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Monday, July 04, 2016

Royal Portrush preparatory work for return

of Open championship nearing completion

By Adam Lawrence

Golf Architecture

Work is basically complete on the changes to Royal Portrush designed to accommodate the return of the Open Championship to the club’s Dunluce Links.
Architect Martin Ebert has created new greens for the second, third and eighth holes, all of which have been opened for play.
As to the most important change, the creation of two entirely new holes to replace the 17th and 18th holes on the Dunluce, which are needed to accommodate the tented village for the Open, and which were also considered too weak for the finishing holes of a major championship, construction work on the holes is now finished, and they are growing in under the care of Portrush course manager Graeme Beatt.
The first of the new holes is a par five, stretching to almost 600 yards, in a valley behind the main seawall dune. The drive on the new seventh is threatened by a huge bunker, a replacement for the famous Big Nellie on the existing 17th.
The green, tucked in the end of the valley, is protected by flanking dunes and will be a tough target for pros trying to reach in two.
The new eighth is a mid length par four occupying dramatic ground, with a severe drop to the left side of the fairway forcing players to decide how much to carry with the tee shot. The fairway is wide on the right, but a tee shot up this safe side will force a much more demanding second.
The new holes have been seeded with cores taken from the existing fairways of both the Dunluce and Valley courses, and should be in play next year.
Other changes to the Dunluce include a new back tee for the famous ‘Calamity Corner’ par three, which will stretch the hole to almost 240 yards.

Labels: GOLF NEWS

Aberdeen Junior Pennant League Off the Tee Trophy semi-finalists

Aberdeen Section Winners Murcar Links
Deeside Section Winners Deeside
North Section Winners Cruden Bay
West Section Winners Inverurie

August 21 at Inverallochy
Semi-finals:
Deeside v Inverurie
Murcar Links v Cruden Bay
Final:
Deeside or Inverurie v Murcar Links or Cruden Bay

Labels: Boys

Murdoch pips Manson for Braemar Open title

with better second round after tie

Portlethen member Robbie Murdoch pipped Kemnay and Braemar member Ritchie Manson to win the Braemar Golf Club 36-hole Open title, sponsored by Aberdeen Trophy Centre, at the weekend.

Ritchie's first-round 61 was the best of the morning rounds by three shots in the worst of the day's conditions starting his round in the heavy rain.

This didn't see to phase him in a round including seven birdies including four 2's (Holes 3, 6, 13 and 18). A solid afternoon round of level par 65 looked to have secured the title for Ritchie until Robbie Murdoch improved his morning score of 65 by four shots to tie with Ritchie on 126.

Murdoch won the title by virtue of having the better second round winning the Braemar Open for the first time and securing the voucher for £250.

Robbie's second round included six birdies, including impressive 3s at the fourth and 10th.

SCRATCH SCOREBOARD

126 Robbie Murdoch (Portlethen) 65 61

126 Ritchie Manson (Kemnay) 61 65

131 Craig Stephen (Aboyne) 65 66

132 Graeme Mitchell jun (Bon Accord) 67 65

132 Lee O' Conner (Nigg Bay) 66 66

133 Lewis Morgan (Kemnay) 67 66

137 Ian Esslemont (Cruden Bay) 69 68

138 Jordan Calder (Newmachar) 74 64

138 Ian Welsh (Nigg Bay) 72 66

138 Connor Neil (Blairgowrie) 68 70

138 Nicholas Black (Deeside) 65 73

Handicap

124 Robbie Murdoch (Portlethen) (1) 64 60

124 Ritchie Manson (Kemnay) (1) 60 64

126 Mark McCusker (Portlethen) (8) 61 65

128 Lee O'Conner (Nigg Bay) (2) 64 64

128 Nicholas Black (Deeside) (5) 60 68

131 Jonathan Black (Dunecht House) (4) 67 64

131 Lewis Morgan (Kemnay) (1) 66 65

131 Ian Esslemont (Cruden Bay) (3) 66 65

131 William Short (Peterculter) (6) 66 65

131 Craig Stephen (Aboyne) (scr) 65 66

Stuart Rae wins Braemar Open higher

handicaps' scratch event by three strokes

Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo member Stuart Rae won the 10-28 handicap 36-hole Braemar Open, sponsored by Aberdeen Trophy Centre, by three shots in testing conditions.

