PENNANT HOME WIN FOR BANCHORY

Banchory scored a 4-1 home win over Nigg Bay in tonight's (Tuesday) Aberdeen Men's Pennant League match.

Details (Banchory names first):

A Lindsay and S Locke bt R Forbes and B Bruce 6 and 4; S Larkin and R Gray bt R Nielsen and N Slater 2 and 1; M Gordon and A Ramage bt G Grimmer and L O'Connor 1 hole; D Brand and C Lindsay lost to T Ogston and S Jamieson 2 and 1; L Smart and F Milne bt G Stewart and S Bennett 5 and 4.

The Aberdeen Men's Pennant League is sponsored by the Douglas Hotel's (Market Street)  Molly's Bistro and Malone's Bar

Cruden Bay's Roger leads by 2 in Scottish 

youths championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Cruden Bay's Stephen Roger shot the low round of the day - a four-under-par 67 to jump into a two-stroke lead with 36 holes to play on Wednesday in the Scottish youths open amateur championship over the Fittocks course at Fairmont St Andrews.
Roger birdied the first, fifth and eighth on his way to an outward half of 33. A birdie at the 10th put him four under for the day but he dropped his only shot of the round at the 15th.
However, a 2 at the short 16th took him back on course for a 67 and a 36-hoe tally of four-under 138.
He leads from Rory Franssen (Inverness) and English challenger Christopher Handy (South Moor).
Franssen's birdies at the first, 11th and 13th put him level with Roger but he bogeyed the 15th and 17th to fall back into a share of second place.

SCOTTISH YOUTHS OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Fairmont St Andrews' Kittocks Course
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71) SSS 73. CSS 73 73
138 S Roger (Cruden Bay) 71 67
140 R Franssen (Inverness) 70 70, C Handy (South Moor) 68 72
141 H Young-Alls (Notts) 71 70, J Rooney (W Lancs) 70 71, J Stewart (Old Ranfurly) 67 74
142 A Thomson (Lanark) 72 70
143 L Fenn (Dunbar) 75 68, B Thalmayr (Ger) 73 70, R Brown (Dunfermline) 70 73
144 C Hill (Tantallon) 75 69, R Thomas (India) 74 70, M Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 70.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

West of Scotland boys' match-play championship

Great Scott! McPherson beats Torrance in 

quarter-finals

Scott McPherson of Bothwell Castle Golf Club produced the shock of the day when he beat stroke-play title winner Jonathan Torrance at the 18^th hole in the afternoon quarter-finals. 

Scott conceded yardage off the tee to Jonathan but his short game was in top order all day as he progressed to the semi-final where he will play Jack McMorris of East Kilbride who was four under par for his day’s golf. 

The other semi-final is between home favourite Aaron McGinlay and Matthew Dalrymple of Old Ranfurly Golf Club.

RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

J Torrance          bt   S Percy     3 and 1.

S McPherson     bt    L Caddell    1 hole

J McMorris        bt     G Andrews   5 and 4.

I Hussain            bt      A Woodhouse  1 hole

M Dalrymple     bt      E J Milligan  3 and 1

C O’Hara           bt     K McAllister     1 hole

A McGinlay       bt     S Thomson      3 and 1.

E English           bt   J Savage             5 and 4

QUARTER-FINALS

S McPherson       bt       J Thomson   1 hole

J McMorris         bt    I Hussain   6 and 4

M Dalrymple      bt     C O’Hara   6 and 5

A McGinlay       bt    E English     2 and 1

Semi-finals on   Wednesday  at  9am  and  9.15am

Final  on         Wednesday      1.30pm

W Sharpe

Press Officer

Lanarkshire GA   

McDougall leads qualifiers for Shotts Young Pros' 

two-day event in August



 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
A total of 37 players with scores of 84 and better qualified at Shotts Golf Club today to take part in the 36-hole Shotts Young Pros' Order of Merit tournament on August 14 and 15.
Leading the way was Graeme McDougall (Elie Links) with a one-over-par 70.
He was closely followed by Ross Millar (Kings Acre) and Steven Maxwell (Eastwood).

LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 70
71 G McDougall (Elie Links)
72 R Millar (Kings Acre), S Maxwell (Eastwood)
73 R Tinker (Piperdam), S Milne (Balbirnie Park).
74 S Watters (Balbirnie Park).
75 S Fisher (Portpatrick Dunskey)
76 D Lee (unatt), K McNiven (Gleneagles), I Anderson (Colville Park).
77 R Black (Inverness), O Robertson (Panmure), A Todd (Downfield), A Burns (Bothwell Castle), C Billows (Gleneagles), K Zeynalov (Portlethen), P Mitchell (Stirling).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

. Clark leads qualifying for Scottish Seniors' match-play championship at Panmure

By GORDON THOMSON

Ronnie Clark (Erskine) led the qualifying scores for the Scottish Seniors' match-play championship, sponsored by McCrea Financial Services, at Panmure Golf Club, Carnoustie today, adding a fine score of 68 for an impressive total of 138.

This gave him a four-stroke lead over John Fraser (Royal Burgess) with Duncan Hamilton (Mortonhall ) in third place on 144.The cut fell at 157 with some surprise casualties including David Gardner (Broomieknowe), Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) and Georg Barrie (Callander).

Clark is in fine form and is the favourite to take the title but will not find it easy tomorrow against former senior international, John McDonald (Cowglen). 

The draw has thrown up some cracking ties with the holder, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie), facing Bob Stewart (Tulliallan), Graham Bell (Downfield) taking on Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth), and Duncan Hamilton facing former champion, Tony Stafford (Downfield).

In the Super Seniors (over-65s) match-play event, George Rodaks (Pitreavie) led the qualifiers.The tie of the first round sees a repeat of last year’s final with the holder,

Jim Kinloch (Cardross), facing David Millar (St Andrews

SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S OPEN AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP 
LEADING QUALIFIERS 
Panmure Golf Club.
Par 140 (2x70) SSS 71. CSS 73 72

138 Ronnie Clark (Erskne) 70 68.
142 John A Fraser (Royal Burgess) 70 72

144 Duncan Hamilton (Mortonhall) 70 74

145 Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) 74 71
145 Malcolm Reid (Sonning) 72 73
147 Laurie Chancellor (Inverness) 75 72
147 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 75 72
147 David Shields (Glenearn) 73 74
148 Robert W Smith (Nairn) 73 75
149 Tony Patterson (Sunningdale) 72 77
150 Graham Bell (Downfield) 76 74
151 George R Blair (Haddington) 78 73
151 Ian Jeen (St Andrews New) 74 77 
152 Robert Stewart (Tulliallan) 74 78
152 Keith Bruce (Edzell) 73 79

152 Neil McGarva (Kilmacolm) 79 74

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
9.30 R Clark v J McDonald
9.37 N McGarva v J Johnston.
9.44 D Shields v T McLevy
9.51 R W Smith v J Aman.
9.58 I Brotherston v R Gray
10.05 I Jeen v I Angus
10.12 M Reid v S Finnie
10.19 G R Blair v J McManus
10.26 J A Fraser v G Meikle.
10.33 K Bruce v A J Smith
10.40 L Gordon v G H Paterson
10.47 T Patterson v W Barclay
10.54 D Hamilton v T Stafford
11.01 R Stewart v G MacDonald
11.08 L Chancellor v A J Laird
11.15 G Bell v L Blair.

SUPER SENIORS
11.30 G Rodaks v L Clark
11.37 K Thomson v S Fairweather
11.45 J Kinloch v D Millar
11.52 J Scott v W Methven

Aberdeen Senior Masters Round 2 tee times at Meldrum House

1    08:00    JORGE GAMARRA                        94
        Christian Munoz                                          8   
           
2    08:10    JOEL CAPRE                                   88
        Ian Skidmore                                               86
        MARCEL CAPAUL                                   85
           
3    08:20    Mr David Bell  (am)                          84
        NIGEL BETTS                                              84
        TODOU BOUBA                                            83
           
4    08:30    GAETAN BIKINDOU                          82
        DOUG YOUNG                                               82
        SAROT SUN PANTONG                               80
           
5    08:40    David Forsyth (am)                             80
        CHRIS LINSTEAD                                        80
        ANDY ROGERS                                            80
           
6    08:50    MIKE MACARA                                   80
        Andy Campbell    (am)                                     79
        PATRICE KALITA                                          79
           
7    09:00    SCOTT PUZEY                                    79
        RICHARD LANE                                            79
        Mr Gary Ross  (am)                                        79
           
8    09:10    PIERRE PUISSET                                78
        DEREK MACDOUGALL                                78
        ROBIN BRIARS                                                78
           
9    09:20    Stephen Jensen                                       77
        KEN TARLING                                                  77
        GUY SHOESMITH                                            77
           
