 AM  Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

  1   10:50 AM  Paul McKechnie, Braid Hills Golf Range

  1   11:00 AM  Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre

  1   11:10 AM  Craig Ronald, Carluke Golf Club

  1   11:20 AM  Gareth Wright, West Linton Golf Club

  1   11:30 AM  Alan Tait, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count

  1   11:40 AM  Jason McCreadie, Largs Golf Club

  1   11:50 AM  Gavin Hay, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club

  1   12:00 PM  Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club

  1   12:10 PM  Keir McNicoll, Gullane Golf Club

  1   12:20 PM  David Patrick, Kingsfield Golf Centre

  1   12:30 PM  Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count

null
  1   12:50 PM  Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

  1   1:00 PM   Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range

  1   1:10 PM   Chris Kelly

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

Sir Nick and caddie Fanny reunited for St 

Andews farewell

NEWS RELEASE
Britain’s most decorated Major Champion, Sir Nick Faldo, will be hoping that a return to one of his spiritual homes can provide the inspiration for a bold title challenge in next month’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.
Sunningdale Old Course is the venue for the 2015 edition of the Championship, and Sir Nick will head to the Berkshire-Surrey border from July 23-26 riding a wave of emotion following his last opportunity to compete in an Open at the Old Course, St Andrews, the previous week.
“I imagine it will be a roller-coaster couple of weeks,” admitted the knighted Englishman, who won the second of his three Open titles at the Home of Golf in 1990.
 “It is definitely my farewell to St Andrews, as I won’t be eligible next time around, although I haven’t quite ruled out playing at Royal Troon in 2016, as it was the first Open venue I attended with my dad as a 16 year old. I am just keeping my options open.
 “However, I am really looking forward to playing – and hopefully playing well – at St Andrews, all that golf will put me in good stead for the Senior Open at Sunningdale. Both venues mean an incredible amount to me, and I hope I can stay fit and strong and shake the rust from my game to do myself justice.
“Returning to these two famous Old Courses is an enjoyable part of life’s circle and the memories of St Andrews and Sunningdale are naturally very vivid, even all these years later.”
 It is more than 40 years since a Welwyn Garden City teenager – then plain Nick Faldo – first played Sunningdale Old Course and he reflected: “I think I played for Hertfordshire in a County match and stayed locally in a hotel in Ascot. It all felt very posh! I remember thinking how amazing the greens were. I’d never putted on anything quite as good in my young life.
“To return some years later to win the European Open at the same venue was a huge thrill. It is the perfect example of a beautiful, pure, heathland course, where the ball can run and run if it’s dry. It is, quite simply, a classic Harry Colt design.”
 Back in 1992, he delivered a real masterclass at Sunningdale, shooting rounds of 67-66-64-65 to win that European Open, one of six victories during a remarkable season in which he topped the European Order of Merit and in the process became the first player to complete a season with total earnings in excess of £1 million. Now a highly-acclaimed golf analyst on American TV, Faldo is bracing himself for a whirlwind two weeks doing what he loves best.
He added: “TV takes up a lot of my time nowadays, so it’s tough to pretend to be a golfer again. However, I want to enjoy the experiences at St Andrews and Sunningdale. My son, Matthew, will be on my bag and daughters Emma and Georgia will be watching along with some of my friends.
“Also, I’ve invited Fanny Sunesson to re-enact the good old times at St Andrews in the Four Hole Champions Challenge on the Wednesday of Open week. Unbelievably, it’s 25 years since she joined forces with me, and together we won the Masters and The Open in our first year. I think you call that a flying start to our association!
“I would love to make the cut at St Andrews and get in a good week, physically and mentally, so that I am good shape for Sunningdale. Of course, it’s a different game with the scorecard in your hand again.”
The six-time Major Champion is part of a world class field of legends of the game competing at Sunningdale, including defending champion Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Mark O’Meara, Tom Lehman and Fred Couples.
Time is running out to purchase discounted tickets in advance of gate prices. Anyone buying tickets before this Wednesday (July 1) will be able to do so for £70 (season ticket) and £25 (one day ticket)
Wednesday practice day tickets are only £12. Under 16s are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult and parking is also free.

