Dubai company reverses stance, removes Donald Trump image, name from golf course

FROM GOLF DIGEST

By Joel Beall

Stating earlier this week that it would honour its golf and real estate Dubai partnership with Donald Trump amid controversial remarks, Damac Properties has apparently pivoted on its stance.

Trump's image was taken down from the company's billboards on Thursday, and his name removed from the property's gated entrance wall. 

Damac initially said "it would not comment further on Mr. Trump's personal or political agenda, nor comment on the internal American political debate scene." 

However, after sticking with Trump in the face of his anti-Muslim comments, Damac shares have plunged, losing more than 15 percent in trading on the Dubai Financial Market.

Kevin Duncan has clear lead in Brimmond Bistro NE Alliance Scratch Order of Merit

 Professional Kevin Duncan continues to lead the North-east Golfers' Alliance scratch Order of Merit, sponsored by the Brimmond Bistro at Craibstone Golf Club.

The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player leads by nearly 1,000pt from another consistent pro, John Duff (Newmachar).

The leading amateur, in 13th place overall, is young Chris Lamb (Newmachar).
 In the Handicap sections, Gavin Chalmers (Alford) has a lead of 161pts from second placed Dave Leslie who recently moved from the Northern Golf Club to become a member of Bon Accord.
In Class 2 Stephen Ross (Hazlehead) has a healthy lead from Jim Stewart (Banchory).
+Brimmond Bistro will award 1-2-3 prizes in each of the three sections, money for professionals and prize vouchers for amateurs.
All three sections will end with the scores in the second round of the championship at Craibstone Golf Club in March.

 SCRATCH

(players from Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

 unless otherwise stated)

1   1  Kevin Duncan                                              5645

     2 John Duff (Newmachar)                                4701

     3 Phil McLean                                                 3857

     4 Greg McBain                                                3400

     5 Craig Lawrie                                                 3168

     6 Sean Lawrie                                                  3122

     7  Sam Kiloh                                                    2943

 8 Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)                  2499

     9 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links)                   2410

1  10   Alan Stuart                                                  2359

1  11  Greig Hutcheon                                            2334

1 12   Paul Lawrie (Carnegie Club)                       2277

1 13   Chris Lamb (Newmachar)                            2138

1 14   Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon)                 2043

1 15  David Brown (Kemnay)                                 2018

1 16  Kris Nicol                                                      1983

1 17 Laura Murray                                                 1797

1 18   David Leslie (Bon Accord)                          1604

1 19   Billy Fyfe                                                      1591
   20   Stewart Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)                   1392

   21   Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                               1388=

   22    Murray Paterson (Cruden Bay)                      1338

   23  Colin Nelson (MacKenzie Golf)                   1285

   24  Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          1237

   25  Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1171

   26  Craig Dempster                                             1139
   27   Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 1134

   28   John Borthwick (Craibstone)                        1127
   29   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1098

   30   Raymond Reid (Tarland)                                1060
               HANDICAP - CLASS 1
 

          1 Gavin Chalmers (Alford)                 2186

          2 David Leslie (Bon Accord)              2025

          3 Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                  1794

          4 Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                1449

          5 John Borthwick (Craibstone)         1343

          6 Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen)        1329

          7 David Lane (Deeside)                      1310

          8 Donny Adam (Kemnay)                   1308

         T 9  Richard Blackmore (Tarland)         1227

1       T9  Gary Esson (Portlethen)                 1227

1       11   Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)           1212