10    09:30    DAVID THOMSON                              76
        NEIL MARR                                                       76
        KARIM EL BARADIE                                       76
           
11    09:40    XAVIER NAUDET                                   76
        BRAD ROLLINSON                                            76
        MATT DALE                                                          75
           
12    09:50    WILLIAM MCQUEENEY                     75
        Nicky Gold   (am)                                                  75
        JORGE BERENDT                                              75
           
13    10:00    GLENN JOYNER                                      74
        MARK MIELKE                                                     74
        SCOTT DAVIDSON                                                 74
           
14    10:10    GRAHAM BANISTER                               74
        CLAYTON BLACKMORE                                     74
        Mr Barry Brooks (am)                                             74
           
15    10:20    DAVID NARVESON                                     74
        KLAS TENMARK                                                       74
        MATTHEW RICHARDSON                                     74
           
16    10:30    MIKE FIELD                                                 73
        Mr Gary Cooper  \(am)                                               73
        TONY LAWRENCE                                                   73
           
17    10:40    MIKE REYNARD                                         73
        STEVEN SHAW                                                          73
        MARK SPOONER                                                      73
           
18    10:50    MIKE DAGENAIS                                        73
        JAIME NOUGES                                                        73
        MATT BRIGGS                                                           72
           
19    11:00    NICK MITCHELL                                        72
        PAUL AFFLECK                                                         72
        NIGEL SWEET                                                           72
           
20    11:10    GUY WALL                                                      72
        J M BUENDIA                                                                72
        ADRIAN FIRMAN                                                         72
           
21    11:20    ANGEL FRANCO                                             72
        COLIN MONK                                                               72
        ROBERT ARNOTT                                                         72
           
        STARTER   
           
22    11:50    CARL SUNESON                                              72
        STEWART SAVAGE                                                       71
        MARK WHARTON                                                        71
           
23    12:00    LUIS CARBONETTI                                        71
        LAURIE TURNER                                                         71
        DARREN PEARCE                                                        71
           
24    12:10    FRASER MANN                                                71
        KENNY HUTTON                                                          70
        STEPHEN DODD                                                           70
           
25    12:20    KUMAR KAMI                                                    70
        ANDREW OLDCORN                                                     70
        JEAN LAFORCE                                                              70
           
26    12:30    STEPHEN VAN VUUREN                                 70
        CESAR MONASTERIO                                                  69
        SHAUN BALL                                                                  69
           
27    12:40    PETER WOODWARD                                      69
        MARTIN FORSTER                                                        69
        JOHN HARRISON                                                         69
           
28    12:50    JEAN PIERRE SALLAT                                    69
        CLARK DENNIS                                                             69
        CHRIS HUNSUCKER                                                      69
           
29    13:00    ALBERT MACKENZIE                                    69
        JOSE ROMERO                                                              69
        JAMES MURPHY                                                           68
           
30    13:10    PERRY PARKER                                               68
        PAUL BROADHURST                                                    68
        JOHN HOSKINSON                                                       68
           
31    13:20    TIM THELEN                                                    68
        Mr Nick Robson   (am)                                                   68
        STEPHEN MCNALLY                                                   68
           
32    13:30    JONATHAN CHEETHAM                                68
        PEDRO LINHART                                                            68
        PHILLIP PRICE                                                             68
           
33    13:40    SIMON BROWN                                                 67
        PETER BAKER                                                                 67
        BARRY CONSER                                                              67
           
34    13:50    DAVID SHACKLADY                                         66
        PAUL STREETER                                                               66
        JARMO SANDELIN                                                          66
           
35    14:00    STEPHEN MCALLISTER                                   66
        TIM SPENCE                                                                      65
        PAUL WESSELINGH                                                         64


SPECTATORS WILL BE MADE VERY WELCOME.
THERE IS NO ADMISSION CHARGE
THERE IS NO FEE FOR CAR PARKING.

COME ALONG AND SUPPORT THE STARS OF YESTERDAY - AND STILL TODAY!

WONDERFUL WESSELINGH'S 64 GIVES 

HIM ONE-SHOT LEAD

Liverpool-born Paul Wesselingh is not counting his chickens after taking the lead with a

        six-under-par 64 at Meldrum House. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

On the opening day of the Senior Golf Circuit's £50,000 Aberdeen Senior Masters, when 30 players scored under the par of 70, past PGA Cup player Paul Wesselingh trumped them all early in the evening with a superb round of 64, six-under-par for the Meldrum House Hotel's parkland course at  Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.

