VIKKI LAING GETS IT

TOGETHER AT LAST

FOR A TOP-10 FINISH

AND $1,554 PAY DAY

Former star amateur Vikki Laing's tour professional career has never really got off the ground but, at the age of 26, the Musselburgh exile still harbours hopes that she will turn her fortunes around one year.
It could be this one.
In the latest event on the United States Futures Tour - the Jalapeno Classic over the Palm View course at McAllen in southern Texas, Vikki, pictured right, had her first pay day and her highest finish for some time.
Miss Laing, a one-time Curtis Cup player for Great Britain & Ireland and once ranked in the top-20 US college players during her four years at the University of California-Berkeley, finished joint seventh in Texas with scores of 74, 69 and 71 for a two-under-par total of 214. Her pay check amount to $1,554 - not enough to throw a party but enough to suggest that the good times may not be too far away for the blonde Scot.
Emily Bastel from Ohio collected the $10,500 first prize with scores of 70, 68 and 72 for a six-under-par tally of 210.
Another Ohio player, Angie Hill came second with 71, 70 and 71 for 212. She earned $7,500.

CATHY PANTON-LEWIS JOINT

FIFTH IN ROEHAMPTON

GOLD CUP

Scot Cathy Panton-Lewis, pictured right, finished joint fifth in the Roehampton Gold Cup 36-hole women's open tournament, one of the few on the golfing calendar which is open to both amateurs and professionals at the London course.

Cathy, retired from Ladies European Tour a number of years but still a spasmodic competitor on the United States Legends Tour, had rounds of 80 and 73 for a total of 153. Her 73 was the second-best score in the second round.

Professional Kirsty Taylor and Kent county amateur team player Claire Aitken tied on level par 144 to share the handsome gold trophy, six strokes ahead of the field of 60. Claire looked to have one hand on the cup when she shot a 69 in the first round while Kristy had a 75 but the scores were reversed in the second round.
Kirsty Taylor (Kirsty Speake that was), from Clitheroe, Lancashire, turned professional as along ago as 1995. She won the Roehampton Gold Cup for the first time in 1999. Newly moved south to Gloucesterhsie and attached to Minchinhampton Gold Club, Kirsty is looking forward to another year on the Ladies’ European Tour.
Claire Aitken, aged 21 with a handicap of +1, plays out of The London Club in Kent. She is quite clearly on a roll because she went into the Roehampton Gold Cup with confidence sky high following her capture of the Hampshire Rose.
Claire was also runner-up in the recent Kent women’s county championship, which she won in 2006. She will be hard to beat playing for Kent in the forthcoming county week at Littlestone.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144
Professionals denoted by p after their names.
144 Kirsty Taylor (Minchinhampton) p 75 69, Claire-Aitken (The London) 69 75.
150 Susan Moon (Denham) p 76 74.
151 Joanne Mills (unatt) p 76 75.
153 Cathy Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire) p 80 73, Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest) 76 77.
154 Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) p 79 75, Tracy Loveys (remedy Oak) p 77 77, Claire Duffy (Test Valley) p 76 78, Wendy Dicks (unatt) p 75 79.
155 Lauren Diggle (Celtic Manor) p 79 76, Danielle Gibb (Rochester & Cobhan) 76 79, Kristy S Taylor (Sandford Springs) p 73 82.
156 Joanne Oliver p 80 76, Kerry-Anne Haskell 77 79.
157 Sarah Clinton p 79 78, Samantha Lovell 77 80, Alison Johns p 75 82, Laura Culter 75 82.
158 Sophie Huner – 80 78.
159 Sarah Heath p 81 78, Leah Occleshaw 80 79, Elizabeth Over 80 75.
160 Laura Webb 83 70, Beverley New 79 81, Laura Eastwood p 78 82.
161 Alex Banham 83 78, Felicity Johnson p 80 81, Georgina Hunt 79 82, Sian James 79 82, Frances Finney p 78 83.
163 Louisa Stirling 84 75, Emma Brown p 84 79, Hannah Ralph 83 80, Roz Adams 81 82, Samantha Round 78 85.
164 Laura Jones 80 84.
165 Katie Thompson 83 82, Claire Brown 78 87.
167 Vanessa Bell p 81 86.

FIFE WIN PROVAN SALVER WITH STRONG FINISH TO BEAT CLACKMANNANSHIRE

Fife won the inter-area men’s match-play team tournament for the Provan Salver with a 5 ½-2 ½ win over Clackmannshire at Burntisland Golf Club.
In the other match of the final programme, Angus beat Perth & Kinross 5-3 at Arbroath.
Fife topped the final table with 2pt out of 3, Clackmannanshire and Perth & Kinross shared second place with 2pt and Angus were the wooden spoonists with 1pt.
Clackmannanshire, team picture above by Hugh Hunter, had high hopes of retaining the trophy when they were up in four matches, square in two and down in only two at the turn of their match against Fife.
Steven Horne (Tulliallan) won the top match for Clackmannanshire by beating James White (Lundin), last year’s Scottish boys’ match-play champion, by 4 and 2.
Winners for a Fife team who finished their ties strongly were Brian Souter (Leven Thistle, Scott Michie (Thornon), David Imrie (Thornton), Alex Main (Thornton) and Sutart Meiklejohn (Aberdour).
Details:
FIFE 5 ½, CLACKMANNANSHIRE 2 ½
Fife names first
J White (Lundin) bt S Horne (Tulliallan) 4 and 2, S Elder (Kirkcaldy) halved with M Crichton (Tulliallan), B Souter (Leven Th) bt D Hulston (Dollar) 1 hole, G McNab (Leven Th) lost to J Aitken (Alloa), S Michie (Thornton) bt R Benvie (Braehead) 2 and 1, D Imrie (Thornton) bt S Moffat (Braehead) 3 and 2, A Main (Thornton) bt C O’Connor (Alloa) 1 hole, S Meiklejohn (Aberdour) bt I Ross (Alloa) 2 and 1.
Other result:
ANGUS 5, PERTH & KINROSS 3

JILL MELDRUM (14) HEADS

D&A QUALIFIERS

AT MILNGAVIE

Dullater’s Jill Meldrum, the Scottish Under-14 girls championship winner at Deeside last summer, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf championship at Milngavie Golf Club today.
On a bright, sunny day with a cool easterly wind, Jill, pictured right, who has a handicap of five, returned a 77, only three over the CSS.
Scottish senior international team player Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) claimed the No 2 seed berth with a 78, one shot ahead of another over-50s cap Anna Telfer, playing over her home course.
Three other Milngavie Golf Club members will also figure in the first round of the match-play on Tuesday morning – Karen Maxwell, the No 4 seed with an 83, Katy MacAulay and Jill Foggo, the eighth and ninth qualifiers respectively on the 88 mark.
Scotland international Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) is not defending her title. She is playing in the Welsh women’s open stroke-play championship at Newport Golf Club this coming weekend.
QUALIFIERS
77 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
78 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
79 Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
83 Karen Maxwell (Milngavie).
85 Babs Robertson (Helensburgh), Laura McGeachy (Windyhill).
87 Isobel Harvey (St Rule).
88 Katy MacAulay (Milngavie), Jill Foggo (Milngavie).
90 Enid Young (Balmore).
93 Ann Sinclair (Hilton Park).
94 Lynn McColl (Bearsden).
95 Margaret Kinvig (Vale of Leven), Annabel Struthers (Buchanan Castle).
96 Leanne Johnston (Windyhill), Margaret Stirling (Cardross).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Meldrum v Stirling, Foggo v MacAulay, Robertson v McColl, Kinvig v Maxwell.
Telfer v Struthers, Sinclair v McGeachy, Harvey v Young, Johnston v Faulds.

EXPERIENCE HAS ITS DAY IN ANGUS
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP AT PANMURE

Experience triumphed over youth in the early match-play stages of the Angus women’s county golf championship to the extent that only one of the semi-finalists when the competition resumes at Panmure Golf Club, Carnoustie on Sunday will be under the age of 50.
Former Scottish girls championship finalist Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), the No 2 seed, is the exception. She will play former Scottish seniors champion Kathlee Sutherland (Royal Montrose), the No 11 qualifier, while top seed Heather Anderson (Downfield) will meet the No 12 qualifier, Lynne Fotheringham (Grange), conqueror of defending champion Jane Tough (Brechin) in the quarter-finals..
Mrs Anderson has only recently back to the Angus area after living down south for many years. She’s recently married and newly retired.
In the handicap championship, the “young pups” redressed the balance with Ailsa Summers (Panmure Barry) and Fiona Blair (Monifieth) winning through to battle it out in the top half of the draw.
Results:
SCRATCH
First round - H Anderson (Downfield) bt S Bushby (Letham Grange) 5 and 4, S Murray (Edzell) bt S McGregor (Edzell) 4 and 3, L Fotheringham (Grange) bt F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies) 2 and 1, J Tough (Brechin) bt M Summers (Panmure Barry) 2 and 1.
R BWilson (Monifieth) bt L Fenton (Grange) 6 and 5, K Sutherland (Royal Montrose) bt A Hunter (Monifieth) 3 and 2, J Brown (Monifieth) bt J Taylor (Edzell) 4 and 3, F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) bt A Hay (Letham Grange) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals – Anderson bt Murray 5 and 4, Fotheringham bt Tough 3 and 1, Sutherland bt Wilson 6 and 5, Gilbert bt Brown 7 and 6.
HANDICAP
First round – A Summers (Panmure Barry) bt C Healey (Carnoustie Caledonia) 5 and 4, S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) bt A Chree (LPM) 6 and 4, A Hemings (Ballumbie Castle) bt S Baxby (Panmure Barry) 5 and 3, F Blair (Monifieth) bt J Wilson (Downfield) 1 hole, J Henderson (Royal Montrose) bt N Turner (Grange) 2 holes, M Faulkner (Royal Montrose) bt M Duthie (Panmure Barry) 2 and 1, S Todd (Panmure Barry) bt J Ganson (Arbroath) at 19th.
Quarter-finals – Summers bt Arbuckle 3 and 2, Blair bt Hemings 3 and 2, Faulkner bt Henderson 2 holes, Hutcheson bt Todd 1 hole.

JENNY MILNE WINS NORTHERN COUNTIES TITLE AT LAST

Experienced Elgin player Jenny Milne won the Northern Counties women’s golf championship for the first time at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today when she beat the No 1 qualifier, Donna MacLeod (Inverness) by 3 and 2 in the final.
“I’ve lost count of the number of finals I’ve lost – it could be four or five – so I’m really pleased to have won the Mary Benton Trophy at last,” said Jenny, pictured right after her success.
Donna had the edge on the way out and was one up at the turn but Miss Milne never looked back after winning the 10th to square the contest. When Miss MacLeod’s short game let her down over the closing holes, Jenny was able to win the 12th, 15th and 16th and halve the 17th for victory.
The handicap championship for the Chetham Trophy was won by 13-year-old Julie Vass (Tain) who beat Marion MacKay (Wick), 45 years her senior, by 7 and 5 in the final. Julie plays off 16 and Marion eight.
Results:
SCRATCH
Semi-finals – D MacLeod (Inverness) bt G Dowling (Inverness) 3 and 1, J Milne (Elgin) bt M Smith (Tain) 5 and 4.
Final – Milne bt MacLeod 3 and 2.
HANDICAP
Final – J Vass (Tain) (16) bt M MacKay (Wick) (8) 7 and 5.

MARY SMITH ONLY FORMER WINNER IN LAST
FOUR OF NORTHERN COUNTIES' CHAMPIONSHIP

Tain’s Mary Smith is the only previous title-winner through to Monday’s semi-finals of the Norther Counties Ladies Golfing Association championship at Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
In a bitterly cold North-east win, Mary advanced to a last-four meeting with the experienced Jenny Milne (Elgin) by beating Winnie Ross (Elgin) 7 and 6.
The other semi-final will feature the top qualifier, Donna MacLeod (Inverness) against clubmate Gillian Dowling.

QUALIFIERS
84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).
85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).
87 G Dowling (Inverness).
89 W Ross (Elgin).
91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).
93 D McKinnon (Durness).
94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).

MATCH PLAY
First round – MacLeod bt MacKenzie 8 and 7, MacVicar bt Weekes 7 and 5, Dowling bt Dunnett 1 hole, Manson bt McKinnon 3 and 2, Smith bt Howieson 4 and 3, Ross bt Vass 2 and 1, Hume bt MacDonald 4 and 3, Milne bt Morrison 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals – MacLeod bt MacVicar 6 and 4, Dowling bt Manson at 195th, Smith bt Ross 7 and 6, Milne bt Hume 5 and 3.

MELISSA REID RETAINS HELEN HOLM TITLE

Derby's 19-year-old Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid, with the help of an incredible course-record round of 12-under-par 63 over Troon Portland, won the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship for the second year in a row today (Sunday).

The only other person to win the prestigious 54-hole tournament two years in a row was Muriel Thomson, now professional at Portlethen Golf Club, in 1975 and 1976.

Melissa's second-round effort included a hole in one and, after two Saturday rounds over Troon Portland, she started today's final round over the Royal Troon championship links with a six-shot lead from England team-mate Rachel Bell (Ganton) whose course-record 65 on Friday stood for only 24 hours!

But Miss Reid, who will probably turn professional at the end of this year – "I wouldn't stay amateur just to get a second Curtis Cup honour at St Andrews in 2008, saw her considerable advantage disappear after only eight holes and she had to win the title all over again after that.

"The Royal Troon greens were a completely different pace from Troon Portland on Saturday and I was all at sea on them. I three-putted the first, third, seventh and eighth – and, standing on the ninth tee, I had lost my lead and Rachel was level with me," said Melissa.

"I three-putted twice more before the finish but Rachel bogeyed the ninth and 10^th and that gave me the breathing space to regroup and just take each hole at a time on the inward half."

Melissa, who had been 17 under par after rounds of 70 and 63 at Troon Portland, signed off with a three-over-par 78 (40-38) at Royal Troon for a final total of 14-under-par 211, which equalled the tournament low record set by compatriot Emma Duggleby from Yorkshire in 2004.

Rachel Bell scored 65, 74 and 75 (35-40) to finished three shots behind on 204.

"I played like a wally on the inward half of the final round. I had little or no chance at the start, being six shots behind Melissa. But, having made up these six shots over the first eight holes on Royal Troon, I should have gone on from there to win. But I just couldn't get the putts to drop and couldn't get a birdie on the way home. Three putts on the last green meant I finished three shots behind her."

Melissa Reid collected three awards at the prizegiving – the Helen Holm Trophy, the international team trophy for England in conjunction with Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), the Under-21 trophy and the Hole in One Trophy.

Scotland's Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) finished runners-p in the international team event.

Jenna was the leading Scot, officially placed fifth with scores of 70, 73 and 77 for 220, having a better last six holes than the French girl, Caroline Afonso, who also totalled 220 and finished with a 77.

Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), third at the start of the third and last day and playing in the final threesome with Melissa Reid and Rachel Bell, finished joint seventh on 221 with scores of 70, 70 and 81.
The CSS for the third round went up to 77, a reflection of the higher scoring today due to a cold east wind.

HELEN HOLM FINAL TOTALS FROM TROON

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

First two rounds over Troon Portland, third round over Royal Troon.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 225 (3 x 75). CSS 74 74 77

211 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63 78.

214 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74 75.

217 A Decharne (France) 71 73 73.

219 B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73 74.

220 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73 77, C Afonso (France) 73 70 77.

221 C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66 78, H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70 81.

222 K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73 73, A Vilatte (France) 69 79 74.

223 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73 81, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75 78.

224 M Bernard (France) 74 74 76, K Smith (Waterloovile) 72 73 79, R Connor (Manchester) 72 73 79, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70 79.

225 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76 75, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78 76.

226 C Wolf (Austria) 77 71 78, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69 79.

227 C Booth (Comrie) 74 72 81.

228 L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76 77, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75 77, N Muehl (Austria) 76 73 79, E Alonso (France) 72 76 80, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76 80, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76 80, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74 83, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72 82.

229 H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75 74, E Sheffield (Newark) 71 80 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75 80, E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73 81, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72 81, R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75 82.

230 J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76 78, R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73 83, L-A Stempfle (Germany) 73 72 85.

231 S Harju (Finland) 78 77 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80 77, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76 77, C Fallay (France) 78 74 79, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79 80, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71 84, L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73 85.

232 L Gendronneau (France) 75 75 82, L Bennett (Brokenhuret Manor) 70 76 86.

233 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77 79, T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75 81, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71 82, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72 87.

234 S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78 81, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75 81, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73 82, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70 85.

235 S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76 80, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74 81, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74 82.

236 N Craven (Brough) 74 81 81, S Faller (Galway) 76 79 81, R Crepiat (France) 79 76 81, A Riguelle (France) 75 75 86, B Genuini (France) 73 73 90.

237 T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81 82, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75 83.

238 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75 83, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77 84.

239 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79 86.

240 A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75 86, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75 89.

242 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74 91.

The following players missed the cut (155) after two rounds:

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74, K Harper (Inverness) 79 78.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT

435 England (M Reid 211, K Smith 224).

442 Scotland (J Wilson 220, K Caithness 222).

448 France (C Afonso 220, E Alonso 228).

454 Austria (C Wolf 226, N Muehl 228).

456 Wales (B Loucks 219, T Davies 237)

460 Finland (R Svah 229, S Harju 231).

462 Ireland (D Smith 228, T McDonnell 234).

466 Sweden (L Gustafsson 228, E Westrup 238).

VIKKI HAS A 69 ON US FUTURES TOUR

Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing had her best round for some time to qualify with easy for the final round of the Jalapeno Futures Classic at McAllen, Texas.

The Scot had rounds of 74 and 69 for a one-under-par tlaly of 143 - six shots inside the qualifying limit. Vikki is five shots behind the leader, Emily Bastel from Ohio, with 70 and 68 for 138. Emily leads by one shot from another American, Danah Ford, with 68 and 71 for 139.

Brenda McLarnon from Belfast failed to beat the 36-hole cut. She had scores of 83 and 77 for 160.

 

MATTHEW CLARK WINS EDWARD TROPHY

 

Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark won Glasgow Gailes Golf Club's 36-hole open tournament for the Edward Trophy by two strokes in blustery conditions on Saturday.

Clark had two par-matching rounds of 72 for 144, finishing two shots ahead of last year's winner, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire), and Keith Hamilton (Whitecraigs). Both players scored 71 and 75 for 146.

 

LEADING TOTALS

 

144 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 72 72.

146 K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 71 75, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 71 75.

147 J King (Glasgow) 75 72.

148 K Smyth (Windyhill) 76 72.

150 G Bolton (Bute) 77 73.

151 T McInally (Louden) 75 76.

TOP SCOT HEATHER IS SEVEN BEHIND LEADER MELISSA

 MAGNIFICENT NEW COURSE RECORD ROUND OF

12-UNDER-PAR 63 BY DEFENDING CHAMPION

Scotland's leading challenger Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) is in third place on 10-under-par 140 with one round to go in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon.

But despite a pair 70s, Heather is seven shots behind the leader, defending champion Melissa Reid.

The Derby girl played the round of her 19-dear-old life to score a 12-under-par 63 and go six strokes clear of the field after 36 holes.

Melissa, from Chevin Golf Club and a Curtis Cup player last year, had a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 156yd 16^th plus two eagle 3s, at the sixth and 12^th, and seven birdies, at the second, third, fourth, ninth, 10^th, 15^th and 18^th in halves of 33 (five under par) and 30 (seven under par).

"I learned from the mistakes I made in my first-round 70. That's basically why I was able to improve by seven shots," said Melissa.

"My dad and I worked out a game plan on Friday night for the second round and, even though there was a much stronger wind, it worked like a dream.

"Yes, I believe I am a better all-round player than when I won the 'Helen Holm' last year but I think the biggest improvement I have made is in my mental approach. I'm going out there and thinking positive, not defensively."

Melissa's 63, which included only 28 putts, slashed two shots off the new record set only 24 hours earlier by England team-mate Rachel Bell from Ganton, Yorkshire.

Her figures were:

OUT – 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4  - 33.

   IN – 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 4 4 - 30

With a 36-hole tally of a staggering 17-under-par 133 after two rounds over Troon Portland, Miss Reid carries a six-shot lead over Rachel and the rest into the final round over Royal Troon's championship links which are likely to be a different kettle of finish, even although Melissa is playing "out of her skin" at the moment.

Rachel Bell "sagged" by nine shots to a second-round 74 – still one under par.

"I had a couple of three putts and didn't get the breaks I did in the 65 but six shots to make up is not impossible. I was eight shots behind last year after two rounds  and then had a 71 over Royal Troon and finished third behind Melissa, so I'm looking forward to the last round," said Rachel.

The next best Scots after third-placed Heather MacRae are Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) on 143 (70-73), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) on 146 (74-72) and, also on that mark are 14-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie), home from America with scores of 74 and 72, and 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) with 74 and 72.

Carly was set to break 70 until she ran up a bogey and then a double bogey over the closing holes.

Players with two-round totals of 155 or better qualified for the final round.

 

QUALIFIERS

 Par 150 (2 x 75). CSS 74 74

 133 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63.

139 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74.

140 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70.

142 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73.

143 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73, C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66, C Afonso (France) 73 70.

144 A Decharne (France) 71 73.

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74, L Stempfle (Germany) 73 72, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75, B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70, K Smith (Waterlooville) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72, B Genuini (France) 73 73, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70 76, C Booth (Comrie) 74 72, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72, M Bernard (France) 74 74, E Alonso (France) 72 76, A Vilatte (France) 69 79, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76.

149 N Muehl (Austria) 76 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 73 76, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76, A Riguelle (France) 75 75, L Gendronneau (France) 75 75.

151 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75, L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73, J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76, C Fallay (France) 78 74.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75, S Harju (Finland) 78 77, R Crepiat (France) 79 76.

DID NOT QUALIFY

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F  Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

 

Donna MacLeod (Inverness) beat Jenny Milne (Elgin) in a card countback (better inward half) to earn the No 1 seed position at the end of the qualifying round today (Sat) for the match-play stages of the Northern Counties women's golf championship at windswept Royal Dornoch.

They both returned 84s – eight over par on a day when the CSS was literally blown up to 79.

The championship continues Sunday and Monday with the match-play stages.

QUALIFIERS

84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).

85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).

87 G Dowling (Inverness).

89 W Ross (Elgin).

91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).

93 D McKinnon (Durness).

94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).

AUTOMATIC DRAW

8.30 MacLeod v MacKenzie, Weeks v MacVicar, Dowling v Dunnett, McKinnon v Manson.

9.02 Smith v Howieson, Vass v Ross, MacDonald v Hume, Morrison v Milne.

 

 

MELISSA SPREADEAGLES FIELD WITH A 63

HELEN HOLM REPORT AT 5PM 

Defending champion Melissa Reid from Derby played the round of her 19-year-old life to score a 12-under-par 63 and go six strokes clear of the field with one round to go in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon today (Saturday).

Melissa, from Chevin Golf Club and a Curtis Cup player last year, had a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 156yd 16^th plus two eagle 3s, at the sixth and 12^th, and seven birdies, at the second, third, fourth, ninth, 10^th, 15^th and 18^th in halves of 33 (five under par) and 30 (seven under par).

"I learned from the mistakes I made in my first-round 70. That's basically why I was able to improve by seven shots," said Melissa.

"My dad and I worked out a game plan on Friday night for the second round and, even though there was a much stronger wind, it worked like a dream.

"Yes, I believe I am a better all-round player than when I won the 'Helen Holm' last year but I think the biggest improvement I have made is in my mental approach. I'm going out there and thinking positive, not defensively."

Melissa's 63, which included only 28 putts, slashed two shots off the new record set only 24 hours earlier by England team-mate Rachel Bell from Ganton, Yorkshire.

Her figures were:

OUT – 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4  - 33.

   IN – 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 4 4 - 30

With a 36-hole tally of a staggering 17-under-par 133 after two rounds over Troon Portland, Miss Reid carries a six-shot lead over Rachel and the rest into the final round over Royal Troon's championship links which are likely to be a different kettle of finish, even although Melissa is playing "out of her skin" at the moment.

Rachel Bell "sagged" by nine shots to a second-round 74 – still one under par.

"I had a couple of three putts and didn't get the breaks I did in the 65 but six shots to make up is not impossible. I was eight shots behind last year after two rounds  and then had a 71 over Royal Troon and finished third behind Melissa, so I'm looking forward to the last round," said Rachel.

Scotland has provided the winner only twice in the last 15 years. Leading home hope is Jenna Wilson from Strathaven. She has had rounds of 70 and 73 for 143.

 

LATER SCORES FROM HELEN HOLM

 

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Troon Portland.

SECOND-R0UND TOTALS (at 5pm)

Par 150 (2 x 75)

 

133 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63.

139 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74.

143 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73, C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66, C Afonso (France) 73 70.

144 A Decharne (France) 71 73.

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74, L Stempfle (Germany) 73 72, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75, B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70, K Smith (Waterlooville) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72, B Genuini (France) 73 73, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70 76, C Booth (Comrie) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72, M Bernard (France) 74 74, E Alonso (France) 72 76, A Vilatte (France) 69 79, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76.

149 N Muehl (Austria) 76 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 73 76, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76, A Riguelle (France) 75 75.

151 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73, J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76, C Fallay (France) 78 74.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75, S Harju (Finland) 78 77.

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F  Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

HELEN HOLM SATURDAY SCOREBOARD FROM TROON

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Troon Portland.

SECOND-R0UND TOTALS at 2.30pm

Par 150 (2 x 75)

 

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72.

149 N Muehl (Aut) 76 73.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76.

151 S Mantyniemi (Fin) 77 74.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75.

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Fin) 78 79.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Ger) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

VIKKI OPENS WITH A 74 IN FUTURES CLASSIC EVENT

Vikki Laing from Musselburgh returned a first-round score of two-over-par 74 (35-39) to be lying joint 47th in a field of 143 for the Jalapeno Futures Classic on the United States Futures Tour over the Palm View course at McAllen in southern Texas.Brenda McLarnon from Belfast had an 83 (41-42) to be 137th.Danah Ford from Indianapolis led the field in the 54-hole event by two strokes with a 68 (35-33) over the par-72, 6,379yd course.

JAMIESON DROPS DOWN HOOTERS TOUR
LEADERBOARD WITH 74 - BUT MAKES CUT

Rookie Scott Jamieson dropped down the leaderboard with second-round 74 - seven shots more than he required for the first round - in the NGA Hooters Tour event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club.
The Glasgow man's 141 tally led him in joint 28th place but safely inside the cut mark of 144.
David Kirkpatrick from Edinburgh originally will also be playing the last two rounds after scoring 70 and 74 for joint 54th place on 144.
A third Scot, Colin Spiers, was not so lucky. He shot 77 and 70 for 147 and 85th place.
LEADING SCORES
137 K Blanks 71 66, T Biershenk 67 70, R Scott 67 70, M Connell 70 67, M Henderson 69 68, E Jorgensen 68 69.
Other scores:
138 G Maybin (NIre) 72 66 (jt 7th).
141 S Jamieson (Sco) 67 74 (jt 28th).
144 D Kirkpatrick (Sco) 70 74 (jt 54th).
Non-qualifiers included:
147 C Speirs (Sco) 77 70 (jt 85th).

