LLOYD SALTMAN NOW ONLY

SCOT IN R&A’S TOP 50

WORLD RANKINGS

Richie Ramsay’s sudden decision to turn professional has left Scotland with only one player in the top 50 of the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Lloyd Saltman (pictured right) is No 3 in this week’s updated list. The Craigielaw man is the only non-American in the top six.
To find the next Scot you have to go down to 51st place for Callum Macaulay of Tulliallan.
James Byrne from Banchory, winner of the Scottish Under-18 boys’ stroke-play title last week, is third-best Scot in 57th place, followed by Wallace Booth (Comrie) at No 72 and Scottish double champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth).
Five Scots in the world’s top 100 male amateurs that’s our sum total.
The R&A WAGR top 10 this week are:
1 Jamies Lovemark (US) 1113.33.
2 Billy Horschel (US) 1072.31.
3 Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 1052.54.
4 Chris Kirk (US) 10.50.75.
5 Dustin Johnson (US) 1047.72.
6 Webb Simpson (US) 1044.26.
7 Rhys Davies (Wal) 1032.79.
8 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1004.26.
9 Alan Wagner (Arg) 992.11.
10 John Parry (Eng) 975.00.

Other Scots ranked in the world’s top 300 are:
51 Callum Macaulay 827.27.
57 James Byrne 823.08.
72 Wallace Booth 800.00.
90 Kevin McAlpine 770.97.
115 Paul O’Hara 750.00.
164 Jonathan King 700.00.
176 Ross Kellett 689.66.
180 Keir McNicoll 688.00
206 Gavin Dear 664.62.
211 Craig Watson 661.22.
227 Gordon Yates 648.85.
247 Glenn Campbell 635.38.
262 Scott Henry 616.39.
269 Matthew Clark 612.50.
286 Steven McEwan 601.45.
288 Duncan Stewart 600.00.
296 Mark Kerr 593.44.

SCOTTISH SENIORS

CIRCUIT CALLS IN

AT MONIFIETH

THIS WEEK

The Scottish Senior Golf Society amateur tournament circuit continues on Thursday and Friday over the Monifieth Links.

It's the East of Scotland Seniors Open over 36 holes.

Pictured are William Erksine (Kilsyth Lennox), far right, and Ronald Maclean (Hamilton), near right, who tied for victory on 145 in last week's West of Scotland Seniors Open at Hamilton Golf Club.

It was Maclean's debut on the

mainly over-55s' circuit (over-50s can play in the tournaments as well).

Ian Hutcheon (Monfieth), the Scottish seniors champion, leads the Seniors' Order of Merit and will be hot favourite over his home course to win the East of Scotland Seniors title.

Look for the scores on this website.

Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship

FORMER CHAMPION GLENN

CAMPBELL FALLS TO PAUL

O'HARA IN ROUND 2

Scottish boys' stroke-play champion James Byrne (Banchory) is still the only seed to have been knocked out - on the opening day - as Day 2 of the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship draws to a close at Prestwick today.
There are second-round ties still being played so there is still time for that statement to be changed.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), the No 7 seed, did have a close shave in that he was taken to the 20th before beating Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) who used his local knowledge - and over this course, local knowledge is worth a hole or two of a start - to bridge the gap in ability, if there was indeed any such thing.
Match-play is a great leveller and Wallace started confidently to be two holes up after three.
Maculay, British amateur championship quarter-finalist, settled to cut back the deficit and turn for home with a two-hole lead. But Wallace was not going to be easily shaken off and both birdied the 18th to keep the match all square. Macaulay got through at the second extra hole.
Double Scottish champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) was one down after nine to David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) but had taken the lead by the 14th and finished his man off with birdies at the 15th and 16th for a 3 and 2 victory.
Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) won at the 19th against Colin Peddie (Hayston). Borrowman had to hole a big putt across the last green to stay alive.
In the second round ties, top seed Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) had another comfortable win, beating Steven Rennie (Airdrie) by 4 and 3.
Paul O'Hara (Colville Park), pictured above, twice a finalist in the last three years, beat the champion of two years ago at Southerness, Murrayshall greenkeeper Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie). O'Hara won by 4 and 3.

SCROLL DOWN FOR TODAY'S FIRST AND SECOND ROUND RESULTS FROM PRESTWICK

SAME NORTH-EAST TEAM TO PLAY CLACKMANNAN
AT BRAEHEAD ON SUNDAY IN AREA CHAMPIONSHIP

North-east field an unchanged line-up for their Scottish men's area team golf championship tie against Clackmannan at Brahead Golf Club on Sunday. The six who beat Argyll & Bute at Murcar Links in the first tie of the series were:
Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), Philip McLean (Peterhead), Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links), Gary Esson (Portlethen), Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay).
Clackmannan team is:
Callum Macaulay, Mark Crichton, Steven Horne (all Tulliallan), Ross Benvie (Braehead), Ian Ross (Alloa), Scott Borrowman (Dollar).

++If any other district wants to let us know their line-up for Sunday's matches, all they have to do is pass along the information in an E-mail to colin@scottishgolfview.com
We would also like the results conveyed to us by the same means on Sunday evening if possible.

RESULTS FROM ALLIED SURVEYORS
MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

TODAY'S results from the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club.

FIRST ROUND
D Ferguson (Paisley) bt S Fraser (Tain) 1 hole.
K Nicol (Fraserburgh) bt C Elliot (Carrickvale) 2 holes.
A Cappi (Loretto School) bt S Spence (Irvine) 1 hole.
D Henderson (Hamilton) bt C Heuchan (Southerness) 4 and 3.
S Barras (Helensburgh) bt G Crawford (Williamwood) 2 and 1.
G Dear (Murrayfield) bt P Edwards (Meldrum House) 8 and 7.
D Harrison (Crieff) bt J Lockie (Tantallon) 2 and 1.
G Smith (Stirling) bt A Brown (Strathaven) 5 and 3.

M Bookless (Sandyhills) bt M Williams (Craigielaw) 2 holes.
G Lowson (Auchterarder) bt A Hogg (Mortonhall) 6 and 5.
S Borrowman (Dollar) bt C Peddie (Hayston) at 19th.
K Fairbrother (Cochrane Castle) bt T Blennerhasset (Marriott Dalmahoy) 2 holes.
B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) bt G Watson (Dunaverty) 1 hole.
N Lamond (Balmore) bt D Murray (Blairgowri) at 19th.
R Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt J Burns (Mount Ellen) 3 and 2.
S McBain (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt J Miller (Blairgowrie) 2 and 1.

R Caron (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt J Burns (Mount Ellen) 3 and 2
W Blair (Troon Portland) bt A Trimby 2 and 1.
S Roberts (Gullane) bt S McKendrick (Dunkeld & Birnham).
S Simants (Dunbar) bt R Ferguson (Royal Troon) 4 and 3.
K McALPINE (Alyth) (No 3 seed) bt D Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) 3 and 2.
K Harper (Carnoustie) bt G Gorrie (Glasgow) 1 hole.
G Burnett (Swanston New) bt B Rushford (Grangemouth) 3 and 1.
G Belch (Haggs Castle) bt A Ferguson (Dunfermline) 3 and 1.

S Michie (Thornton) bt C Riddick (Dumfries & Galloway) 1 hole.
C MACAULAY (Tulliallan) (No 7 seed) bt S Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) at 20th.
G Wood (Crow Wood) bt A Howard (Murrayshall) 3 and 2.
K Brock (Prestwick St Nicholas ) bt J Greer (Gourock) 3 and 1.
D Anderson (Cochrane Castle) bt A McLean (Kilbirnie Place).
Mark Lamb (Haddington) bt E McKinnon) (Cowrie) 5 and 3.
R Bunch (St Andrews New) bt G Munro (Archerfield Links) 6 and 5.
P Ferrier (Baberton) bt P McLachlan (Bonnyton) at 20th.

L McLaughlin (Cowglen) bt B Gray (Pines) 5 and 3.
G Rodger (Cambuslang) bnt R Crowe (Newcastle United) 1 hole.
J Gallacher (Swanston New) bt G Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) 2 and 1.
S Morrison (US) bt S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole.
A Culverwell (Dunbar) bt F Henderson (Craigielaw) 3 and 2.
C Colraine (Windyhill) bt A McKie (Glencruitten) 3 and 1.
A McDonald (Crow Wood) bt T Sharkey (Helensburgh) 1 hole.
S Clark (Haggs Castle) bt S Graham (Blairgowrie) 5 and 2.

M Dailey (Erskine) bt A Dick (Shotts) 3 and 2.
M Kerr (Craigielaw) bt I Brown (West Kilbride) 6 and 5.
A Doherty (Cowglen) bt G Yates (Hilton Park) 3 and 2.
M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt J Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie).
W Anderson (Cambuslang) bt S Burt (Murcar Links) 4 and 3.
P Betty (Hayston) bt K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 3 and 2.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt G Robertson (Silverknowes) 1 hole.

M Hillson (Craigielaw) bt K Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie) 5 and 3.
J Neilson (Dunbar) bt J Paterson (Hayston) 1 hole.
R Anderson (Duddingston) bt J Sloan (Doon Valley) 3 and 1.
K Reid (Moray) bt J Sloan (Doon Valley) 2 holes.
W Buckley (Royal Burgess) bt N McBride (Cowglen) 6 and 5.
M Main (Thornton) bt K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 1 hole.
R Gill (Craigmillar Park) bt M Smth (Royal Troon) 3 and 2.
E McIntosh (Newmachar) bt M Cunningham (Longniddry) at 21st.

SECOND ROUND

L Miller (Cawder) bt E Polson (Inverness) 2 and 1.
G Thomson (Moray) bt C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 2 and 1.
L SALTMAN (Craigielaw) (No 1 seed) bt D Sommerville (St Andrews) 4 and 3.
S Neilson (Dunbar) bt S Rennie (Airdrie) 7 and 5.
C Mundie (Falkirk) bt F Fotheringham (Nairn) 1 hole.
J Clarke (Royal Montrose) bt M Wilkie (St Andrews New) 4 and 3.
C Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt J Carney (Irvine Ravenspark) 5 and 4.
A Main (Thornton) bt C Kelly (Kirkhill) 3 and 2.

J Bunch (Prestwick) bt G Barrie (Callander) at 19th.
P O'Hara (Colville Park) bt G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 4 and 3.
G Stewart (Murcar Links) bt T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 3 and 2.
J Hendrick (Pollok) bt D Weir (Lundin) 7 and 6.
W Booth (Comrie) bt R Johnston (Glenbervie) 1 hole.
S McEwan (Caprington) bt J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 2 holes.
S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt S Hume (Murrayshall) 5 and 4.
S Henry (Cardross) bt M Lawrence (Newmachar) 3 and 2.

K McNICOLL (Carnoustie) (No 4 seed) bt C Morrison (Kilmacolm) 3 and 1.
J Bradley (Paisley) bt I MacMillan (Glenearn) 3 and 2.
E Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) 6 and 4.
K Fergusson (Prestwck St Cuthbert) bt N Gold (Bonnyton) 6 and 4.
A Bews (Murcar Links) bt G Molloy (Wishaw) 1 hole.
S Mann (Carnoustie) bt A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) 1 hole.
P Latimer (St Andrews New) bt G Duncan (Carnoustie Caledonia) 3 and 2.
R Bell (Downfield) bt R Noon (Longniddry) 2 and 1.

G Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt C Haugh (Cathkin Braes) 2 and 1.
R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt M Burt (Helensburgh) 1 hole.
Z Saltman (Craigielaw) bt TG Corrieri (Callander) 7 and 5.
W F Bryson (Drumpellier) bt S Bordon (Mouse Valley) 5 and 4.
F McKenna (Balmore) bt S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 2 and 1.

NEW FACES IN SCOTLAND TEAM
AS THEY BID TO RETAIN BOYS'
HOME INTERNATIONALS TITLE

Scotland will bid to win the boys' home golf internationals title at the Machynys Peninsula, Wales from August 7 to 9 with only two of the players who were part of the successful squad (pictured right) at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth 12 months ago. It was the first time the Under-18 Scots had topped the all-play-all table against England, Ireland and Wales since 1995.
They are James Byrne (Banchory), the new Scottish boys' stroke-play champion, and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) who lost out to James, his golfing buddy, at the third hole of a play-off for the title at Cardrona last week.
Byrne flies to American a few days after the internationals to enrol at Arizona State University on a four-year golf scholarship. Because of this he will miss the British boys' open amateur championship at Royal Porthcawl, South Wales.
The North and North-east is well represented with the selection of Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen and Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) and Scottish schoolboys' title-winner Neil Henderson (Glen) are in the 11-strong line-up.
Team is:
James Byrne (Banchory), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Neil Henderson (Glen), Sam McLaren (King James VI), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie).

WOLSTENHOLME'S BACK

RULES HIM OUT OF BID

FOR FIRST ENGLISH

AMATEUR TITLE

Gary Wolstenholme is out of this week's English men's amateur championship in Kent without striking a ball.
The Walker Cup veteran - who will have his 47th birthday next month - scratched with a back injury. Gary, although he has won most things, including the British amateur champion in 1991 and 2003, had never won the English title. He has been a beaten finalist.

Wolstenholme, pictured right, is ranked No 17 in the R&A WAGR. The only English players ahead of him are John Parry (No 10), David Horsey (No 13) and Gary Boyd (No 14).
For the first time, the English amateur championship has two stroke-play qualifying rounds - one at Royal St George's, Sandwich and the other at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal to narrow down a record entry of 288 to 64 and ties for the first round of the match-play at Royal St George's.
In yesterday's first qualifying round, 20-year-old Shane Winstone from Bristol lowered the Royal Cinque Ports course record to eight-under-par 64.
John Parry (Harrogate) had a hole in one at the seventh on his way to a round of 70. Paul Waring, the 2005 champion, could have done with an ace or two ... an 82 puts the pressure on him in today's second qualifying round.
At the par-70 Royal St George's venue, David Horsey (Styal) was the leader with a 68.

Conversely, 2005 champion Paul Waring, which leaves him under pressure to qualify.

LEADING FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND SCORES
ROYAL ST GEORGE'S
Par 70
68 David Horsey (Styal).
69 Nicky Harris (Whitefield).
70 Adam Wainwright (Gainsborough), Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge), Thomas Shadbolt (Mid Herts).
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
Par 72
64 Shane Winstone (Knowle).
66 Ben Evans (Rye).
69 Shaun Malone (Saffron Walden), Tom Lewis (Mid Herts), Warren Harmston (Wentworth), Jamie Moul (Soke by Nayland), Daniel Willett (Rotherham).
70 Neil Chaudhuri (The Leicestershire), John Parry (Harrogate), Jamie Howarth (Stockport).

Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship

JAMES BYRNE MAKES EARLY EXIT
IN EXTRA HOLES AT PRESTWICK

James Byrne, the new Scottish Under-18 b oys' stroke-play champion, was the first seed to make a exit from the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club.
James, pictured right, who won the boys' title on a play-off at Cardrona last Thursday, went into extra holes again, this time losing at the 20th to Allan Johnson (Bonnyton), who is home for the summer holidays from Grand Canyon University, Arizona.
Byrne, of course, leaves next month to enrol at Arizona State University.

James, who felt that his lack of knowledge of what is generally regarded as an excellent links with some quirky holes (ideal for match-play) proved to be his undoing, was two down at the turn.

He did manage to square the contest before the 18th but lost at the second extra hole.

Youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead) also went out on the opening day. He lost on the 18th green to Stephen Neilson (Dunbar).

Bryan Fotheringham (Forres), hoping to regain his place in the Scotland team for the home internationals, suffered a blow when he lost by two holes to Steven Hume (Murrayshall).

Ross Kellett (Colville Park), quarter-finalist in the "British" a few weeks back, was beaten 3 and 2 by Ross Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie).

Top seed Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), playing in his final domestic tournament before he turns professional after the Walker Cup, progressed without much trouble.
The eight seeds are: 1 Lloyd Saltman, 2 Richie Ramsay (scratched), 3 Kevin McAlpine, 4 Keir McNicoll, 5 James Byrne, 6 Jonathan King, 7 Callum Macaulay, 8 Scott Henry.

MONDAY'S RESULTS

L Miller (Cawder) bt D Strachan (Turnberry) 1 hole.
E Polson (Inverness) bt C Conroy (Paisley) 6 and 5.
G Thomson (Moray) bvt D Miller (Kilmacolm) 4 and 2.
C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) bt M Hislop (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.
D Sommerville (St Andrews) bt G Turner (West Linton) 1 hole.
L SALTMAN (Craigielaw) (No 1 seed) bt F Drum (Cowglen) 6 and 4.
S Rennie (Airdrie) bt S Robertson (Sandyhills) 5 and 4.
S Neilson (Dunbar) bt P McLean (Peterhead) 1 hole.

C Mundie (Falkirk) bt M Graham (Newbattle) 6 and 5.
F Fotheringham (Nairn) bt R Hyland (Hazlehead) 6 and 5.
J Clarke (Royal Montrose) bt P Keeling (North Berwick) 6 and 5.
M Wilkie (St Andrews New) bt D Donaldson (Bruntsfield Links) 1 hole.
J Carney (Irvine Ravenspark) bt G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) at 22nd.
C Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt S Murray (Troon Welbeck) 5 and 4.
C Kelly (Kirkhill) bt S Green (Westhill) 1 hole.
A Main (Thornton) bt D Simpson (Crieff) 5 and 3.

J Bunch (Prestwick) bt A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 2 and 1.
G Barrie (Callander) bt S Tully (Duddingston) 4 and 3.
P O'Hara (Colville Park) bt A Gourlay (Irvine) 4 and 2.
G Campbell (Blairgowrie) w.o. S Lockhart (Bathgate) scr.
T Mathieson (Murcar Links) bt D Hunter (Dalmahoy) 2 holes.
G Stewart (Murcar Links) bt D Walker (Paisley) 2 holes.
D Weir (Lundin) bt A McKay (Balmore) 4 and 3.
J Hendrick (Pollok) bt S McCulloch (McDonald Ellon) 6 and 4.

W Booth (Comrie) bt R Craig (Merchants of Edinburgh) 2 and 1.
R Johnston (Glenbervie) bt G McLetchie (Mouse Valley) 1 hole.
J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) bt G Mitchell (Braemar) 2 and 1.
S McEwan (Caprington) bt M Dickson (Alwoodley) 5 and 4.]
S Hume (Murrayshall) bt B Fotheringham (Forres) 2 holes.
S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt C Hamilton (Ballochmyle) 3 and 2.
S HENRY (Cardross) (No 8 seed) bt B Lindsay (Mount Ellen) 4 and 3.
M Lawrence (Newmachar) bt A Moir (Thornton) 3 and 2.

K McNICOLL (Carnoustie) (No 4 seed) bt M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole.
C Morrison (Kilmacolm) bt M Ferries (Tain) 1 hole.
J Bradley (Paisley) bt R Graham (Hayston) at 19th.
I MacMillan (Glenearn) bt C Robb (Inchmarlo) 5 and 4.
K Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) bt J Smart (Paisley) 2 holes.
E Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt N Cameron (King James VI) 3 and 2.
N Gold (Bonnyton ) bt A Leggate (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 3.
K Ferguson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt M Davidson (Craigie Hill) 5 and 3.

A Bews (Murcar Links) bt C Gray (West Kilbride) 3 and 2.
G Molloy (Wishaw) bt C McLaughlin (Largs) 1 hole.
S Mann (Carnoustie) bt A Dunton (Mortonhall) 5 and 3.
A Weir (Montrose Mercantile) bt B Moore (Largs) 5 and .
P Latimer (St Andrews New) bt S Herald (Whitecraigs) at 20th.
Garry Duncan (Carnoustie Caledonia) bt S Keane (Cathkin Braes) 2 holes.
R Noon (Longniddry) bt G McCourt (Balmore) 7 and 6.
R Bell (Downfield) bt A Holbrook (Murcar) Links) 3 and 2.

C Haugh (Cathkin Braes) bt L Pirie (Millport) 2 holes.
G Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt R Elrick (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4.
M Burt (Helensburgh) bt R McKenn (Newburgh on Ythan) 2 holes.
R Duncan (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt R Kellett (Colville Park) 3 and 2.
Zack Saltman (Craigielaw) bt D Mitchell (Leven Th) 5 and 3.
T Corrieri (Callander) bt R McKenzie (East Moffat) 3 and 2.
S Bordon (Mouse Valley) bt A Wllace (Glenbervie) 1 hole.
W F Bryson (Drumpellier) bt P McGhee (US) 6 and 5.

