Polluted water hazards could affect health 

of Olympic golfers in Rio de Janeiro

FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM

By JOEL BEALL

In December we posted a story on Brazil's rampant pollution in the country's waterways and its possible effect on the upcoming Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. 

For context, according to the AP, the areas in question had disease-causing viruses directly linked to human sewage at levels up to 1.7 million times what would be considered highly alarming in the U.S. or Europe.

However, there was slight hope that this situation could be cleaned up before the Games' arrival.

Not anymore.

Getty Images

According to a damning report from Outside the Lines, Rio and the International Olympic Committee have thrown in the towel on correcting the issue.

"It's not going to happen because there was not enough commitment, funds and energy," said Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada. 

Worse, Outside the Lines obtained documents from the United States Olympic Committee stating "The USOC has ongoing concerns over possible existing viral and bacterial contaminants in the water. ... The USOC remains hopeful, but we do not expect to anticipate major reductions in bacterial or viral pathogen levels at the competition venues."

Golf is back at the Olympics for the first time since 1904, but the return hasn't been met with universal enthusiasm. While no players have officially pulled out, growing concerns about the health and safety in Rio could deter the golf world's participation. 

 

McIlroy 67, Laird 68 among early Northern 

Trust Open finishers

Rory McIlroy and Martin Laird have made solid starts to this week's US PGA Tour event, the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California.
Over a par-71 course, Rory had a four-under 67 to be tied fourth, one shot behind Chez Reavie, Luke List and Bubba Watson, the early clubhouse leaders with 66s.
Alongside McIlroy on 67 were Ricky Barnes, Charles Howell III and Charlie Danielson, an amateur.
Martin had a 68 to be T8 among the first wave of those who had completed their first rounds.
The Glasgow man birdied the long first, second, short sixth and long 17th in halves of 32 and 36. His only blemish came at the 16th which he bogeyed.
Justin Rose had a 69 to be T19 while Padraig Harrington had a 71 to be T63. 

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The MGR Fife Golfer of the Week is Robert Skene of Thornton Golf Club. He has entered the Top 10 of the MyGolfRanking Fife Men's ranking at No 10.

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Men, Week 2016/07

1 Gary Wishart (Charleton) 1144 pts                                                                                   

2 Michael Riddell (Cupar) 1120

3 Blaine McGowan (Thornton) 1117

4 Stewart Lamond (Pitreavie) 1100

5 Ryan Mackie (Balbirnie Park) 1085

6 Michael Lindsay (Pitreavie) 1083

7 Graham Brown (Lundin) 1078

8 Ross Gribbons (Dunfermline) 1071                                                                                                      

9 Stuart McGaulley (Balbirnie Park) 1066

10 *Robert Skene (Thornton) 1045

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Clubs Men, Week 2016/07

1 Dunfermline 907 pts

2 Dunnikier Park 888

3 Balbirnie Park 860

4 Ladybank 837

5 Aberdour 814

6 Pitreavie 812

7 Kirkcaldy 807

8 Lundin 803

*Entry this week

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.

The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net

Graeme Brown wins again with a 68 at 

Midland Alliance's Scotscraig fixture

Montrose Links assistant professinal Graeme Brown kept up his good run of form by winning the individual scratch prize at today's Midland Golfers' Alliance competition, the Tayview Caravan Park pro-am at Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport in Fife.
Brown shot a two-under-par 68 to win by one stroke from another assistant Piperdam's Rory Tinker.
 Winners of the team prize were Edzell assistant pro Mike MacKenzie, Norman Dyce (Strathmore) (2), Keith Bruce (Edzell) (2) and Jim Watt (Edzell) (2). They won by two shots with a score of 125.
LEADING SCRATCH
par 70
68 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) ap.
69 Rory Tinker (Piperdam) ap.
70 Mike MacKenzie (Edzell) ap, Steve Craig (Archerfield Links) p.
71 Gary Tough (Edzell), Fraser Mann (Carnoustie GC) p.
72 Sam McLaren (Blairgowrie) ap.
73 Kenny Hutton (Downfield) p.
74 Grant Jenkins (Crieff), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) ap.
LEADING TEAM SCORES
125 Mike MacKenzie (Edzell) ap, Norman Dyce (Strathmore) (2), Keith Bruce (Edzell) (2), Jim Watt (Edzell) (2) 
127 (bih) Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) ap, Bennet Black (Dunfermline) (10), Tony Lumsden (Monifieth) (8), Andy Black (Tulliallan) (14).
127 Rory Tinker (Piperdam) ap, Brian Neil (St Andrews New) (14), Derek Sim (Panmure) (6), Peter Rhind (Grange) (7) 

 

Next Meeting

Thursday, February 25

Graeme Paton Team Competition

Montrose Links, Mercantile Golf Club

Tee reserved: 8.30am-12.30pm

 

Lee Sutherland

Craig Howie from Peebles, the 2012 Scottish boys champion at Murcar Links, finished in the top ten of a US college tournament at La Quinta, California.
SWITCH OVER TO 

 CLICK HERE
 
www.kirkwoogolf.co.uk to read the report, see the scores of the Stirling University team of five who took part in The Prestige at PGA West tournament.