LUKE DONALD LEADS BYRON NELSON CLASSIC
BUT MICHAEL SIM SLUMPS OVER CUT MARK

Aberdonian Michael Sim dropped from joint ninth overnight over the cut-off mark at the halfway stage of the Byron Nelson Classic at Irving, Texas.
Michael, brought up in Australia from the age of seven, followed up a 68 in the first round with a bogey-ridden 74 today for a 36-hole tally of 142 - one shot too many to make the cut for the final 36 holes.
Sim, watched by his parents from Perth, Western Australia - on their way to a holiday in Aberdeen, had bogeys at the second, third, fourth, 11th, 12th and 17th, which was most uncharacteristic. He had birdies at the eighth and 14th.
The good news is that Englishman Luke Donald leads the field with 67 and 66 for 133 - one shot ahead of Brett Wetterich, Fredrik Jacobsen and Sean O'Hair.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
133 Luke Donald (Eng) 67 66.
134 Brett Wetterich (US) 66 68, Fredrik Jacobsen (Swe) 67 67, Sean O'Hair (US) 65 69.
Other qualifier:
139 Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 69.
Non-qualifiers included:
142 Michael Sim (Sco) 68 74, Greg Owen (Eng) 73 69.
145 Brian Davis (Eng) 73 72.

HEATHER ANDERSON LEADING QUALIFIER IN
ANGUS WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Downfield’s Heather Anderson was the surprise leading qualifier for the match-play stages of the Angus women’s county championship at Panmure Barry this evening.
She had a round of 77, four over par but only two over the CSS to claim the top seed spot ahead of Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) with a 78.
Two other players, Angus girls champion Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) and defending champion Jane Tough (Brechin), also returned 78s but were placed third and fourth in the draw on a scorecard countback.
One of the features of the qualifying was the closeness of the scoring, only nine shots covering all 16 players, which promises some close ties when the match-plY starts at the same venue on Sunday.
QUALIFIERS
Par 73. CSS 75
77 H Anderson (Downfield).
78 F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), R Wilson (Monifieth), J Tough (Brechin).
79 F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies).
80 A Hunter (Monifieth), J Brown (Monifieth), S McGregor (Edzell).
81 S Murray (Edzell), J Taylor (Edzell), K Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
83 L Fotheringham (Grange), M Summers (Panmure Barry).
84 L Fenton (Grange).
85 A Hay (Letham Grange).
86 S Bushby (Letham Grange).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
10.0 Anderson v Bushby. Murray v McGregor, Millar v Fotheringham, Summers v Tough.
10.32 Wilson v Fenton, Sutherland v Hunter, Brown v Taylor, Hay v Gilbert.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
11.10 A Summers (Panmure Barry) v C Healey (Carnoustie Caledonian), A Chree (LPM) v S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry), S Baxby (Panmure Barry) v A Hemings (Ballumbie Castle), F Blair (Monifieth) v J Wilson (Downfield).
11.40 J Henderson (Royal Montrose) v N Turner (Grange), M Faulkner (Royal Montrose) v M Duthie (Panmure Barry), J Ganson (Arbroath) v S Todd (Panmure Barry), A Smith (Monifieth) v A Hutcheson (Panmure Barry).

Golfers win awards at Aberdeen Sports Council dinner

Proud dad Paul and son James Byrne from Banchory at tonight's Aberdeen Sports Council Awards Dinner at the Beach Ballroom. Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) was named the city's sportsperson of the year for his capture of the United States amateur championship among other very good performances. Richie was unable to collect the trophy in person. His father Iain deputised.

RACHEL BELL BURNS UP TROON
PORTLAND WITH 65 IN
HELEN HOLM FIRST ROUND

Yorkshire’s Rachel Bell led the sub-par surge in the first round of the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship with a magnificent round of 10-under-par 65 over the Troon Portland course today.
It is almost certainly a record although the organising Scottish Ladies Golfing Association officials could not confirm this in the past. England’s Joanne Hockley and Fiona Brown had 67s over the same course on their way to victories in 1996 and 2001 respectively.
Miss Bell, pictured right, a Ganton Golf Club member who spent four years on the American college golf circuit as a student at Southern California University, had one eagle and nine birdies in her halves of 30 and 35.
Astonishing for such a low round, Rachel had one bogey – at the 17th.
Her figures were:
OUT: 5 4 4 2 3 3 3 2 4 – 30.
IN: 3 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 – 35.
The eagle was a 3 at the sixth and the birdies came at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 12th, 15th and 18th.
She covered the six holes from the fourth to the ninth inclusive in seven under par with a run of five birdies and an eagle.
The par-5s at Troon Portland are two-shotters to the quality of player in this field, the strongest ever assembled for the championship. Even so, the scoring on the first of a three-day schedule for the first time, was very good. So much so that the CSS was 74 – one below par, which is unusual.
Rachel Bell has gone four strokes clear of Alexandra Vilatte from France and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth. There are two rounds to go, another over Troon Portland on Saturday with the leading 66 players and ties at the end of 36 holes going forward to the testing championship links of Royal Troon on Sunday.
Leading the Scottish challenge on five-under-par 70 were Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Heather MacRae (Dunblane New). They are in joint fourth position with a score that in most years would have gone close to leading the first-round field.

SPANISH OPEN CHAOS AS 39 GROUPS STILL
TO FINISH SECOND ROUND ON SATURDAY

It will be after lunchtime on Saturday before the qualifying cut mark at the halfway stage of the European Tour's Spanish Open is known at the new Centrol Nacional in Madrid.
The long suspension of play due to heavy rain on Thursday has caused a long backlog of matches. A total of 39 groups have still to finish their second rounds on Saturday morning.
COMPLETED SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72).
Players from GB&I unless stated.
(x) denotes amateurs
136 Stuart Little 67 69.
137 Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 69 68, Nick Dougherty 66 71, Mark Foster 68 69.
138 Andrew Raitt 68 70, Simon Dyson 69 69.
140 Terry Price (Aus) 70 70, Graeme McDowell 71 69, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 72.
141 Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 71, Bradley Dredge 69 72, Andres Romero (Arg) 70 71, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 70.
142 Andrew Coltart 70 72, Alastair Forsyth 68 74, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 69 73
143 Gary Orr 71 72.
144 David Carter 71 73, Richard McEvoy 75 69, Marcus Higley 74 70 , Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 70 74.
145 Juan Parron (Spa) 75 70, Darren Fichardt (SAf) 71 74, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 71 74.
146 Simon Khan 72 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 75 71.
147 Sam Walker 73 74, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 74 73.
148 Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 74 74, Kyron Sullivan 78 70.
149 Maarten Lafeber (Net) 72 77, Richard Finch 71 78, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 78.
150 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 75 75, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 71 73
151 Edward Rush 74 77.
152 Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 75 77.
155 Andrew Butterfield 77 78.
Retired: John Bickerton, James Hepworth.
Withdrew: Lee James.

ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES IN "HELEN HOLM"


HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland (Par 75, CSS 74).

FIRST ROUND
65 R Bell (Ganton).
69 A Vilatte(Fra), C Lennarth (Swe).
70 D Montgomery (The Lambourne), M Reid (Chevin), J Wilson (Strathaven), H MacRae (Dunblane New), L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor).
71 L Herman (Bel), A Decharne (Fra), H Barwood (Knowle)..
72 S Evans (Vale of Llangollen), C Lee (West Lancs), R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan), E Alonso (Fra), B Loucks (Wrexham), D Smith (Co Louth), K Smith (Waterlooville), R Connor (Manchester).
73 J Carthew (Ladybank), B Genuini (Fra), L Hendry (Routenburn), C Alonso (Fra), L Hall (Royal Porthcawl), L-A Stemple (Ger)..
74 F Hernandez (Fra), M Bernard (Fra), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), E Tipping (Sandiway), N Craven (Brough), T Davies (Holyhead), P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), R Svahn (Fin), C Booth (Comrie), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), B Mullins-Lane (Finchley).
75 A Riguelle (Fra), S Gendroneau (Fra), L Gustafsson (Swe), E Moffat (St Regulus), E Duggleby (Malton & Norton), S Atwood (Gog Magog).
76 C Hargan (Mortonhall), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), S Stubbs (Shifnal), N Muehl (Aut), S Faller (Galway), K Caithness (St Regulus), M Ricordeau (Fra), N Edwards (Ganton), J Hedwall (Swe)
77 L Ball (Matfen Hall), L Collin (John O’Gaunt), M Briggs (Kilmacolm), T Boyes (Meon Valley), C Hedwall (Swe), E Westrup (Swe), S Mantyniemi (Fin).
78 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), T McDonnell (Ennis), L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle), B Harries (Haverfordwest), C Fallay (Fra), A Korkeila (Fin), S Harju (Fin).
79 R Crepiat (Fra), A Laing (Vale of Leven), J Hodge (Knowle), A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir), C-M Carlton (Fereneze), S Garbutt (Ganton), F Lockhart (St Regulus).
80 H Schilling (Ger), C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies), C Douglass (Brocket Hall), H Aitchison (Bedfordshire), M Pow (Selkirk), L Murray (Alford), J Turner (Mortonhall).
82 D Dewar (Monifieth), L J Roberts (Holyhead).
83 M Bazin de Jessey (Fra).
84 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton).

THAI TWOSOME TIE FOR LEAD
AT HALFWAY STAGE
OF BEIJING OPEN

The Thai duo of Panuwat Muenlek and Chapchai Nirat edged ahead of the chasing pack in the second round at the Pine Valley Beijing Open as they grabbed a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage.
With birdies in the last two holes, rookie Panuwat leaped to the top of the leaderboard with a two-under-par 70 while compatriot Chapchai battled through a stomach flu as he carded a bogey free 67 for a two-day total of eight-under-par 136.
John Daly remained in contention when he shot a 71 in tied fifth place two strokes off the pace.
Overnight leader from India Gaurav Ghei was even-par for the day and slipped to tied third position together with Australia’s Scott Strange who fired a 68 at the Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club.
Daly, with two Major titles under his belt, was disappointed with his performance in the second round as he shot six birdies against five bogeys.
“I am disappointed as I shot too many bogeys but I hope for a better round tomorrow,” said Daly.
“The course was alright but the wind picked up slightly today, but overall it just wasn’t what I expected,” he added.

LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 69-67, Panuwat Muenlek (Tha) 66-70.
137 Scott Strange (Aus) 69-68, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 65-72
138 Gerald Rosales (Phi) 71-67, John Daly (US) 67-71, Adam Blyth (Aus) 70-68, Brad Iles (NZ) 69-69
139 Liang Wen-chong (Chi) 70-69, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 68-71, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 69-70, Taichiro Kiyota (Jap) 70-69
140 Brad Kennedy (Aus) 69-71, Han Lee (US) 75-65, Jerome Delariarte (Phi) 71-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72-68, Kane Webber (Aus) 71-69
141 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71-70, Anthony Kang (US) 69-72, Unho Park (Aus) 70-71; Craig Smith (Wal) 69-72, Marcus Both (Aus) 71-70, Stephen Scahill (NZ) 70-71, Mark Bro (NZ) 71-70, Roy Moon (US) 73-68, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 68-73, Rick Gibson (Can) 71-70, David Gleeson (Aus) 71-70, Neven Basic (Aus) 69-72.
Other qualifiers included:
143 Ross Bain (Sco) 74 68.
Non-qualifiers included:
150 Simon Dunn (Sco) 74 76.

GOLF DE FONTCAUDE:

A FRENCH TREASURE

BURIED IN HEART
OF MONTPELLIER

By FRASER THOMSON

The French, for all their apparent reluctance to embrace golf, have been keeping a closely-guarded secret. It is not why, when he had one hand on the coveted Claret Jug, did Jean Van de Velde infamously fail to win the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.
No, that conundrum – to the Frenchman’s continuing chagrin – remains unanswered. This secret is less of a mystery but as equally beguiling nevertheless.
It is Golf de Fontcaude. Until now, a relatively little-known golf course buried in the heart of Montpellier in, what the locals call, the “real” south of France. And, by air, it is less than three hours away from Scotland.
In the coming months, Golf de Fontcaude - or The Montpellier Golf Resort as it is likely to be rebranded – will become synonymous with the very best of French sport, particularly rugby and golf.
Great sporting names have passed through the foyer of Golf de Fontcaude including Lance Armstrong (an adopted son of France thanks to his seven Tour de France victories), Yannick Noah, the French Open tennis champion, England cricketer Graham Gooch and the England football team during the World Cup in 1998.
Lying in gently rolling hills barely a shanked drive away from La Mosson Stadium, which is one of the host venues for this year’s Rugby World Cup, this gem of a golf course looks certain to become one of the golfing finds on the Continent.
Golf de Fontcaude, in fact, has two golf courses. It is difficult to say which is the more challenging. The 18-hole championship course has been a venue for past French Open qualifiers and provides a stern test of any golfer’s ability while the nine-hole short course is described with some understatement as a bit of fun for beginners.
UNDULATING GREENS
Not so. It is, indeed, fun but only because it will offer stern resistance to even low handicappers who are prepared to take on its undulating greens with treacherous run-offs. The danger, forgive the pun, is never far away.
What the 18-hole championship course measuring 6,292 metres (6,881 yards) lacks in length – by modern championship standards – it more than makes up for in degree of difficulty.
English golf course designer Chris Pittman, now based in New Zealand, sympathetically utilised the natural terrain of the Montpellier region when constructing this track which wraps around the impressive hotel and clubhouse, both of which are undergoing a 6 million euro refurbishment in time for the Rugby World Cup in September.
Wending its way through ravines and gullies the fairways are tight enough to force the thinking golfer to ponder carefully every shot and those who prefer to “grip it and rip it” face severe punishment for those errant drives. Accomplished players may not pull the driver out of their bags too often but great care is needed even with long irons.
With the local fauna offering further hazards – during the summer months the pretty La Garrigue shrubs give off a heavenly scent which may or may not be a welcome distraction from your game – there is little in the way of bail out areas for those brave enough to attack the course.
That said, high handicappers can play with the assurance that they are unlikely to lose many balls unless their game goes completely awry.
Many golfers say the game does not start until you reach the green and, at Fontcaude, this is certainly true. The greens, praised as among the finest in France, were lightning quick even when cut for winter making holding approach shots arduous and the infinite dips, slopes and furrows make for interesting reading when eventually choosing your line.
SCARY MOMENTS
Few players will escape without at least a few scary moments and a clean card at the end of a round will be something to cherish.
Being a short hop from many English airports, Golf de Fontcaude is sure to become a popular destination for those wanting a long weekend of golf or perhaps a full week, with the assurance of a daily round and perhaps a visit to other course in the area.
Ryanair flies from Nottingham East Midlands to Nimes (about an hour from Montpellier) for as little as £13.69 including taxes, although I think that cut-price rate – a penny each way! – was a lucky strike by yours truly.
In the middle of the 175 acre estate rests the hotel which will soon boast 80 luxury rooms and suites, many of which have splendid views over the golf course and on to the rugby stadium.
The destination restaurant La Garrigue will, by day, have a bistro atmosphere, slipping seemlessly into something a little more special after sundown but always specialising in the finest regional cuisine.
Downstairs the clubhouse, with one of the largest terraces, I have ever seen will be a welcome 19th hole for those wearily coming of the course and the luckier ones watching them.
Montpellier itself offers a welcome alternative to those non-golfers who might prefer the shops, restaurants and other delights expected of France’s eighth city.
Steeped in tradition and rich in religion, Montpellier is a bustling modern city that has not allowed the trappings of the 21st century to overshadow its historic past both as a significant medieval town and as the centre of medicine in France and even Europe.
CAMARGUE COUNTRY
Less than half an hour’s drive will pitch you deep into Camargue country where you will discover wild white horses, black bulls – those of the famed bull runs – flamingos and some of the best coastline and beaches in the region.
Medieval towns abound in the Languedoc-Rousillon region such as Carcassonne, Aigues-Mortes and Saint Guilheim le Desert while Nimes and Narbonne remind visitors of the Roman influence on the region… always with a French flair.
FACTBOX
Accommodation: During his visit, Fraser Thomson stayed at Golf de Fontcaude, Route de Lodeve, 34990, Juvignac, Montpellier. Tel: +33 (0) 4 67 45 90 00; Fax: +33 (0) 4 67 45 90 20. Website: http://www.golfhotelmontpellier.com/
All bookings can be made through http://www.golfinfrance.com/
Standard rates: €750pp per week b&b, including seven rounds of golf (two of which can be taken at other golf courses in the area excluding transfers). Week can be taken starting on any day, i.e. Tuesday to Tuesday.
OR
€120pp per day b&b plus one round of golf per day, i.e. Thursday, Friday & Saturday = €360. Children under 16, €20pp supplement. Price also includes extra rounds on nine hole academy course subject to availability.

Golf Hotel de Fontcaude can also offer teaching breaks with 2 hours of morning tuition by resident professionals for €50 pp per day, minimum of eight people.
Where required, Golf Hotel de Fontcaude can also organise tournaments for parties staying for one week, comprising two practice days, thre competition days of team, individual stableford and individual medal formats.

Transfers to and from airports, i.e. Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan and Carcassone, or car hire can be arranged through Golf in France.

Flights: The author flew Ryanair from Nottingham East Midlands to Nimes for £13.69 including taxes but prices usually start at approx. £50-60 return. Contact: http://www.ryanair.com/ for further details.

FIFE STUDENT PETER IS OLD

DOMINION CONFERENCE

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, has been named Rookie of the Year in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Latimer, pictured right, a winner on his first season on the American college golf circuit, was also named to the All-Old Dominion Athletic conference team, selected by the head golf coaches in the conference.


RHYS DAVIES RANKED NO 1 ON US COLLEGE CIRCUIT

Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies, in his final year at East Tennessee State University, tops GolfWeek’s US college golf rankings this week for the second time in two months.
Walker Cup player Davies, brought up at Bridgend, South Wales, has won 10 times in his four years on the American college circuit.
The next best placed British & Irish players in the latest rankings are Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Cork in 24th place; Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford in 45th place and Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) from Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 46th spot.


GLASGOW STUDENT JOINT FIFTH IN LOUISIANA

Stephen Clark from Glasgow, a junior student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, finished joint fifth in the Mid-Continent Championship college golf tournament at Golf Club at Stonebridge, Shreveport in Louisiana.
The high finish earned Clark a place in the All-Mid-Continent “team” of six, a team that never plays any matches but is chosen by the golf coaches in the conference and reflects a player’s high standing.
Clark had rounds of 74, 73 and 69 for a level par total of 216 over the par-72, 6,954yd course.
Team-mate Alex Hogben, a 6ft 3in freshman student from Manchester, finished joint 17th in a field of 35 players with scores of 76, 71 and 76 for 223.
Tim Streng (Western Illinois) won the individual honours by three strokes with rounds of 71, 69 and 68 for eight-undere-par 208.
Western Illinois (863) won the team event by one shot from Oral Roberts with Southern Utah (871) third and UMKC (875) fourth of seven contesting colleges

MICHAEL SIM JOINT NINTH AT END OF
FIRST DAY IN BYRON NELSON CLASSIC

Aberdeen-born Michael Sim was lying joint ninth at the end of the first round of the Byron Nelson Classic, this week's US PGA Tour event at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas.
Michael, who secured a top-20 finish in his debut on the American circuit last week after months of rehab from a stress fracture in his lower back, bogeyed the first hole but moved into the red numbers with birdies at the first, fifth, seventh and 14th.
Luke Donald is the leading British player in joint fourth place on 67.
American Sean O'Hair is setting the pace with a 65.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
65 Sean O'Hair.
66 Brett Wetterich, Anders Hansen (Den).
Other scores:
67 Luke Donald (Eng) (jt 4th).
68 Michael Sim (Sco) (jt 9th).
70 Ian Poulter (Eng) (jt 38th).
73 Brian Davis (Eng), G OwEn (Eng) (jt 102nd).

US UNIVERSITY COACHES BANNED FROM
USING TEXT MESSAGE TO RECRUIT

Recruitment of new players for their college programmes plays a major part of a golf coach's life in the United States. Their hands are tied in more ways than you might think. There is a strict list of what they can do and what they cannot do to get the best players to sign Letters of Intent to join this or that university.
The NCAA board of directors have added one more restriction, which reflects the way communication between individuals has changed in recent times.
The ruling body of American college sport has imposed a ban this week on ALL text messages from coaches to potential recruits. It will come into effect in August.
E-mails and faxes and letters - remember them? - would still be permissible and subject to current NCAA guidelines, which include some time periods that prohibit coaches from contacting recruits in any form.
"The board was swayed very much by what the student-athletes themselves had to say,'' said an NCAA official. "We heard anecdotal stories of someone waking up and having 52 text messages.''
It is recognised that enforcing the new measure could prove difficult.
"You're not allowed to buy a kid a hamburger when he goes on the road, but that's tough to enforce, too. There are many rules that, on the face of them, are unenforceable,'' said the official.

Rain hits Spanish Open at new Madrid course

PAUL LAWRIE LETS IT SLIP WITH THREE
BOGEYS ON HIS SECOND NINE

A suspension of play from late morning until half-past four because of torrential rain played havoc with the first round of the Spanish Open at the brand new Centro Nacional de Golf course - the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation - in Madrid today.
A lot of players still have to complete their rounds.
The leader in the clubhouse is American Notah Begay III with a four-under-par 68 but France's Gregory Bourdy will resume at the 14th on Friday, standing at four under par, as will Sweden's Steven Jeppesen.
Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher is three under par after 16 holes. On the same mark after 15 holes is Austria's Terry Pilkadaris.
Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie, starting at the 10th, birdied the long 10th and 16th but dropped a shot at the short 14th to be one-under par 35 for his first nine holes. It all went pear-shaped after that for the 1999 Open champion. Paul bogeyed the fourth, eighth and ninth for 39 and a disappointing round of two-over-par 74.
CLUBHOUSE LEADERS
Par 72
68 N Begay III (US).
70 M A Jimenez (Spa), C Rodiles (Spa), P McGinley (Ire).
71 D Higgins (Ire), J Edfors (Swe), H Nystrom (Swe), T Whitehouse (Eng).
72 T Teshima (Jap), S Lyle (Sco), E Canonica (Ita), D Lynn (Eng), D McGrane (Ifre), S Webster (Eng), J M Carriles (Spa).
Other scores:
74 P Lawrie (Sco).
76 W Bennett (Eng).

GREAT SCOTT! JAMIESON JAMS IN
SEVEN BIRDIES FOR A 67 IN
HOOTERS' TOUR EVENT

Rookie tour pro Scott Jamieson from Glasgow was in joint second place at the end of the opening round of the NGA Hooters' Tour event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club, South Carolina tonight.
Jamieson, well used to American golf courses and playing conditions are four years at Augusta State University, was one off the pace with a five-under-par 67, set by Craig Hicks from Florida, in the early completed rounds. Four players in all were on 67.
Scott, last year's Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit winner and a +4 handicap player when he turned pro in November, had birdies at the first, third, fifth, minth, 13th, 14th and 17th with bogeys at only the seventh and 10th in halves of 33 and 34.
David Kirkpatrick, who played for Scotland in the early 1990s but a resident of Lakeland, Florida for a number of years, was lying joint 19th with a two-under-par 70.
Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland matched the par of 72 to be sharing 40th place in a field of 168.
Colin Spiers from Dunkeld had a 77 to be well down the field. He needs something special second time round to make the top 60 players and ties who will progress to the final two rounds at the weekend.

IN-FORM MELISSA FAVOURITE
TO REPEAT HELEN HOLM WIN
OVER THREE DAYS AT TROON

Only two Scots – Lesley Nicholson (1999) and Heather Stirling (2002) – have won the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship in the last 14 years and it’s long odds against that record being improved at Troon this weekend.
For the first time since Belle Robertson won the inaugural 54-hole tournament in 1973, the “Helen Holm” is being played over three days instead of two at Troon Portland and Royal Troon.
The field of 90 consists some of the best female amateurs in Great Britain & Ireland plus France, Sweden, Germany, Finlay and Austria. For some reason, the Spanish Federation continues to ignore the event even though it is now one of the tournaments that counts towards the European amateur rankings.
There are 45 players with handicaps of scratch or better, including the 19-year-old England international and Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid from Derby. Melissa won the title with a 13 under par total last year and a recent victory in the Whittington Heath Ladies’ Trophy 36-hole open event, in which she lowered the course record, indicates that she will be very hard to beat even though this is the best field ever assembled at Troon.
Scotland’s hopes of a home win may rest on the shoulders of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Martine Pow (Selkirk), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) or Carly Booth (Comrie).
There will be much interest in the performance of 14-year-old Carly, a Junior Ryder Cup player, who has flown back from the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida where she has been a student since last autumn.
Has she become an even better player by becoming immersed in golf morning, noon and night over the past nine months? This weekend should provide a pointer
After the first and second rounds on Friday and Saturday over Troon Portland – whose par-5 holes are two-shotters for this class of player – the leading 66 and ties will qualify for Sunday’s final 18 holes over Royal Troon which is more of a test, particularly if the wind blows.

RAIN IN SPAIN HALTS PLAY FOR MORE
THAN FIVE HOURS: PAUL LAWRIE
TWO UNDER PAR AFTER EIGHT HOLES

Heavy rain cause a lengthy suspension of play on the opening day of the Spanish Open in Madrid today.
Play was halted at 11.35am and did not restart until 4.40pm.
There were no completed scores to hand at 5.30pm.
LEADERS ON THE COURSE
-3 after 8 Ignacio Garrico.
-3 after 6 Mikko Ilonen.
-2 after 11 Henrik Nystrom.
-2 after 9 Tom Whitehouse.
-2 after 8 Paul Lawrie.
-2 after 8 Paul McGinley.
-2 after 7 Stephen Gallacher.
-2 after 5 Gareth Davies.
-2 after 5 Terry Pilkadaris.

MEGAN BEATS DONNA AND
CLARE-MARIE TO RETAIN
RENFREWSHIRE TITLE

Megan Briggs has retained the Renfrewshire women’s golf championship she won for the first time at the age of 16 last year.
At Erskine Golf Club, the Kilmacolm teenager, who qualified in fourth position, beat 10 times record county champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the leading qualifier, for the second year in a row, this time by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-final instead of in the final.
In the final Megan beat 20-year-old Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), who won the title in 2003, by one hole in a very tight match. They were all square after 16 holes. Then Megan won the 17th and halved the last to be champion again. Megan, with the trophy, and Clare-Marie are pictured above (image by Carol Fell of Renfrewshire CLGA).
Clare-Marie, the No2 qualifier, had beaten the No 3 seed, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1 in her semi-final.

Results:
Semi-finals – M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 3 and 1.
Final – Briggs bt Carlton 1 hole.

IRELAND'S ECONOMY RECEIVED
143 MILLION EURO BOOST FROM
2006 RYDER CUP HOSTING

The amount of money injected into the Irish economy by the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland reached a record €143 million, according to a new report by Deloitte & Touche, jointly commissioned by Ryder Cup Europe and Fáilte Ireland (The Irish Tourism Development Authority).
The Total Direct Economic Impact figure of €143 million exceeded pre-event predictions of €130 million and represented a significant 32% increase on the impact of the 2002 Ryder Cup in England and an 80% increase on that of the 1997 Ryder Cup in Spain.
The bulk of the impact came from event organisers and from spectators who each spent an average of €350 per day while at the 2006 Ryder Cup overseas spectators spent the most, at €526 per day.
In the corporate sector the average guest spent €500 each day, while those from the United States spent an average of €600 per day.
Deloittes point out in the report that total spectator spending was up 60% compared to The Belfry in 2002, mostly due to the increased week-long attendance of 260,000 in 2006 compared to 147,000 in 2002.
Ireland also benefited from a more than 50% increase in spending by spectators outside the event compared to 2002, with overseas spectators staying longer and spending more than ever before on extended holidays around The Ryder Cup.