F McKenna (Balmore) bt G Hillson(Craigielaw 6 and 5.
S Elder (Kirkcaldy) bt J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 1 hole.
J Shanks (Irvine) bt R Leech (Muckhart) at 19th
A Johnston (Bonnyton) bt J BYRNE (Banchory) (No 5 seed) at 20th.
Chris Heslip Monfieth) bt J Wybar (Aldeburgh) 5 and 4.
D Cairns (Barassie) bt J Farmer (St Andrews) 3 and 2.
M Stewart (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) 2 holes.
J McMahon (Cardross) bt C Wedgeworth (Cowglen) 4 and 3.

J KING (Glasgow) (No 8 seed) bt W Campbell (Kirkintilloch) 6 and 5.
S Higgins (Gourock) bt C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 1 hole.
R McKnight (Barassie) bt K Spence (Newmachar 6 and 5.
G Paterson (St Andrews New) bt J Murchie (Lamlash) 2 holes.
P Moultrie (Troon Portland bt F Bone (Cardross) 2 and 1.
S Maxwell (Windyhill) bt A Hay (Westhill) at 20th.
A Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) bt M Campbell (Renfrew) 3 and 2.
L Kirton(Newmachar) bt G Sangster (Cathkin Braes) 7 and 5.

G Munro (Ranfurly Castle) bt D Marshall (Dalmahoy) 2 and 1.
J Findlay (Fraserburgh) bt M Stein (Craigielaw) 1 hole.

PAUL LAWRIE TO DESIGN NEW COURSE
AT BLAIRS COLLEGE

The Herald newspaper has revealed that Paul Lawrie is the "top professional golfer" who will design an 18-hole golf course as part of a £115m redevelopment of the Catholic seminary at Blairs College on the South Deeside Road, only a few miles from the Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen.
Lawrie lives at Bieldside which is across the River Dee on the North Deeside Road.
Developers the Muir Group are planning to turn the site into a hotel, conference and leisure centre.
Lawrie said: "I can see the Blairs Estates from my house and have long thought this would be the perfect site for my first signature golf course development.
"The golf course at Blairs has the potential to provide a wonderful asset for the north east as well as attracting visitors to the area.
"Having played on so many fabulous courses around the world, I have lots of ideas and am itching to get started on my first course design project."
The scheme to convert the former Catholic college will be funded by the construction of 280 new homes on the site.
About £5m will be spent on the course and clubhouse, which it is hoped will be open in five years.
Up to 1000 jobs are expected to be created.
Lawrie will be working with European Golf Design, a firm which upgraded Royal Lytham and St Annes for the Open in 2001.

ANGUS COUNTY MEN DOWN TO
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS

Results from the Angus County Golf Association's match-play championship at Letham Grange>

FIRST ROUND
C Heslip (Monifieth) walk over G Hughes (Downfield) scratched.
S Strachan (Letham Grange) bt D Elder (Carnoustie) 1 hole.
K Law (Forfar) walk over G Hemsley (Montrose Mercantile) scratched.
G Bell (Downfield) walker over R Perry (Grange) scratched.
D Leith (Downfield) bt R Laing (Camperdown) 3 and 2.
G Finlay (Ballumbie) bt D Brown (Kirriemuir) 6 and 5.
I Reid (Letham Grange) bt D Garland (Downfield) 2 and 1.
J Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile) bt R Marshall (Letham Grange) 6 and 5.
QUARTER-FINALS
Heslip bt Strachan 4 and 3.
Bell bt Law at 19th.
Finlay bt Leith 4 and 3.
Reid bt Gardiner 5 and 4.
SEMI-FINALS
(on Monday, August 6 at 5.25 & 5.25).
Heslip v Bell.
Finlay v Reith.

JACK HILUTA TO CAPTAIN ENGLAND IN
BOYS' HOME INTERNATIONALS

Jack Hiluta has been selected to captain England in the Boys Home Internationals at Machnynys Peninsula in Wales from August 7 to 9.
The 18-year-old from Essex recorded five wins from his six matches on his debut as a boy cap a year ago at Lossiemouth as Scotland ended England’s run of eight successive victories in the annual event.
Hiluta, from Chelmsford Golf Club, was naturally delighted. “It’s been one of my goals to captain England so I’m delighted to have been selected,” he said.
“My aim now is to lead the side in Wales and get back the trophy we lost last year.”
A former Under-16 international, Hiluta represented Essex in the English boys' county finals at Little Aston in 2005 and has been a member of the England under 18 squad for the past two years.
This year, he has represented the EGU in a quadrangular match in South Africa and in the Thunderbird Junior International in the United States as well as reaching the last 16 of the Spanish amateur championship. He was also a member of the England team that finished runners-up to Denmark in the European boys' team championship in Denmark earlier this month.

WHITEKIRK GOLF CLUB PAIR EARN
TRIP TO BAHRAIN NEXT YEAR

Whitekirk Golf Club professional Paul Wardell and his club captain Guido Bicocchi, who plays off six, won themselves a trip to the exclusive Riffa Golf Club & Resort, Bahrain next May with an eight-under-par, better-ball score of 64 over Crail Golfing Society’s Craighead links today.
They were playing in one of nine Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge qualifying competitions nationwide.
Paul and Guido, who received five shots, were out in a net 33 (four under par) and back in net 31 (also four under par).
Whitekirk Golf Club is near North Berwick.
Paul received £450 for being the winning professional and he is guaranteed at least another £350 as he and Guido represent the PGA Scottish Region in the Pro-Captain Challenge final.
Only the winning pair at each qualifier make the trip to Bahrain.
Alan E Reid (West Lothian) and his club captain, Derek Pickens, a four-handicapper, finished runners-up at Crail with a net 65 (33-32). Reid earned £300.
The last of the 22 pairs to finish, Carluke Golf Club's pro Craig Ronald and captgain Alan Donohoe (handicap 14) came third with a net 67 (34-33). Craig earned £225.
Craig Everett (Caldwell), the winning pro at the qualifying competition for the past two years, failed to make it three in a row. Playing with club captain John Devanny (handicap 6), they had a net 76 and finished down the field.

2007 FORRESTER PARK FIFE ORDER OF MERIT for
THE MACKAY BOWL

Positions after 15 events

1 Greg Paterson (The New Club) 500pt.
2 Alex Main (Thornton) 325.
3 Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 320.
4 Stuart Meiklejohn (Aberdour) 305.
5 James White (Lundin) 300.
6 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 230.
7 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 210.
8 Gary Page (Balbirnie Park) 185.
9 Lawrie Clark (Kinghorn) 160.
10 Colin Martin (Balbirnie Park) 130.

++The next counting event is the 2007 STANDARD LIFE GOLD MEDAL played at Leven Links on August 11 and 12.

MARK McLEAN BEATS JORDAN FINDLAY
IN BUCHAN FIRKIN PLAY-OFF

Fraserburgh Golf Club greenkeeper Mark McLean won the prestigious 36-hole open tournament for the Buchan Firkin over his home course - but only after a play-off.
McLean and former British boys champion Jordan Findlay, also a Fraserburgh member, tied on 146. McLean had two rounds of 73, Findlay a 76 and 70.
In squally conditions, Jordan's 70, to make up a three-shot leeway on Mark, was a brilliant effort.
McLean won the sudden-death play-off with a birdie 3 at the first hole.
Gordon Smith (Fraserburgh) and Ross McKen (Newburgh) finished joint third on 148 and Andrew Ironside, also of the home club, came next on 149.
The best two net aggregates were returned by visitors. Mark Steele from Harwood Golf Club, Bolton won with a net total of 140 off five. G Leslie (Royal Montrose), also playing off five, had a net total of 142.
Reid (5) and J Duff (1) came next on net 146 and A Wiseman jun (6) finished on 147.

PRESS RELEASE

DUNDONALD LINKS GOES "LIVE"

WITH NEW WEBSITE

Dundonald Links, on Scotland’s Ayrshire Coast, is delighted to announce that it has gone live with its new website, http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/.
Designed to be a fully-functional website, it has been created specifically to give visitors to the site the opportunity to preview club services and facilities, check the latest news, view course images and also crucially book tee-times via the website’s booking form before their visit to Dundonald Links.
“Dundonald is a fantastic links course that has been quietly maturing over the past few years and has already hosted a number of events including final qualifying for the Senior British Open Championship. We believe that the new website will only increase the world-wide awareness of the course,” commented John Caven, Director of Operations at Dundonald Links.
“We believe we can offer visitors a combination of a great golf course and exceptional levels of customer service,” added Caven. “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 stunning Ayrshire coast, near the legendary town of Troon, Dundonald Links is a mere five 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.
Green fees will be available at the following prices:

Monday to Wednesday - £95.

Thursday & Friday - £110.

Saturday & Sunday - £125

For more information on Dundonald Links you can call +44 (0)1294 314000 or E-mail dundonaldlinks@lochlomond.com

PRESS RELEASE

MASTERCARD ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP
OF THE SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The European Seniors Tour and The R&A have today announced MasterCard Worldwide as the new Presenting Sponsor of The Senior Open Championship, commencing with the 2008 Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, Scotland.
One of the great links courses in Great Britain, the Old Course at Royal Troon will host The 2008 Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard from July 24-27 next year, when the cream of international Senior golfing talent will contest the replica Claret Jug for the 22nd time.
Tom Watson, a MasterCard Worldwide Ambassador, will defend the title at Troon after the American captured his third Senior Open title at Muirfield on Sunday, defeating compatriot Mark O’Meara and Stewart Ginn by a stroke.
MasterCard Worldwide, a global payment solutions leader, was previously the Presenting Sponsor of the Championship from 2000-2004.
Since 2004, MasterCard Worldwide has been associated with the event as a Championship Patron and is now graduating back to the level of Presenting Sponsor at a time when some of the biggest stars of European golf are about to reach their 50th birthdays.
Among the new names that will be eligible to play in the Championship at Troon are three Major-winning Ryder Cup Captains in Bernhard Langer of Germany, Hal Sutton of the United States and Ian Woosnam of Wales, in addition to 1985 Open and 1988 Masters Champion Sandy Lyle of Scotland.
It will be the fourth consecutive year the Championship has been staged in Scotland and the first at Royal Troon. The Scottish sequence began at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2005, followed by The Westin Turnberry Resort in 2006 and last week’s venue at Muirfield.

CARNOUSTIE GOLF LINKS PRESS RELEASE

YOU CAN FOLLOW IN HARRINGTON'S

FOOTSTEPS IN 2008 FOR £125

After what will go down in history as one of the finest Open Championships ever to be staged, golfers will be pleased to know that they will soon be able to test their games on one of the world’s greatest courses, as Carnoustie Golf Links will soon be offering visitors the opportunity to reserve tee-times for 2008.
Green fees for the famous Championship course in 2008 will be available to book from August 6th at a cost of £125, or for £145 why not take the opportunity to play a round on each of Carnoustie’s three fine courses, the Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links.
“We are delighted to be able to offer golfers the opportunity to reserve green-fees for 2008 so soon after what was such a memorable Open Championship, won in dramatic fashion by Padraig Harrington,” said Graeme Duncan, General Manager of the Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee.
“We believe that our green-fee structure represents fantastic value and gives visitors a great chance to not only take on the challenge of the Championship course, but also experience both the Burnside and Buddon courses, which also provide excellent tests of golf.”
The Championship course at Carnoustie needs no introduction, since 1931 it has hosted a total of seven Open Championships, boasting such fine champions as Henry Cotton, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Paul Lawrie, and now the first European Major winner in 8 years, Padraig Harrington, can be added to that list, after his nail biting play-off victory over Sergio Garcia, that provided such a fitting finale to a week which saw Carnoustie’s Championship course shine under the spotlight of the world’s best players.
“The golf course is hard, but it's fair. I think it's a fantastic test.” Tiger Woods
“I didn’t realise what a wonderful golf course it is. It’s terrific.” Phil Mickelson.
“One of the toughest and best links courses that we have in the world,” Colin Montgomerie
“It's got length. It's got great bunkering. You've really got to have your wits with you to play this golf course. It's probably the best bunkered course that you'll ever find anywhere in the world.” Ernie Els
“There isn’t a player who didn’t find this course a test and enjoyed that test. Credit to Carnoustie, it’s one of the best in the world,” Padraig Harrington
The Burnside course has been used as an Open Qualifying venue on a number of occasions and it was there the legendary Ben Hogan began his successful quest to win the Open Championship back in 1953.

At 6,028 yards it is not long by modern standards, but it is still a fine test for amateur golfers of all levels, not least because of a host of strategically-placed pot bunkers that are a trademark of all three of Carnoustie’s layouts.
The Buddon Links is Carnoustie’s newest course. It was designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in the 1980s and has since been extensively upgraded. It measures 5,420 yards and has a par of 66.
More information on green-= fees for 2008 can be obtained from Colin McLeod, Carnoustie’s Golf Services Manager on 01241 802270 (colin@carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk)
To book tee-times online and general information about Carnoustie Golf Links go to http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/

JIM FURYK WINS CANADIAN

OPEN FOR SECOND YEAR

IN A ROW AFTER EARLY

ACE IN FINAL ROUND

Helped by a hole in one early in a final round of seven-under-par 64, world No 3 Jim Furyk made a successful defence of the Canadian Open title at Angus Glen Golf Club.
Furyk, pictured right, finished at 16-under-par 268, one shot ahead of Vijay Singh who signed off with a 68.

Aberdeen-born Michael Sim tied for 34th place at five-under-par 279 and earned $23,666.
Michael, who emigrated with his parents to Perth, Western Australia when he was seven, is now 166th on the US PGA Tour money table with earnings of $227,178 from nine events.

He did not make his debut on the American circuit until May after suffering a stress fracture in the lower back late last autumn.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)

Players from US unless stated.

268 Jim Furyk 69 66 69 64
269 Vijay Singh (Fij) 68 65 68 68
271 George McNeill 70 69 66 66, Ryan Palmer 67 67 71 66
272 Hunter Mahan 62 74 67 69, Bob Heintz 69 69 67 67
273 Steve Allan (Aus) 64 68 70 71, John Mallinger 66 66 70 71, Brandt Snedeker 67 68 70 68
274 Pat Perez 68 70 66 70, Paul Gow (Aus) 70 69 67 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 68 72 66, Tom Pernice jun 68 68 69 69, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 70 71 64
275 Steve Marino 70 66 70 69, Tim Petrovic 72 69 68 66, Bo Van Pelt 66 70 69 70, Glen Day 67 70 68 70, Tripp Isenhour 65 68 73 69, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 70 67 72 66, Cliff Kresge 70 65 71 69
276 Charlie Wi (Kor) 66 71 70 69, Billy Andrade 69 67 74 66, Dicky Pride 68 68 70 70, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 69 69 68 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 72 69 69 66
277 Brian Davis (Eng) 70 70 68 69, Bill Haas 68 71 71 67, Briny Baird 69 69 70 69, Stephen Ames (Can) 70 69 69 69
278 Bart Bryant 68 71 71 68, Bob Tway 69 71 66 72, Frank Lickliter II 69 69 73 67
279 Michael Sim (Sco) 69 67 73 70, Robert Garrigus 67 71 73 68, Jeff Sluman 72 65 72 70, Michael Putnam 66 68 72 73, Michael Allen 73 67 73 66, Brett Quigley 68 68 71 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 68 70 69 72, Mike Weir (Can) 71 70 67 71, Corey Pavin 69 72 70 68
280 Charles Warren 71 70 68 71
281 Craig Lile (Rsa) 72 69 71 69, Steve Jones 68 69 72 72, Carlos Franco (Par) 69 69 72 71
282 Brad Faxon 70 69 71 72, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 75 65 72 70, Bob May 74 64 75 69
283 Bob Estes 71 70 71 71, John Merrick 69 71 73 70, Mark Calcavecchia 67 71 74 71, Sean O'Hair 68 70 75 70, Steve Flesch 72 69 70 72, Tag Ridings 67 71 75 70, Craig Bowden 72 68 69 74, Douglas Labelle 67 68 74 74
284 Kent Jones 69 71 74 70, Jeff Gove 74 67 68 75, Ted Purdy 68 69 71 76, David Hearn (Can) 65 73 73 73, Justin Leonard 69 72 69 74, Ken Duke 73 68 71 72, Olin Browne 66 74 71 73, Bryce Molder 68 70 71 75
285 David Branshaw 73 68 68 76, Mike Grob 71 69 75 70, Scott Gutschewski 71 69 75 70, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 68 69 70 78, Troy Matteson 67 71 68 79
286 Chris DiMarco 71 70 70 75, Jerry Smith 69 71 74 72, Christopher Baryla (Can) 74 66 74 72
287 Parker McLachlin 72 67 72 76
288 Chris Smith 68 71 77 72
289 Bubba Watson 74 66 73 76
290 Joey Sindelar 69 71 72 78
293 Steve Lowery 72 69 74 78

LAIRD NOW 11TH ON NATIONWIDE
TOUR MONEY TABLE AFTER JOINT

FOURTH FINISH AT OMAHA

Former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird, 25, has moved up from 16th to 11 on the Nationwide Tour on the United States.
This follows the long-hitting Glasgow player’s joint fourth place finish – his third top-five of the season – in the Cox Classic tournament on Sunday at Champions Run, Omaha in Nebraska.
Laird, who has been a winner this year, had scores of 68, 65, 66 and 66 for 19-under-par 265.
His bogey-free final round contained birdies at the fourth, sixth, ninth, 10th and 17th.
Although he had two eagles in the course of his first three rounds, Martin will be rueing a double bogey 6 at the fourth hole in his opening round.
He finished five shots behind winner Roland Thatcher (64-63-68-65) and four behind runner-up Jason Day (66-70-62-63).
Laird earned $25,593 for his joint fourth place finish. That boosted his season’s earnings to $174,134 from 16 events. He has missed only three cuts. Martin, who stands 6ft 2in and weighs 185lb, is the 11th longest driver on the No. 2 American Tour with an average tee shot of 306.6 yards.

Laird, a Hilton Park Golf Club member during his amateur career, spent four years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.

HUGH HUNTER'S NEWS FROM CLACKMANNAN

COUNTY GOLF TEAM IN ACTION

Clackmannan county team selectors have named a strong squad for the second tie in the area team championship against the North-east at Braehead on Sunday.

The match consists of four morning foursomes and six afternoon singles. A win for the county team is a must if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the finals of the event to be held at Powfoot Golf club on the first weekend on October.

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), bronze medallist in the Amateur, and Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) lead the line up and will be well supported by Steven Horne and Mark Crichton (both Tulliallan), Ross Benvie (Braehead) and Alloa club champion Ian Ross.
UNDEFEATED ALVA BOYS TOP THE LEAGUE
Sunday's match between Alva and Alloa boys settled the Clackmannan Boys' League when Alva won 4-2 against a strong Alloa team. After four results, it was two games all, and it was the Alva tail that wagged strongly with two solid wins.

Out of the eight matches, the Alva boys have won six and drawn two matches, which is a great credit to team manager Davie Allan and team captain Gary Elliot.

Best individual performance came from Martin Hall who was undefeated with seven wins in his matches.
Details (Alva names first):
Gary Elliot lost to Andre Scotland 2 and 1.

Daniel Ashe beat Grant Dowie 5 and 4.
Scott Thomson beat Bruce McAdam 5 and 4.
Adam Ashe lost to Grant Ross 2 and 1
Darren Young beat William Nelson 3 and 2.
Martin Hall beat Calum Graham 3 and 2.
Although the winning team has been decided, the remaining positions are still to be settled due to postponed matches.

++Alva boys' team pictured above. Back row (left to right): Darren Young, Scott Thomson, Gary Elliot (capt), Adam Ashe. Front row: Martin Hall, Daniel Ashe, Davis Fraser, Reyner Kennedy.

SCOTTISH BOYS' STROKE PLAY CHAMPINSHIP.
Alloa’s Andre Scotland, who was a reserve for the event, got a phone call late on Monday to take up a cancelled time and set off for a 12.00 start next day at Cardrona Golf Course near Peebles(courtesy of kind boss David Herd professional at Alloa Golf Club).

Without a practice round, Andre managed to score a seven over par score of 77 over the difficult lay-out along the valley of the River Tweed. Next day he went a shot better and ended up just missing the cut by two shots for the final two rounds. Bogeys at 10th, 11th and 13th both days (six over par on these holes) did not help. A good performance, nevertheless.

BOB STEWART ON THE WAY UP.

Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart is starting to make an impact on the Senior golfing scene in Scotland. In the West Seniors event at Hamilton last week, rounds of 77 and 72 lifted him in to seventh position, and the points awarded as a result brought him to 16th position in the Seniors Order of Merit.

His tournaments in the next two weeks are the East Seniors at Monifieth, and the British Seniors at Nairn, and with his improving form, he must have much more confidence. Said Bob

“I am now scoring a bit better, due to a bit of course management, than earlier in the season, and the 72 at Hamilton in difficult conditions was very pleasing.”

