Tuesday D-Day for Nicklaus course at Ury Estate, Stonehaven

NEWS RELEASE

FM Group, the developers behind the transformation of the Ury estate near Stonehaven, are hoping for a positive planning decision next week after satisfying almost every issue raised by consultees.

The plans for a £80m world-class golf development, designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, go before local Councillors on Tuesday, March 22.

Jonathon Milne, director of FM Group, said: “This development, which has been several years in the making, has always represented a major opportunity for the region. However, at this time of crisis in the North-east due to the low oil price, the opportunity to create 200 jobs and a new world-class golf tourism destination that will generate £55.5million into the local economy cannot be passed up.

 

Following extensive studies and work by FM Group’s team of experts and by Jack Nicklaus in redesigning part of the course, all but one of the concerns raised have been addressed.

Europe have big lead in men's Bonallack Trophy in Portugal

Revenge for Aussie pair as they beat Forrest 

and McDonald 5 and 4 in Day 2 four-balls

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Europe's men are faring  better in the Bonallack Trophy against Asia-Pacific than Europe's women are in the inaugural Patsy Hankins Trophy match. For a summary of events in the women's match, switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
Both three-day international contests are being played in northern Portugal, at Vidago Palace and finish on Friday.
But Scots Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald, with two wins out of two on the opening day, were brought down to earth with a bump in Day 2.
Having beaten the Australian pair of Brett Colett and Zach Murray on Day 1, the Scots met them twice today, halving their foursomes encounter in the morning and then being walloped 5 and 4 in the afternoon four-balls.
There are still two four-ball ties to finish.
So, as far as the Bonallack Trophy is concerned, Europe's men  lead 12.5 to Asia-Pacific's 5.5 with two of Thursday's matches spilling over into early-morning finishes tomorrow. 

BONALLACK TROPHY SCOREBOARD
Day 1: Europe 7, Asia-Pacific 3
Day 2: Europe 5.5, Asia-Pacific 2.5 (two ties to finish Friday morning.
OVERALL POSITION: Europe 12.5, Asia-Pacific 5.5 (two ties to finish.

Moore finishes as leading Scot in tied fourth 

place in Med Tour's Cairo competition

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Glenbervie's Fraser Moore claimed the leading Scot honours with a tied fourth finish in the Med Tour event over the Jack Nicklaus-designed Palm Hills Course, Cairo in Egypt.
Moore had rounds of 76, 71 and 73 for an aggregate of 220 - nine shots behind the English winner, Steven Uzzell (68-71-72 for five-under 211).
Ben Craggs filled 18th place on 224 with steady rounds of 75, 75 and 74.
Conor O'Neil, the leading Scot after the first round, finished tied 21st alongside fellow Scots Craig Sutherland (81-75-72) and Clarke Lutton (79-76-73) on 228. O'Neil's rounds were 74, 77 and 77.
MED TOUR
Palm Hills Course, Cairo, Egypt
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 216 (3x72)
211 S Uzzell (Eng) 69 75 71
215 J Scade (Eng) 69 75 71
219 L Murray (Ire) 71 73 75

SCOTS' SCORES
220 F Moore 76 71 73 (T4)
224 B Craggs 75 75 74 (18th)
228 C O'Neil 74 77 771, C Sutherland 81 75 72, C Lutton 79 76 73 (T21)
242 S Chalmers 88 82 72 (T44)
Field of 53 players