MEGAN BEATS DONNA AGAIN TO REACH
FINAL OF RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Renfrewshire women's county title-holder Megan Briggs, 17, from Kilmacolm beat 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) for the second year in a row.
Last year, it was in the final. Today, at Erskine Golf Club, it was in the first semi-finao with Megan winning by 4 and 3.
Winner of the other semi-final was another former champion, Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze). She beat Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1.
So the final will be between the No 3 qualifier (Gillian) and the No 4 qualifier, Megan.

NOW BIRMINGHAM NEC TO STAGE
GOLF SHOW IN NOVEMBER

The Golf Show Co Ltd, owner of the London Golf Show, will launch The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, from November 16 to 18.
The announcement was made today to the assembled golfing media at the opening day of the company’s successful flagship event, the London Golf Show, at ExCeL.
Colin Brunton, chairman of The Golf Show Co Ltd, explained: “We had been in discussion with officials at The NEC for some time now and they are really keen for the show to be held at the venue to enable the thousands of golfers based in the centre of the country to enjoy what Londoners have benefited from in the last three years.
“The Golf Show Co has been able to establish a successful template for golf shows, and we decided to establish The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham 2007, using our experience to expand our regional business. We believe there may be other opportunities both internationally and in other regions of the UK.
“While golf is an open-air sport, exhibitions such as this are hostage to Mother Nature so as much as possible needs to be held under cover. And the technological advances in golf coaching – with the advent of computer analysis and ball-flight monitors – necessitate a consistent power supply and an environment which can be provided only by a modern, state-of-the-art exhibition venue such as the NEC.”
The majority of features which have enabled the London Golf Show to cement its place as Europe’s largest consumer golf show will be included in the new event – and The Golf Show Co has promised a new iconic feature to rival that of London’s floating green.
■ For more information on the The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, or to book space contact The Golf Show Co Ltd on (0044) 1732 836100.

DEATH OF KATHLEEN COPLEY, FORMER SLGA
CHAIRMAN AND CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST

Mrs Kathleen Copley, one of the leading players and administrators in Scottish women’s amateur golf from the 1960s to the early 1990s, died earlier this week at Borders General Hospital. She was 63.
As Kathleen Lackie, playing out of Montrose Royal Albert Golf Club, she was a gifted young player who soon made her mark in the Montrose and Angus area and became a county team player.
In 1974, Kathleen reached the final of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Nairn and had an epic duel with Dr Aileen Wilson (Haggs Castle) before losing at the 22nd hole.
She was capped for Scotland in 1974 and 1975 before marrying Malcolm Copley.
Kathleen served on the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association executive in the late 1980s and became chairman in 1990.
She was a member of Gullane Ladies and Broomieknowe Golf Clubs.
Golf was not her only forte. She was an extremely good Bridge player, so good in fact that she was a Grand Master.
Mr and Mrs Copley latterly bought a house with a big garden in the Kelso area. They both loved gardening.
The funeral service will be held at Warriston Crematorium Lorimer Chapel, Edinburgh at 11am on Monday, April 30. All friends are invited.
A private interment will be held at Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose.

JOHN DALY TWO SHOTS OFF THE
PACE IN PINE VALLEY
BEIJING OPEN

Indian stalwart Gaurav Ghei grabbed the opening round lead after a solid seven-under-par 65 with American talent John Daly lurking two strokes back at the Pine Valley Beijing Open on Thursday.
Ghei, a two-time winner in Asia, took advantage of the calm conditions in the early morning and enjoyed a steady round that included an eagle at the Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club.
A stroke adrift in second place was Thai rookie Panuwat Muenlek who was equally impressive while Daly was in lone third place after a 67 in the US$500,000 event. Australia’s Adam Le Vesconte was back in the swing of things firing a 68 in tied fourth spot alongside South African Hendrik Buhrmann and England’s Ben St. John.
Wu Kang-chun was the highest ranked local player in joint seventh position when he carded a 69 together with Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who celebrated his 200th appearance on the Asian Tour this week. Also in tied seventh place was Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, currently ranked 10th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, Americans Edward Michaels and Anthony Kang, Australian trio of Brad Kennedy, Scott Strange and Neven Basic, Brad Iles of New Zealand and Welshman Craig Smith.
Ghei, who had ended an 11-year wait with a triumph at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last year, was on the go at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course when he fired an eagle at the par five second hole and coupled with seven birdies against two bogeys, the Indian talent continues to enjoy the ride this season.
FIVE BIRDIES AFTER TURN
“It is good to always think back on your win and if I can keep this up, it would be nice to be among the leaders in the final round. But this is still the early stages and anything can happen,” said Ghei, who blazed past the back nine with five birdies.
The 38-year-old Indian continued his momentum with an eagle on the second hole and a birdie on the fourth before two dropped shots on the fifth and seventh holes. He rolled into the lead with a final birdie on the eighth hole.
“I’ve been playing consistently the last few tournaments. The course is in great shape and it just depends. If the wind blows, anything is possible. I’m playing well and hope to be in contention this week.
“It definitely is a course which suits the long hitters because the fairways are generous and we have guys like John Daly who is a Major winner in the field, is it going to be a tough week to beat these guys. I’m playing well and hopefully I can continue this momentum over the next three days,” admitted Ghei.
Panuwat enjoyed a dream start with two eagles, a birdie and a bogey in the first four holes. With four more birdies against two bogeys to close his round, the Thai youngster hopes to maintain his steady performance this week.
“I was surprised with the way I started with the two eagles. I will try to deliver a similar result and make the cut first, that’s my priority of course. Although I am currently in a good position, I won’t have any expectations and put pressure on myself unnecessarily,” said Panuwat, who turned pro in 2005.
DALY'S SIX BIRDIES
Panuwat picked up the game at the age of eight and has won 10 amateur titles on the domestic circuit. The 21-year-old finished in the top-10 at the Motorola International Bintan last month and is playing in his third event this year.
Daly, who was well rested ahead of the challenges this week, delivered a determined run with six birdies against a lone dropped shot.
“I came here Saturday and have been working hard on my game. You have to be well rested to play golf these days,” said Daly, a five-time winner on the US PGA Tour.
“I got lucky. The wind wasn’t blowing this morning so anytime you can get out there without the wind blowing, it favours you. I hope to take this round and use the confidence heading into tomorrow.
“I hit the ball solid and it’s nice to do that and get confidence in your game. The only mess up was at hole number five. I just came out of a drive and had a tough second shot and three putted that par four fifth hole. But it’s nice to know I’m hitting the ball good and playing well overall,” added the Californian-born talent.
The only Scots in the field, Asia-based Simon Dunn and Ross Bain, both finished on two-over 74.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
65 Gaurav Ghei (Ind).
66 Panuwat Muenlek (Tha).
67 John Daly (US)
68 Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf), Adam Le Vesconte (Aus), Ben St John (Eng).
69 Edward Michaels (US), Lin Wen-Tang (Tpe), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Scott Strange (Aus), Wu Kang-chun (Chi), Brad Iles (NZ), Neven Basic (Aus), Anthony Kang (US), Brad Kennedy (Aus), Craig Smith (Wal).
70 - Ashley Hall (Aus), Liu Anda (Chi), Rowan Beste (Aus), Liang Wen-chong (Chi), Lu Wei-lan (Tpe), Tony Carolan (Aus), Adam Blyth (Aus), Vivek Bhandari (Ind), Taichiro Kiyota (Jap), Wang Lei (Chi), Angelo Que (Phi), Unho Park (Aus), Young Nam (Kor), Stephen Scahill (NZ), Ben Leong (Mas), Somkiat Srisanga (Tha).
Other scores:
74 Ross Bain (Sco), Simon Dunn (Sco).

ROSEANNE PRAISED BY

CALIFORNIA COACH

AFTER GRITTY FINISH

It can’t be easy going from Scotland in mid-winter to play on the American college circuit when you join it halfway through their season, so words of praise from the University of California Berkeley head golf coach Nancy McDaniel must have been music to the ears of Scottish Under-18 girls champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff.
Roseanne, pictured right, had rounds of 86, 81 and 76 for a total of 243 and a share of 36th position in a field of 50 players for the Women’s Pac-10 Championship at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle.
Miss Niven, only 18, had two triple bogeys and two double bogeys in her first round and on double bogey in her second.
That would be enough to put anyone down in the dumps but Roseanne kept her chin up and was able to birdie the short seventh and long 11th in a morale-boosting final round which included bogeys at the second, third, ninth, 11th, 16th and 18th.
Miss Niven’s last-round effort counted for the California team and enabled them to finish fifth among 10 top-notch teams from the conference.
"Roseanne played better for us today," said coach Nancy McDaniel. "We really needed a solid effort from her today, and she came through."
Now Roseanne and the California Bears are looking forward to the regional championships in mid-May.
The individual Pac-10 title went to Tiffany Joh (UCLA) who birdied the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to beat Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), the 2005 British girls’ open champion.
Belen Mozo, the Spanish girl who won both the British women’s and British girls’ titles in Northern Ireland last summer, is taking time to settle in her first year with Southern California University. She finished joint 30th on 241 – only two shots ahead of Roseanne.
Compatriot Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), winner of the British girls title at Lanark in 2004, finished joint 15th.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Tiffany Joh (UCLA) 74 70 74, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 68 72 78 (Joh bt Nordqvist at second hole of sudden-death play-off).
219 Mari Chun (Stanford) 71 73 75.
Other totals:
231 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 76 77 78 (jt15th).
241 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 78 84 79 (jt 30th).
243 Roseanne Niven (California) 86 81 76 (jt 36th).

LEADING TEAM FINAL TOTALS
897 Arizona State. 915 UCLA. 921 Southern California. 923 Arizona. 926 California. 10 Teams took part

NIGHTMARE OUTWARD HALF FOR FIONA
IN ENGLISH SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Blairgowrie-born Fiona Anderson had a nightmare outward half of 48 on her way to finishing joint 22nd in the qualifying rounds of the English senior women’s closed amateur golf championship over 36 holes at Delamere Forest Golf Club today.
Fiona, who has lived in North-west England for a number of years and is a member of Formby Ladies, had rounds of 80 and 85 for 165.
Miss Anderson, who played in five Scottish women’s finals between 1980 and 1991 and won her native title in 1987, finished 19 shots behind the No 1 seed by eight strokes, Susan Dye, who scored 72 and 73 for a one-over-par total of 145 over her home course.
In the second round,Fiona had five double bogeys before the turn but then reeled off eight pars and one bogey to come home in 37.
Only the top 16 go on to the match-play stages.

LEADING QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
Par 144 (2 x 72)
145 S Dye (Delamere Forest) 72 73.
153 G Bray (Littlestone) 81 72.
155 C Caldwell (Sunningdale) 77 78.
156 C Watson (Beaconsfield) 75 81, J Rumsey (Rochford Hundred) 75 81, H Smyth (Pannal) 78 78.
157 R Lindley (Hartlepool) 82 75.
158 P Wrightson (Huddersfield) 84 75.
159 E Elliott (Whitley Bay) 78 80, S Ellis (Ferndown) 78 81.
160 S Stradling (Worplesdon) 78 82.
161 J Tootell (Lancaster) 77 84, R Adams (Addington Court) 80 81.
162 I Brien (Wentworth) 80 82, P Parker (Abbotsley) 85 77, A Vine (Stockport) 82 80, F Coulter (Banstead Downs) 81 81.
Other score among non-qualifiers:
165 F Anderson (Formby Ladies) 80 85.

MEGAN v DONNA IN SEMI-FINALS

OF RENFREWSHIRE

CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) will meet record-setting 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the No 1 qualifier, in the first of this morning's (Thu) semi-finals of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Erskine Golf Club.
It will be a repeat of last year's final in which the 17-year-old Megan (pictured right) beat Donna by 6 and 5 with five birdies in 13 holes.
In the other semi-final, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) will play Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 county champion and No 2 qualifier this week.
The semi-finals will tee off at 9.30 and 9.45 with the final at 2pm.
Results:

First round - D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt B Biggart (Kilmacom) 5 and 4, J McCartney (Erskine) bt A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole, L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt L Morrow (Erskine) 4 and 3, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt F Campbell (Erskine) 7 and 6, S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) at 19th ,G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 8 and 7, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt L McDougall (Greenock)1 hole.
Quarter-finals - Jackson bt McCartney 5 and 4, M Briggs bt Robertson 3 and 1, Kyle bt Smyth 4 and 3, Carlton bt McGinlay 4 and 3.

TEENAGER PAMELA BEATS

FAVOURITE JENNA IN

LANARKSHIRE FINAL

Bothwell Castle teenager Pamela Pretswell achieved her best golf performance todate at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today (Wed) when she beat Scotland international Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) by one hole in the final.
It was 17-year-old Pamela’s first county title success and she prevented her more experienced opponent completing a hat-trick of title wins.
Miss Pretswell, the No 2 qualifier, won the second hole to square the match and went one up for the first time with an eagle at the fourth. The sixth was halved in birdies before Pamela went two up at the 10th.
Jenna Wilson, the top seed, then squared the game with a birdie at the 13th and a par at the 15th, but Pamela’s confidence was still high and she took what proved to be a winning lead by winning the 16th. The last two holes were halved. Pamela is pictured above with the championship trophy (picture by Lanarkshire secretary Jean Macintyre).
In the morning semi-finals on a quite windy day, Jenna had beaten Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) by 6 and 5 while Pamela beat Susan Wood (Drumpellier), the No 3 qualifier, by 5 and 4.
Details:
Semi-finals – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt E Cuthill (Lanark) 6 and 5, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt S Wood (Drumpellier) 5 and 4.
Final – Pretswell bt Wilson 1 hole.

NICOLL’S FOUR-BIRDIE BURST ON WAY
TO HEADING TORRANCE QUALIFIERS

Prestwick’s Callum Nicoll strung four birdies together from the fifth to the eighth on the Torrance Course today (Wed) on his way to winning the qualifying round for the Scottish Wateraid 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am at Fairmont St Andrews from May 8 to 10.
Nicoll, who picked up a £100 prize, returned a three-under-par 69 which was good scoring on a dry but quite blustery day. Apart from his birdie burst in reaching the turn in four-under-par 32, Callum deviated from par only once in the remaining 14 holes. That was a bogey at the 15th in an inward 37.
A total of 28 players in a field of 95 with scores of 76 qualified for next month’s tournament. There were nine players on 76 and only three got through on a card play-off. Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Links) was one of them.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 72
69 C Nicoll (Prestwick).
71 R Gray (Torrance House).
72 K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), K Hutton (Downfield), I Pender (Cawder).
73 G Harvey (Bearsden), J Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), C Russell (Dunbar), D Patrick (Mortonhall), G Rankin (Drumpellier), G McInnes (Murcar Links).

JAMIESON CLEARS HIS

MEMBERSHIP FEE ON

US HOOTERS TOUR

Scott Jamieson, the Cathkin Braes player who topped the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit before turning professional last year, is competing on the Hooters Tour in the United States and is in the field for this week’s event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club, McCormick in South Carolina.
Jamieson, 23, pictured right, has played in two events so far. He won $2,758 for a share of 22nd place in the Auburn-Opelika Classic with rounds of 70, 69, 69 and 73 for seven-under-par 281 but missed the cut in his second appearance in the Capitol Chevrolet Classic with scores of 70 and 75.
Also playing on the Hooters Tour is Colin Speirs from Dunkeld. He has missed the cut in all four of his events this year.
It is not cheap to play on the Hooters Tour. The annual membership fee is $2,000 and there is a hefty entry fee for every tournament. But the prize money is relatively good. Last week’s winner collected $33,000.
Both Jamieson and Speirs played the American college circuit for a number of years.

ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT'S
FIVE-FIGURE BOOST FOR S G U

Aberdeen Asset Management has added the Scotland men's amateur international golf team to their growing sponsorship portfolio in a significant five- figure sum boost to the Scottish Golf Union’s talent development programme.
One of the world’s leading investment managers, Aberdeen Asset Management will become the official sponsors of the Scotland men’s amateur golf team as well as a partner of the SGU’s Academy, in a new deal which will see the Aberdeen logo appearing on the clothing and bags of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers while representing their country.
Earlier this year, Aberdeen Asset Management announced a sponsorship agreement with Colin Montgomerie, while also extending their eight-year association with 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie. The company is in its third year of partnership with the British Seniors Open, while also sponsoring golfers Simon Yates and Mark McNulty.
Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management Martin Gilbert said:
“We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Scottish Golf Union, the national team and the Academy programme. With the emergence of young players such as Richie Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman, it’s been a very exciting period for Scottish amateur golf and hopefully our investment will help that success continue.”
“As a company we are very proud of our Scottish heritage and it is important that we invest in the grass roots end of the game as well as supporting our top professionals like Colin and Paul.” he added.
Speaking at the launch, SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey, said:
“The performances of our leading young players over the past few years have created an unprecedented interest in Scottish amateur golf and the capture of Aberdeen Asset Management as sponsor of the Scotland team reflects that.”
“Golf plays an important role in the business community and it’s great that a company with the scale and profile of Aberdeen are putting so much back into the game. We are committed to growing the game and developing talent and this sponsorship will allow us to expand the work we are doing in these areas.”
The Scotland team will be hoping that the sponsorship will boost their chances of a home victory when Western Gailes hosts this summer’s European Amateur Team Championships (3 – 7 July) and a third consecutive Home Internationals title at County Louth in Ireland if successful in September.
Aberdeen Asset Management is an international investment management group managing assets totalling £78.4 billion (as at 28 February 2007) for clients around the world. The company joins leading golf brands adidas and TaylorMade – official apparel and equipment suppliers to the Scottish Golf Union – as partners of the Scotland golf team.

CRISIS HITS AMERICAN MINI-TOURS:
PARENT COMPANY "INSOLVENT"

The US Pro Golf Tour, Tight Lies Series and California Series "are insolvent" and will not resume play until financing is secured, according to Bill Conwell, CEO and president of Greens Worldwide Inc., the parent company that owns the three mini-tours.
"We do not have the necessary cash resources to operate tournaments, honor our player refund obligations, or pay our other outstanding payables," said Conwell.
Conwell also said Greens Worldwide's proposed merger with Beat The Bogeyman LLC and HyPerformance, Inc., has been terminated. The completion of that deal was contingent on USPGT receiving additional funding.
In another setback for the unraveling tour, its president Gary DeSerrano resigned on April 10, according to Conwell. Two days later Conwell sent an e-mail to its 353 members updating them on the state of the tour.
"We are insolvent and have no cash," he wrote. "Please allow us to work on securing the funding and getting a schedule in place."
In addition to seven tournaments that already had been postponed, the USPGT reported it has cancelled the NTG Classic, slated for April 26-29 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It will not be rescheduled even if the tour resumes operations.
Tour members are scrambling to find a place to play, a task that is difficult because fields for several alternative mini-tours already are full.
"A lot of people are in limbo," said USPGT member Alex Rodger.
Added Steve White, vice president of operations of the Hooters Tour: "We'll do our best to accommodate players if we have openings and with sponsors exemptions, but we are busting at the seam."
Other options include the Tarheel Tour, the Cleveland Golf Golden State Tour, the Gateway Tour and the North American Golf Tour. DeSerrano, who founded the Tight Lies Tour before selling it to Greens Worldwide, said he planned to form a new tour with support of Adams Golf.
But that may be too late for players on the verge of giving up their dream – one that likely resonates even more, considering Zach Johnson's rise from obscurity on the Hooters Tour to victory at the Masters. Several players have lost their savings, their sponsors and now can't afford to travel.
"It's a wicked deal," Rodger said. "A lot of lives are going to change because of this."

HAIG WINS EURO TOUR SHOT OF MONTH

Anton Haig's stunning approach to the 72nd hole at Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, which helped him claim his maiden title in the Johnnie Walker Classic, has been recognised as the European Tour Shot of the Month for March.
Needing a birdie on the last to force his way into a play-off, the South African pulled his tee shot way left. Faced with a shot out of thick rough, over the palm trees to a pin tucked behind the bunker, Haig hit an incredible recovery with his lob wedge to three feet and holed the putt to tie fellow South African Richard Sterne and Oliver Wilson.
He then birdied the same hole again in the sudden-death play-off to win his first European Tour title.

DUNCAN STEWART HOME IN MAY

TO CHASE SCOTLAND CAP – AND

THEN A PRO TOUR CAREER

When he comes home from four years at Jacksonville University, Florida next month,
Grantown-on-Spey’s Duncan Stewart will probably not have enough time to win a place in the Scotland team for the European amateur team championships at Western Gailes in early July.
But Duncan, winner of the Chiberta Grand Prix in France during last year’s summer holidays from the States, must surely have a chance of making the Scotland line-up for the men’s home internationals at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland from September 19 to 21.
“When I come home in May depends if I make it to the college regional championships as an individual or not (Jacksonville University have been eliminated). I am going to play as many tournaments as I can when I get back to Scotland, starting with the Scottish stroke-play at Royal Dornoch,” said Duncan in an E-mail.
“I am thinking about returning to America in August to play in the Scratch Players’ Championship (at Del Rio Country Club, California from August 13-16) and also to try to qualify for the US amateur championship.
“A lot will depend if I think I have a chance of being selected to play for Scotland in the home internationals. But I am going to give the Qualifying School a go over here in the States. I am trying to find someone or some people to sponsor me. That’s as much as I have planned.”
Although the R&A are doing their best to promote the message among talented teenage golfers that British universities have as much to offer, sometimes more than their United States counterparts, Duncan Stewart and his Jacksonville University team-mate, Russell Knox from Inverness, are proof that the American college system does work wonders for some Scots.
Mike Flemming, who was at that time Jacksonville Univ ersity’s head golf coach, took a big gamble four years ago when he signed up Stewart and Knox. They were little known outwith their own immediate area, although Duncan had played for Scotland at boys’ level.
That gamble has paid off big-time for Jacksonville and the two Scots who have matured into star performers for the university on the American circuit. Over the four years, they have helped to win umpteen tournaments and titles and both have figured prominently in the college rankings, no mean feat considering the quality of player at the top end of the list.
“I have had a great time at Jacksonville University and I think my game has made huge progress since I went there,” says Duncan.” I have to give my swing coach Martin Piggott a lot of credit. He has helped me for past eight or nine years and I always go to see him when I am back in Scotland.
“Grantown on Spey Golf Club and its members have been an incredible supporters. They have always kept track of me over here and always welcomed me back when I return home.
“How did we come to go to the States in the first place? It was Mike Flemming who spoke to Russell Knox when Russell was on a fact-finding visit to Jacksonville University. I was talking at the time to the coach at Southeastern Louisiana University but he didn’t have any scholarship money left to for me.
“Mike Flemming heard about the situation and, mainly on Russell’s recommendation, I signed that summer for Jacksonville University along with Russell and it was the best move both of us could have made at the time.
“I can’t thank Mike Flemming enough because I had almost given up on the idea of going to the States and was probably only a week away from booking a flight to New Zealand. One of my friends and I were going to go there and travel for a year, so I am very glad that Mike called me. “I have actually been working with Mike on the mental aspect of my game and he has been helping me a great deal. He has so much experience and just listening to his stories helps.
“Mike, alongwith my parents, my fiancé and her mother are going to be at my Jacksonville graduation on May 5.”

FIONA EIGHT SHOTS BEHIND

IN ENGLISH CLOSED SENIORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Former Scottish champion Fiona Anderson from Blairgowrie, pictured right, now a member of Formby Ladies Golf Club, was lying in joint 14th with an eight-over-80 at the end of the first round of the English senior women's (closed) amateur championship at Delamere Forest.
Susan Dye opened up a two-stroke lead by matching the par of 72.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
72 Susan Dye.
74 Barbara Laird.
75 Christine Watson, Jo Rumsey.
77 Carole Caldwell, Jenny Tootell.
78 Susan Ellis, Laraine Hague, Sue Stradling, Hilary Smith.
79 Susan Pickles, Elaine Elliott, Ann Booth.
80 Patricia West, Irene Brien, Fiona Anderson, Rozalyn Adams, Denise Parker.
81 Vivien Saunders, Kate Charles, Julia Smith, Luci Foster, Felicity Coulter, Geraldine Bray, Jeannie Okeeffe, Jennifer Fallows.
82 Sue Westall, Ruth Lindley, Carolyn Kirk, Alanna Vine, Rosemary Farrow.
84 Bev Belcher, Pat Wrightson, Elspeth Cooper, Marianne Copp, Carole Weir.
85 Val McFarlane, Paula Parker, Elisabeth Wilson, Cathy Armstrong, Jayne Long, Karen Lobb, Anne MacGregor.
86 Barbara Woodham, Jane Rogers, Gillian Curley, Anne Briggs.
88 Lorraine Richardson, Marion Howells, Jane Jones, Gill Snelson.
89 Julie Ballard.
91 Rosemary Watters.
93 Mary Weaver.
94 Pauline Daymont.

CELTIC PRO TOUR ANNOUNCES
MEMBERSHIP OFFERS FOR 2007

The Celtic Pro Tour, the new development golf tour which has grown from last year’s inaugural Dragon Tour, has announced new membership offers for its 2007 season.
Professionals who join the Tour before May 9 will have their details published in the official handbook, which will be sent to clubs and sponsors of the Tour, as well as the media. An entry on the official Tour website, www.celticpro.com will also be available to all members.
“We are well aware that golfers on the Tour need to find their own sponsors. In offering this new handbook entry and web presence, we are providing them with further opportunities to provide coverage for the people who financially support them, by listing their sponsors names and details,” said Rhydian Thomas, Celtic Pro Tour’s chief executive officer and tournament director.
£175 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual membership to the Tour costs £175, and each professional entering will pay separate individual event entry which is priced at £99 for each of the 15 events. Amateur golfers with a scratch handicap or better can also enter events at a cost of £55.
“The website presence given to the golfers could be very useful to their sponsors, as the site peaked at 70,000 hits for the last month of last season and is starting to reach similar levels as the new season approaches,” said Thomas
Another opportunity is on offer within this new membership period, as the Celtic Pro Tour has joined with SkyCaddie, as the Official Range Finder of the Tour. Anyone joining before the May 9 date, can purchase one of the SkyCaddie range of products at a specially reduced rate, exclusive only to Celtic Pro Tour members.
Jackie Hitchcock, Managing Director of Skyhawke Technologies UK, confirmed, “We are delighted to be supporting this rapidly developing Tour, and SkyCaddie can play a big part in its success. Golf is more than a game of skill. It is also a game of strategy and course management. SkyCaddie combines state-of-the-art GPS technology with a network of precision-mapped golf courses to provide golfers with the information they need to play every hole.”
REGISTER ONLINE
Golfers wishing to take up this offer are asked to contact Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568 or register online at the website at www.celticpro.com by May 9th. Alternatively, cheques can be sent to the Celtic Pro Tour office at 15, Druids Close, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6LJ. Please make cheques payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd.
The Celtic Pro Tour comprises three satellite tours – the expanded Dragon Tour which involves 11 tournaments in Wales, and the new Thistle Tour and Shamrock Tour in Scotland and Ireland respectively, each with two events.