"I'm only one ahead despite an eagle and seven birdies, so I'm certainly not counting my chickens this early," said the 54-year-old Liverpool-born who has won more 14 times as a pro and seven times on the European Senior Tour, which is for players aged 50 and over, in contrast to the independend Senior Golf Circuit, masterminded by Scot David James, which is for pros and amateurs aged 48 and over.

"I played beautifully out there but I know the capabilities of the guys tucked in behind me, and anyone of them could shoot the lights out over the last 36 holes.

For the record - preferred lies were in operation, so there could not be one - Wesselingh had an eagle 3 at the long fifth, and birdies at the first, second, third, ninth, 12th, 16th and 17th in halves of 31 and 33.

He three-putted for bogeys at the fourth and seventh and missed from 2 1/2 ft for another bo,gey at the short 15th.

"The last time I won an event? That was the Welsh Senior Open at Celtic Manor in 2015 so, yes, I am due a win."

Tim Spence, pictured right, from West Sussex is Wesselingh's closest challenger overnight with a 65 (31-34).
Spence had an interesting theory about why the scoring in general was so low.
"Preferred lies had something to do with it but the fairways at Meldrum House are so wide too, with the result that bad drives are not punished as much as they should be," he said.

Stephen McAllister kept the home flag flying with a 66 (34-22), which included a double bogey at the sixth and a glorious bag of eight birdies.

The Scot is joint third on four-under 66.

Leading amateur is home-course man Nick Robson, pictured on the first tee today, an Aberdeen business man who loves competitive golf and is co-sponsor of the tournament with Meldrum House Hotel and Gym Rental.

Nick's 68 (33-35) had birdies at the first, seventh, eighth and 16th but bogeys at the sixth and 10th.

Jorge Berendt (Argentina) had a hole in one with a six-iron at the short third hole.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
par 70
64 P Wesselingh (Eng)
65 T Spence (Eng)
66 J Sandelin (Swe), S McAllister (Sco), D Shacklady (Eng), P Streeter (Eng)
67 S Brown (Eng), P Baker (Eng), B Conser (USA)
68 J Hoskison (Eng), D MacDougall (Sco), J Murphy (Eng), P Price (Wal), N Robson (Sco) (am), T Thelen (USA), P Linhart (Spa), S McNally (Eng), P Broadhurst (Eng), J Cheetham (Eng), P Parker (Eng)
69 A Mackenzie (Sco), J Harrison (Eng), C Dennis (USA), C Hunsucker (USA), J Romero (Spa), M Foster (Eng), S Ball (Eng), P Woodward (Eng), J P Sallat (Fra), C Monasterio (Arg).
70 K Hutton (Sco), K Kami (Nepal), A Oldcorn (Sco), S Dodd (Wal), S Van Vuuren (SAf), J Laforce (Fra)
71 M Wharton (Eng), F Mann (Sco), S Savage (Sco), L Carbonetti (Arg), L Turner (Eng), D Pearce (Eng)
72 M Briggs (Eng), P Affleck (Eng), N Mitchell (Eng), A Firman (Eng), R Arnott (Sco), J-M Buendia (Spa), N Sweet (Eng), C Monk (Eng), G Wall (Aust), A Franco (Arg), C Suneson (Spa)
73 M Field (Eng), M Reynard (Eng), T Lawrence (Eng), J Nouges (Arg), M Dagenais (Can), S Shaw (USA), S Spooner (Eng), G Cooper (Sco) (am)
74 C Blackmore (Wales), G Banister (Aust), D Narveson (Can), M Richardson (Eng), M Mielke (Fra), B Brooks (Sco) (am), S Davidson (Eng), K Tenmark (Swe), G Joyner (Aust)
75 W McQueeney (Sco), M Dale (Eng), N Gold (Sco), J Berendt (Arg)
76 N Marr (Sco), X Naudet (Fra), K El Baradie (Swi), B Rollinson (USA), D Thomson (Sco)
77 S Jensen (Eng) (am), G Shoesmith (Eng), K Tarling (Can)
78 R Briars (Eng), P Puisset (Fra)
79 G Ross (Sco) (am), P Kalita (Fra), S Puzey (USA), A Campbell (Sco) (am), R Lane (Eng)
80 C Linstead (Eng), M Macara (Wales), A Rogers (Eng), S S Pantong (Swi), D Forsyth (Sco) (am)
82 D Young (Eng), G Bikindou (Fra).
83 T Bouba (Cameroons)
84 D Bell (Sco) (am), N Betts (Eng)
85 M Capaul (Swi).
86 I Skidmore (Eng)
88 J Capre (Fra), C Munoz (Spa) (am)
94 J Gamarra (Arg)

