ENGLAND GOLF NEWS RELEASE Scotland retain senior crown  Scotland retained the Senior Men’s Home International title after the tournament ended in a three-way tie at Crowborough Beacon in Sussex  Scotland, England and Ireland had each won two of their three matches, but Scotland, as holders, kept the trophy.  “It was quite a surprise,” said playing captain David Gardner, whose team defeated England 5-4 in the final match. “We didn’t think we would win the tournament because we thought it was decided on goal difference. But it turned out that the holders retain.” The team’s main aim on the last day was simply to beat England. “That was the big driving force. We played a few weeks ago and won and they would have wanted to get their revenge – they’ll have to wait till next year!” said Gardner. His team lost the morning foursomes 2-1 and quickly lost the top singles to English senior champion Ian Attoe and another point to David Niven.  But Gardner led a determined charge by the Scots. He defeated Stephen East – last year’s Engish senior champion – and more points were added by Graham Bell, Ian Brotherston and, crucially, Lindsay Blair.  The Scot was all square with European senior champion Clive Jones as the pair played by 18th, but Blair managed to win the hole and his game. “That was a big, big result, it was the turning point that gave us a chance,” said Gardner.  In the day’s other match Ireland beat Wales 6½-2½  Click here for full scores Scotland team image © Leaderboard Photography Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193 EDITORS’ NOTES England Golf is the governing body for amateur golf in England. It is one of the country’s largest sports governing bodies and looks after the interests of more than 1,900 golf clubs and 675,000 men, women, boy and girl club members. England Golf is at the heart of grassroots golf, inspiring people to have a lifelong involvement in the game.  Our development initiative ‘Get into golf’ introduces new golfers, juniors and adults, to start playing the game as well as increasing the interest and participation in golf.  Working with our partners we offer business support to clubs to encourage more golfers to enjoy the benefits of club membership and to help promote the game as being accessible, fun and family friendly. For competitive golfers, England Golf provides championships for all ages and abilities, both in individual and team events, hosted at some of the most prestigious courses across the country, some with qualifying events at any club.  England Golf identifies and develops the country’s most talented golfers through their amateur careers, many of whom go on to become the world’s leading professional golfers, such as Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Charley Hull and Melissa Reid.

Lanarkshire A   v   Stirling  A  at Easter Moffat

Sunday,  September  20

1. Craig Ross   Kirkhill                           

2. Ed Wood   Crow Wood                    

3. Kenny Gallacher  East Kilbride        

4. Dominic Dougan  Airdrie                  

5. Robbie Main        Airdrie                  

6. Andrew Steven   Easter Moffat       

7. Andrew Thomson  Lanark               

8. John Woodhouse  East  Kilbride  

Lanarkshire Youth Team  v   Stirlingshire     

at Kilsyth Lennox   

 10-30 for 11     

 Sunday September  20

 

1.   Callum Connacher    Wishaw

2.   Cammy Graham        Hamilton

3.   Mitchell Ronald         East Kilbride

4.    Kieran McVicar         East Kilbride

5.   David Fair                   Strathaven

6.   Greg Dalziel               Kirkhill

7.   Martin Scott              Hamilton

8.   John Ross Turnbull    Shotts

Three-man team for Glasgow Youths Championship at Ralston on Saturday is:

Andrew Thomson Lanark   Dominic Dougan Airdrie 

Fraser Kane  Kirkhill

 

Clayton and Henderson join new-look Scottish Golf Performance Team

 

SGU NEWS RELEASE

Stuart Clayton and Spencer Henderson have been recruited to a new-look Scottish Golf Performance team, ahead of the new unified governing body teeing off from October 1

Steve Paulding, the Scottish Golf Performance Manager, has announced the first stage of a development coaching restructure with Clayton coming in as Performance Development Manager and Henderson, pictured right when he was Turkey's national coach, returning to the role of National Boys Coach.

Paulding has also confirmed David Patrick will be continuing in his role as National Girls Coach, with additional time and responsibility to deliver the Girls Performance programme, including all training and preparation for competitions.

National Coach Ian Rae will oversee the new Performance coaching team across the amateur game, seeking to build on recent successes, including victory at the European Men’s Amateur Team Championship, Boys’ Home Internationals triumph and three Scots featuring in GB&I’s victorious Walker Cup team. 

Clayton, who hails from the north-east of England, will oversee the Scottish Golf Academy and Development Centre programme. For the last five years, the highly respected instructor has worked at the IMG Academy in Florida, with young Scottish pro Sally Watson an alumna of the Academy.