The 11-handicapper collected the first prize voucher of £150 with a two-round gross total of 156, helped on the 14th hole of his first round by holing his approach shot for an eagle 2.

Scratch Totals

156 Stuart Rae (Inchmarlo) 78 78

159 David Lamont (Kirriemuir) 78 81

160 John Clifford (Newmachar) 78 82

Handicap

132 Paul Anderson (Peterculter) (16) 69 63

134 Stuart Rae (Inchmarlo) (11) 67 67

135 William Craig (Kirriemuir) (14) 68 67

Braemar Golf Club would once again like to thank Aberdeen Trophy Centre for their continued sponsorship which allowed us to keep the prize money levels high despite a lower number of entries.

The Braemar senior men's four-ball open has been re-scheduled for August 2, having been postponed due to the thunder and lightning in June.

Labels: Amateur Men

Now top Japanese pro Matsuyama says he won't

go to Olympics because of Zika virus danger

GOLF WEEK.COM
Hideki Matsuyama said today that he would not compete in the Olympics in Rio, citing fears about the Zika virus. Matsuyama's withdrawal is the latest blow to golf's return to the Olympics after a century-long absence. At 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking, Matsuyama is by far the highest ranked Japanese golfer in the world. The next Japanese pro is Yuta Ikeda, at 89th.
Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott have already withdrawn their names from Olympic consideration. Matsuyama's absence makes the field in Rio even shallower. No American golfers have withdrawn from the games yet, although Jordan Spieth has not fully committed to going.
Many of the pros who have already withdrawn cited fears about the Zika virus as the primary cause. Some, like, Adam Scott, blamed the rushed scheduling prior to the Olympics.
Matsuyama told the Japan Times in June that he had concerns about Zika. "I know that players who are married and players who have kids are more concerned about it. I am not married but it still bothers me,” he said.
He also said that he had not been sufficiently reassured about the risks by the Japanese Olympic Committee. “I have not been contacted by anyone and it is a bit much under the current circumstances to have someone tell you to go," he said.

Labels: PRO GOLF

Peterculter Junior Open on Friday, July 15

Entries are being accepted for the Peterculter Junior Open on Friday, July 15, tee times from 09.00 to 12.00, members £5, non-members £8.

There are scratch and handicap prizes for longest drive and nearest the pin.

The event is a North East District Boys' Order of Merit event. Age limit: Under 18 on 1 January 2016

To enter; Call the pro shop on 01224-734994 to reserve a time and pay on the day

Or click on the “open competitions” tab at http://www.petercultergolfclub.co.uk and pay securely online

Labels: boys and girls

Lee Vannet takes Craibstone kids to St Andrews for the day

NEWS RELEASE

The Craibstone ClubGolf Juniors, along with resident PGA professional Lee Vannet, held their inaugural Texas Scramble Tournament at The Balgove nine-hole golf course at St Andrews

A total of 28 children aged between eight and 13 years made the trip from Craibstone Golf club to St.Andrews, to contest in teams of four for first place.

The competition was keenly contested and there were only four shots separating all the teams.

With the suspense of a last day at the Majors, it all came down to the last hole, with the last match of the day, where 9 year old Sebastian Ajers, hit a fabulous 7 iron from 110 yards to within 8 feet of the hole followed by Mika Asskildsen confidently stroking the birdie putt straight in to the middle of the hole to win by one shot.

After the prizegiving ceremony, held at the Eden Clubhouse, we made the short walk to the Swilken Bridge for the Champions photo shoot, to round off a truly memorable day.

All of the 28 juniors have been attending Clubgolf Coaching, at the Craibstone Golf Academy, where resident PGA professional Lee Vannet, runs four one-hour coaching sessions every Saturday and Sunday 30 weeks of the year.

Lee Vannet’s philosophy developed from over 30 years as a PGA professional is to instil Life Skills such as Discipline, Respect, Honesty, Integrity and Responsibility as well as having Fun while Learning essential Golfing Skills.

“My aim is to introduce and develop juniors to understand and play the game of golf and gain transferable skills which would be valuable to them in their adult life. It would be an added bonus if they go on to become world class golfers.”

