Sergio Garcia leads Honda Classic with a 65, Russell Knox posts a par 70

Sergio Garcia is the leader in the clubhouse (at 10.30pm UK time) with a five-under-par 65 at the Honda Classic but still a lot of players to play a lot of holes before the first round is complete.
Russell Knox is finished and is in T27 position with a par 70.
Martin Laird among the many still to finish.

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FROM BOB AND LINDA EDGAR

Reference Colin Farquharson's article, saying that the Nations Cup is becoming a farce.

 

It is not just this event that is farcically organised by the Spanish Federation.
At the recent Spanish Seniors Open it was the same and has been for some years now. One of the more silly things that they do is not to take any reserves in if someone does not turn up or withdraws after registration closes. 
This year  they had at least half a dozen two-balls in a field of three- balls when there were at least five Brits there who had played in the doubles, entered the singles but did not get in the main field but would willingly have made the numbers up but were not allowed to by the organisers.
This has happened in the past and when asked why the reply is simply that is what we do !

Like this week's Nations Cup there is no computer link to a running scoreboard but they do post a sheet of paper with returned scores on it somewhere in the clubhouse just like club opens used to do before the days of computers.
All in all, very amateurish which is surprising when the Spanish Golf Federation charges around €80 for club members to be federated. Much much more than the SGU or the EGU.

N-E Alliance season reaching its climax: Who will win the Brimmond Bistro Order of Merit prizes?


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only three North-east Alliance fixtures to go - Duff House Royal next Wednesday (March 2), then the championship rounds at Portlethen (March 9) and Craibstone (March 16) - before the winners of the Brimmond Bistro prizes - £70, £50 and £40 for 1-2-3 in each table - are finalised.
The Brimmond Bistro is the open-to-the-public restaurant within the Craibstone clubhouse.
As Joel Hopwood, who updates the Order of Merit tables after each fixture, has pointed out, the tables could change dramatically when the final reckoning comes around.
This is because each individual's best 18 scores ONLY will be counting for the final Order of Merit placings.
 For example, if an NE Alliance member plays 24 rounds during the season, his worst six weekly points scores will be removed - giving him his final season total.
If a member has played fewer than 18 rounds, then every point he has gained will add up to his final total.
Having said that, it would be a brave man who would bet against John Duff (Newmachar), Scott Mackie (Kemnay) and Stephen Ross (Hazlehead) failing to claim first prize in each of their sections.
But there is still plenty to play for with regard to the second and third positions.
Remember to let the Alliance organisers know if you will be available if required to play in the new format for the post-championship tournament which has been converted from match-play foursomes over two days to teams of four playing a best ball stroke-play competition at Craibstone GC on Thursday, March 17.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

SCRATCH ORDER OF MERIT  

sponsored by Brimmond Bistro

@ Craibstone Golf Club                                                                                                                                        Points             Last week's

                                                                                                          positions

1.      John Duff (Newmachar)                                7406                     1

2.      Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie G C)                  7324                     2

3.      Greg McBain (PLGC)                                       5613                     3

4.      Phil McLean (PLGC)                                        4877                     4

5.      Sean Lawrie (PLGC)                                        4318                     5

6.      Craig Lawrie (PLGC)                                        4015                     6

7.      Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links)                     3639                     7

8.      Laura Murray (Kippie Lodge)                          3617                     10

9.      Sam Kiloh (PLGC)                                            3512                     11

10.   Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)                      3508                     8

11.   Kris Nicol (PLGC)                                             3419                     9

12.   Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                             2857                     12

13.   David Leslie (Bon Accord)                             2643                     19

14.   Stewart Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)                   2586                     13

15.   Alan Stuart (PLGC)                                          2497                     14

16.   Greig Hutcheon (PLGC)                                   2334                     15

17.   David Brown (Kemnay)                                  2311                     16

18.   Paul Lawrie (Carnegie Club)                          2278                     17

19.   Keil Beveridge (Kippe Lodge)                        2266                     18

20.   Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                                2256                     26

21.   Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 2139                     22

22.   Chris Lamb (Newmachar)                             2138                     20

23.   Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon)                  2043                     21

24.   Kamran Zeynalov (Portlethen)                     1928                     24

25.   Brian Nicolson (Hazlehead)                          1920                     23

26.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1848                     25

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

HANDICAP ORDER OF MERIT                      

CLASS 1  

sponsored by Brimmond Bistro @ Craibstone Golf Club                                                                                                       LAST WEEK'S

                                                                                 Points                  POSITION

1.      Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 3158                     1

2.      David Leslie (Bon Accord)                             2572                     3

3.      Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          2466                     2

4.      Gavin Chalmers (Alford)                                2449                     4

5.      Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen)                       2410                     6

6.      David Lane (Deeside)                                     2180                     5

7.      Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                               2135                     9

8.      Manson Merchant (Newmachar)                   1872                     7

9.      Harry Roulston (Stonehaven)                       1743                     8

10.   Richard Blackmore (Tarland)                        1650                     10

11.   Mark Lawrie (Kemnay)                                  1579                     11

12.   Alan Gall (Deeside)                                        1573                     12

13.   John Borthwick (Craibstone)                        1534                     13

14.   Steve Shand (Kemnay)                                   1507                     14

15.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1393                     15

16.   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1350                     16

17.   John Nicolson (Hazlehead)                           1342                     17

18.   Mike Duncan (Murcar Links)                         1324                     NEW

19.   Ritchie Davidson (Caledonian)                     1316                     19

20.   Donny Adam (Kemnay)                                1308                     18

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

HANDICAP ORDER OF MERIT

CLASS 2            

sponsored by Brimmond Bistro @ Craibstone Golf Club

                                                                                                      LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                  Points               POSITION

1.      Stephen Ross (Hazlehead)                            3953                     1

2.      Raymond Brown (Kemnay)                            2575                     2

3.      Jim Stewart (Banchory)                                 2249                     3

4.      Nigel Parker (Murcar Links)                          1910                     4

5.      Mike Brown (Kemnay)                                   1868                     6

6.      Gary Homer (Bon Accord)                             1864                     5

7.      Donald Lawrie (Aboyne)                                1827                     8

8.      Richard Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen)          1810                     9

9.      Sandy Davidson (Northern)                          1708                     7

10.   William Beattie (Craibstone)                        1707                     17

11.   Jim Murray (Banchory)                                  1459                     10

12.   David Bisset (Banchory)                                1411                     11

13.   Doug Booth (Tarland)                                    1400                     14

14.   Peter Walker (Cruden Bay)                           1392                     12

15.   Tom Boyle (Portlethen)                                 1335                     13

16.   Peter Cheyne (Northern)                               1268                     15

17.   Michael Rendall (Stonehaven)                     1255                     16

18.   Robbie Duncan (Deeside)                              1189                     18

19.   Lenny Duncan (Craibstone)                          1163                     19

20.   Mike Roger                                                   1158                     NEW

Paul Lawrie Match-play tournament will NOT 

be played at Murcar Links this year

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 
The future of the Paul Lawrie Saltire Energy match-play tournament - which made its debut on the European Tour at Murcar Links last summer - is in doubt.

Murcar Links Golf Club members received a letter today (Thursday) from the club, saying that the tournament would not be played at their course as planned later this year.

On the European Tour website's list of 2016 tournaments, the Paul Lawrie Saltire Energy match-play now has "to be confirmed" after its name instead of Murcar Links.

Whether this refers to a new venue or whether the tournament is going to be played at all is not clear.

Paul Lawrie referred queries on the subject to his management company who did not respond to an Email but, to be fair, one would not expect them to be in their office during a February evening.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) beat Sweden's Robert Karlsson by one hole in the final when the tournament was played for the first time last year and Murcar Links was voted a great success as a venue.
The oil crisis is claiming more victims week by week. This could be the latest as sponsoring companies find they no longer have the funds to support sponsorship of players or tournaments. 

What a farce! Nations Cup second round not completed - just like on Day 1 at Sotogrande

The Spanish Golf Federation's organisation of the men's Nations Cup at Sotogrande is bordering on the farcical.
For the second day in a row, the last 12 men off the tee were unable to complete their rounds because of darkness.
And no scores were available for the players who DID finish the second round.
These, apparently, will not be made public until the 12 men in question complete their second rounds on Friday morning.