Before joining the IMG Academy, Clayton worked around the world as the Director of Golf academies in Austria and South Korea, and has also worked with David Leadbetter as both a player and assistant instructor. Some of Clayton’s notable students include South Korean LPGA players Mi Jung Hur and Ha Na Jang, both inside the top 70 in the world rankings.

Meantime, Henderson, who hails from Banff, is returning to Scotland after six years previously with the Scottish Golf Union, including four as National Boys Coach.

Henderson worked with Richie Ramsay at Boys’ and Youths level and with James Byrne, Ross Kellett and Bradley Neil in the early part of their careers, helping Scotland to a runner-up finish in the European Boys Team Championship in 2006. 

The Scot departed his role in 2010, first taking up the position of National Coach in Turkey, steering them to a best-ever World Amateur Team Championship finish in 2012, and then moving to Azerbaijan, as Director of Golf Development, to help develop the game in a new environment. 

“I’m delighted to be coming back to Scotland,” said Henderson. “We have a number of good young players with potential coming through and I look forward to helping them develop over the coming years, such is my desire and commitment to see Scottish Golf succeed at the highest level. 

“It was particularly pleasing seeing Jack McDonald and Grant Forrest performing so well at the Walker Cup, as we noticed their potential and gave them their first caps at Scottish Under-16 level. I look forward to using my different experiences from working in Turkey and Azerbaijan and returning to performance coaching.”

Looking confidently to the future, Paulding added: “I’m excited by the opportunities that an amalgamated body offers at performance level in Scotland.

“In the last two years, I’ve spent a lot of time at the sharp end of men’s and ladies amateur golf and seen us develop players and enjoy good results, especially at boys’ and men’s level.

“But there is still a lot of work to be done, the rest of the world is not standing still and we need to learn quicker to get ahead of other countries. I’m confident the new Performance team will help drive forward further the raising of standards in Scotland.”

Paulding is currently finalising the Performance development coaching workforce at regional level to support Scottish Golf’s programmes, which will be announced within the first month of the new organisation coming into existence.

 

 

Ed Hodge

SG PR and Media Executive

Office Line: 01334 466477

Mobile No: 07850 772166

Midland Alliance's Atholl Palace Team Competition

Shaun Clark leads the way at Pitlochry with a 67

 

This week the Midland Golfers' Alliance held the Atholl Palace Team Competition at Pitlochry in Perthshire

 Shaun Clark (P, Golfing Links Org) won the scratch prize by 2 shots with a superb 2 under par score of 67. 

Alistair Duncan (Murrayshall, 4) won the handicap prize by an impressive 3 shots. returning a score of 66. Shaun also helped his partners, father and son Andy McDonald (Dunnikier Park, 6) and Alastair McDonald (P, Dunnikier Park) to first prize in the team competition with a score of 58.

 

Leading Scratch Scores

par 69

67   Shaun Clark                      P, Golfing Links Org                       

69   Willie Hutton                      Pitlochry, 1                         

       Sam McLaren                     AP, Blairgowrie                

       Tom Mclevy                       Blairgowrie, Scr

70   Henry Wong                       P, Wellsgreen                   

       Gary Tough                         Edzell, +2                            

       Alister Duncan                   Murrayshall, 4                  

       Scott Robertson                 Downfield, 1

71   Donald McKay                   P, Wellsgreen

       Sandy Smith                       P, Ladybank

Leading Handicap Scores

66           Alister Duncan                   Murrayshall, 4                  

68           Willie Hutton                      Pitlochry,1

69           Tom McLevy                      Blairgowrie, Scr

                Scott Robertson                 Downfield, 1

70           William Barclay                  Downfield, 4

71           Joe Smith                            Lundin, 1

                Andy Black                          Tulliallan, 14

                Iain Butchart                      Strathmore, 6

72           Rab Baldie                           Crieff, 8

                Dennis Redford                   Murrayshall, 11

                Gary Tough                         Edzell, +2

                John Graham                     Alloa, 6

                Douglas Gibbons              Muckhart, 9

 

Leading Team Scores

58           Shaun Clark                        P, Golfing Links Org

                Andy McDonald                Dunnikier Park, 6

                Alastair McDonald           P, Dunnikier Park

59           Iain Butchart                      Strathmore, 6

                Kevin Smith                        Montrose, 4

                Gary Tough                         Edzell, +2 

60bih     George McCartney         Crieff, 10

                Dickie Taylor                       Crieff, 5

                Douglas Gibbons              Muckhart, 9

 