The winning team of Mika askildsen, Harry Armishaw, Oliver Moore and Sebastian Ajers with PGA professional Lee Vannet

Lee Vannet says: "A massive thank you to all the sponsors who made this trip possible: first and foremost to St Andrews Links who gave us courtesy of the course and couldn’t do enough for the kids. Thanks to Doorsteps Catering for providing all the kids with packed lunches; Philip Henderson of HND Designs for supplying engraved medals to all the children and to all the parents and Craibstone members who contributed enthusiastically to all the fund-raising activities."

Lee also provides group clinics for Beginners, Ladies as well as Long Term Development Programmes.

The next 10-week Club Golf programmes commence in the new Term Sememster.

For all upcoming events, please contact Lee Vannet:

email leepro67@hotmail.com

Labels: Boys, boys and girls

Central Scotland Seniors Open at Glenbervie

By GORDON THOMSON

The sixth event in the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society season takes place on Thursday and Friday with the Central Scotland Seniors Open (sponsored by McCrea Financial Services) at Glenbervie.

The event falls in the middle of a busy three-week spell for the leading senior players, sandwiched between last week’s event at West Kilbride and the match-play championship at Panmure next week.

This spell will play a major part in determining the make-up of the Scotland team for the European seniors team championship and the senior home internationals as well as the Order of Merit race.

There is a full field for the Glenbervie vent with a good mix of ages and handicaps and all are looking forward to returning to arguably the most popular venue on the senior circuit.

After the West Seniors Open Championship at West Kilbride, Graham Bell (Downfield) has a narrow lead over Nick Robson (Meldrum House) in the Order of Merit race with the holder, Ronnie Clark (Erskine) lying in third place.

Ronnie was a surprise casualty of the difficult weather conditions at West Kilbride and he will be keen to get his campaign back on track in an event which he has won in each of the last three years.

Labels: SENIORS

Chips off the old blocks selected to play for

North-east against North at Inverurie

Two Deeside Golf Club junior members with distinguished golfing parents have been selected to represent the North-east in the annual boys' age-group matches against the North District at Inverurie GC on Friday, July 15.
Paul Lawrie's younger son Michael is in the Under-18 team while 12-year-old Michael Black, younger son of winning Curtis Cup captain Elaine Farquharson-Black, is in the Under-14s' line-up.
The match format is foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon.

UNDER-18s - Callum Bruce (Duff House Royal), Michael Lawrie (Deeside), Craig Leith (Royal Aberdeen), Sam Locke (Banchory) Dylan Smith (Portlethen). Marc Watt (Inverallochy)

UNDER-16s - Jonathan Bell (Royal Aberdeen), Cameron Black (Royal Aberdeen), Ellis Gray (Duff House Royal), Innes McKay (Cullen), Ethan Ross (Inverallochy), Liam Waldron (Kintore)

UNDER-14s - Michael Black (Deeside), Ethan Main (Murcar Links), Ruari Mair (Buckpool), Joshua Mitchell (Fraserburgh), Finlay McKay (Cullen), Owen Walker (Royal Aberdeen).

Labels: Boys

Lenzie's Euan McBride wins Dumbartonshire boys' medal play championship

Pictured: Euan McBride being presented with the trophy by Hugh Semple, DGU President.

Euan McBride (Lenzie) won the Dumbartonshire Golf Union boys' medal play championship at Clydebank and District Golf Club with a two-round total of 143.

In second place on 149 was Craig O’Hara (Palacerigg) with Ian Taggart (Lenzie) third on 150. The first round leader was Ian Taggart (Lenzie) with a fine round of 70 but rounds of 72 and 71 saw Euan take the title after the second round.

The top 16 players will now go forward to the Matchplay Championship at Clydebank and District Golf Club on July 21 and 22.

Labels: Area and County News

Tim Thelen birdies 17 and 18 to win Swiss

Seniors Open by one stroke

FROM THE EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR WEBSITE
Tim Thelen claimed his second Swiss Seniors Open title by one shot after a dramatic final day at Golf Club Bad Ragaz.
The American, who won the 2012 edition of the tournament, was three shots off the pace with three holes to play, but birdied the 17^th and 18^th holes to finish on ten under par.
He started the day on seven under par and birdied the first hole before dropping a shot on the fifth. He then made a gain on the tenth before shooting par on the next six holes, finishing with a flourish as he made putts from 15 feet to move to the top of the leaderboard.

