Tee times available for Montrose Links Men's Open Week, July 27 to 31
 

Spaces are still available for the annual Montrose Links Men's Open Week - held from Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July.

 To enter please contact 01674 672932.

For more information and to view the current draw please visit http://montroselinks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/MENS-OPEN-WEEK-DRAW-.pdf

 

 

Claire Penman
Company Secretary
Montrose Golf Links Limited
T: 44 (0) 1674 672932
F: 44 (0) 1674 671800
E: secretary@montroselinks.com

Nerves get to Paul Dunne, American 

 

Niebrugge wins Leading Amateur Silver Medal

 

Irishman Paul Dunne, sharing the lead in the Open at the start of the final day, found the occasion too big for him as most amateurs would in a similar situation.

A bundle of nerves, he was short of the Swilcan Burn at the first hole after two shots, and he two-putted for a bogey 5. Then he drove so far right from the second tee that his ball ended on the putting green by the practice range.

Dunn never settled, even thinning his final approach shot to the 18th, through the back of the green and into the long grass that has been allowed to grow there. He signed for a sad 78.

But the University of Alabama-Birmingham student will almost certainly be in the GB and I Walker Cup team for the September 12-13 match against the United States at Royal Lytham.

So too will be the winner of the Silver Medal as the leading amateur in the Open - American Jordan Niebrugge

Niebrugge pulled within three shots of the lead on the back nine until he could no longer keep up. He closed with a 2-under 70 to tie for sixth place overall.

Not only was he low amateur, the American became the first amateur since Chris Woods at Royal Birkdale in 2008 to finish in the top 10. Along with getting the silver medal, the top 10 means he gets to return to the Open next year at Royal Troon.
“The top accomplishment I’ve had so far,” said Niebrugge, a senior-to-be at Oklahoma State. “Just the silver medal in a major championship, especially at St. Andrews. It’s definitely a dream come true.”
Oliver Schniederjans of Georgia Tech, in his final tournament as a pro, got within two shots of the lead about two hours before the leaders started the final round. He shot a 67 and tied for 12th. Schniederjans is turning pro and will play the Canadian Open later this week.Niebrugge still has another year left as an amateur because he wants to finish his degree at Oklahoma State. His performance this week should make him a certainty to return to links golf in September as a member of the defending USA team in theWalker match.
“Just try and do everything I can to play my way onto the team,” Niebrugge said. “I’ve got a couple more events this summer left, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Zach Johnson wins three-way play-off, then 

pays tribute to Jordan Spieth
 
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

An emotional Zach Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off for The Open Championship to claim his second Major title.