Jack Doherty leading Scot with par 7Dav2

Lampert and Van Tonder share Kenya Open lead

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Moritz Lampert and Danie Van Tonder took charge on the first day of the new European Challenge Tour season as they shared a one shot lead at the Barclays Kenya Open after the opening round.
Lampert’s bogey-free round of 66 put him on six under par where he was soon joined by South African van Tonder, one shot ahead of French duo Clément Berardo and Adrien Saddier as well as Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg.
German Lampert – who gave a guided tour to Nairobi’s Karen Country Club earlier in the week – won three times in the 2014 Challenge Tour season to earn instant promotion to the European Tour, and he is keen for similar success this year.
“It’s good to be back,” said the 23 year old. “Two years ago on Challenge Tour was the best season I have ever had so, though I would like to be on the European Tour, I’ve set my goals for this year and I’m enjoying it so let’s see what we can do.
“I feel really comfortable around here and I played quite a lot of practice – 18 holes on Monday, 9 on Tuesday and then 18 in the Pro-Am – just to get a feeling of how far the ball goes and what it does out of the semi-rough.
“The key today was that I putted well, I got a lot of up-and-downs that were quite important and if I hit more fairways in the next couple of days that will really help because my iron game is really good right now.
“My off season was great. I lost my European Tour card and took four weeks off and regrouped, had a good practice with my coach and my national team, then I played two events in Morocco on the ProGolf Tour and I won the first one, which gave me confidence, and this is a good start.”
Another player who caught the eye was Kenyan amateur Mathew Wahome, whose three under par round of 69 put him alongside fellow amateur, Frenchman Romain Langasque, among others in a share of ninth position.
“I’m very pleased,” said the 18 year old from Mombasa. “It was better than last year when I felt the pressure a little bit but this year I came here with my game plan and I managed to execute it perfectly today.
“My plan is to hit three wood off the tee and make fairways, make all the greens and then make a few putts – luckily I holed a few putts to save par and it all worked out great.
“It’s a really exciting week to have the Challenge Tour here, and I’m really pleased to be here for a second year – hopefully I can make the cut this time, that’s the plan anyway.
“I was definitely nervous – on my first tee shot I was basically shaking the whole time – but I talked to my caddie and my playing partners, who were so friendly, and it eased the pressure.”

TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD

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Scots' scores
par 72 
72 Jack Doherty (T54)
73 Paul Shields, David Law (T92)
76 Scott Henry (T117)
Field of 156b players

Duff, Borthwick, Shand and Collie win NE 

Alliance team title by nine strokes

         Left to right: John Duff, John Borthwick, Dave Mackay, Steve Shand and Tommy Collie.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Newmachar tour pro John Duff and amateur partners John Borthwick (Craibstone) and Kemnay's Steve Shand and Tommy Collie won the inaugural North-east Alliance four-ball team tournament at Craibstone Golf Club today (Thu)
With the two best individual net scores per team to count at each hole, Duff's quartet won out of the park with a brilliant score of 20-under-par 118, which included a net eagle 2 by Shand at the 14th where he holed from about 150yd range. 
Duff himself had five gross birdies.
"It was a great team effort," said John. "Everybody played his part in getting this great score which had halves of 61 out and 57 home.
Duff won £100 cash as the team's pro. The amateurs each won £100 vouchers.
They won by NINE strokes from the team of Newmachar's new tour pro, Greg McBain, and amateurs Stewart Finnie (Royal Aberdeen), John Hosie (Kemnay) and Ritchie Davidson (Caledonian) who totalled 11-under-par 127. They each won £75, either in cash of amateur vouchers.
Third, also with 127, were pro Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), Cruden Bay's Steve Roger and Martin Forster and David Booth (Tarland). They each won £90 in cash or amateur vouchers.
The "Evening Express" Shield and the "Press and Journal" Shield, which were the scratch and handicap awards in the previous NE Alliance end-of-season foursomes, were both won by John Duff's team and they are pictured with the winning team at the top of this article.
SCOREBOARD
Par 138 (2x69). Pro named first in each team
118 J Duff (Newmachar), J Borthwick (Craibstone), S Shand (Kemnay), T Collie (Kemnay) (£100 each.
127 G McBain (Newmachar), S Finnie Royal Aberdeen), R Davidson (Caledonian), J Hosie (Kemnay) (£75 each); Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), S Roger (Cruden Bay), M Forster (Cruden Bay), D Booth (Tarland) (£50 each).
128 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC), A Smith (Turriff), A Gall (Deeside), R Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen).
129 D Brown (Kemnay), A Campbell (Murcar Links), D Nelson (Aboyne), M Winton (Caledonian);  J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen), K McGillivary (Craibstone), D Craigie (Portlethen), N Stewart (Northern); T Mathieson (Murcar Links), B Nicolson (Hazlehead), M Duncan (Murcar Links), M Rogers (Kemnay).
131 K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC), S Mackie (Hazlehead), R Reid (Tarland), R Brown (Kemnay). 

    Andrew Campbell (Murcar Links),left, receives the leading amateur award at the 2016 North-east Alliance champion from retiring joint sec Dave Mackay (right).

Alfie Smith (Turriff) with the Veterans' Pot which he won at the 2016 North-east Alliance championship.

