SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND WIN ON FIRST DAY OF SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONALS

Scotland beat Wales 4-3 and England beat European champions Ireland by the same margin on the opening day of the Senior Men's Home Internationals at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, Sussex

Graham Bell, playing in the top singles tie, was two down with five to play but staged a grandstand finish by birdieing the next four holes for an inspirational victory.

Ian Brotherston and John Fraser both contributed comfortable 4 and 3 wins while Lindsey Blair held on to a one-hole lead with a par 4 at the last.

“It’s been a tough day and a very tight match,” said Scotland's playing captain David Gardner. “Wales are always tough to beat so we are delighted to get through a tough game.”

England edged to a 4-3 win over title favourites Ireland, thanks a one-hole win by David Niven

who was trailing to Denis Deasy and then won five holes in a row, capped with a 40ft birdie putt at the last for victory.

On Wednesday, England will play Wales while Scotland play Ireland.

FIRST DAY RESULTS

SCOTLAND 4, WALES 3

G Bell bt J Thomas 2 and 1

D Gardner lost to R Broad 1 hole.

I Brotherston bt G Rees 4 and 3.

L Blair bt P Bloomfield 1 hole.

R Stewart lost to P Sutton 1 hole.

J Fraser bt N Evans 4 and 3.

M Reid lost to A Williams 3 and 2.

IRELAND 3, ENGLAND 4

M Kelly bt I Attoe 1 hole.

B Donlon lost to S East 5 and 3.

A Morrow bt C Jones 2 holes.

D Deasy lost to D Niven 1 hole.

N Duke lost to M Stone 3 and 2.

J Mitchell bt A Mew 2 and 1.

T Cleary lost to R Partridge 5 and 4.

First round of three-day Renaissance Club Invitational pro-am

Williams sets pace with 69 at Luffness New

Craig Williams opened up a two-stroke lead in the individual competition when the Renaissance Club Invitational three-day pro-am began at Luffness New Golf Club, Aberlady today.
He shot a 69 - two ahead of David J Russell with Paul Wardell and Stephen McAllister sharing third place on 73.
In the team event, the teams led by Ross Dixon and Stephen McAllister share the lead with 83 Stableford points, one ahead of the team partnered by Russell.
The tournament moves on to North Berwick on Wednesday before concluding at the Renaissance Club on Thursday.
PRO SCORES
69 C Williams
71 D J Russell
73 P Wardell, S McAllister
75 R Dixon, M Huish, J Fraser
76 D Howard
77 N Holligan, N Keast
78 J Darling, R Smith
79 A Good
82 C W Canfield
TEAM POINTS
83 R Dixon, S McAllister
82 D J Russell
81 D Howard, A Good
80 C Williams
79 P Wardell
78 J Fraser, R Smith
77 N Keast
75 J Darling
74 M Huish
71 N Holligan
65 C W Canfield

England beat European champions Ireland on Day 1 at Crowborough England beat European champions, Ireland, in a thriller on the first day of the Senior Men’s Home Internationals at Crowborough Beacon in Sussex. They were pulled through 4-3 by David Niven who turned his match around by winning five holes in a row and then holed a 40ft birdie putt on the last to snatch the crucial point. “It was a great fightback and a fantastic start,” said England team captain Roy Smethurst. “It couldn’t have been closer and we have always struggled against Ireland, so we are absolutely delighted to win.” The first day’s matches were decided by seven singles, instead of the usual combination of three foursomes and six singles, after heavy rain flooded the course and delayed play by over four hours. When the golf got underway it was Ireland who played their way to a narrow advantage.  Both teams, who started on the 10th, had three wins apiece and Ireland’s Denis Deasy was leading England’s Niven in the deciding game. But Niven won the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th to get back to all square and then won the 7th to move one ahead.  Deasy came straight back with a birdie on the 8th to square matters, but Niven’s answer was to hole a 40-footer for a winning birdie on the last to secure the point.  Niven (right) is pictured top with team-mate Richard Partridge (image © Leaderboard Photography). England’s other points were scored by Richard Partridge (5 and 4), Stephen East (5 and 3) and Mark Stones who holed his second shot on the par five 14th for an albatross. It put him two up and he maintained his lead throughout the match, eventually winning 3 and 2. Tomorrow England will play Wales while Scotland play Ireland. The England team is: Ian Attoe (Worplesdon), Stephen East (Moortown), Clive Jones (Toulouse), Alan Mew (Stoneham), David Niven (Newbury & Crookham), Richard Partridge (Wildernesse), Mark Stones (Boyce Hill). Click here for full scores. Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