Johnson is pictured with the Claret Jug by courtesy of Getty Images(c).
While it was ecstasy for 39-year-old American Johnson, his compatriot Jordan Spieth agonisingly failed to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.
Spieth needed a birdie on the 18th hole at St Andrews to join Johnson and Leishman on 15 under par 273 at the end of 72 holes, but saw his approach spin back off the green into the Valley of Sin and he narrowly missed the birdie attempt from there.
Johnson had set the clubhouse target after a closing 66 that was matched 40 minutes later by Australian Leishman, whose total of 130 for the third and fourth rounds - he carded a flawless 64 on Sunday - equalled the lowest 36-hole total in Major history.
Oosthuizen, who won The 2010 Open at St Andrews, still had two holes to play and after a crucial par save on the 17th, the South African birdied the last from five feet to make it a three-way aggregate play-off on the second Monday finish in Open history.
In the play-off, Johnson and Oosthuizen both birdied the first as Leishman three-putted from long range and Johnson edged ahead with another birdie on the second.
All three players bogeyed the 17th and Oosthuizen missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 18th to force sudden death, leaving Johnson to lift the Claret Jug, eight years after victory in the Masters Tournament
"I feel blessed to be the champion," said the 39 year old, who fought back tears after the win and was quickly congratulated by Spieth, eight days after finishing a shot behind his Ryder Cup team-mate in the John Deere Classic.
"I feel honoured to be part of the history of this game and to don my name on that trophy, especially with the names before me. Humbling and surreal are two words that come to mind. I am fairly speechless right now.
"I can't play any better than what I did. I had a lull on Friday and Saturday but nothing significant, but stayed in it and waited for the opportunities and made a few."
Johnson began the final round three shots behind leaders Oosthuizen, Jason Day and Irish amateur Paul Dunne, but birdies on the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth took him to the turn in 31.
Australia's Adam Scott matched that front nine and the pair also birdied the tenth, but as Scott's challenge collapsed on the back nine, his compatriot Leishman moved to the front.
Leishman, who had also covered the front nine in 31 and birdied the tenth and 12th, briefly held a two-shot lead when Johnson bogeyed the 17th, his right foot slipping on his second shot as a rain shower passed through.
But as Johnson rolled in a long birdie putt on the 18th, Leishman was failing to get up and down from a bunker on the 16th and the 31 year old from Warrnambool could not find a decisive birdie of his own on the last.
Spieth's chances of a third consecutive Major victory looked to have disappeared after he four-putted the eighth - sending his first putt off the green - to fall three behind, but the 21 year old birdied the ninth and tenth and holed from 50 feet on the 16th for another to tie the lead.
Johnson, preparing for a possible play-off on the practice ground, heard the roar and checked his phone to confirm what had happened but it was then Spieth's turn to bogey the 17th after mishitting his approach and coming up well short of the green.
The Masters and US Open winner pulled his drive on the 18th near the grandstands on the right-hand side of the first fairway and had to back off his second shot due to noise from spectators taking pictures.
And after regaining his composure the World Number Two - who would have overtaken the absent Rory McIlroy in the rankings with a victory - saw his approach spin back off the green into the Valley of Sin, from where Costantino Rocca famously holed 20 years ago to get into a play-off with John Daly.
However, this time there were no heroics and the birdie attempt slipped just past the hole, while playing partner Day left his birdie attempt to also get into the play-off inches short.
"I can't describe the magnitude as to what he (Spieth) was going through because I've never been in that position certainly," added Johnson, who moves from 25th to 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking. 

"We haven't really seen that with the exception of Tiger.
"Truthfully he (Spieth) could be sitting here. But to have a champion like Jordan take the time on 18 to give me best wishes speaks volumes as to what he is. 

"He's a phenomenal talent, and I'm telling you right now, he's a better person than he is a golfer."

Johnson won the richest Open on record - £6.5million of a prizefund. He earned £1,150,000 and Oosthizen and Leishman, offically joint runners-up, picked up £536,500 each.

LINK TO PLAY-OFF SCORING AND ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

 ADAM SCOTT BLOWS ANOTHER
 CHANCE OF OPEN VICTORY

Former Masters champion Adam Scott relived his Open nightmare from three years ago after collapsing over the final five holes at St Andrews.

The Australian was tied for the lead at the 144th Open midway through the back nine during the final round, but bogeyed the 614-yard 14th and then missed from a foot for par at the next.
He compounded matters by bogeying the 17th and then hitting his drive at the last - the widest fairway on the course - out of bounds for a double-bogey 6 to produce a finish reminiscent of his 2012 capitulation. He completed the back nine in 40 shots.
In 2012 at Royal Lytham, Scott reached the 14th with a four-shot lead, but bogeyed his last four holes to hand the Claret Jug to Ernie Els.
"It's hard to digest it all at the moment," said the visibly shocked 34-year-old, who broke his major drought by winning the green jacket in 2013.
"I probably needed a really good back nine and I had a really poor back nine. I feel like I wasn't even in it at that moment.
"Fourteen was my poorest shot I hit today and it cost me a bogey. That wasn't the end of the world but to miss a really short putt on the next, I don't really have an explanation for that.
"I just went up to tap it in from a foot and it lipped out. It is just one of those stupid things that happens and that really put me in a tough position to where finishing with a handful of threes was unlikely on a day like today.
"I'm disappointed the way I played the last five holes for sure. I could have done a lot better than that.
"It's a shame not to get in there and finish with a shot (at winning) but maybe it was too much to ask."

Link to Dutch Junior Open final totals

CLICK HERE

Nairn Dunbar's David Torrance honoured by PGA

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 
The PGA has awarded David Torrance, head professional at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club since 1999, with the status of Fellow Professional.

