Matt Ford: Retaining European Tour card 'emotional' moment for Bearsted player

Bearsted golfer Matt Ford says retaining his European Tour card was an emotional moment.

The 37-year-old tied for seventh place at the Hong Kong Open at the weekend, securing a top-110 finish in the Race to Dubai and his card for 2016.
This year was Ford's first on the European Tour, having come through Qualifying School last year.
"I was very emotional afterwards. It is hard to stop it when you have been pushing it back for so long," he said.
Ford had started the week 118th in the Race to Dubai, and says he had doubts about whether he would be able to remain on the Tour.
"I was always in a good position but the thoughts build as the week goes on," Ford told BBC Radio Kent.
"You have to accept you are nervous and the mind will wander. It was heightened even more as you know what it means.
"People asked me whether, on the 18th green, I knew what the scenario was and what I needed to do.
"It was the last hole of the year so there was no comeback. I had to keep those thoughts at bay and focus on the single shot in front of me and that's what I'm most proud of."
Ford's best result this year came when he finished second at the Africa Open in March, and he believes he can capitalise further in 2016.
"I can pick and choose which events I play," he said. "I am pretty much guaranteed nearly all the big events and it is huge from that point.
"My game is suited to certain courses so I can make sure I am ready for those tournaments."

Ben Evans handed European Tour card as

 Brooks Koepka heads to US PGA Tour

       Ben Evans can relax after securing a European Tour card for 2016

Ben Evans has secured a European Tour card for next season after appearing to have narrowly missed out in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The Englishman missed out on full playing privileges for 2016 when he finished 111th on the Race To Dubai money list, with only the top 110 players qualifying.
Evans birdied five of his last eight holes on Sunday to finish in a tie for 11th at the Hong Kong Open, but that still left him 1,007.70 points behind Italian teenager Renato Paratore.

However, American player Brooks Koepka confirmed to European Tour officials on Monday that he would be relinquishing his membership, moving Evans into the final qualifying position.
Evans will have Category 10 membership of the tour next season, meaning he should be eligible for most tournaments outside the majors and World Golf Championship events.

Maidstone-based Evans wrote on Twitter: "Well @EuropeanTour it's been a 24hr rollercoaster. Overwhelmed and so happy to be told I've moved to 110 on R2D Cant wait for 2016! #buzzing."

Brooks Koepka has given up his European Tour membership to play on the PGA Tour

Koepka was named European Tour rookie of the year in 2014 at the end of a season that saw him win the Turkish Airlines Open, but he will not be defending his title in Antalya this week and has decided to focus on the US PGA Tour next season.

MENA TOUR REPORT AND SCORES

Aberdonian Lutton leads as Innes-Ker slips

out of lead in Ghala Open at Muscat

Aberdeen's Clarke Lutton, pictured above in action today, ensured the Scottish flag keeps flying at the Ghala Open after overnight leader Ted Innes-Ker slipped off the pace, going into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s event at Muscat, Oman today.

Two shots behind at the start, Lutton returned a tidy four-under 68 to reach seven-under 137 for the tournament, one ahead of England’s Luke Joy and two clear of Stuart Archibald and Lee Corfield, also from England.

Spain’s Sixto Casabona Navarro and Max Williams of England share fifth on four under on 14

Lutton rattled off five birdies against a lone bogey (at the 14^th) to keep his chances of winning the second event on the tour this season alive.

“It was a good, consistent round of golf as I never found myself in trouble out there. Holed some nice putts for birdies, especially the ones at 16th from 25 feet and the other at the 18th from 15 feet, which kind of lifted my round,” said the in-form Scot, who broke through for his first MENA Golf Tour victory at The Els Club earlier this month.

“It feels great to be in this position going into the final round and will see what tomorrow brings. I am feeling pretty happy with my game, which is good,” said the 27-year-old from Aberdeen. 

England’s Joy, who matched the day’s best score of a 68, said he played a lot better that he did in the first round. “Just solid golf and very happy with my round,” said the Englishman, who is a two-time winner on the tour.

The Duke of Roxburghe's son, Ted Innes-Ker, failed to recreate the brilliance of his first-round 67 and stumbled to a 78, slipping into a tie for 19th on one over 145

“I hit the ball in wrong places on the greens which made it difficult to roll in the putts. And that, perhaps, was the only difference from the first round,” said Innes-Ker, who is playing his fourth season on the MENA Golf Tour. 

“Maybe it was all due to the lack of course knowledge,” said the 31-year-old whose 78 contained six bogeys, including four in a row from the sixth.