Scott Mackie (Hazlehead) with the Chappers Pot which goes to the winner of the Handicap Class 1 section of the North-east Alliance championship.

 Mike Winton (Caledonian), left, receives the Major's Pott as the Class 2 Handicap winner at the 2016 North-east Alliance Championship, from retiring jt sec Dave Mackay.

North-east Alliance tee times for McDonald Ellon next Wednesday (last of the 2015-2016 season)

If you are a North-east Alliance member and you fancy filling one of the vacant tee times listed below at Ellon next Wednesday, phone  07523 859149 between 10am and 1pm  on TUESDAY


08.00
08.10 
08.20 Andrew Campbell, Gary Esson, Albert Smith, Charlie Cassie.
08.30 Doug Booth, Richard Blackmore, Raymond Reid.
08.40 Sandy Davidson, Mike Brown, Raymond Brown.
08.50  David Mackay, Greg McBain, Kris Nicol.

09.00 Michael Rendall, Leslie Roger, John Hamilton.
09.10 Simon Hanson, Allan Stuart, Gavin Chalmers
09.20
09.30 
09.40 John Duff, Philip McLean, Steve Shand, Jim Scott
09.50 Neish Chisholm, Hamish Mcnaughtan, John Borthwick, John Hosie

10.00 
10.10 Alan Gall, Les Fowler, Robert Tulloch
10.20 Jackie Forrest, Norman Stewart, Ben Lumsden, Mike Duncan.
10.30 William Beattie, Keith McGillivary, Lenny Duncan, Jim Stewart.
10.40 Stewart Allison, Ritchie Davidson, Graham Mackie, Nigel Parker.
10.50 David Leslie, Gary Homer, Richard Wright, Peter Cheyne

11.00 Steve Roger, David Brown, Tommy Collie, Mark Lawrie
11.10 Fergus Bisset, Jim Murray, David Nelson, Mike Rogers.
11.20 David Lane, Alister Clark, Richard Ruddiman, Graeme Thom.
11.30
11.40 Craig Lawrie, Sean Lawrie, Paul Lawrie, Kamran Zeynalov
11.50 Jim Morris, Ewan Riley, Graeme Riley.

12.00 Steve Lawrie, Derek Craigie, Cameron Grant
12.10 Joel Hopwood, Keil Beveridge, Sam Macneil, Laura Murray
12.20 Kevin Duncan, Ross McKen, Sam Kiloh
12.30
12.40 Manson Merchant, Christopher Lamb, Robert Lamb
12.50 Colin Nelson, Don Macandrew



DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
THE NE ALLIANCE AGM WILL BE HELD AT CRAIBSTONE GOLF CLUB ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.
THE FIRST FIXTURE OF THE 2016-2017 NE ALLIANCE SEASON WILL BE AT CRAIBSTONE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Craig Lee leads Scots with a 70 in Indian Open
 

Delhi: Thailand’s Prom Meesawat fired a six-under-par 66 to trail the first round leader Daniel Im of the United States by one-shot at the Hero Indian Open on Thursday.

Playing in the calm morning conditions, Prom produced seven birdies to chase the 31-year-old Im, who returned with a blemish-free round to lead in the US$1.66 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. 

Spaniards Jorge Campillo and Nacho Elvira also carded 66s to share second place and stay within striking distance of the leader at the challenging Delhi Golf Club.

South Korean rising star Jeunghun Wang, India’s Sanjay Kumar and S.S.P. Chawrasia, Terry Pilkadaris of Australia and Raphael Jacquelin of France, who aced the fifth hole with an eight iron, were a further shot back in tied fifth place.

Reigning Asian Tour number one and defending champion Anirban Lahiri of India birdied his closing four holes for a 68 while three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland returned with a disappointing 71. 

Without carrying a driver this week, Prom stayed patient and took advantage of his sharp iron play to stay close to the leader.

“It is another week where I start well again. Everyone knows this golf course is difficult. I hit a lot of good second shots and put myself in a good position. My second shots were very sharp today,” said Prom. 

“I didn’t carry my driver this week and last week you can bomb the course. You need to be patient here and hit your mid irons good. You can hit your driver but if you miss the fairway, you can lose two or three shots,” he explained.

Playing for the first time at the Delhi course, Korean-American Im chipped in for birdie in his opening hole and made important up-and-downs to stay bogey-free. 

