Royal Dornoch and Brora tee up a 

unique deal for visitors
 
NEWS RELEASE
Dornoch, Sutherland: They share a golfing tradition and an association with Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Now the neighbouring golf clubs at Royal Dornoch and Brora are joining forces to mark two special anniversaries.This year Royal Dornoch Golf Club is celebrating 400 years of golf being played in the town and it is 125 years since a proper golf club was formed along the coast at Brora.The clubs have enjoyed a long and friendly relationship over the years and have now formed a partnership to present a unique way of commemorating both significant landmarks. 
A special deal will give 400 golfing enthusiasts the chance to play both courses on the same day for the fantastic price of £125. The package includes a morning round at Brora, followed by lunch andafternoon or early evening game at Royal Dornoch.Bookings can only be made by contacting the booking office at Royal Dornoch Golf Club on +44 (0) 1862 810219 ext.1 or bookings@royaldornoch.comRoyal Dornoch and Brora are renowned for their spectacular locations, the links courses set between stunning mountains and breath-takng sea views. 
Golf is said to have been played on Dornoch links since the monks were recorded hitting a ball over the closed cropped grass that linked the famous cathedral to the sandy beach as they grazed their animals. 
The first known recorded reference of the game being played is in 1616 when John, the 13th Earl of Sutherland, was sent to school in the town and his expenses showed that ten pounds annually was provided for “bowes, arroes, golff clubbes, and balls, with other necessars for his L[ordship's]exercise”. 
The expenses were paid by John’s uncle Sir Robert Gordon, an influential man in the court of King James VI and I, who became the earl’s tutor after the death of his father
The golf club was formed in 1877 and the first 18-hole course was laid out in 1886 by Old Tom Morris who extended the original nine holes.

Englishman Paul Maddy leads this weekend's Spanish Evolve Pro Tour with a round of 65 at Hacienda Riquelme

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Spanish Federation once again fail to get men's Nations Cup round completed the same day

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

The Spanish Golf Federation must have set some kind of record by failing to complete a round of the men's Nations Cup at Sotogrande within a day - FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW!   

"Only" 12 players could not finish their rounds on Wednesday and Thursday. Today (Friday), the number went up to 17 players who will restart at 8am on Saturday morning from where they were when darkness halted play in the third round. 

Once again, the organisers are not making public the completed third-round scores until the round is completed on Saturday morning.

The fourth and final round will be played on Saturday  by shotgun start at 11 a.m with players going out in fours.
"We have decided this format in order to make sure the tournament finishes tomorrow (Saturday)," said a Spanish official.

Archerfield Links to stage Paul Lawrie Match 

-play after Saltire Energy drop sponsorship

 

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE

By Martin Dempster

Archerfield Links is to stage the Paul Lawrie Match Play Tournament in Augustthis after an initial plan to visit Murcar Links for the second year in a row was scrapped. 
The event, to be held on the Fidra Links at the East Lothian venue, will take place from August 4 to 7, which is a week later on the schedule than last year. 
Then, it came just a fortnight after The Open at St Andrews and three weeks after the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane. 
This year there’s an extra week in between The Open at Royal Troon and the event at Archerfield Links 
With the Scottish Open heading back to Castle Stuart, it means the three tournaments are split a bit better geographically than last year, when they were all on the east coast. 
“Archerfield will be a great venue for the tournament this year and Fidra Links is a brilliant course with a unique blend of pine forest and links golf,” said Lawrie.

“Murcar did a fantastic job at hosting our first event last year and the door remains firmly open for taking the event back there in the future.”
The event continues to be part of European Tour schedule, the prize-money remains unchanged at €1million and it will again involve a 64-man field.
The only change appears to be that Portlethen-based oil company Saltire Energy are no longer involved as the title sponsor.
“We are very much looking forward to staging year two of the Match Play at Archerfield Links, who, along with East Lothian Council have presented an attractive proposition for staging the event given the nature of the club and the wide business reach of the location,” said the CEO of 4sports and  Entertainment, Dominik Senn, whose company are both the promoter of the tournament and also Lawrie’s management group.
“We are all excited to work closely with Tom Younger and his team at Archerfield who we know will do a fantastic job in hosting the event.
“I’d like to make it clear however that any decision to change venue is in no way a reflection on Murcar Links Golf Club as we have nothing but praise for the course, the members, and the entire team at Murcar who helped in delivering a fantastic first event in 2015. 
"We maintain that we could return to Murcar with every confidence in the future.”
The announcement means that Archerfield Links will stage European Tour and European Senior Tour events within the space of three weeks.
It was already committed to hosting the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open for the second year in a row on 19-21 August.
The good news for Archerfield Links comes hot on the heels of its neighbour, The Renaissance Club, being announced as an Open Championship Final Qualifying venue for four years from 2018.