 Aussie Holman sets pace with a 64 in Malaysia

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Nathan Holman fired himself to the top of the leaderboard on day one of the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia and then set his sights on emulating Danny Willett who is just a shot behind.
The Australian carded a seven -under-par 64 to set the early target at Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, and, while he could not be caught, Willett, fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, American Peter Uihlein, Frenchman Alexander Levy, Spaniard Jorge Campillo and Filipino Angelo Que all got to six under to pile the pressure on the 24 year old.
It was a continuation of some impressive early season form from Holman, who won the Australian PGA Championship in his 16th European Tour event in December and then sealed two top 40 finishes during the Desert Swing.

That win on the Gold Coast catapulted Holman from 318th to 171st in the Official World Golf Ranking and he is now aiming to follow Willett, who has had a recent meteoric rise of his own.
The 28 year old was 104th in the World Ranking in November 2015, but three European Tour wins since, including victory last time out at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, have moved him to 13th.
Holman started on the tenth and made a birdie on his opener before a hat-trick of gains from the 13th saw him turn in 32. Further birdies followed on the third and fifth before a 20-foot putt on the ninth moved him ahead.
"I just played really well to be honest," he said. "Every part of my game was quite good and I was saying a few weeks ago that my game has been trending in that right direction so it was nice to get a really good one in.
"A lot of the guys probably haven't played here. It's quite a tricky golf course and quite short so you need good lines off the tee and if you can get your wedges and putter going, you can post a score.
"It suits my eye. I like the look of it and obviously that's shown through with the score I had today so I'm looking forward to playing the next three days."
Willett turned in one under par 34 but hit his stride after the turn, chipping in for eagle on the 13th and following that with back-to-back birdies before sinking a huge putt on the last.
An eagle and four birdies in his first seven holes saw Uihlein threaten to set the target but he played his last 11 holes in level par, while a bogey on the last meant Levy dropped out of a share of the lead after he had birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th in a late surge.
Fleetwood was flawless in his 66 while Que and Campillo both had a single bogey in their efforts.
Thongchai Jaidee was then in the group at five under, with the seven-time winner joined by Richard Bland, Marcus Fraser, Masahiro Kawamura, K.T. Kim, Soomin Lee, Prom Meesawat and Miguel Tabuena.
SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson)
Stephen Gallacher had one of his best rounds of the year so far, at three-under-par 68 to be T20 at the end of the first day.
Malaysia-based Simon Yates and David Drysdale are T67 on the level par 71 mark.
Marc Warren's 73 pushed him down to joint 102nd place in a field of 156 players.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71. Yardage: 7,079

64 - Nathan HOLMAN (AUS).

65 - Angelo QUE (PHI), Danny WILLETT (ENG), Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG), Peter UIHLEIN (USA), Alexander LEVY (FRA), Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP).

66 - Prom MEESAWAT (THA), K.T. KIM (SKOR), Richard BLAND (ENG), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), Soomin LEE (SKOR), Marcus FRASER (AUS), Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN).

67 - Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA), Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND), Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA), Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS).

68 - Kenneth DE SILVA (MAS), Robert ROCK (ENG), HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE), Rahil GANGJEE (IND), Stephen GALLACHER (SCO), James MORRISON (ENG), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Romain WATTEL (FRA), David LIPSKY (USA), Maximilian KIEFFER (GER), Thriston LAWRENCE (RSA).

69 - Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS), Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI), Rafa CABRERA-BELLO (ESP), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Andrew DODT (AUS), Anthony WALL (ENG), Kristoffer BROBERG (SWE), Eduardo DE LA RIVA (ESP), Mikko KORHONEN (FIN), Anthony KANG (USA), K J LOW (MAS), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Chris WOOD (ENG), Graeme STORM (ENG), Natipong SRITHONG (THA), KOH Deng Shan (SIN).

