Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance rained off

Today's Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance competition at Kings Acre Golf Centre was postponed following heavy overnight rain.
It will be reschedued.

Lawrence of Kemnay sponsor next Wednesday's North-east Alliance at Fraserburgh

Next Wednesday's North-east Golfers Alliance competition at Fraserburgh Golf Cub is being sponsored by LAWRENCE OF KEMNAY, the best for all types of cars, new and old.
Players will tee off in fours
08:00 Harper, Brian/ Cassie, Charlie/ Esson, Gary/ Campbell, Andrew
08:10 Booth, Doug / Bliackmore, Richard/Reid, Raymond/ Boyle, Tony
08:20 Lawrie, Sean/ Lawrie, Craig/ Lawrie, Paul/ McDougall, Michael
08:30 Mackay, David/ Nicol, Kris/ McBain, Greg/ Matheson, Terry
08:40 Stewart, Jim/ Duncan, Lenny/ Beattie, Willie/ McGillivary, Keith
08:50 Hanson, Simon/ Chalmers, Gavin/ Dempster. Craig/ Ross, Stephen

09:00 Walker, Peter/ Mackie, Scott/ Gall, Alan/ Crawford, Jim
09:10 Lawrie, Donald/ Brown, Mike/ Brown, Raymond / Davidson, Scott
09:20 Robertson, Tony/ Wright, Dick/ Cheyne, Peter/ Fleming, David
09:30 Hamilton, John/ Rendall, Michael/ Rogers, Leslie/ Townsley, Derek
09:40 Duff, John/ McLean, Phil/ Milne, Gordon/ Duncan, Jim
09:50 Stuart, Alan/ Dunn, Stephen/ Shand, Steve/ McNaughton, Hamish

10:00 Paterson, George/ Skene, Bob/ Scott, Jim/ McPherson, Blair
10:10 Davidson, Richie/ Allison, Stewart/ Mackie, Graham/ Forster, Martin
10:20 Forrest, Jackie/ Stewart, Norman/ Lumsden, Ben/ Duncan, Mike
10:30 Adam, Donny/ Craigie, Derek/ Riley, Graeme/ Morris, Jim
10:40 Leslie, David/ Homer, Gary/ Smith, Ian/ Nelson, Colin
10:50 Hopwood, Joel/ Beveridge, Keil/ Leslie, Sammy/ Murray, Laura

11:00 Brown, David/ Collie, Tommy/ Lawrie, Mark/ Fowler, Les
11:10 Bisset, David/ Parker, Nigel/ Hutcheon, Greig/ Murray, Jim
11:20 Clark, Iain/ Duncan, Robbie/ Clark, Alistair/ Thom, Gary
11:30 Borthwick, John/ Buchan, Drew/ McKay, David/ Finnie, Stewart
11:40 Paterson, Murray/ Duncan, Kevin/ Dunton, Adam/ McKen, Ross
11:50 Graham, Alistair/ Nelson, David/ Rogers, Mike/ Smith, Mike

12:00 Nicolson, Brian/ Nicolson, John/ Allan, Graham/ Winton, Mike
12:10 Kiloh, Sam/ Lamb, Christopher/ Lamb, Robert/ Merchant, Manson
12:20

Fog hits Midland Alliance pro-am at Fairmont

The Midland Golfers' Alliance Graham Pest Control pro-am at the Torrance Course, Fairmont, St. Andrews was curtailed by severe fog.

As a two-tee start was being used, the competition had to be cut to two nine-hole competitions. 

Front Nine 

Leading Scratch scores 

34 S McKendrick (Dunkeld and Birnam).

35 M Pirie  (Pitlochry) p, D Taylor (Crieff).
 Leading Team scores

62 M Pirie (Pitlochry) p, K Bruce (Edzell) (2), N Dyce (Strathmore) (2), D Spaven (Pitlochry) (9).

65 A McDonald (Dunnikier Park) p, T Jamieson (Dunnikier Park) (4), A McDonald (Dunnikier Park) (11), R Hamilton (Kirriemuir) (11).

