Aberdonian leads Challenge Tour event by two strokes at halfway

DAVID LAYS DOWN THE LAW IN FRANCE 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIPONS
 Aberdeen's David Law established a two-stroke lead at the halfway point of the Challenge Tour's Cordon Golf Open in France thanks to a one under par 69 in round two.
The 24 year old followed up his impressive opening 64 with three birdies and two bogeys at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André in Brittany to reach seven under overall, two clear of Spaniard Borja Virto Astudillo, Dane Mads Søggard, who both signed for 68s, and Frenchman Alexandre Widemann, who shone with a 65.
Law had to complete his first round – albeit one hole – early this morning, before a quick turnaround to start round two.
“Last night when we stopped I was about to putt on the 17th when the hooter sounded, and I holed the putt,” he said. “So it was a nice way to finish. This morning I made a good putt on the 18th for a 64 and felt great.
“Then I had an hour before going back on the course, so I had breakfast, hit a few balls and got ready to go again.
“Today was very similar but I didn’t hole so many putts, so that was probably the difference. My game was in good shape again, and I’m playing well off the tee. A few more putts could have dropped, but overall I’m happy.
“I’ll work on my putting before tomorrow and hopefully I’ll sink a few tomorrow.”
Twice winner of the Scottish amateur championship, Law, who has finished in the top ten in his last two appearances, is excited to lead the way heading into the weekend as he goes in search of his first Challenge Tour win.
“I’m feeling good,” he added. “I really like this course and it suits my game well. It’s in great condition, too. It’s not the longest course we play but it’s tricky and bad shots get punished. I’m playing well though and really looking forward to the weekend.”

Two players were still to complete round two when darkness called a halt to play on Friday evening.

ROUND TWO SCOREBOARD
 


133 D Law (Sco) 64 69,
135 B Virto Astudillo (Esp) , M Søgaard  (Den) , A Widemann (Fra) ,
136 D Huizing (Ned) , C Selfridge  (Nir) , J Doherty  (Sco) 66 70 , S Arnold  (Aus) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , A Saddier (Fra) ,
137 M Orrin (Eng) , N Ravano (Ita) , S Soderberg (Swe) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , N Turner (Irl) , T Remkes (Ned) ,
138 S Manley (Wal) , A Bernadet  (Fra) , H Joannes  (Bel) , M McGeady (Irl) , J Robinson (Eng) , C Gloet  (Den) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) ,
139 J Adarraga Gomez  (Esp) , R Enoch  (Wal) , P Whiteford (Sco) , G Shaw (Nir) , N Lemke (Swe) ,
140 J Dantorp (Swe) , S Walker (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , C Berardo (Fra) , R Coles (Eng) , B Parker  (Eng) , R Fox (Nzl) ,
141 N Bertasio (Ita) , D Nouailhac (Fra) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , J Sjöholm (Swe) , J Winther (Den) , A Björk (Swe) , J Hahn (USA) , L Gagli  (Ita) , A Hartø  (Den) , C Arendell (USA) , M Rocchi  (Fra) , S Heisele (Ger) , D Stewart (Sco) , S Gros (Fra) , R Langasque (am) (Fra) ,
142 P Relecom  (Bel) , G Houston (Wal) , N Geyger (Chi) , S Kim (USA) , F Praegant (Aut) , S Fallon (Eng) , W Harrold (Eng) , C Ford (Eng) , C Tortuyaux (Fra) , C Sordet  (Fra) , T Anderson  (Eng) , S Einhaus (Ger) , S Hodgson (Eng) , P Tarver-Jones (Eng) ,
143 E Vieilledent (Fra) , J Guerrier  (Fra) , J Glennemo (Swe) , T Elissalde  (Fra) , G Porteous (Eng) , R Gouveia (Por) , J Hansen  (Den) , C Russo (Fra) , S Brown (Eng) , D Suazo Gonzalez (Esp) , A Anghert (Fra) , S Jeppesen  (Swe) , F Marty (Fra) , A Grenier  (Fra) , S Henry  (Sco) ,
144 A Knappe (Ger) , J Watts (Eng) , J Verselin (Fra) , S Tiley (Eng) , A Bihan (Fra) , V Perez (Fra) , J Sarasti  (Esp) , E Dubois (Fra) , C Hanson (Eng) , M Trappel  (Aut) , M Schneider (Ger) , L Claverie (Esp) , G Schoeb (am) (Fra) ,
145 M Salminen (Fin) , M Wiegele  (Aut) , E Saltman  (Sco) , R Davies (Wal) , P Figueiredo  (Por) , R Kellett (Sco) , P Dwyer (Eng) , T Tree (Eng) , M Lafeber (Ned) ,
146 F Calmels  (Fra) , A Snobeck  (Fra) , L Nemecz (Aut) , O Bekker (RSA) , T Cruz  (Por) , N Quintarelli (Ita) , C Batut (Fra) , J Kunzenbacher (Ger) ,
147 J Grillon  (Fra) , J Stalter (Fra) , M Radureau (Fra) ,
148 D Im (USA) , A Hortal  (Esp) , J Billing (Swe) , V Riu  (Fra) , P Archer (Eng) , J Rask (Swe) ,
149 E Bertheussen (Nor) , M Decottignies-Lafon (Fra) , K Vigneron (Fra) , K Subregis  (Fra) , G Drakeford (Aus) , D Antonelli (Fra) , E Cuartero Blanco  (Esp) , B Neil (Sco) ,
150 J Huldahl (Den) , D Bobrowski (Fra) , C Pasquet (Fra) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , N Kimsey (Eng) ,
151 J Gonnet  (Fra) , A Rota (Ita) , D Ulrich (Sui) , D Borda (Esp) , G Murray  (Sco) ,
152 S Echikson  (Bel) , M Montgaillard (Fra) , B Chapellan (Fra) , L Vaisanen (Fin) , M Ducler (Fra) , J Carlota (Por) ,
154 K Le Sager  (Fra) , R Lenahan (USA) , C Brazillier  (Fra) , S Fernoux (Fra) ,
156 D Palm (Swe) ,
157 J Hall  (Eng) ,
158 M Fenasse (Fra) ,
160 A Schwartz (Fra) ,
161 J Senior (Eng) ,
164 U Coussaud (am) (Fra) ,
** C Mivis  (Bel), A McArthur  (Sco),
Still to finish: 70 G Woolgar (Eng), 74 O Stark (Swe),