"This acknowledges my commitment to personal development and coaching successes all the way up to National level," said David who turned professional in 1981 before qualifying in 1985. 
He held assistant professional positions at Ralston, Murrayfield, Bruntsfield, Moor Park, Kinross and Gullane before becoming. Head Professional at Newbattle in 1991 for eight years.
David then moved to Nairn Dunbar where he has held the post of Head Professional since 1999.
He has been North District coach from 2005 and Scottish Golf National Academy coach since 2006.
Over a two-year period, while at Newbattle, Torrance helped to reduce Hilary Monahan’s handicap from 3 to plus 3, winning her a Curtis Cup team place. 
During his time at Nairn Dunbar, David has helped produce eight Scottish international players – Bryan Fotheringham, Fraser Fotheringham, Russell Knox, Kelsey MacDonald, Hannah McCook, Andrew Burgess, Sandy Scott and Rory Franssen.
Fraser and Kelsey both started being coached by David when they were aged nine

Russell Knox (left) with David Torrance at Nairn Dunbar GC when Russell was made an honorary member of the club on his way to the Open.

PGA EuroPro Tour events will have World 

Ranking Points on offer from this week

NEWS RELEASE

At its recent meeting at The 144^th Open the Governing Board of the Official World Golf Ranking approved the inclusion of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour into the OWGR system.

The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour, along with the three other three third-tier satellite tours in Europe, will enter the World Golf Ranking points system from this week, with a minimum level of four points awarded to first place in a 54-hole event.

The winner of the Wealth Design Invitational, to be staged at Hawkstone Park Golf Club this week, will be the first EuroPro champion to earn Official World Golf Ranking points. Players finishing in the top four will all earn points.

The winner of the Clipper Logistics Players Championship at Moor Allerton Golf Club in August, the first 72-hole event to be played on a European Tour third-tier satellite, will earn six OWGR points with the top six golfers all earning OWGR points.

Shot Scope gains investment to manufacture wearable tech for golfers in Scotland

NEWS RELEASE

Scottish start-up Shot Scope announced today that it has received investment of £415,000 to launch its wearable performance tracking technology for golfers to the US and UK markets. 

Business angel syndicate Equity Gap led the deal and was joined by two other investors, the Scottish Investment Bank – the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise – and the University of Edinburgh’s in-house venture capital fund, Old College Capital.

Shot Scope will use the investment to build its team, complete product development and start manufacturing ahead of launch in January 2016 at the global golf industry’s annual gathering, the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. 

Aimed at golfers of all levels who want to improve their performance, Shot Scope’s patent pending technology automatically collects scoring and statistical data as a golfer plays. On completion of a round, data is uploaded to the Shot Scope website or mobile app where statistics, analytics and maps detailing every shot are displayed in a graphical user interface.

Smaller than an average wristwatch, the technology does not require the golfer to push buttons or perform any actions that would interrupt their game.

Shot Scope was founded in 2013 by David Hunter, an electronics design engineer with seven years industry experience who was working as a secondary school teacher at the time. 

A keen golfer himself, Hunter understands the desire to learn from mistakes and improve play. But while other sports have seen a surge in wearable technologies designed to help with performance, nothing was available to track golfers’ stats automatically. 

He says: “Golfers have always been obsessed with tracking performance and it is amazing that in 2015 so many golfers, even professionals, rely on data collected with paper and pen.
" Shot Scope changes that by automatically collecting over 50 performance indicators, allowing you to identify your most crucial areas for improvement. For the first time it will give amateur golfers access to the kind of game changing information that professionals can only collect with a team of helpers.”

Shot Scope is committed to manufacturing the product in Scotland.

For further information or to make sure you are contacted when Shot Scope starts pre-selling please email info@shotscope.com

Gavin Dear

Business Development Manager

Shot Scope Ltd

Stars of tomorrow bid for Scottish boys' 

stroke-play title at Royal Burgess in Edinburgh

SGU NEWS RELEASE 

An international field of 144 players will tee up from tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Scottish boys' open stroke play championship at Royal Burgess Golfing Society's course in Edinburgh, seeking to claim one of the UK's most prestigious junior titles.

With a rich history and a proud record of attracting top quality fields, the Lothians venue will welcome talented Under-18 home hopefuls and those from countries such as England, Australia, Italy, Norway and Sweden. The 72-hole event runs from tomorrow until Thursday (21 – 23 July). 

Located on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the mature parkland lay-out is set to provide a fine test as the field seek to emulate last year’s champion at weather-hit Cruden Bay, Ewen Ferguson. 

The Bearsden player added the boys’ strokeplay title to the match-play crown he won at West Kilbride earlier in 2014, becoming the first player to do so since Scott Henry in 2004.

Lothians man Stephen Gallacher is one of many notable winners of the event, achieving back-to-back victories in 1991 and 1992. Fellow European Tour star Scott Jamieson took the 2001 title at Lanark, Henry won in 2004 while Walker Cup player James Byrne emerged victorious at Cardrona in 2007 with an impressive 14-under par total, beating Michael Stewart in a play-off.

Last year’s Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit winner, Cawder’s Calum Fyfe, is among the favourites at Royal Burgess this year, as well as Lothian players like Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy), Joseph Bryce (Bathgate) and Christopher Curran (Harburn). 

The Scottish boys' champion, Will Porter from Carnoustie, will also hope to shine, as will in-form Sandy Scott from Nairn, the current Boys' Order of Merit leader, and Deeside’s Michael Lawrie, the younger son of the 1999 Open champion, Paul.

Royal Burgess are looking forward to a great week of golf and captain John Fraser, a member of Scotland's Seniors team, said: "We’re delighted to be hosting this week's event, the course is in great condition, and we look forward to watching the best young players in the country in action."

Royal Burgess, which was originally designed by Willie Park  junior with subsequent improvements from Harry Colt and Philip Mackenzie Ross, are enjoying a boost in junior golf themselves, helping develop the game in the Lothians.

“We are organising a pro-am this year to raise funds for the Stephen Gallacher Foundation,” continued Fraser. “This is our way of supporting junior golf in the Lothians.

“Secondly, there is lots of negative publicity about those under 30 years of age not joining golf clubs, but we now have 110 youth members and I think if more clubs made it attractive for young people to join they would.”

 

> View draw for the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship

 

Link to live scoring from last round of Open Championship

CLICK HERE

Scott Piercy wins  US PGA Tour event 

with eight-birdie finale

FROM SKY SPORTS.COM

Scott Piercy carded a closing six-under-par 65 in Alabama to clinch the inaugural Barbasol Championship by three strokes on Sunday.

The 36-year-old rolled in eight birdies over the Grand National course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail to end a three-year wait for his third US PGA Tour title.
The Las Vegan made four birdies in his opening six holes, as he reached the turn in 31 strokes to take a firm grip of the tournament.
Piercy had been joint leader after 54 holes with fellow American Ricky Barnes and, after clinching the winner's cheque for $630,000, admitted he had played nearly flawless golf all day.
He said: "I think I hit 17 greens and almost all the par-fives in two. So it's going to be hard to lose, I guess, when you do that.      
"I had 17 birdie putts today and three eagle putts so I struck it awesome, awesome. I am really excited."
Play was held up on Sunday for more than hour due to the threat of lightning but it could not prevent Piercy from celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary in style.
He holed out from 57 feet at the second green and never looked back, as he posted back-to-back 65s.
His closest challenger was Alabama native Will Wilcox who birdied the last two holes for a 67 to finish in second spot.
As for Barnes, the co-leader after three rounds, he bogeyed each of the last two holes for a 70 to finish in a tie-for-third - five strokes off the pace.
But the day belonged to Piercy who could even afford the luxury of a three-putt bogey at 17 before securing his first title since winning the Canadian Open in July 2012.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

McNae makes ground on South Order

 of Merit leader Brodie

Martin McNae (Lochmaben) closed the gap on leader David Brodie (Wigtown and Bladnoch) to 43.3pt in the James Erskine PGA Professional-sponsored South of Scotland Order of Merit with his 30pt gain at the Sutherland Chalice on Sunday.
Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) and Michael Grunwell (Powfoot) both made good progress up the OOM by being the top placed South players. Both earned 67.5pts.