Qualifiers for the Perla Shower Panels Alliance Championship in March at Scotscraig

Shaun Clark                        P, Golfing Links Org

Henry Wong                       P, Wellsgreen                   

Gary Tough                         Edzell, +2                            

Alister Duncan                   Murrayshall, 4                  

Scott Robertson                               Downfield, 1

Willie Hutton                      Pitlochry, 1

 

Qualifiers for the Perla Shower Panels McQueen Shield in March at Scotscraig

Alister Duncan                   Murrayshall, 4  

 

Next Meeting

Anglers Inn, Guildtown, Perthshire. Team Competition

Thursday 24th September

Alyth GC 

Tee reserved: 8.30-12.30

 

Lee Sutherland

 

Renaissance Invitational three-round pro-am

The Wonder of Williams - winner by 10 shots

Craig Williams was the runaway individual winner at the Renaissance Invitational 54-hole pro-am which ended with a round over the Renaissance course today.
Williams had rounds of 69 (Luffness New), 65 (North Berwick\) and 70 for an eight under par total of 204
He won by 10 shots from David J Russell (Archerfield) who had scores of 71, 71 and 72.
American Darren Howard and his amateur partners won the team event with 256 Stableford points, only one ahead of Stephen McAllister's team.
FINAL TOTALS
Professionals
par 212
204 C Williams (Italy) 69 65 70
214 D J Russell (Archerfield) 71 71 72
216 S McAllister (S McAllister Golf) 73 70 73
220 N Keast (Renaissance) 77 72 71
221 R Dixon (Renaissance) 75 69 77
225 P Wardell (North Berwick) 73 72 80, M Huish (North Berwick) 75 73 77
229 D Howard (USA) 76 78 77
231 C W Canfield (USA) 82 73 76
233 A Good (Gullane) 79 75 79]
235 N Holligan (Renaissance) 77 78 80
237 J Darling (Ayrshire Golf) 78 80 79, R Smith (Renaissance) 78 78 81.
TEAM STABLEFORD POINTS
256 D Howard 81 86 89
255 S McAllister 83 85 87
249 R Dixon 83 83 83
248 C Williams 80 87 81
246 D J Russell 82 84 80
245 P Wardell 79 86 80
244 M Huish 74 90 80
242 A Good 81 81 80
241 N Keast 77 81 83
235 N Holligan 71 85 79
234 J Fraser 78 85 71
220 C W Canfield 65 82 73, J Darling 75 75 70
217 R Smith 78 77 62

European Tour report and scores

Brilliant birdie run takes Colsaerts clear in Italy

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Nicolas Colsaerts produced a sensational run of eight consecutive birdies as part of a flawless nine under par 63 to charge to the top of the first-round leaderboard at the  72° OPEN D'ITALIA presented by DAMIANI.

Starting his round at the 10th, the big-hitting Belgian fired eight birdies in a row from the 14th to the third and added another on the eighth to finish the day two shots clear of Francesco Molinari, Shiv Kapur and Kristoffer Broberg.

Colsaerts has not had a win since the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012 and sits 100th in the Race to Dubai after securing just two top ten finishes this year. But the Ryder Cup hero from Medinah insists his game is not that far away and was delighted to see things come to fruition at the Golf Club Milano.

The 32 year old had a good look to make it nine birdies in a row on the fourth but his putt from 15 feet just missed.

With preferred lies in play, Colsaerts' name will not go in the history books but he was just the 11th player to make eight birdies in a row on the European Tour – the first being the great Seve Ballesteros at the 1985 Italian Open.

Home favourite Molinari also started on the tenth and picked up shots on the 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th to sit four under after nine holes. A further birdie followed on the fourth but he gave the stroke straight back before finishing with three gains to sit seven under.

Kapur made the turn two under after a bogey and three birdies on the front nine but four consecutive gains from the 12th and another on the last saw him sit alongside Molinari and Broberg, who finished with five birdies.

The Swede was two under through 13 holes thanks to four birdies and two bogeys but his surging finish took him to seven under and into a share of second place, two shots behind Colsaerts.

Player Quotes

Nicolas Colsaerts: “It all felt pretty easy to be fair. We all know what it is like to catch fire and get on a run like that but I didn’t realise how many birdies in a row I had made until the sixth one, then I started to count them. I actually could have made nine in a row but the putt just took a little bobble at the end which took it offline.