England’s James Allan backed up his opening with 70 with a 75 to stay in front in the amateur division, one shot ahead of Karim El Hali of Morocco.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES

Par 144 (2x72)

137 C Lutton (Sco) 69 68

138 L Joy (Eng) 70 68

139 L Corfield (Eng) 70 69, S Archibald (Eng) 69 70.

140 M Williams (Eng) 70, 70, S Casabona Navarro (Spa) 69 71.

Other Scots' Scores:

143 P Doherty 73 70, D Kay 73 70 (T12)

145 T Innes-Ker 67 68 (T19)

150 B Alexander (am) 74 76

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play returns to Murcar Links August 4 - 7 next year

NEWS RELEASE

London:  It has today been announced that the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play will return to Murcar Links Golf Club in 2016. The European Tour event will stay in Lawrie’s home town of Aberdeen and will be played from August 4^th-7^th, 2016.

The format will remain as a 64-man match play straight knock-out featuring the leading players on The Race to Dubai.

Paul Lawrie commented: “I’m delighted to see the event returning to Murcar Links again next year. The course was in fantastic condition for the inaugural event and the feedback from the players on the venue and format has been very positive.

“We all thought the course set up perfectly for match play and we saw some exciting golf being played this year, so it’s great to give the players another shot on this fantastic course.”

With the event taking place during the summer holidays in 2016, entries for Under 18’s will again be free and the event will welcome families from in and around Scotland.

Mike Loggie, CEO of Saltire Energy commented: “Given the popularity of the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, we are delighted to extend our support for the 2016 event, of which we are positive will build on the success of the 2015 tournament.  

“We are particularly proud that the event is again to be held at Murcar Links Golf Club. Saltire Energy is passionate about supporting the local community within which we operate, and this again provides an opportunity to highlight some of the fantastic sporting facilities in Aberdeen, City and Shire.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “I am delighted to see the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay return to our schedule next season. Last year’s tournament concluded the day before I took office officially and I vividly remember my first day at Wentworth people talking to me about the excitement of the tournament, which had just finished in Aberdeen.

“We are always looking to be innovative on The European Tour and a pure knock-out match play tournament certainly fits that bill. Paul is one of our most respected members and I want to thank him personally for the effort he has put into this tournament, alongside sponsors Saltire Energy and everyone at Murcar Links Golf Club.”

Malcolm Gunnyeon, Club Captain commented: “It is fantastic for Murcar to be asked to host the tournament again. We were delighted that the course received such great feedback from both players and spectators this year and we will be working hard to ensure it is in as good, if not better, condition for next year.

“All of us at the Club are really looking forward to working with everyone involved to make the 2016 event an even bigger success and once again showcasing what Murcar has to offer our members and visitors.”

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat captured the title in the first edition of the event. winning on the last hole over Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.

Ticket Information:

The tickets are now available for purchase. To book tickets, visit www.europeantour.com/tickets or call 0800 023 2557.

Corporate Hospitality Packages are also available. To request information please contact Jamie Evans, Jamie@4sportsworld.com

For more information on the event please visit: http://www.paullawriematchplay.com

North-east Golfers' Allliance

Updated tee times for Monttrose Links tomorrow

8-00
8-08 C Cassie A Campbell G Esson
8-16 D Booth R Reid T Boyle
8-24 B Fyfe C Grant D Fleming
8-32 D Mackay D Lawrie G Craig
8-40 G Chalmers C Dempster S Hanson 
8-48 K Nicol G McBain T Mathieson 
8-56 M Brown R Brown S Davidson

9-04 S Ross H McNaughton B McPherson
9-12 P Walker J Hosie
9-20 P McLean B Ritchie J Duff
9-28 H Roulston L Roger S Shand
9-36 J Hamilton M Rendall S Leslie
9-44 A Stuart K Daglish S Mackie
9-52 S Allison R Davidson R Lumsden

10-00 J Scott B Skene G Milne 
10-08 C Lawrie Sean Lawrie P Lawrie
10-16 J Forrest N Stewart B Lumsden
10-24 L Fowler J Emslie W Skene
10-32 J Hopwood A Gall I D Smith
10-40 T Roberetson P Cheyne D Wright
10-48 D Lane A Clark R Duncan
10-56 G Homer D Leslie C Nelson

11-04 G Hutcheon D Bisset J Murray 
11-12 M Duncan M Forster S Roger 
11-20 J Crawford W Beattie L Duncan
11-28 K McGillivary J Stewart N Parker 
11-36 D Brown T Collie M Lawrie 
11-44 D Adam D Craigie G Cochran 
11-52 A Graham S Macneil P Low

12-00 M Rogers S Finnie J Borthwick
12-08 J Morris G Riley E Riley
12-16 S Kiloh K Zeynalov I Taylor
12-24 R Lamb C Lamb M Merchant
12-32 K Duncan R McKen A Dunton
12-40 B Nicolson I Smith D Wilson
12-48