(am) denotes amateur

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A SELECTION OF ACTION PICTURES FROM THE FIRST TEE THIS MORNING

Aberdeen Senior Masters at Meldrum House, Oldmeldrum

Paul Wesselingh's late swoop to lead with a 

six-under-par 64

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Jarmo Sandelin, 1991 Ryder Cup player from Sweden (he was actually born in Finland!), made a sensational debut on the Senior Golf Circuit with a four-under-par 66 to be the early leader in the Aberdeen Senior Masters at Meldrum House today.

Jarmo, picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c), with an eye on graduating to the European Senior Tour, is obviously going to play on organising Scot David James' 48-and-over circuit until he is old to play on the bigger tour.
A very long hitter in his 20s and 30s, Sandelin still gives the ball a fair wallop and he birdied the sixth, 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th in halves of 34 (one under par) and 32 (three under).
His only slip on a very wet course  - preferred lies were in operation - came at the 14th which he bogeyed.
In mid-afternoon, England's Simon P Brown, slashed Sandelin's lead to one shot with a three-under 67 which included birdies at the first, fourth, 16th and 18th in halves of 34-33. He had one bogey, at the third.
Another Englishman, John Hoskison, took over third place with a 68 (34-34), birding the second, eighth and 17th with one bogey, at the seventh.
Lossiemouth-born Albert Mackenzie, American Clark Dennis and England's John Harrison all had one-under 69s
Mackenzie crammed five birdies and three bogeys into an outward half of 33 (two under) but calmed down after the turn with eight pars and a bogey at the 11th for 36 home.
 Dennis did well to salvage a 69 after running up a double bogey 6 at the 13th in halves of 34 and 35. He bogeyed the first but cancelled that out with birdies at the fifth, eighth, 12th and 16th.
Harrison had birdies at the fifth, ninth and 17th in halves of 34-35. He bogeyed the fourth and 16th.
Pre-tournament favourite Andrew Oldcorn, on the strength of beating 1991 Ryder Cup man Paul Broadhurst in a play-off to win a seniors event in Germany on Sunday, was happy enough to match the par of 70.
"I still feel very tired after the journey back from Germany and then up to Meldrum House. The danger was that it would show in my first-round score and I would have too much ground to make up even after being more refreshed for the second and third rounds," said the Edinburgh-based former PGA champion.
"So I am pleased to get away with a par round."
Another Scot on the 70 mark is Downfield's Kenny Hutton who partnered Sandelin.

ABERDEEN SENIOR MASTERS
Meldrum House Hotel and golf course
FIRST ROUND SCORES
par 70
64 P Wesselingh (Eng)
65 T Spence (Eng)
66 J Sandelin (Swe), S McAllister (Sco), D Shacklady (Eng), P Streeter (Eng)
67 S Brown (Eng), P Baker (Eng), B Conser (USA)
68 J Hoskison (Eng), D MacDougall (Sco), J Murphy (Eng), P Price (Wal), N Robson (Sco) (am), T Thelen (USA), P Linhart (Spa), S McNally (Eng), P Broadhurst (Eng), J Cheetham (Eng), P Parker (Eng)
69 A Mackenzie (Sco), J Harrison (Eng), C Dennis (USA), C Hunsucker (USA), J Romero (Spa), M Foster (Eng), S Ball (Eng), P Woodward (Eng), J P Sallat (Fra), C Monasterio (Arg).
70 K Hutton (Sco), K Kami (Nepal), A Oldcorn (Sco), S Dodd (Wal), S Van Vuuren (SAf), J Laforce (Fra)
71 M Wharton (Eng), F Mann (Sco), S Savage (Sco), L Carbonetti (Arg), L Turner (Eng), D Pearce (Eng)
72 M Briggs (Eng), P Affleck (Eng), N Mitchell (Eng), A Firman (Eng), R Arnott (Sco), J-M Buendia (Spa), N Sweet (Eng), C Monk (Eng), G Wall (Aust), A Franco (Arg), C Suneson (Spa)
73 M Field (Eng), M Reynard (Eng), T Lawrence (Eng), J Nouges (Arg), M Dagenais (Can), S Shaw (USA), S Spooner (Eng), G Cooper (Sco) (am)
74 C Blackmore (Wales), G Banister (Aust), D Narveson (Can), M Richardson (Eng), M Mielke (Fra), B Brooks (Sco) (am), S Davidson (Eng), K Tenmark (Swe), G Joyner (Aust)
75 W McQueeney (Sco), M Dale (Eng), N Gold (Sco), J Berendt (Arg)
76 N Marr (Sco), X Naudet (Fra), K El Baradie (Swi), B Rollinson (USA), D Thomson (Sco)
77 S Jensen (Eng) (am), G Shoesmith (Eng), K Tarling (Can)
78 R Briars (Eng), P Puisset (Fra)
79 G Ross (Sco) (am), P Kalita (Fra), S Puzey (USA), A Campbell (Sco) (am), R Lane (Eng)
80 C Linstead (Eng), M Macara (Wales), A Rogers (Eng), S S Pantong (Swi), D Forsyth (Sco) (am)
82 D Young (Eng), G Bikindou (Fra).
83 T Bouba (Cameroons)
84 D Bell (Sco) (am), N Betts (Eng)
85 M Capaul (Swi).
86 I Skidmore (Eng)
88 J Capre (Fra), C Munoz (Spa) (am)
94 J Gamarra (Arg)