LATEST TABLE
1 David Brodie (Wigtown and Bladnoch) 348.3
2 Martin McNae (Lochmaben) 305
3 Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) 242.5
4 Ross Murray (Southerness) 185
5 Michael Grunwell (Powfoot) 157.5
6 Craig Smith (Dalbeattie) 135
7 Kevin Adams (Dalbeattie) 125
8 Stuart Fisher (Portpatrick) 113.3
9 Clark Riddick (Southerness) 111.7
T10 Ian Reid (Dumfries and Galloway) 105
T10 Alan Birdsall (Dumfries and Co) 105
12 Connor Bennewith (Newton Stewart) 105
13 Craig Scobie (Lochmaben) 100
14 Liam Carruthers (Powfoot) 96.7
15 Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 83.3
T16 Leslie Irvine (Lochmaben)    80
T16 Jay McWilliam (Portpatrick)    80
18 Stevie Thompson (Gatehouse)    75
T19 Wes Blayney (Southerness)    70
T19 Ian Johnstone (Wigtownshire Co) 70
T19 Gary Marshall (Stranraer)    70
T19 James Caldwell (Portpatrick) 70
23 George Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) 65
24 Neil Hamilton (Powfoot)    55
T25 William Squires (Kirkcudbright) 50
T25 Roy Kerr (Southerness)    50
T27 Jim Graham (Lochmaben)    40
T27 Scott Henderson (Lochmaben)    40
T27 Jamie Telfer (Wigtown and Bladnoch)    40
T27 Alan White (Newton Stewart)    40
T27 Graeme Hoodless (Newton Stewart)    40
T27 Andrew Kerr (Crichton)    40
T27 Rory Brunton (Dumfries and Co)    40
T34 Dean Armstrong (Lochmaben)    31.7
T34 Lee McMichael (Thornhill)    31.7
T36 Jimmy Lennox (Lochmaben)    30
T36 Davie King (Southerness)    30
T38 David McCreadie (Newton Stewart) 20
T38 Sean McCulloch (Stranraer)    20
T38 Steven Foot (Powfoot)    20
T41 Derek Douglas (Southerness)    11.7
T41 Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas)11.7
43 Jamie Parker (Southerness)    10
T44 Eddie Adamson (Portpatrick)    7.5
T44 Robin Shaw (Wigtownshire Co)    7.5
           
       
Next Counting Event: Brotherston Trophy (Dumfries & County) 26th July 2015   
       

 Hamilton's Stewart Henderson wins Robeck 

Trophy at last!

Stewart Henderson of Hamilton won the Lady De Robeck Trophy on Sunday  at Carnwath for the first time after 30 years of trying. Stewart is a regular winner on the Lanarkshire 36-hole circuit but this is his first success at Carnwath. 

Henderson, pictured, scored 67 and 68 for 135 to win by five srokes from Mark O’Donnell (71-69), also of Hamilton

Results: 

CSS 70 69       

135 S Henderson (Hamilton) 67 68

140 M O’Donnell (Hamilton) 71 69

141 T Martin (Sandyhills) 71 70 

143 J Lamb (Lanark) 70 73, P Burke (Hamilton) 73 70.

144 C Neill (Mt Ellen) 75 69, D Dougan (Airdrie) 74 70.

145 B Shaw (Biggar) 72 73

147 A Bridges (Ratho Park) 76 71
148 D Keeney (Hamilton) 76 72, S Kane (Hollandbush) 72 76

149 M McLeod (Lanark) 78 71 

151 P Boyd (Shotts) 73 78

153 J Ralston (Shotts) 76 77

154 G Forbes (Carnwath) 76 78, A Collier (Duke's) 79 75

 Lanarkshire hit Glasgow for six in boys' match

Lanarkshire had a convincing 6-2 win over Glasgow at Colville Park in the West of Scotland Boys' League.

Many of the Glasgow boys were younger and playing for the first time at county level.

Results (Lanarkshire names first)

C Paterson (Strathaven) lost to B McCartney (Cawder) 4 and 3.

K McAllister (Easter Moffat) bt C Holland (Cawder) 8 and 7.
G Dalziel (Kirkhill) bt L Fleming (Haggs Castle) 5 and 3.
L Irvine (Kirkhill) bt C McMillan (Bishopbriggs) 5 and 4.

M Ronald (East Kilbride) bt J White (Bishopbriggs) 7 and 6.

K McVicar (East  Kilbride) lost to J Williams (Sandyhills) 1 hole

D Fair (Strathaven) bt L McCartney (Cawder) 1 hole

A Thomson (Lanark) bt A Melrose (Haggs Castle)  6 and 5

Lanarkshire’s next game is against Renfrewshire at Kirkhill Golf Club on Sunday, August 23 

Willie Sharpe 

Press Officer

Lanarkshire Golf Association