While the district seniors are 36-hole events, the British seniors is a three-round competition with a cut after two rounds leaving the top 50 to play the final round.

SWITCH TO KIRKWOODGOLF.CO.UK
FOR REPOR, SCORES FROM A
REPEAT JENNA WILSON VICTORY

Jenna Wilson, pictured with the Mackie Bowl, after her repeat victory in the SLGA 36-hole Order of Merit event, organised by Gullane Ladies Golf Club over the No 1 course.
You can read the report and scores and see another picture by switching over to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/

Deeside Golf Club's winning boys' team with the Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant (image courtesy of Gordon Murray).

DEESIDE PIP PETERHEAD FOR JUNIOR PENNANT

Deeside Golf Club won the Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant League championship final at McDonald Ellon Golf Club today for the first time since 1971.
They beat Peterhead on a countback after the teams drew 3-3.
Deeside's past captain Alan Rennie played in the 1971 winning team. His son Thomas was a member of today's winning Deeside line-up.

Details:
(Peterhead names first)
C Thomson (4), R Gordon (5) bt T Rennie (2), S Stevens (2) 2 and 1.
M Stainton (5), S Porter (5) lost to J Scott (34), M Kelly (5) 4 and 3.
M Wiseman (5), P Lemon (7) lost to S Smith (6), N Barnes (6) 4 and 3.
S Leggat (8), L Youngson (8) bt J Murray (10), J Loggie (9) 2 holes.
L Cruickshanks (9), A Duncan (10) lost to M Loggie (12), C Black (12) 1 hole.
M Lawson (10), J Reid (11) bt S Hassard (14), M Trail (15) 1 hole.

MUIR OF ORD PLAYER WINS

ROYAL NAVY TROPHY AT

NORTH JUNIOR OPEN

Muir of Ord’s Greg Matheson, pictured right, with a net score of 68 off 18 of a handicap, won the Royal Navy Trophy at the North of Scotland Juinior Open at Loch Ness golf course, Inverness today.
Best scratch score of a day which began with rain and finished with strong breeze was a 78 by Christian MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar). That won him the Tulloch Homes Trophy. He was one of only two players to break 80.Lieutenant Commander Gary Farmer from the Royal Navy presented the prizes.

LEADING SCORES
BOYS (CSS 72)
Scratch – C MacLeod (Nairn Dunbar) 78; S Connell (Inverness), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 79.
Handicap – Class 1 – C Nelson (Nairn) (8) 73; S Goodman (Inverness) (8) 74; C Reid (6) 76.
Class 2 – G Matheson (Muir of Ord) (18) 68; G Forsyth (12)( 70; S Chalmers (12) 71.
Class 3 – E MacLachlan (25) 70; R Innes (Keith) (22), K Mackay (29) 70.
GIRLS (CSS 73)
Handicap – J Innes (Keith) (20) 78; A Brown (Nairn Dunbar) (33) 80; C Macleod (Nairn Dunbar) (12) 84.

ends

CRAIG RONALD WINS AT MURRAYFIELD
WITH SEVEN UNDER PAR 63

Craig Ronald won the £1,200 top prize in today's Bell Lawrie/Murrayfield Golf Club pro-am with a fine round of seven-under-par 63.
The Carluke professional bogeyed the third hole and then rattled off eight birdies - at the fourth, fifth, sixth, 10th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th.
He won by three shots from Anthony Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) and Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
Home club professional Kieon Stevenson, in the last group to finish, led the Mackay Hall Ltd trio of amateurs, David Marshall (4), Philip Harris (128) and Mark Fisher (9) to victory in the team event with an incredible net score of 17-under-par 53.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
63 C Ronald (Carluke).
66 A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
67 G McFarlane (Clober), M Loftus (Cowglen).
68 M King (Kingsfield), D Robertson (unatt), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), P Wytrazek (Burntisland).

LEFT-HANDED 15-YEAR-OLD WINS US
BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

American teenager Cory Whitsett, a left-handed 15-year-old, followed in the footsteps of Tiger Woods by winning the United States boys' championship in Augusta, Missouri on Saturday.
In an all-Texan final at Boone Valley Golf Club, Houston resident Whitsett crushed Dallas-based Anthony Paolucci 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final.
Whitsett became the fifth 15-year-old to clinch the prestigious title after Woods (1991), Sihwan Kim (2004), Henry Liaw (2001) and Mike Brannan (1971).
Whitsett 17 of 23 fairways and reached 19 of 29 greens in the championship final. He had built up a five-hole lead over the first 18 holes.
Whitsett automatically qualifies for next year's British amateur championship. With Paolucci, he also gains exemption for next month's US amateur championship (August 20-26) at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.

ELEMENTARY, WATSON WINS OVER-50s
OPEN AT MUIRFIELD

Tom Watson, winner of five Open championships, returned to Muirfield, the scene of his third one - in 1980 -- to regain the Senior British Open title he last held at Royal Aberdeen two years ago.
One of the most popular players on the world golf scene, Watson had a double bogey 6 at the last hole on his way to chalking up his third Senior British Open victory in the past five years.
It was his fifth senior major triumph. Seven of his eight major wins either side of 50 have been achieved on Scottish links.
Watson shot rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 73 for a level par total of 284 over arguably the toughest course yet set for the over-50s major in this country. The Muirfield course was 7,034 yards long and the rough was exceptionally long as well.
Watson won by one stroke from Stewart Ginn (Australia) and Mark O'Meara (US).
In all there were sixth Americans in the top eight finishers.
Watson made up for his back nine collapse at the US Senior Open at Whistling Straits three weeks ago where he blew a three-shot lead after 10 holes of the final round to finish fourth.
Making his debut tournament as a senior, Nick Faldo finished joint 14th, having peaked too early and tieing for the leading after the opening round.
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71).
Players from US unless stated.
284 Tom Watson 70 71 70 73
285 Mark O'Meara 72 71 70 72, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 71 70 69 75,.
288 Loren Roberts 74 72 71 71, Eduardo Romero (Arg) 70 71 73 74, Jay Haas 70 75 73 70, Lonnie Nielsen 69 74 74 71
289 John Ross 71 72 74 72
290 Donnie Hammond 73 71 71 75
291 Sam Torrance (Sco) 69 75 71 76, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 68 73 74 76, Des Smyth (Irl) 70 70 77 74, Tom Kite 70 76 74 71
292 Nick Faldo (Eng) 68 74 75 75, Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 71 71 81 69
293 Denis Watson 69 74 73 77, Jerry Pate 73 73 72 75, Tom McKnight 72 77 72 72
294 D A Weibring 72 72 74 76, Jean-Pierre Sallat (Fra) 73 77 73 71, Hugh Baiocchi (Rsa) 73 78 76 67, Tim Simpson 71 75 75 73
295 Kirk Hanefeld 72 72 76 75, James Mason 77 71 74 73, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) 71 75 72 77, Scott Hoch 69 75 78 73, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 72 74 77 72, John Bland (Rsa) 71 74 73 77, Tsukasa Watanabe (Jpn) 71 77 71 76
296 Brad Bryant 72 71 78 75, Tim Conley 72 75 78 71, Ben Crenshaw 70 76 74 76, Morris Hatalsky 69 73 73 81
297 Bruce Vaughan 74 76 75 72, Bob Charles (Nzl) 71 77 74 75, Scott Simpson 76 72 77 72, Mark McNulty (Irl) 70 76 80 71
298 Gil Morgan 72 76 74 76, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 72 76 75 75, Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) 71 80 75 72, Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 74 74 76 74, Kenny Knox 70 79 80 69, Vicente Fernandez (Arg) 75 76 73 74, Rod Spittle 72 74 76 76, Simon Owen (Aus) 70 75 74 79, John Harris 70 80 74 74, Dave Stockton 68 76 72 82
299 Dick Mast 71 80 76 72, Pete Oakley 74 75 78 72, Jon Chaffee 73 77 72 77
300 John Benda 74 71 78 77, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 70 79 74 77
Bob Gilder 70 80 76 74
301 Mike McCullough 74 73 77 77, David Edwards 74 75 76 76, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 73 77 74 77, Tom Purtzer 74 77 77 73, Graham Marsh (Aus) 71 71 76 83, Denis O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 76 75 75, Massy Kuramoto (Jpn) 73 78 75 75
302 John Chillas (Gb) 72 77 76 77, Adan Sowa (Arg) 73 77 78 74, Mark James (Eng) 72 75 76 79
303 Bob Larratt (Eng) 74 73 75 81, Bob Cameron (Eng) 75 74 79 75, Jose Rivero (Spa) 78 73 79 73, Manuel Pinero (Spa) 73 75 77 78
304 Jim Rhodes (Eng) 77 73 77 77, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 71 80 80 73
305 Andrew Murray (Eng) 72 78 77 78, Chip Beck 71 78 79 77
306 Bruce Heuchan 69 78 81 78
308 Craig Stadler 76 75 81 76, Eamonn Darcy (Irl) 77 74 79 78
309 Gery Watine (Fra) 76 74 79 80
310 Gary Player (Rsa) 72 76 79 83

ROYAL ABERDEEN BEAT PORTLETHEN
IN ABERDEEN PENNANT FINAL

Royal Aberdeen won the Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League championship at East Aberdeenshire Golf Centre today.
The Balgownie men beat first-time finalists Portlethen 3 1/2-2 1/2 in the final.

Details (Royal Aberdeen names first):

A Reith, M Hall bt D Smith, R Donaldson 4 and 3.
E Laird, S Buchan bt P Morrison, K Tait 5 and 3.
B Barclay, D Macandrew halved with C Brechin, S Wallace.
C Shaw, C Fraser lost to G Esson, K Horne 4 and 3.
L Middleton, M Wilson lost to S Cook, L Shand 2 and 1.
S Fraser, M Black bt I Craik, B McDonald 2 and 1.

SEVEN DAYS LATE, BUT ANDRES

ROMERO SHOWS HE CAN BE

A WINNER

There is some justice in pro golf after all. Last Sunday, Andres Romero led the Open field - Harrington, Garcia and all - by two shots with "only" to holes to play .. but a double bogey and a bogey meant he missed the eventual play-off by a single shot.
Seven days later Romero, pictured right, won the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship at rain-soaked Gut Kaden, Hamburg.
It is the 26-year-old Argentian's first European Tour victory.
He had a closing round of 70 for an 19 under par total of 270 and three-shot victory over England's Oliver Wilson and Denmark's Soren Hansen.
England's Zane Scotland, second overnight, struggled to a 76 for a share of 11th.
The first prize of £403,510 took Romero's earnings for the fortnight to more than £690,000 and booked his place in next week's WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron as well as securing a five-year European Tour exemption.
Romero began the final round two shots clear of Zane Scotland and was five clear after four birdies and a bogey in the first seven holes.
Despite a double bogey on the ninth, Romero looked in complete control when he birdied the 11th to move four clear again, but Wilson birdied the 16th to cut the gap and it was down to two when Romero bogeyed the same hole 30 minutes later.
This time there was to be no double bogey-bogey finish however and Romero sealed the win in style with a birdie on the 18th before being drenched in champagne by fellow Argentinian players and caddies.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72).
269 Andres Romero (Arg) 68 68 63 70.
272 Oliver Wilson 66 70 70 66, Soren Hansen (Den) 72 70 66 64.
274 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 69 72 68 65.
275 Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 70 68 68, Alexander Noren (Swe) 67 71 65 72.
276 Lee Slattery 66 69 67 74, Charley Hoffman (USA) 68 72 67 69, Steve Webster 73 67 70 66, Brett Wetterich (USA) 69 70 67 70.
277 Zane Scotland 67 68 66 76, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 78 65 66 68, Ross Fisher 69 72 68 68, Johan Edfors (Swe) 71 70 69 67.
278 Anton Haig (Rsa) 69 69 72 68, Benn Barham 69 70 68 71, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 68 71 70, Miles Tunnicliff 73 69 66 70, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 71 72 70 65.
279 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 71 66 73, Sam Walker 70 73 67 69, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71 72 65 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 72 68 69 70, John Bickerton 68 71 68 72, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 71 68 71
280 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 70 72 67 71, Tino Schuster (Ger) 69 72 66 73, David Lynn 68 73 69 70, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 67 72 71 70, Matthew Millar (Aus) 70 71 68 71, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 75 71 66, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 67 74 70 69, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 73 67 70, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 72 69 70 69, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 74 65 72 69, Ian Garbutt 71 69 71 69
281 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71 67 70 73, Paul McGinley 72 70 69 70, Peter Lawrie 72 69 70 70
282 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 69 70 72, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 69 70 72, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 72 71 68, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 71 71 68, Kyron Sullivan 71 72 67 72, Steven O'Hara 69 70 70 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 70 72 71 69, Anthony Wall 70 73 69 70, Alastair Forsyth 70 73 69 70, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 71 70 69 72, Bradley Dredge 69 69 73 71
283 Paul Casey 68 70 68 77, Damien McGrane 69 71 72 71, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 71 66 76, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 72 67 73, David Frost (Rsa) 68 72 69 74, Mark Foster 71 71 70 71
284 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 76 70 71, Oliver Fisher 71 72 68 73
285 David Griffiths 70 72 68 75, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 69 75 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 69 71 73, Terry Price (Aus) 71 69 74 71
286 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 72 67 73 74, Stephen Gallacher 68 74 72 72, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71 74 71, Phillip Price 74 69 73 70
Gary Birch jr (Ger) 73 70 72 71
287 Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 73 71 74, Garry Houston 72 70 71 74, Max Kramer (Aut) 71 72 70 74, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71 73 73
288 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 70 73 74 71, Marc Warren 68 73 75 72, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 76 75 70, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 71 71 74
289 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 74 71 75
290 Gary Murphy 70 73 73 74, Edward Rush 71 72 71 76
291 Sion Bebb 72 70 73 76

McARTHUR BOOSTS CHANCES OF

WINNING PLACE ON EUROPEAN

TOUR NEXT SEASON

By MICHAEL GIBBONS

Challenge Tour Press Officer

Andrew McArthur finished top of the Scots at the European Challenge Tour’s FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge today, taking a share of sixth place at the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort.
The Windyhill professional, pictured right, carded a final round of two under 70 for a seven under par 209 total that secured the 28 year old a cheque for €3,445, moving him to 26th on the Challenge Tour Rankings.

The former Scottish amateur champion now has a real chance of winning a place on the 2008 European Tour as one of the top 20 players on the Challenge Tour money table at the end of the season in October.
Paul Doherty and Jamie McLeary finished in a tie for 29th place on three-under--par 213 in Wales after respective final round scores of 69 and 70.

Craig Lee finished joint 52nd on 216 with a sign-off score of 74.

Andrew Oldcorn withdrew from the final round.

The tournament was reduced from 72 to 54 holes because of the threat of bad weather.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72)

203 C Moriarty (Ire) 68 65 70.

206 F Aguilar (Chi) 70 67 69.

208 G Maybin (Ire) 73 68 67, C Smith (Wal) 69 73 77, L Westerberg (Swe) 75 69 64, J Zapata (Arg) 67 66 75.

Scots scores:

210 A McArthur 68 71 70 (jt 7th).

213 P Doherty 71 73 69, J McLeary 75 68 70 (jt 29th).

216 C Lee 74 68 74 (jt 52nd).

Pictures from Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship

Better later than never! Colin Farquharson's images from last week's Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship at Cardrona finally reach the screen after several days on the road. Above, title-winner James Byrne is flanked by the runners-up.

Scottish Golf Union president David Moir with Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), winner of the George MacDonald Memorial Trophy for the best performance by an Under-16 year old in the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship at Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort.

Champion of Scotland .... at Scottish Under-18 boys' stroke-play level. That's James Byrne from Banchory.

James Byrne (Banchory), the new Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play champion, and (right) Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), who finished runner-up after catching James by the end of 72 holes and then losing at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off at Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort near Peebles.

GREG PATERSON CLEAR LEADER OF FORRESTER
PARK FIFE ORDER OF MERIT TABLE

Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), winner of the Sutherland Chalice 72-hole SGU Order of Merit event, has a clear lead in the Forrester Park Fife Order of Merit for the Mackay Bowl.
Positions after 14 events:

1 Greg Paterson (The New Club) 500pt.
2 Alex Main (Thornton) 325.
3 Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 320.
4 James White (Lundin) 300.
5 Stuart Meiklejohn (Aberdour) 245.
6 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 210.
7 Gary Page (Balbirnie Park) 185.
8 Lawrie Clark (Kinghorn) 160.
9 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 150.
10 Colin Martin (Balbirnie Park) 130.

The next counting event is the Pitreavie 36-hole open today.

DUNFERMLINE WIN DIVISION 3 OF FIFE LEAGUES

Dunfermline have won Division 3 of the Fife Golf Association Summer Inter-Club Leagues, sponsored by Innes Johnson & Company, solicitors and estate agents.
Drumoig have been relegated.

Division 3 results:
Dunfermline 4, Drumoig 2.
Scotscraig 3, Drumoig 3.
Forrester Park 4, Dunfermline 2.
Drumoig 5.5, Forrester Park 0.5.
Dunfermline 3.5, Scotscraig 2.5.
Dunfermline 4.5, Forrester Park 1.5.
Drumoig 2.5, Dunfermline 3.5.
Drumoig 4, Scotscraig 2.
Scotscraig 6, Forrester Park 0.
Forrester Park 4.5, Scotscraig 1.5.
Scotscraig 4, Dunfermline 2.
Forrester Park 5.5, Drumoig 0.5

FINAL DIVISION 3 PLACINGS
1 Dunfermline 6-4-2-0-18-15-3-8pt.
2 Forrester Park 6-3-3-0-14-18-4-6pt.
3 Scotscraig 6-2-3-1-17-15-4-5pt.
4 Drumoig 6-2-3-1-15-16-5-5pt.
+Columns: Played-won-lost-halved-for-against-halved-points.

CARLY WINS GOLD, SCOTLAND WIN BRONZE IN
EUROPEAN YOUNG MASTERS

Carly Booth won the gold medal in the girls' category of the European Young Masters in France on Saturday - and Scotland (Carly Booth, Jill Meldrum, David Law & Paul Shields) gained the bronze medals in the team event.
Read the full report on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

LOFTUS WINS MONTROSE PRO-AM

Mark Loftus (Cowglen) scored his fourth win of the Tartan Tour season with a five-under-par round of 66 to earn the £1,025 top prize in Saturday's Montgrose Golf Links pro-am.
Loftus, had birdies at the third, fourth, seventh, 11th, 13th and 15th only one one bogey, at the 17th, in halves of 33.
He won by one shot from Murray Urquhart (Inverness) who received the runner-up award of £818 for a 68.
Kenny Hutton (Downfield) led the "Frosties Bhoys" amateur trio of Tom Frost (handicap 18), Tom Frost junior (18) and Kevin Turriff (8) to victory in the team event with a net, two-ball total of 18-under-par 124.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 71
66 M Loftus (Cowglen) £1,025.
68 M Urquhart (Inverness) £818
69 G Hutcheon (Peterculter), D Robertson (unatt), N Christie (Carnoustie Golf Links). £481 each.
70 S Cairns (Westerwood), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), C Ronald (Carluke), S Gray (Hayston), E Thomson (Largs), K Hutton (Downfield), £220 each.
71 B Mason (Drumoig), A Fleming (North Highland College), S Clydesdale (Brucefields), F Mann (Musselburgh), I Pender (Aberfoyle), J Wales (Kings Acre), G Law (Uphall).
72 G McInnes (Murcar Links), J McKinnon (Irvine).