KIRTON, LARKIN FAIL TO GET

ONE BIRDIE BETWEEN THEM

IN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWNS

North-east exiles Lewis Kirton (Louisville University) from Oldmeldrum and Scott Larkin (College of Charleston), pictured right, from Banchory both had a day to forget in the final round of their conference championships today.
Lewis dropped from joint 17th overnight to a final placing of joint 29th in a field of 60 for the Big East Conference championship at Cardinal Club, Simpsonsville in Kentucky.
Kirton, after rounds of 76 and 72 over the par-72, 7,036yd course, had an uninspired five-over-par 77 for a nine-over-par total of 225. Lewis did not have a single birdie on the last day – only five bogeys between the eighth and the 16th.
He finished 16 shots behind the winner, team-mate Daryl Fathauer who had scores of 71, 68 and 70 for seven-under 209 to win by two shots from Mike Van Sickle (Marquette).
Big consolation for Lewis was that Louisville, who had three players in the first four, won the title by 12 shots from Notre Dame and they progress to the regional finals, the last hurdle before the NCAA national finals.

Final totals: Louisville 844, Notre Dame 856, St John's 871. Twelve teams took part.
Playing in the Southern Conference championship at Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, Scott Larkin ran up a quadruple bogey 7 at the short 12th and also dropped shots at five other holes in returning a birdie-less 81 (38-43) after earlier rounds of 75 and 73 over the par-72, 7,062yd course.

The Banchory player's 13-over-par total of 229 gave him a final placing of joint 33rd in a field of 50 players. He finished 16 shots behind winner J D Bass (North Carolina-Greensboro) (72-73-68 for three-under 213)
College of Charleston (896) finished seventh of 10 behind Tennessee-Chattanooga (864) in the team event which means Larkin’s college golf season is over.

DONNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES TITLE
NO 11 IN RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Donna Jackson, 10 times winner – and that’s a record – of the Renfrewshire women’s county golf championship, headed the 16 qualifiers at Erskine Golf Club today (Tuesday) for the match-play stages.
In wet conditions, the CSS went up to 76, three over par, and so Miss Jackson’s score of 74 was quite a good one in these circumstances.
She claimed the top seeding ahead of the 2003 title-winner, Clare-Marie Carlton) who shaded Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) on a card countback. They both had 77s.
The fourth best qualifier was the 17-year-old defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) with a 79.

Details:

QUALIFIERS
Par 73. CSS 76.
74 D Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
77 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) better inward half, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire).
79 M Briggs (Kilmacolm).
82 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle).
85 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle), bih, Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle).
86 J McCartney (Erskine).
87 A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) bih, D Cowan (Cochrane Castle).
88 S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bih, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) better last hole, L Morrow (Erskine) (bih), F Campbell (Erskine).
89 L McDougal (Greenock).
90 B Biggart (Ranfurly Castle).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
First round: 9.15 Jackson v Biggart, Judge v McCartney. 9.30 Robertson v E Briggs, Morrow v M Briggs, Kyle v Campbell, Smith v Fell. 10.0 McGinlay v Cowan, McDougal v Carlton.
Quarter-finals: 1.15 to 2pm.

JENNA WILSON GETS A GIMME EAGLE
IN LANARKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

So bad was the weather at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today that at one stage the organisers of the Lanarkshire women’s county championship feared they would have to abandon the second day’s play.
But the competitors struggled on in awful conditions to produce a semi-final line-up on Wedneday morning of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) v Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) and Susan Wood (Drumpellier) v Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
For the second day in a row, Jenna had a eagle. This one came in her 10 and 8 first-round win over clubmate Marion Brodie. In fact, Jenna almost holed her second shot for an albatross 2. The ball came to rest so close to the flagstick, it was a “gimme.”
Jenna, bidding to complete a hat-trick of Lanarkshire title wins, went on to beat Pat Milligan (Hamilton) by 4 and 3 in the afternoon quarter-finals.
Young Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), the No 2 qualifier, beat clubmate Fiona Scott, an experienced campaigner and the No 7 seed, by 6 and 5 to reach the last four.

Details:

First round – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt M Brodie (Strathaven) 10 and 8, P Milligan (Hamilton) bt J Scott (Cathkin Braes) 2 holes, E Cuthill (Lanark) bt I Robertson (East Kilbride) 6 and 5, M Hughes (Lanark) bt J McMillan (Hayston) 2 holes, S Wood (Drumpellier) bt L Lees (Hamilton) 2 and 1, A Devine (Hamilton) bt J Wiles (Drumpellier) 2 and 1, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) 1 hole, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt D McTaggart (Cambuslang) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals – Wilson bt Milligan 2 holes, Cuthill b Hughes 2 holes, Wood bt Devine 6 and 4, Pretswell bt F Scott 6 and 5.

SHARP PERFORMANCE BY JONNY
IN NORTHERN OPEN QUALIFIER

Jonny Sharp (Pro Golf Experience) finished three strokes ahead of a field of 101 in the qualifying round for next month’s Northern Open at Skibo Castle. Sharp returned a six-under-par 66 at Fairmont St Andrews today.
The only others to break 70 were Paul Malone (Braid Hills Golf Centre) and Scott Catlin (Greenburn).
The 85 qualifiers with scores of 82 or better included seven amateurs – Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar), Toby Garrett (Meltham), Chris Munro (Westhill), Scott Walker (Ratho Park), Don Garrett (Huntly), Scott Green (Westhill) and Lee McDonald (Nairn Dunbar).

LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 72
66 J Sharp (Pro Golf Experience).
69 P Malone (Braid Hills), S Catlin (Greenburn).
70 F McLaughaln (Bothwell Castle), G Harvey (Bearsden), J Cliff (Murrayfield), G Paxton (Ralston).
71 G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch), M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) (am), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
Other amateurs who qualified:
74 T Garrett (Meltham).
77 C Munro (Westhill), S Walker (Ratho Park).
79 D Garrett (Huntly).
82 S Green (Westhill), L McDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
+85 players with scores of 82 or better qualified

LOCH LOMOND CLIMBS COURSE

RATINGS TO NO 11 OUTSIDE US

In a recent Golf Digest poll of the Top 100 courses outside the United States, Loch Lomond Golf Club was voted the 11th best golf course, up ten places from 21st in the previous year’s rankings. Loch Lomond was the top inland parkland golf course to feature on the list, with renowned links courses, including Turnberry, Royal County Down, Muirfield and St Andrews, holding the coveted top ten spots.
With its stunning setting alongside the banks of Loch Lomond and views of the Scottish Highlands, this world-class course was designed by renowned architects, Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish back in 1994. The course itself is home to The Barclays Scottish Open, hosting the event for the past 10 years. Traditionally held the week preceding the Open Championship, Loch Lomond is a firm favourite among European Tour players.
"To feature so highly in such a well respected poll, clearly demonstrates the standing of Loch Lomond in the world of golf," commented Niall Flanagan, General Manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club. "To be voted eleventh in the poll is an achievement in itself, but to be the first inland parkland golf course in the rankings is a clear testament to all the hard work that has been done in recent years."
Loch Lomond is owned by the Arizona-based Lyle Anderson Company Inc. Chairman and Founder, Lyle Anderson, has created a number of luxury golf course communities, including Desert Mountain and Superstition Mountain in Arizona and Hokuli`a in Hawaii.

In 2003 Anderson opened his first links course. Designed by Kyle Phillips, Dundonald Links is fast gaining a reputation as a must-play course. Situated on the stunning Ayrshire coastline, minutes from the legendary town of Troon, Dundonald Links is considered a match for its Open championship venue neighbours, Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick, and in future years will hopefully feature alongside its sister course, Loch Lomond on Golf Digest’s list of Top 100 courses outside the United States.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

DISCOUNTED SEASON TICKETS DEADLINE FOR SAVING £105
IS END OF THIS MONTH

Time is running out for spectators to take advantage of discounted season tickets for The Open Championship to be played at Carnoustie from Sunday 15 to Sunday 22 July.

Until the end of April, £170 buys a season ticket which gives entry for the eight days of practice and Championship play, a saving of £105 on the full price daily tickets.

“We are continuing our policy of making The Open affordable to all spectators,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.

“While it will still be possible to pay at the gate, a season ticket represents particularly good value and spectators should take advantage of the discounted rate before this ceases at the end of the month.”

During the four days of the Championship, a daily ticket will cost £50, with concession tickets available. Juveniles, under the age of 16, will again be admitted free of charge by applying to The R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.

Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: ++44 1334 460010 or through on-line purchasing at http://www.opengolf.com/.

FIFE STUDENT SLIDES TO SEVENTH WITH
DISASTROUS LAST ROUND IN VIRGINIA

It all went pear-shaped for Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, in the final round of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference college golf championship at Poplar Grove Golf Club, Amherst in Virginia.
Peter, a tournament winner just a week or two ago, was in contention again at level par with one round to go but a disastrous closing round of 80 relegated him to a final placing of joint seventh in a field of 45 players.
Latimer’s three rounds were 68, 76 and 80 over the par-72, 7,059yd course for a total of eight-over-par 224.
He finished 13 shots behind Guilford College team-mate Colin Clark who birdied the last six holes for a 66 and a total of five-under 211 after earlier scoring 72 and 73.
Consolation for Peter was that his effort helped Guilford College win the title by the runaway margin of 17 strokes from Washington & Lee University.

LARKIN IN TOP 20 IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Scott Larkin (College of Charleston) from Banchory is in joint 19th position in a field of 50 players for the Southern Conference men's college championship at the Country Club of South Carolina, Florence in South Carolina.
Scott has had rounds of 75 and 73 for a 36-hole tally of four-over-par 148 with one round to go.
He trails the joint leaders, Alex Knoll (Davidson College) and Jonathon Hodge (Tennessee-Chattanooga) by six shots. Knoll's rounds have been 72 and 70, Hodge 73 and 69.
Tennessee-Chattanooga (573) lead the team event from Georgia Southern (580) with Elon University and Wofford College sharing third place on 588. College of Charleston are joint fifth on 595 in a field of 10 teams.

KIRTON MOVES INTO TOP 20 IN KENTUCKY

Oldmeldrum's Lewis Kirton, a first-year student at Louisville University, Kentucky is lying joint 17th after two rounds of the Big East Conference college golf championship at the Cardinal Club, Simpsonville in Kentucky today (Monday).
After an opening round of 76, Lewis improved 11 places in the individual standings by matching the par of 72 in atrocious conditions of wind and rain for a 36-hole tally of 148 - nine shots behind team-mate Daryl Father who leads the field with 71 and 68 for 139.
Louisville (562) lead the team event by 16 shots from Notre Dame.

JAY HAAS BEATS TOM KITE IN US
SENIORS' TOUR PLAY-OFF

England's Mark James, the first-round leader, tied for third position behind the play-off participants, defending champion Jay Haas and Tom Kite, in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament at Savannah, Georgia.
Haas finished like a proverbial train, making up four shots of a leeway over the last eight holes and then beating Kite at the first hole of a play-off for his second Champions' Tour win of the season and his eighth in all on the over-50s circuit, one fewer than his total on the US PGA Tour.
Haas had a two-under-par 70 in the third round for a 54-hole aggregate of 207.
Mark James, who three-putted the last two holes in closing with a 70, Wayne Levi, Brad Bryant and Gil Morgan all shared third place on 208.
So what's the secret of Jay Haas' Indian Summer to his career? In one word, he says: "Putting."
"I'm a whole lot better a putter than I used to be. If only I'd changed my putting style to this when I was younger I could have won a lot more times," he said.

PGA GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO USE OF
SKYCADDIE IN TOURNAMENT

The PGA has sanctioned the use of electronic range-finders at one of its tournaments for the first timein its history.
The decision comes after the PGA agreed a three-yeardeal with SkyCaddie, the market leader in hand-held, GPS course-mapping technology, to co-sponsor the Glenbrae PGA Four-ball Championship, which is being held at Fulford Golf Club in October.
As part of the deal, the state-of-the-art SkyCaddie equipment has been given the green light for use by players in the competition, which could open the doors to a golfing revolution.
PGA sponsorship manager Jim Croxton believes that the SkyCaddie is poised to become an essential piece of kit for all golfers.
“This is the future and I think in two years from now a lot of golfers will have one of these,” he said.
The SkyCaddie has already been a success on the PGA Europro Tour and it is hoped this new deal will see its popularity grow, given that the measurements of more than 14,000 golf courses worldwide are available to be downloaded.
Course details are stored on a light-weight hand-held unit, all of which come with ‘intelligreen’ as standard, which allows players to view all aspects of the green from any position.

JENNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES
LANARK COUNTY TITLE TREBLE

Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson made a good start to her bid to win the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship three years in a row at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today.
The 22-year-old Scotland international, pictured right, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages on a very wet and sometimes windy day with a par-matching round of 72 which was one under the CSS.
Jenna highlighted her card with an eagle and two birdies.
Teenager Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) did well to claim the No2 seed berth, only one shot behind Jenna.
Then there was a three-shot gap to the No 3 qualifier Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
The fourth seed, after an 81, is May Hughes (Lanark), Lanarkshire champion three times between 1993 and 2004 and also beaten finalist on three occasions.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72. CSS 73
72 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
73 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
76 Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
81 May Hughes (Lanark).
82 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
83 Angela Devine (Hamilton).
85 Fiona Scott (Bothwell Cstle).
89 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes).
90 Pat Milligan (Hamilton), Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
91 Jennifer Wiles (Drumpellier), Isa Robertson (East Kilbride).
92 Jan mcMillan (Hayston).
98 Liz Lees (Hamilton).
99 Dorothy McTaggart (Cambuslang).
100 Marion Brodie (Strathaven).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Wilson v Brodie, Milligan v J Scott, Cuthill v Robertson, McMillan v Hughes, Wood v Lees, Wiles v Devine, F Scott v Scanlan, McTaggart v Pretswell.

SGU TEAM BEAT WESTERN GAILES IN
WARM-UP FOR EURO CHAMPIONSHIP

A Scottish Golf Union team of men’s, youths and boy international players beat a Western Gailes Golf Club select 5 1/2-1/2 on Sunday at the Ayrshire links where the European men’s amateur team championship will be held from July 3 to 7.
Details (SGU players first):
Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) & Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) bt Alan Thomson & Harry Milligan 5 and 4.
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) & Scott Henry (Cardross) bt Paul McKellar & John Danskin 4 and 3.
Bryan Fotheringham (Forres) & Philip McLean (Peterhead) bt Paul Moultrie & Peter Jamieson 3 and 2.
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) & Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) halved with Ronald McLean & Douglas Harvey.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) & Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt Gary Murphy & Brian Ker 2 and 1.
Jonathan King (Glasgow) & Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) bt Graham Cox & Andrew Farmer 2 and 1.

LIANG, NIRAN AND YANG ADD SPICE TO
BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY

Liang Wen-chong, Chapchai Nirat and YE Yang will add considerably to the international flavour of the 2007 BMW PGA Championship when the three first-time European Tour winners line-up at Wentworth Club from May 24-27 on their first visit to Britain.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, who captured four titles worldwide last year and recently became the first player from his country to compete in the Masters tournament, has also confirmed his participation in the world-class field chasing the €725,000 winner’s cheque from a record prize fund of €4,350,000.
The Asian challenge is particularly strong for the 2007 BMW PGA Championship with two more Thai champions on The European Tour in Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, Singapore’s first Tour winner, Mardan Mamat, and India’s Shiv Kapur adding more spice to a mouthwatering field.
All four days will be broadcast live on BBC Television.
Advance ticket savings on the 2007 BMW PGA Championship can be made by booking online at www.europeantourtickets.com or by telephoning +44 (0) 800 023 2557 by May 1, 2007.
For hospitality packages, call The European Tour Hospitality Department on +44 (0) 1344 840483.

SEPTEMBER DATE FOR BRITISH MASTERS

The Quinn Direct British Masters is set to take place in September for the first time since 1999.The prestigious tournament will be played from September 20 to 23 and will return for the second consecutive year to The Belfry on the world famousBrabazon Course, host to four past Ryder Cup events.
Johan Edfors, the defending champion, has confirmed that he will bid to regain his title.
Other past and present Quinn Direct British Masters’ stars are set to join him to compete for the £1.8 million prize fund.

TARA THIRD, GEMMA

JT 18TH IN FINAL

LADY BUCKEYE

INVITATIONAL

Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scottish cap Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) finished third and joint 18th respectively in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women’s college tournament over the Ohio State University’s Scarlet course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara had scores of 76, 73 and 74 for a total of 224 eight over par for the 6,228yd, par-72 course.
She had birdies at the fifth, 11th, 14th and 15th but also ran up a double boghey at the ninth and dropped single shots at the seventh, 12th, 13th, 17th and 18th. In her first round, Tara had a double-bogey 5 at the short eighth.
Gemma Webster, pictured, scored 80, 78 and 79 for 237. She had no birdies in her final round which included a triple bogey 8 at the lont 14th and a double bobey 6 at the 11th. Over the 54 holes, the Scot had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys.
Tara’s older sister Karen Delaney, also a student at Kent State, scored 83, 85 and 83 for 251 and a share of 60th place in a field of 87. She had six consecutive bogeys from the 11th to the 16th in her final round.

Spaniard Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) scored her second win within a few weeks, scoring 72, 70 and 73 for one-under-par 215. Team-mate Christel Boeljon was runner-up on 218 with 71, 71 and 76.
Purdue won the team title by 20 shots with a total of 891. Michigan State (911) were runners-up with Kent State (933) third and Ohio State (935) fourth of the 14 competing teams.

SALLY RUNNER-UP TO JUNIOR RYDER CUP
PLAYER IN FLORIDA GIRLS’ EVENT

Sally Watson from South Queensferry finished runner-up to European Junior Ryder Cup team player Giula Molinaro from Turin, Italy in the IMGA/DLGA Junior Girls championship at IMG Academies Golf & Country Club, Bradenton, Florida at the weekend.
Sally, a student at the IMG David Leadbetter Academy, at Bradenton had rounds of 76 and 69 for an aggregate of one-over-par 145.
Molinaro scored 72 and 69 for three-under-par 141.
Jessica Korda from Florida finished third on 146 with scores of 75 and 71.
Laetitia Beck (Israel) came fourth with 74 and 73 for 147.

CALLUM HAS FIVE DOUBLE BOGEYS
BUT STILL MAKES TOP TEN AT
SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA

Callum Macaulay, in his final month or two of a four-year course at Mississippi University, finished joint ninth in the Southeast Conference men’s college championship at Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia.
The Tulliallan Golf Club member must have been pressing too hard to produce results for he had an uncharacteristic five double bogeys over the 54 holes. Three of them came in his final round of three-over-par 73.
He had 6s at the par-4 eighth, 14th and 18th which wiped out the birdies he achieved at the sixth, seventh, 15th and 17th.
The Scot’s earlier rounds were 75 and 71, giving him a total of nine-over-par 219 over a tough par-70 course (6,991yd) where even the winner, Patton Kizzire (Auburn) was over par, returning 72, 69 and70 for 211 and a four-stroke advantage over a field of 60.
It may have been some consolation for Callum that he had three of the recently announced United States college team for the Palmer Cup match against Europe – Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Luke List – behind him in the final standings.
Chris Paisley (Tennessee) from Newcastle and team-mate Tino Weirr finished joint runners-up on 215. Paisley shot 76, 70 and 69.
Not surprisingly, Tennessee (869) won the team title from Alabama (871) with Auburn (874) third and Mississippi fourth (876) in a field of 12 college squads.

TOP 20 FINISH ON US PGA TOUR BY

ABERDONIAN MICHAEL SIM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Months of waiting and worrying about whether he would ever be able to play golf again at the highest level ended with big smiles and a cheque for $76,860 on Sunday for Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim.
He finished a highly creditable joint 18th on his debut on the US PGA Tour in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Sim, 22, who has lived in Australia since his parents emigrated from Aberdeen to Perth, Western Australia in April 1991 when he was seven, had scores of 71, 69, 70 and 72 for six-under-par 282.
Underlining the standard of play on the tour, Michael was joint 11th at the start of the last round ... matched the par of 72 in that last round ... and dropped down to joint 18th!
He had birdies at the long seventh and long 11th but bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Michael parred the last four holes which would seem to indicate that he did not tire all that much, considering how long he has been away from tournament golf.
The tournament provided a first success for American Nick Watney with 69, 67, 68 and 69 for 15-under-par 273.
Michael had only one bogey through his first 36 holes and then two in round three and two in round 4. He had 11 birdies in all
It was only Sim's second competitive game for several months during which he has been resting his back since a stress fracture was diagnosed. At the same time, he has been following a programme of exercises to change his posture, one of the reasons for his problem.
Michael travelled to the States a fortnight ago and played in a Nationwide Tour event just to get back into the way of things again, missing the cut but finishing in good shape physically, which was the object of the exercise.
Now Michael's career is off and running on the world's No 1 pro golf tour. His first pay cheque of $76,860 was almost as much as another Scot, Martin Laird, received for winning on the Nationwide Tour, also on Sunday, which shows the financial gulf between the No 1 and No 2 pro tours in America.
Sim qualified to play on the US PGA Tour by finishing 19th on the Nationwide Tour Order of Merit last year. He won the Palmetto Pride Classic after a play-off and finished up with $220,432 in earnings.
Prior to turning professional, Sim was a ranked the world’s No 1 amateur.
He has dual nationality - British/Scottish and Australian.
His mother Sue said: “It took Michael a long time to get back his fitness and he was getting rather frustrated towards the end. I’m sure he will be very happy to be back with the big boys.”
Sue and Michael’s father George are travelling to America this week to watch Michael play in the Byron Nelson Classic before going on to visit New York and then cross the Atlantic to spend a short holiday "at home" in Aberdeen.
They will be in the city around May 7 if any friends and acquaintances from the “good old days” want to meet them.
“I hope Aberdeen is not too cold next month,” said Sue.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

MARTIN LAIRD BIRDIES

LAST TO WIN $90,000

FIRST PRIZE IN USA

Martin Laird bravely holed a birdie putt at the last hole to win the Athens Regional Foundation Classic and the $90,000 first prize by a single shot in Georgia today.
The 24-year-old Glaswegian, a winner on the Gateway Tour in the States last year, was winning on the Nationwide Tour – America’s No 2 pro circuit – for the first time.
It was an impressive front-running display by the 6ft 2in Scot (pictured right) who turned pro in 2004 after four good years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
He led the Athens Regional Foundation Classic stats in driving distance (averaging a phenomenal 327 yards off the tee), hitting fairways and greens in regulation (80.6%).
Although Martin averaged 1.759 putts per hole, he was only 34th in the stats, which shows how good the standard of putting is over there.
Laird had rounds of 66, 67, 70 and 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272. He led by four shots at the halfway stage but his lead had been cut to one with 18 holes to play.
In the end the Scot won by one shot from two charging Americans, Justin Bolli (74-68-65-66) and Jeremy Anderson (68-73-66-66).
Bolli had an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th in his final round. Bolli’s. only bogey came at the fourth.
Anderson bogeyed the third and then birdied the seventh, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th, covering the last nine hole sin only 30 strokes.
The pair really put the pressure on Laird who bogeyed the third but steadied up with birdies at the fourth and sixth in an outward one-under-par 35. Then Martin birdied the 10th, 13th and 14th before wobbling with bogeys at the 15th and 16th. That allowed Bolli and Anderson to catch him so that Laird had to birdie the long 18th to avoid a play-off.
That he did secure a 4 for victory speaks volumes for the Scot’s ability to respond to intense pressure.
Laird had 24 birdies over the 72 holes. He had only one bogey in the first round and none at all in the second. But seven bogeys over the final 36 holes allowed the field to close up on him.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
272 M Laird Sco) 66 67 70 69.
273 J Bolli (US) 74 68 65 66, J Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other totals:
284 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 75 (jt 39th).
285 G Christian (Eng) 71 72 72 70 (jt 46th).

SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN – WINNER OF

SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT AT GLEN
WITH LEVEL PAR 140

Perth’s Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Scottish Under-16 boys’ title at Deeside last year, won today’s (Sunday) Scottish Golf Junior Tour 36-hole event at Glen Golf Club, North Berwick by two strokes.
McLaren, pictured right, put together two par-matching rounds of 70 for a total of 140. Joint second to first-round pacemakers Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Royal Aberdeen’s Scott Fraser on 69, Sam started the afternoon badly with a couple of bogeys but a birdie at the third stopped the rot and another birdie at the seventh got him back to level par.
On the way home, McLaren dropped a shot at the 11th but birdied the 15th.
Joint runners-up on 142 were Scotland boys team-mates Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and James Byrne (Banchory). Stewart had rounds of 73 and 69, birdieing the sixth and 15th in his afternoon round. Byrne had two steady rounds of 71.
New Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) finished in joint 13th place with 74 and 72 for 146.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 70. SSS 70
140 Sam McLaren (King James VI) 70 70.
142 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 69, James Byrne (Banchory) 71 71.
143 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 71 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 70 73.
144 Neil Henderson (Glen) 71 73, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 69 74, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 69 75.
145 David Parlane (Helensburgh) 76 69, Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 76 69, William Bremner (Edzell) 72 73, Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) 70 75.
145 Michael Main (Thornton) 76 70, Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 76 70, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 74 72, Euan Brown (Barassie) 74 72, Jack Thow (Crieff 74 72, Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 74 72, Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 73 73.
147 Jack Bradley (Paisley) 73 74.
148 Kyle Smith (Barassie) 77 71, Craig Wyper (Hayston) 76 72, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 74 74.
149 Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 75.
150 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) 72 78.
152 Alan Murdoch (Stranraer) 76 76, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 75 77, David Law (Hazlehead) 75 77.
153 Simon Barras (Helensburgh) 77 76, Sean Thompson (St Andrews) 75 78.
159 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 82 77.
165 Alistair Lauder (Paisley) 81 84.
Withdrew: Fraser McKenna (Balmore).

FIONA LOCKHART REGAINS

FIFE TITLE BY BEATING

LORNA BENNETT IN FINAL

Leuchars-based Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) found her best form at just the right time to regain the Fife women's county championship at Dunfermline Golf Club this weekend.

The last time – two years ago – Fiona won her county title she went on to complete a notable double by winning the Scottish women’s title at Cruden Bay a few weeks later.

But Fiona is unable to play in the "Scottish" at Barassie next month.
In today's semi-finals, Fiona, the No 6 seed, was taken to the 18th green before beating Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) by two holes, but in the final, against Scottish senior international Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), the No 8 qualifier, Fiona stepped up a gear to win by 6 and 4.
Miss Lockhart, pictured with the trophy, was one under par in the final with two birdies and one bogey. Lorna struggled a bit on the greens.
Defending champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) and top seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) failed to make it through to the last four.
Elaiine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) in the first round then lost by 2 and 1 to Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Lorna Bennett.

Miss Bennett won the Fife title in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994 and 2003. She has been beaten finalist in 1997, 1998, 2000 and now for a fourth time - but what a great long-playing record at county level!

Weekend results:
First round – L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3, L Bennett (Ldybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4, L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th, K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford (Scotscraig) 4 and 3, J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Rule) 3 and 1, F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4, L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5, E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank) at 19th.
Quarter-finals – Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2, Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4, Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2, Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.
Semi-finals – Bennett bt Sharp 3 and 1, Lockhart bt Rolland 2 holes.
Final – Lockhart bt Bennett 6 and 4.

