Champion Craig Howie sets Moray Old

Course record of 62

By BEN PHILIP

Records have fallen and champions have been crowned at the 94th Scottish students' championships at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth.

The men's event - which had been tight at the halfway stage - was rocked by a magnificent 62 from Stirling University's Craig Howie. Craig, pictured right, fired nine birdies and an eagle on his way to a course record nine-under-par round over Moray Old.

With Howie sitting at -10 the afternoon was a case of 'catch me if you can'  for the chasing pack, which included Lukas Michel (St Andrews) on -4 and Laird Shepherd from Stirling on -1.

The best score of the afternoon came from Sebastiano Galeppini (UHI) who shot a three-under-68 to advance up the leaderboard to sixth place.

No-one could ultimately get close to Howie, although Lukas Michel threatened for a spell on the front nine before stuttering slightly on his way to a +1 final round of 72, which matched Laird Shepherd's score and secured second place on a -3 total of 279, three shots clear of Shepherd in third place.

The Stirling team of Andrew Davidson, Mathias Eggenberger, Craig Howie and Chris MacLean also prevailed in the team stroke-play standings, finishing well clear of the field with a +5 combined total.

The women started the final day on the New Course and overnight leader Gemma Batty, pictured right, stretched away from the rest, thanks to the best round of the morning, a four under par 67, taking her to a 54 hole total of 6 under par.

Playing partners Lieve Van Veggel and Alexa Hammer (both St Andrews) managed to stay in touch, thanks to rounds of 69 and 71 respectively, giving them some hope ahead of the final round, which they commenced six strokes behind Batty.

The afternoon saw Batty hold her nerve to post a +1 final round and win the title for the second year in a row  with a very impressive -5 total of 287.

Jen Saxton (Stirling) carded a 3 over round of 78 which was enough to come through for second place ahead of Abertay's Nastja Banovec, who finished the week on a high with an outstanding 72 (-3) to grab third place on a countback ahead of Lieve Van Veggel from St Andrews.

Stirling University completed a famous day by prevailing in the women's team stroke-play with an imperious combined total of +1 over the eight counting rounds.

The focus of the week now turns to match-play, with the men's team event (foursomes and singles) starting at a quarter-final stage, i.e. line-up of eight teams, and a six- strong women's field playing 18 hole individual ties.

The match-play draws:

Men's teams

Stirling 1 v Stirling 3

UHI v Glasgow

St Andrews v Aberdeen

Stirling 2 v Strathclyde

Women's individuals

Gemma Batty: first-round bye

Marie Danielsson v Alexa Hammer

Chloe Goadby v Tara MacTaggart

Jen Saxton: first-round bye

For full team results:

Men's Team: http://bucs.intelligentgolf.co.uk/competition.php?compid=3498
 

Women's Team: http://bucs.intelligentgolf.co.uk/competition.php?compid=3503&preview=1

Craig Howie wins Scottish student men's 

title after brilliant third-round 62

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Stirling's Craig Howie, winner of the Scottish U18 boys' match play title at Murcar Links in 2012, has scored another national win - again in the North/North-east of Scotland.

The Peebles man scored a seven-stroke victory in the Scottish student men's championship over 72 holes at the Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth.

Highlight of Howie's performance for a 10-under-par aggregate of 272 was a brilliant third-round 62.

Runner-up on 279 was Lukas Michel (St Andrews) with Laird Shepherd (Stirling) third on 282.

Students from the Highlands and Islands University gave their best ever performance in the championships with Jack Harling from Banchory fifth on 286, Sebastiano Galeppini sixth on 289 and Riccardo Cellerino ninth on 291.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 282

272 Craig Howie (Stirling) 69 70 62 71

279 Lukas Michael (St Andrews) 69 68 70 72

282 Laird Shepherd (Stirling) 72 68 70 72

286 Greg Telfer (Glasgow) 71 67 75 73 

288 Jack Harling (Highlands and Islands) 73 72 68 75

289 Sebastiano Galeppini (H and I) 74 74 73 68

290 Chris MacLean (Stirling) 72 74 72 72

291 Chris Low (Abertay Dundee) 68 71 79 73, Riccardo Cellerino (H and I) 71 74 73 73, Craig Chalmers (Strathclyde) 75 73 70 73, Mathias Eggenberger (Stirling) 71 71 73 76 