Back Nine
 Leading Scratch

36 G McLeod (Monifieth) p, P Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
37 D McKay (Wellsgreen) p, A Webster (Edzell) p. 

Leading Team scores

63 K Hutton (Downfield) p, J Ward (Cathkin Braes) (12), G Smith (Scotscraig) (9), D Herd  (Scotscraig) (12)

66 A Duncan (Murrayshall) (5), D Hutchieson (Murrayshall) (8), D Redford (Murrayshall) (11), J Meddicks (Murrayshall) (13).

67 B Bell (Tulliallan) (6), H Salmond (Alloa) (6), J Irwin                  (Muckhart) (8), M Quinn (Tulliallan) (9)

Next Meeting

Tuesday 10th November

Leven Links

Tee reserved: 8.30-12.30

 

Lee Sutherland

Henry, three off pace, leads Scottish challenge at Muscat EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Denmark's Joachim B Hansen launched himself into contention for European Tour graduation by taking the first-round lead at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final with a six under par 66, but the Road to Oman Rankings leader Ricardo Gouveia is lurking ominously a shot back in Muscat. The European Challenge Tour’s season finale never fails to produce drama and raw emotion by the bucketload and this year’s battle to finish the season top of the Road to Oman Rankings took another intriguing twist. Portugal’s highest ranked player ever Gouveia has enjoyed an incredibly consistent season, which included a second career victory in Germany, and his determination to be crowned Challenge Tour Number One was once again evident with a bogey-free five under par round of 67. Björn Åkesson, who is fourth in the Rankings and still in with a shout of leap-frogging Gouveia in the season-long list, was a shot further back on four under par alongside Englishmen Ryan Evans and James Robinson, while Sebastien Gros - second in the Road to Oman - was one of five players on three under par. It was Hansen who ruled the roost in the searing Omani heat, however, and he admitted that the bizarre coincidence of the only three Danes in the field being put together in the same group - in a draw which was determined by Rankings positions – was a big help as he bounced back from an opening bogey to storm clear. “That was a perfect opening round,” said the 25 year old, who began the week just two places outside the European Tour promotion places in the Road to Oman, in 17th spot. “It puts me in a good position heading into the next three rounds so I’m really happy. “It is a pressurised time of the year but I just found something good in my swing recently, it’s working really well ball-striking wise and the putter keeps rolling too.  “It was fun playing with the guys. We started not great, I think all three of us were nervous definitely, but we all had good rounds in the end so that’s nice. “You just try and focus on your shots and then when you hit the shot you go and talk a bit, and joke around a bit. “I really want to get back to The European Tour. I will be making new goals every day and for every round so hopefully it will work.” Scott Henry is the leading Scot in joint sixth place with a 69, only three off the pace.  George Murray had a 70. At the other end of the leaderboard, Andrew McArthur had a 75 and  Jamie McLeary a 78 FIRST ROUND SCORES par 72 66 J Hansen  (Den) , 67 R Gouveia (Por) , 68 J Robinson (Eng) , B Åkesson (Swe) , R Evans  (Eng) , 69 S Henry  (Sco) , C Shinkwin (Eng) , T Murray (Eng) , J Dantorp (Swe) , S Gros (Fra) , 70 G Murray  (Sco) , D Huizing (Ned) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , M Orrin (Eng) , J Winther (Den) , S Jeppesen  (Swe) , C Hanson (Eng) , N Elvira  (Esp) , T Linard (Fra) , P Widegren  (Swe) , J Hahn (USA) , 71 D Im (USA), B Stone (RSA) , H Joannes  (Bel) , L Gagli  (Ita) , B Virto Astudillo (Esp) , 72 R McGowan  (Eng) , M Søgaard  (Den) , D Foos (Ger) , S Arnold  (Aus) , 73 A Björk (Swe) , P Whiteford (Sco) , R Davies (Wal) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , R McGee (Irl) , 74 S Soderberg (Swe) , R Coles (Eng) , J Senior (Eng) , R Fox (Nzl) , G Boyd  (Eng) , 75 A McArthur  (Sco) , 76 C Sordet  (Fra) , H Porteous (RSA) , S Walker (Eng) , 78 J McLeary  (Sco) ,

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS .

Field of 94 for NE Alliance at wet and misty Cruden Bay

 Hutcheon wins with an eight-under 62

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Greig Hutcheon, pictured, won today's North-east Golfers' Alliance conpetition at Cruden Bay with a brilliant round of eight-under-par 62 which earned him £140. It was worth a lot more!
In miserable wet and misty weather, the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player headed a good field of 94 players by five shots. 
North-east Under-18 boys match-play champion two years ago, Stephen Roger, playing over his home course, was runner-up with a 67 and three players - Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links), Kevin Duncan (Cruden Bay) and Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) - were joint third on 69.
With play off mats mandatory, Hutcheon's score could not constitute a course record but it was a marvellous round from the Tartan Tour's leading money-winner for the past few years.
He had a terrific start - par, par, eagle and reached the turn in seven-under 29 with further birdies at the fifthj, sioxth, eighth and ninth. A bogey at the seventh was taken in his stride.
Hutch cooled off a bit after the turn with birdies only at the 11th and 13th and a second bogey, at the 14th in a second nine of one-under 33.

Young Roger, pictured right, had halves of 34 and 33, birdieing the second, eighth, ninth, 10th and 13th, offset by bogeys at the seventh and 12th .
By my calculations, Hutcheon and Roger had a better ball of 60!
It is the time of the year when we remember the late North-east Alliance secretary with the Ron Menzies Memorial Trophies which were won by Hutcheon, former P and J editor Harry Roulston (Stonehaven) who equalled his age with a 73 for a net 66 off seven in Class 1, and Gary Homer (Northern) with a net 63 off 11 in Class 2. 

ALL THE  SCRATCH SCORES
par 70
62 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC)
67 S Roger (Cruden Bay)
69 T Mathieson (Murcar Links), K Duncan (Cruden Bay), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC).
70 J Duff (Newmachar), A Dunton (McDonald Ellon)
71 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC), S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC)
72 A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC), J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), Samantha Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies).
73 L Vannet (Craibstone), J Borthwick (Craibstone), R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum), H Roulston (Stonehaven)
74 G Esson (Portlethen), G Homer (Northern), C Grant (Portlethen), J Nicolson (Hazlehead), C Dempster (Paul Lawrie GC).
75 A Gall  (Deeside), R McKen (Trump International), S Dunn (Deeside), B Fyfe (Paul Lawrie GC).
76 D Brown (Kemnay), J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen), S Finnie (Royal Aberdeen).
77 R Lamb (Newmachar), S Mackie (Kemnay), C Lamb (Newmachar), D Leslie (Northern).
78 D Fleming (Portlethen), A Graham (Aboyne), G Chalmers (Alford), D Craigie (Portlethen), Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC).
79 R Reid (Tarland)
80 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), K Zeynalov (Portlethen), B Harper (Newburgh), D Mavckay (Hazlehead), D Bisset (Banchory), G Riley (Craibstone).
81 D Adam (Oldmeldrum), G Milne (Newburgh), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), M Duncan (Murcar Links)
82 R Blackmore (Tarland), S Shand (Kemnay), W Beattie (Craibstone).
83 I Clark (Deeside), M Forster (Cruden Bay), D Lane (Deeside), D Nelson (Aboyne).
84 J Stewart (Banchory), D Booth (Tarland), G Thom (Murcar Links), N K Parker (Murcar Links).
85 P Walker (Cruden Bay), P Low (Craibstone), M Rendall (Stonehaven), D Wright (Northern)
87 M Merchant (Newmachar), S Ross (Hazlehead), P Cheyene (Northern).
88 D McKay (Caledonian)
89 J Forrest (Northern), S Davidson (Northern)
90 J Murray (Banchory), R Brown (Newburgh)
92 M Rogers (Newburgh), T Boyle (Portlethen). 
93 L Duncan (Northern)
No returns: 12