HOEY WINS CHALLENGE TOUR
PLAY-OFF AS HENDERSON
RUES BAG OF BOGEYS

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Aberdonian Scott Henderson rounded off a disappointing weekend for the European Challenge Tour’s tartan contingent by finishing in a tie for 45th place at the Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata in south-east Italy today.
The former European Tour Rookie of the Year had battled his way into the top 20 at the halfway stage and was just six shots off the pace with 36 holes to play, but weekend scores of 74-72 saw his challenge fade and resulted in a one-under par 274 finish.
That was a full 12 strokes behind winner Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, who defeated Welshman Liam Bond in a sudden-death play-off to take the title and the €20,800 first prize.
Henderson shot 15 birdies over the four rounds but too many bogeys dragged him down. He earned 624 Euros.
Henderson had rounds of 73, 65, 74 and 72 at the south-east Italy venue. A triple bogey 7 at the 11th on Saturday torpedoed his hopes of making a run at the leaders. In his final round, Scott birdied the 12th and 14th, but bogeyed the sixth, 11th and 18th - the story of the tournament for him.
The only other Scot to make the halfway cut, rookie George Murray, finished joint 59th in a field of 64 players with scores of 69, 72 74 and 75 for five-over 290. His cash prize was 410 Euros.
George had a double bogey 6 at the ninth to nullify his birdies at the 11th and 18th in his final round.
The leading Scottish-based player was Welshman Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton Golf Club professional. Gareth scored 70, 66, 75 and 70 for a share of 26th place on 281. Wright earned 1,066 Euros.
The 20,800 Euros first prize went to Ulsterman Michael Hoey, winner of the 2001 British open amateur championship at Prestwick, after a play-off with Welshman Liam Bond. They tied on 13-under-par 272. Bond birdied four of the inward holes in a closing 68, leaving overnight leader Hoey to birdie the last for a 71 to force a play-off, which he did.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 285 (3 x 71, 1 x 72)
272 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66 68 68, Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67 68 71 (Hoey won play-off).
273 Joost Luiten (Net) 65 70 68 70.
274 Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71 67 69, Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67 69 68.
275 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 68 67 69, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 69 70 65, John E Morgan (Eng) 66 67 74 68.
Scots-based scores:
281 Gareth Wright (Wal) 70 66 75 70 (jt 26th).
284 Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65 74 72 (jt 45th).
290 George Murray (Sco) 69 72 74 75.

BOOKLESS, FRASER SHARE

LEAD ON 69 IN SGU

JUNIOR TOUR EVENT

Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), pictured right, shared the lead on one-under-par 69 at the end of the first round of the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour Event 2 at The Glen, North Berwick today.

New Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) had a 74 to be joint 14th at the halfway stage.

SCOREBOARD
69 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).

70 Sam McLaren (King James VI), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), Paul Shields (Kirkhill).

71 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), James Byrne (Banchory), Neil Henderson (Glen).
72 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo), William Bremner (Edzell).
73 Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Jack Bradley (Paisley), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).

74 Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Euan Brown (Barassie), Jack Thow (Crieff), Michael Daily (Erskine), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle).

75 Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire), David Law (Hazlehead), Sean Thompson (St Andrews).

76 Alan Murdoch (Stranraer), Craig Wyper (Hayston), David Parlane (Helensburgh), Frasr Fotheringham (Nairn), Michael Main (Thornton), Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy).

77 Kyle Smith (Barassie), Sinmon Barras (Helensburgh).

81 Alistair Lauder (Paisley).

82 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse).

Withdrew: Fraser McKenna (Balmore).

PLUM POST AT DUNDONALD LINKS
GOES TO PAUL LAWRIE’S MANAGER

JOHN CAVEN, STARTING MAY 1

Paul Lawrie’s business development manager, PGA professional John Caven, has landed a plum job in Scottish golf.
He has been appointed Director of Operations at Dundonald Links, the Ayrshire course owned by the exclusive Loch Lomond Club Club. John (pictured right) will take up his new duties on May 1.
“I am really looking forward to this new challenge and it’s a great organisation I am joining,” said John who comes originally from the south side of Glasgow but has been 14 years in the North-east.
“I joined Charles Dernie as an assistant when he was professional at Banchory 14 years ago last month. After three years I got my first club post at Oldmeldrum Golf Club. Three years later I moved just a short distance to become general manager at the new Meldrum House Golf Club.”
Caven spent the best part of five years there before becoming Paul Lawrie’s business development manager, a wide-ranging role that included PR, sales and marketing, arranging dates, organising Paul’s Junior Golf programme and update Paul’s own website.
“This really is a fantastic opportunity for me. Dundonald Links is a new and exceptional links course. It’s going to be an exciting challenging putting it firmly on the golfing map.
“I am going to have the post of director of operations which essentially means that I have responsibility for everything. I will be in charge of the director of golf and all the other staff that make Dundonald Links tick over. I will also be on the Loch Lomond management committee."
Niall Flanagan, general manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links, said: “ We are delighted that John Caven has joined what is an already a strong team. John has a wealth of experience working in the golf industry and the knowledge he has accrued will be hugely beneficial as we continue to develop Dundonald Links.”
Designed by Kyle Phillips, one the game’s top golf course architects. Dundonald Links is a true test of links golf that has been quietly maturing since its opening in 2003. The club announced last week that the course was now ready to be opened for pay by the public.
Situated only 10min from Prestwick Airport and 30min from Glasgow Airport, Dundonald Links is perfectly placed to be marketed as an easy-to-reach Scottish Links venue for overseas golfers, whether Continental, North American or Japanese.
Developing that lucrative market will be one of John Caven’s tasks.

The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament was played at Dundonald Links last September. It was regarded as such a good venue for a number of reasons by the organisers - and presumably Prince Andrew - that the prestigious event is going back to the Ayrshire venue this September.

TARA JOINT FOURTH BUT GEMMA OUTSIDE
TOP 20 IN LADY BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL

Irish cap Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scotland international Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) from Glasgow were lying joint fourth and joint 23rd respectively in a field of 87 players for the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women's college golf tournament over the Ohio State University's course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara has scored 76 and 73 for 149, bogeyed two of the last three holes in her second round after birdieing the third, 14th and 15th.
Gemma is on 158 for the par-72, 6,288yd Scarlet course after rounds of 80 and 78.
Gemma had a triple bogey 7 at the first and a double bogey 5 at the short fifth in her first round. Then she birdied the eighth and 10th in her second round before running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Tara Delaney's older sister Karen, also a student at Kent State, continues to score in the 80s. She had rounds of 83 and 85 for a 24-over-par tally of 168 and a share of 60th place. Karen has not had a birdie in the 36 holes.
Purdue (593) lead the team event from Michigan State (604) with Kent State (616) third and Ohio State and Iowa sharing fourth place on 626 in a field of 14.
Two Purdue University players, Christel Boeljon and Spain's Maria Hernandez share the lead on 141, Christel with a pair of 71s, Maria with 72 and 70.

DOUBLE BOGEY FINISH BLUNTS CALLUM'S
CHALLENGE AT SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA

Callum Macaulay (Mississippi University) from Tulliallan was lying in joint ninth position in a field of 60 players with one round to go in the Southeast Conference men's college golf championship at Sea Island Golf Club, St Simon's Island, Georgia.
Callum had rounds of 75 and 71 for a six-over-par tally of 146 for the par-70, 6,991yd course.
Callum ruined a very good card with a double-bogey 6 at the 18th in his second round in which he had earlier birdied the first, fifth and 15th, dropping shots only at the second and 14th.
The Scot was five shots behind leader Patton Kizzire (Auburn) who shot 72 and 69 to lead by three from four players in joint second place on 144.
Charles Ford (Tennessee) from Leicester was on the same 146 mark as Macaulay with rounds of 75 and 71. A second Tennessee University player, Chris Paisley from Newcastle, was also on 146 with scores of 76 and 70.
Tennessee (584) led the team event from Alabama (586) with Florida and Mississippi joint third on 588 in a field of 12 college squads.

MONTY FINISHES WITH A 77
AS FRENCHMAN MAKES
ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN
BMW ASIAN OPEN

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin completed a dominant start-to-finish victory at the star-studded BMW Asian Open 2007 on Sunday, lifting the title by two strokes after a wet and wild final round.
Colin Montgomerie, who still had an outside chance of victory starting the final day, slumped to a sad 77 to finish no better than joint 15th.
Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates finished joint third after a 74 for 281
Stephen Gallacher had a 75 for a disappointing six-over-par total of 294.
Jacquelin, who held the lead from the first day, fired a one-over-par 73 to complete the US$2.3 million tournament on 10-under-par 278 with Dane Soren Kjeldsen settling for runner-up place at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club after also a 73.
Scott Hend of Australia and Scotsman Simon Yates, both regulars on the Asian Tour, finished equal third while Korea's Lee Sung was tied fifth alongside world number five Ernie Els and Richard Sterne, both from South Africa, and last week's winner Markus Brier of Austria on 282.
"It is a fantastic moment. It is difficult to take the lead in the first round and keep it to the last. It was more difficult the last four or five holes. When you are in a position to win it is always difficult to finish but to be a winner you have to finish. I am really happy. It is my second win so it is not a surprise any more," said a beaming Jacquelin, who pocketed US$383,330.
Taking a one-shot lead into the last day, where tee times were brought forward due to the inclement weather forecast, Jacquelin seized full advantage of the calmer conditions earlier on by streaking into a four-shot lead with an outward 33.
The weather turned in the morning, with gusting winds and a heavy downpour greeting the players and sending scores spiralling but Jacquelin was able to comfortably protect his lead despite coming home with four bogeys.
The BMW Asian Open was Jacquelin's second career wire-to-wire victory following his 2005 Open de Madrid victory.
As if the heavy rain had not soaked him enough, a group of French players helped with his celebrations, popping champagne bottles and pouring it over Jacquelin on the 18th green.
"I had the chance to start pretty well. This morning was calm and we had a lot of chances on the front nine and that is what I did. Three under after nine and I was pretty confident for the last nine. Then the wind picked up and the rain and it was tough from the 12th to the 18th. My shots were not so good so I played for the good side of the green and try and save par," he said.
Hend, who enjoyed his second straight top-three to signal his full recovery from a serious hand injury, lamented a double bogey at the treacherous par three 14th. "When I had a chance to put some pressure on him, I hit a shot on the par three and it got caught in a wind gust and the ball floated up and dropped into the water. I actually hit a good shot there," said Hend, a former US PGA Tour regular.
"I hit some good shots and didn't make birdies and when I made mistakes, I was penalised for it and made bogey. It was unfortunate."
Yates battled gallantly all day until a costly double bogey at the last hole saw him slip from second place to a share of third, costing him nearly US$130,000 in prize money. "It was difficult out there with the wind and everything. It wasn't easy," said Yates.
"I was playing nicely, just hitting greens and that's what you have to do in that weather. Suddenly I just had a bad last hole. The rain got to me. On the first putt, that's the fastest putt I had all week. It kept rolling, rolling and rolling. I left myself four feet coming back and missed it."
Els, the highest-ranked player in the BMW Asian Open this week, was never a factor and a three-putt bogey on the second hole en route to a 72 dampened his hopes. "I hit the ball from tee to green pretty well but my putter let me down most of the week.
"I had a good first nine holes of the tournament with good putting and yesterday evening as well but the rest of it, the putting hasn't been good. I needed to get off to a good start but unfortunately I three putted the second hole," said the Big Easy, winner of the 2005 BMW Asian Open.
As the champion of the BMW Asian Open 2007, Jacquelin will receive more Official World Golf Ranking points than this week's winner on the US PGA Tour, thanks to the strength of field in Shanghai. The Frenchman also qualified for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The BMW Asian Open attracted a record attendance of 15,000 spectators this year and will be held once again in Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in 2008.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
Players from GB&I unless stated.
278 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 69 70 73.
280 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67 72 68 73.
281 Simon Yates 74 69 64 74, Scott Hend (Aus) 69 70 67 75
282 Richard Sterne (SAf) 70 74 69 69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71 71 68 72, Sung-man Lee (Kor) 68 70 71 73, Markus Brier (Aut) 71 69 68 74
283 Graeme McDowell 73 70 69 71
284 Kane Webber (Aus) 71 73 69 71, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 69 72 73, Andrew McLardy (SAf) 72 70 67 75, Simon Dyson 70 70 70 74, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70 69 68 77
285 Retief Goosen (SAf) 71 74 69 71, Scott Barr (Aus) 71 70 72 72, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72 68 72, Colin Montgomerie 69 70 69 77
286 Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70 70 71, James Kingston (Rsa) 74 71 71 70, Tony Carolan (Aus) 69 74 69 74, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 68 68 74, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72 69 70 75, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 73 67 75, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 70 67 78
287 Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 74 72 69 72, David Griffiths 73 69 73 72, Garry Houston 71 72 72 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 71 74 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 70 71 73, Damien McGrane 70 73 69 75, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 70 69 77
288 Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 75 72 73, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73 73 71, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70 66 77, Shaun P Webster 72 74 70 72
289 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74 69 74, Mark Pilkington 71 72 70 76, Keith Horne (SAf) 73 69 70 77, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71 70 73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 70 75 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69 75 70
290 Simon Wakefield 72 70 72 76, Kyron Sullivan 75 66 72 77
291 Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72 71 72 76, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74 71 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73 72 74, Maradan Mamat (Sin) 72 73 73 73
292 Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 69 75 76, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71 75 73
293 Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71 72 77, Gary Murphy 74 72 66 81, Yasin Ali 74 72 71 76, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72 77 71
294 Edward Michaels (US) 74 72 71 77, Stephen Gallacher 72 73 74 75, Edward Loar (US) 70 75 74 75
295 Ghaurev Ghei (Ind) 75 70 73 77, Peter Lawrie 75 71 72 77, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74 74 76
296 Chris Rodgers 73 71 75 77, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 74 77, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73 73 77
297 Gavin Flint (Aus) 68 73 76 80
298 Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77 72 80, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 75 79, Simon Hurd 74 73 74 78
300 Wen-hong Lin (Tpe) 69 76 72 83
301 Lian-wei Zhiang (Chn) 73 73 78 77
(x) denotes amateurs


Visit http://www.asiantour.com/ for more details.

ABERDONIAN SIM LYING JT

ELEVENTH IN US PGA TOUR

EVENT IN NEW ORLEANS

Aberdonian Michael Sim was lying joint 11th going into the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans – his first US PGA Tour outing of the year following a lay-off since last year with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Sim, pictured right, who emigrated with his parents to Australia when he was seven, has had rounds of 71, 69 and 70 for a six-under-par tally of 210 over the TPC Louisiana course at Avondale.
Michael has had nine birdies and three bogeys so far. He birdied the second, seventh, 11th and 12th and dropped shots at the first and sixth in his third round.
Leader at 12-under-par 204 is American Nick Watney with rounds of 69, 67 and 68 for 204. He has a two-shot advantage over Ken Duke. Halfway leader and former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia dropped back to a share of third place on 207 after a par round of 72.
Sim holds dual nationality – British and Australian. His parents are making a holiday trip home to Aberdeen in May.

LEADERBOARD

204 Nick Watney 69 67 68.
206 Ken Duke 69 71 66.
207 Scott Gutschewski 70 70 67, Mark Calcavecchi 66 69 72.
Other score:
210 Michael Sim (Sco) 71 69 70.

MARTIN LAIRD LEADS BY ONE

ON US NATIONWIDE TOUR

AFTER BIRDIE-BIRDIE FINISH

Big-hitting former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow birdied the final two holes to maintain his lead in the $500,000 Athens Regional Foundation Classic, the seventh of 32 events on Amercan’s No 2 pro golf circuit, the Nationwide Tour.
Laird, 24, pictured right, who has scored 66, 67 and 70 for a 13-under-par tally of 203,leads by one shot from American Nicholas Thompson at Jennings Mill Country Club, Athens in Georgia.
The secret of the 6f 2in Scot’s success so far has been his driving. He leads the tournament statistics in length off the tee (average 324yd) and fairways hit (39 out of 42 overall and every one in Saturday’s t
Laird turned pro in 2004 after spending four years playing the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University. He was a team-mate of the current Scottish amateur champion Kevin McAlpine from Alyth).
Playing his second full season on the Nationwide Tour, Martin started the third round with a four-stroke lead and birdied the second, third and fourth holes, but saw his advantage dwindle with bogeys on holes 5, 8, 13 and 16, although he did get a birdie at the 14th.
Trailing Thompson by one stroke after 16 holes, Laird finished with birdies on the final two holes to regain his momentum heading into the final round.
"It was huge to finish with birdies," said Laird. "It makes the round taste a lot better to finish with the lead."
"You can shoot 64 on this golf course, so there are a lot of guys that could still win," Laird, who has had 18 birdies so far in 54 holes, said. "Everyday I've gone to bed at night with the lead and I've gone to bed the next night still in the lead. There's no reason I can't do that again tomorrow."
Welshman Richard Johnson is in joint fifth place on 208 with scores of 67, 72 and 69.

LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
203 Martin Laird (Sco) 66 67 70.
204 Nicholas Thompson (US) 71 66 67.
207 Justin Bolli (US) 74 68 65, Jeremy Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other scores:
208 Richard Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 (jt 5th).
213 Keith Nolan (Ire) 71 72 70 (jt 376th).
215 Gary Christian (Eng) 71 72 71 (jt 47th).

VIKKI LAING MISSES CUT IN LOUISIANA
PELICAN CLASSIC

The fortunes of Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing on the US Futures Tour show no signs of an upturn this season.
The multiple former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player missed the 36-hole cut on Saturday in the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette. Vikki had rounds of 78 and 72 over the 6,437yd, par-72 course for a total of 150, which was three strokes too many to qualify her for the final round.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, another former US women's college circuit player, missed out with an aggregate of 147, made up of rounds of 74 and 75.
The lead was shared on seven-under 137 by Jenny Gleason from Florida (68-69) and Janell Howland (Idaho) with 65 and 72.
They are one shot ahead of Mo Martin from California (70-68) and Allison Fouch (Michigan) 68-70.

TITLE-HOLDER ELAINE, TOP SEED
LOUISE FAIL TO REACH FIFE
COUNTY SEMI-FINALS

Defending champion Elaine Moffat and top seed Louise Kenney failed to make it through to Sunday morning's semi-finals of the Fife women's county championship at Dunfermline Golf Club.
Elaiine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) but then lost by 2 and 1 to the seventh qualifier Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) in the quarter-finals.
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Scottish senior cap Lorna Bennett (pictured right) by 3 and 2.
The semi-finals line-up is:
9.30am - Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) v Karin Sharp (Kirkcaldy).
9.37am - Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) v Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).

Results:
FIRST ROUND
L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3.
L Bennett (Ladybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4.
L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th.
K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford Scotscraig) 4 and 3.
J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Rule) 3 and 1.
F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4.
L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5.
E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2.
Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4.
Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2.
Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.

MARK JAMES DROPS BACK INTO TIE
FOR SECOND PLACE IN GEORGIA

England's Mark James lost his first-day lead with a second-riund 71 for six-under-par 138 in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament over the par-72, 7,087yd Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, Georgia today.
Jay Haas took up the running with a 69 for seven-under 137 but James is only one shot back in a triple tie for second place.
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
1. Jay Haas 68-69--137 -7
2. Wayne Levi 70-68--138 -6
2. Brad Bryant 69-69--138 -6
2. Mark James 67-71--138 -6
5. Loren Roberts 71-68--139 -5
5. Tom Kite 68-71--139 -5
7. Hale Irwin 70-70--140 -4
7. Tom Purtzer 68-72--140 -4
9. Craig Stadler 72-69--141 -3
9. Dana Quigley 71-70--141 -3
9. Gil Morgan 70-71--141 -3
9. Scott Simpson 70-71--141 -3
13. Keith Fergus 74-68--142 -2
13. Mark O'Meara 73-69--142 -2
13. Scott Hoch 72-70--142 -2
16. John Jacobs 72-71--143 -1
16. Des Smyth 71-72--143 -1
16. Morris Hatalsky 71-72--143 -1
19. Nick Price 76-68--144 E
19. Raymond Floyd 74-70--144 E
19. Bobby Wadkins 74-70--144 E
19. Bruce Fleisher 73-71--144 E
19. Curtis Strange 71-73--144 E
24. Graham Marsh 74-71--145 +1
24. Allen Doyle 74-71--145 +1
24. Fuzzy Zoeller 73-72--145 +1
24. Bob Eastwood 73-72--145 +1
24. Tom Jenkins 73-72--145 +1
24. Andy Bean 72-73--145 +1
24. Eduardo Romero 72-73--145 +1
24. David Edwards 72-73--145 +1
24. Hubert Green 71-74--145 +1
33. Jim Thorpe 77-69--146 +2
33. Don Pooley 75-71--146 +2
33. Mark McCumber 74-72--146 +2
36. Jerry Pate 77-70--147 +3
36. Bob Murphy 76-71--147 +3
36. D.A. Weibring 75-72--147 +3
36. Jim Albus 74-73--147 +3
40. Jay Sigel 78-70--148 +4
40. Mark McNulty 77-71--148 +4
40. Leonard Thompson 76-72--148 +4
40. John Harris 75-73--148 +4
40. Jim Dent 72-76--148 +4
45. Larry Nelson 75-74--149 +5
45. Bob Gilder 74-75--149 +5
45. Dave Eichelberger 74-75--149 +5
48. Jim Colbert 77-73--150 +6
49. J.C. Snead 77-77--154 +10
50. Charles Coody 82-74--156 +12

TRIPLE BOGEY 7 TORPEDOES
HENDERSON HOPES IN EURO
CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

IN ITALY
A triple bogey 7 at the 11th torpedoed Scott Henderson's hopes of taking up a challenging position going into Sunday's final round of the Tessali-Metaponto Open - the latest European Challenge Tour fixture - at Riva dei Tessali and Metaponto golf clubs in south-east Italy.
Scott had jumped into the top 20 at halfway with a second-round 65 (six under par) for a halfway tally of 138 but he let the opportunity slip through his fingers with a third-round 74 for a two-undere-par tally of 212.
That puts the Aberdonian in joint 45th place - 11 shots behind the leader, Ulsterman Michael Hoey (pictured right) who has put together three tasty rounds of 66, 67 and 68 for 13-under-par 201 to lead by two shots from Joost Luiten (Netherlands).
Henderson was out in level par 35 with birdies at the second and ninth cancelling out bogeys at the first and eight. Then came that triple bogey 7 at the 11th. Scott did birdie the 12th and 17th after that but he also bogeyed the 14th and 18th in an erratic inward half of 39.
Rookie pro George Murray, the former Scottish amateur champion from Earlsferry, has scored 69, 72 and 74 for 215. He had birdies at the 12gth and 14th but five bogeys in hlaves of 38 and 36.
MICHAEL HOEY IN THE LEAD
Michael Hoey continued his return to top form by moving into a one shot lead after a third round of three under par 68 took him to 13 under 201.
Hoey has rediscovered the swing, touch and confidence that helped him finish eighth on the 2005 Challenge Tour Rankings.
The Belfast man is the first to admit that his rookie season on the European Tour last year was one drenched in confusion and over-technicality, and resulted in him losing his place at European golf’s top table.
Unbowed, Hoey has retuned to the Challenge Tour, refocused and burning with determination to climb his way back to one of golf’s highest plateaus on The European Tour.
“I have been doing a lot of good work with my coach, Andrew Nicholson, and I have been improving all aspects of my game over the winter.
“I am feeling the benefit of it, without a doubt, and I am certainly a better player than when I won the Austrian Open on the Challenge Tour in 2005, but I have to prove that with results.”
Hoey’s victory at the 2005 BA CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria was a significant landmark in the 28 year old’s career.
TOP AMATEUR CAREER
It gave him the belief that he could win in the professional arena after a glittering amateur career that saw him win the 2001 British amateur championship as well as helping Great Britain and Ireland win the Walker Cup that same season.
Hoey will have to draw on every bit of that experience as he goes into Sunday’s final round at Riva dei Tessali, with a quality field looking to overcome him.
Frenchman Raphael Eyraud, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Sweden’s Fredrik Widmark trail the leader by just a single stroke, while Welshman Liam Bond is just two off the pace on ten under.
Among the four players on eight under, five behind Hoey, is Challenge Tour No 1, Italy's Edoardo Molinari, who, having already won twice on the 2007 schedule, can win atoumatic promotion to the European Tour if he can win one more event this season.
will be on Hoey, who is fully aware of the pressure of leading going onto the final round.
“I know all about it,” said Hoey. “I led three times going into the last round on the Challenge Tour in 2005. The first two times I didn’t do to well and kind of got caught out thinking about results, but the third time I won in Austria.
“There is pressure there, but you have to try and go back to one shot at a time, but enjoy it as well. It’s why we are all out here. If someone had said to me at the start of the week that I would be leading by one going into the final round I would have thought that’s amazing, so you try and realise that as well.”
THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 214 (2 x 71 + 1 x 72)
201 Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67 68.
202 Joost Luiten (Net) 65 70 67.
203 Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 69 63 71, Raphael Eyraud (Fra) 67 66 70.
204 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66 68.
205 Giorgio Grillo (Ita) 71 66 68, Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71 67.
206 James Morrison (Eng) 67 71 68, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 76 68 67, Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67 69, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 70 69.
Other scores:
212 Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65 74 (jt 45th).
215 George Murray (Sco) 69 72 74 (jt 56th).

SCOT LAIRD LEADS BY FOUR

IN NATIONWIDE TOUR

EVENT IN GEORGIA

FORMER Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow holds a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the $500,000 Athens Regional Foundation Classic, the seventh of 32 events on the United States' No 2 pro circuit, the Nationwide Tour, at Jennings Mills Country Club, Bogart in Georgia.
The 6ft 2in Laird, pictured right, followed up an opening round of 66 with a five-under-par 67 to maintain his overnight lead and move clear of the field at 11-under-par 133.
Laird, playing his second full season on the Nationwide Tour, fired the only bogey-free round in the second round. He made eight cuts in 19 events on the Nationwide Tour in 2005. He played on the Gateway Tour last year, winning the 2006 San Juan Open in earning $18,488 from 20 events. This year already on the Nationwide Tour he has made $19,691 from six outings.
Before turning pro in 2004, Laird, 24, spent four years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
"The first two days, I've driven it really well," Laird said who tops the tournament driving statistics for length and fairways hit. "There are some long holes out here and if you don't hit good drives, some of the par 4s are trouble. It's definitely a lot easier game if you are hitting it long and down the middle."
Laird's four-stroke lead is the largest 36-hole lead on the Nationwide Tour in 2007. The only green Laird missed during his second round was his first hole. With 13 fairways hit and 17 of 18 greens in regulation, Laird's bogey-free round was relatively stress-free. "I hit a lot of good putts today that didn't go in," said Laird, who holds a second-round lead for the first time in his Nationwide Tour career.
"I said to my caddie walking in that I could have shot 9 under today without doing too much extra."
A total of 60 players with 36-hole totals of one-under-par 143 or better made the cut.

LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). Players from US unless stated.
133 M Laird (Sco) 66 67.
137 M Carballo (Arg) 71 66, N Thompson 71 66.
138 D McKenzie (Wal) 70 68, H Haas 69 69, B Quackenbush 760 68, S Kendall 70 68, T Scherrer 69 69, S Jones 67 71.
Other totals:
139 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72.
143 K Nolan (Ire) 71 72, G Christian (Eng) 71 72.