At the end of the first round, Ireland's Alex Glesson, Stuart Grehan, Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy were leading with a best three from four aggregate of 218.
 Scotland's Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, Jack McDonald and Bob MacIntyre were lying fifth on 225.
 Left-handed Scottish champion Bob MacIntyre led the individual field with a two-under 70 at the end of the first round.

Dunfermline amateur Ferguson wins at 

Monifieth with a 66

Today's Midland Golfers Alliance fixture was switched from frost-bound Montrose Links to the Monifieth Medal Course where Dunfermline one-handicap amateur Alister Ferguson had the best scratch score of five-under-par 66.

He won by one stroke from Montrose Links assistant Graeme Brown.

Chris Westland, who plays off 11 at Alloa, won the handicap prize with a net 63.

LEADING SCRATCH

par 71

66 Alister Ferguson (Dunfermline).

67 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) ap.

69 Fraser Mann (Carnoustie) p, Fraser Campbell (Monifieth), Tom McLevy (Blairgowrie).

70 Steve Craig (Archerfield Links) p, Mike Mackenzie (Edzell) ap, Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) p.

71 Steven Paterson (Lundin), Kenny Hutton  (Downfield).

LEADING HANDICAP

63 Chris Westland (Alloa) (11).
65 Alister Ferguson (Dunfermline) (1)
67 Steven Paterson (Lundin) (4), Scott Miller (Blairgowrie) (13).
68 John Baxter (Lundin) (4), Dougie Spaven (Pitlochry) (9).
69 Fraser Campbell (Monifieth) (scr), Tom Mclevy (Blairgowrie) (scr), Graham Milne (Aberdour).
70 Colin McKinnell (Pitlochry) (11).

 Qualifiers for the Perla Shower Panels Alliance Championship in March at Scotscraig 
Steve Blady Monifieth
Colin Browne Monifieth
Doug Mitchell Monifieth
Dougal Spaven Pitlochry
Scott Arbuthnot Arbroath
 Qualifier for the Perla Shower Panels McQueen Shield in March at Scotscraig 
Alister Ferguson Dunfermline
 Next Meeting
 Tuesday 1st March
 William Miller Team Competition 
Monifieth Links, Medal Course 
Broughty Golf Club 
Tee reserved: 8.30 - 12.30

 

 

Lee Sutherland

 

The MGR male Angus player of Week 2016/08 is Blair McCombie of Edzell who has entered the top 10 for the first time  on the MGR Angus Men’s Ranking at No 6.

                                                                                                                                       

ANGUS MEN

1 Aidan Smith (Edzell) 1209 pts                                                                          

2 Walter Speirs (Edzell) 1140

3 Graham Summers (Panmure) 1094

4 Donald Smith (Kirriemuir) 1080

5 Steven McGlashan (Arbroath) 1038

6 *Blair McCombie (Edzell) 1005

7 Graeme Fulton (Brechin) 1002                                                        

8 *Graeme Crozier (Brechin) 971

9 Louis Perera (Edzell) 970

10 George Herd (Kirriemuir) 967                                                      

 *first time in top 10.

ANGUS CLUBS – MEN

1 Edzell 737 pts

2 Arbroath 661

3 Kirriemuir 650

4 Montrose Caledonia 619

5 Brechin 614

6 Logie 557

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

CLUB SECRETARIES, PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO YOUR MEMBERS in order that they may sign in.

Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

David Moir

The MGR Fife Golfer of the Week is Colin McKay of Crail Golfing Society. He has jumped 794 places on the MGR Overall Ranking to No 48 on the MyGolfRanking Fife Men's Ranking.