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - H Roulston (Stonehaven) (7) 66; Samantha Leslie (Aberdeen Ladies) (4) 68; J Borthwick (Craibstone) (4) bih, D Craigie (Portlethen) (9) 69; R O'DonnOREell (Oldmeldrum) (3) 70.
Class 2 - G Homer (Northern) (11) 63; N K Parker (Murcar Links) (15) 69; S Ross (Hazlehead) (17) bih, M Rendall (Stonehaven) (15) bih, D Bisset (Banchory) (10) 70.
BEST SCORECARDS
Par 70: OUT - 4-4-4 3-4-5 4-4-4: 36
                IN - 4-4-3 5-4-3 3-4-4: 34  

GREIG HUTCHESON 62 (eight under par)
 OUT: 3-3-2 3-3-4 5-3-3: 29 
    IN:  4-3-3 4-5-3 3-4-4: 33

STEPHEN ROGER 67 (three under4 par)
OUT: 4-3-4 3-4-5 5-3-3: 34
    IN: 3-4-4 4-4-3 3-4-4: 33

. South African Lawrence wins on MENA Tour

By VIREN VARMA
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE -- Thriston Lawrence broke through for his maiden MENA Golf Tour title, winning the Ras Al Khaimah Classic by four shots at Tower Links Golf Club on Wednesday. 

One stroke in front at the start of the day, the 18-year-old Springnok showed great strength of character in getting the job done as he closed with a 69 to reach 12 under par, playing the back nine at four under.

The 2016 European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke finished in a four-way tie for second, along with Tyler Hogarty, also of South Africa, Gabriel Canizares of Spain and Michael Downes of England. 

Another South African, M G Keyser tied for sixth with Craig Hinton of England on seven under, but the day simply belonged to Lawrence who overcame a mid-round wobble to get over the line in a first for a South African on the MENA Golf Tour.

“I am absolutely delighted with the win, which is my first since I turned professional in June last year,” said Lawrence after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Clarke, who is the Patron of the MENA Golf Tour, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the tour, were also present at the presentation ceremony. 

“This win means a lot to me since it has come against a top-class field and I will cherish it for a long time to come. Darren, we all know, is a great ambassador of the game and it was an honour competing against him,” said the South African, who made the turn at one over.

“I panicked a bit when I bogeyed three holes in a row from the seventh, but a birdie on the par-5 13th, where I reached the green in two, calmed my nerves. Birdies on the next two holes meant I had a three-shot lead with two holes to go, which was a great confidence boost,” said Lawrence, who is managed by Andrew "Chubby" Chandler of ISM.

Calling him one of the brightest young stars to emerge from South Africa since Louis Oosthuizen, Chandler said: “With this win, Lawrence has already shown his extraordinary talent and if he continues to progress like this he'll have a tremendously bright future.” 

Clarke congratulated Lawrence, saying his performance is a reflection on the growing standard of the game on the MENA Golf Tour.

 “The conditions were tough, but this young lad played brilliantly and deserved to win,” said the 47-year-old Ulsterman, who shot a 71 in the final round. 

Playing in the final group with Lawrence, Morocco’s Faycal Serghini carded a 74 to slip into a tie for eighth on six under, but had the consolation of winning the MENA Division, a two shots ahead of his compatriot Younes El Hassani.

Improving with every outing, India’s Rayhan Thomas returned a final round 69 to join England’s James Allan atop the leaderboard in the Amateur Division on five under. Allan, who opened with a 67, just failed to summon his ‘A’ game when it mattered and had to settle for a 74 in the final round. 