1       12  Scott Melvin (Newmachar)             1179

1       13  Charlie Cassie (Nigg Bay)              1165

1       14 Steve Shand (Portlethen)                  1116

1       15  Mike Duncan (Murcar Links)          1092

1       16 Tony Robertson (Peterculter)             1061

1       17  Graeme Riley (Craibstone)               1057

1       18 Ritchie Davidson (Caledonian)          1041

1       19 Harry Roulston (Stonehaven)           1038

         20 Manson Merchant (Newmachar)      1036

                CLASS 2

1  1  Stephen Ross (Hazlehead)                2521

    2 Jim Stewart (Banchory)                     1985

    3 Raymond Brown (Newburgh)            1506

    4 Gary Homer (Northern)                      1457

    5 S Davidson (Northern)                        1350

    6 Donald Lawrie (Aboyne)                     1103

    7 David McKay (Caledonian)                 1102

    8  Willie Beattie (Craibstone)                 1097

    9 David Bisset (Banchory)                        973

1  10 Lenny Duncan (Craibstone)                 930

1  11 Nigel Parker (Murcar Links)                927

1  12 Peter Walker (Cruden Bay)                   909

1  13 Mike Brown (Newburgh)                      814

1  14 Peter Cheyne (Northern)                        793

    15 Graham Allan (Newmachar)                   781

1  16 Robbie Duncan (Deeside)                       767

    17 Richard Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen)     744

1  18 Jim Murray (Banchory)                           727

1  19 Hamish MacNaughtan (Cruden Bay)       715

    20 Michael Rendall (Stonehaven)                  627

 

Gunn shoots a 68 at Web.com Tour Q School

Jimmy Gunn moved up to joint 26th place with a second-round, four-under-par 68 for a 36-hole tally of five-under-par 139 at the Web.com Tour Qualifying School Final tournament at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Canadian Adam Svensson is the early leader with 64-65 for 15-under 129.

WEB.COM TOUR NEWS RELEASE
 

WEB.com Tour

Schniederjans five off Svensson's lead

 at Web.com Q-School

Ollie Schniederjans ( Getty Images ) 

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM

By Kevin Casey

After barely making it to this week, Ollie Schniederjans is on the verge of fully-exempt status on the Web.com Tour.
The former World No. 1 amateur fired a Friday 68 on the Champion Course at PGA National, moving up to second place halfway through Web.com Tour Q-School. While Schniederjans continued to rise up red numbers, though, Adam Svensson took command.
The Canadian posted a second consecutive 7-under round (this time on the Fazio Course), as he surged five ahead of the field in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Svensson turned professional earlier this year and finished ninth on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit. But he chose this week as his true breakout, it seems. On Day One, Svensson used a steady start and a late eagle to boost his round well into red numbers (and into the 18-hole lead). On Friday it was a blazing start – birdies in his first four holes – that rocketed him into the mid-60s again. The 21-year-old bogeyed only one hole each day.
Schniederjans also only has two bogeys for the tournament, although that doesn't count a double bogey as well. A late surge enabled a fast start Thursday. It was similar in Round Two, as the 22-year-old sandwiched his double around four birdies on his back nine.
There could be a big reward if Schniederjans, who only has guaranteed conditional status on the Web.com Tour for advancing to this week, can chase down Svensson over the last two days.
The top 45 finishers and ties over 72 holes this week in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., will earn their Web.com Tour cards for 2016. But only the winner or joint winners are fully-exempt, with finishers 2-10 (and ties) susceptible to the third reshuffle and finishers 11-45 (and ties) susceptible to the second reshuffle of 2016.
Two players, including Alistair Presnell, sit in a tie for third at 8 under, and a half-dozen players are one further back. Austin Cook is T-11 at 6 under, while Cheng Tsung-Pan dropped 23 spots to T-26 thanks to a 2-over 73 that dropped him to 4 under.
Kyle Jones, a 2015 American Palmer Cup member, also had a rough day in a 1-over-73 that dropped him to 3 under and 25 spots on the leaderboard. The worst of it may have been for Jack Maguire, who recently left Florida State to turn pro before final stage. Maguire posted posted a 5-over 76 (Champion) to plummet from T-56 to T-132.

Link to Alps Tour Qualifying School scores

English competitors are to the fore in the Alps Tour Q School at La Cala Resort, Spain.
 No Scots are in the field.