Paul Lawrie Men's Invitational produces very low first-round scoring

McKechnie (64) top gun at Deeside birdie-fest

and Laura (69) is the leading lady  

         Paul McKechnie on the first tee at Deeside today. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), winner of his last three events, maintained his momentum by leading the birdie-fest with a six-under-par 64 in the first round of the 54-hole Paul Lawrie Men's Invitational on a wind-free day at Deeside Golf Club.
The Bieldside par-70 course, even off the back tees, was devoured by the Tartan Tour pros and amateurs as well. With no wind and holding greens, conditions were ideal for low scoring.
By the end of the first day, 27 men in a field of 57 were under the par of 70. Deeside has never seen anything like it, even though 64 has been shot several times in this tournament over the past couple of years.
It's the number of players scoring in the 60s that is impressive. The other impressive feature of the day was the number of pros using Deeside's excellent short-game practice area, even AFTER their rounds. Perhaps the two things are related?
But a warning to them from Deeside club pro Frank Coutts:
"I wouldn't be surprised if the course bites back - with a little bit of help from the weather - before the end of the third round. I hope so!" said Frank who was just short of Walker Cup class in his days as an amateur.
McKechnie, a winner more than once on the EuroPro Tour and the man in form on the Tartan Tour with wins at Elgin, Drumpellier and Skibo Castle on the trot, had bogey-free halves of 32, studded with birdies at the first, third, fourth, sixth, 14th and 16th.
The Braid Hills Golf Range pro leads by two from NINE players in joint second place on 66 - Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 33-33, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 36-30, David Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 31-35, Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 33-33, Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 34-32, Paul Robinson (Largs) 34-32, Keir McNicoll (Gullane) 32-34, Jason McCreadie (Largs) 36-30 and Cawder amateur international Jamie Savage 34-32.
Defending champion Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) had a 69 and it tied 20th in the chase for the £8,000 first prize.
After Wednesday's second round, the field will be cut to the leading 28 players and ties for  Thursday's final 18 holes.
In the Paul Lawrie Ladies Invitational, no surprise that Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) leads with a one-under 69 by two shots from Kylie Walker (Mar Hall).
Their event is over two rounds and the long-hitting Laura will be hard to peg back. Read the full report on the Ladies Invitational and the starting times for their final round on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
 SCROLL DOWN PAST THE PICTURE TO VIEW
  THE SCOREBOARD AND ROUND 2 TEE TIMES

                        Greig Hutcheon's first shot in a round of 66. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.


PAUL LAWRIE MEN'S INVITATIONAL
FIRST ROUND
par 70
64 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 
66 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck), C Currie (Caldwell), D Law (Paul Lawrie GC), G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), J Savage (Cawder) (am), P Robinson (Largs), J McCreadie (Largs), K Nicoll (Gullane).
67 J Duff (Newmachar), P Broadhurst (Northants Co), P Shields (Kirkhill)
68 S Locke (Banchory) (am), L Gaughan (Bathgate), C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), C Kelly (unatt), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), R Drummond (unatt) 
69 S Gibson (Southerness) (am), T Mathieson (Murcar Links), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), C Ross (Kirkhill) (am), A Forsyth (Mearns Castle), J Lomas (Caprington), M Patterson (Kilmacolm), C Fyfe (Cawder) (am).
70 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), C Ronald (Carluke), S Henderson (Kings Links), G Hay (Nairn Dunbar), C Macaulay (Tulliallan), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy)
71 R Cameron (Saltire Energy), R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC),  C Marr (Musselburgh), K Ferrie (Matfen Hall), A Oldcorn (Kings Acre), G Forbes (Murcar Links), C Syme (Drumoig) (am), S Gray (Hayston), M Isaacs (Gamola Golf).
72 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC), A Welsh (Cathkin Braes), S Binning (Mearns Castle), S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC), G Brown (Montrose Links), S McLaren (Blairgowrie)
73 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), F Mann (Carnoustie GC)
74 S Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), D Orr (Eastwood).
75 D Kenny (Paul Lawrie GC), A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC).
76 J Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC), K Hutton (Downfield).
80 D Thomson (Carnegie Club) 

SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
08.00  S Henderson, K Ferrie and G Hay.
08.11  A Oldcorn, A Forsyth and C Ross
08.22  S Kiloh, J Lomas and P Robinson
08.33  G Forbes, D Thomson and R Drummond
08.44  C Macaulay, G Brown and  C Syme
08.55  S Gray, J McCreadie and  F Mann

09.06  D Orr, M Patterson and  S McLaren
09.17  P Shields, K McNicoll and C Fyfe
09.28  A Stuart, M Isaacs and M Kerr
09.46  D Kenny, S Lawrie and J Savage
09.57  S Gibson, R Cameron and M Stewart

10.08  K Nicol, S Locke and T Mathieson
10.19  C Currie, S Taylor and J Duff
10.30  A Welsh, J Findlay and L Gaughan
10.41  C Matheson, D Law and R Kellett
10.52  P Broadhurst, P McKechnie and G McBain

11.03  G Hutcheon, C Lawrie and S Binning
11.14  C Ronald, K Hutton and C Marr 
11. 25  C Kelly, P O'Hara and R Arnott

North-east Alliance tee times at Kintore GC tomorrow

 Wednesday's North-east Alliance at Kintore is sponsored to the tune of £150 by Mike Smith, proprietor of the Banks of Ury Hotel, Inverurie.
Each of the 15 standard prizewinners will receive £10 more than normal.

Tee times:
8min intervals
08.00  C Cassie    B Harper    J Hopwood
A Campbell    G Esson    A Smith
B Ritchie    P Morrison    S Scott
S Hanson    G Chalmers    C Dempster
8.32  L Vannet    B Mchattie    B Brooks
M Brown     R Brown    S Davidson
D Lawrie    M Smith    S Melvin
N Chisholm    D Mackay    S Leslie
9.04   S Ross  M Rendall    L Roger
A Stuart    S Dunn    K Daglish
P Cheyne    J Sunley    L Duncan
H McNaughton    B Mcpherson   
9.36  W Skene    D Lain    A Clark
D Craigie    D Adam    P Walker
N Stewart    B Lumsden    S Faskin
10.00  J Scott    B Skene    N Parker
W Beattie    K Mcgillvary    J Crawford
D Leslie    G Homer    C Nelson
D Brown    M Lawrie    A Graham
D Fleming    J Emslie    L Fowler
10.40  G Milne    J Duncan    M Forster
B Fyfe    S Lawrie    C Grant
F Bisset    D Bisset    J Murray
J Morris    G Riley    E Riley
S Allison    R Davidson    G Mackie
11.20  R Reid    R Blackmore    K Zeynalov
 
11.28   available
11.36  available
       
11.44  J Nicolson    B Nicolson    G Allan
11.52  S Mackie    G Moir   
12.00 K Duncan    M Patterson   
12.08 A Dunton    R Mcken    N Young
       
12.16   available
12.24  available        

12.32  M Winton    S Finnie    D Mckay

Scotland schoolboys beat England but schoolgirls lose narrowly at Troon Darley

Scotland beat England 9.5 to 8.5 in the annual schoolboys golf international at Troon Darley, Ayrshire yesterday.
Scotland lost the schoolgirls match 5-4 to England.
All the details are on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk