Seven Algarve courses ranked in Europe's top 100

NEWS RELEASE

The Algarve has demonstrated its status as the best golfing region in Southern Europe after seven of its famous courses were recognised in Golf World's benchmark ‘Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe 2015/16' rankings.

Thanks to a new entry from the totally remodelled North Course at Quinta do Lago, the picturesque region was able to better its previous portfolio ranking by one.

And, although the new contender may well end up one day superseding its sibling track, the star of Quinta do Lago is still its South Course, with the eight-time Portuguese Open host placing firmly at number 58.

But it was Monte Rei which cemented its place as the number-one course in the Algarve - and Portugal - and, though it ranked impressively at number 14, up four places, the challenging east Algarve parkland will justifiably have eyes on a top-10 spot next time.

The Algarve's highest climber was the 6,839-yard, Frank Pennink-designed Oceanico Old Course, moving up a significant 22 places to reposition itself at 44, while its sister course, the Oceanico Faldo, was also among the rankings.

With their exhilarating views, it's not surprising the ever-popular coastal courses at Onyria Palmares and San Lorenzo maintained their top-30 rankings - Onyria Palmares climbing to number 21 and San Lorenzo remaining at number 28.

Ross Cameron achieves top-10 finish in last German PGA Tour event of season

Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) finished joint eighth in the last German PGA Developmental Tour event of the season, the Castanea Open at Adendorf, Germany today.
Cameron had rounds of 70, 72 and 69 for a five-under-par total fo 211.  He birdied the first, 10th, 12th and 17th and earned 1,603 euros.
Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), after two steady rounds of 72 and 71, slipped back to a 76 for joint 26th place on 219.
The Peterhead man bogeyed the third, fourth, sixth and seventhand had a double bogey 7 at the 15th followed by bogeys at the 17th and 18th.
The high points were an eagle 3 at the 10th and birdies at the eighth and 14th. McLean earned 546 eurow.
Former Scottish amateur champion Chris Robb (Meldrum House) completed one of his poorer outings on the touor by sharing 40th place on 223 with rounds of 76, 73 and 74 for which heearned 168 euros.
Switzerland's Benjamin Rusch won the 7,400 euros top prize by five strokes with scores of 65, 67 and 69 for 15-under-par 201







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Tomatin 54-hole pro-am report and scores

Neil Fenwick wins £5,200 prize in tight finish 

with Greg McBain and Paul McKechnie

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 
Dunbar's Neil Fenwick won the £5,000 first pro prize in the Tomatin 54-hole pro-am over three days and three classic links courses in the Highlands - Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Castle Stuart.
Fenwick shot rounds of 65, 71 and 66 for an 11-under-par aggregate of 202.
He marked up a  four-under 66 in his final round at Royal Dornoch - and needed to, to win by a single stroke from runner-up Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) who had scores of 66, 71 and a closing 66 at the par-72 Castle Stuart. The Aberdonian collected £4,500.
Third place was claimed by Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), only one shot behind McBain on 204 with rounds of  69, 67 and 68. He earned £3,700. 
Lloyd Saltman (Archerfield Links) who finished seventh on 208 and earned £1,800 for that, picked up a £600 bonus by leading the P G Taverns amateur trio of Gordon Gilhooley (handicap 4), Dave HIll (8) and Graham Hillan (4) to victory in the team event with a net total of 263.
Iain Colquhoun (Loch Lomond) piloted the Blue Machinery trio of Austin Carey, Brian Maxwell and Al Rees to the same final total of 263 but they lost out on a scorecard play-off. Colquhoun's reward for his effort in this event amounted to £500.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (70, 71, 72)
202 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 65 71 66 (£5,200)
203 G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) 66 71 66 (£4,500)
204 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 67 68 (£3,700)
206 R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC) 69 68 69, P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 68 69 69 (£2,700 each)
207 G Wright (West Linton) 72 69 66 (£2,000)
208 L Saltman (Archerfield Links) 71 70 67 (£1,800)
209 D Dixon (Enmore) 71 70 68, S Edwards (Windermere) 66 72 71, C Currie (Caldwell(£650) ) 68 69 72, S Gray (Hayston) 70 71 68 (£1,250 each)
210 G Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 72 69 69, C Ronald (Carluke) 69 71 70 (£650 each)
211 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) 65 73 73 (£500)
212 D Orr (Eastwood) 72 72 68, M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 70 70 (£350 each).
213 G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 69 72 72, J McCreadie (Largs) 69 78 66, J Cliff (Murrayfield) 75 69 69.B
214 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 71 74 69
216 C Elliott (Haggs castle) 71 70 75
217 P Wardell (North Berwick) 73 74 70, C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 74 74 69, G Stewart (Cawder) 74 72 71, J Lomas (Caprington) 76 75 66
218 M Isaacs (Gamola Golf) 79 71 68, F Cromarty (Nairn) 72 76 70, I Colquhoun (Loch Lomond) 73 72 73, S O'Hara (Clydway Golf) 70 73 75, N Walton (Glasgow) 74 69 75, G Brown (Montrose Links) 77 69 72.
219 S Henderson (Kings Links) 75 72 72, C Everett (Caldwell) 75 73 71, I Taylor (Drumpellier) 72 75 72, K Hutton (Downfield) 74 6 69.
222 C Kelly (unatt) 73 73 76
223 D McKay (Wellsbreen) 77 71 75
225 G Forbes (Murcar Links) 76 76 75, J Sharp (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 75 74 77.
228 G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) 80 78 70
229 J Porteous (Craigielaw) 81 73 75
232 S Morrison (Tain) 77 81 74
235 C Campbell (Trump International) 85 77 73
239 D Thomson (Carnegie Club) 73 80 86/
240 M McAllan (Elgin) 87 77 76
242 I Nicholson (Kilmacolm) 77 85 80
255 G Nethercott (Deeside) 75 88 92.