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
Deutsche Bank Players' Championship
Gut Kaden, Hamburg, Germany
(Gbr&Irl unless stated)
Par 216 (3 x 72)
199 Andres Romero (Arg) 68 68 63
201 Zane Scotland (Gbr) 67 68 66
202 Lee Slattery 66 69 67
203 Alexander Noren (Swe) 67 71 65
206 Paul Casey 68 70 68, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 71 66, Oliver Wilson 66 70 70, Brett Wetterich (USA) 69 70 67
207 Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 70 68, Charley Hoffman (USA) 68 72 67, Benn Barham 69 70 68, Tino Schuster (Ger) 69 72 66, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 71 66, John Bickerton 68 71 68
208 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71 67 70, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71 72 65, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 68 71, Soren Hansen (Den) 72 70 66, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 71 68, Miles Tunnicliff 73 69 66
209 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 70 72 67, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 78 65 66, Ross Fisher 69 72 68, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 72 68 69, Steven O'Hara 69 70 70, David Frost (Rsa) 68 72 69, Matthew Millar (Aus) 70 71 68, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 69 72 68
210 Anton Haig (Rsa) 69 69 72, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 69 70, Steve Webster 73 67 70, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 69 70, David Griffiths 70 72 68, Kyron Sullivan 71 72 67, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 67 72 71, David Lynn 68 73 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 71 70 69, Sam Walker 70 73 67, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 73 67, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 72 67, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 71 70 69
211 Peter Lawrie 72 69 70, Oliver Fisher 71 72 68, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 67 74 70, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 72 69 70, Paul McGinley 72 70 69, Ian Garbutt 71 69 71, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 74 65 72, Bradley Dredge 69 69 73
212 Anthony Wall 70 73 69, Damien McGrane 69 71 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 72 67 73, Alastair Forsyth 70 73 69, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 69 71, Mark Foster 71 71 70
213 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 70 72 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 73 71, Garry Houston 72 70 71, Max Kramer (Aut) 71 72 70, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 76 70, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 71 72 70
214 Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 72 71, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 71 71, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 74 71, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 71 71, Stephen Gallacher 68 74 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 75 71, Terry Price (Aus) 71 69 74, Edward Rush 71 72 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71 73
215 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71 74, Sion Bebb 72 70 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 69 75, Gary Birch jr (Ger) 73 70 72
216 Gary Murphy 70 73 73, Marc Warren 68 73 75, Phillip Price 74 69 73
217 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 70 73 74
218 Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 76 75

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
Muirfield, Gullane.
Par 213 (3 x 71)
210 Stewart Ginn (Aus) 71 70 69
211 Tom Watson 70 71 70
213 Mark O'Meara 72 71 70
214 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 70 71 73
215 Sam Torrance (Sco) 69 75 71, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 68 73 74, Donnie Hammond 73 71 71, Morris Hatalsky 69 73 73
216 Denis Watson 69 74 73, Dave Stockton 68 76 72
217 Nick Faldo (Eng) 68 74 75, Des Smyth (Irl) 70 70 77, Loren Roberts 74 72 71, John Ross 71 72 74, Lonnie Nielsen 69 74 74
218 D A Weibring 72 72 74, Graham Marsh (Aus) 71 71 76, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) 71 75 72, John Bland (Rsa) 71 74 73, Jay Haas 70 75 73, Jerry Pate 73 73 72
219 Simon Owen (Aus) 70 75 74, Tsukasa Watanabe (Jpn) 71 77 71
220 Kirk Hanefeld 72 72 76, Tom Kite 70 76 74, Ben Crenshaw 70 76 74
221 Brad Bryant 72 71 78, Tim Simpson 71 75 75, Tom McKnight 72 77 72
222 Gil Morgan 72 76 74, James Mason 77 71 74, Rod Spittle 72 74 76, Scott Hoch 69 75 78, Bob Larratt (Eng) 74 73 75, Bob Charles (Nzl) 71 77 74, Jon Chaffee 73 77 72
223 John Benda 74 71 78, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 72 76 75, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 70 79 74, Jean-Pierre Sallat (Fra) 73 77 73, Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 71 71 81, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 72 74 77, Mark James (Eng) 72 75 76
224 Mike McCullough 74 73 77, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 73 77 74, Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 74 74 76, John Harris 70 80 74, Vicente Fernandez (Arg) 75 76 73
225 David Edwards 74 75 76, Bruce Vaughan 74 76 75, Tim Conley 72 75 78, John Chillas 72 77 76, Scott Simpson 76 72 77, Manuel Pinero (Spa) 73 75 77
226 Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) 71 80 75, Denis O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 76 75, Mark McNulty (Irl) 70 76 80, Massy Kuramoto (Jpn) 73 78 75, Bob Gilder 70 80 76
227 Gary Player (Rsa) 72 76 79, Dick Mast 71 80 76, Pete Oakley 74 75 78, Andrew Murray (Eng) 72 78 77, Jim Rhodes (Eng) 77 73 77, Hugh Baiocchi (Rsa) 73 78 76
228 Bruce Heuchan 69 78 81, Tom Purtzer 74 77 77, Chip Beck 71 78 79, Adan Sowa (Arg) 73 77 78, Bob Cameron (Eng) 75 74 79
229 Kenny Knox 70 79 80, Gery Watine (Fra) 76 74 79
230 Eamonn Darcy (Irl) 77 74 79, Jose Rivero (Spa) 78 73 79
231 Bill Longmuir 71 80 80
232 Craig Stadler 76 75 81
233 Denis Durnian (Gb) 74 75 84

CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT CUT TO THREE ROUNDS,
McARTHUR SIX SHOTS TO MAKE UP

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour
Windyhill's Andrew McArthur remains the leading Scot at the Firstplus Wales Challenge, but the decision to cut the tournament to 54 holes has left the Glaswegian too much to do in Sunday’s final round.
After the loss of Thursday’s first day’s play to torrential rain and the threat of further inclement weather, Challenge Tour Officials were left with no option but to reduce the event from four to three rounds.
That leaves McArthur with the task of making up six strokes on leaders Colm Moriarty of Ireland and Argentina’s Julio Zapata in the space of 18 holes at the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort.
SECOND ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
133 C Moriarty (Ire) 68 65, J Zapata (Arg) 67 66.
136 T Dykes (Wal) 70 66.
Other scores:
139 A McArthur (Sco) 68 71 (jt 8th).
142 C Lee (Sco) 74 68 (jt 23rd).
143 J McLeary (Sco) 75 68 (jt 33rd).
144 P Doherty (Sco) 71 73 (jt 43rd)
MISSED CUT
147 G Murray (Sco) 76 71, E Ramsay (Sco) 79 68, P Whiteford (Sco) 78 69.
148 J Doherty (Sco) 76 72, E Saltman (Scor) 78 71.
151 C Doak (Sco) 75 77.
155 S Henderson (Sco) 81 74.

VAGLIANO TROPHY FINAL SCOREBOARD

GREAT BRITAIN 9, CONTINENT OF EUROPE 15

First day: GB&I 3, Continent of Europe 9.
Second day: GB&I 6, Continent of Europe 6.

SECOND DAY

FOURSOMES
(GB&I names first)
M Reid (Eng) & T Delaney (Ire) lost to A Nordqvist (Swe) & C Westrup (Swe) 3 and 1.
K Smith (Eng) & N Edwards (Eng) lost to P Lindberg (Swe) & B Mozo (Spa) 4 and 3.
K Caithness (Sco) & B Loucks (Wal) bt E Cabrera (Spa) & D Becker (Ger) 3 and 1.
R Bell (Eng) & L Bennett (Eng) bt S Gal (Ger) & C Ciganda (Spa) 3 and 2..

GB&I 2, Continent of Europe 2.

SINGLES
Edwards lost to Ciganda 5 and 4.
Smith lost to Gal 1 hole.
Reid bt V Derrey (Fra) 1 hole .
Loucks bt Becker 5 and 3.
Caithness bt Lindberg 6 and 4.
Bennett bt Cabrera 3 and 1.
Delaney lost to Westrup 1 hole..
Bell lost to Nordqvist 1 hole.

GB&I 4, Continent of Europe 4.

ERSKINE AND MACLEAN TIE FOR VICTORY

IN WEST OF SCOTLAND SENIORS' OPEN

William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) and Ronald Maclean (Hamilton) tied for victory on 145 in the latest event on the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society circuit, the West of Scotland seniors' open tournament at Hamilton Golf Club.

With the wind picking up, they both shot splendid second-day rounds of 70 to overtake the overnight leaders. It was Maclean's first appearance on the circuit. Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), the Scottish seniors amateur champion, did not play at Hamilton but continues to lead the overall Order of Merit with 375pt.

Aberdeen's George Paterson is lying second with 240.

Final totals from Hamilton

CSS 73 73

145 W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 75 70, R Maclean (Hamilton) 75 70.
146 P Lamb (Biggar) 74 72.
147 J Paton (Kirkintilloch) 76 71, B Smith (Hamilton) 73 74, G MacDonald (Callander) 73 74.
149 R Stewart (Tulliallan) 77 72.
150 J Brown (Hamailton) 73 77, D Millar (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73 77, G Brown (Vale of Leven) 73 77.
151 H S Milligan (Hamilton) 72 79.
153 R Humble (Kilspindie) 78 75.
154 D Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 77 77, I Stewart (Curragh) 76 78.
155 J Aman (Grangemouth) 81 74, D Smith (Stirling) 80 75, W Brown (Strathaven) 79 76, G Jenkinson (Cathkin Braes) 78 77, A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 77 78, D McCart (Castlerock) 72 83.
156 D Millar (St Andrews New) 81 75, K Forrest (Lenzie) 79 77, G Wither (Lothianburn) 78 78,
157 J Johnston (Wishaw) 80 77, W Morton (Dunbar) 79 78, S Ellis (Cowal) 79 78, B Grieve (King James VI) 78 79, J Stevens (Hayston) 77 80, J McDonald (Cowglen) 76 81.
158 D Murphy (Kinross) 79 79, G Rodaks (Moffat) 78 80.
159 D McQuade (Glenbervie) 76 83.
160 R Edgar (Blackpool North Shore) 84 76, D Sharp (Boat of Garten) 83 77, P Boyed (Fereneze) 82 78, A Cameron (Gourock) 81 79, J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 80 80, R Gill (Gerrards Cross) 79 81, A Elder (Kirkcaldy) 79 81.
161 D McKinnon (Ballochymyle) 79 82, M Lironi (Cathkin Braes) 79 82, R Nelson (Bothwell Catle) 78 83,G Rees (Fleetwood) 78 83.
162 W K Thomson (Bramall Park) 85 77, K Howie (West Kilbride) 81 81, S Quinn (Stirling) 78 84.
163 T Gray (Lanark) 84 79, H Waters (Hamilton) 83 79, G Thomson (Bearsden) 83 80, James Johnston (Northumberland) 78 85.
164 A W Wallace (Strathaven) 88 76, I Dickson (Lundin Links) 83 81, D Laird (Cawder) 80 8r4.]165 K Bruce (Edzell) 83 82, R Grant (Caledonian) 81 84, L Fowler (Royal Aberedeen) 79 86.
166 J Broadfoot (Turnberry) 85 81, P Costello (Hirsel) 80 86.
167 J J Wilson (Hamilton) 86 81, D Webb (Bothwell Castle) 85 82, P Kinloch (Cardross) 85 82, M Brook (Queens Park) 83 84, A Ferguson (Drumpellier) 82 85.
168 D Albutt (Tain) 86 82.
170 W Kerr (Hamilton) 85 85.
172 A Connell (Cawder) 86 96.
173 A Weir (Cawder) 85 88.
174 J Semple (Haggs Castle) 87 87, D Nelson 83 91.
181 D Kerr (Turnberry) 89 92.
183 M Mather (Ballater) 85 98.
186 R Hepburn (Kames) 94 92.
189 N MacDonald (Glenvervie) 100 89.
190 P Barclay (Strathaven) 97 93.

UPDATED ORDER OF MERIT TOTALS

375 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).

240 G Paterson (Northern).

231 C Christy (Kilmacolm).

170 J Watt.

165 J Fraser (Royal Burgess).

155 I Taylor (Royal Burgess).

145 J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox).

142 G Rodaks (Moffat).

135 I Stewart (Curragh).

125 G Brown (Vale of Leven).

124 J Kinloch (Cardross).

116 B Humble (Kilspindie).

110 R Maclean (Hamilton).

95 P Tomisson (Nairn).

92 D McCart (Castlerock), R Stewart (Tulliallan).

SENIOR OPEN SCOREBOARD
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
Muirfield, Gullane.
SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)

140 D Smyth 70 70.
141 G J Brand 68 73, S Ginn 71 70, E Romero 70 71, T Watson 70 71.
142 N Faldo 68 74, M Hatalsky 69 73, G Marsh 71 71, K Murota 71 71.
Other scores:
144 S Torrance 69 75.
149 J Chillas 72 77.
151 B Longmuir 71 80.
============= OVER CUT MARK =============
156 M Gray 80 76.
158 J A Fraser (am) 80 78.
159 S Martin 76 83.
163 G R Blair (am) 77 86.

SCORES FROM EUROPEAN TOUR


DEUTSCHE BANK PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Gut Kaden, Hamburg, Germany.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 Lee Slattery 66 69, Zane Scotland (Gbr) 67 68
136 Oliver Wilson 66 70, Andres Romero (Arg) 68 68
137 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 68
138 Paul Casey 68 70, Anton Haig (Rsa) 69 69, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71 67, Alexander Noren (Swe) 67 71, Bradley Dredge 69 69
139 Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 70, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 72 67, Benn Barham 69 70, Brett Wetterich (USA) 69 70, John Bickerton 68 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 67 72, Steven O'Hara 69 70, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 74 65
140 Steve Webster 73 67, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 69, Charley Hoffman (USA) 68 72, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 69, Damien McGrane 69 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 72 68, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 69, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 71, David Frost (Rsa) 68 72, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 71, Terry Price (Aus) 71 69, Ian Garbutt 71 69
141 Ross Fisher 69 72, Tino Schuster (Ger) 69 72, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71, David Lynn 68 73, Peter Lawrie 72 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 71 70, Marc Warren 68 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 70 71, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 67 74, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 71, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 72 69, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 69, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 71 70, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 69 72
142 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 70 72, Garry Houston 72 70, David Griffiths 70 72, Sion Bebb 72 70, Soren Hansen (Den) 72 70, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 70 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 73, Stephen Gallacher 68 74, Miles Tunnicliff 73 69, Mark Foster 71 71, Paul McGinley 72 70
143 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 76, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 76, Oliver Fisher 71 72, Anthony Wall 70 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 75, Max Kramer (Aut) 71 72, Alastair Forsyth 70 73, Gary Birch jr (Ger) 73 70, Edward Rush 71 72, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 78 65, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 74, Phillip Price 74 69, Kyron Sullivan 71 72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 71, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 71 72, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 70 73, Gary Murphy 70 73, Sam Walker 70 73, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 73, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 72
The following players missed the cut:
144 Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 70 74, Graeme McDowell 73 71, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 75 69, Andrew Raitt 69 75, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 72 72, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 70, Robert Rock 68 76, Stephen Dodd 74 70, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 73 71, Paul Lawrie 70 74, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 72 72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71 73
145 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 75, David Carter 69 76, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 71 74, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 68 77, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 70 75, Simon Khan 65 80, Richard Finch 73 72, Marcel Haremza (Ger) 75 70, Sam Little 73 72, Pablo Martin (Spa) 76 69
146 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 73 73, Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 72 74, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 73 73, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 72 74, Matt Kuchar (USA) 70 76, Paul Broadhurst 72 74, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 72 74, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 73 73, Gary Lockerbie 72 74, Carl Suneson (Spa) 72 74, Marcus Higley 68 78, Tom Whitehouse 73 73, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 72 74, Markus Brier (Aut) 73 73, Barry Lane 72 74
147 Juan Parron (Spa) 71 76, Gareth Davies 75 72, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 77, Nick Dougherty 73 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 78, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 74 73, Graeme Storm 75 72, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 74 73, David Drysdale 77 70, Mark Pilkington 76 71, Lee S James 74 73
148 Jochen Lupprian (Ger) 72 76, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 74 74, Kenneth Ferrie 75 73
149 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70 79, Richard Bland 74 75, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 75 74, Andrew Coltart 76 73, David Park 74 75, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 72 77, J.B. Holmes (USA) 72 77, Phillip Archer 72 77, James Hepworth 71 78, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 74 75, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 73 76
150 Andrew Marshall 73 77, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 77 73, Benjamin Miarka (Ger) 75 75, Patrick Niederdrenk (Ger) 72 78
151 Benjamin Schlichting (Ger) 76 75
152 Oscar null Floren (Swe) 74 78
153 Scott Drummond 76 77
154 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 73 81, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 77 77, Simon Wakefield 76 78
155 Manuel Kempe (Ger) 80 75
156 Gary Emerson 77 79
Withdrawn: Santiago Luna (Spa)
Disq: Henrik Stenson (Swe)

GARY GLITTERS WITH A 67 AT BALGOWNIE

Gary McFarlane (Clober) won the £1,980 top prize in the Grampian Houston Junior pro-am at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club today with a four-under-par score of 67.
McFarlane highlighted his card with an eagle 3 at the long sixth and had birdies at the second, ninth, 10th and 16th in halves of 32 (four under par) and 35 (level par). He had two bogeys, at the 11th and 15th.
Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) was runner-up with a 68.
Gary McFarlane scored a double whammy, leading the Micron Eagle amateur trio of Andreas Nagel (handicap 18), John Rae (16) and Richard Gibson (10) to victory in the team event with a net total of 14-under-par 57.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 71
67 G McFarlane (Clober).
68 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
69 Anthony Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), G Hutcheon (Peterculter), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
71 G Forbes (Murcar Links).
72 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), S Rettie (Royal Troon), A Lockhart (Ladybank), F Mann (Musselburgh), M Loftus (Cowglen).

ANDREW McARTHUR ONLY ONE SHOT OFF THE
PACE IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur discovered a timely return to form at the FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge to lie just one shot off the lead after a first round of four under par 68.
Despite a change of golf course from the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort’s Wales National Course to The Lakes Course after Thursday’s torrential rain storms had flooded the original tournament venue, McArthur was able to conjure up five birdies and just a single dropped shot to trail leaders England’s Tim Milford of England, Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti and the Argentine Julio Zapata by a single stroke.
McArthur’s first round performance was a ray of hope on an otherwise dismal day for the 12 Scots in the field.
Only Paul Doherty, after a one under 71, could join McArthur under par, with former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn carding a level par 72.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72. The Lakes Course, 6436yd.
67 Fabrizio Zanotti (Par); Tim Milford (Eng); Julio Zapata (Arg);
68 Branden Grace (Rsa); Colm Moriarty (Irl); Andrew McArthur (Sco); Joost Luiten (Ned); Rodolfo Gonzalez (Arg);
69 Gary Clark (Eng); Christoffer Lange (Den); Niki Zitny (Aut); Craig Smith (Wal); Stephen Browne (Irl); Gustavo Rojas (Arg); Jeppe Huldahl (Den); Richard Treis (Ger);
70 Matthew King (Eng); Carlos Balmaseda (Esp); Matt Dearden (Wal); Tim Dykes (Wal); Peter Kaensche (Nor); Felipe Aguilar (Chi); Klas Eriksson (Swe); Bernd Wiesberger (Aut); James H Williams (Wal);
71 Ross Mcgowan (Eng); Paul Doherty (Sco); Chris Gane (Eng); Richard McEvoy (Eng); Mark Wiggett (Eng); Pontus Ericsson (Swe); Sébastien Delagrange (Fra) ; Lasse Jensen (Den); Mark Mouland (Wal);
72 Kariem Baraka (Ger); Stephen Scahill (Nzl); Alex Smith (Wal); Gareth Paddison (Nzl); Jean Hugo (Rsa); David Price (Wal); Jonathan Lomas (Eng); Andrew Oldcorn (Sco); Robert Coles (Eng); Rolf Muntz (Ned); Neil Walker (Eng); Fredrik Widmark (Swe); Robert Mcguirk (Eng); Mickael Dieu (Fra); Stuart Manley (Wal); Martin Maritz (Rsa); Ryan Thomas (Am) (Wal);
73 Matthew Tottey (Wal); Sebastian Fernandez (Arg); Alberto Doniga (Esp); Juan Abbate (Arg); Gareth Maybin (Irl); Andrew Butterfield (Eng); Christian Reimbold (Ger); Jamie Little (Eng); Wilhelm Schauman (Swe); James Ablett (Eng); Liam Bond (Wal); Morten Hedegaard (Den); Phil Worthington (Eng); Johan Sköld (Swe); Tobias Dier (Ger); Michiel Bothma (Rsa);
74 Peter Baker (Eng); Jan-Are Larsen (Nor); Richard O'hanlon (Eng); Michael Hoey (Nir); Julien Clément (Sui); Alex R Sundsten (Nor); Antti Ahokas (Fin); Julien Foret (Fra); Peter Fowler (Aus); Mikko Korhonen (Fin) Jamie Donaldson (Wal); Chris Doak (Sco); Tiago Cruz (Por); Craig Lee (Sco); Neil Cheetham (Eng); Magnus A Carlsson (Swe); Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe); Gary Marks (Eng);
75 José Manuel Carriles (Esp); Leif Westerberg (Swe); Ben Mason (Eng); Denny Lucas (Eng); Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra); Chris Cousins (Wal); Gareth Wright (Wal); Mahal Pearce (Nzl); John E Morgan (Eng); Andrew Barnett (Wal); Iain Pyman (Eng); Toni Karjalainen (Fin); Martin Wiegele (Aut); Jamie Mcleary (Sco); Oliver Whiteley (Eng)
Magnus Persson (Swe); Rhys Davies (Am) (Wal); Rhys Enoch (Am) (Wal);
76 Olivier David (Fra); Kevin Harper (Eng); Daniel De Leon (Mex); Paul Dwyer (Eng); Mark Sheppard (Wal); Robert Dinwiddie (Eng); Oskar Bergman (Swe); Michael McGeady (Irl); Craig Williams (Wal); Stuart Davis (Eng); Stuart Cage (Eng); Tim Vickers (Eng); Hernan Rey (Arg); Philip Golding (Eng); Manoel Willems (Bel); Jack Doherty (Sco); George Murray (Sco); Manuel Merizalde (Col); Luke Thomas (Am) (Wal); Jason Shufflebotham (Am) (Wal);
77 Mark Laskey (Wal); Alun G Evans (Wal); Raphaël Eyraud (Fra); James Kamte (Rsa); Francis Valera (Esp); Matthew Prior (Wal); Carlos Del Moral (Esp); Gustavo Acosta (Arg); Matthew Richardson (Eng); Cennydd Mills (Wal);
78 John Mellor (Eng); Rafael Gomez (Arg); Guido Van Der Valk (Ned); Peter Whiteford (Sco); Elliot Saltman (Sco); Andrea Maestroni (Ita); Roope Kakko (Fin) ; Adam Constable (Wal); Miguel Rodriguez (Arg); Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den);
79 Stuart Little (Eng); Julien Guerrier (Fra); Eric Ramsay (Sco); John Wade (Aus);
80 Simon Thornton (Irl); Matthew Woods (Eng); David Dixon (Eng);
81 Scott Henderson (Sco); Graeme A Clark (Eng);
84 Zach Gould (Am) (Wal);
85 Alex Rowland (Eng);
90 Uri Goldstein (Bel);
Retd Graham Howell (Eng)