“It felt like I could have birdied every hole today. I think I only had one really long putt but the rest of them were all pretty makeable and it was just one of those days.

“I have been playing quite well for a while and waiting for a round like this when it all comes together. Today it was great and it is nice to see the work you are doing paying off for a change.

“The course is not long and the back nine is very scoreable so I would be surprised if I was the only player here who gets hot out there. I think the winning score will be pretty low but that’s good – I think most people who come out here to watch golf want to see birdies and eagles.”
Francesco Molinari: “It was really good today. I played solid and hit a lot of fairways and greens which you obviously need to do around this golf course because the targets are quite small.
“It was especially pleasing to shoot seven under after four weeks off. I had done some good practice coming into this week, but when you have had a break like that you  are never 100 percent sure as to how you are going to play in a tournament situation.

“I hit a lot of good shots out there today and to finish with three birdies turned a good day into a great day. There is a low score around this course. If you hit the ball well and find the greens you are going to have a lot of chances for birdies.

“I love playing in front of the home crowd. I think that I am lucky to have won the Italian Open in my second year as a pro. A lot of people feel pressure playing at home but because I have won it already I think I can be relaxed and really enjoy it. I wish I could play in Italy more than once a year.”
Craig Lee is lying joint 12th with a 67. Richie Ramsay is in danger of missing the cut after a two-over 74.

Complete first round scores:
par 72

63 N Colsaerts  (Bel);

65 F Molinari (Ita); K Broberg (Swe); S Kapur (Ind);

66 F Zanotti (Par); M Foster (Eng); M Korhonen (Fin); B Virto Astudillo (Esp); L Bjerregaard  (Den); B Wiesberger  (Aut); S Mazzoli (am) (Ita);

67 A Perrino  (Ita); J Fahrbring (Swe); C Lee (Sco); M Nixon (Eng); S Fallon (Eng); R Kakko  (Fin); D Lipsky (USA); L Gagli  (Ita); R Karlberg  (Swe); R Wattel  (Fra);

68 A Quiros  (Esp); A Cañizares  (Esp); M Kaymer (Ger); D Willett  (Eng); P McGinley (Irl); P Lawrie (Irl); Y Yang (SKor); P Maddy (Eng); R Gonzalez (Arg); J Singh (Ind); A Hansen (Den); F Fritsch  (Ger); M Lundberg (Swe); J Scrivener (Aus); P Oriol (Esp); J Lara (Esp);

69 E De La Riva  (Esp); H Otto (RSA); A Pavan (Ita); R Karlsson (Swe); M Jiménez (Esp); B Hebert  (Fra); D Fichardt (RSA); S Cink (USA); M Ford (Eng); S Kjeldsen (Den); J Barnes (Eng); S Chawrasia (Ind); M Tullo (Chi); E Kofstad (Nor); W Ormsby (Aus); S Hend (Aus); R Santos  (Por); S Fernandez (am) (Esp); J Vecchi Fossa (am) (Ita);

70 S Hutsby  (Eng); D Drysdale (Sco); M Fitzpatrick  (Eng); J Morrison  (Eng); D Howell (Eng); M Crespi  (Ita); J Edfors (Swe); J Roos (RSA); B Evans  (Eng); A Maestroni  (Ita); T Fleetwood  (Eng); O Fisher  (Eng); D Clarke (Nir); C Paisley  (Eng); P Harrington (Irl); R Dinwiddie  (Eng); S Wakefield (Eng); R Jacquelin (Fra); A Levy (Fra); J Campillo (Esp); R Cabrera-Bello (Esp); M Manassero (Ita);

71 S Benson (Eng); J Lando Casanova  (Fra); M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra); V Riu  (Fra); E Goya (Arg); D Woltman (USA); M Bremner (RSA); R Bland (Eng); C Sordet  (Fra); J Van Zyl (RSA); A Hortal  (Esp); T Fisher Jnr (RSA); A Tadini (Ita); G Storm  (Eng); O Farr (Wal); J Parry (Eng); C Bouniol (Fra); T Van Der Walt (RSA); D Brooks (Eng); H Joannes  (Bel); L Scalise (am) (Ita);