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net

Royal Deeside Classic needing a lot more entries for July 25-29 competitive week

FROM ANN SMART
Banchory Golf Club secretary
Banchory Golf Club takes part in the Royal Deeside Classic which is a golf week with competitive rounds at Ballater, Banchory, Aboyne and Braemar.   
It has been really successful over the years but entries are really slow this year.  
The golf week runs from Monday 25^th July – Friday 29^th July and cost £125.  It is an individual  Stableford competition for men and women and there are prizes every day at each venue and for the full event.  
The website for the classic is www.royaldeesidegolfclassic.co.uk

Uihlein flies into lead at Perth after eagle

ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

Perth, Australia: India’s Shiv Kapur took the risk of going ahead with his title charge at the ISPS Handa Perth International by posting a first round six-under-par 66 to trail American leader Peter Uihlein by one shot today.

Uihlein held a slim advantage atop the leaderboard with his opening 65 as Kapur and France’s Romain Wattel stayed closely behind after their identical 66s left them in second place at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Playing without any expectations, the Indian was pleased with his early results as a sprained shoulder had threatened to force him out of contention at the A$1.75 million event which is seeing the return of the best players from the Asian Tour to Australia after a seven-year absence. 

“I wasn't even sure I was going to tee it up.  I was really struggling on the driving range with my shoulder this morning.

“So sometimes you just drop that expectation, don't really think about a golf swing, just try to get it around and play one shot at a time. That old cliché in golf, it seemed to work pretty well today,” said Kapur. 

The Indian injured himself while picking his luggage off the airport carousel in Singapore.

Although he is carrying an injury, Kapur prefers to see the lighter side of things especially with his promising start. 

“It's funny how you go to the gym, play golf and do all these things so that you don't get injured. Then the simplest thing happen when you travel,” said Kapur.

Kapur may be playing through the pain barrier with proper medication and treatment, but he did not show any nerves as he completed a sparkling round that was highlighted by six birdies.

“It was a big bonus not have a blemish on the card.  I think that's the key out here is to rely eliminate the mistakes.  The course does give you a lot of birdie opportunities, but you can be 50 or 60 yards on the green and still make a double-bogey. 

“It's one of those courses where you just have to be on the correct side of the hole most of the time, and I think I managed to plot my way around that pretty well,” said Kapur.

Uihlein meanwhile demonstrated his resolve to win the ISPS Handa Perth International with an assured performance.

The American recovered quickly from a bogey on the first with birdies on the third, fourth and seventh holes. 

However, his round really came to life when he holed his second shot on the ninth hole for eagle followed by another three birdies on 11, 14 and 17 to move him ahead of the chasing pack.

“I'm pleased with the way it came out. I was mentally sound. I didn't really let the bad shots turn me.  When it's in the wind like this, you're going to hit bad shots, everybody does, so you've just got to accept it and move on from there. 

"I putted nicely, which is always helpful, but if I didn't hit a good shot I didn't really let it bother me, I just let it roll off my back and I was ready for the next one,” said Uihlein.

While Uihlein stayed focused, Wattel went on the offensive as he continued his search for his maiden victory this week.

“The greens were soft this morning which were ideal for good scores as it made it easier for most of the players to attack the pin, 

“I managed to get very close to the pin today and that was the difference today,” said the Frenchman.

LEADING ROUND 1 SCORES

par 71. length 6,531 metres

65 - Peter Uihlein (USA).

66 - Romain Wattel (FRA), Shiv Kapur (IND).

67 - Rhein Gibson (AUS).

68 - Brett Rumford (AUS), Cormac Sharvin (IRL), Scott Arnold (AUS), Anthony Houston (AUS), Todd Sinnott (AUS), Nick Cullen (AUS), Magnus A Carlsson (SWE), Richard Lee (CAN).

69 - Ashley Hall (AUS), Peter Senior (AUS), Steven Jeffress (AUS), Jason Scrivener (AUS), Nino Bertasio (ITA), David Drysdale (SCO), Marcus Fraser (AUS), Michael Sim (AUS), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Wade Ormsby (AUS).

70 - Alexander Levy (FRA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Scott Strange (AUS), Mathew Goggin (AUS), Daniel Nisbet (AUS), Andrew Johnston (ENG), Robert Dinwiddie (ENG), Benjamin Hebert (FRA), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Masahiro Kawamura (JPN).

 

Selected scores

71 Jamie McLeary (Sco) (T33)

77 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) (T137)