To view all the scores

CLICK HERE

Graham Fox is individual champion in Turkey

Scotland pipped by France in play-off for PGAs of Europe team title

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland were pipped on the post for first place by France in their defence of the PGAs of Europe international team championship at Gloria Golf Club, Belek in southern Turkey.
Bidding for a nine win in all and a third success in the past four years, the Scots - Gareth Wright, Graham Fox and David Orr - tied on 18-under-par 558 with the Frenchman who also had a team score (best two from three) of six-under 138 in the final round.
The Scots lost to the French at the first hole of a sudden death play-off.
Fox had the consolation of winning the individual event with a total of 14-under-par 264, finishing with a 68 to have only one shot to spare over the runner-up, Welshman Sion Bebb.
Gareth Wright finished seventh on 284 while David Orr had a dismal time with a total of 300 for a joint 35th finish. He did not have a team counting score over the four days.

TEAM TOTALS
par 576 (8x72)
558 France 139 144 137 138 (6,000 euros); Scotland 144 130 140 138 (5,000 euros). France won play-off at first extra hole.
560 Wales 148 137 139 136 (4,200 euros)
561 Ireland 140 141 142 138 (3,800 euros)
566 England 143 139 143 141 (3,400 euros)
576 Italy 142 143 145 156 (3,100 euros)
578 Denmark (2,800 euros)
579 Belgium (2,500 euros
582 Netherlands (2,200 euros)
584 Sweden (2,000 euros)
592 Germany, Switzerland
594 Austria
597 Turkey, Czech Rep, South Africa
600 Poland
608 Iceland, Slovenia
614 Hungary
616 Finland
626 Croatia 

 LEADING INDIVIDUALS 
par 288 (4x72)
274 G Fox (Sco) 69 66 71 68
275 S Bebb (Wal) 73 67 67 68
277 E Brady (Ire) 69 68 71 69
279 R Eyraud (Fra) 73 71 68 67

SELECTED TOTALS
284 G Wright (Sco) 75 70 69 70 (7th)
285 M Watson (Eng) 74 68 72 71 (T8)
286 C Clark (Eng) 72 71 71 72 (10th)
287 R Dinsdale (Wal) 77 70 72 68 (11th)
289 P Hendriksen (Eng) 71 72 70 76 (12th)
291 D Mooney (Ire) 76 73 73 69 (T14)
292 B McGovern (Ire) 71 75 71 75  (18th)
300 D Orr (Sco) 77  75 72 76 (T35)


TO VIEW ALL THE INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SCORES

CLICK HERE

Fraser Mann's 72 has him T4 in Spanish seniors event

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carnoustie's Fraser Mann shot a level par 72 to be sharing fourth place at the end of the first round in the Senior Golf Circuit's Aguilon Stakes competition at Desert Springs Golf Resort, Almeria in Spain.

Mann is two strokes behind joint leaders Peter Baker and Stephen McNally.

Scot David James, the organiser of the Senior Golf Circuit for professionals and amateurs aged 48 and over, is 10th on the 75 mark.

SENIOR GOLF CIRCUIT - AGUILON STAKES

Desert Springs Golf Resort, Almeria, Spain

FIRST-ROUND SCORES
par 72

70 P Baker, S McNally.

71 T Tirkkonen

72 F Mann, G Bannister

73 M Wharton

74 M Briggs, D Hospital, J Murphy

75 D James

76 M Lord

77 D Ray, C Harrison K Pedersen, C Lavery

78 J Romero, P Thornley

79 T Wisson

80 P Pusset

81 J Twissel, S Ball, I Skidmore

82 F Maas,N Mitchell.

83 S Davidson, G Pirie, M Capaul, N Evans, M Pyatt

84 Karim El Baradie 
85 Guy Benahou
86 Yoav Sheinav
87 Alan Jarrett, Doug Young, Mark Whaler. 
90 Gaetan Bikindou, Bouba Todou
95 Mike Lester
97 Richard Naas
NRs Tony Cuppello, Yapa Rathnayake