72 D McGrane (Irl); F Aguilar (Chi); A Otaegui  (Esp); C Doak (Sco); J Kim (Ita); R Rock (Eng); D Gaunt (Aus); M Fraser (Aus); J Lagergren (Swe); E Pepperell (Eng); G Mulroy (RSA); G Bourdy (Fra); T Olesen (Den); J Kruger (RSA); R Paratore (Ita); E Molinari  (Ita); T Lewis (Eng); N Elvira  (Esp); J Hahn (USA); R Finch  (Eng); S Manley (Wal);

73 K Phelan (Irl); N Ravano (Ita); P Sjöland (Swe); B Ritthammer (Ger); R McEvoy  (Eng); S Thornton (Irl); S Hansen (Den); J Walters (RSA); A Bruschi  (Ita); P Uihlein  (USA); O Wilson (Eng); W Homan  (USA); G Moynihan (Irl); M Madsen  (Den); C Del Moral (Esp); L Cianchetti (am) (Ita);

74 N Quintarelli (Ita); P Edberg (Swe); D Vancsik (Arg); G Havret  (Fra); R Ramsay  (Sco); M Ortolani (am) (Ita);

75 J Garcia Pinto (Esp); A Velasco (Esp); N Fasth (Swe); C Lloyd (Eng); B Neil (Sco); M Delpodio  (Ita);

76 A Zemmer (Ita); M Florioli (Ita); P Widegren  (Swe); L Jensen (Den);

77 F Maccario (Ita);

78 L Magini (Ita);

80 C Rocca (Ita);

81 M Grönberg (Swe);

Three teams finish with 4pt at Crowborough Beacon

Scotland seniors beat England and retain title in triple tie on 4pt mark

Defending champions Scotland beat England again this year in the Senior Men's Home Intenationals and have retained the title at Crowborough Beacon, Sussex.
On the final day, Scotland beat England 5-4 and Ireland beat Wales 6.5-2.5
That meant Scotland, England and Ireland all finished with 4pt.
There was no countback to separate the teams and the Scots, as holders of the title, retained it.
England looked set for victory over the Scots in their final matche when tey took the foursomes 2-1 and had singles wins by Attoe and Niven.]
But Scotland's tail wagged furiously to turn the tables on England wth victories by Gardner and then Blair, Bell and Brotherson in the last three ties.
Details:
ENGLAND 4,  SCOTLAND 5
 Foursomes: 2-1
I Lattoe and M Stones bt J Fraser and G Bell 3 and 1.
C Jones and A Mew bt I Brotherston and D Gardner 2 and 1.
S East and D Niven lost to L Blair and B Stewsart 4 and 3. 
 Singles: 2-4
Attoe bt M Reid 6 and 4. 
East lost to Gardner 3 and 1.
Niven bt Fraser 3 and 2
Jones lost to Blair 1 hole
Stones lost to Bell 2 and 1.
R Partride lost to Brotherston 2 and 1. 

IRELAND 6.5, WALES 2.5

Spread the word: Jason McCreadie is 45 not 48

Apologies for getting Jason McCreadie's age wrong in yesterday's report from the Paul Lawrie Invitational
Jason is 45 not 48 as our story said yesterday.
Doesn't look a day older than 40 to me.
Sorry!
Colin Farquharson 

Nine Scots miss Round 3 cut at Q School Stage 1

Nine Scots, including the Saltman brothers Lloyd and Elliot, missed the cut after the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 tournament at the Roxburghe course, Kelso.
The others were James McGhee, Ted Innes-Ker, Chris Robb, Ross Bell, Clarke Lutton, James Byrne and Philip McLean,
The leading 18 and ties after the fourth and final round will advance to the Stage 2 competitions at four venues in Spain next month.
Mark Hillson, Neil Fenwick and Neil Henderson are all in the top 10 after two rounds
EUROPEAN QUAIFYING SCHOOL - Stage 1
Roxburghe course, Kelso
LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES
205 M Cort (Eng) 71 68 66, R Enoch (Wal) 68  67 70
206 C Rodgers (Eng) 70 68 68, M Hillson (Sco) 69 68 69, J Caldwell (NIre) 71 69 68, B Brinson (USA) 73 66 69.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
211 N Henderson 68 72 71 (T8
215 D Young (am) 70 75 70 (T21)
217 J Henry 73 70 74 (T27)
219 A Culverwell 74 73 72 (T32)
220 J Gallagher 76 74 70, C O'Neil73 79 68 (T36)
221 W Booth 74 73 74 (T45)
MISSED THE CUT
223 J McGhee 77 73 73, T Innes-Ker 78 74 71]
224 E Saltman 70 74 80
225 C Robb 72 78 75
227 R Bell 73 72 82, C Lutton 72 77 78
230 J Byrne 76 78 76
231 L Saltman 75 78 78, P McLean 78 77 76.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

 SuperMac leads by six at Boat of Garten

By GORDON THOMSON;

Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) Is the leader after today’s 

first round of the Scottish Super Seniors Open (for players 

over 65) at  Boat of Garten with an excellent score of 70.