292 Henry Tomlinson (Stirling) 76 70 75 71, Rob Paterson (Aberdeen) 74 77 70 71

293 Scott Macgregor (St Andrews) 76 71 72 74, James Wilson (Stirling) 74 70 75 74

294 Andrew Mulholland (Aberdeen) 80 68 72 74, Tom Beasley (St Andrews) 74 73 71 76

295 Andrew Davidson (Stirling) 75 72 74 74, Sean Walter (Strling) 74 73 73 75

297 Neil McConnochie (Strathclyde) 75 77 75 70

298 Craig Hughes (Strathclyde) 76 73 74 75, Peter Hasson (Glasgow) 73 71 78 76, Lewys Anderson (St Andrews) 74 71 76 77, Angus Carrick (Stirling) 74 72 74 78, Lewis West (Robert Gordon's) 72 69 84 73

299 Colin Edgar (Stirling) 73 74 76 76, Ross Brydon (Stirling) 73 77 72 77

300 Adam Mulhall (Stirling) 74 72 76 78, Mark Napier (Stirling) 73 69 79 79, Jack Forgan (Stirlign) 77 73 71 79.

Gemma Batty wins Scottish student women's 

title by nine strokes at Lossiemouth

English-born Stirling student Gemma Batty, whose ambition is to play for Scotland, ran away with the Scottish student women's championship at Lossieouth tdau.

A five-under-par total of 292 gave her victory by nine strokes from runner-up Muckhart Golf Club member Jen Saxton (Stirling) with a tie for third place on 297 between Nastja Banovec (Abertay-Dundee) and Lieve Van Veggel (St Andrews).

FINAL TOTALS 

par 292

287 Gemma Batty (Stirling) 77 67 67 76

296 Jen Saxton (Stirling) 76 73 69 78

297 Nastja Banovec (Abertay Dundee) 79 73 73 72, Lieve Van Veggel (St Andrews) 78 70 69 80

298 Chloe Goadby (Stirling) 79 69 74 76

301 Marie Danielsson (St Andrews) 75 73 72 81

302 Sinead Sexton (Stirling) 77 72 74 79, Alexa Hammer (St Andrews) 75 71 71 85

312 Amy Chambers (St Andrews) 84 75 74 79

314 Tara Mactaggar (Stirling) 79 75 78 82 

322 Katie Reid (Abertay Dundee) 84 77 76 85 

Black, Johnstone, Carey, Broun - half of the

Scotland team for U16 boys quadrangular!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Scotland play Wales, Ireland and Holland in an Under-16 boys' quadrangular international over three days at Templepatrick Golf Club near Belfast.
It tees off tomorrow (Wednesday)
The Scotland team seems to be on the "secret" list, there having been no news release about who has been selected.
But Scottishgolfview.com has uncovered the names of FOUR of the eight-strong Scots line-up
Cameron Black (Royal Aberdeen) 15 y o.
Rowan Carey (Gleneagles) 15 y o
Cameron Johnstone (Troon Welbeck) 13 y o
Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle).
 

LINK TO THE TOURNAMENT WEBSITE FOR
RESULTS WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY

 
http://gui.intelligentgolf.ie/u16_quadrangular

Triple bogey knocks Fenwick back in Morocco

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
A triple bogey 7 at the 10th knocked back Neil Fenwick's bid to enter the final day of the MENA Tour's El Jadida Championship in Morocco in a challenging position.
The Tartan Tour campaigner from Dunbar finished the second day in tied ninth place in a field of over 100. He posted a two-over-par 74 for a 36-hole tally of 146 - nine shots behnd the leader by two, Austraian Florian Praegant (68-69 for seven-under 137).
Duncan Stuart (Turnhouse) bogeyed the third, fourth, fifth and seventh and had to birdie the 14th and 18th to salvage a 74 for 147 and a share of 13th place.
Paul Doherty, South Wales-based former Scottish U18 boys champion, slumped to an 81 for 155 and tied 59th place. He missed the cut.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
137 Florian Praegant (Aut) 68 69
139 Andrew Marshall (Eng) 70 69.

SCOTS' SCORES
146 Neil Fenwick 72 74 (T9)
147 Duncan Stewart 73 74 (T13)
MISSED THE CUT
155 Paul Doherty 74 81 (T59)

Gleneagles golf scholar Rowan Carey tees off 

his season representing Scotland in U16 quad

NEWS RELEASE

Gleneagles Foundation golf scholar Rowan Carey has been 

selected for the eight-strong Scotland eam competing at this 

week’s Quadrangular U16 International series in Templepatrick, 

Northern Ireland (March 30 - April 1).

The 15 year-old from Auchterarder, who plays off 3, was picked to play in the event for the second year running, having debuted in the competition in 2015.

“I’m really excited about competing for Scotland this week.  It is the biggest competition I’ve played in and it’s an honour to be selected for the second time,” said Strathallan School pupil, Carey.