Frost on fire for two-shot lead on Mauritius   EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS Two-time MCB Tour Champion David Frost surged to the top of the leaderboard on the opening day of the European Senior Tour’s finale, courtesy of a sensational finish which included four birdies and an eagle in his last six holes.  Frost’s love affair with the Legend Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius started with his victory in 2011, and the South African is in pole position to claim an unprecedented third title after moving to the head of affairs on seven under par. That scenario had seemed unlikely when he turned in 35, as the putts stubbornly refused to drop on the front nine.  But he came alive on the back nine, following up a birdie on the 13th hole with three gains in a row from the 15th, before a stunning approach to ten feet on the last set the seal on a round of 65. Frost’s dazzling denouement gave him a two-shot lead over Englishman Paul Eales, who had set the pace earlier in the day with a pristine five under par round of 67, with Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie a further shot back in a share of third place. Frost said: “I’ve had a lot of joy at this event in the past, so I always feel very good whenever I arrive. You can’t be too aggressive off the tee, you’ve got to stick to your game plan and I executed that very well today. When I saw the leaderboard just after the turn, I thought if I could finish well there was no reason why I couldn’t get to within a shot. But to go into the second round with a two-shot lead was way beyond my expectations. “I had the right number on the 16th, so managed to stick it in there pretty close then on the 17th I hit probably my best putt of the day. On the last, I hit a great approach but actually got a little bit lucky with the putt, because it bounced up off the grain as soon as I hit it. But luckily it just made it to the hole, so I might’ve got away with one there but I had no luck on the front nine, so it probably evened itself out overall.” Despite finding a tricky lie in the geenside bunker, Eales birdied the final hole to sign for his joint lowest round of the 2015 season. Eales is yet to enter the winner’s circle in the over-50s ranks, with a tie for third in the 2013 English Senior Open his best performance to date, but the former European Tour champion is aiming to rectify that over the next two days. He said: “It was a bit hot and sweaty, but playing alongside Des [Smyth] is always a pleasure. It helped that I play pretty well too, no bogeys on your card is always a good day. “The birdie on the last was a lovely way to finish. My ball was right up against the face of the bunker where there was a lot of sand, but experience tells you to hit a bit harder than you otherwise would. It came out nice and softly to four feet, and I managed to pop the putt in so I’m a happy boy.    “I’m off to the beach now – there’s a sun-lounger with my name all over it!” Meanwhile, Montgomerie came alive on the back nine, plundering four birdies in his final six holes to climb into a share of third alongside Argentine Luis Carbonetti and South African Chris Williams. Montgomerie’s quest for a first victory in the MCB Tour Championship got off to a shaky start, as he was level par through 12 holes, but gains on the 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th moved him ominously into contention. Montgomerie said: “It was nice to finish strongly, especially I was overheating a little to be honest so it was pleasing to hole a few putts coming home. I made a silly mistake on the 12th which cost me a bogey, but I hung in there and played some very nice stuff towards the end.  "So I’m fairly happy with the start, but there’s definitely a little bit of room for improvement over the next two days.”      Williams had looked on course to join Eales in a share of second place on five under par, until a duffed bunker shot on the 17th hole led to a second bogey of the day. But a round of 68 was still a commendable effort from the South African, who is hoping to end a frustrating campaign on a high. The same is true of Carbonetti, who is 52nd on the Senior Tour Order of Merit and therefore in grave danger of losing his playing privileges for next season. The Argentine has just one top ten finish in seven appearances this term, but a first victory in a decade would secure his immediate future. Further down the leaderboard, defending champion Paul Wesselingh is in a tie for sixth place on three under par after he made amends for his only bogey of the day on the 16th hole with a birdie at the last. Round One Scores par 72 65 D Frost (RSA) 67 P Eales (Eng)  68 C Montgomerie  (Sco) , C Williams (RSA) , L Carbonetti (Arg)  69 M Martin (Esp) , P Wesselingh (Eng) , A Sherborne (Eng) , PBroadhurst (Eng) , G Brand Jnr (Sco)  70 R Drummond (Sco) , J Smith (USA) , B Cameron (Eng) , P Fowler (Aus) ,  71 G Wolstenholme (Eng) , A Forsbrand (Swe) , B Lane (Eng) , S Luna (Esp)  72 R Chapman (Eng) , J Remesy (Fra) , D Smyth (Irl) , C Monasterio (Arg) , T Thelen (USA) , G Manson (Aut) , L Zhang (Chn) , P Walton (Irl)   73 M Farry (Fra) , J Carriles (Esp) , J Quiros (Esp) , G Rusnak (USA) , J Gould (Eng)  74 M Mackenzie (Eng) , A Bossert (Sui) , S Brown (Eng) , M Davis (Eng) , G Marks (Eng) , R Gibson (Can)  75 F Lamare (Fra) , V Seeneevassen (Mri) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , P Golding (Eng) , K Tarling (Can) , P Linhart (Esp)  76 S Tinning (Den)   77 J Sallat (Fra) , W Grant (Eng) , J Berendt (Arg) , M Mouland (Wal) , J Harrison (Eng)  78 A Franco (Par)  79 G Emerson (Eng) , R Sabarros (Fra)   81 M McLean (Eng)