This gives him a six shot lead over the chasing group of Alan McNaught (Colchester), Patrick Tomisson (Nairn), George Rodaks (Pitreavie ) and Keith Bruce (Edzell). The holder, Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox ) is nine shots back on 79.

MacDonald, aged 67, has been in fine form this season and showed his liking for the picturesque Boat of Garten course with his fine score. In winning Senior Matchplay Championship at Stirling in July he showed that he is still good enough to compete at the highest level.

Former Walker Cup player, Scott Macdonald (Dunfermline) who is defending the trophy for players over the age of 70, shot 77 to lead that category but can expect stiff competition tomorrow from David Millar (New Club) and Brian Grieve (King James V1), who are both one shot adrift, and Colin Moir (Worksop) on 79.

The late starters were caught in two heavy showers which affected the scoring, with the CSS rising  to 72 for the par 70 course.

 
SCOTTISH SUPER SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Boat of Garten Golf Club
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
par 70. SSS 69. CSS 72
Gordon MacDonald    Glenbervie    70
Alan  MacNaught    Colchester    76
Patrick Tomisson    Nairn    76
George Rodaks    Pitreavie    76
Keith Bruce    Edzell    76
Ian Dickson    Lundin    77
J Scott Macdonald    Dunfermline    77
John  Broadfoot St Andrews New     78
Brian Grieve    King James V1    78
William Erskine    Kilsyth Lennox    79
Colin Moir    Worksop    79
Dom McLaughlin    Bothwell Castle    79
Bruce B G Hunter    Stirling    80
Tom Carson    Lockerbie    80
Andrew  Laird    Deeside    80
Colin Halcrow    Windyhill    80
Jim Kinloch    Cardross    81
Trevor Bennett    Great Barr    81
Peter  Boyd    Fereneze    82
Peter Kinloch    Cardross    82
Fraser Sharp    Boat of Garten    83
David  Doodson    Temple    83
Sandy Quinn    Stirling    83
Derek  Sim    Grange    83
Donnie Lindsay    Barassie    83
Alasdair MacLennan    Stirling    83
Gordon Gray    Newmachar    84
Ian Farquhar    Edzell    84
Drew  Wilson    Clober    84
David Nelson    Aboyne    87
Sandy Pirie    Hazlehead    87
Michael  Mather    Ballater    89
Gordon Sinclair    Bishopbriggs    89
Alexander Hogg    Stirling    90
Richard  Goodale    Aberdour    92
Jim Bunting    Ballochmyle    94
       

Paul Lawrie Invitational Final Totals at Deeside

McKechnie wins by four and sets tournament low record of 18-under par 192

From one Paul to another ... Lawrie presents the championship trophy to McKechnie. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul McKechnie, who set a course record of eight-under 62 on Wednesday, slashed seven shots off the Paul Lawrie Invitational tournament record low aggregate with a final total of 18-under-par 192

He won the trophy and the £8,000 first prize with scores of 64, 62 and 66, finishing four ahead of runner-up Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), the Scottish young professionals' champion, who had rounds of 66, 64 and 66 for 14-under 196 to earn £5,500.

Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) tied for third place on 199 and earned £3,375 each.

There were three amateurs in the top 10 - Scott Gibson (Southerness) who tied for fifth place on 200, Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and Craig Ross (Kirkhill) who finished joint seventh.

McKechnie produced another six birdie round with gains at the eighth, ninth, 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th in halves of 34 (two under) and 32 (four under).

 With no pressure on him, he could afford to bogey the 10th and 18th and still win comfortably.