Preview of Central Scotland Seniors Open 

at Glenbervie on Thursday-Friday

By GORDON THOMSON

The Scottish Seniors Golfing Society circuit moves to Glenbervie on Thursday and Friday for the Central Scotland Seniors Open, sponsored by McCrea Financial Services.

Ronnie Clark (Erskine) has won this event in the last two years and is bidding for a hat-trick of wins on a course which clearly suits his game.

There is a full field of 140 for the event with a good mix of ages and handicaps and all are looking forward to the challenge of playing one of the finest inland courses in  Scotland. With the international team selections looming, July is an important month for the over 55’s to advance their claims with the Matchplay Championship and the South of Scotland Seniors Open also taking place.

Following his tie for first place at Cardross, Keith Reilly (Silverknowes) leads the Order of Merit, followed by Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon), the ever consistent David Gardner (Broomieknowe) and Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth).

Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) lies fifth in the main Order of Merit and now leads the Handicap Order of Merit with Keith Reilly lying in second place, reflecting just how well some of the lower handicap players have been performing.

Competition is also hotting up in the Super Seniors (over 65) Order of Merit race with Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) in front with Tom Sirel (Largs ) and Ken Thomson (Bramall Park ) in close pursuit.

 Lee Vannet pipped Gary Forbes on countback at George Bruce Testimonial pro-am
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Apologies for the late news from the George Bruce Testimonial pro-am at Westhill but I have been over at Malone Golf Club, Belfast for the Vagliano and Junior Vagliano Trophy matches.
A three-hour delay at Belfast Airport coming home on Sunday put everything back in the schedule

Craibstone pro Lee Vannet (pictured) tells me:
"I shot 70 level par to win on a count back from Gary Forbes. Joel Hopwood had a 71 for third place.

"It was a great day, Stewart Syme, the PGA Scottish Region Captain, took part and spoke at the prize giving. He was very appreciative of the golf club and all the membership and was delighted to see the club thriving and being so proactive with their junior programme, all thanks to their PGA professional, George Bruce."

Bubba Watson  beats Paul Casey in play-off

Bubba Watson claimed his second Travelers Championship title on the US PGA Tour after edging past Paul Casey on the second extra play-off hole.

The world No 5 let a three-shot lead slip on the back nine to finish tied with Casey on 16-under, but was able to birdie the 18th at the third visit to take victory at TPC River Highlands .
Watson opened his final round 67 with back-to-back birdies and extended his advantage by nailing a 40-foot eagle putt at the 13th, but saw his lead disappear with a blemish at 17 as Casey posted three birdies in four holes.
With the Englishman already in the clubhouse after finishing five-under, Watson completed the last in regulation to send both players back to the 18th tee.

Paul Casey

The pair both made pars on the first extra hole, the Englishman made a mess of the second extra hole with a wayward tee shot and then sending his chip from the bunker over the green, taking the pressure off Watson. 
"Casey played great," Watson said. "I hung on and that's what we have to do sometimes to win."
Overnight leader Brian Harman lost ground with back-to-back bogeys at the ninth and tenth, but ended one off the pace after holing a 30-foot putt at the last for a second successive birdie.
Third place secures Harman qualification to next month’s Open Championship, with Graham DeLaet, Carl Pettersson and Luke Donald also booking their entry to St Andrews with strong performances.
DeLaet had a chance to move in to a three-way tie for the lead with a gain at the last, but left his third shot from the fringe 15 feet short and two-putted for bogey.  
Sweden's Carl Pettersson struck five birdies in a final-round 66 to finish three shots back, with Zach Johnson a further stroke adrift after closing his week with a 69.