Colin Palmer, jun is Fife Male Golfer of Week
 

The MGR Fife Golfers of the Week are Colin Palmer junior of Kinghorn GC, whose steady golf has hoisted him to No 1 on the Fife Men's MyGolfRanking and, Moira Cuthbertson of Drumoig GC. She enters the Top Ten of the MGR Fife Ladies Ranking at a No 5.

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Men, Week 2015/35

1 Colin Palmer Jnr (Kinghorn) 1095 pts                                                                                           

2 Ryan Walsh (Kirkcaldy) 1050                                                                                                         

3 Steven McLelland (Leven GS) 1048,

4 Graham Brown (Lundin) 1039,

5 K M Findlay (Ladybank) 1033,

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Clubs Men, Week 2015/35

1 Ladybank 738 pts

2 Dunnikier Park 730

3 Kirkcaldy 689

4 Cupar 663

5 Leven Thistle 657

*Entry this week

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.

The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net

Scots miss Alps Tour cut in Spain

Scots Scott Stewart-Cation and John Henry missed the cut in this week's Alps Tour event, the Alps de Andalucia Open, at Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club near Cadiz, Spain.

Stewart-Cation had rounds of 72 and 77 for 149 - four shots over the limit mark.

Henry scored 74 and 76 for 150.

Spaniards Borja Etchardt (70-66) and Toni Ferrer (68-68) are sharing the lead on eight-under 136.