R and A release BBC from Open TV 

contract: Sky take over a year early

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R and A

Following the BBC’s announcement today, The R&A can confirm that it was approached in recent weeks by the BBC to discuss being released from its contract to provide live coverage of The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2016.  After significant deliberation, The R&A has accepted the BBC’s proposal and agreed that the BBC be allowed to amend its broadcast arrangements for The Open 12 months early. 

As a result of these discussions, The R&A approached Sky Sports to assess its willingness to broadcast The Open from 2016 rather than 2017. The R&A is grateful to Sky Sports for agreeing to commence live broadcasting of The Open a year early.

No additional revenue will be received by The R&A in 2016 as a result of this new arrangement.

The BBC will broadcast prime time highlights starting in 2016 and will continue its radio coverage along with enhanced digital offerings.

The R&A is now in the process of sourcing a new production partner to produce the world feed in the BBC’s absence.

“We are looking forward to world-class coverage of The Open from our partners at Sky Sports and are grateful that they have stepped in a year early,” said Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. 

“It is sad to see the BBC’s live coverage of The Open end and I know some fans will be disappointed.  The relationship between The R&A and the BBC spans more than 60 years and we understand the challenging circumstances that the BBC is currently presented with,” he continued. “I know the BBC will produce compelling highlights, which will be enjoyed by a large prime-time audience.

"We are committed to delivering a spectacular edition of The Open next year at Royal Troon and working with both Sky Sports and the BBC we will ensure compelling coverage for millions of fans throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland."

Jack's the lad on Day 1 of Faldo Series 

Grand Final

NEWS RELEASE

Englishman Jack Yule of Middleton Golf Club, Norfolk claimed the lead on day one of the Faldo Series Grand Final with a skilful two-under-par 70 at A-ROSA Scharmützelsee resort in Bad Saarow, Germany.

Yule celebrates his 21^st birthday today, but will need to retain his focus as he sits just one shot ahead of accomplished American pair John Pak and Alyaa Abdulghany on one of the most challenging courses in Germany.

Birthday boy Yule had dipped as low as four-under par on the back nine before the course showed its teeth again to push him back to two-under after 18 holes. 

 Natalia Heckova of Slovakia is also mounting a strong challenge one shot further back and she is joined by her 16-year-old compatriot Jakub Hrinda.

Competitors aged 12 to 21 are contesting the title of Faldo Series Champion over 54 holes. With the field divided into five age-categories, three boys and two girls will each receive a trophy and an exemption into the tenth Asia Grand Final in 2016. 

The leading boy and girl will also be invited to play in a professional Tour event.

Leading Day 1 scores: 

 Boys’ Under-21: 

70 Jack Yule (Eng)

74 Jullian Ballman (Ger).

75 Yuki Kamasu (JPN), George Bloor (ENG), Quint 

    Koppers (NED).


Boys’ Under-18: 


  71 - John Pak (USA)

 74 - Dario Antonisse (NED), Herik Machado (BRA), Chris 

Handy (ENG).  

Boys’ Under-16: 

72 Jakub Hrinda (SK)

75 Nikolai Schaffrath (GER), Frankie Capan (USA), Harry 


Goddard (ENG).  

Girls’ Under-21: 

72 Natalia Heckova (SK)

73 Sophie Lamb (ENG)

74 - Lauren Horsford (ENG).  

Girls’ under-16: 71 - Alyaa Abdulghany (USA); 74 - Yumi 

Kudo (JPN); 76 - Natasha Slater (ENG).

Daniel Sim retains Craibstone Open trophy with a 67

Daniel Sim (Royal Aberdeen), elder son of Craibstone golf course general manager Bill Sim, has retained the scratch  trophy he won at the Craibstone Open last year with a two-under-par 67 which included  birdies at the par 5  fourth and par-5 fifth.
Daniel parred all the other holes to head a field of 160.
 The Handicap Cup was won by Phil Davie (Craibstone) with a net score of  64  off 15.
LEADING SCRATCH TOTALS
Par 69
67 Daniel A Sim (Royal Aberdeen)
70 John. Borthwick (Craibstone), Clark Brechin (Portlethen).
71 Ryan Sinclair (Olmeldrum)
74 Gavin Benson (Craibstone) .
Clarke Brechin  70  (  Portlethen)