“There were a couple of times where I almost walked away with a bogey. I was just cool. I’ve heard about this golf course so many times prior to this trip. I came in with a bit of respect. I showed some respect and got some respect back,” said Im, a winner on the Challenge Tour.

Lahiri, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, produced a birdie flourish to end the opening round in style after struggling with his irons. “I was very inconsistent with my iron play to start with. Then I broke it down and tried to focus on the routine and it worked,” he said. 

“I told my caddie I haven’t played badly but I was five or six behind and the guys up there had made a fast start. The key was to stay in touch somehow. You don’t want to go too far behind, so I needed to gain some ground and stay in touch,” added Lahiri.

Harrington, making his first appearance in India since 1992, will need to overcome his slow start after dropping a shot the last hole to sit in tied 40^th position. 

“I created problems on the greens. I could see at times I was a bit aggressive on a few tee boxes and got away with that. I might need to be a little bit more conservative for the next few rounds.

“Finishing with a bogey isn’t a great thing. I would have been happier if I was three or four-under. That’s where I felt I should have been. We have another 54 holes to go so it is a steady start but nothing too spectacular,” said Harrington.

 

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72. Yardage 6,983

65 - Daniel IM (USA).

66 - Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP), Nacho ELVIRA (ESP).

67 - Sanjay KUMAR (IND), Jeunghun WANG (SKOR), S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), Raphael JACQUELIN (FRA).

68 - Honey BAISOYA (IND), Anirban LAHIRI (IND), Alejandro CANIZARES (ESP), Gregory HAVRET (FRA), Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG), Wade ORMSBY (AUS).

69 - Sebastien GROS (FRA), Thangaraja N. (SRI), David LIPSKY (USA), Rahil GANGJEE (IND), Vikrant CHOPRA (IND), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Rashid KHAN (IND), Maximilian KIEFFER (GER).

70 - Shankar DAS (IND), Craig LEE (SCO), Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA), Paul PETERSON (USA), Romain WATTEL (FRA), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), Chris PAISLEY (ENG), Ben EVANS (ENG), Danny CHIA (MAS), Arjun ATWAL (IND), Julien QUESNE (FRA), Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP), Trevor FISHER JNR (RSA), M DHARMA (IND), Angelo QUE (PHI).

SELECTED SCORE

71 Padraig Harrington (Ire)
72 Peter Uihlein (USA) T54
73 Scott Jamieson (Sco) T75
75 Andrew McArthur (Sco), Marc Warren (Sco) T105
78 Jamie McLeary (Sco) T130

 

Europe lead Asia Pacific 7-3 after the Day 1 programme in thes amateur men's Bonallack Trophy was completed at Vidago Palace, northern Portugal this morning.
There are two more days' play to go.

Duff, Mackie and Ross win top Brimmond Bistro 

prizes at end of NE Alliance Order of Merit tables

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Newmachar tour pro John Duff failed to retain the North-east Alliance championship at Craibstone Golf Club on Wednesday but he did clinch victory in the Brimmond Bistro-sponsored Alliance Scratch Order of Merit.
A winner three times over the 2015-2016 campaign and almost always there or thereabouts every week, Duff's consistency saw him  finish with 8,119pt.
Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC) was runner-up with 7,884 and, completing a pro 1-2-3, Greg McBain (Newmachar) finished third with 6,456pt to his credit.
They earned £75, £50 and £40 respectively from the Brimmond-Bistro sponsorship.
Five-handicapper Scott Mackie (Hazlehead) won the £75 voucher with a comfortable victory in the Handicap Class 1 table. He finished with 3,556pt, ahead of David Leslie (Bon Accord) 2,595pt and Bryan Ritchie (Inverallochy) 2,486pt.
Another Hazlehead member, Stephen Ross, won the Class 2 top voucher, also by a wide margin. He finished with 3,953pt, more than 1,000 ahead of runner-up Raymond Brown (Kemnay) 2,715 with Jim Stewart (Banchory) third on 2,269.

BRIMMOND BISTRO PRIZEWINNERS
Order of Merit - SCRATCH
1 J Duff (Newmachar) 8,119
2 K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC) 7,884
3 G McBain (Newmachar) 6,456

HANDICAP - Class 1
1 S Mackie (Hazlehead) 3,556
2 D Leslie (Bon Accord) 2,595
3 B Ritchie (Inverallochy) 2,486

HANDICAP - Class 2 
1 S Ross (Hazlehead) 3,953
2 R Brown (Kemnay) 2,715
3 J Stewart (Banchory) 2,269. 