Monty's old college mate Thelen is out to finish ahead pof him for first time.
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS American Tim Thelen knew he was looking at a genuine world-class talent when a young and fresh-faced Colin Montgomerie arrived at Houston Baptist University on a golf scholarship in the early eighties. More than two decades later, the 54 year old Minnesotan has his sights trained on his fellow college student of yesteryear after firing a 69 to share the first round lead in the Travis Perkins Masters over the Duke’s course at Woburn. Thelen, who was joined late in the day at three under par by Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir, has yet to finish ahead of Montgomerie in an event in which they have both teed off but, after posting a score four shots better than the former World Number Two, he has high hopes of reversing the trend this weekend. Defending champion Montgomerie, chasing a third successive victory in the event, was undone by a double bogey 7 at the 14th where he required a penalty drop after driving into a bush. However, his opening round of 73 has not damaged his title hopes irreparably. Thelen was two years ahead of Montgomerie at Baptist University, but recognised his talent immediately. He said: “It didn’t take long to realise what an incredible ball striker he was. I honestly think Colin is the best ball striker I’ve ever seen. "He possibly wasn’t as strong with the putter, but he has proved over the years that when his striking is on then he can use that confidence to hole anything.” Thelen was tied second in the Travis Perkins Masters last year – “a mere ten shots behind Monty” he joked – and played with the three-time Senior Major champion in the Russian Open Golf Championship the following week. “Same result,” he added. “Although this time I finished in a share of third just four shots behind Colin. I haven’t managed to finish ahead of him yet, but I will be trying as hard as I can to turn that around over the next two days.  "It’s my fifth time playing in this tournament and I love the course. I grew up on tough, tree-lined courses in Minnesota and Texas, and they seem to fit my eye.” Thelen got to five under par after 12 holes, thanks to five birdies and no dropped shots, but the considerably more demanding back nine cost him shots at the 14th and 15th. In that respect, the American was not alone as a number of leading contenders faded in the closing stretch. Longmuir, 62, decided to forego the last two editions of the Travis Perkins to undertake a commitment in France, was delighted to be back at Woburn, a course he loves deadly. “I had to come back this year. It’s a joy to play here and I played really well today” he said. “You have to drive the ball well, and I did that apart from the final hole when I favoured the right side too much and went into the trees and had to hack out.” The resulting 5 meant that Longmuir was unable to become the only player in the field not to register a bogey as the Duke’s Course played hard to get. At the end of a challenging first day, only 11 players were under par. Playing together, Montgomerie and last week’s winner of the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, Paul Broadhurst, both birdied the first two holes to sprint from the starting blocks. However, Montgomerie’s 7 cost him a sub-par score, while Broadhurst slipped to a 79. The third member of that illustrious group, Roger Chapman, celebrated his return to British soil with a commendable 70 to be tied for second along with Lianwei Zhang, Pedro Linhart and Ross Drummond. The two-time Senior Major Champion from 2012 admitted: “It’s great to be back home. I was due to play in America but the event was cancelled earlier in the season and I was pleased to return to Woburn after missing out in 2013 and 2014. “I’ve played some scrappy golf this season but that was a very satisfactory start. I would have taken 70 before I teed off. This is an iconic Tour venue and it’s nice that my schedule enable me to come back.” FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD Par 72 69 T Thelen (USA) , B Longmuir (Sco) , 70 R Drummond (Sco) , R Chapman (Eng) , P Linhart (Esp) , L Zhang (Chn) , 71 P Eales (Eng) , S Luna (Esp) , P Fowler (Aus) , M Mackenzie (Eng) , K Tarling (Can) , 72 A Franco (Par) , C Monasterio (Arg) , S McAllister (Sco) , P Walton (Irl) , J Rivero (Esp) , M Farry (Fra) , G Manson (Aut) , M Davis (Eng) , S Tinning (Den) , J Spence (Eng) , P Golding (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , M Martin (Esp) , J Carriles (Esp) , C Mason (Eng) , M James (Eng) , 73 A Forsbrand (Swe) , C Montgomerie  (Sco) , A Oldcorn (Sco) , N Job (Eng) , L Carbonetti (Arg), N Ratcliffe (Aus) , C Williams (RSA) , A Murray (Eng) , B Lane (Eng) , 74 J Smith (USA) , J Gould (Eng) , P Wesselingh (Eng) , P Mitchell (Eng) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) , 75 R Gibson (Can) , M Harwood (Aus) , S Torrance (Sco) , B Cameron (Eng) , A Sherborne (Eng) , A Bossert (Sui) , J Quiros (Esp) , 76 G Bell (Eng), R Sabarros (Fra) , J Harrison (Eng), S Brown (Eng) , J Remesy (Fra) , T Elliott (Aus), G Rusnak (USA), P O'Malley (Aus) , M Mouland (Wal) , 77 M Piñero (Esp) , D Smyth (Irl) , G Brand (Eng) , G Marks (Eng) , M Bianco (Ita) , G Ryall (Eng) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , W Grant (Eng) , 78 D Russell (Eng) , G Emerson (Eng) , R Rafferty (Nir) , 79 T Johnstone (Zim) , P Broadhurst (Eng) , C Rocca (Ita) , 85 V Garcia (Esp) ,    - Ends -

PGA EuroPro Tour report and scores

McCullen wins six-hole play-off to chalk up first pro win

NEWS RELEASE FROM NICK TEALE

Haydn McCullen claimed his first professional win with victory in a six-hole play-off in the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

The 19-year-old carded a four under par final-round 67 to conclude the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour tournament 12 under par, the same score as James Frazer (71, 66, 64; Pennard Golf Club), Chris Halley (67, 67, 67; Malton and Norton Golf Club) and Darren Wright (64, 68, 69; Golf At Goodwood).