"The funny thing is that I don't usually play the Deeside course well," said the 38-year-old McKechnie who lives in Glasgow but

 has his work base at the Braid Hills Golf Range in Edinburgh.
"I don't think I ever done well here in Tartan Tour events before.
It was just my week but I have to say I have never seen the Deeside course in such excellent condition, particularly the greens which were magnificent putting surfaces.
"That's why the scoring by a lot of us has been so low this week, that and the lack of a wind over the three days."
This is McKechnie's fourth win in a row on the Tartan Tour, having scored at Elgin, Drumpellier and the Carnegie Club (Skibo Castle) over the past week or two.
 O'Hara tried hard to close the gap on McKechnie and, out in 33 to the leader's 34,  with birdies at the sixth, seventh and ninth, he had a glimmer of a chance but the birdie putts would not drop for him after the turn until the 17th. 
+The previous record low total in the tournament was 199, set by both Andrew McArthur and Kenny Ferrie in 2011 (before McArthur won a play-off at the sixth extra hole) and by David Law when he won in 2013. McArthur's rounds in 2011 included a 62 but there have been changes to the course since then, mainly the re-positioning of the 16th tee. So McKechnie's 62 on Wednesday is the new record for the present course.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
192 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 64 62 66 (£8,000)
196 P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 66 64 66 (£5,500)
199 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 66 66 67, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 66 65 68 (£3,375 each)
200 S Gibson (Southerness) (am) 69 65 66 (amateur prize voucher), J McCreadie (Largs) 66 63 71 (£2,250)

201 C Ross (Kirkhill) (am) 69 66 66, C Fyfe (Cawder) (am) 69 66 66 (amateur prize vouchers)
203 K Ferrie (Matfen Hall) 71 66 66, G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 69 66 68, P Broadhurst (Northants Co) 67 67 69, D Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 66 68 69 (£1,700 each)
204 M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 70 66 68, C Currie (Caldwell) 66 69 69, C Marr (Musselburgh) 71 63 70, K McNicoll (Gullane) 66 68 70 (£1,050 each)
205 R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC) 71 63 71, P Shields (Kirkhill) 67 65 73 (£825 each)
206 G Hay (Nairn Dunbar)  70 67 69, R Drummond (unatt) 68 70 68, C Kelly (unatt) 68 67 71, P Robinson (Largs) 66 69 71 (£675 each), S Locke (Banchory) (am) 68 71 67
207 M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 69 69 69, J Lomas (Caprington) 69 70 68 (£525 each)
208  C Ronald (Carluke) 70 67 71 (£450), J Savage (Cawder) (am) 66 71 71 (£362 each).
209 S Henderson (Kings Links) 70 69 70, J Duff (Newmachar) 67 71 71 (£412 each).
211 S Taylor (Bothwell Cadtlr) 70 69 72, A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 69 70 72 (£362 each).

Craibstone Golf Club is the place to go for a round and a bite to eat

Latest NE Alliance Order of Merit Points tables, sponsored by Brimmond Bistro

North-east Alliance Order of Merit standings after Wednesday's competition at Kintore are listed below. It is based on a player's best five rounds over the whole season.

Craibstone Golf Club's Brimmond Bistro is sponsoring 1-2-3 prizes in all three sections - Scratch and both handicap classes.
The competition will end in March at the championship meeting at Craibstone Golf Club.
                                       
                       
Division 1                       
                       
Position        Points    No. of O.O.M. Competitions           
1    Kevin Duncan    871    3    163    180    528
2    Graham Riley    745    3    51    105    589
3    Phil McLean    691    2    163    528   
4    John Duff    663    2    201    462   
5    Sam Kiloh    589    1    589       
6    Sean Lawrie    588    2    50    538   
7    Gary Esson    524    2    62    462   
8    Fergus Bisset    453    2    42    411   
9    Tony Robertson    449    2    74    375   
10    Lee Vannet    436    2    163    273   
11    Albert Smith    411    1    411       
12    Barry Brooks    398    2    38    360   
13    Greg McBain    375    1    375       
14    Craig Lawrie    360    1    360       
15    Alan Stuart    355    1    252       
16    William Middler    273    1    273       
17    Colin Nelson    262    3    35    47    180
18    Brian Nicolson    237    2    57    180   
19    Jim Emslie    234    3    55    74    105
20    Billy Fyfe    227    3    60    62    105
21    Sammy Leslie    209    2    46    163   
22    Murray Paterson    206    2    90    103   
23    Keil Beveridge    201    1    201       
23    Scott Mackie    201    1    201       
25    David Brown    190    3    40    60    90
26    John Borthwick    165    2    60    105   
27    Terry Mathieson    163    1    163       
28    Joel Hopwood    143    3    46    47    50
29    Brian Ritchie    115    3    13    47    55
30    Jordan Findlay    103    1    103       
30    Kris Nicol    103    1    103       
32    Adam Dunton    98    2    36    62   
33    Richard Blackmore    97    2    35    62   
34    Niall Young    90    1    90       
35    Kevin Daglish    86    2    29    57   
36    Stewart Finnie    82    2    9    60   
37    David Leslie    79    3    13    20    46
38    Raymond Reid    73    2    35    38   
38    Cameron Grant    73    1    60       
40    Kamran Zeynalov    72    2    32    40   
41    Ross McKen    69    3    9    13    47
42    David Fleming    66    2    28    38   
43    Andrew Campbell    63    2    21    42   
44    Robert Tulloch    57    1    57       
45    John Nicolson    55    1    55       
46    Lewis Morgan    54    1    54       
47    Alistair Graham    45    2    9    23   
48    B McHattie    42    1    42       
49    Craig Dempster    38    1    38       
50    Stephen Dunn    26    1    13       
51    Simon Hanson    21    1    21       
52    George Paterson    13    1    13       
                       