“Last year was quite nerve-wracking and I was the youngest in the team.  This time I’m a year older and I’m going into it with a bit more experience – so I have more confidence and feel better equipped to handle the pressure.”

A keen all-round sportsman, he has focused solely on golf only relatively recently. “I used to be really keen on rugby but I’ve just given that up this season – I couldn’t keep playing both because of the risks of injury,” said Carey who has future ambitions to gain a college golf scholarship in the USA and eventually turn professional.  

“My golf has really improved recently so it made it easier for me to make my decision. Golf is a great game and is different to team sports. If you shoot a bad score, you’re in the spotlight on your own and you have to face up to it but on the other hand, it feels amazing when you play well.”

Under the coaching of the PGA National Academy and his close knit Gleneagles Foundation team, Carey has spent the winter refining his skills and his game is flourishing. “I’ve been doing fitness and coaching sessions and I’ve been down here putting in as many hours of practice as I can,” he said.

“With the support of the Foundation, I’ve made a lot of positive changes this winter.  I’m still honing these and grooving them into my game but I’m feeling like my swing’s really getting there now.

“Being a scholar in the Gleneagles Foundation means you know you’ve got support there at all times.  We can pop in and there will always be someone there to help us or give advice on our game.

“My focus is to keep working hard and improving. There are a few other team matches this summer, so I want to keep playing well and hopefully I’ll be selected.”

Rowan Carey is one of 13 talented scholars supported by the Gleneagles Foundation.  Launched in 2015, the scholarship programme was established to support and develop the next generation of elite Scottish golfers.

The programme gives young players the opportunity to play and practice within one of the world’s leading golf resorts, along with support and coaching throughout the year with PGA Professionals – giving the scholars the opportunity to make continual progress.

Due to sit his GCSEs this summer, Carey has to manage a packed schedule, which involves fitting in golf practice on Sundays and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and focusing on homework and studies the rest of his time.  He said: “Balancing golf with studies means I have to be disciplined.  Like all pupils my age, I have a lot of homework, so I need to make the most of the time I put aside to play golf and make sure my practice is effective.

Matthew Galley, the Gleneagles Foundation Manager said: “We’re delighted to hear Rowan has been selected to represent Scotland for the second year in a row and we know he’ll do the Foundation proud.

“He’s continually improved over the past year and his participation in national events – and competing against a high calibre of players – has been a big part of this progress.”

He added: “Rowan has a bright future ahead of him.  It’s a competitive field but, with the support of the Foundation, he has all the tools and the best facility at his disposal to progress to the highest level of the sport.”

The Gleneagles Foundation is looking to recruit two new scholars.  

Matthew Galley will be scouting at various junior events this year 

looking for possible candidates to join the programme.  Aspiring 

young golfers should look out for further information at  

www.gleneagles.com/golf/gleneagles-foundation 

PGA in Scotland Winter Series

Forsyth and Paxton win £425 better-ball first 

prize with a 61 at West Kilbride

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Alastair Forsyth (Mearns Castle) and Ralston's Greg Paxton combined to produce a winning better-ball score of 10-under-par 61 at West Kilbride in the PGA in Scotland Winter Series Four-ball today (Tuesday).
They had one bogey - at the fifth - and 11 birdies: the second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th, 123thj, 14th, 16th and 18th.
They shared the first prize of £425 at the head of a field of 14 pairs.
Runners-up, only a shot behind on 62 were the Clydeway Golf pairing of Paul O'Hara and Stuart Williamson who won £325.
Sharing third place on 65 were Craig Everett (Caldwell) and Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), and Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) and Ross Drummond (unatt). Both pairings earned £200.
 SCOREBOARD
61 A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) and G Paxton (Ralston) £425.
62 P O'Hara and S Williamson (Clydeway Golf) £325
65 C Everett (Caldwell) and S Savage (Dalmuir); A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) and R Drummond (unatt), £200 each pair.
66 S Gray (Kingsfield) and C Elliott (Haggs Castle) £125
69 C Armstrong (Burntisland) and C Goodwin (Duff House Royal); C Billows and F Dunlop (Gleneagles); J McCreadie (Largs) and A Welsh (Cathkin Braes); C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey) and D Broadfoot (Kirkcudbright); G Wright (West Linton) and N Huguet (Musselburgh).
70 I Darroch (West Kilbride) and S McAllister (S McAllister Golf); D Watters (Gourock) and A Fullen (Largs).
71 V Brown (Logos GM) and N Scott-Smith (Palacerigg).
72 M Loftus (Mearns Castle) and S Payne (Cowglen).