 Disqualification of Ewen Ferguson puts pressure 

 on Scotland team-mates in Nations Cup


FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
WITH ADDITIONAL WORDS BY COLIN FARQUHARSON 
Scotland sit in eighth spot in a field of 16 teams going into the final two rounds of the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol Spain.
Scottish champion Robert MacIntyre is  inside the top 10 in the individual standings.
The strong quartet of Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald, Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) and Glencruitten’s Robert MacIntyre set out to regain the team title won by Scotland in 2014
Ferguson, however, was disqualified from the event for signing for an incorrect score, meaning all three Scottish scores now count to the overall team.
In windy and tough conditions at the venue, the Scots have posted a 463 two-round total for eighth place, a shot behind Germany and England. MacIntyre, the first-round leader,  shares seventh place in the individual event following rounds of 70 and 80.
Ireland’s Jack Hume has set the pace in the individual standings after rounds of 72 and and a magnificent second-round 64, holding a 12-shot lead, with the Irish also out in front in the team event.
Ireland are on 439 with a team of Alex Gleeson, Stuart Grehan, Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy. France are their closest rivals but some 15 shots in arrears.
Wales (456) are two behind France in third place.
Scotland did not enter a team in the women's Nations Cup but Germany-based Fiona Liddell, winner of the Scottish U18 girls title  a couple of years ago, is playing for Germany.

TEAM LEADERS AT HALFWAY
worst individual score discarded each round
439 IRELAND (Alex Gleeson 74, 78; Stuart Grehan 72 (86); Jack Hume 72 64; Dermot McElroy (77) 79).
454 FRANCE
456 WALES (Owen Edwards 76, 73; Joshua Davies 79 (85); Jack Davison (79) 75; Evan Griffith 77 76).
460 NORWAY
461 SPAIN
462 ENGLAND (Adam Chapman 77 (81); Ashton Turner 75 78, James Allan 76 78, Marco Penge (77) 78); GERMANY.
463 SCOTLAND (Ewen Ferguson disq -; Grant Forrest 77 83; Jack McDonald 78 75; Bob MacIntyre 70 80) (8th).
464 AUSTRIA
465 ITALY

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
136 Jack Hume (Ire) 71 64
148 Xavier Gorospe (Spain) 75 73, Mario Galiano (Spain) 71 77.

 SCOTLAND  SCORES
150 Bob MacIntyre 70 80 ((T7)

153 Jack McDonald 78 75 (T14)
160 Grant Forrest 77 83 (T47)
Field of 74 players
Disqualified Ewen Ferguson   

WOMEN'S NATIONS CUP
SECOND ROUND SCORES
302 SPAIN
306 AUSTRIA, NETHERLANDS, FRANCE.
310 NORWAY
316 GERMANY, SWITZERLAND
319 ENGLAND (8th)
321 DENMARK
339 BELGIUM.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
149 Emma Spitz (Austria) 75 74.
150 Luna Sobron (Spain) 73 77.

ENGLAND SCORES
159 Samantha Giles 76 83 (15th)
160  Sophie Lamb 78 82 (T16)
165 Gemma Clews 82 83 (T23)

Rumford and Uihlein share halfway lead at 

Perth International

 

NEWS RELEASE

Perth, Australia: Australia’s Brett Rumford earned a share of the halfway lead with Peter Uihlein of the United States after posting a second round seven-under-par 65 at the ISPS Handa Perth International today.

The Perth native, who had the local galleries cheering him on at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club, fired himself ahead with eight birdies and a bogey to tie with overnight leader Uihlien who returned a 68.

Major winner Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa had the chance to snatch a share of the lead with the leading duo but saw his birdie effort on the last stop just short of the hole, leaving him to settle for third place at the A$1.75 million which is seeing the return of the best players from the Asian Tour to Australia after seven years. 

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat emerged as the leading player from the Asian Tour after he carded another 69 to secure seventh place, five shots back of the leaders.

On a day where gusty conditions proved to be the key challenge for the field, Rumford credited his battling spirit for keeping him in the title chase.

"It was tough, it was really tough. The wind was fairly benign when we started. Then it started to pick up from about the 10^th which certainly made things interesting on the back nine,” said Rumford.

After turning in 31, Rumford birdied 11 but dropped a shot on the next.                                                                                                                                                                             

A pair of birdies on 14 and 15 would however see him head into the weekend rounds in pole position.

"It was just one of those days where you had to keep grinding, concentration had to be premium, and that's the kind of pressure this golf course puts on you," said the Australian. 