Division 2                       
                       
Position        Points    No. of O.O.M. Competitions           
1    Keith McGillivary    487    3    13    201    273
2    Gavin Chalmers    476    3    29    36    411
3    Blair McPherson    419    3    62    105    252
4    Donny Adam    291    2    90    201   
5    Jim Duncan    288    2    36    252   
6    Steve Scott    223    2    43    180   
7    Les Fowler    197    3    32    60    105
8    John Sunley    186    3    35    46    105
9    Martin Forster    180    1    180       
10    david lane    138    3    38    40    60
11    Charlie Cassie    133    2    43    90   
12    Mark Lawrie    128    3    25    46    57
13    Stewart Allison    120    3    23    42    55
14    p morrison    117    3    17    40    60
15    Gordon Milne    104    3    26    36    42
16    Jim Morris    92    3    13    32    47
17    Willie Skene    91    2    29    62   
18    Steve lawrie    90    1    90       
18    Steve Shand    90    1    90       
20    David Nelson    73    2    31    42   
21    John Hamilton    70    2    13    57   
22    David Mackay    64    2    9    42   
23    Richie Davidson    62    3    9    25    28
24    Harry Roulston    51    1    51       
25    Jim Scott    50    2    21    29   
26    Mike Duncan    42    1    29       
27    Phil Craig    26    1    26       
28    David Wilson    13    1    13       
                       
Division 3                       
                       
Position        Points    No. of O.O.M. Competitions           
1    W Beattie    721    3    13    180    528
2    Lenny Duncan    538    1    538       
3    Scott Melvin    512    3    50    51    411
4    stephen Ross    456    3    24    180    252
5    Leslie Roger    455    3    74    180    201
6    Hamish McNaughton    436    3    26    35    375
7    peter cheyne    222    2    46    163   
8    Gary Homer    211    3    51    55    105
9    David Bisset    120    2    46    74   
10    I.D. Smith    116    1    103       
11    Raymond Brown    112    3    26    29    57
12    Mike Winton    109    3    23    31    55
13    Robbie duncan    105    1    105       
14    Derek Craigie    103    1    90       
14    Richard ruddinman    103    1    103       
16    Bob Skene    92    2    32    60   
17    Mike Rogers    90    1    90       
18    Graham Mackie    86    2    26    47   
18    Nigel Parker    86    2    26    60   
20    P Low    85    2    31    54   
20    David Mckay    85    2    38    47   
22    Mike Smith    67    3    9    23    35
22    ewan Riley    67    2    21    46   
24    Michael Rendall    64    3    20    21    23
25    S Davidson    59    2    17    42   
25    Norman Stewart    59    1    46       
27    stephen dillon    55    1    55       
28    Ben Lumsden    51    2    19    32   
29    jim Crawford    48    2    17    31   
30    Graham Allan    46    1    46       
30    glen cochrane    46    1    46       
32    Jim Murray    45    2    13    32   
33    Graeme Moir    43    1    43       
34    Neish Chisholm    37    2    17    20   
35    Dick Wright    31    1    31       
36    Mike Brown    26    1    26       
37    Peter Walker    22    2    9    13   
38    alistair clark    17    1    17       
39    Donald Lawrie    14    1    14       
40    scott Faskin    13    1    13       
                       
The maximum number of competitions to count per player has been set at 5. Where players return more than 5 competition scores, their best 5 scores are used.