TrackMan's amazing technology can make

you a better golfer
 
NEWS RELEASE 
By LEE VANNET
PGA teaching pro at Craibstone Golf Club
Marshall Leisure Craibstone Golf Academy are proud to announce the launch of their Indoor Golf Studio, fully equipped with TrackMan Launch Monitor, the choice of the world's best golfers .
TrackMan uses radar technology to track the movement of the golf clubhead and the golf ball to provide incredible feedback as to just why the golf ball behaves the way it does.
The technology in TrackMan was designed to track missiles for the US Military, so tracking a golf ball is no trouble.

With the use of amazing graphics and on screen ball flight tracer, as shown in the picture below, the golfer  gets unparallelled feedback as to just what really happened, No Guessing Anymore. 
All this accelerates learning and results in faster improvement and extra distance off the tee using the Driver Optimizer Feature.
In the space of 5 minutes one of my clients went from slicing her driver off to the right , to hitting high draws and gaining 20 yards extra in the process.
If you have not already had a session with TrackMan and you are serious about improving your golf game, you need to take advantage of this amazing technology for clearer understanding and improved ball striking!

Another great feature in TrackMan, is the TrackMan Combine Test, a 60 shot challenge which measures your overall game from Sand Wedge to Driver culminating in a Total score out of 100. You can benchmark your game alongside the world's top professionals as all scores are logged and readily accessible.
All of this and much more in the comfort and warmth of our fantastic studio, fully equipped with GASP video analysis and Indoor Putting Studio makes this a TOTAL GOLF IMPROVEMENT CENTRE.
If you would like to take your golf game to a new level in 2016 and find out more about our Player Development Programmes and Christmas Golf Lesson Gift Vouchers contact Craibstone PGA Professional Lee Vannet on 07968025781 or email leepro67@hotmail.com

Lee Vannet Tip For Longer Drives
Tee up your ball high and strike it out of the toe of the club.
The toe of the club moves faster than the centre of the clubhead,and also promotes a right to left ball flight,  thus adding  at least an extra 10 yards.
Make sure you are using the correct ball for your clubhead speed!