SCOTTISH SCORES
68 Stephen Gallacher (T20)
71 Simon Yates, David Drysdale (T67)
73 Marc Warren (T102)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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The MyGolfRanking.net Borders (Scotland) Golfers for Week 16/07 are Keith Simpson (Galashiels) and Rose Thorburn (St Boswells) who have retained the No 1 spots of the MGR Border (Scotland)  men’s and women's Ranking.

    BORDERS MEN (SCOTLAND)
1 Keith Simpson (Galashiels) 1028 pts
2 Scott Laidlaw (Langholm) 930
T3 Norman Lowrie (St Boswells) 888
T3 Ian Scott (Lauder) 888

BORDERS MEN (SCOTLAND) CLUBS
1 Langholm 750 pts
2 Lauder 703
3 Galashiel 665

BORDER LADIES (SCOTLAND)
1 Rose Thorburn (St Boswells) 1015 pts
2 Vivien Hogg (Melrose) 869
3 Janet Shirra-Gibb (Melrose) 763

BORDER LADIES (SCOTLAND) CLUBS
1 Melrose 654 pts
2 St Boswells 641
3 The Hirsel 546

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.
The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members so
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David Moir

WILL PORTER T39 ON DAY 1 IN S AFRICA

Will Porter (Carnoustie), last year's Scottish U18 boys champion, shot a two-over-par 74 to be tied 39th in a huge field of 190 players at the Southern Cape Open stroke-play championship over 72 holes at Mossel Bay Golf Club, South Africa.

Porter had one birdie, at the short 12th, and three bogeys, a two short holes, the third and 15th, as well as the par-4 16th in halves of 37.

Jamie Connelly, also from Carnoustie had two double bogeys early in his round and finished the first day with an 81 (43-38) and joint 132nd place.

South African Jade Buitendag leads with a five-under 67.

SOUTHERN CAPE OPEN AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Mossel Bay Golf Club, South Africa.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

par 72

67 Jade Buitendag (SAf)

SELECTED SCORES

70 Jamie Bower (Eng) (T5)

71 Alfie Plant (Eng), Nic Elliot (Eng) (T11)

74 Will Porter (Sco) (T39)

76 Paul Kinnear (Eng) (T61)

81 Jamie Connelly (Sco) (T132)

ends

 

BOOTH FINISHES 8th AT ALICANTE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Wallace Booth, the Comrie, Perthshire tour pro, achieved a top 10 finish in this week's Spanish Evolve Tour 54-hole tournament at Lo Romero Golf Club, Alicante.

Booth recovered from an error-strewn opening round of four-over-par 76 to cover the remaining 36 holes in seven under par with rounds of 69 and 68 for a final total of three-under 213.

Finishing in eighth place in a field of 45, he had six birdies, three of them at par-5 holes, and two bogeys in his final round.

Booth, older brother of Carly Booth, and on the comeback trail after a shoulder injury put him on the sidelines for some time, finished only four shots behind the joint winners, England's Jordan Gibb (73-70-66) and Germany's Florian Fritsch (71-69-69), on the seven-under 209 mark.

SPANISH EVOLVE PRO TOUR

Lo Romero Golf Club, Alicante

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

209 J Gibb (Eng) 73 70 66, F Fritsch (Ger) 71 69 69

211 K Holmes (Eng) 70 73 68, W Harrold (Eng) 73 69 69.

SELECTED TOTAL

213 W Booth (Sco) 76 69 68.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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John Duff looks to have a lock on £75 prize for winner of NE Alliance Scratch Order of Merit

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only three counting events to go before the North-east Alliance Order of Merit tables, sponsored by Brimmond Bistro @ Craibstone Golf Club, reach a climax at the second round of the Alliance championship at Craibstone on March 16.
The final 1-2-3 in each of the three tables - scratch and two handicap classes - will earn prizes to the value of £75, £50 and £25 (money if professionals; vouchers to amateurs) - donated by the Brimmond Bristro.
Newmachar attached pro John Duff looks to have put a lock on the £75 first prize in the scratch table with his win at Spey Bay on Wednesday while his arch-rival and No 2 in the table, Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had a bad day at the office and finished well down the scoreboard.
Duff has 7,332pt, almost 600 ahead of Duncan who would have just about to win weekly tournaments at least twice over the closing weeks to have a chance of dislodging John. 
Third-placed Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) has 5,119pt so little chance of him catching up to take second place. 
 Scott Mackie ( Kemnay), leader by about 600pt in the Handicap Class 1 table, is hot favourite for the £75 winner's voucher even though Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy) soared up from No 5 to No 2 last week.
Keen competition for the third spot with the present occupant, David Leslie (Bon Accord), well within striking distance of the three players immediately beneath him in the table.
Stephen Ross (Hazlehead) has all but wrapped up the £75 voucher for winning Class 2. He had 3,943pt - 1,600pt ahead of second placed Raymond Brown (Tarland). 
Big mover in Class 2 is Nigel Parker whose up-and-down form saw him beaten only by the inward half countback at Spey Bay. Nigel has moved up from No 7 to No 4 but the best he might be able to achieve is third place at the expense of Jim Stewart (Banchory).