SCOT SIMON EQUALS
COURSE RECORD TO
JOINT THIRD IN
BMW ASIAN OPEN


Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates equalled the course record of 64 to be in joint third place on nine-under-par 206 going into Sunday's final round in the BMW Asian Open.
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin stayed firmly in the pole position. Bidding for a second career title, he battled to a two-under-par 70 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club today for a three-day total of 11-under-par 205. He held off a spirited Scott Hend of Australia, who stayed in the title hunt with a fine 67 for 206.
Yates, pictured right, is tied for third place with Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark. Fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie is in joint sixth place on 208 after a 69 and is perfectly placed for a last-round charge at the leader.
The only other Scot to survive the halfway cut, Stephen Gallacher, had a 74 for 219.
South African star Ernie Els fired his week's best of 68 to give himself a shot at winning a second BMW Asian Open title and is five behind Jacquelin on 210.
"I am feeling pretty good. It was a bit more difficult today as I didn’t putt very well," said Jacquelin, who has led the tournament since the opening round. "I try every week and will do my best. We never know. The game is very difficult and I will try my best on every shot. If win I will be very happy, if not I will try again next week."
With forecast of severe weather conditions for Sunday, organisers announced the final round will begin at 6.40am, with the leaders teeing off at 8.30am. Jacquelin is well prepared for a wet and wild last day romp, especially when he failed to cross the finish line first at Shanghai Silport last week after seizing the halfway lead.
"I am excited every time I am on the leaderboard and especially in the last group. I am pretty calm usually and that is the way I play. And I'll try and have a bit of fun, even if it is raining."
Big-hitting Hend, currently fourth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit after two runner-up finishes this season, continues his rehabilitation from a serious hand injury by staying within sight of Jacquelin's rear mirror.
Hend fired seven birdies against two dropped shots and made a huge par save from 15 feet at the last hole to keep the lead down to one. "It felt like 100 feet!," said Scott of the last putt. "It was probably 15 feet or something like that. It felt a long way."
After spending two years on the US PGA Tour from 2004 to 2005, Hend lost his card in America and then tore muscles on his left hand last year which set his career back. But after earning his card on the Asian Tour through Qualifying School, Hend has grown in strength and feels a win is just around the corner.
Yates, who has finished third on the Order of Merit on two occasions in Asia, charged into contention with a fast start of three opening birdies before hitting another purple patch with birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth to turn in 30. With three more birdies on the back nine, the Scot was poised for a new course record but dropped a shot on the 18th hole after finding the fairway trap.
The Thai-based Scot was delighted to be in the hunt in the BMW Asian Open, especially after opening with a 74 on Thursday , but he wasn't sure if winning on Sunday would give him the same thrill as winning a car race, which he is passionate about these days.
"Three under after three holes, you feel pretty good. I played nicely, hit a lot of greens and didn't make any mistakes and putted really well. It was a shame at the last. Otherwise, it was a nice round of golf," said Yates, who matched Thailand's Somkiat Srisanga's course mark.
Winning a BMW-sponsored event would certainly match Yates' recent passion for car racing where he has won once in Thailand. "It's quite weird because the first win I had racing in a car was the best feeling I've ever had from winning anything. Golf has never given me that feeling," said Yates, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Ryder Cup player Paul Casey withdrew after returning a third-round 77 for four-over-par 220.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)


205 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69-70.
206 Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70-67.
207 Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69-64, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69-68, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72-68
208 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70-67, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69-68, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70-69
209 Andrew McLardy (SAf) 72-70-67, Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70-71
210 Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71-68, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70-69, Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70-70
211 Andres Romero (Arg) 75-70-66, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71-73-67, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69-72
212 Gary Murphy (Ire) 74-72-66, David Bransdon (Aus) 76-68-68, Graeme Mcdowell (NIr) 73-70-69, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73-69, Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74-69, Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69-70
213 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73-72-68, Kane Webber (Aus) 71-73-69, Richard Sterne (SAf) 70-74-69, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66-72, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70-72

In remaining scores, players are from GB&I unless stated:

214 Retief Goosen (SAf) 71 74 69, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 70 71, Simon Wakefield 72 70 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 71.
215 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74 69, Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 74 72 69, Jason Knutzon (USA) 75 70 70, Adam Le Vesconte 72 71 72, Garry Houston 71 72 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 75 72, David Griffiths 73 69 73.
216 Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71 70, Shaun P Webster 72 74 70, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 74 71, Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71 72, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 69 75
217 Edward Michaels (US) 74 72 71, Yasin Ali 74 72 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73 72, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76 72, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73 73, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68 73 76
218 Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77 72, Peter Lawrie 75 71 72, Gaurev Ghei (Ind) 75 70 73, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73 73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 70 75
219 Wen-tang Lin (Tpe) 73 73 73, Edward Loar (US) 70 75 74, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74 74, Stephen Gallacher 72 73 74, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 74, Chris Rodgers 73 71 75, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71 75, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 75, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69 75
220 Simon Hurd 74 72 74
222 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72 77
224 Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73 78.
Withdrawn: Paul Casey 72 71 77.

Visit www.asiantour.com for live scoring from Sunday's final round.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

MONTY RETURNS TO CELTIC MANOR
WALES OPEN NEXT MONTH

COLIN Montgomerie has announced he will be returning to South Wales to tee up in The Celtic Manor Wales Open next month.
Montgomerie figured prominently on the leaderboard throughout last year’s event before finishing fourth and makes the journey back with the aim of landing his first title in Wales, one of the few tour stops in Europe where he has yet to win a tournament.
Swedish Ryder Cup star Robert Karlsson fended off Montgomerie, Paul Broadhurst and Jose-Filipe Lima to bank the £250,000 winner’s cheque after four days of fantastic golf in 2006.
This year’s field has already been boosted by the announcement that two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen will be making his debut in The Celtic Manor Wales Open from May 31 to June 3.
Now in its eighth year at the host venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, and carrying a prize fund of £1.5m, The Celtic Manor Wales Open is one of the top ten events on the European Tour and continues to enjoy a prime early summer date the week after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Montgomerie said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed playing in The Celtic Manor Wales Open since making my debut in the event in 2003 and I have watched the tournament grow dramatically in the last four years.
“Every year the playing field seems to get stronger but I’m hoping I’ll be able to mount another strong challenge for the trophy again this year. I always get a fantastic reception from the Welsh golf fans and hopefully I can give them even more to cheer by getting myself into contention on the Sunday of the event.”
Montgomerie has always been a popular competitor with the tournament galleries and has also captained an All-Star Cup team, featuring celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Ronan Keating and Chris Evans, at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2005 and 2006.
The Ryder Cup hero has further strengthened his close association with the Resort in the last 12 months by designing a new course which will bear his name. "The Montgomerie" is scheduled to open in July and the burgeoning course architect will be keen to oversee the final preparations after he steps off the neighbouring Roman Road course during The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
“It was a great honour to be asked to design a new course at The Celtic Manor Resort,” said the Scot. “It is on a spectacular piece of land and I have been keeping a close eye on developments during the course build.
“The course is shaping up nicely as a testing challenge that is different to the other courses at the Resort. This will be a great opportunity for me to take another look at some of the finishing touches during The Celtic Manor Wales Open.”
Tournament Director Jon Phelps is understandably delighted by the return to the event of such a prolific winner and a player with such strong ties to Celtic Manor.
“Colin Montgomerie has been a brilliant ambassador for this tournament,” he said.
“I’m sure he will once again be one of the golfers most closely watched by the galleries and we look forward to many more of the European Tour’s brightest stars following the lead of Colin and Retief by choosing to play in The Celtic Manor Wales Open.”
The Celtic Manor Wales Open always aims to provide an experience that is much more than just a golf tournament. Ladies Day, complete with champagne hospitality, on the Saturday of the event has become one of the hottest dates on the sporting social calendar, relaxed master-classes on the range give spectators a unique insight into some of their favourite players, and a family tented village complete with Kidz Zone provides additional entertainment for all.
For ticket, hospitality and sponsorship information, call the Celtic Manor events team on 01633 410318 or visit www.walesopen.com

MARK JAMES SETS PACE IN US SENIORS
TOURNAMENT AT WESTIN SAVANNAH

England's Mark James is the first-round leader with a five-under-par 65 in the US Champions' Tour event, the Liberty Mutal Legends of Golf tournament, at Westin Savannah Harbour Golf Resort & Spa.
With the locals complaining about the cold - temperatures in the low 60s! - and a wind of around 20mph - Mark revelled in the conditions to set the pace.
He leads by one shot from Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas and Tom Kite.
LEADERBOARD
67 Mark James (Eng).
68 Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas, Tom Kite.
Other scores:
70 Hale Irwin.
71 Des Smyth (Ire), Curtis Strange.
76 Nick Price.
77 Mark McNulty.

MARK CALCAVECCHIA LEADS

Meanwhile, former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, already a winner on the US PGA Tour this season, is the halfway leader on nine-under-par 135 in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
LEADERBOARD
135 Mark Calcavecchia 66 69.
136 Lucas Glover 67 69, Nick Watney 69 67.
137 Charley Hoffman 68 69, Kyle Reifers 64 73.
MISSED CUT
145 Brian Davis (Eng) 73 72.
147 Oliver Thomson (Eng) 72 75.

VIKKI STRUGGLING IN LOUISIANA

PELICAN CLASSIC

Former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing from Musselburgh has a first-round score of six-over-par 78 to be lying joint 123rd in a field of 144 for the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's professional golf tournament at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette.
Vikki, pictured right, had halves of 39 (three over par both ways) to be 13 shots behind the leader, Janell Howland, from Boise, Idaho, who said that a new set of Ping Rapture irons had made all the difference to her game.

The fact that Janell's father was caddieing and her mother walking the side of the fairways helped to give Janelle a feel-good factor which was reflected in her halves of 35 and 32 for the 6,437yd, par-72 (36-36) course.

Joint second on 67 were former US Curtis Cup player and rookie professional Jane Park from California, and Canadian Kim Brozer from Alberta. Both covered the front nine in four-under-par 32.

Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, like Vikki a former US college circuit player, had a 74 (36-38) to be in joint 79th position.

HENDERSON CLICKS WITH A 65

TO MOVE INTO TOP 20 OF
CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson, pictured right, produced a sparkling second round of seven-under-par 65 to move into contention at the European Challenge Tour’s Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata on Italy’s south-east coast today.
Henderson, who opened his week with a two-over-73 at Riva dei Tessali, made his comeback with seven birdies and 11 pars at the Metaponto Golf Club to move to five under for the tournament, joint 18th on 138 and just six shots behind leader Fredrik Widmark of Sweden with 36 holes to play.
Henderson will return to Riva dei Tessali for the weekend action, where he will be joined by fellow Scot George Murray, who just made the two under par cut mark of 141 with nothing to spare with rounds of 69 and 72.
There was disappointment for the six other Scots in the field, as Jack Doherty (one under 142 ), Peter Whiteford (one under 142 ), Jamie McLeary (two over 145), Eric Ramsay (two over 145), Andrew McArthur (three over 146) and Graham Gordon (six over 149) were all forced to catch early flights home.

The best-placed Scottish-based player at halfway is Gareth Wright, the Welsh son of the West Linton club professional. Gareth had 70 and 66 for 136.

SCOREBOARD

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS:
Par 143 (71 72 or 72 71).
132 Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 69 63.
133 Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67; Raphaël Eyraud (Fra) 67 66; John E Morgan (Eng) 66 67.
135 Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 68 67; Stuart Cage (Eng) 67 68; Joost Luiten (Ned) 65 70.
136 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66; Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 64; Gareth Wright (Wal) 70 66; Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) 66 70; Chris Gane (Eng) 68 68.
137 Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 68 69; Stuart Manley (Wal) 69 68; Giorgio Grillo (Ita) 71 66; Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 70; Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67.
138 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 70 68; Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71; Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 72 66; Cédric Menut (Fra) 68 70; Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65; James Morrison (Eng) 67 71; Tobias Dier (Ger) 71 67; Robin Swane (Ned) 67 71.
139 Raphaël De Sousa (Sui) 67 72; Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 68; Matteo Del Podio (Ita) 73 66; Lars Brovold (Nor) 71 68; Van Phillips (Eng) 65 74; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 69 70; Anthony Grenier (Fra) 72 67; Francis Valera (Esp) 71 68; Andrea Zanini (Ita) 70 69; Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 71 68; Ricardo Santos (Por) 70 69; Brett Taylor (Eng) 74 65; Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 67; Andrea Zani (Ita) 71 68.
140 Marco Cidonio (Ita) 73 67; Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 69; David Dixon (Eng) 68 72; Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 73 67; Nicola Maestroni (Ita) 71 69; Alessandro Napoleoni (Ita) 69 71; Niki Zitny (Aut) 68 72; Miguel Rodriguez (Arg) 69 71; Peter Baker (Eng) 70 70; Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 71 69; Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 70; Simon Lilly (Eng) 71 69; Matteo Peroni (Ita) 70 70; Martin Wiegele (Aut) 69 71; André Bossert (Sui) 68 72; Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 71 69.
141 Tim Milford (Eng) 75 66; Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 68 73; Morten Hedegaard (Den) 68 73; Peter Kaensche (Nor) 70 71; Per Barth (Swe) 72 69; Ben Willman (Eng) 72 69; Christophe Brazillier (Fra) 70 71; Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 70 71; Kariem Baraka (Ger) 68 73; George Murray (Sco) 69 72.
MISSED CUT
142 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 67 75; Roope Kakko (Fin) 68 74; Gary Clark (Eng) 70 72; Tiago Cruz (Por) 70 72; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 71 71; Peter Whiteford (Sco) 72 70; Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 72 70; Jamie Little (Eng) 71 71; Jack Doherty (Sco) 72 70; Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin) 74 68; Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Spa) 75 67; Francisco Cea (Esp) 72 70.
143 Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra) 71 72; Ari Savolainen (Fin) 73 70; Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 72 71; Simon Robinson (Eng) 75 68; Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 75 68; Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 73 70; Julien Grillon (Fra) 72 71; Ross McGowan (Eng) 73 70; Nicolas Sulzer (Sui) 73 70; Kevin Harper (Eng) 72 71; Kieran Staunton (Eng) 74 69; Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) 73 70; Stephen Browne (Ire) 68 75; Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 72 71.
144 Julien Van Hauwe (Fra) 71 73; Jerome Theunis (Bel) 70 74; Stefano Reale (Ita) 72 72. Renato De Rosa (Ita) 74 70; Philip Rowe (Eng) 74 70; Emmanuele Lattanzi (Ita) 71 73; Jacob Okello (Ken) 72 72; Paul Dwyer (Eng) 72 72; Manuel Kempe (Ger) 71 73; Matthew King (Eng) 77 67; Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den) 72 72; Damian Mooney (Nir) 73 71; Klas Eriksson (Swe) 77 67; Julien Guerrier (Fra) 72 72; 145 Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 74 71; Christian Reimbold (Ger) 74 71; Bertrand Coathalem (Fra) 69 76; Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 73 72.
145 Leif Westerberg (Swe) 72 73; Wil Besseling (Ned) 75 70; Jamie McLeary (Sco) 70 75; Pedro Linhart (Spa) 73 72; Eric Ramsay (Sco) 71 74; Benjamin Miarka (Ger) 70 75; Ally Mellor (Eng) 72 73.
146 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 78 68, Olivier David (Fra) 75 71, Gianluca Pietrobono (Ita) 69 77, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 75; Paolo Terreni (Ita) 73 73; Daniel Denison (Eng) 72 74; Pontus Ericsson (Swe) 72 74; Christoffer Lange (Den) 72 74; Michele Zanini (Ita) 73 73; Michael McGeady (Ire) 74 72; Andrea Rota (Ita) 75 71; Stuart Davis (Eng) 71 75; Michele Reale (Ita) 76 70; Robert Coles (Eng) 72 74.
147 Fernando Pasqualucci (Ita) 73 74; Ivan Campi (Ita) 73 74; Robert Wiederkehr (Sui) 72 75; John Mellor (Eng) 71 76; Magnus Persson (Swe) 74 73; Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra) 74 73; Zane Scotland (Eng) 69 78; Alfredo Da Corte (Ita) 74 73; Diego Borrego (Spa) 73 74; Marc Perez Gelma (Spa) 73 74.
148 Antti Ahokas (Fin) 73 75; Marco Bernardini (Ita) 71 77.
149 Graham Gordon (Sco) 78 71; Jonathan Baglioni (Ita) 75 74.
150 Thomas Nielsen (Den) 74 76; Joachim Hassan (Ita) 71 79; Alvaro Salto (Spa) 79 71; Panu Kylliäinen (Fin) 79 71; Alessio Mastriforti (Ita) 79 71.
151 Antonio Iurilli (Ita) 73 78; Carlos De Corral (Esp) 78 73; Andrea Cerri (Ita) 76 75; Gabriel Canizares (Esp) 76 75.
152 Quentin De Valensart (Bel) 79 73; Richard Treis (Ger) 78 74; Gregory Molteni (Ita) 76 76;
153 Lasse Jensen (Den) 74 79; Soren Juul (Den) 73 80; Phil Worthington (Eng) 78 75; Giulio Grippa (Ita) 79 74.
154 Sean Whiffin (Eng) 78 76; Simone Brizzolari (Ita) 79 75; Daniele Bellacci (Ita) 80 74; Angelo Regno (Ita) 77 77.
155 Alex McGuinness (Ken) 74 81.
156 Manuel Merizalde (Col) 76 80.
157 Andrea Ranza (Ita) 76 81; Alberto Campanile (Ita) (am) 75 82.

GORDON YATES BUT NO RICHIE

RAMSAY IN EUROPEAN TEAM

FOR PALMER CUP

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

Stirling University student Gordon Yates (pictured right) is the only Scot named in the European team to defend the Palmer Cup in the transatlantic students’ amateur international golf match against the United States at Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
United States amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen & Stirling University) informed the Golf Coaches Association of America – who choose both teams – that he would not be available for selection.
The St Andrews Trophy 72-hole tournament starts on Friday, June 8. In the absence of confirmation from Ramsay, it is likely that he is opting to play at St Andrews rather than in America where he has recently spent several weeks around his participation in the Masters.
A spokeswoman for the St Andrews Links Trust said that no entry had been received from Richie Ramsay but the deadline was not until May 4.
Ramsay played in last year’s Palmer Cup match at Prestwick where the European students won 19 ½-4 1/2, the biggest winning margin by either side in the history of the series in which United States lead 5-4 with one drawn.
Dustin Roberts, director of communications for the Golf Coaches Association of America said today:
“Richie did inform us that he would be unable to participate in this year’s Palmer Cup. We contact potential players for the Palmer Cup well in advance of team selection, so it wasn’t an issue of an invitation being declined. We were aware of his unavailabity very early in the selection process and were able to adjust any plans accordingly.”
Apart from Gordon Yates, the only other British players in the European team of eight for the match are two East Tennessee State University students, Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland and Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies who was brought up in South Wales and is coming up to the end of his four-year scholarship in the States.
Davies, who will equal the Palmer Cup individual record of four appearances in June, has won 10 tournaments on the American college circuit and is No 4 in the R&A World Amateur Rankings..
Rhys played in the Palmer Cup match at Prestwick last year and so did Oscar Floren (Texas Tech & Sweden), Jorge Campillo (Indiana & Spain) and Mark Haastrup (Georgia State & Denmark) who retain their places in the 2007 line-up..
The European squad will be coached by Chris Van der Velde from the Netherlands.
The Americans will start favourites to regain the Palmer Cup this year. They have announced a team which contains five players from the top 17 of the R&A World Amateur Rankings.
The teams are:
EUROPE – Jonas Blixt (Florida State & Sweden), Jorge Campillo (Indiana & Spain), Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State & Wales), Oscar Floren (Texas Tech & Sweden), Mark Haastrup (Georgia State & Denmark), Pedrio Oriol (Arizona & Spain),Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State & Northern Ireland), Gordon Yates (Stirling & Scotland).
UNITED STATES – Billy Horschel (Florida), Chris Kirk (Georgia), Jamie Lovemark (USC), Webb Simpson (Wake Forest), Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), Brian Harman (Georgia), Luke List (Vanderbilt).

ROOKIE REIFERS LEADS WITH
64 IN ZURICH CLASSIC
OF NEW ORLEANS

American rookie Kyle Reifers led the field by two strokes at the end of the first round of the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orelans at the TPC of Louisiana.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72 (players from US unless stated)
64 Kyle Reifers
66 Mark Calcavecchia
67 Tom Johnson, Lucas Glover, Tim Petrovic, Jason Schultz
68 Chris Stroud, Charley Hoffman, Duffy Waldorf, Joey Sindelar
Darron Stiles, Carlos Franco (Par), Kevin Sutherland, Steve Wheatcroft
69 Nick Watney, Paul Stankowski, David Toms, John Mallinger, Bob Estes, Ken Duke, Douglas Labelle, John Merrick, Joe Ogilvie, Lee Janzen, Ted Purdy, George McNeill, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Michael Allen, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Wes Short jun, Danny Ellis
70 Jeff Overton, Woody Austin, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Jim Rutledge (Can), Tommy Armour III, Jerry Smith, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Ryan Palmer, Bo Van Pelt, Bryce Molder, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Kent Jones, Steve Elkington (Aus), Brian Bateman, Alex Cejka (Ger), Kenny Perry, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Scott Gutschewski, John Huston, Ryan Moore
71 Tom Byrum, Anders Hansen (Den), Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn), Steven Bowditch (Aus), Harrison Frazar, Nathan Green (Aus), Sean O'Hair, Shaun Micheel, Craig Bowden, Dicky Pride, Ryuji Imada (Jap), Craig Kanada, Briny Baird, Bob Heintz, Steve Stricker, Michael Sim (Aus), Vance Veazey, Chris DiMarco, Peter Lonard (Aus), Charlie Wi (Kor), Kevin Stadler, Anthony Kim, Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Dan Forsman, Rocco Mediate
72 Kirk Triplett, Tag Ridings, Clark Dennis, Kris Cox, Chris Smith, Mark Hensby (Aus), Chris Couch, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Heath Slocum, Will MacKenzie, Bill Haas, Jose Coceres (Arg), Frank Lickliter II, Oliver Thomson, Eric Axley, Bubba Watson, Jeff Brehaut, Matt Kuchar, Steve Allan (Aus), Bob Tway, Jeff Maggert, Arjun Atwal (Ind), Ryan Armour, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), Rich Barcelo
73 Brian Davis (Eng), Dudley Hart, Charles Warren, Chris Riley, Marco Dawson, Brian Gay, Michael Putnam, Scott Piercy, Fred Funk, Martin Rominger (Swi), Kevin Na (Kor), Jay Delsing, DJ Brigman, Glen Day, Johnson Wagner, Troy Matteson, Mark Brooks
74 Brad Adamonis, Robert Gamez, Jason Dufner, Jeff Quinney, Steve Flesch, Brent Geiberger, Blaine McCallister, Cliff Kresge, Stephen Marino, Jake Narro, John Cook, Len Mattiace, Brandt Jobe, Thomas Levet (Fra)
75 Paul Gow (Aus), David Branshaw, Garrett Willis, Gavin Coles (Aus), Jaco Van Zyl (SAf), Parker McLachlin, Derek Abel, Michael Boyd, Joe Durant, Bubba Dickerson
76 Brendon De Jonge, Grant Waite (NZ), Paul Azinger, Craig Perks (NZ), Kelly Gibson, Scott Gump, Brandt Snedeker
77 Chris Tidland, Matt Hendrix, Craig Lile (SAf), Boo Weekley
79 Cameron Beckman
81 B.J Staten
85 Reed Hughes

PRESS RELEASE FROM SPANISH SUCCESS STORY

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO BREAKS

SALES RECORDS WITH SELL-OUT

OF LUXURY APARTMENTS

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain has smashed sales records with a sell-out of its latest release of properties.
The upmarket resort sold 100 luxury apartments in just 10 days as buyers went on an £18 million spending spree. The purchasers, from all over Europe, snapped up the first batch of “The Oasis,” (pictured above) a much-praised, exclusive, gated community of apartments within the resort with prices starting at just £123,000. These first 100 properties were launched with a 90-day-only price but sold out after just 10 days.
“It’s a sensational success story” commented a delighted Rafael Ruiz the resort’s commercial director. “We believe this is the fastest sell-out in the history of resort golf property in this area. It was down to customers recognising that this is a fantastic investment at a price that offers true value-for-money on a resort that is on target to be the very best in Spain.

"There may be predictions of a slow down in the property market nationally in Spain but we have bucked the trend and shown that quality, exclusivity and price are the most important factors for purchasers.”
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort’s sales team are now putting the next batch of 172 apartments in “The Oasis” on the market with a new price tag, again for a limited period. The final group of properties in the 352 apartment complex will then go on sale with a price raised by a further 10%.

“We believe our strategy has shown buyers great opportunities to invest at a competitive price and see the valuation of their properties rise before the ink is even dry on their contracts” says Hacienda del Alamo’s investment manager Aisling Brew.

“We can offer purchasers unbeatable payment terms so their exposure for at least a couple of years is relatively low whilst they watch their money grow as the building is completed.”
A deposit of approximately £2,000 is required to reserve a property in most sections on the top class resort, which has been dubbed “the new No. 1 in Spain”. But, even better, a deposit of just 15% (less the €3,000 initial deposit) is needed on the signing of the contract and the Caixa Catalunya, which backs the resort, is offering mortgages of up to 85% on a 30-year payback period, subject to conditions.
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort occupies a stunning 550-hectare site near Fuente Alamo in Murcia and it is flanked by the impressive mountains of the Sierra Espuña Regional Park. It boasts a Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole championship golf course, including eight lakes and 84 bunkers.
Under construction are the clubhouse, a five-star hotel and spa plus all the bars, restaurants, shops and other facilities you need for a safe and pleasurable lifestyle. Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort is just 20 minutes from fabulous beaches as well as close to airports served by low-cost airlines.

The Hacienda del Alamo Resort sales team are available on 0034 902 654 000.

Or have at look at its website: www. hdagolf.com
+North-east man Billy Sim is Director of Golf at Hacienda del Alamo and another Scot, Chris Mann from Glasgow, is Director of Communications.

DUNDONALD LINKS NOW OPEN

FOR PUBLIC PLAY

Dundonald Links, the new Ayrshire links course owned by the world-renowned Loch Lomond Golf Club, is opening its doors to visitor play with a new green fee structure.
Designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the game's top architects, Dundonald Links is a true test of links golf that has been quietly maturing with member rounds, since its opening in 2003 and has matured to the point that it is now ready for an increased level of play.
“Dundonald is a fantastic links course that has already hosted final qualifying for the Senior British Open championship and was recognised as one of the best new courses in the 2004 Robb Report. We now feel the time is right to increase the number of rounds played, with access for visitors both during the week and at weekends,” said Niall Flanagan, general manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links.
“We believe we can offer visitors a combination of a great golf course and exceptional levels of customer service.” added Flanagan.

“From the valet parking on arrival, to great food and beverage and a unique locker room service, visitors will enjoy a first class day’s golf.”
Situated on the Ayrshire coast, near Troon, Dundonald Links is a mere 10 minutes from Prestwick Airport and half an hour from Glasgow Airport.
With a host of other championship golf courses on its doorstep, Dundonald Links is a great addition to any Ayrshire golfing itinerary. It can certainly lay claim to being a golf course for real golfers. Master-craftsman Kyle Phillips has created a classic links course that blends in seamlessly with the natural surroundings, in a similar vein to his highly-acclaimed Kingsbarns Golf Links.
"My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course, by integrating newly constructed features with existing site features." said Phillips.
Green-fees will be available at the following prices:

Monday to Wednesday £95.