The MENA Golf Tour travels to Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club next week for the season-ending Tour Championship, starting on Monday.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 216 (3x72)
204 T Lawrence (SAf) 69 66 67 ($9,000)
208 T Hogarty (SAf) 70 67 71, G Canizares (Spa) 69 70 69. M Downes (Eng) 67 72 68, D Clarke (NIr) 71 66 71 ($3,686 each)

SCOTS' SCORES
212 T Innes-Ker 68 75 69 (T15) ($807).
218 B Alexander (am) 74 71 73 (T32)
219 P Doherty 73 73 73 (T37) ($402).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

FOG STOPS PLAY AT MONIFIETH LINKS

Only 30min play was possible before fog halted the CT Sports Academy Pro Winter Series competition at Monifieth Links today (Tuesday).

The next event in the series is at Leven Links on Tuesday, November 17.

 McIlroy hit by food poisoning but says he will 

be OK for Champions Tournament

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy is confident he will be able to tee it up in the opening round of the WGC – HSBC Champions despite being struck down with a bout of food poisoning.
The World Number Three, who is due to join America duo Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson for the first two rounds at Sheshan International Golf Club, was forced to pull out of a photo stunt in central Shanghai on Tuesday. He then tried to practise on Wednesday morning but subsequently withdrew from the pre-tournament Pro-Am due to ongoing abdominal pains.
Despite his illness, McIlroy is hopeful he will recover in time to continue his bid to clinch a third Race to Dubai crown in four years, having started the European Tour’s Final Series with a tied sixth place finish in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.
Also aiming for Shanghai success is Swede Henrik Stenson, who retains hope of reclaiming the Race to Dubai title he won in 2013, in between McIlroy’s two success, while India’s Anirban Lahiri and South African Branden Grace will be looking to turn their impressive showings in the Majors this year into a maiden World Golf Championship title.

Key player quotes
Rory McIlroy
 “I was thinking of trying to play nine holes but I think that would do me more harm than good. It would be nice to see the golf course before tomorrow, but I’ve played it a few times. I didn’t play last year but I know the place well and JP has been out there, so it is better that I rest and get my energy up for tomorrow.
 “I’ve played well here every time I have played here. I’ve not finished outside the top six, so it has been a really, really good tournament for me. I’ve not won it, but I’ve been close. Hopefully if I can get through the first couple of days and play ok, I’ll be feeling a lot better at the weekend and I can make a run at it.
“I played well in Turkey and I felt like my game was in good shape. I was a little bit disappointed with how I played on Sunday – I didn’t really capitalise on any of the chances I gave myself and started hitting my iron shots left, which cost me. It was nice to feel in contention again and to feel that buzz and adrenaline of being in contention for a tournament. Hopefully I can get myself in that position again this week, but most importantly I need to get healthy first and if I can do that then concentrate on the golf.”
Henrik Stenson
“It would be very nice to finish with a win, no question about it. I managed to pull it off in Dubai in 2014. The year before was obviously a great season for me, and I followed it up with the second best year of my career in 2014. I think if I could finish off with at least one win in these last three tournaments I’m playing, then I would probably bump 2014 down a place and make this one the second best year.
“So that has to be the goal. I’m still in with a very small chance of challenging for The Race to Dubai title. It’s obviously very slim at this point, but I guess there is a chance of winning if I were to go silly in these three tournaments. Even if I’m unlikely to reach all the way to the top, I still want to try to have a good finish to this season and try to put a little bit of pressure on the guy at the top.”
Branden Grace
“This is for us almost as big as a Major, so you definitely want to contend here. And you've got the best players in the world again. If you can beat them on a world stage like this, then you know you're doing something right.
“I'm sixth on The Race to Dubai at the moment, so there's still a good chance of getting it done. You just need one good win or one good finish and then you're right up there. Then it is all to play for in the last two events.
“I'm excited. I like all three courses going in now, so hopefully I can do well over the next three weeks.”
Anirban Lahiri
“Last year was my first time here, and I think the golf course is a really good test. It probably suits my game as well, because you've got to hit the ball really good around here. You're not going to have a lot of wedges. You're not going to have a lot of tap-ins for birdies. And I would like to think that that's what I do well, strike the ball. So hopefully I can have a better event this year. I'm playing well. I'm feeling positive.”