That forced a four-way sudden-death play-off on the 9^th. Wright made bogey five on the first extra hole while the other three players made par.

 However, the £3,666.67 he collected for a share of second saw him to rise to the top of the Race To Desert Springs, from which the top five at the end of the season earn Challenge Tour cards for 2016.

It took until the sixth extra hole for the play-off to reach its conclusion. Frazer had been eliminated on the fifth play after a bogey to leave Halley and McCullen in a head-to-head.

Both found the green in regulation on the sixth play-off hole but Halley three-putted, handing victory to McCullen.

“It feels great to get the first professional win.” said McCullen, who takes home £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy trolley, Bushnell Tour X range finder, Bolle sunglasses and £500 to spend at HotelPlanner.com.

“I knew I needed to play well this week because I was only just inside the top 60 for getting into Tour Championship. That’s what I have done; I have only made one bogey all tournament. It is satisfying to know I can do it when I have to.

“The play-off hole is a really tough hole to make birdie on. There isn’t much trouble off the tee so if you can then hit the green it is down to your putting.

“I have a great momentum now to take to Desert Springs. I don’t know the course but I have heard it is very good.

After coming so close to his maiden EuroPro win Halley said: “It is very disappointing to lose on the sixth hole of a play-off. But it does show that I am playing well and it gives me something to build on going into the Tour Championship.”

Frazer commented: “I am disappointed but it has been a good week in all. It is only my second tournament back after being off for a while after appendix surgery and I certainly would have taken second. The other two were hitting the greens and I was having to make up and downs where they weren’t putting themselves under as much pressure as I was.”

Wright said: “I feel unlucky not to have got the win because I felt I was playing well enough, so to then lose in a play-off is disappointing. But I am number one on the rankings now and I know I am taking good form into the Tour Championship and European Tour Qualifying.”

The top 60 on the Race To Desert Springs will now be invited to October’s season-ending Matchroom Sport Tour Championship at Desert Springs Resort in Spain. 
Kevin Harper sealed 60^th place on the rankings by just £44.80 from Kris Gray having finished tied 28^th at Prince’s.

Highlights of the HotelPlanner.com Championship will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Tuesday, September 15.