Thursday & Friday £110.

Saturday & Sunday £125

To book a tee-time at Dundonald Links, call 01294 314000 or E-mail dundonaldgolf@lochlomond.com

Montgomerie four behind in joint third place in Shanghai

VIVE LA FRANCE! JACQUELIN IS

THREE STROKES AHEAD AT

HALFWAY IN BMW ASIAN OPEN

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin surged into a comfortable three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the BMW Asian Open today with Korea's Lee Sung leading the chasing pack.
The overnight leader added a three-under-par 69 to his opening round's 66 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club while Lee, who was born deaf, continued to impress with a 70 for lone second place.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner in 2004, renewed his love-affair with the BMW Asian Open when he charged into contention with a bogey-free 69 to lie five off the lead alongside Colin Montgomerie, Australian Scott Hend, Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.

Stephen Gallacher (72-73 for 145) was the only other Scot to survive the halfway cut which ruled out those with 36-hole totals of 147 or higher from the weekend action.

Steven O'Hara missed out by one shot with 75 and 72 for 147. Scott Drummond exited on 148 (76-72), three shots better than Marc Warren (73-78) and Barry Hume continued his slump with 79 and 77 for 156.
World No. 5 Ernie Els, the tournament's drawcard, carded a second straight 71 for a two-day score of 142. The South African knows he has plenty of catching up to do in his attempt to regain the BMW Asian Open title which he won by a record 13 strokes two years ago.
The story so far is Jacquelin and the Frenchman hopes Lady Luck will remain by his side as he searches for a second career title. He has enjoyed a good break with his tee times by having the better half of the weather in Shanghai.

"We were lucky this afternoon and the wind died on the back nine. You need some luck sometimes and we were lucky with this side of the draw," said Jacquelin.
He took full advantage of calmer conditions, shooting five birdies against two bogeys, and hopes to keep his foot firmly on the pedal after slipping up last weekend at Shanghai Silport when he also led into the weekend by two before finishing tied sixth.
"I am going to play exactly the same. I think the course is a little more fair this week and if you miss the fairway you still have a shot to the green and that will make a big difference for the weekend.

PUTTING IMPROVEMENT
"I am really confident with how I'm hitting the ball. I have improved my putting over the last few weeks and I am just trying to make the strokes and the swing as I do during the practice round. And the birdies are coming. If the weather is good we will have to be low to win this tournament and the putter will have to be hot," said Jacquelin.
Lee, who quit playing baseball during his teens as he couldn't communicate with team-mates because of his profound deafness, has emerged as the darkhorse in the BMW Asian Open. He brilliantly saved pars at three of his opening four holes before moving close to the lead with three birdies against a lone dropped shot.
"I got up and down four few times which kept me going," said Lee, who communicates by lip-reading with his father, Kang-kun. "I putted well, had 10 one-putts and 26 in total. I'm swinging it good but I felt average today because of the weather change. Yesterday was cold, today was hot.
"I will take it one shot at a time. There won't be any targets. I want to go out and enjoy it. I'm not thinking about the players in the field, just concentrate on my own game," said Lee, who has five top-10s in his four year career on the Asian Tour.
Jimenez, a 13-time winner in Europe, is feeling right at home at the par-72, 7,326 yard Tomson course, with fond memories of his win in 2004 driving him on. He has also hooked up with the lady club caddie who was on his bag three years ago. The man, nicknamed "The Mechanic" because of his penchant for fast cars, roared into contention with birdies on the 13th, 14th and ninth holes after starting his day from the back nine.

SOLID TEE TO GREEN
"I feel very comfortable in this position. Five under par after two rounds when it's quite breezy on this golf course is very good. I played very well today, very solid from tee to green and that's the base of my game these last two days," said Jimenez.
His regular bagman did not make the trip to the US$2.3 million event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, due to a visa snag but the 43-year-old Spaniard was pleased to have Tomson caddie Yong Li-hong by his side again (pictured above).

"She's my lucky charm. She's a nice lady, she's very kind and it's good to have her on the golf course. She doesn't read the lines because I like to do that myself but it's nice to have her around. Every time I look back, she's always there," he said.
Els was poised for a weekend charge despite another frustrating day on the greens. "Just not making any putts out there," lamented the three-time Major champion. "Anyway I am playing okay, just not scoring. A little frustrating."
After catching the worse of the afternoon weather on Thursday, Els was hoping to find calmer conditions this morning but he was caught surprised by the stiff breeze that greeted him when he teed off.

"It was exactly the same. I thought we might have caught a bit of a break this morning but it was exactly the same wind as yesterday afternoon."
American John Daly, one of the marquee names this week, crashed out of the tournament after adding a 76 to his opening 79 for 155 - well over the cut mark of 146.
The winner of the BMW Asian Open will walk away with the top cheque US$383,330 on Sunday while the first player to shoot a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole will win a BMX X5 vehicle.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69.
138 Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70.
139 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69, Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70
140 Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69-71, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69
141 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68-73, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72-69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70
142 Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71, David Griffiths (Eng) 73-69, Simon Wakefield (Eng) 72-70, Andrew Mclardy (SAf) 72-70.
143 Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73-70, Paul Casey (Eng) 72-71, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73-70, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72, Graeme McDowell (NIr) 73-70, Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68-75, Garry Houston (Wal) 71-72, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72-71.

In following scores, players are from GB&I unless stated, (x) denotes amateur:

144 Richard Sterne (SAf) 70 74, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 73, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71, Kane Webber (Aus) 71 73, Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71, Chris Rodgers 73 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 68
145 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73, Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73, Stephen Gallacher 72 73, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 75 70, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74, Edward Loar (USA) 70 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72, Reftief Goosen (SAf) 71 74, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71
146 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 74 72, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73, Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73, Peter Lawrie 75 71, Simon Hurd 74 72, Shaun P Webster 72 74, Yasin Ali 74 72, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74, Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77, Edward Michaels (US) 74 72, Gary Murphy 74 72
MISSED CUT
147 Steven O'Hara 75 72, Marcus Higley 72 75, Benn Barham 74 73, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 74 73, Oliver Fisher 75 72, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 74 73, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 74 73, Unho Park (Aus) 74 73, Terry Pilkardis (Aus) 75 72, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74 73, (x) Mu Hu (Chn) 73 74, Jong-yul Suk (Kor) 71 76, Gary Rusnak (US) 72 75, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73
148 Scott Drummond 76 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 76 72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 76 72, Andrew Marshall 75 73, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 75, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 76 72, Miles Tunnicliff 76 72, Gareth Davies 73 75, Stephen Dodd 73 75, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 76 72, Anthony Kang (US) 71 77
149 Airil Rizman (Mas) 77 72, Bryan Saltus (US) 73 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 75, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 79 70, Graeme Storm 79 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 77 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 77 72, Weng-teh Lu (Tpe) 76 73, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 78 71
150 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 74 76, Adam Groom (Aus) 77 73, Richard Lee (NZ) 75 75, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 76 74, S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind) 75 75, Shu-tao Gu (Chn) 77 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 78, Rick Gibson (Can) 77 73, Ted Oh (Kor) 76 74, Gary Simpson (Aus) 78 72, Marrten Lafeber (Ned) 75 75, Gary Emerson 75 75, Mimg-jie Huan (Chn) 73 77
151 Marc Warren 73 78, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 75 76, Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn) 76 75, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 75 76
152 Wook-soon Kang (Kor) 77 75, Yong-huan Huang (Chn) 78 74, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 78 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 75 77, Li Chao (Chn) 72 80, Wei-huang Wu (Chn) 74 78
153 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 78 75, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 80 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 76 77, (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn) 74 79, Ross Fisher 77 76, Weng-gen Deng (Chn) 76 77
154 Richard Finch 77 77, Barry Lane 77 77, Lei Shang (Chn) 79 75, Henry Liaw (Chn) 80 74, Wei-chih Lu (Tpe) 80 74, Clay Devers (USA) 74 80
155 John Daly (US) 79 76, Iain Steel (Mas) 76 79, James Heath 73 82
156 Mike Cunning (US) 75 81, Danny Chia (Mas) 77 79, Barry Hume 79 77
157 Tze-chung Chen (Chn) 77 80, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 80 77
159 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 81 78
160 Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 79 81
161 Shao-guang Zheng (Chn) 82 79
163 Yong-zong Tan (Chn) 83 80, Lei Gao (Chn) 77 86
164 Zeng-fa Qi (Chn) 80 84
Withdrew: Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 79

DAVID HOWELL TO PLAY IN MACAU
OPEN NEXT MONTH

Ryder Cup hero David Howell of England will star in next month's Macau Open which celebrates a milestone with its 10th anniversary celebration this year.
Howell, ranked 24th in the world, will add to an already long list of illustrious names who have previously headlined the Macau Open. The 31-year-old will be joined by two-time winner Zhang Lian-wei of China and title-holder Kane Webber of Australia.
Major champions Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh, Mark O'Meara and Nick Price are amongst the big-name players who have competed in the popular US$300,000 Asian Tour event previously, which takes place at the spectacular Macau Golf and Country Club from May 17-20.
Howell, winner of two titles in the 2006 European season and third on the Order of Merit, is looking forward to his maiden trip to Macau. He has tasted success previously in Asia, beating world number one Tiger Woods to triumph in the 2005 HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
“I am looking forward to playing in the Macau Open. It should be an interesting week. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the golf course and its unique practice range (where golfers hit golf balls into the sea) and I’m sure it will be a great tournament,” said Howell.
“When the opportunity to play in Macau came my way, I decided to take it up and experience the tournament for myself. My preparation is going to be a bit unique but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m going there to not only enjoy the golf but also to enjoy the place as well,” he added.
Before flying out to Macau, Howell will tap on the knowledge of compatriot Lee Westwood, who triumphed in Macau in 1999. “Lee has mentioned that it is an interesting golf course and that it is hilly. I don’t know what to expect but it sounded like one of those places on the planet that was worth visiting," he said.
The Macau Golf and Country Club offers breathtaking views of the Hac Sa Beach and South China Sea. The Macau Open will be the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour Schedule.

GREAT SCOTS BOW OUT FROM JACKSONVILLE
UNIVERSITY GOLFING HISTORY
The final round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship marked the end of a great chapter in the history of the Jacksonville University, Florida men's golf team as the trio of Scots, Russell Knox, Duncan Stewart and Jamie Kennedy, played their final round together as team-mates.
"The golf course played tough all week, but I am very proud of how the guys played," said Jacksonville University head coach Jim Taketa.
"I know that the seniors are disappointed, but Russell, Duncan and Jamie have accomplished a lot in their careers at JU. It's going to be very hard to replace those three guys next year."
The Jacksonville University Dolphins finished their 2006-2007 campaign with four tournament titles, the most by any golf team from the college in the past 15 years.
The Dolphins finish their 2006-07 campaign with four tournament titles, the most by a JU in the past 15 years.
For that the credit must go to the tremendously consistent Knox and Stewart – and the man who recruited them as “unknowns” from Scotland four years ago. To be fair, Jacksonville has been good to the Scots as well. They leave for home better, more-accomplished all-round golfers than they were as freshmen recruits.

CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL
FINISHES NINTH IN PGA
EUROPRO TOUR
QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Christopher Campbell from Grantown-on-Spey and a staff professional at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle finished ninth of the huge field that started out in the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.
Christopher, pictured right, had rounds of 69, 70 and 75 for a three-under-par total of 214 over the Red and Blue Course.
He finished five shots behind the winner, New Zealander Todd Nicholson who shot 70, 67 and 72 for 209 and a three-stroke victory from Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan) and Mark Staunton (Black Bush GC, Ireland).
After Campbell, the next Scots in the rankings were young Paul Cormack from the Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory and Ricky Gray (Torrance House) who finished joint 30th on two-over 219 with 72, 76 and 71. Cormack scored 77, 68 and 74 for the same total.
Graeme Brown (Montrose), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) and Anglo-Scot Christopher Farr (Bransford Golf Club) finished on four-over 221 in joint 52nd place.
Chris Kelly (Cawder) made it into a share of 61st place on 222 with 80, 69 and 73.
After making the 36-hole cut of the Final Q School, it was all about finishing as high as possible in the final standings, because they will decide the "pecking order" for getting into tournaments on the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour which starts shortly at Wensum Valley.
Players who finished quite high up in last year's Order of Merit were exempt fro this week's Qualifying School process.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
209 Todd Nicholson (NZ) 70 67 72.
212 Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan) 74 68 70, Mark Staunton (Ire) 73 66 73.
213 Paul Reed (Bristol &Clifton) 73 69 71, Neil Vowles (Burton on Trent) 70 71 72, Sam Osborne (Wentworth) 71 69 73, Brendan McCaroll (Ire) 72 68 73, Colin Roope (Eng) 67 72 74.
214 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) 69 70 75.
215 Alex Smith (Pyle & Kenfig) 70 73 72, Mark Prue (Hillside) 71 71 73.
216 Colm Moriarty (Ire) 72 75 69, Adam Constable (Cardiff) 73 72 71, David James (Bridgnorth) 71 70 75, Mark O'Sullivan (Ire) 71 68 77.
217 Pablo Ramirez (Spa) 76 71 70, Jason Dransfield (Royal Liverpool) 73 73 71, Richard Sadler (Killiow) 71 74 72, Michael Lowe (Leatherhead) 73 71 73, James Busby (The Shropshire) 69 75 73, John Paul (Moor Hall) (am) 70 73 74,
Richard Beadles (Brampton Park) 69 72 76.
Other Scottish scores:
219 Ricky Gray (Torrance House) 72 76 71 (jt 30th), Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 77 69 74 (jt 30th).
221 Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74 73 74, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 73 74, Christopher Farr (Bransford) 75 71 75. (jt 52nd).
222 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 80 69 73 (jt 61st).
223 Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) 75 73 75 (jt 71st).
224 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 72 78 74 (jt 82nd).
224 Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 75 73 77 (jt 87th).
226 Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) 71 79 76 (jt 99th).
229 Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) 73 74 82 (jt 119th.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SCOTS’ CHALLENGE
FADES ON FINAL DAY
OF McEVOY TROPHY

Perth’s Sam McLaren and Banchory’s James Byrne dropped out of their overnight top eight placing over the final two rounds of the Peter McEvoy Trophy boys’ tournament at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull today.

The trophy was won by four shots by Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) with the highly respectable total of seven-under-par 277, made up of consistently good rounds of 70, 66, 71 and 70.
The third Scot to survive the halfway cut, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), pictured right, climbed up past McLaren and Byrne with rounds of 73 and 71 to add to his first-day 73 and 71. Michael totalled 288 and finished joint ninth.

McLaren, Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion last year, could not maintain the form that put him in third place at the start of the day with ronds of 69 and 71. Sam finished with 77 and 75 for 292 and a share of 21st place.

Byrne, joint eighth after 36 holes with scores of 74 and 69, signed off with 74 and 77 for 294 and a share if 27th place.

"Daily Telegraph" report:
Kent teenager Matt Haines proved himself to be an excellent front-runner to claim the biggest prize of his fledgling career. Haines, who led by three strokes overnight, had his advantage trimmed to a single shot by his county foursomes partner Billy Britton's tremendous four-under-par third round of 67 and then, midway through the final round, his playing partner Andrew Johnston. The Rochester and Cobham Park junior held off both challenges, however, to win by a margin of four.
Unaware of how Britton's challenge was fading two holes ahead, Haines could only concentrate on holding North Middlesex rival Johnston at bay. The key moment was at the 14th when Haines responded to two dropped shots by making a solid birdie as Johnston lipped out to make bogey.
Another birdie at the next, the 540-yard 15th, which many of the 72 players who contested this annual junior major can get up in two, took the leader back to seven under par and all threats to his taking the tournament then disintegrated.
"I couldn't make those putts when it mattered," lamented Johnston, who tied with Britton for second place on three under par. Britton put his frustration down to "thinking about the title too much" after his morning heroics.
Haines was elated afterwards and admitted to returning to the course nervously after taking control on the opening day. "It was a question of keeping it all together, especially after starting the final round with two bogeys," he said after emulating the triumphs here of Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.
Clubhouse leader for much of the afternoon was Billy Fowles, of Wentworth. He was disconsolate after a shaky finish emphasised by a double-bogey at the 17th. Fowles was five under after 11 and that message had filtered through to those behind him. He eventually posted the level-par target of 284, which proved good enough to earn joint-fourth with Eddie Pepperell, of Drayton Park.
Tipped as a future winner here is Minchinhampton's Oscar Sharpe, who at age of 14 already has a glittering array of junior honours and shared the lead after Wednesday's opening round. He could not match that sparkling 68 in three subsequent rounds but held his game together impressively to finish eighth on three over par.

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4 x 71). CSS 71 71 72 72

277 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66 71 70.

281 Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69 72 70, Billy Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71 67 73.

284 B Fowles (Wentworth) 72 73 70 69, E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72 70 72.

286 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69 72 70, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73 71 71.

287 O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75 71 73.

288 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 71 73 71, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72 69 73.

289 G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72 75 68, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72 77 69, D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77 70 73, T Robson Rowlands Castle) 71 72 72 74, R Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69 73 75.

290 J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 77 71 71 71, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70 74 73.

291 J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69 76 72, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73 74 73, H Smart (Walton Heath) 72 75 70 74.

292 S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73 76 73, D Rowland (Boston West) 74 73 71 74, S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71 77 75, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75 70 76.

293 M Swan (Stoke by Nayland) 72 76 75 70, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71 73 74.

294 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70 73 76, J Byrne (Banchory) 74 69 74 77.

295 J Vickery (Newport) 71 76 74 74, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72 75 74, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74 76 74, R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71 72 77, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73 73 78.

296 T King (Cleveland) 77 71 76 72, O Glaze (The Kendleshire) 75 72 75 74.

297 D Ginn (Sudbury) 68 76 77 76.

298 B Downing (Truro) 73 75 76 74, D Lloyd (Spalding) 73 71 80 74.

299 G Kensell (Knole Park) 75 73 78 73, O Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70 76 75, J Weight (Woburn) 68 74 81 76.

301 L Brace (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70 78 75.

302 D Baskott (Coventry) 73 74 77 78.

304 N Davis (Bush Hill Park) 74 74 80 76.

305 A Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 71 76 82 76.

YOUR CHANCE TO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO PLAY THE 2010 RYDER CUP COURSE AT CELTIC MANOR RESORT

Six years in the making, at a total cost of £16 million and with more than a million tons of earth shifted in its creation, the new Ryder Cup course (pictured above) at The Celtic Manor Resort is on the brink of opening to its first golfers.
And YOU can be one of the first to hit the daunting opening tee shot that will confront Tiger Woods & Co when Celtic Manor stages the Ryder Cup in 2010. The spectacular new 7,493-yard, par-71 course will open for strictly limited play from July 4 this year, in advance of its official launch which will be held back until the new clubhouse is completed in the autumn.
A special preview package – The Ryder Cup Experience – will offer golfers a fantastic opportunity, for a limited period only, to play the dramatic holes of the new Ryder Cup course.
Tee times will be restricted to just 12 four-balls a day from July 4 to September 30 at a cost of £600 per four-ball.
For more information or to book, please call Reservations on 01633 410262 or visit celtic-manor.com

The Ryder Cup Experience package, priced £600 per four-ball, includes:

♦ Allocated parking on arrival (two spaces per four-ball)
♦ Breakfast in The Lodge Brasserie
♦ Personal locker in luxurious changing rooms
♦ Complimentary range balls at the Golf Academy
♦ Transfers to and from the course and Golf Academy
♦ 18 holes of golf on the Ryder Cup Course
♦ Shoe cleaning
♦ Two-course lunch in The Lodge Brasserie
♦ Ryder Cup gift pack including limited edition polo shirt and bag tag

EDINBURGH & EAST OF SCOTLAND GOLFERS' ALLIANCE
SECRETARY-TREASURER'S NOTES ON YEAR ENDING
MARCH 31, 2007 ACCOUNTS

By DUNCAN IRELAND
Overall, yet another good year for the Alliance. We were very fortunate in not having to postpone/cancel any of our events this year and were favoured with some pretty good weather into the bargain.
The membership for 2006-7 was 202, nine members down on the previous year, although perhaps still a little too many. Now that the accounts are in such a healthy position, it would be a good time to attempt to reduce the membership numbers even further, to perhaps as low as 175, in an attempt to reduce the waiting times that some members experienced at a few of this year’s outings.
The cost to the Edinburgh and East of Scotland GA of reducing the membership numbers to 175, would be 27 x £75 = £2,025. If this reduction in membership reduced the numbers attending our events by 10 players then this would further reduce income by 10 x £10 x 13 outings = £1,300.
The total deficit would be £3,325 against a surplus last year of £4,045, still leaving a surplus for the year.
The membership waiting list is still quite healthy at 35. This means that even if reducing the membership numbers didn’t work out, then in a year or two, EESGA could accept more members from the waiting list to create additional income.
I remain unconvinced about the way any pre-booking system will work and I think that the reduction in membership may result in a few fewer players attending each event, which should prevent the long waits to tee-off that occasionally happened.
Of course, the events still need to be fairly well attended, if they are to pay their way and not help create an unmanageable deficit for the year.
The host clubs we used this year all seemed to be quite happy with the outing fee of £600 and I am, therefore, fairly sure that this will not need to increase until season 2008-9.
There are a couple of worrying points though. Firstly, although total membership numbers are fine, there are very few professional and trainee professional members – 30 & 12 respectively. This continuing trend is disappointing. Do we need to address it? What can we do to encourage more professionals to join?
Secondly, there appear to be more and more of our members playing their golf and rushing straight away without using our host club’s bar/catering facilities. If this continues and host clubs start to notice that the income generated from our events is reducing they may either hike up the course hire fee or even go as far as to say that we are no longer welcome.
That would be a pity. Surely, if you can manage to play golf for four hours, you’ve got the time to enjoy a drink and something to eat with your playing partners?
Some points to note on the accounts for 2006/7.
Surplus for the year of £4,045.
Although technically part of this season, the cost of the team match v the West Alliance will show in the accounts for season 2007-8 as the match was played after the accounts were submitted for auditing. The cost was approximately £1,350.
Green fees paid out were slightly higher than the previous year as we increased the outing fee to £600. This figure still represents excellent value, although it we will have to increase it every second year to ensure host clubs do not start to turn us away.
Prize money-vouchers were slightly up on last year as we had one more event this year than last year.
Trophies-engraving costs were up on last year as we had to repair to damaged trophies at a cost of £130.
Printing/Postage/Stationery – down on last year but will be greater next year as we do not have much stationery left.
EESGA Jumpers – we have many new members who have not had the chance to buy jumpers. I think we should place an order this year but only for jumpers that have been specifically ordered and paid for in advance. I propose to send out an order form with the subscription notices this summer.
***It is with regret that I must inform you that EESGA member David Smith passed away on the 17th. David had been an EESGA member for nearly 40 years but hadn't been keeping too well latterly, which prevented him from attending many of the outings. He will be sadly missed.
The funeral will be held on Friday 20th at noon and will be at St Margaret's Parish Church, Able Place, Dunfermline. The president, J T Anderson, has sent a card to the family on the EESGA's behalf.

GEORGE MURRAY LEADS SCOTS ON
CHALLENGE TOUR IN ITALY

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, Challenge Tour Press Officer

John E Morgan, the epileptic golfer who befriended Tiger Woods and caught the imagination of the American golfing public, continued his rehabilitation by moving into contention at the European Challenge Tour’s Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata today.
The 29 year old from Bristol is just three strokes off the lead, held by England’s Van Phillips, on Italy’s south east coast, while George Murray leads the Scottish charge on three under par.
It was in 2003 that Morgan held full playing rights for The European Tour (which he won through the 2002 Challenge Tour) and the US PGA Tour.
Morgan (pictured above) headed for America to fulfil his golfing ambitions, and came tantalisingly close to completing the dream only to be derailed by the most violent of epileptic seizures that resulted in a ruptured sternum and four smashed ribs.
That fit happened days after Morgan had lost a play-off for the John Deere Classic, but instead of building on that fantastic result, he saw his career crumble and came home to be closer to family and friends.
Morgan made a comeback last year, but he was once more struck down by a series of horrendous seizures this past winter, which have forced him to start over again.
While Morgan was crafting his 67 at Riva dei Tessali, Murray led the Challenge Tour Scots at the par 72 Metaponto Golf Club. Each player in the field will play a round on each course before playing the final two rounds at Tessali.
It was a mixed day for the other Scots in the field. Jamie McLeary joined Murray at Metaponto and moved to two under, while Eric Ramsay was the best of the Scots on show at Tessali after a level par 71.
Scott Henderson carded a two over 73 at the same venue, while Andrew McArthur and Graham Gordon had a day to forget with a pair of 78s.

SCOREBOARD
65 Van Phillips (Eng), Joost Luiten (Net).
66 Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel), John E Morgan (Eng), Michael Hoey (NIr).
Scottish scores:
69 George Murray.
70 Jamie McLeary.
71 Eric Ramsay.
72 Jack Doherty.
73 Scott Henderson.
78 Andrew McArthur, Graham Gordon.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

LLOYD SALTMAN’S DOUBLE

WIN BOOSTS HIM TO NO 15

IN R&A WORLD RANKINGS

Lloyd Saltman’s victory in both the Scottish champion of champions and Craigmillar Park Open has seen him rise to No 15 in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Craigielaw GC member Lloyd and US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), ranked No 3 behind Jamie Moul (England) and Rory McIlroy (Ireland), are the only Scots in the top 50.
The current top 50 are:

1 Jamie Moul (Eng).
2 Rory McIlroy (Ire).
3 Richie Ramsay (Sco).
4 Rhys Davies (Wal).
5 Billy Horschel (US).
6 Pablo Martin (Spa).
7 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng).
8 Chris Kirk (US).
9 Jamie Lovemark (US).
10 Webb Simpson (US).

11 Bronson LaCassie (Aus).
12 Jonathan Moore (US).
13 Kyle Stanley (US).
14 Niklas Lemke (Swe).
15 Lloyd Saltman (Sco).
16 John Parry (Eng).
17 Dustin Johnson (US).
18 Alan Wagner (Arg).
19 Gary Boyd (Eng).
20 Julien Guerrier (Fra).

21 Rohan Blizard (Aus).
22 Seve Benson (Eng).
23 Stephen Lewton (Eng).
24 Louis de Jager (SAf).
25 Kevin Chappell (US).
26 David Horsey (Eng).
27 Charlie Beljan (US).
28 Marius Thorp ()Nor).
29 Rob Grube (US).
30 Cameron Tringale (US).

31 Johan Carlsson Swe).
32 Nigel Edwards (Wal).
33 Ruan Botha (SAf).
34 Dawie van der Walt (SAf).
35 Gary Woodland (US).
36 Rick Kulacz (Aus).
37 Colt Knost (US).
38 Hudson Swafford (US).
39 Brian Harman (US).
40 Alex Prugh (US).

41 Branden Grace (SAf).
42 Luke List (US).
43 Daniel Summerhays (US).
44 Trip Kuehne (US).
45 Andrew Dodt (Aus).
46 Lucas Lee (US).
47 Cennydd Mills (Wal).
48 Seung Su Han (Kor).
49 Roberto Castro (US).
50 Benhamin Alvarado (Chi).