Meanwhile Uihlein’s birdie-birdie finish secured his place atop the leaderboard again after he had earlier impressed with an opening 65.

The American mastered the windy conditions again and believes his short game will be key to a grandstand finish this week. 

"I'm moving it really well, putting nicely. Putting my irons pretty close as well, which is nice, and hitting my wedges well when I have the opportunity.

"It's nice, I'm just trying to get in a position where I can attack the greens and then hole some putts," said Uihlein. 

Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Championship winner, lived up to his billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites when he made three early birdies in his opening four holes before going on a steady run of seven straight pars.

The South African’s round came to life on 12 after he holed a 10-foot birdie putt there. He picked up further gains on 13 and 14 before taking advantage of the par-five 15 to make it four birdies in a row.

Oosthuizen then sank a 30-foot putt on 17 for another birdie before missing another close birdie call on the last.

“I had a good start today.  I went three-under through four, and then sort of just slowed down quite a bit. The birdie on 12 got me going a bit in the right direction

“I just did what I did yesterday.  I used the same clubs and continued to put myself in positions, and on a few occasions, I just hit it a bit closer.  I read the greens well and putted nicely,” said Oosthuizen. 

The cut was set at even-par 144 with 74 players progressing into the weekend rounds.

 

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

par 144 (2x72) Length: 6,531 metres

133 - Peter Uihlein (USA) 65-68, Brett Rumford (AUS) 68-65.

134 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 70-64.

135 - Rhein Gibson (AUS) 67-68.

136 - Jason Scrivener (AUS) 69-67.

137 - Alexander Levy (FRA) 70-67.

138 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-69.

139 - Todd Sinnott (AUS) 68-71, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 68-71, David Bransdon (AUS) 71-68, Adilson da Silva (BRA) 72-67, Richard Lee (CAN) 68-71, David Lipsky (USA) 72-67, Romain Wattel (FRA) 66-73, Scott Arnold (AUS) 68-71, Shiv Kapur (IND) 66-73, Jeunhung Wang (SKOR) 71-68, David Drysdale (SCO) 69-70 (T8).

SELECTED SCORE
140 Jamie McLeary (Sco) 71 69 (T19)

Withdrew: Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 77 wd

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 Peter Uihlein finishes birdie-birdie to set 

clubhouse target in Perth International

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
(before end of play in second round)
A birdie-birdie finish to his second round helped overnight leader Peter Uihlein set the clubhouse target on day two of the ISPS HANDA Perth International in Australia.
The American fired an impressive opening 65 in windy conditions on Thursday afternoon at Lake Karrinyup Country Club and once again mastered the elements with a four under par 68.
Starting on the tenth, Uihlein was level par for the day with two birdies and two bogeys as he stood on the third tee but a gain on the par five was followed by another on the fifth.
He then rolled in a 30-foot putt on the eighth to become the first man this week into double figures and an 18-foot effort on the ninth got him to 11 under, two shots clear of Rhein Gibson.
The 26 year old has been struggling with a wrist injury recently but has shown no ill effects in Western Australia, and believes his short game will be key if he is to claim a second European Tour title.
"I'm moving it really well, putting nicely," he said. "Hitting my irons pretty close as well, which is nice, and hitting my wedges well when I have the opportunity.
"It's nice, I'm just trying to get in a position where I can attack the greens and then hole some putts."

Gibson also signed for a 68 after an impressive back nine of 32. The Australian turned in 36 but birdies on the tenth, 13th, 15th and 17th moved him up to second place.
Perth native Brett Rumford was then at seven under after three birdies in his first six holes, including a brilliant chip-in from the left of the sixth green.
Singapore's Mardan Mamat signed for a second consecutive 69 to sit at six under alongside India's Shiv Kapur, who parred his first hole.
Australian duo David Bransdon and Todd Sinnott, Swede Magnus A Carlsson, Canadian Richard T Lee and Brazil's Adilson da Silva were all then in the clubhouse at five under.
World Number 21 Louis Oosthuizen was three under through five holes to sit at five under for the week along with Frenchman Romain Wattel, who was one over through four.

Jamie McLeary  had a second-round 69 for 140 - four strokes inside the projected halfway cut mark.
David Drysdale still out on the course but he is going to make it too.
But Stephen Gallacher, who had a 77 on Day 1, withdrew before the second round.

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Garcia and Thompson share Honda Classic 

lead on 65 before darkness halts play

The first round of the Honda Classic in Florida has still to be completed after darkness forced a halt to the opening day's play with several players still out on the course.
Sergio Garcia and Michael Thompson are the clubhouse leaders on 65.
Russell Knox had a 70 but Martin Laird sagged to a 77.

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