RICHIE RAMSAY TURNS PRO, MAKES DEBUT
IN MOSCOW NEXT WEEK

United States amateur title-holder Richie Ramsay from Aberdeen today (Friday) announced that he has both turned professional and signed with the global sports management company, IMG.
Richie, 24, will start life as a professional at next week's European Tour event, the Russian Open at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club. He had an invitation to play in the event as an amateur and let it be known earlier this week that he would be scratching from next week's Scottish amateur championship at Prestwick - for which he was one of the eight seeds - to play in the Russian event.
The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club honorary member's decision to turn professional follows a successful amateur career that saw him become the first British winner of the prestigious US Amateur Championship in nearly 100 years and play in the 2005 Walker Cup match in America.
As a result of his US amateur title win, Richie was able to accept invitations to play in the US Masters, US Open and The Open Championships and various PGA and European Tour events, allowing him to experience the professional game at the highest level.
Ramsay had made no secret of his ambition to become a tour pro. The only surprise is the timing of his move into the paid ranks. It had been thought that he would make the transfer after September's Walker Cup match at Royal County Down.
Richie said, “I have had a great amateur experience and am hugely grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially the coaches, staff and players at the Scottish Golf Union. Now I want to go out and see what I can achieve as a professional and can’t wait to get started in Russia.
" IMG represent the world's best players, many of whom I have had the opportunity to meet and play alongside this year. As I make the transition into professional golf, I feel confident they will provide exactly the guidance, service and support I will need to allow me to concentrate on my golf.”

Guy Kinnings, IMG’s Managing Director of Golf in Europe, Middle East and Australia, whose team represents the world's best golfers including Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty, said; “Richie has had a great amateur career and we are delighted he is joining IMG. Thanks to his amateur achievements and forays onto the professional tour, he has a lot of unique experience under his belt already and we believe he is well equipped for a very successful professional career.”

Richie will be managed by Mark Booker at IMG, whose clients include rising stars, Ross Fisher and Rafael Cabrera Bello.

MATT HAINES SECURES SECOND MAJOR BOYS
TITLE WITH CARRIS TRIUMPH

Matt Haines from Kent claimed his second major junior title in three months when he won the English Boys Under 18 Stroke Play Championship for the Carris Trophy at a wet and windy Saunton in Devon yesterday.
A closing round of 74 for 288, four over par, left him two strokes ahead of Bristol’s Chris Lloyd, who also closed with 74, and four clear of Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous, who shot 77.
“This is the best win I’ve had,” said Haines, who broke through with the McEvoy Trophy in April.
“This makes up for the disappointment of losing in the final of the European Boys Team Championships in Denmark a couple of weeks ago.”
Haines began the final day two strokes adrift of Lloyd but a morning 74 in atrocious conditions of driving rain and gale force winds, left the 17 year old from Chatham two in front. Although the rain relented in the afternoon, the wind intensified and made scoring just as difficult. In fact, only 11 of the 45-strong field broke 300 and there were plenty of returns in the 80s.
But Haines, partnering Lloyd, kept his head and his lead as most of his rivals were spilling shots with regularity.
“I didn’t get too worried in the afternoon,” Haines added. “I just played my own game and towards the end I knew it was just between myself and Chris. The key was the par four 16th where I was five feet away in four and he was four feet away in three. If I had missed and he holed there would have only been a shot in it.
“But he missed and I holed and then I felt safe. Chris got a superb birdie at the last but I knew that I just had to play for a par to win. The day was really tough. I wanted it to blow but I didn’t want the rain. Shooting two 74s in those conditions was pretty steady and this year is turning out to be pretty good for me.”
Haines also won the Malcolm Reid salver for the best aggregate with the McEvoy Trophy while Lloyd had the consolation of collecting the Hazard Salver for the best score by a player under 16.
“I didn’t have a lot of luck on the greens as I had plenty of chances but the ball just stayed out,” said Lloyd. “But overall, I couldn’t have asked any more of myself. I’m pleased with my performance and I’ve still got three more years to challenge for this title.”
A double-bogey five at the short 17th cost Porteous a share of second place while Adam Wills, who led after the first round, shot 76 to share fourth place on 296 with new England boy captain Jack Hiluta, who returned 77.
“That was about as tough as you could get it, especially with the rain this morning,” said Hiluta. “I found that fatigue came into play in the afternoon but I’d rather have it like this be3cause it is a true test of golf.”
On a day when no one was likely to match or beat the par of 71, there were superb 72s from Max` Smith, Jonathan Bell, Oliver Glaze and James Martin from Spain.

Full final scores, news updates and pictures of the event can be found on the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org

SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST
ROUND SCORES FROM MUIRFIELD.

68 N Faldo (Eng), N Job (Eng), D Stockton (USA), G J Brand (Eng).
69 B Heuchan (Can), Scott Hoch (USA), Morris Hatalsky (USA), Lonnie Nielsen (USA), Denis Watson (Zim), Sam Torrance (Sco).
70 G Encina (Chi), B Gilder (USA), B Crenshaw (USA), E Romero (Arg), T Watson (USA), S Owen (Nzl), J Harris (USA), K Knox (USA), M McNulty (Ire), D Smyth (Ire), J Haas (USA), T Kite (USA).
71 K Murota (Jap), B Longmuir (Sco), G Marsh (Aus), C Beck (USA), S Ginn (Aus), T Simpson (USA), S Ebihara (Jap), D Mast (USA), T Watanabe (Jap), B Charles (Nzl), J Bland (RSA), T Nakajima (Jap), K Tomori (Jap), J Ross (USA).
72 K Hanefield (USA), G Cali (Ita), J Chillas (Sco), D A Weibring (USA), G Player (RSA), B Bryant (USA), M James (Eng), M O’Meara (USA), J Quiros (Esp), B Lincoln (RSA), T McKnight (USA), T Conley (USA), R Spittle (Can), D Good (Aus), A Murray (Eng), G Morgan (USA), I Mosey (Eng), B Smit (RSA).
73 Jon Chaffee (USA), H Baiocchi (RSA), M Kuramoto (Jap), D Hammond (USA), Manuel Piñero (Esp), A Sowa (Arg), J P Sallat (Fra), C Mason (Eng), C Rocca (Ita), J Pate (USA).
74 Mike McCullough (USA), B Larratt (Eng), P Oakley (USA), T Purtzer (USA), J Ozaki (Jap), D Edwards (USA), M Bell (USA), D Durnian (Eng), J Benda (USA), L Roberts (USA), B Vaughan (USA).
75 G Ralph (Eng), D Pool (USA), D O’Sullivan (Irl), J Lapsley (Nzl) P Simson (USA), B Cameron (Eng), M Reid (USA), P Jacobsen (USA), V Fernandez (Arg), L Carbonetti (Arg).
76 N Ratcliffe (Aus), N Coles (Eng), I Oaki (Jap), T Horton (Eng), S Martin (Sco), M Steadman (Eng), J Dorrenstein (Ned), H Carbonetti (Arg), G Koch (USA), C Stadler (USA), S Simpson (USA), J Blair III (USA), G Watine (Fra), I Palmer (RSA), D Kluver (USA).
77 C Milne (USA), D Cambridge (Jam), J Mason (USA), J R Blair (am) (Sco), D Johnson (USA), E Darcy (Ire), B Ruangkit (Tha), J Rhodes (Eng).
78 M Bembridge (Eng), J Rivero (Esp), R Mobley (USA), J Hall (Eng), M Poxon (Eng), P Teravanian (USA), A Johansson (Swe), D Merriman (Aus), W Grady (Aus), T Jacklin (Eng), K King (USA), R A Green (Eng), N Sugai (Jap), J Clarke Jnr (USA).
79 T Allen (Eng), T Gale (Aus), E Polland (NIr), A Garrido (Esp).
80 M Gray (Sco), J A Fraser (am) (Sco), R Velasquez (Col), G Levenson (RSA), P Leonard (NIr), T Johnstone (Zim), M Clayton (Aus), M Donald (USA), J Bruner (USA).
81 L Tompson (USA), G Townhill (Eng), D J Russell (Eng).
82 M Goodes (USA), K Gockenbach (USA), M Galway (am) (Eng).
85 E Allessandrini (Ita), M Gregson (Eng).
91 J Mahaffey (USA).

MILLIGAN AND McCART LEAD AT WEST OF
SCOTLAND SENIORS AT HAMILTON

Home course player Harry Milligan and Donald McCart (Castlerock) shared the halfway lead in the West of Scotland seniors open tournament at Hamilton Golf Club yesterday.
They both shot 72 to lead lead by one stroke from six players.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS
72 H Milligan (Hamilton), D McCart (Castlerock).
73 J Brown (Hamilton), J Kinloch (Cardross), G MacDonald (Callander), B Smith (Hamilton), G Brown (Vale of Leven), D Millar (Kilmacolm).
74 P Lamb (Biggar), A McEwan (Hamilton).
75 W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox).
76 R MacLean (Hamilton), J McDonald (Cowglen), J Paton (Kirkintilloch), D McQuade (Glenbervie), I Stewart (Curragh).
77 A K Pirie (Hazlehead), D Bunker (Nairn Dunbar), J Stevens (Hayston), R Stewart (Tulliallian).
78 R Nelson (Bothwell Castle), G Wither (Lothianburn), G Jenkinson (Cathkin Braes), G Jenkinson (Cathkin Braes), B Grieve (King James VI), R Humble (Kilspindie), G Rodaks (Moffat), S Quinn (Stirling), D Forbes (Sonning).

Scottish Under-18 boys' open amateur stroke-play at Cardrona

JAMES BYRNE BEATS MICHAEL STEWART

IN PLAY-OFF FOR FIRST NATIONAL WIN

Banchory's James Byrne, the long-time leader, eventually had to come from behind to score a memorable win in a dramatic finish to the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship over a sodden Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort course near Peebles.

He finally got the better of his lone pursuer Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) at the third hole of a sudden death play-off after they had tied at 14-under-par 274.

It was a roller-coaster day of 39 holes for both boys.

Byrne started it with a five-shot lead which Stewart slashed to one with a superb 65 in the rain.

Stewart kept up his momentum in the early holes of the fourth round to be three shots clear of his golfing buddy with nine to play.

Then Byrne holed a 90yd approach for an eagle 3 at the 10^th and birdied the 12^th for both boys to be 15 under par with six holes to play.

Then Stewart bogeyed the 13^th and Byrne birdied the 15^th and 16^th to be three ahead on the 17^th.

But, like the Open championship, the drama was packed into the final two holes.

Byrne took a double bogey 6 after driving into the wet clingy rough at the 16^th and then bogeyed the last. Stewart got a brave 4 to make it a tie after 72 holes.

At the third extra hole, Stewart played a glorious fairway bunker shot of about 100 yards to 12ft but Byrne, on the fairways after using an iron from the tee, put his approach to within 5ft of the hole and sank it for a birdie to win the hole, the play-off and his first national title after finishing runner-up in the Scottish men's amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Dornoch earlier in the season.

Byrne will be too old to play in the Scottish boys' open stroke-play at Blairgowrie next year but Stewart still has another year of elibility for Under-18 events. Atlhough James was a worthy winner, Stewart almost deserved to be "joint winner," so well did he play on the last day. Even at this early stage, he looks favourite to go one better next year.

Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) won the George MacDonald Memorial Trophy for the best performance by an Under-16 competitor.

Daniel finished a creditable fifth overall on 287, behind Neil Henderson (Glen) and Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) who shared third place on 284.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 X 72)

274 J Byrne (Banchory) 67 69 69 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 69 72 65 68.

284 N Henderson (Glen) 71 72 70 71, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 71 71 72 70.

287 D Young (Craigie Hill) 74 71 71 71.

290 C Robb (Inchmarlo) 76 71 71 72, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 69 75 71 75, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 69 75 73, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 74 75 71.

291 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 74 74 72 70, S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 72 72 66 81, A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 68 75 74.

292 T Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 75 74 69, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 71 70 77, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 72 74 70 76, P McPhee (King James VI) 75 72 72 73, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 72 72 75 73.

293 M Bookless (Sandyhills) 77 70 73 73, I Allan (Hopeman) 75 71 71 76, J Hamilton (NZ) 75 71 72 75, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 72 73 73.

294 J Hunter (US) 74 73 77 70.

295 C Green (US) 71 76 76 72.

296 C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 74 72 77, N Macandrew (Cullen) 73 73 76 74

297 A Murdoch (Stranraer) 75 76 74 72, R Satterley (Longniddry) 75 72 76 74, J Bradley (Paisley) 73 75 76 73.

298 G Duncan (US) 77 74 72 75, F McKenna (Balmore) 76 74 74 74, E Brown (Barassie) 76 70 75 77.

299 I Redford (King James VI) 75 76 71 77, J Hendrick (Pollok) 7279 72 76, A Cappi (Loretto School 77 73 74 75, B Jamieson (St Andrews New) 75 73 75 76, G Davidson (Winterfield) 69 77 73 80.

301 S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 72 79 76 74.

302 R Storrier (Downfield) 75 75 75 77.

306 M Cunningham (Longniddry) 73 77 80 76, G Hydbom (Sweden) 77 73 80 76.

308 G McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 72 78 77 81.

309 M Kelly (Kirkhill) 70 80 77 82.

NR G Reid (Newbattle) 73 77 80 NR.

+Apologies for not being able to display pictures of the prizewinners until I get back to base on Saturday night - Colin Farquharson.

STEVEN GRAY (63) WINS WILLIAMWOOD QUALIFIER

Hayston's Steven Gray shot a fine round of five-under-par 63 at Williamwood today to be the leading qualifier for the Williamwood Golf club 36-hole pro-am on Friday and Saturday,August 24 and 25.

Gray headed 27 qualifiers in call up to a limit mark of 70. But not all of the eight players with 70s got through. A card countback was necessary to eliminate of one them - and Brian Dunbar was the unlucky man.

LEADING QUALIFIERS

Par 68

63 S Gray (Hayston).

65 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).

66 D McKay (Wellsgreen).

67 A Crerar (King James VI), A Fullen (Irvine), G McInnes (Murcar Links), J Charp (Carrick at Cameron House).

ends

RAMSAY GOING TO RUSSIA NOT PRESTWICK

Richie Ramsay has confirmed that he is accepting an invitation to play as an amateur in next week's European Tour event, the Russian Open, at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.

He has withdrawn from the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club. The Royal Aberdeen member, who has played in more pro events, mostly in America, than amateur tournaments this season, was one of the eight seeded players for the national amateur championship

STEWART CUTS BYRNE LEAD TO ONE STROKE

James Byrne's five-stroke overnight lead was cut to one by Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) in the third round of the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship at Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort, near Peebles today.

Stewart had a brilliant morning round of seven-under-par 65 in distinctly wet conditions, both underfoot and overhead. That improved his overall standing to 10-under-par 206.

Banchory's Byrne, still five shots clear after nine holes of the third round, both having gone out in four-under 32, had his big advantage eaten into on the inward half.

Two holes – the 10^th and the 18^th – saw two-shot swings in favour of Stewart who had a birdie 3 at both while Byrne had bogey 5s.

In all, Stewart had seven birdies in a bogey-free round – the first, second, foufrth, seventh, 10^th, 13^th and 18^th.

Byrne, on the other hand, had five birdies – at the first, third, fourth, seventh and 17^th – and bogeys at the ninth and 18^th.

LEADERBOARD

Par 216 (3 x 72) CSS 73 73 72

205 J Byrne (Banchory) 67 69 69.

206 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 69 72 65.

210 S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 72 72 66.

213 N Henderson (Glen) 71 72 70.

214 A Wallace (Glenbervie) 71 71 72.

215 C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 69 75 71, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 71 70.

216 D Young (Craigie Hill) 74 71 71, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 72 74 70.

217 A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 68 75, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 69 75, I Allan (Hopeman) 75 71 71.

218 C Robb (Inchmarlo) 76 71 71, J Hamilton (NZ) 75 71 72.

219 C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 74 72, P McPhee (King James VI) 75 72 72, G Daviedson (Winterfield) 69 772 73, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 74 75, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 72 72 75.

220 M Bookless (Sandyhills) 77 73, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 72 73.

221 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 74 75 72, E Brown (Barassie) 76 70 75.

RICHIE RAMSAY "DOUBLY ENGAGED"

NEXT WEEK - SCOTTISH AMATEUR

AND THE RUSSIAN OPEN!

US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) is "doubly engaged" - to use a horse racing term - next week, i.e. he is down to play in not one but two championships.
He is, of course, one of the seeds for the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur match-play championship that starts at Prestwick Golf Club on Monday and runs through to the 36-hole final on the Saturday.
If you go on to the European Tour website, you will find that Richie is also one of the eight sponsors' invitations - the only amateur one - for the Russian Open at Le Meridien Moscow Golf Club. It tees off next Thursday and the 72-hole tournament ends a week on Sunday.
Which one is Richie going to play in?
We'll just have to wait and see.

O'DONNELL HEADS SECOND GROUP OF QUALIFIERS
FOR GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Sean ODonnell (Balbirnie Park) headed a field of 94 and the second batch of qualifiers for next week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship when the second eliminator was held today, again at Crieff Golf Club.
Sean had a two-under-par 69, one shot better than Peter Mitchell (Aberdour) and Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).
The limit mark for qualifying was 74 but only three on that mark got through by a card countback. Eight who had 74s lost out. Alex Campbell (Farringdon), Scott Morrison (Glenbervie) and Richard Logue (Dumfries & Co) were the lucky ones.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 71
69 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park).
70 Peter Mitchell (Aberdour), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).
71 Jamie Anton (Noah's Ark), Lindsay Mann (Kings Links), Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links), Mark Henderson (Royal St Davids).
72 Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Scott Catlin (Greenburn), Stuart pardoe (Nevada Bobs), Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond), Ewan Hogarth (Peebles), Kris McGowan (Burntisland), Alastair MacKenzie (Lib erton), Graham Fox (West kilbride), Lee Harper (unatt), Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), David Gordon (Paisley), Gary Collinson (Esporta Dougalston).

BRISTOL BOY LEADS BY TWO IN CARRIS TROPHY

Chris Lloyd, a 15-year-old from Bristol, has a two-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the English Under-18 boys' open stroke-play championship for the Carris Trophy at Saunton Golf Club, Devon.
Lloyd has put together a pair of 69s over the par-71 course for a four-under-par tally of 138.
He leads from Matt Haines from Kent with overnight leader Adam Wills now in third place.
Lloyds’ luck was that he was a late starter, going out when the morning rain had been blown away and replaced by a strong breeze.
HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
138 Chris Lloyd (Kendleshire) 69 69.
140 Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham) 69 71.
141 Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 68i, Adam Wills (Sandiway) 67 74.
144 Ben Collins (Chart Hills 76 68, Jonathan Bell (Royal Blackheath) 73 71.
145 Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford) 74 71, James Bethwaite (Ogbourne Downs) 70 75, Darren Renwick (Worthing) 70 75, Bernardo Frere (Portugal) 69 76, Andrea Chiapuzzo (Italy) 69 76, Josh Sims (Cldy) 68 77.