Rory McIlroy to skip Masters par 3 

curtain-raiser to avoid distraction

Niall Horan, of the band One Direction, and Rory McIlroy at the 2015 Masters Par 3 Contest 
 ( Getty Images )

By Golfweek Staff

Monday, March 28, 2016

Many big names will likely compete in the Masters Par 3 Contest this year, but one star will be noticeably missing.
Rory McIlroy announced Monday that he will not participate in the 2016 edition of the Par 3 Contest, scheduled for next Wednesday.  The World No. 3 was unequivocal in his reasoning for his absence.
"It's just too much hassle and it's a bit of a distraction," McIlroy said.
That distraction was likely aided by McIlroy's penchant for high-profile Par 3 caddies. In 2014, he put tennis star (and then-fiancee) Caroline Wozniacki on the bag. Last year, One Direction's Niall Horan served as McIlroy's caddie.
This also isn't the first time a major player has skipped out on the Wednesday event. Tiger Woods opted out of it for an entire decade, from 2004-2013. After missing the Masters in 2014, Woods resumed play in the Par 3 Contest in 2015.
McIlroy, competing in his eighth Masters, had only once previously eschewed the Par 3 Contest. But that single absence was in 2011, arguably the Northern Irishman's best showing at Augusta National. The four-time major champion only finished T-15 that week (compared to a T-8 and a fourth the last two years) but he held a four-shot 54-hole lead on that occasion.
"The year I had my best chance at Augusta, 2011, I didn't play the Par 3 Contest," McIlroy said. "So maybe the decision not to play it this year can work in my favor."
The 26-year-old, who has four top-10s but no wins in 2016, plans to play a practice round that Wednesday morning instead. He said he looks to arrive at Augusta on Sunday night, and intimated that his game is in pretty good shape.
McIlroy, a four-time major champion, has captured every major title – except the Masters. He will complete the career grand slam if he can take home the green jacket next week. But, especially with the Par 3 Contest out of the way, it seems McIlroy feels a lack of focus on his exploits this year could be a key advantage for him at the Masters.
"This year you have the attention spread between Jordan (Spieth) going back to defend and Jason (Day) winning for a second week in a row and also there's Adam (Scott) who has won at Augusta before and is coming off his back-to-back wins," McIlroy said. "So there's a lot more going on around others competing in the Masters this year already than the spotlight I found myself in a year ago."

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Inspired by Golfweek cover, man makes Lego replica of Masters leaderboard

Andy Puckett's Legos replica of the Masters Tournament scoreboard ( The Augusta Chronicle's Instagram/@aug_chronicle )

By Kevin Casey

It's pretty incredible what Andy Duckett can do with a bunch of Lego blocks. And Golfweek is partially responsible for his latest creation!
Two years ago, the Georgia native made a Lego replica of Augusta National's clubhouse. This time: a 40-pound model of the official Masters leaderboard.
Duckett, an architect, began his ambitious leaderboard project last year, not knowing the scope of his design going in. He certainly didn't expect it to be 40 lbs, nor the dimensions it came out in the end (65 inches long, 16 inches high, 5 inches deep). Here is a look at the Lego replica:

His finished masterpiece arrived at Augusta in March. The Lego leaderboard is currently on display at Trends and Traditions Antique Mall on Washington Road. Duckett detailed his thought process behind his latest Lego venture.
“I’m constantly looking for something extra to spice up my golf display, and this idea sort of came to me,” Duckett told The Augusta Chronicle. “As an architect, I’ve always been interested in Lego bricks, and the availability of pieces in Atlanta is unbelievable. My scoreboard has more than 5,000 pieces.”
But everybody needs a source of inspiration. What was Duckett's, you ask? As it turns out, Golfweek!
“Late last summer, I started thinking about doing a model of the St. Andrews clubhouse, but then I saw a Golfweek magazine cover with a beautiful photograph of the Masters scoreboard,” Duckett said. “It was such a striking photo that I decided to build the scoreboard because it’s not a complicated shape."
That's right, it was, we believe, the cover photo from our Masters preview issue last year that got Duckett's juices flowing.
Here's that 2015 issue photograph (shot by Getty Images' Ross Kinnaird):

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Glad we and (Kinnaird) could help. Duckett sold his clubhouse replica for $1,700 and says he'll try to sell the Lego leaderboard as well.
Duckett also indicated that he's not done with Masters Lego creations, telling the Augusta Chronicle that he's looking to make a replica of a hole at Augusta National in the future.
He hasn't indicated what his source of inspiration could be there. But whether or not it involves Golfweek, based on Duckett's past work, we're sure it will be splendid.

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