(am) denotes amateur

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A SELECTION OF ACTION PICTURES FROM THE FIRST TEE THIS MORNING

Western Isles championship

Twelve qualifiers. Top four go straight to quarter-finals
Non seeded draw on Saturday night and after every round.
Par 68 SSS 67 CSS 67 both rounds
Weather conditions: Wet. Constant rain from 11am. Heavy rain from 4pm
1 Cal Robertson. 67 70 137
2 Donald J Macleod 74 68 142
3 Norrie MacDonald 73 71 144
4 Colin MacRitchie 71 73 144
5 Kevin MacRae 74 71 145
6 Murdo A MacLeod 75 71 146
7 Scott MacIver 74 72 146
8 David Black 72 76 148 (defending champion)
9 Bryan Geddes 75 75 150
10 Eddie Rogers 72 78 150
11 Lewis MacKenzie 78 75 153
12 Murdo O'Brien 74 79 153
Tuesday draw
 Kevin MacRae v Bryan Geddes
Eddie Rogers v David Black
Scott MacIver v Lewis MacKenzie
Murdo O'Brien v Murdo A Macleod

Pictures by Colin Farquharson of Cal Carson Golf Agency

Action from Day 1 of the Aberdeen Senior Masters at Meldrum House

      Pre-tournament favourite Andrew Oldcorn's first tee shot is on its way.

           Lossiemouth-born Albert Mackenzie gets his first drive away at Meldrum House.

                                                     On the tee: Stephen Jensen

           PGA Senior Champion Robert Arnott from the Tartan Tour on the first tee.

                                    SIMON BROWN in action at Meldrum House.

  Nick Robson, the Aberdeen businessman (Thistle Windows and Conservatories) who is co-sponsor of the Aberdeen Masters, and also favourite to win the leading amateur award.

   Tim Thelen from Texas, winner of the Swiss Seniors Open recently, his second victory in that European Senior Tour event in  recent years.

                Fraser Mann from Carnoustie watches his first drive at Meldrum House.

                                              Stephen McAllister from the Tartan Tour.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND GOLFERS’ ASSOCIATION

ORDER OF MERIT 2016

The first four events have taken place in the South of Scotland Order of Merit. David Brodie (Wigtown and Bladnoch) has got off to a flying start winning Wigtownshire County Stroke Play and Match Play Championships, the J A L Brown Trophy at Portpatrick and being the top local player in the Southerness Challenge.

It is already becoming a two-horse race with Michael Grunwell (Dumfries and Galloway), who has also been playing well, but so far has been unable to produce the form of David. 

These two are well ahead in the Order of Merit but there are still a lot of competitions to come. It will be interesting to see who can rise out of the chasing pack to produce a sustained challenge.

The top ten so far are:-

1          David Brodie (Wigtown and Bladnoch)                    360pts

2          Michael Grunwell (D and G)                                     279

3          Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas)                               155

4          Chris Corbett (D and G)                                            140

            Dean Armstrong (Lochmaben)                                   140

6          Stephen Hyslop (Lochmaben)                                    105

7          Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright)                                  100

8          Ross Murray (Southerness)                                           95

9          Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick)                                94

10        Craig Smith (Dalbeattie)                                               90

            Clark Riddick (Southerness)                                         90

The next event is the Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries and Galloway on Saturday 16 July.