JAMES BYRNE FIVE SHOTS CLEAR AT HALFWAY
STAGE OF SCOTTISH BOYS STROKE-PLAY

Hot favourite James Byrne will start the final 36 holes of the Scottish boys open amateur stroke-play championship with a five-stroke lead at Cardrona, Peebles tomorrow.
Looking and feeling supremely confident, Byrne posted a second-round 69 in windier conditions than on Tuesday for a halfway tally of eight-under-par 136.
Byrne, the 18-year-old full Scotland cap from Banchory, made up for a bogey at the first and a double bogey 5 at the short fifth with six birdies – at the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, 11th and 13th in halves of 35 (one under par) and 34 (two under par).
With Graham Davidson (Winterfield) and Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), his closest rivals overnight, dropping back slightly, Byrne opened up a five-shot advantage from Scotland boys’ international team-mate Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
Stewart matched the par of 72 for 141 after an opening 69.
Byrne – who must be the only teenage amateur golfer in Scotland with his own website – said: “I like leading from the front and I am playing steadily. I just have to keep my game on track now.
“It’s good to be in a competitive spirit right now, and I feel this is putting me in the right frame of mind for the Scottish Amateur championship next week at Prestwick as well.”

On August 12, Byrne departs for a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University. He added, “This event and the Scottish Amateur next week will put me in good stead for playing on the US collegiate circuit. The standard will be high and I am looking forward to being in that competitive and demanding environment and am hopeful it will bring my game on.”

Andrew McLachlan carded the best round of the day – a four under par-68 to be sharing third place on 142 with Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) and the leading North challenger, Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) who was not far behind McLachlan with a 69.
McLachlan is the 15 year old West of Scotland boys champion.
and 17th.
A total of 43 players with aggregates of seven over par 151 or better qualified for the final day's play.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)

136 J Byrne (Banchory) 67 69.
141 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 69 72.
142 A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 68, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 71 71, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 69.
143 N Henderson (Glen) 71 72.
144 S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 72 72, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 72 72, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 69 75, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 74.
145 D Young (Craigie Hill) 74 71, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 71.
146 J Hamilton (NZ) 75 71, N Macandrew (Cullen) 73 73, I Allan (Hopeman) 75 71, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 72 74, E Brown (Barassie) 76 70, G Davidson (Winterfield) 69 77.
147 P McPhee (King James VI) 75 72, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 72, C Robb (Inchmarlo) 76 71, C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 74, R Satterley (Longniddry) 75 72, J Hunter (US) 74 73, M Bookless (Sandyhills) 77 70, C Green (US) 71 76.
148 J Bradley (Paisley) 73 75, B Jamieson (St Andrews New) 75 73.
149 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 74 75, T Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 75.
150 A Cappi (Loretto School) 77 73, F McKenna (Balmore) 76 74, G McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 72 78, G Reid (Newbattle) 73 77, M Kelly (Kirkhill) 70 80, G Hydbom (Swe) 77 73, M Cunningham (Longniddry) 73 77, R Storrier (Downfield) 75 75.
151 I Redford (King James VI) 75 76, A Murdoch (Stranraer) 75 76, G Duncan (US) 77 74, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 72 79, J Hendrick (Pollok) 72 79.
MISSED THE CUT
152 F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) 73 79, S Stevens (Deeside) 77 75, J Scott (Deeside) 75 77, R McGrory (West Hove) 71 81, S Brown (Turnberry) 73 79.
153 A Scotland (Alloa) 77 76, P Ferrier (Baberton) 73 80, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 72 81, C Jess (Mid Sussex) 75 78, R Docherty (Bearsden) 78 75, M Fraser (Glencruitten) 78 75, W Bremner (Edzell) 78 75, C Nelson (Douglas Park) 74 79, K Smith (Barassie) 73 80, B Sloan (Hamilton) 75 78.
154 D Grant (Renfrew)73 81, C Wyper (Hayston) 73 81, K Harper (Royal Aberdeen) 77 77, M Reid (Downfield) 74 80, G Wilson (Ladybank) 76 78, S Gordon (Glen) 75 79, M Main (Thornton) 74 80, J Anderson (Glenrothes) 80 74.
155 A Baillie (Elgin) 76 79, D Melville (Gullane) 74 81, D Mellon (Carnoustie) 77 78, C Trahan (Inchmarlo) 76 79, J Johnston (Greenburn) 76 79, I Finlay (St Andrews) 75 80, M Dailly (Erskine) 77 78, P Neil (Craigielaw) 72 83.
156 C Gray (West Kilbride) 78 78, C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 77 79, C O’Neil (Pollok) 80 76, E Reyes (East Sussex National) 77 79, C Childs (US) 73 83.
158 J Robertson (Turriff) 75 83, L Adamson (Ganton) 76 82.
159 D Harrison (Crieff) 73 86, K Godsman (Hopeman) 82 77, M Roos (West Kilbride) -78 81, D Millar (Oldmeldrum) 79 80, M Bonas (Pumpherston) 76 83.
160 R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 79 81.
162 R Penny (Portlethen) 80 82.
165 F Ogston (Singapore) 87 78.
167 K Borggren (Swe) 77 90.
168 C Ross (Northern) 80 88.
172 D Ibbotson (Murcar Links) 83 89.
NR G Torrie (Carnoustie) 72 NR.opemGioe+-

HUTCHEON LEADS SCOTTISH SENIORS
ORDER OF MERIT TABLE

Scottish seniors champion Ian Hutcheon from Monifieth, pictured right, has a clear lead at the top of the Scottish seniors' amateur order of merit table going into the next event on the new over-55s' circuit, the West of Scotland seniors open at Hamilton Golf Club on Thursday and Friday (July 25 and 26).
Top 20 placings are:

375pt I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).

240 G Paterson (Northern).

231 C Christy (Kilmacolm).

170 J Watt (Letham Grange).
165 J Fraser (Royal Burgess).

155 I Taylor (Royal Burgess).

145 J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen).

142 G Rodaks (Moffat).

124 J Kinloch (Cardross).

118 I Stewart (Curragh).

110 G Thomson (Bearsden).

95 P Tomisson (Nairn).

92 D McCart (Castlerock), C W Green (Cardross).

91 B Humble (Kilspindie).

88 R McLellan (Turnberry).

85 G Brown (Vale of Leven).

77 D Longmuir (Verulam).

73 S Ellis (Cowal).

52 A K Pirie (Hazlehead), R Paton (Nairn).

50 W Brown (Strathaven), T Stafford (Alloa).

LEADERS IN CARRIS TROPHY FIRST ROUND

Leading scores in the English boys' open stroke-play championship for the Carris Trophy, being hosted by Saunton Golf Club, Devon, were:

FIRST ROUND (CSS 73)

67 Adam Wills (Sandiway).
68 Josh Sims (Caldy), Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall).
69 Andrea Chiapuzzo (Italy), Chris Lloyd (Kendleshire), Bernardo Frere (Portugal), Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham), Adam Best (Cleveland).
70 Darren Renwick (Worthing), James Bethwaite (Ogbourne Downs), Sergi Nogue (Spain).
71 Jack Bartlett (Worthing), Tom Speyer (West Herts), Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park).
72 Gary King (Tyrrells Wood), Stuart Ballingall (Dunston Hall), Levi Johnson (Canterbury), Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle).
73 Jonathan Bell (Royal Blackheath), Alexander Hemmes (Netherlands), Ole Ramsnes (Norway), Adam Carson (Long Ashton), Max Smith (Newbury), Billy Britton (Pedham Place),
Oliver Glaze (Kendleshire), Kristopher Gray (Slaley Hall), Andres Caballer (Spain), Francisco Pintor (Spain), Stephen Martin (Radcliffe on Trent).

THOMSON AND PARK HEAD QUALIFIERS FOR
GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

A total of 32 players came through the qualifying round at Crieff Golf Club today for the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship from August 2 to 5.
They were headed by Ed Thomson (Largs) and David Park (Wishaw) on three-under-par 68.
Ed came home in 31, covering the last 11 holes in five under par with birdies at the eighth, ninth, 16th, 17th and 18th. David's halves were 35 and 33.
The limit mark for qualifying was 74 but not everyone with that figure advanced to the championship. A card countback reduced the 12 players on 74 to six qualifiers and five non-qualifiers.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71
68 Ed Thomson (Largs), David Park (Wishaw).
69 Anthony Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), Steven Rettie (Royal Troon), James McGhee (Turnhouse).
70 George Boswell (Mearns Castle), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), Craig Everett (Crail), Jonnie Cliff (Murrayfield), Mark Barnard (Inchmarlo).

KEN SCHOFIELD AMBASSADOR FOR FOOTBALLERS' WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP (kick-off early 2008)

The PGAs of Europe is to endorse the inaugural World Golf Championship for Footballers™ Tournament, to be staged early in 2008 at a venue with a suitable climate, the full details of which are yet to be announced.
In order to ensure that the new event of wide international interest achieves maximum credibility in golfing terms, it will be administered by experienced PGAsE tournament staff.
Also, the organisers of the tournament comprising some of the world’s most famous footballers, which is certain to attract massive exposure on TV, radio and in the print media, have appointed Ken Schofield as its Golf Ambassador.
The PGAsE President will work alongside the famous Dutch football coach Guus Hiddink, who is the tournament's Ambassador from the world of football.
Scot Ken Schofield (pictured above) who, since his retirement from his post as Executive Director of the European Tour, has compiled a report into the administration of English cricket,
said "I am truly excited to be involved in such an innovative and global golf event.
“ I am convinced this new tournament will help attract countless more people to the game of golf and I'm looking forward to contributing to the event’s success”.

Visit the tournament website http://www.golfandfootball.com/

Scottish Under-18 boys' stroke-play championship

CLASSY BYRNE GOES CLEAR

AT CARDRONA

Banchory’s world-ranked teenager James Byrne looked a cut above the field in the first round of the Scottish boys’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Cardrona, near Peebles today.
Byrne, who leaves for the United States and a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University on August 12, posted a top-class round of five-under-par 67 with seven birdies and a couple of bogeys.
For a spell James, runner-up in the Scottish men’s amateur open stroke-play championship at Royal Dornoch a few weeks ago, led the field of Under-18s by four shots.
Then Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) and Winterfield’s Graham Davidson came in with a pair of 69s to slash the Byrne lead in this 72-hole event to two strokes. Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) joined them on the 69 mark late in the day. After birdieing the fifth, seventh, 15th and 17th, Michael three-putted the last for his only bogey in halves of 34 and 35.
Byrne, out in one-under-par 35 and home in four-under 32, crammed most of his birdies into a purple patch between the 10th and 15th –six holes in which he had five birdies.
Davidson matched Byrne’s bag of seven birdies but made more mistakes, bogeyng the seventh, ninth, 10th, 13th and 18th in halves of 34 and 35.
Highlander Gaittens bogeyed the second and the 16th. In between, he was four under par for the 13 holes with birdies at the fifth, sixth, eighth, 12th and 15th.
Sam McLaren (King James VI), last year’s Scottish Under-16s champion, had an eagle at the 12th and birdies at the third, ninth, 10th and 14th in halves of 37 and 33 to take up third place on 70.
Not everybody in the big field found it so easy, relatively speaking. William Bremner, beaten finalist in the Scottish boys’ match-play championship at Dunbar in April and another who is bound for an American college next month, had double bogeys at the third, sixth and eighth in taking 42 shots to the turn. He birdied the 12th and 14th but “lost it” again with bogeys at the 16th and 18th for a 78.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
67 J Byrne (Banchory).
69 C Gaittens (Fortrose& Rosemarkie), G Davidson (Winterfield), M Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
70 S McLaren (King James VI), M Kelly Kirkhill)..
71 A Wallace (Glenbervie), R McGrory (West Hove), N Henderson (Glen), C Green (US).
72 P Neil (Craigielaw), J Hendrick (Pollok), K McClung (Wigtownshire Co),
S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), D Parlane (Helensburgh), G Torrie (Carnoustie), G McDougall (Bishopbriggs), S Binning (Ranfurly Castle).
73 M Cunningham (Longniddry), S Brown (Turnberry), K Smith (Barassie), F Fotheringham (Nairn), C Childs (US), D Grant (Renfrew), F Moore (Falkirk Tryst), D Harrison (Crieff), N Macandrew (Cullen), P Ferrier (Baberton), J Bradley (Paisley), C Wyper (Hayston), G Reid (Newbattle), C Thomson (East Renfrewshire).
74 M Main (Thornton), C Nelson (Douglas Park), A McLachlan (Bonnyton), T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy), T Spencer (Inchmarlo), J Hunter (US), D Young (Craigie Hill), D Melville (Gullane), M Reid (Downfield).
75 A Murdoch (Stranraer), C Jess (Mid Sussex), I Finlay (St Andrews), R Storrier (Downfield), B Sloan (Hamilton), R Slatterley (Longniddry), B Jamieson (St Andrews New), P McPhee (King James VI), J Hamilton (NZ), C Jess (Mid Sussex), I Redford (King James VI).
76 E Brown (Barassie), L Adamson (Ganton), M Bonas (Pumpherston), F McKenna (Balmore), A Baillie (Elgin), G Wilson (Ladybank).
77 K Borggren (Swe), L Nielsen (Den), M Bookless (Sandyhills), M Daily (Erskine), A Quintero (US), G Hydbom (Swe), G Duncan (US), A Cappi (Loretto School), C Von Arentschilot (US), G Sorbie (Hamilton), K Harper (Carnoustie), F Clarke (Westhill), A Scotland (Alloa), S Stevens (Deeside), D Mellon (Carnoustie).
78 M Pennycott (Whiting Bay), A Forsythe (Caldwell), G Stirling (Caldwell), S Brown (Murcar Links), J Ross (Royal Burgess), D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen), W Bremner (Edzell), J Binning (Ranfurly Castle), N Meyer (US), O Huish (Glen), R Docherty (Bearsden), L Jackson (West Hove), C Gray (West Kilbride), M Roos (West Kilbride), C Hogg (Bishopbriggs), S Thompson (St Andrews).
79 R Martin (US), A Potts (Berwick), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar), D Millar (Oldmeldrum).
80 D Ramsay (Elgin), C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway), C Bryan (US), P Scanlan (Hamilton, J Caldwell (Greenock), D Liddle (Liberton), R Penny (Portlethen), C Ross (Northern), K Karlsson (Swe), D Ramsay (Elgin).
+++ The leading 40 players and ties at the end of the second round will contest the third and fourth rounds on Thursday.

BRABAZON TROPHY MOVES TO END OF JUNE IN 2010

Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake, which staged the Open championship last year, has generously agreed to host the Brabazon Trophy in 2010.
Also in the list of fixtures for that year just released, Little Aston and Sutton Coldfield will be the venues for the English amateur championship.
The 2010 fixtures also see several events move from their regular dates such as the "Brabazon" which leaves its familiar mid-May schedule to a new slot of June 25-27.

SATURDAY CLOSING DATE FOR MARY McCALLY
TROPHY ENTRIES

Note from Fiona Macgregor, Dumfriesshire Ladies County Captain, that the closing date for the Mary McCally Trophy 36-hole SLGA Order of Merit tournament on Sunday, August 12 at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club is SATURDAY, JULY 28.
For some reason, entries are well down this year - only 12 up to yesterday.

Fiona also wishes to pass on the news that the South of Scotland championship, scheduled for Dumfries & County Golf Club on Sunday, August 5 has been CANCELLED due to lack of entries.

SALLY HITS FORM IN US GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Sally Watson, 16-year-old Edinburgh girl, has made an excellent start to the United States girls championship - a three-under-par 69 in the first qualifying round.
Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read all about it.

MORE CLACKMANNAN NEWS FROM HUGH HUNTER

JUNIOR MASTERS QUALIFIER STIRLING

Wee County junior golfers missed out on the 10 qualifying spots for the Junior Masters final at Gleneagles in October. The top score of 46 Stableford points at the Stirling venue led the field of 51 junior boys and girls, and the qualifying mark for the boys' event was 40 points.
Best County performances came from David Kinnaird (Tillicoultry) with 39 points (14th) and Gary Chalmers (Dollar) with 37 points (16th).
Gary could not sustain his recent fine form which saw him capture the junior open titles at Muckhart and Dunfermline.
Other scores and placings were: Alloa junior champion John Salmond 33 points (32nd); Steven McPherson (Dollar) 31 points (36th), Scott Baird 29 points (41st) and William Nelson 28 points (43rd).

COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE
With the County Junior League nearing completion, it is the turn of the Seniors to contest the team title and the first match was completed on Monday at Alloa where the holders, Braehead, took on the home team. The result was a 3 -2 win for Alloa with one match halved.
Match details:
(Alloa names first)
Ian Ross lost to Ross Benvie 3 and 2.
Craig O’Connor lost to Jim Muir 2 holes.
Phil Dempsey beat Ronnie Bissett 3 and 2.
Alan Hyem beat John McPherson 3 and 2.
Davis Milloy halved with Grant Todd.
Jamie Aitken beat David Beaton 1 hole.

SCOTTISH SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) finished well up the field in the North of Scotland senior championship at Nairn Dunbar. Over the 6,700 yard lay-out, Bob took eighth position with scores of 74 and 78, and earned some points in the Seniors Order of Merit.
Alloa’s Ray Barton finished a bit further back with a two round total of 170. The event was won by the evergreen Ian Hutcheon with an aggregate of 142 (69-73). The next two events soon are the West Seniors at Hamilton and the East Seniors at Monifieth.

SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The flagship event of the men's amateur golf season is the national championship decided by match play, and the 2007 event will be played over Old Prestwick, starting on the 30th July. Flying the County flag (again!!) will be Callum Macaulay and Scott Borrowman who will both be in action starting on the Tuesday.
Both have had recent runs of good form, and will be hoping to reach the later stages of the tournament. Soon after the event, the Scottish team for the Home Internationals in Ireland will be announced, and with the top players going professional, there will be a fair number of new caps. Play well, guys !

THREE SHARE VICTORY IN DEER PARK
MASTERS QUALIFIER

Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) and Paul Malone (Braid Hills) each shot four-under-par 68s to head the 27 qualifiers from a field of 103 at today's eliminator at Deer Park Golf & Country Club, Livingston for the Deer Park Masters over 36 holes on August 7 and 8.
There was a card play-off among the 12 players on 74 to decide which three would get the last places. Brian Mason (Drumoig), Kris McGowan (Burntisland) and Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) were the lucky ones.
The 27 qualifiers who join 23 exempt players in the Deer Park Masters field are:
68 P Malone (Braid Hills), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre).
69 D McKay (Wellsgreen).
70 A Marshall (Houston), A E Reid (West Lothian), E Thomson (Largs), D Orr (East Renfrewshire), J Anton (Noah's Ark), J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House), K Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf).
71 S Gray (Hayston), C McCalman (unatt).
72 G Duncan (Westin Turnberry), S Catlin (Greenburn), K Glen (Royal Musselburgh), G McInnes (Murcar Links), S Savage (Dalmuir), D McIntosh (Elderslie).
73 I Donaldson (Meldrum House), A MacKenzie (Liberton), A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), G Fox (West Kilbride), G Lornie (Aspire),
74 (after card play-off) B Mason (Drumoig), K McGowan (Burntisland), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).