AMERICANS FAVOURITES TO GAIN
PALMER CUP REVENGE

The United States look like starting hot favourites to avenge last year’s Palmer Cup thrashing by the Europeans when the next transatlantic students’ international match is played at Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
The American team has just been selected and it includes four of the R&A World Rankings top 10 – Billy Horschel (Florida) (5), Chris Kirk (Georgia) (8), Jamie Lovemark (USC) (9), Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) (10).
The rest of the eight-man team, with their world rankings, are:
Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State) (12), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina) (17), Brian Harman (Georgia) (39) and Luke List Vanderbilt) (42).
The European team for the Palmer Cup contest has yet to be named but it will certainly include Richie Ramsay and Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), the Edinburgh-born Welsh Walker Cup player who has won 10 tournaments in four years on the US college circuit.

LESLEY COMPLETES AYRSHIRE COUNTY
TITLE HAT-TRICK AT TROON PORTLAND

Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) has become Ayrshire women's county champion for the third year in a row. In today's semi-finals over the Troon Portland links, Lesley first beat the top seed, Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) by two holes. Then Lesley, the No 4 qualifier, beat the No 10 qualifier, Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies) by 6 and 5 in the final.
Miss Hendry gave a quality display of golf in the final, highlighting her performance with an eagle and a birdie.
To get to the final, Morag beat the No 14 qualifier, Jennifer Linklater (Largs) by 3 and 2.

MONTY (69) JOINT SIXTH AT END OF
OPENING DAY IN BMW ASIA OPEN
IN SHANGHAI

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin blazed into the first round lead in the BMW Asian Open today with a six-under-par 66 as tournament drawcard Ernie Els battled to a 71.
Jacquelin extended his rich vein of form at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club and leads by one stroke from Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.
Korea's Lee Sung, who was born deaf, produced a fine 68 to share third place with Asian Tour regular Gavin Flint of Australia and Gregory Havret of France.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-hong, playing on an invitation from the club, sparkled with a 69 to tie Colin Montgomerie and Australia's Scott Hend.
Els, winner of the BMW Asian Open in 2005 by a record 13 strokes, struggled on the greens with a couple of three-putt bogeys after the turn but was "delighted" with his opening day's effort, just over 24 hours after arriving in Shanghai.
"I played good enough," said Els, who finished second in the weather-delayed Verizon Heritage on the US Tour which concluded on Monday. "I three putted the 10th and 11th but really played quite nicely. Misread a few putts," added the South African.
With winds swirling around the challenging Tomson course, the three-time Major champion began his day well aware that Jacquelin had posted an impressive number in the morning. "I saw the boards but it is the first round. I just didn't want to shoot myself out of it. I had some chances, I could have been three under easily," said Els, who is chasing his first win of the year.
Jacquelin, second in Portugal three weeks ago, led last week at nearby Shanghai Silport Golf Club at the halfway stage before falling away at the weekend but was back to his best on a breezy opening day. Seven birdies with just the one dropped shot put him in position for a second career title at the BMW Asian Open, co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and China Golf Association.
"I'm doing pretty well at the moment," said Jacquelin, whose sole victory to date came at the 2005 Open de Madrid. "I played well in Portugal and finished second and last week I did well the first two rounds but it was a bit more difficult over the weekend. But the way I hit the ball and the way I made a few putts were pretty good. The winds were getting stronger later in the day and I'm happy to shoot six under.
"It's always good to shoot low in the first round and relax a bit and take the pressure off me. I'm going to play exactly the same tomorrow and take the same feelings that I've had over the last month and we'll see."
Flint, playing in his second season on the Asian Tour, got off to a spectacular start, holing a sand-wedge from 110 yards on the par five second hole for an improbable eagle. But it was his putting which was the key as he negotiated the 7,326-yard course in a mere 20 putts. "It's definitely exciting to get out there and having a good round straight away. Getting out early I got the best of the conditions," said Flint, who birdied the other three par fives on the course.
It was a welcome change in fortunes as Flint missed his last five cuts on the Asian Tour after two top-20s early in the season. A great admirer of Fijian Vijay Singh for his work etiquettes, Flint is also a hard worker but he does not believe in pounding balls at the range.
"I think the harder you work, the better your results are going to be. I try to work pretty hard on my game. The standard is so high now on the Asian Tour that you have to practice really hard. I pretty much try to play as much golf as I can. However, I prefer to do my practice on the golf course," said Flint, who is 57th on the UBS Order of Merit.
Lee, who was born deaf and communicates through lip-reading with his father Kang-kun, played some stunning approach shots, with four of his five birdies coming from within 10 feet and the other a chip-in on the par three eighth hole.
"I hit my driver and approach shots good," said Lee. "My putting was pretty average. I only missed one fairway which helps in the round. It was windy but I am comfortable playing in the wind. I've practiced a lot in the Philippines and America in windy conditions so it's okay. I'm very happy with my start. I try to hit the best shot every time and when you're finished in the round, you normally get a good score."
Montgomerie was one of the few players not to drop a shot on a morning of swirling winds and the big Scot, an eight-time European No. 1, was quite content with his steady start. "Not much to talk about with no bogeys," said Montgomerie.
NO-BOGEY MONTGOMERIE
"That's great. That's what I have always prided myself on over the years, no bogeys. Three birdies isn't that many but it is very difficult out there. Very windy and the greens are firm and the pins are in difficult positions."
Stephen Gallacher was the next best Scot on the first-round scoreboard with a par-matching 72.
Marc Warren had a 73, Simon Yates a 74, Scott Drummond a 76 and Barry Hume, enduring a run of very high scores, a 79.
Retief Goosen made a solid start, reaching the turn in two under par, but struggled with to find his range on the greens coming home to lie at 71. England's Paul Casey, whose luggage has yet to arrive in Shanghai from America, carded a 72 with one bogey against a birdie.
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 72
66 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra).
67 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) .
68 Gavin Flint (AUS), Gregory Havret (Fra), Lee Sung (Kor)
69 Scott Hend (AUS), Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Park Jun-won (KOR), Tony Carolan (AUS), Peter Hanson (SWE), Lin Wen-hong (TPE)
70 - Edward Loar (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Simon Dyson (ENG), Damien McGrane (IRL), Richard Sterne (SAf), Joakim Backstrom (SWE)
71 - Mark Pilkington (Wal), Jean-Francois Lucquin (FRA), Retief Goosen (RSA), Markus Brier (AUT), Kane Webber (AUS), Christian Cevaer (FRA), Suk Jong-yul (KOR), Anthony Kang (USA), Garry Houston (WAL), Soren Hansen (DEN), Ernie Els (RSA), Adam Blyth (AUS), Marcus Both (Aus), Christian Nilsson (Swe), Scott Barr (AUS)
72 Li Chao (Chi), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Simon Wakefield (Eng), Marcel Siem (Ger), Liang Wen-chong (Chi), Andrew McLardy (SAf), Adam Le Vesconte (Aus), Gary Rusnak (US), Marcus Higley (Eng), Paul Casey (Eng), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Sven Struver (Ger), Shaun Webster (Eng).
Players from GB&I unless stated in following scores, (x) denotes amateur.

73 Gareth Davies, Peter O'Malley (Aus), David Griffiths, Bryan Saltus (US), Graeme McDowell, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi), Stephen Dodd, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Keng-chi Len (Tpe), Chris Rodgers, Ming-jie Huang (Chn), (x) Mu Hu (Chn), James Heath, Rahil Gangjee (Ind), Wen-tang Lin (Tpe), Lian-wei Zhang (Chn), Matthew Millar (Aus), Keith Horne (Rsa), Marc Warren, Peter Fowler (Aus), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe)
74 Unho Park (Aus), Yasin Ali, Angelo Que (Phi), Marko Ilonen (Fin), Simon Yates, Gary Murphy, James Kingston (Rsa), Marcus Fraser (Aus), Wei-huang Wu (Chn), Clay Devers (US), Edward Michaels (US), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned), Benn Barham, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha), Brad Kennedy (Aus), Simon Hurd, Mahal Pearce (Nzl), (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn)
75 Andres Romero (Arg), Frankie Minoza (Phi), Terry Pilkardis (Aus), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Gary Emerson, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Steven O'Hara, Mike Cunning (US), Andrew Marshall, Peter Lawrie, Jason Knutzon (US), Oliver Fisher, Amandeep Johl (Ind), Richard Lee (Nzl), Brett Rumford (Aus), Chawalit Plaphol (Tha), Gaurev Ghei (Ind), S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind), Kyron Sullivan
76 Prom Meesawat (Tha), Iain Steel (Mas), Ted Oh (Kor), Wen-teh Lu (Tpe), David Bransdon (Aus), Wen-gen Deng (Chn), Craig Kamps (SAf), Scott Drummond, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Ter-chang Wang (Tpe), Miles Tunnicliff, Scott Strange (Aus), Christopher Hanell (Swe), Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn)
77 Danny Chia (Mas), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Rick Gibson (Can), Ross Fisher, Lei Gao (Chn), Wook-soon Kang (Kor), Richard Finch, Tze-chung Chen (Tpe), Anton Haig (SAf), Airil Rizman (Mas), Barry Lane, Adam Groom (Aus), Shu-tao Gu (Chi).
78 Gary Simpson (Aus), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Yong-huan Huang (Chn), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Johan Axgren (Swe).
79 Barry Hume, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha), Graeme Storm, Giu-ming Liao (Chn), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), John Daly (USA), Lei Shang (Chn)
80 Wei-chih Lu (Tpe), Zeng-fa Qi (Chi), Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Henry Liaw (Chi).
81 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chi).
82 Shao-guang Zheng (Chi).
83 Yong-zong Tan (Chi).

JACK NICKLAUS, JOHN DALY TO GRACE
INAUGURAL PINE VALLEY BEIJING OPEN

Jack Nicklaus and two-time Major winner John Daly will grace the inaugural Pine Valley Beijing Open alongside the Asian Tour's best players next week.
Nicklaus, an 18-time Major champion, will make a guest appearance at the Pine Valley Resort and Golf Club where he will attend the club's phase II course opening ceremony and conduct a junior clinic, held in conjunction with the US$500,000 event.
Big-hitting Daly, a five-time winner on the US PGA Tour, will tee up from April 26-29 in his bid to win a second title in Asia following his triumph in the Korean Open in 2003.
Local heroes Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong will carry the Chinese challenge while current Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit leader Anton Haig of South Africa and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, third on the ranking, are amongst the leading players who will tee up in the full field Asian Tour tournament.
While his last triumph came nearly three years ago, Daly, who is currently playing in the on-going BMW Asian Open in Shanghai this week, is confident he can return to winning ways when he turns 41 during the Pine Valley Beijing Open.
"I look at Vijay Singh and he has won 28 times in four or five years since he turned 40. I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think I could still do it and hopefully the best years are ahead of me," said Daly.
The "Grip it and Rip it" star will certainly be a crowd puller next week and hopes to reward his fans with a win. At the start of the year, Daly hooked with swing coach Michael Owen in a bid to gain an extra edge in the game.
"When you turn 40 it seems like the eyes don’t see as well. I am a feel player around the greens and we are trying to work on consistency, mainly with the putter. He is mainly a short game coach for me.
"The swing when I play practice rounds is great and then completely different when the tournament starts. He is mainly acting as another pair of eyes. I have such a long putting stroke we have tried to add some weight to the putter to shorten it so hopefully that will help me in the future," said Daly.
The Californian-born talent, who turned pro in 1987, joined the US PGA Tour in 1991 and has since been making headlines across the globe. He won the 1991 PGA Championship for his maiden Major triumph and then sealed a famous victory at the 1995 British Open. His most recent win on US PGA Tour was at the Buick Invitational in 2004.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Broch boy's college win Atlantic Sun Conference title

JORDAN FINDLAY HAS LAST

LAUGH OVER RUSSELL KNOX

AND DUNCAN STEWART

Highlanders Russell Knox from Inverness and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey finished ahead of Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay in the Atlantic Sun Conference men’s college championship at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly in Georgia.
But it was Findlay, pictured right, who was all smiles at the finish of the 54-hole tournament because his college, East Tennessee State, won the title for the first time by the resounding margin of 14 strokes.
Knox and Stewart had helped Jacksonville University, Florida to be Atlantic Sun Conference champions last year but they could finish only fourth behind East Tennessee State this time.
On the American college circuit, team performances are all-important because they can determine how much of a college’s budget goes to the golf programme.
Knox had rounds of 75, 80 and 67 for a total of 222 over the par-71, 7,003yd course. The 67 was the best by anyone in the third round. He birdied the third, seventh, ninth, 11th and 12th and had only one birdie, at the 13th.
Knox improved from joint 19th overnight to finish a creditable seventh in a field of 50.
Duncan Stewart finished 11th on 225 with scores of 77, 73 and 75. Double bogeys at the ninth and 17th took the shine off his birdies at the second, 11th and 18th and cost him a top-10 place.
Jordan Findlay finally strung two decent rounds together. He scored 82, 71 and 74 for a share of 15th place on 227. Findlay had only one birdie, at the 12th, in his final round but he is starting to keep the double bogeys – and worse- off his scorecards.
Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh score 79, 81 and 74 for 234 and joint 28th place. He had a double bogey at the 10th but birdies at the fourth, seventh, 16th and 18th.
Irish freshman Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford scored his first win on the American college circuit. He had an impressive tally of three-under-par 210 with rounds of 73, 67 and 70 to win by two shots from Michael O’Neal (North Florida).
Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), coming up to the end his four-year golf scholarship – during which he has won 10 tournaments – finished third on 215 with scores of 79, 68 and 68.
Ulsterman Gareth Shaw, another of the East Tennessee State squad from this side of the Atlantic, finished joint fifth on 218 with 73, 72 and 73.

LEADING FINAL INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71).
210 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 73 67 70.
212 Michael O’Neal (North Florida) 74 69 69.
215 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 79 68 68.
Other GB&I scores:
218 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 73 72 73 (jt 5th).
222 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 75 80 67 (7th).
225 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 77 73 75 (11th).
227 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 82 71 74 (jt 15th).
230 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 82 76 72 (jt 22nd).
234 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 79 81 74 (jt 28th).
TEAM TOTALS
868 East Tennessee State. 882 North Florida. 897 Campbell. 902 Jacksonville (10 teams took part).

ELLIOT SALTMAN'S PRO GAMBLE

FAILS TO PAY OFF AS HE MISSES

EUROPRO TOUR Q SCHOOL CUT

Elliot Saltman’s decision to turn professional on the eve of the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School was, with hindsight, a big gamble. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old from Dalkeith, the gamble has come unstuck.
Elliot, pictured right, shot 77 and 74 at Frilford Heath over the past two days and an aggregate of 151 missed the cut which means he can’t play or will have very little opportunity to play on the 2007 PGA EuroPro circuit.

To continue playing golf competitively, he will have to turn to the Tamsel or Celtic Tours.
Saltman could have played in the Qualifying School as an amateur, as did Eyemouth’s Thomas Higson who failed to beat the 36-hole cut but is still free to play in amateur events.
As a professional Elliot has nowhere to go and he has cut himself off from the amateur ranks where his form this season, and his +3 handicap, might have led to a long overdue first cap for Scotland this year.
Christopher Campbell from Grantown on Spey, a staff professional at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle, has done best of the Scots at Frilford Heath so far. Christopher has has scores of 69 and 70 for 139. That puts him in joint second place, two shots off the pace being set by New Zealander Todd Nicholson.
Campbell had an eagle at the second and birdies at the sixth, ninth, 10th and 17th.
Banchory’s Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) had a 68, one of the best scores of the day, with birdies at the foufrth, fifth and 13th, to be in joint 30th place on145.
Murcar Links’ Neil Mitchell plummeted down the leaderboard after an 8 at the par-5 fourth on his way to a 79 for 150.
SCOREBOARD
137 Todd Nicholson (NZ) 70 67.
139 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club) 69 70, Mark Staunton (Black Bush)73 66, Mark O’Sullivan (Galway) 71 68, Colin Roope (Eng) 67 72.
Other Scottish scores:
145 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 77 68 (jt 30th).
146 Chris Farr (Bransford) 75 71 (jt 38th).
147 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 73, Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) 73 74, Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74 73 (jt 49th).
148 Ricky Gray (Torrance House) 72 76, Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) 75 73, Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 75 73 (jt 65th).
149 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 80 69.
150 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 72 78, Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) 71 79 (jt 110th).
MISSED CUT
151 Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw) 77 74, Jay Taylor 76 75.
152 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) 79 73.
154 Ian Simpson (Fulford) 81 73.
155 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 79 76.
156 Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) (am) 75 81.

Sam McLaren, James Byrne in leading eight at halfway

SCOTS BOYS TO FORE IN

PETER McEVOY TROPHY

AT COPT HEATH

Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion Sam McLaren, pictured right, from Perth and James Byrne from Banchory are in the top eight at the halfway stage of the 72-hole Peter McEvoy Trophy, one of the most prestigious early-season boys’ golf tournaments, at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in the West Midlands.
Byrne’s international team-mate Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) also made the cut – top 40 and ties - with ease in joint 15th place but the fourth Scottish entry, Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) was three shots over the limit on the 148 mark.
Third-placed McLaren from the King James VI club had rounds of 69 and 71 over the 6,520yd par-71 parkland lay-out for a 376-hole tally of 140 – four shots behind the leader, Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park).
Haines had scores of 70 and 66 – against a CSS of 71 for both rounds – for 136 and starts the second day with a three-shot lead from another English boy, Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) (70-69).
Byrne broke 70 in his second round, scoring 74 and 69 for 143 and joint eighth place.
Michael Stewart shot 73 and 71 for 144.

BRITISH BOYS CHAMPION FAILS
A total of 46 players with scores of 148 and better qualified to play Thursday’s final two rounds.
Cameron Gray had 79 and 72 for 151 and a share of 55th place in the field of 70.

A surprise non-qualifier was Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne), winner of the British boys' open championship at Royal Aberdeen GC last summer. Matthew had rounds of 75 and 78 for 153.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71). CSS 145 (2 x 71)
136 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66.
139 A Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69.
140 S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71.
141 Richard Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69, B Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71.
142 E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72, J Weight (Woburn) 68 74.
143 J Byrne (Banchory) 74 69, J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70, T Robson (Rowlands Castle) 71 72, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72, S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73, O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75.
144 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 71, D Lloyd (Spalding) 73 71, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73, D Ginn (Sudbury) 68 76.
145 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70, B Fowles (Wentworth) 73 73, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74.
146 R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72, G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75, D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77.
147 O Glaze (The Kendleshire) 75 72, D Rowland (Boston West) 74 73, D Baskott (Coventry) 73 74, H Smart (Walton Heath) 72 75, J Vickery (Newport) 71 76, A Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 71 76.
148 L Brace (Stoke by Nayland) 68 70, O Pwearl (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70, T King (Sudbury) 77 71, J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 77 71, G Kensell (Knole Park) 57 73, N Davis (Bush Hill Park) 74 74, J Shepherd (The Wisley) 73 75, B Downing (Truro) 73 75, M Swan (Stoke by Nyland) 72 76.
Non-qualifiers included:
149 M Kippen (Enmore Park) 76 73, T Chatfield (Clandon Regis) 76 73, T Berry (Wentworth) 76 73, J Sims (Caldy) 76 73, S Buckie (Mapperley) 74 75.
150 G Boyd (Donaghadee) 78 72, R Gowers (Brockenhurst Manor) 75 75, P Cutler (Port Stewart) 75 75.
151 C Gray (West Kilbride) 79 72, M Johnson (Chipping Norton) 77 74, A Rees (East Brighton) 75 76, J Howie (Royal St David's) 73 78.

152 C Tarren (Dinsdale) 80 72, N Lofthouse (North Wales) 79 73, B Enoch (Truro) 78 74, L Lennox (Moyola Park) 78 74, J Smith (Warwickshire) 76 76, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 76 76, S Lee (North Hants) 74 78.

153 M Nixon (Ashton Under Lyne) 75 78.

157 J Hiscock (Marlborough) 76 81.

159 D Bishop (Walton Heath) 76 83.

160 B Cooper (Bishops Stortford) 78 82.

166 M Helyard (Beverley & East Riding) 84 82.

STIRLING STUDENT GORDON FINISHES

JOINT 22nd in PERU TOURNAMENT

Stirling University student Gordon Yates finished joint 22nd in an field of 64 in the the Martin Prado Cup international men's amateur tournament at Lima, Peru.
Gordon (pictured right) had rounds of 75, 76, 73 and 78 for a total of 14-over-par 302 - 18 shots behind the winner, Luciano Dodda from Argentina (74-69-71-70).
Yates earned the trip by winning the recent R&A Bursars' tournament over the Eden and Old Courses, St Andrews.
Another R&A Bursar, Edward Parker (Birmingham University), finished a creditable seventh in Peru with scores of 70, 71, 76 and 77 for 294.

Scottish Golf Union Press Release re Bay Hill Tournament "affair"

RICHIE RAMSAY: SGU STATEMENT

The Scottish Golf Union this afternoon issued the following official statement on Richie Ramsay's exclusion from the Bay Hill Tournament:

The SGU has investigated Richie Ramsay’s entry into the Bay Hill Tournament. All paperwork submitted by Richie Ramsay to the organisers, was done in accordance with the tournament guidelines and deadlines supplied.
On the Saturday before the tournament, the SGU and Richie were informed that competitors were also required to register with the US Tour, but that the deadline for registration had passed. Consequently Richie was not allowed to compete.
We very much regret that Richie was unable to participate in the Bay Hill event, but we hope that Richie and other Scottish golfers may have the opportunity to compete in the tournament in the future.
We now consider the matter closed.

Kate Weldon
Communications Manager
Scottish Golf Union

DUDDINGSTON WIN INTER-CITY CUP

Duddingston have become the first East club to win the Inter-City Cup, the brainchild of former SGU president Graham Ewart, which sees the best in the West play the Pride of Edinburgh annually.
Cowglen beat Kingsknowe over two legs in the inaugural contest last year.
This year it was Duddingston v Whitecraigs.
First-leg honours at Duddingston went to the home club by 6 1/2-2 1/2
Whitecraigs almost made up the leeway when it was their turn to have home advantage but their winning margin was "only" 5 1/2-3 1/2, which meant that Duddingston scored a 10-8 overall victory.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

BIDWELLS ARE NEW SPONSORS

OF SCOTTISH MEN'S OPEN

AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY

The Scottish Golf Union have announced that leading property consultants Bidwells are to be the new sponsors of the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship, which takes place over 72 holes at Royal Dornoch this summer.
The championship – one of the SGU’s ‘Majors’ – celebrates its fortieth staging at the Dornoch course from June 1 to 3. A strong field is expected to line up as the game’s leading amateurs battle for vital world amateur golf ranking points. The event is also part of the Highland 2007 programme, celebrating Scotland’s year of Highland culture.
Past winners of the event include Colin Montgomerie (1985), Stephen Gallacher (1995), Alastair Forsyth (1996) and reigning US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay, who took the title in 2004.
Equity Partner of Bidwells (Scotland), Michael Norval, is delighted at the prospect of partnering one of the jewels in the Scottish amateur golf crown:
“As a company steeped in history and tradition yet with a modern and progressive outlook, we have a lot in common with the Scottish Golf Union and their Championships. Looking back at the list of former winners, you realise that this event is a great platform for nurturing the very best in Scottish talent. Also with 2007 being Scotland’s year of Highland Culture, it is a wonderful opportunity for Bidwells to be associated with the initiative.”
“As one of the UK’s largest property consultants, it is very apt that Bidwells are coming to one of the finest stretches of links golf land anywhere in the world with the staging of the Championship at Royal Dornoch.”

HOUSEHOLD NAME
Bidwells has been a household name in the south of England for more than 200 years but it is only in the past two decades that the company has grown throughout Scotland. With offices in Perth, Inverness and Fort William, Bidwells is now well established in the Scottish property market, with work in rural, planning, development and commercial services remaining a key part of its business.
Ross Duncan, the SGU’s Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, added:
“The Scottish Stroke Play Championship is arguably our best event in terms of its field, having had some of the leading amateur golfers across Europe taking part in the last few years. The investment from Bidwells into the event will further enhance the Championship and help support one of our key goals – developing talent.”
“We would encourage golf fans from the Highlands to turn up in good numbers to watch the exceptional players on show in what promises to be a fantastic golf event for the area.”
Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007 said: “We are delighted to bring a major golf event to the Highlands during this special year. One of the biggest golfing events to take place in the Highlands, it has already begun to attract attention to the area from throughout the UK and the rest of Europe. ”

DEFENDING CHAMPION
The winner of last year’s Championship at Craigielaw, Scott Henry (Cardross), pictured above, has just returned from an excellent fourth place finish in the Australian equivalent while the man he beat into second place 12 months ago, England’s Ross McGowan, led the Portuguese Open after two rounds recently on only his second professional event.
The sponsorship is a further boost to the SGU’s commercial revenue, having added Dunfermline Building Society and an extended deal with Belhaven Breweries earlier this year. Bidwells have committed to a one-year deal with a two-year extension option for the Championship which is scheduled to take place at the Duke’s in St Andrews in 2008 and Murcar Links in 2009.

MICHAEL CAMPBELL WILL

PLAY IN IRISH OPEN

AT ADARE MANOR

Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open Champion, has confirmed his participation in the Irish Open at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort from May 17-20 as he looks to repeat his success in Ireland’s national Open of four years ago.
Campbell, pictured right, joined the pantheon of golfing greats when he held off the challenge of World Number One, Tiger Woods, at Pinehurst No. 2, to become the first New Zealander to win a Major Championship since Bob Charles in 1963. His US Open victory sparked wonderful celebrations in his home country and even Parliament was suspended as the New Zealand Government watched the drama unfold.
New Zealand-born Campbell, whose forefathers emigrated from the Edinburgh area, has also enjoyed considerable success in Ireland, winning the 2003 Irish Open at Portmarnock a year after capturing the Smurfit European Open at The K Club. Campbell’s 2003 Irish Open victory was particularly significant in that it heralded his return to form after struggling for much of the early part of the year in the United States, and by winning for a fourth successive season he became the most prolific winner from New Zealand on the European Tour after edging ahead of Frank Nobilo’s tally of five titles.
A truly international golfer, Campbell has claimed eight European Tour victories in total, along with a further seven around the world.
Now he is relishing the opportunity of reacquainting himself with Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort where he finished sixth in the 2005 JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, hoping that Irish eyes will again be smiling on him.
"I always enjoy playing in that part of the world and I’ve had a lot of success in Ireland,” he said. “The crowds and people are very hospitable and it’s always very well organised. I played at Adare in JP’s Pro-Am and it’s a good, fun golf course.
“The win in 2003 was huge for me. I had tried to play over in America but came back that year with the mindset of just playing The European Tour. That’s when I started playing great and won at Portmarnock.”
With the support of Adare Manor, the Proud Partners, Official Sponsors and Official Suppliers, the Irish Open has announced a record prize fund of €2.5 million, an increase of €300,000 from 2006. There is also a unique incentive in place this year whereby the winner of the Irish Open will scoop a €1 million bonus if they go on to win the following week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.
Tickets are now available with an Adult One Day ticket costing €25, while a Four Day season pass, valid for all four days of the tournament, costs €75. Tickets for Disabled Citizens cost €15, while OAPs over the age of 65 and juniors under the age of 16 are entitled to free entry, although the juniors must be accompanied by an adult. The Pro-Am is free for all spectators.
For tickets and hospitality for the Irish Open, contact the Adare Manor on +353 (0) 61 605250 or Ticketmaster on + 353 (0) 818 719300. Alternatively, visit http://www.irishopen.ie/ or http://www.ticketmaster.ie/.