Donaldson leads at Thailand Championship

ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE
Chonburi, Thailand : Overnight leader Welshman Jamie Donaldson, pictured above, continued to set the pace with a second round four-under-par 68 at the Thailand Golf Championship today.
The Welshman compiled a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 to take a two-shot advantage over closest rival Martin Kaymer of Germany, who kept up his charge at the Amata Spring Country Club with a 65.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia also lived up to his billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites by signing for a 69 to stay within sights of Donaldson, trailing him by five shots together with England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick on 135 total at the US$1 million Asian Tour event.
Donaldson continued where he left off after the first day by maintaining his position atop the leaderboard.
While it was not like the flawless card he had signed for on the opening day, the 40-year-old still made his mark with a commanding performance that was highlighted by seven birdies and three bogeys.
“It can be tough out there and it’s important to get off to a good start. You need to keep the momentum going and I managed to do that today. It was very hot and a case of trying to stay hydrated and not sweat too much on the ball.
“I’ve played well for the first two days. I dropped a couple of shots but I just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing. Overall, I’ve been playing nicely,” said Donaldson.
Kaymer, who is looking to erase the heartbreak of last year where he was pipped to the Thailand Golf Championship by one shot, showed great resolve in getting the job done this week.
The Major winner was at his best when he birdied two of his opening three holes in his opening back-nine 10.
He dropped his only shot of the round at the par-four 14 before picking up another gain on 18.
Kaymer then went on a birdie blitz in his inward-nine by charging home in 31.
“They say you get a nicer weather playing in the morning but that was not really the case. It was like a sauna out there. It was really warm but the good thing is that the ball actually goes a bit further.
“I just need to stay where I am heading into the weekends. I am hitting a lot of fairways and I think it’s really important. Driving will be the key to score well this week,’ said Kaymer.
Despite the hot and humid conditions, Fitzpatrick showed his determination in making his debut at the Thailand Golf Championship a memorable one.
“It was very warm today. I got off to a slow start on the first nine and then had to have a think and got refocused after that. Three birdies in the last five were a good way to finish, as was with the five-under,” said Fitzpatrick.
After breaking into the world’s top-50 for the first time in his career following several sterling performances including his maiden win at British Masters in October, the 21-year-old is setting his sights on more glory this week.
“Consistency has been the key this year. I’ve been trying to do all the right things this year and with the right team around me it’s working. So I’ll just keep on doing that.
“The plan has been working and has got me to nine under so far. A four-under, five-under weekend would hopefully not leave me too far away,” said Fitzpatrick.
Garcia also remains optimistic of adding his name to the roll of honour at the Thailand Golf Championship again and is hopeful of finding the form that led to his win in Vietnam last week
“I had a good start to the week and I thought shooting nine-under for the first two rounds is pretty good. Obviously still a little bit behind the leaders but I will try my best to cap a good weekend and hopefully contend again like how I did in Vietnam last week,” said the 2013 Thailand Golf Championship winner

SCOREBOARD
 par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,498

131 - Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) 63-68.

133 - Martin KAYMER (GER) 68-65.

135 - Matthew FITZPATRICK (ENG) 68-67, Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 66-69, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 66-69.

136 - Byeonghun AN (SKOR) 69-67, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 70-66.

137 - Clement SORDET (FRA) 71-66.

138 - Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 70-68, Sunghoon KANG (SKOR) 70-68.

139 - Joost LUITEN (NED) 69-70, Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 71-68, Brett MUNSON (USA) 67-72, Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 68-71, Matthew GILES (AUS) 69-70, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 67-72, Jacques BLAAUW (RSA) 70-69, Chanat SAKULPOLPHAISAN (THA) 66-73.

140 - JIN Cheng (am, CHN) 73-67, Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 70-70, Darren CLARKE (NIR) 69-71, David LIPSKY (USA) 73-67, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 73-67, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 73-67, Zander LOMBARD (RSA) 71-69, Jason KNUTZON (USA) 72-68, Berry HENSON (USA) 70-70.

 

Selected scores

141 - Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-72, S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND) 72-69, Bubba WATSON (USA) 71-70