TWENTY-SEVEN QUALIFY FOR PLACES IN THIS
WEEK'S SENIOR OPEN AT MUIRFIELD

Mike Donald, who was beaten by Hale Irwin in an epic play-off for the 1990 US Open at Medinah Country Club, will have a chance to capture a Senior Major after securing one of the 27 berths on offer in today's qualifying ahead of the Senior Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
The 52 year old American, winner of one title on the US PGA Tour, shot a level par 71 to finish in a share of sixth place at Craigielaw and will now feature in the 144-man field for Thursday’s first round at Muirfield golf course, Gullane where the cream of international Senior golfers are competing for a prize fund of US$2,000,000.
Finishing at the top of the 102-strong leaderboard at Craigielaw were three of Donald’s compatriots, Tim Conley, Kevin King and Chuck Milne, who all returned two under par cards of 69, one better than European Seniors Tour members Jim Lapsley of New Zealand and Bob Larratt of England.
England’s Gordon Townhill, another flying the flag for the European Seniors Tour, Donald and fellow American Joe Clark juniot all carded 71s to share sixth spot, while the ninth and final qualifying place was taken by Scottish amateur J A Fraser after a three-man play-off.
Nine places were also up for grabs in each of the two other qualifying sessions at North Berwick Golf Club and Dunbar.
Two European Seniors Tour players made it through from 97 hopefuls at Dunbar, Jean Pierre Sallat of France and David Merriman of Australia the successful ones after rounds of three under par 68.
Kirk Hanefield of the United States topped the leaderboard after a fantastic six under par 65, one better than Jan Dorrestein of The Netherlands, while Enrique Alessandrini of Italy (69), Ronny Mobley of the United States and amateurs G R Blair of Scotland and Martin Galway of England all returned 69s to qualify.
The final berth went to another amateur, American Doug Pool, who edged out England’s Mike Steadman at the fourth play-off hole.
At North Berwick, where 102 played, Gary Koch of the United States led the way with a 68 followed by compatriot Mike Goodes on 69.
England’s Richard A Green and Northern Ireland’s Paul Leonard both carded 70s to share third spot, while the remaining places went to five players on 71 – John Benda of the United States and Anders Johnsson of Sweden, both members of the European Seniors Tour, and the American trio of Keith Gockenbach, Dave Kluver and John Ross.
A total of 301 players teed up at the three qualifying venues and those who were successful need only cast their minds back to 2004 for inspiration, when Pete Oakley of the United States stunned the golfing world by becoming the first qualifier to lift The Senior Open Championship.

QUALIFIERS

Dunbar (par 71)
65 Kirk Hanefield (USA).
66 Jan Dorrestein (Ned).
68 Jean Pierre Sallat (Fra), David Merriman (Aus).
69 Enrique Allessandrini (Ita), Ronny Mobley (USA), Martin Galway (Eng) (am), G R Blair (Sco) (am).
70 Doug Pool (USA) (am).

North Berwick (par 71)
68 Gary Koch (USA).
69 Mike Goodes (USA).
70 Paul Leonard (NIr), Richard A Green (Eng).
71 Dave Kluver (USA), John Benda (USA), Anders Johnsson (Swe), John Ross (USA), Keith Gockenbach (USA).

Craigielaw (par 71)
69 Kevin King (USA), Chuck Milne (USA), Tim Conley (USA).
70 Bob Larratt (Eng), Jim Lapsley (Nzl).
71 Gordon Townhill (Eng), Joe Clarke Jnr (USA), Mike Donald (USA).
72 J A Fraser (Sco) (am).

HUTCH WINS BY FOUR ON SCOTTISH SENIORS CIRCUIT

Scottish senior amateur champion Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) won the North of Scotland seniors open tournament at Nairn Dunbar - the second event on the new Scottish seniors circuit.
Hutcheon had had rounds of 69 and 73 for a total of 142 - four shots ahead of runner-up Patrick Tomisson from Nairn.
George Paterson (Aberdeen Northern) was joint third on 149 with Iain Stewart (Curragh).
John Fraser (Royal Burness), the former Murcar Links player who won the opening event at Stirling, finished a creditable joint eighth with 77 and 75 for 152.

LEADING TOTALS
142 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 69 73.
146 P Tomisson (Nairn) 72 74.
149 G Paterson (Northern) 74 75, I Stewart (Curragh) 70 79.
150 G Maatman (Chicago 75 75.
151 R Paton (Nairn) 76 75.
152 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 77 75, R McLellan (Westin Turnberry) 77 75, R Stewart (Tulliallan) 74 78.
153 A Fiddes (Murcar Links) 78 75, S Ellis (Cowal) 75 78, D Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74 79.
154 G MacDonald (Callander) 78 76, R Edger (Blackpool North Shore) 77 77, J Paton (Kirkintilloch) 76 78, C Christy (Kilmacolm) 76 78.
155 R Grant (Caledonian) 79 76, J Broadfoot (Westin Turnberry) 78 77, B Grieve (King James VI) 78 77, D Smith (Stirling) 77 78, G Rees (Fleetwood) 76 79.
156 F Sharp (Boat of Garten) 78 78, K Bruce (Edzell) 77 79, F Urquhart (Inverness) 73 83.
157 D McQuade (Glenbervie) 78 79.
158 P Kinloch (Cardross) 81 77, J Kinloch (Cardross) 80 78.
159 M Lironi (Cathkin Braes) 82 77, D Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 82 77, B Methven (Royal Aberdeen) 81 78, P Smith (Moray) 75 84.
160 C Moir (Worksop) 81 79, A Laird (Deeside) 81 79, C Alexander (Murcar Links) 79 81, J McDonald (Cowglen) 78 82, J Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 76 84, M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 76 84.
161 D Roy (Nairn Dunbar) 83 78, D Dodson (Temple) 82 79, A Elder (Kirkcaldy) 80 81, D McCart (Castlerock) 77 84, K Howie (West Kilbride) 76 85.

JOE OGILVIE WINS AT THE 230th ATTEMPT

American Joe Ogilvie won the US Bank Championship after shooting a three-under-par 67 in the final round to finish at 14-under 266.
It is a first US PGA Tour victory for Ogilvie, who was participating in his 230th event.
Ogilvie was tied for the lead at 11-under with Tim Clark after 15 holes in the final round. But a long-distance eagle on the par-4 16th and a birdie on No.18 allowed him to secure the win at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee.
Ogilvie finished with four birdies and overcame three bogeys. Conversely, Clark bogeyed the 16 and finished tied for second at ten-under along with Tim Herron and Charlie Wi. It was the second consecutive second-place finish for Clark, who was runner-up last week.

FINAL SCORES FROM US PGA TOUR

US BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
Brown Deer Park GC, Milwaukee.
Par 280 (4 x 70)
266 Joe Ogilvie 67 63 69 67
270 Charlie Wi (Kor) 70 66 66 68, Tim Herron 66 67 65 72, Tim Clark (RSA) 68 65 66 71
272 Kenny Perry 69 65 67 71, Jeff Maggert 63 69 71 69, Steve Flesch 69 64 71 68, Bob Heintz 69 64 71 68
273 Jeff Sluman 71 67 65 70, Billy Mayfair 69 64 70 70, Craig Bowden 66 67 71 69, Mark Wilson 67 70 67 69
274 Jay Delsing 72 65 68 69, Tom Byrum 68 68 70 68, Chris Couch 70 67 70 67, Steve Allan (Aus) 68 66 69 71, John Mallinger 68 66 70 70
275 Kent Jones 72 66 67 70, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 72 65 69 69, Steve Wheatcroft 68 69 68 70, Tommy Armour III 70 66 70 69
276 Chris Riley 70 68 66 72, Michael Allen 71 67 68 70, J.P. Hayes 67 71 69 69, Jeff Brehaut 71 66 65 74, Olin Browne 71 69 70 66, Heath Slocum 69 69 69 69
277 Brendon De Jonge 63 74 67 73, Tom Johnson 66 69 71 71, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 67 70 70, Dicky Pride 68 72 68 69, Jay Williamson 65 72 71 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 67 71 72, Briny Baird 68 71 67 71, D. J. Trahan 71 68 68 70, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 66 69 68 74
278 Chris Smith 69 70 69 70, Cliff Kresge 67 69 68 74, Will MacKenzie 70 64 73 71, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 68 69 73 68, Anthony Kim 72 68 69 69, George McNeill 69 69 68 72, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 70 66 70 72, Bubba Dickerson 68 69 68 73, Rich Barcelo 71 67 70 70
279 Michael Bradley 71 69 67 72, Bob Estes 68 72 70 69, Jeff Gove 70 68 69 72, Ryan Palmer 72 68 71 68, Garrett Willis 64 68 75 72, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 73 71 69, Bob Tway 75 65 71 68
280 Matt Hendrix 74 66 69 71, Kirk Triplett 70 69 71 70, Jeff Overton 68 71 72 69, Alex Cejka (Ger) 68 71 68 73
281 Nathan Green (Aus) 71 69 74 67, Joey Sindelar 73 66 73 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 74 65 68 74, Craig Kanada 70 70 69 72, Mark Brooks 71 69 71 70
282 Chris Tidland 68 72 75 67
284 Robert Gamez 65 72 74 73, Marco Dawson 70 69 74 71, Jason Dufner 70 70 73 71, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 73 67 74 70
285 Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 70 74 72, Larry Mize 68 72 74 71
287 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 71 77 70
288 Tony Finau 75 65 76 72, Andrew Ruthkoski 74 64 74 76

SELECTED POSTSCRIPTS ON THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

GO BACK TO CARNOUSTIE? OF COURSE WE WILL,
SAYS R&A SUPREMO PETER DAWSON

Aberdeen-born R&A chief executive Peter Dawson has shrugged off some observer's doubts that poor attendances (only 154,000 paid for entrance last week) could threaten Carnoustie's hopes of hosting future Opens.
With Royal Liverpool back on the roster, and the Old Course, St Andrews staging it every five years, the Open will not be back at Carnoustie until 2017.
The income from the Open championship through TV rights and spectators is of crucial importance to the R&A's worldwide golf development programme.
"We'll be coming back to Carnoustie if they will accept us," Dawson told Five Live.
"There is no doubt about that. Carnoustie is firmly on the Open rota and it is one of our strongest venues.
"Everything has worked very well here this week. We are pretty pleased with the crowds, given the weather."
He added: "The weather was horrid on a couple of the days and a number of the practice days.
"My fears when I saw the rain falling was that the crowd figures would be smaller than they have been so we are very happy."
Carnoustie, in fact, enhanced its standing as one of the best Major tournament venues in the world.
You would not design a golf course with a burn meandering throughout it - but the Barry Burn is the most feared water hazard at any Open venue.
Put the 18th hole at Carnoustie alongside the 18th hole on the Old Course, St Andrews and there is simply no comparison in the degree of difficulty. Had this year's Open been played over the Old Course, all the men in contention would have got par-4s and some would have got birdie3s by almost driving the green.
The Old Course difficulties are mainly earlier in the round, the size of the putting surfaces, the depth of the pot hole bunkers, and the Road Hole (17th) is an excellent penultimate hole in a tight finish.
But, and it may be sacrilege to say it, the 18th hole on the Old Course is a "weak" finishing hole.

MIKE AITKEN WRITES IN "THE SCOTSMAN"

THE Open will return to Carnoustie by 2017 in spite of the championship won by Padraig Harrington attracting the lowest attendance to the oldest major since Nick Price succeeded at Turnberry in 1994.
Although crowds at the Angus links fell from 157,000 in 1999 to 154,000 because of inclement weather, the Royal and Ancient paid tribute to Carnoustie's "staggeringly good" finish.
While the number of paying customers was also 76,000 down on the record 230,000 who swelled the scene at Hoylake during last summer's heatwave, meaning gate revenue for the championship was reduced by around £3 million, the R&A heaped praise on the links yesterday for delivering one of the most exciting finishes seen at a major championship in recent years.
Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, said: "The 18th hole here is just built for drama, there's so much going on. There's the burn, the out of bounds, the bunkers, the burn again and the out of bounds again by the green. If there isn't some excitement on the 18th here, you're not going to get it anywhere. It's staggeringly good."
Dawson was also hopeful that TV ratings would show a rise and the excitement of the championship stir the interest of non-golfers in the sport.
Miserably wet and cool weather was the obvious reason the attendance dipped. The R&A had expected to attract 175,000 spectators if conditions had been fair.
There are nine courses on the Open rota with St Andrews usually holding the championship twice as often as the other eight. Next year's Open is at Royal Birkdale, then at Turnberry in 2009.

JOHN HOPKINS WRITES IN "THE TIMES"

Padraig Harrington deserves plaudits for his victory and Sergio GarcÍa should be given sympathy for losing out after coming so close, but the shining star of the 136th Open was a stretch of water that snakes its way across the course and for golfers is as much of a distraction as is the mermaid that lures sailors on to the rocks.
After the last two hours of the Open, a time when man was pitted against man and both men were pitted against the course, one image in the mind’s eye is of Harrington hitting into the Barry Burn with his tee-shot and then his third shot (after dropping out under penalty) on the 72nd hole. Another is of the ball of Andrés Romero, who almost made the play-off, landing in the burn, ricocheting out and ending out of bounds.
The events at Carnoustie last week taught us that the Barry Burn is more treacherous than Rae’s Creek at Augusta in the United States, more dangerous than the Swilcan Burn at St Andrews, more intimidating than the Suez Canal at Royal St George’s, more understated than the lake by the 17th at Valderrama in Spain, more historic than the water in front of the 10th and 18th holes at The Belfry.
The Barry Burn turns Carnoustie from an exceptionally good course into one not to be found anywhere else in the world.
There are other burns in Scotland, other water hazards on courses around the world. On good days most of these twinkle and sparkle in the sun. The Barry Burn never does that. It may be clear enough in parts so that you can see its floor and see green tendrils of moss, but it never sparkles, never dances in the sunshine. It is tidal for one thing, so the water does not have time to dance. It is constantly on the move.
The burn’s sides are stepped, so you can walk down into it, as if descending to a watery grave. You cannot do that in the Suez Canal at Sandwich. It is too wide to try to hurdle, as people do to the Swilcan Burn. And it is never prettied up for special occasions. The idea that the Barry Burn could have blue dye poured into it to make it look better on television, as sometimes happens to the pond that feeds Rae’s Creek, would be as heretical to a Scot as adding water to Glenmorangie.
The Barry Burn neatly symbolises the difference in character and approach between the US and Britain.
The 17th at Sawgrass, the one with a near-island green, is a gimmick, a golf hole by Walt Disney. The Barry Burn at Carnoustie is defined by nature. The water around the penultimate hole at The Players Championship is barely 20 years old, the burn in Scotland is a millennium or more.
The hole in Florida is big, loud and brash, beating its chest, saying: “Look at me.” The burn in Scotland is quiet and sinuous, subtle and seductive.
Darren Clarke described playing the 17th at Sawgrass as waking up in the morning knowing that you have root canal work to be done by your dentist. The Barry Burn has a similar effect. “There wasn’t a competitor in the Open last week who didn’t find it was preying on his mind all the way round,” Martin Kippax, the chairman of the championship committee, said. “You know it is waiting.”
The Barry Burn was there for Carnoustie’s first Open in 1931, creating anxiety, wreaking havoc, and it will be there for ever more.

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

NORTH OF SCOTLAND JUNIOR OPEN PLACES AVAILABLE

Late entries will be accepted on 01463 713334 for the North of Scotland Junior Open to be played on Loch Ness New course on Sunday (July 29.
Competitors will tee of in threes at 10min intervals and are from the host club unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviations: CC, Cochrane Castle; D, Durness; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie;I, Inverness; K, Kenmore; M, Muir of Ord; N, Nairn; ND, Nairn Dunbar; T,Tain.

9.0 B Fraser, J Treasurer, L Reid (FR); M Ross (FR), C Reid (I), C Burgess (N).
9.30 B Jeans (ND), D MacDonald, F Brown (ND); S Chalmers, A Burgess(N), D Bowles (ND).
10.0 Miss A Brown (ND), K MacKay, A Kenyon; G Reid, C MacLeod (ND), M Laing (I).
10.30 Miss C MacLeod (ND), E MacLachlan, S Hunter (I); D Rae (I), J MacDonald (CC), J Matheson (M).
11.0 G. Forsyth, C MacIntosh (I), D Laing (I); S Innes (ND), S McGauran, M MacKenzie (M).
11.30 G Matheson (M), M MacPherson, D Cairns (ND); R. Rapson, R.Marshall, M. Bramley.
12.0 C Nelson (N), S Goodman (I), C MacLean (I); A Begg (M), S Connell(I), E Chancellor (I).
12.40 P Smith (K), partners.
1.0 Miss S Vass (T), Miss J Vass (T), Miss D MacKinnon (D).

JORDAN FINDLAY WINS NEWMACHAR OPEN

Former British boys' golf champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) won the Newmachar Open with rounds of 71 and 75 for 146. He had a shot to spare from home club members John Duff and Euan McIntosh. The CSS for both rounds was 76.
Findlay is halfway through a four-year golf scholarship at East Tennessee State University. With Rhys Davies, another former British boys' champion, having completed his four-year course, the East Tennessee State head coach will be looking for Jordan Findlay to step up his performances to help plug the gap.

Leading scratch
146 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 75.
147 J Duff (Newmachar) 77 70, E McIntosh (Newmachar) 76 71.
148 G Thomson (Moray) 75 73.
150 J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 74 76.
Leading handicap
D Corkey (East Aberdeenshire) (4) 144; D Cowe (Inchmarlo) (10)_, F McCarron (Stonehaven) (2) 149; G Duncan (Meldrum House) (4) 151; R Hyland (Hazlehead) (2) 152.

ends.

FOTHERINGHAM SHAVES

THREE STROKES OFF

INVERNESS COURSE

RECORD WITH A 61

Forres player Bryan Fotheringham, chasing a return to the Scotland team for the men's home internationals, slashed three strokes off the Inverness Golf Club record for its Culcabock course in the North District team championship.
After a first round of two-under-par 67, Fotheringham shot an eight-under-par 61 with one eagle, eight birdies, seven pars and two bogeys. He had halves of 33 (two under par) and 28 (six under par). His inward half was made up of eight 3s and a 4.
Bryan could have hit the "magical" figure of 59 but for bogeying two par-3 holes, the second and the ninth.

Bryan's figures were:

OUT: 4-4-3-4-4-3-3-4-4-33. IN: 3-3-3-3-4-3-3-3-3-28.
Needless to say, he had the lowest individual aggregate of 10-under-par 128 but his club, Forres, could finish no higher than third on 286 behind Inverness who pipped Tain on a countback of each team's discarded scores, after they had tied on 284.
Inverness advance to the Scottish club championship grand final at Glenbervie.

LEADING TEAMS
284 Inverness ( B Thomson 70 72, D Sanderson 70 76, A L Cameron 70 72); Tain (M Ferries 71 72, J Macleod 72 73, S Fraser 75 69).
286 Forres (B Fotheringham 67 71, R McKerron 81 77, C Mackay 81 79).

JOINT SIXTH KELLETT TOP SCOT IN BIARRITZ CUP

Motherwell's Ross Kellett, who had a third-round, seven-under-par 62, finished joint sixth in a field of field of more than 150 for the Sofitel Biarritz Cup at Biarritz Golf Club in southwest France at the weekend.
Ross's rounds were 69, 70, 62 and 71 for a four-under-par total of 272 - six shots behind the Spanish winner, Jorge Campillo, who reached the quarter-finals of the British amateur championship earlier this eason.
Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) and Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) were among a big group who tied for 39th place on six-over 282.
Gordon scored 70, 69, 74 and 69 while Gavin, who was one of the leaders after opening with rounds of 65 and 69, added weekend scores of 70 and 78.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 276 (4 x 69)
266 J Campillo (Spa) 67 67 68 64.
268 X Poncelet (Fra) 67 65 67 69.
270 J F Sarasti (Spa) 71 66 67 66, B Hebert (Fra) 66 70 67 67.
Scots scores:
272 R Kellett (Colville Park) 69 70 62 71 (jt 6th).
282 G Yates (Hilton Park) 70 69 74 69, G Dear (Murrayshall) 65 69 70 78 (jt 39th).

Record round of 60 on way to first Clackmannan title

SUPERCALLUM

FRAGILISTICEX

MACAULAYOTIOUS

By HUGH HUNTER
(who also wrote the heading!)

It was one of the best 36-hole Clackmannan county championship for many years - 55 of the top county players on an outstanding “cocktail” of golf. Included in the field of the 104-year-old event were teams of three from the six county clubs, competing for a place in the national final to be played at Glenbervie in late September.
Added to that were a small group of juniors testing their skills against the county best plus commendably (and with great loyalty to their home area), the Scottish elite duo of Callum Macaulay (British Amateur championship bronze medallist), and Scott Borrowman (Scottish youths champion).
Said County president Sam Kinnaird: “These two have put Clackmannan on the golfing map of Scotland and it is great to see them playing at Braehead to perhaps inspire others.”
And it was Macaulay who stole the show in a breathtaking display of brilliance with a 10-under- par 60 in his second round - good enough to take the title by five shots from fellow Tulliallan member Mark Crichton.
Third place went to home player Ross Benvie who saw his course record being eclipsed by 3 shots.
Callum’s 60 was his best ever score. It could have been 59 had he holed a 4 ft putt at the last. This is his second course record – he already has the Tulliallan one at 61, and is clearly rewriting the standards of Wee County golf.
Naturally Callum was highly delighted. “I am very pleased to have won the Clackmannanshire championship, having tried for a number of years, and I was really up for it today,” he said.