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

ORDER OF MERIT  

Sponsored by Brimmond Bistro

@ Craibstone Golf Club  

+Points totals updated by Joel Hopwood                                                 

                                                                                                LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                       POSITION

1.      John Duff (Newmachar)                                7333                     1

2.      Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC)                   6779                     2

3.      Greg McBain (PLGC)                                    5119                     3

4.      Phil McLean (PLGC)                                     4747                     4

5.      Sean Lawrie (PLGC)                                      4166                     5

6.      Craig Lawrie (PLGC)                                    3804                     6

7.      Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links)                   3520                     7

8.      Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)                  3437                     11

9.      Kris Nicol (PLGC)                                         3361                     9

10.   Laura Murray (PLGC)                                   3226                     8

11.   Sam Kiloh (PLGC)                                         3197                     10

12.   Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          2782                     13

13.   Stewart Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)                  2489                     17

14.   Alan Stuart (PLGC)                                       2425                     12

15.   Greg Hutcheon (PLGC)                                 2334                     14

16.   David Brown (Kemnay)                                2311                     15

17.   Paul Lawrie (Carnegie Club)                         2278                     16

18.   Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)                      2202                     24

19.   David Leslie (Bon Accord)                            2200                     19

20.   Chris Lamb (Newmachar)                             2138                     18

21.   Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon)                  2043                     20

22.   Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 1966                     22

23.   Brian Nicolson (Hazlehead)                 1855                     21

24.   Kamran Zeynalov (Portlethen)                     1820                     23

25.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1792                     25

26.   Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                             1660                     29

27.   Colin Nelson (Mackenzie Club)                   1617                     NEW

28.   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1598                     29

29.   Billy Fyfe (PLGC)                                         1592                     26

30.   Alan Gall (Deeside)                                       1577                     27

NORTH EAST ALLIANCE

HANDICAP ORDER OF MERIT                      

CLASS 1                                                                                           LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                         POSITION

1.      Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 3104                     1

2.      Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          2456                     5

3.      David Leslie (Bon Accord)                             2381                     2

4.      Gavin Chalmers (Alford)                                2222                     3

5.      David Lane (Deeside)                                     2191                     4

6.      Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen)                       2183                     7

7.      Manson Merchant (Newmachar)                  1862                     6

8.      Harry Roulston (Stonehaven)                       1733                     8

9.      Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                             1675                     10

10.   Richard Blackmore (Tarland)                       1650                     9

11.   Mark Lawrie (Kemnay)                                1569                     13

12.   Alan Gall (Deeside)                                      1563                     11

13.   John Borthwick (Craibstone)                        1524                     12

14.   Steve Shand (Kemnay)                                 1497                     NEW

15.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1383                     14

16.   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1350                     16

17.   John Nicolson (Hazlehead)                           1332                     15

18.   Donny Adam (Kemnay)                                1308                     17

19.   Ritchie Davidson (Caledonian)                     1306                     18

20.   Charlie Cassie (Nigg Bay)                             1290                     19

CLASS 2                                                                              LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                        POSITION

1.      Stephen Ross (Hazlehead)                             3943                     1

2.      Raymond Brown (Tarland)                            2393                     2

3.      Jim Stewart (Banchory)                                 2195                     3

4.      Nigel Parker (Murcar Links)                         1900                     7

5.      Gary Homer (Bon Accord)                            1884                     5

6.      Mike Brown (Kemnay)                                  1858                     4

7.      Stuart Davidson (Northern)                          1708                     6

8.      Donald Lawrie (Aboyne)                              1600                     8

9.      Richard Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen)          1583                     9

10.   Jim Murray (Banchory)                                  1449                  10

11.   David Bisset (Banchory)                                1401                     12

12.   Peter Walker (Cruden Bay)                           1392                     11

13.   Tom Boyle (Portlethen)                                 1325                     13

14.   Doug Booth (Tarland)                                    1285                     16

15.   Peter Cheyne (Northern)                               1278                     14

16.   Michael Rendall (Stonehaven)                     1261                     15

17.   William Beattie (Craibstone)                        1197                     17

18.   Robbie Duncan (Deeside)                              1189                     18

19.   Lenny Duncan (Craibstone)                          1153                     19

20.   David McKay (Caledonian)                          1102                     20