HOW THEY FINISHED, WHAT THEY WON

1	Haydn McCullen  Delamere Forest (p)	-4	F	-12	68	66	67	201		£10,000.00
T2	James Frazer  Pennard Golf Club	-7	F	-12	71	66	64	201		£3,666.67
T2	Chris Halley  Malton and Norton Golf Club	-4	F	-12	67	67	67	201		£3,666.67
T2	Darren Wright  Golf at Goodwood	-2	F	-12	64	68	69	201		£3,666.67
5	Jack Colegate  Deangate Ridge Golf Club	-5	F	-11	68	68	66	202		£1,750.00
6	Graeme Clark  Doncaster Golf Club	-1	F	-10	66	67	70	203		£1,500.00
T7	Chris Gane  Lefthandedgolf at Silvermere	-5	F	-9	68	70	66	204		£1,100.00
T7	Matthew Moseley  Tenby Golf Club	-5	F	-9	68	70	66	204		£1,100.00
T7	James Ablett  Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club	-3	F	-9	71	65	68	204		£1,100.00
T7	Will Roebuck  Woburn Golf Club	-2	F	-9	68	67	69	204		£1,100.00
T7	Kris Nicol  Paul Lawrie Golf Centre	E	F	-9	66	67	71	204		£1,100.00
T12	Craig Hinton  LJD Technology Services	-4	F	-8	68	70	67	205		£775.00
T12	Marcus Armitage  Howley Hall Golf Club	-3	F	-8	70	67	68	205		£775.00
T14	Craig Farrelly  TPS	-3	F	-7	69	69	68	206		£650.00
T14	Callum Macaulay  Tulliallan Golf Club	E	F	-7	67	68	71	206		£650.00
T14	Billy Hemstock  Teignmouth Golf Club	E	F	-7	68	67	71	206		£650.00
T17	Luke Cornford  Cooden Beach Golf	-3	F	-6	69	70	68	207		£482.27
T17	Michael Skelton  Middlesbrough Golf Club	-3	F	-6	72	67	68	207		£482.27
T17	Conor O'Neil  Mearns Castle Golf Academy	-3	F	-6	70	69	68	207		£482.27
T17	James Lynch  Ham Manor Golf Club	-3	F	-6	69	70	68	207		£482.27
T17	Alan Dunbar  Team Ireland	-3	F	-6	71	68	68	207		£482.27
T17	Jamie Elson  Team Jenahura	-3	F	-6	69	70	68	207		£482.27
T17	Sam Forgan  Stowmarket Golf Club	-2	F	-6	70	68	69	207		£482.27
T17	Matthew Haines  Rochester and Cobham Golf Club	-1	F	-6	65	72	70	207		£482.27
T17	Nick McCarthy  Moortown Golf Club	E	F	-6	69	67	71	207		£482.27
T17	Warren Harmston  Wentworth Golf Club	E	F	-6	65	71	71	207		£482.27
T17	Alex Wrigley  Hartlepool Golf Club	+1	F	-6	67	68	72	207		£482.27
T28	Kieron Fowler  Lyme Regis Golf Club	-2	F	-5	66	73	69	208		£386.36
T28	Andrew Marshall  Bawburgh Golf Club	-2	F	-5	68	71	69	208		£386.36
T28	Laurie Canter  Cumberwell Park Golf Club	-2	F	-5	71	68	69	208		£386.36
T28	Sam Connor  Alsager Golf and Country Club	-1	F	-5	68	70	70	208		£386.36
T28	Benn Barham  Pentland Golf	-1	F	-5	69	69	70	208		£386.36
T28	Kevin Harper  East Devon Golf Club	-1	F	-5	69	69	70	208		£386.36
T28	Paul Shields  Kirkhill Golf Club	E	F	-5	71	66	71	208		£386.36
T28	Darryn Lloyd  Stamford Marquees	E	F	-5	66	71	71	208		£386.36
T28	Richard Weldon  Killeen Castle Golf Club	E	F	-5	69	68	71	208		£386.36
T28	Michael Watson  Wessex Golf Centre	+1	F	-5	69	67	72	208		£386.36
T28	Steve Surry  Cumberwell Park	+2	F	-5	68	67	73	208		£386.36
T39	Zane Scotland  Woodcote Park GC/Princes GC	-1	F	-4	71	68	70	209		£347.50
T39	Adam Wootton  Oxford Golf Centre	E	F	-4	70	68	71	209		£347.50
T39	Sam Robertshawe  Army Golf Club	E	F	-4	68	70	71	209		£347.50
T39	Richard Bentham  The Celtic Manor Resort	E	F	-4	67	71	71	209		£347.50
T43	Scott Borrowman  Dollar Golf Club	E	F	-3	69	70	71	210		£325.00
T43	Luke Goddard  Hendon	E	F	-3	69	70	71	210		£325.00
T43	Ben Rawsthorne  Bawburgh Golf Club	E	F	-3	68	71	71	210		£325.00
T43	James Maw  Rockliffe Hall	+2	F	-3	70	67	73	210		£325.00
T43	Neil Fenwick  Dunbar Golf Club	+3	F	-3	70	66	74	210		£325.00
T48	Daniel Bennett  Chart Hills Golf Club	+1	F	-2	68	71	72	211		£297.50
T48	Curtis Griffiths  Wentworth	+1	F	-2	69	70	72	211		£297.50
T48	Jordan Findlay  Paul Lawrie Golf Centre	+1	F	-2	70	69	72	211		£297.50
T48	Daniel Gavins  Walton Driving Range	+1	F	-2	69	70	72	211		£297.50
T48	Dale Whitnell  Forrester Park Golf Club	+2	F	-2	71	67	73	211		£297.50
T48	Joshua White  Unattached	+3	F	-2	70	67	74	211		£297.50
T54	Matthew Tottey  North Wales Golf Club	+3	F	E	66	73	74	213		£275.00
T54	Andrew Cheese  Sutton Coldfield Golf Club	+3	F	E	66	73	74	213		£275.00
T54	Christopher Evans  Wishaw Golf club	+4	F	E	69	69	75	213		£275
T57	Greg Payne  Chobham Golf Club	+5	F	+2	69	70	76	215		£260
T57	Tom Wade  Portsmouth Golf Centre	+6	F	+2	70	68	77	215		£260
T57	Craig Lawrie  Paul Lawrie Golf Centre	+7	F	+2	69	68	78	215		£260
60	Blane Breheny  Woburn Golf Club	+8	F	+3	71	66	79	216		£250