Travelers Championship final totals and prizemoney

1	x-Bubba Watson	62	67	68	67				264	$1,152,000
2	Paul Casey	67	68	64	65				264	$691,200
3	Brian Harman	66	65	65	69				265	$435,200
4	Graham DeLaet	67	66	64	69				266	$307,200
5	Carl Pettersson	65	66	70	66				267	$256,000
6	Zach Johnson	65	70	64	69				268	$230,400
T7	Luke Donald	68	68	67	66				269	$199,467
T7	Bo Van Pelt	70	68	65	66				269	$199,467
T7	Mark Wilson	66	68	67	68				269	$199,467
T10	Jon Curran	67	67	67	69				270	$147,200
T10	Ken Duke	69	68	67	66				270	$147,200
T10	Jason Gore	64	68	69	69				270	$147,200
T10	Brandt Snedeker	68	68	63	71				270	$147,200
T10	Chris Stroud	65	67	68	70				270	$147,200
T15	Mark D. Anderson	67	71	65	68				271	$102,400
T15	Steven Bowditch	68	68	69	66				271	$102,400
T15	Martin Laird	70	67	67	67				271	$102,400
T15	Nicholas Thompson	66	67	70	68				271	$102,400
T15	Brendon Todd	67	70	67	67				271	$102,400
T20	Brice Garnett	66	69	66	71				272	$71,936
T20	Seung-yul Noh	64	69	71	68				272	$71,936
T20	Kyle Stanley	67	68	68	69				272	$71,936
T20	David Toms	69	67	66	70				272	$71,936
T20	Gary Woodland	66	69	68	69				272	$71,936
T25	Chad Campbell	68	70	69	66				273	$41,234
T25	Harris English	64	71	67	71				273	$41,234
T25	Tony Finau	68	69	66	70				273	$41,234
T25	Sergio Garcia	67	68	66	72				273	$41,234
T25	Billy Horschel	67	69	66	71				273	$41,234
T25	Scott Langley	65	68	73	67				273	$41,234
T25	Danny Lee	66	67	69	71				273	$41,234
T25	William McGirt	67	69	66	71				273	$41,234
T25	Francesco Molinari	67	66	69	71				273	$41,234
T25	Cheng-Tsung Pan	67	68	71	67				273	$41,234
T25	Scott Pinckney	67	71	67	68				273	$41,234
T25	Chez Reavie	70	65	71	67				273	$41,234
T25	Brendan Steele	67	71	68	67				273	$41,234
T25	Brian Stuard	64	67	71	71				273	$41,234
T39	Keegan Bradley	64	69	71	70				274	$23,680
T39	Chad Collins	70	67	69	68				274	$23,680
T39	Robert Garrigus	65	72	70	67				274	$23,680
T39	Morgan Hoffmann	67	71	67	69				274	$23,680
T39	Colt Knost	67	70	69	68				274	$23,680
T39	Marc Leishman	70	67	68	69				274	$23,680
T39	Patrick Rodgers	68	70	63	73				274	$23,680
T39	Cameron Smith	73	65	68	68				274	$23,680
T39	Nick Watney	69	64	70	71				274	$23,680
T48	Aaron Baddeley	68	66	68	73				275	$16,085
T48	Jason Kokrak	69	66	69	71				275	$16,085
T48	Spencer Levin	68	68	67	72				275	$16,085
T48	Jeff Overton	69	69	71	66				275	$16,085
T48	John Peterson	70	66	69	70				275	$16,085
T48	Jim Renner	67	68	70	70				275	$16,085
T54	Scott Brown	65	67	73	71				276	$14,528
T54	Derek Ernst	68	67	67	74				276	$14,528
T54	Cameron Percy	69	69	68	70				276	$14,528
T54	Alexandre Rocha	66	70	69	71				276	$14,528
T54	Byron Smith	69	67	69	71				276	$14,528
T54	Jhonattan Vegas	66	69	67	74				276	$14,528
T60	Steve Alker	70	68	68	71				277	$13,888
T60	J.J. Henry	68	67	72	70				277	$13,888
T60	Jonathan Randolph	67	69	71	70				277	$13,888
T60	Tyrone Van Aswegen	68	69	69	71				277	$13,888
T64	Tom Hoge	68	70	73	67				278	$13,440
T64	David Lingmerth	68	68	72	70				278	$13,440
T64	Bryce Molder	66	71	70	71				278	$13,440
T64	Jon Rahm	68	69	69	72				278	-
T68	Tom Gillis	65	71	74	70				280	$13,056
T68	Jim Herman	67	71	70	72				280	$13,056
T68	Will MacKenzie	65	69	72	74				280	$13,056
T71	Eric Axley	68	70	70	73				281	$12,736
T71	Mark Hubbard	68	68	70	75				281	$12,736
T73	Ryan Armour	68	71	MC	MC				139	-
T73	Charlie Beljan	70	69	MC	MC				139	-
T73	Jason Bohn	66	73	MC	MC				139	-
T73	Jonathan Byrd	67	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Stewart Cink	69	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Gonzalo Fernandez-Casta	68	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Adam Hadwin	67	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	John Huh	69	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	John Merrick	72	67	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Troy Merritt	69	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	David Pastore	70	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Patrick Reed	67	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Kevin Streelman	69	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Justin Thomas	69	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Johnson Wagner	68	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T73	Will Wilcox	71	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	139	-