“I’m ecstatic to win here twice. The way we are treated in Bad Ragaz makes it feel like home,” said Thelen, who recorded his fifth European Senior Tour victory, his first since the Portuguese Open in 2014.
“I got on a bit of a roll down the back nine, but missed a couple of short putts on 15 and 16.
“I saw at one stage that Miguel [Angel Martín] was ahead, but unfortunately he bogeyed 17 and parred 18. I then holed two 15 footers for birdie on 17 and 18 to take the lead.
“It’s fantastic to win again, it had been a couple of years. Looking back, I’ve won every other year. My last victory was in 2014 and I won three times in 2012, so this is my year.”
Thelen finished one shot ahead of Englishman Simon P Brown, Spain’s Pedro Linhart, who dropped two shots on 17, and overnight leader Martín.

The 55 year old had previously finished tied 22^nd and tied 12^th at the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open and Acorn Jersey Open, and conceded that his putting had let him down in the first two Senior Tour tournaments on European soil.
“I was hitting the ball really well both in Wales and Jersey,” he said. “But my putting was really off. So I went back home to Texas and called up the local professional and asked him to have a look at my putting.
“We spent about half an hour looking at things and he said that it was really off. So we changed my alignment and got it to the standard it should be at – I’ll have to treat him next time I see him!”
Acorn Jersey Open runner-up Gary Wolstenholme finished a shot further back on eight under par alongside Andrew Sherborne and Jamie Spence.
Former Ryder Cup star Paul Broadhurst finished on seven under par with Phil Golding who shot a final round 64, one of the best scores on the final day at Bad Ragaz, Ken Tarling and Esteban Toledo.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
AND PRIZEMONEY

CLICK HERE

Labels: Pro seniors

Aussie Greg Chalmers' first US Tour win

gives him an Open place

FROM THE AGE
Greg Chalmers earned an Open qualifying exemption when he secured his maiden US PGA Tour win at the Barracuda Championship in Reno on Sunday.
The 42-year-old Australian scored a six-point victory in his 386th Tour start when he closed with an eagle in the modified Stableford tournament.

Champion: Greg Chalmers poses with the trophy after winning the Barracuda Championship. Photo: Todd Warshaw

A shaky Chalmers carded a four-point final round for a 43-point total to emerge victorious over American Gary Woodland at the Montreux Golf layout.
Colt Knost finished alone in third place on 35 points, one ahead of his American compatriot Tim Herron.
Woodland, playing in the group ahead of Chalmers, was the only player to mount a serious challenge but a messy three-putt bogey on the par-five 18th gave the Australian some breathing room after he had dropped a shot on the penultimate hole.
Chalmers initially thought Woodland had finished with a birdie but after the Australian hit a fairway-splitting drive, his caddie informed him of the American's unfortunate finish.
A relieved Chalmers then struck a sumptuous 230-yard approach to nine feet below the cup and sealed his triumph by draining the eagle putt.
"I thought I was in trouble," Chalmers said. "I thought Gary birdied the last hole and then I crushed the driver. The best shot, the only good shot I hit all day."
Chalmers' victory was his first since he claimed a second Australian PGA Championship title in December 2014. He has also won two Australian Opens.
"In golf you always have to think something good is around the corner," said Chalmers, who credited a new driver for his improved form.
"I thought my game was close. Today was a battle but the first three rounds I played really well."
The format awards eight points for an albatross, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, and subtracts a point for bogey and three for double-bogey or worse.
As well as receiving a two-year exemption on the US PGA Tour, the victory will also allow Chalmers to tee up at the Open at Royal Troon, starting on July 14.

"It was certainly on my mind going into today’s round. I’ve only played in three Opens so it’s always new and exciting for me,” he said.

“I’m hoping to take my whole family and som friends over to Scotland. I played St Andrews last year, so I know the Open is huge.”

The qualifying place in The Open had originally been on offer at the Greenbrier Classic, but devastating flooding in West Virginia resulted in the cancellation of the event and the place being moved to the Barracuda Championship.

“The Open is always exciting, I can’t wait. It's such a great thing that The R and A and Barracuda have done for us, even though the circumstances that came about weren't the greatest,” said Chalmers.

The Open Qualifying Series continues this week with the final four places at Royal Troon available at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart from Thursday to Sunday.

Labels: US PGA TOUR