  Billy Sim (left), General Manager of Craibstone Glf Club, presents the £75 voucher to John Duff (Newmachar), winner of the Brimmond Bistro-sponsored NE Alliance Scratch Order of Merit for the 2015-2016 season.

Scott Mackie (Hazlehead), winner of the Class 1 North-east Alliance Order of Merit, sponsored by the Brimmond Bistro, receives his voucher for £75 from Billy Sim.

The MGR Fife Golfer of the Week is Ryan Mutch (Thornton Golf Club) who has entered the MGR Fife Men's Ranking Top Ten for the first time at No 10. 

Fife Men

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 Stuart McGaulley (Balbirnie Park) 1066         

9 Robert Skene (Thornton) 1045

10 *Ryan Mutch (Thornton) 1042

Fife Clubs - Men

1 Dunfermline 917 pts

2 Dunnikier Park 888

3 Balbirnie Park 865

4 Ladybank 829

5 Aberdour 825

The MGR Angus Player of Week 2016/11 is Ernie Patullo of Kirriemuir, who, having moved up 252 places on the MGR Overall Ranking, is now No 12 on the Angus Men’s Ranking.

                                                                                                                                       

ANGUS MEN

1 Aidan Smith (Edzell) 1209 pts                                                                           

2 Walter Speirs (Edzell) 1140

3 Graham Summers (Panmure) 1069

4 Donald Smith (Kirriemuir) 1045

5 Blair McCombie (Brechin) 1005

ANGUS CLUBS – MEN

1 Edzell 737 pts

2 Kirriemuir 662

3 Arbroath 661

4 Brechin 636

5 Montrose Caledonia 619

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.

*Entry this week

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net

Scottish Seniors Golfing Society programme for 2016

By GORDON THOMSON
The Scottish Seniors Golfing Society has once again arranged an excellent fixture  programme, sponsored by McCrea Financial Services, for the coming season as follows

April 23-24: Meeting - Monifieth Links

May 12-13: North of Scotland Seniors Open - Elgin

June 2-3: East of Scotland Seniors Open-  Edzell 

June 30-July 1: West of Scotland of Scotland Seniors Open-  West Kilbride

July 7-8: Central Scotland Seniors Open - Glenbervie

July 11-15: Match-play Championship – Panmure 

July 28-29: South of Scotland Seniors Open – Southerness

August 4-5: Super Seniors Championship (over 65) – Strathmore

August 25-26: Autumn Meeting – Nairn Dunbar

September 8:  Finals Day -  Blairgowrie 

September 22: Area Team Championship - Largs October 16-21: Spanish Seniors Festival –Hacienda del Alamo, Murcia

All events are sponsored by McCrea Financial Services.

   

Ronnie Clark (Erskine) will be hoping for a repeat of his 2015 Order of Merit title win but will face stiff competition from a strong group of players including former winners of the title in Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County), Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and David Gardner  (Broomieknowe ) as well as leading players, John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) and Nick Robson (Meldrum House).

The influx of new members reaching the entry age of 50 usually introduces some excellent players. Last year saw Keith Reilly (Silverknowes) winning twice in his first year and he will almost certainly be a force in 2016.

Senior international Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) defends the Handicap Order of Merit title and Tom Sirel (Largs) defends the Super Seniors (over 65) title.

An interesting development in the world of senior golf has seen the European Golf Association lower the age limit to 50 for its events from this year. It is unclear if and when the UK home unions will follow suit  but that prospect will no doubt have caught the eyes of those players around the age of 50 keen to extend their competitive horizons.

Formed in November 2006, the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society is the brainchild of former amateur international Gordon MacDonald. It was formed to meet a significant demand for high level competition for senior amateur golfers still keen to test their games at a high level.
The standard of golf is high with many former Walker Cup and Scottish internationals involved. All the events take place in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere on good courses. There are age group prizes and separate order of merit titles on a handicap basis and for members over the age of 65.

Membership of the Society is open to golfers over the age of 50 with handicaps of 9.4 or less. Further details can be obtained via the website –www.scottish seniorsgolf.com or by contacting Ian Kerr at admin@scottishseniorsgolf.com.