T89	Blake Adams	72	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Jonas Blixt	68	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Matt Every	68	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Lucas Glover	67	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Matt Jones	72	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Lee McCoy	74	66	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Sung Joon Park	69	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Kyle Reifers	70	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Andres Romero	69	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Vijay Singh	72	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Richard Sterne	74	66	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Hudson Swafford	68	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T89	Michael Thompson	71	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	140	-
T102	Blayne Barber	69	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Angel Cabrera	69	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Derek Fathauer	70	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Martin Flores	71	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Padraig Harrington	66	75	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Andrew Loupe	71	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Hunter Mahan	72	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Kevin Na	73	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Alex Prugh	72	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T102	Tim Wilkinson	71	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	141	-
T112	Roberto Castro	73	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Greg Chalmers	70	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Erik Compton	68	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Ernie Els	66	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Oscar Fraustro	73	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Luke Guthrie	68	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Max Homa	70	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Ryo Ishikawa	68	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Jerry Kelly	75	67	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Whee Kim	67	75	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Louis Oosthuizen	71	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Greg Owen	72	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Heath Slocum	72	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Zack Sucher	70	72	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Peter Uihlein	72	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T112	Brendon de Jonge	73	69	MC	MC	-	-	-	142	-
T128	Robert Allenby	70	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Sang-Moon Bae	70	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Davis Love III	72	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Carlos Ortiz	72	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Michael Putnam	70	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Carlos Sainz Jr.	72	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Roger Sloan	69	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T128	Steve Wheatcroft	75	68	MC	MC	-	-	-	143	-
T136	Tim Clark	70	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	144	-
T136	Branden Grace	67	77	MC	MC	-	-	-	144	-
T136	Len Mattiace	71	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	144	-
T136	Daniel Summerhays	71	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	144	-
T140	Ricky Barnes	69	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	145	-
T140	Jean-Philip Cornellier	72	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	145	-
T140	Andres Gonzales	75	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	145	-
T140	Andrew Svoboda	72	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	145	-
T144	Brad Adamonis	72	74	MC	MC	-	-	-	146	-
T144	Alex Cejka	73	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	146	-
T144	Bill Lunde	73	73	MC	MC	-	-	-	146	-
T144	Sean O'Hair	70	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	146	-
T144	Nick Taylor	75	71	MC	MC	-	-	-	146	-
149	Zac Blair	71	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	147	-
T150	Brian Davis	72	77	MC	MC	-	-	-	149	-
T150	Tim Petrovic	79	70	MC	MC	-	-	-	149	-
T150	Mike Weir	72	77	MC	MC	-	-	-	149	-
153	Junhak Lee	75	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	151	-
154	Ben Curtis	78	76	MC	MC	-	-	-	154	-
155	Kyle Bilodeau	76	80	MC	MC	-	-	-	156	-
156	Russell Knox	73	WD	WD	WD	-	-	-	73	-
x- won playoff