Macaulay's scorecard for his record 60 inclued two eagles, six birdies and 10 pars.
It read:

OUT: 3-4-3-2-4-3-5-3-2: 29 (against a par of: 4-4-4-4-4-3-5-3-4: 35)

IN: 4-3-4-3-2-4-3-4-4: 31 (against par of: 4-3-5-4-3-4-4-4-4: 35)

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
130 Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) 70 60.
135 Mark Crichton (Tulliallan) 71 64.
137 Ross Benvie (Braehead) 68 69.
139 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 69 70.
140 Ian Ross (Alloa) 72 68.
141 Phil Dempsey (Alloa) 68 73.
142 Mike Rust 72 70.

143 Andre Scotland 69 74, Steven Horne (Tulliallan).

144 M Duncan 73 71, D Hulston 71 73, M Gilmour 70 74.

145 J Muir 73 72.

146 A Hyem 72 74, Allan Watson 72 74.

147 R Bissett 73 74, G Dowie 73 74.

148 J McPherson 73 75.

150 M Walker 74 76, S Chalmers 73 77.

152 S McIvor 78 74, M Robertson 77 75, S Clark 73 79.

153 J Aitken 81 72, D Abernethy 80 73, J McAdam 71 82.

154 J Little 78 76, J McGullen77 77.

155 K Watson 79 76, D Beaton 78 77.

156 G Chalmers 78 678, A Main 77 79.

158 D R Wright 80 78.

+
HANDICAP (net scores)
132 Allan Watson (Braehead) 65 67.
132 Murdy Gilmour (Braehead) 64 68.

TEAM EVENT
(best two scores in each round to count)
263 Tulliallan (C Macaulay 70 60, M Crichton 71 64, S Horne 69 74.
279 Braehead (R Benvie 68 69, M Rust 72 70, J Muir 73 72.
281 Alloa
4. Dollar 283
5. Tillicoultry 297
6. Alva 298

The county selectors will now be pondering the team to play the North-east in the area team match at Braehead at the beginning of August.

+Hugh Hunter's picture shows Callum Macaulay being presented with the championship trophy by county president Sam Kinnaird.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY BOYS' LEAGUE

The Alva boys' team seem unstoppable in their golf league matches this year, and seem to have sewn up the title with two solid away wins - first a midweek substantial win against Alloa at -Schawpark, followed by an emphatic 4 1/2-1 1/2 victory against Tillicoultry.

“Who is going to be second?”

Match details (Alva names first):

Gary Elliot beat Colin Carberry 1 hole.
Lawrence Allan beat Scott Hunter 6 and 4.
Scott Thomson beat Scott Baird 4 and 3.
Daniel Ashe halved with Jonathan Imrie.
Adam Ashe beat Kevin Ross 1 hole
David Fisher lost to David Kinnaird 3 and 2.

FOTHERINGHAM LOWERS INVERNESS RECORD

Bryan Fotheringham, the Scotland international player from Forres, broke the Inverness Golf Club course record today in the second round of the Famous Grouse North District team championship.
Bryan had rounds of 67 and 61. The 61 was a new low mark for the Inverness Culcabock course.

More details from Robin Wilson on Monday (hopefully).

COWGLEN PLAYERS DOMINATE GLASGOW GOLF
UNION STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Cowglen Golf Club players stole the show over their home course today (Sunday) when they finished 1-2-3 in the Glasgow Golf Union stroke-play golf championship and won the team event as well.
Frank Drum produced an excellent second round of four-under-par 65 for a total of level par 138 to win the title from Cowglen clubmates Neil McBride and Les McLaughlin on 140.
Cowglen (274) won the team event by 12 shots from their nearest rivals, Cawder.

Par 138 (2 x 69. CSS 71 69.
Leading totals
138 Frank Drum (Cowglen) 73 65.
140 Neil McBride (Cowglen) 71 69, Les McLaughlin (Cowglen) 69 71.
142 Steven Robertson (Sandyhills) 73 69, Chris Wedgeworth (Cowglen) 71 71.
143 Gordon Miller (Cawder) 71 72, David Dale (Cawder) 70 73.

First Irishman since Fred Daly (1947) to win Open

HARRINGTON BEATS GARCIA IN
FOUR-HOLE PLAY-OFF FOR TITLE

Carnoustie served up yet another amazing, unpredictable Open championship climax - and at the end of it Padraig Harrington had become Europe's first winner of a major since Paul Lawrie on the same course in 1999.
The 35-year-old Dubliner, first Republic of Ireland golfer ever to hold the Claret Jug and only the second Irishman, beat Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia by one shot in a four-hole play-off.
They had had 20 top 10 finishes in majors between them without a win, so the joy for Harrington when it was over was inevitably mixed with incredible relief.
Yet just over an hour earlier Harrington had looked crushed when, one ahead with one to play, he twice went in the Barry Burn for a double bogey 6 on the 18th - the hole, of course, Jean Van de Velde had triple-bogeyed eight years ago when three clear.
The 27-year-old American-based Spaniard needed to get a par 4 to win - he avoided the burn safely enough, but pulled his second into a greenside bunker, splashed out to eight feet and lipped out.
They tied on the seven under par total of 277, Harrington having come from six back with a 67 and Garcia, three clear of the field at the start of the day, managing only a 73.
Reprieved, Harrington immediately went two strokes ahead in the play-off, holing an eight-foot birdie putt on the first hole after his opponent had failed to get up and down from sand again. Incredibly, Garcia then hit the flagstick on the 248-yard 16th, their second, but they both came off with par 3s.
Crossing to the 461-yard 17th, they both parred again, although Harrington missed a six-foot chance to increase his lead to three - and back it was then to the dreaded 18th. He chose another of his woods on his return and he then decided to lay up short of the burn with his second.
Garcia was on in two, 25 feet from the flag, and there was a chance for him again when Harrington pulled his third 10 feet further away. The Irishman's par putt ran almost four feet past and Garcia, for the second time on the green, was inches away from making his - but Harrington holed and the title was his.
Ireland could claim something of a double whammy in the end for Rory McIlroy, from the Holywood club near Belfast, gained the silver medal as the leading amateur. In fact, he was the only amateur to survive the 36-hole cut so was always going to win the prestigious medal even before the third and fourth rounds were played.
And spare a thought for Andres Romero from the Argentine. He was two shots clear of the field with two holes to play and finished bogey 5, double-bogey 6 - three shots dropped and he finished on 278, only one behind the play-off pair.

+Fred Daly, the pro at Balmoral Golf Club, Northern Ireland, won the Open at Hoylake in 1946.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)

277 Padraig Harrington (Ire) 69 73 68, 67, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 75 71 68 73. Harrington (£750,000) won four-hole stroke-play play-off, Garcia (£450,000).
278 Andres Romero (Arg) 71 70 70 67 (£290,000).
279 Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 70 68 69, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73 70 64 (£200,000 each).
280 Hunter Mahan (US) 73 73 69 65, Stewart Cink (US) 69 73 68 70 (£145,000 each).
281 Steve Stricker (US) 71 72 64 74, K J Choi (Kor) 69 69 72 71, Mike Weir (Can) 71 68 72 70, Ben Curtis (US) 72 74 70 65
282 Tiger Woods (US) 69 74 69 70, Jim Furyk (US) 70 70 71 71, Justin Rose 75 70 67 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 70 72 71, Markus Brier (Aut) 68 75 70 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 73 67 70, Paul Broadhurst 71 71 68 72.
283 Paul McGinley (Ire) 67 75 68 73.
284 Pat Perez (US) 73 70 71 70, Zach Johnson (US) 73 73 68 70, Rich Beem (US) 70 73 69 72
285 Chris DiMarco (US) 74 70 66 75, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71 73 71, Mark Calcavecchia (US) 74 70 72 69, Jonathan Byrd (US) 73 72 70 70
286 Paul Casey 72 73 69 72, Vijay Singh (Fij) 72 71 68 75, J J Henry (US) 70 71 71 74, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 72 72 72, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 70 72 71, Lucas Glover (US) 71 72 70 73, Ian Poulter 73 73 70 70
287 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 68 73 72 74
288 Nick Watney (US) 72 71 70 75, Charley Hoffman (US) 75 69 72 72, Shaun Micheel (US) 70 76 70 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 69 73 71, Boo Weekley (US) 68 72 75 73, Lee Westwood 71 70 73 74, Mark Foster 76 70 73 69
289 Rory McIlroy 68 76 73 72, Nick Dougherty 71 74 69 75, Ryan Moore (US) 72 72 74 71
290 Arron Oberholser (US) 73 71 72 74, John Senden (Aus) 72 74 71 73, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 75 73 72, Ross Bain 73 71 72 74
291 Jerry Kelly (US) 74 70 71 76, Won Joon Lee (Aus) 73 73 70 75
293 Kevin Stadler (USA) 75 71 74 73, Tom Lehman (US) 73 73 74 73
294 Brian Davis 74 72 71 77, David Howell 72 74 73 75, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 75 74 75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 72 77 75
295 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 68 78 72 77, Anders Hansen (Den) 72 73 74 76, Scott Verplank (USA) 72 73 72 78
296 Mark O'Meara (US) 74 72 76 74, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 74 77 74, Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 72 72 76 76
297 Jon Bevan 73 73 79 72, Luke Donald 70 76 73 78
298 Sandy Lyle 73 73 73 79, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 69 76 79
299 Sean O'Hair (USA) 71 75 74 79, Alastair Forsyth 70 71 78 80
300 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 74 76 80, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 71 79 78.

SCOTS DOWN THE FIELD IN EURO CHALLENGE
TOUR EVENT IN AUSTRIA

Scots George Murray and Scott Jamieson earned 637 Euros apiece for finishing joint 45th in the European Challenge Tour event, the MAN NO Open at Adamstal Golf Club, Ramsau in Austria today.
Former Scottish amateur champion Murray from Anstruther had rounds of 71, 70, 73 and 74 for an eight-over-par total of 288 over a par-71 course measuring 6,476yd.
Rookie Jamieson , from Glasgow, who has been campaigning successfully on the Hooters Tour in America, finished on the same mark with scores of 69, 71, 73 and 75.
A second past Scottish amateur champion, Andrew McArthur (Windyhill) missed the halfway cut by one shot with scores of 70 and 73 for 143.
Denmark’s Anders Schmidt Hansen claimed his maiden title and the first prize of 20,800 Euros (£14,097) by three shots with an 11-under-par aggregate of 269.
Zane Scotland (England) was runner-up on 272.


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70). 6,476yd.
269 A Schmidt Hansen (Den) 66 68 64 71.
272 Z Scotland (Eng) 65 70 66 71.
276 S Browne (Ire) 70 69 70 67, T Cruz (Por) 68 71 63 74; S Manley (Wal) 69 66 72 69.
278 A Ahokas (Fin) 71 69 68 70, T Milford (Eng) 69 67 71 71.
279 N Vanhootegem (Bel) 66 74 67 72, P Ericsson (Swe) 68 70 68 73.
280 B Teilleria (Fra) 67 73 69 71, P Dwyer (Eng) 70 70 70 70, C Gane (Eng) 71 65 78 66, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 65 69 73 73.
Other scores:
288 G Murray (Sco) 71 70 73 74, S Jamieson (Sco) 69 71 73 75 (jt 45th).
Non-qualifiers included:
143 A McArthur (Sco) 70 73.

BENVIE AND DEMPSEY LEAD CLACKMANNAN STROKE-PLAY

Ross Benvie, playing over his home Braehead course, and Paul Dempsey (Alloa) were sharing the lead on two-under-par 68 at the end of the first round of the 36-hole Clackmannan men's county stroke-play championship today.
But later news from the course was that Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), who had a first-round 70, was on schedule to break the course record with a 60. We'll have confirmation of that later.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 70
68 Ross Benvie (Braehead), Paul Dempsey (Alloa).
69 Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Steven Horne (Tulliallan), Andre Scotland (Alloa).
70 Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Murdy Gilmour (Braehead).

Open championship final round drama

HARRINGTON JOINS GARCIA IN LEAD

Padraig Harrington had joined long-time leader Sergio Garcia in a share of the pole position at seven under par overall in the final round of the Open championship at Carnoustie.

The Irishman was seven under after 11, the Spaniard, who had started the day at nine under par, was seven under par after 10.

Then came Andres Romero (Argentina) and Ernie Els (South Africa) on six under par. Romero had played 13 and Els 11.

Steve Stricker was sharing the next spot at five under par with R Green. Green had finished his 72 holes, Stricker had eight holes to play.

Tiger Woods was obviously not going to "do a Paul Lawrie" over the final round. Woods was "only" two under par after 16 holes.

EARLY OPEN FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)
281 Ben Curtis (US) 72 74 70 65
285 Mark Calcavecchia (US) 74 70 72 69
288 Charley Hoffman (US) 75 69 72 72, Shaun Micheel (US) 70 76 70 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 69 73 71, Mark Foster 76 70 73 69
289 Rory McIlroy (am) 68 76 73 72, Ryan Moore (US) 72 72 74 71
290 Arron Oberholser (US) 73 71 72 74, John Senden (Aus) 72 74 71 73, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 75 73 72, Ross Bain 73 71 72 74
293 Kevin Stadler (US) 75 71 74 73, Tom Lehman (US) 73 73 74 73
294 Brian Davis 74 72 71 77, David Howell 72 74 73 75, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 75 74 75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 72 77 75
295 Michael Campbell (NZ) 68 78 72 77, Anders Hansen (Den) 72 73 74 76, Scott Verplank (US) 72 73 72 78
296 Mark O'Meara (US) 74 72 76 74, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 74 77 74, Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 72 72 76 76
297 Jon Bevan 73 73 79 72, Luke Donald 70 76 73 78
298 Sandy Lyle 73 73 73 79, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 69 76 79
299 Sean O'Hair (US) 71 75 74 79, Alastair Forsyth 70 71 78 80
300 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 74 76 80, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe).

ROYAL ABERDEEN CHAMPION STEVEN BUCHAN WINS

DOUGLAS PHILIP TROPHY

Royal Aberdeen club champion Steven Buchan added the Douglas Philip Trophy to his collection of victories this season by beating Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) 3 and 1 in the final at Deeside Golf Club today.
Already this summer, Steven has retained the Balgownie title and also won the Brangan Cup at Duff House Royal and the Murcar Open.
Last year’s home club championship success got Steven, a 29-year-old +l player, into the select field for this match-play tournament for Aberdeen club champions or beaten finalists – so he is guaranteed the opportunity to defend the trophy although there are likely to be changes in the format following a disappointing number of scratchings this year.
Steven jumped into a two-hole lead over Stewart by winning the first an second but Finnie halved his deficit with a first success at the fifth.
Buchan won the eighth with a birdie and the ninth and 10th with pars to be go four up.
Finnie hit back with winning birdies at the 13th and 14th, where he chipped in for a 2, and would have won the 15th but for a splendid pitch and putt for a half by Buchan.
After a half at the 16th, Buchan clinched a winning debut in the event with a conceded birdie after an excellent wedge approach at the next for a 3 and 1 win.
+Picture shows Steven Buchan (on left) and Stewart Finnie with the Douglas Philip Trophy.

Comment from Tam Hendry:

I am new to your site and find it incredibly informative about the amateur game. I am now a keen follower.
Please keep up the very good work and information you provide.

Tam Hendry

If you have any comments to make on any golfing topics, E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SCORES FROM US PGA TOUR

US BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
Brown Deer Park GC, Milwaukee
Par 210 (3 x 70)
198 Tim Herron 66 67 65.
199 Joe Ogilvie 67 63 69, Tim Clark (RSA) 68 65 66.
201 Kenny Perry 69 65 67.
202 Charlie Wi (Kor) 70 66 66, Jeff Brehaut 71 66 65.
203 Jeff Maggert 63 69 71, Billy Mayfair 69 64 70, Jeff Sluman 71 67 65, Steve Allan (Aus) 68 66 69, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 66 69 68
204 Brendon De Jonge 63 74 67, Chris Riley 70 68 66, Steve Flesch 69 64 71, Craig Bowden 66 67 71, Bob Heintz 69 64 71, John Mallinger 68 66 70, Cliff Kresge 67 69 68, Mark Wilson 67 70 67
205 Kent Jones 72 66 67, Jay Delsing 72 65 68, Bubba Dickerson 68 69 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 67 71, Steve Wheatcroft 68 69 68
206 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 72 65 69, Tom Johnson 66 69 71, Tom Byrum 68 68 70, Tommy Armour III 70 66 70, Michael Allen 71 67 68, George McNeill 69 69 68, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 70 66 70, Briny Baird 68 71 67
207 Michael Bradley 71 69 67, Jeff Gove 70 68 69, J.P. Hayes 67 71 69, Garrett Willis 64 68 75, Chris Couch 70 67 70, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 74 65 68, Heath Slocum 69 69 69, D. J. Trahan 71 68 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 68 71 68, Will MacKenzie 70 64 73
Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 67 70.
208 Jay Williamson 65 72 71, Chris Smith 69 70 69, Dicky Pride 68 72 68, Rich Barcelo 71 67 70
209 Anthony Kim 72 68 69, Matt Hendrix 74 66 69, Craig Kanada 70 70 69
210 Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 68 69 73, Kirk Triplett 70 69 71, Bob Estes 68 72 70, Olin Browne 71 69 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 73 71
211 Robert Gamez 65 72 74, Jeff Overton 68 71 72, Ryan Palmer 72 68 71, Bob Tway 75 65 71, Mark Brooks 71 69 71
212 Andrew Ruthkoski 74 64 74, Joey Sindelar 73 66 73
213 Marco Dawson 70 69 74, Jason Dufner 70 70 73, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 70 74
214 Nathan Green (Aus) 71 69 74, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 73 67 74, Larry Mize 68 72 74
215 Chris Tidland 68 72 75
216 Tony Finau 75 65 76
217 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 71 77

KELLETT MOVES UP IN BIARRITZ

CUP WITH THIRD-ROUND 62

We now have the third-round scores from the 72-hole Biarritz Cup being played at Biarritz Golf Club in southwest France.
The good news is that Ross Kellett (Colville Park), pictured right, shot a third-round, seven-under-par 62 to move up into a share of fourth place on six-under-par 201.

He is six shots behind the leader, Pedro Oriol who also had a 62 on Saturday.

LEADERBOARD

Par 207 (3 X 69)

195 Pedro Oriol 63 70 62.

199 Xavier Poncelet 67 65 67.

200 Matthieu Bey 65 70 65.

201 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 69 70 62, Marc Dobias 65 70 66.

202 Pedro Erice 69 68 65, Jorge Campillo 67 67 68.

Other scores:

204 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 65 69 70 (jt 12th).

213 Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 70 69 74 (jt 57th).

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NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIORS' OPEN FINAL TOTALS

Apologies for the delay in obtaining the second scores and final totals from the North of Scotland open seniors' stroke-play tournament at Nairn Dunbar GC on Friday. It may be Monday before we get them but we will put them up on the screen as soon as that happens.

We invite readers to make comments on our service and golf topics, so we are bound to publish them whether we agree with them or not ...

"Tam Pepper" comments:

See you have begun where you left off before. You are being disrespectful to other Scottish girls and will, at the same time, do nothing for Carly Booth's popularity which you helped destroy a time ago with your biased reporting.
The girl has got it back and you seem intent on taking her backward.
Let the girl play and do the best she can without you putting more pressure on her among her peers.
Let us analyse the Under-21 and Under-18 competitions. Very good girls were missing from both competitions. The Under-21 one was played over Carly's home course. The distance was 5,500 yards. Hardly makes it hard.
The British was totally different.
I suppose that it will be Carly in Wales taking on the rest of the teams and the other Scottish girls will just be a support act. They won't have much to offer to you.
=================================================
ANY COMMENTS? Is Tam Pepper right? Have we been "biased" in our reporting of Carly Booth winning the Scottish Under-21 championship by nine strokes and then completing the double by winning the Under-18 title, the first time this has been done since 1998.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
E-mail your views to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to read responses from Laura Walker and Alasdair Malcolm.

Spaniard could be first European Open champion since Paul Lawrie

SERGIO GARCIA STARTS

LAST ROUND WITH THREE

STROKE LEAD FROM

STEVE STRICKER

The 2007 Open championship and his first Major success is Sergio Garcia's for the taking. He will carry a three-stroke lead into Sunday's final round at Carnoustie.
On a day of low scoring, Garcia needed a three-under-par 68 to maintain the pole position he has had since opening the tournament with a 65 on Thursday.

Garcia (pictured right) is on nine-under-par 204.

His closest rival is American Steve Stricker who carded the lowest round ever in an Open championship at Carnoustie. Striker himself is three shots ahead of the group sharing third place, including Paul McGinley, Padraing Harrington, Ernie Els and Paul Broadhurst.
Stricker equalled the course record held by Alan Tait and Colin Montgomerie with a flawless 64 for a six-under-par total of 207.
Stricker, a former Accenture World Match Play champion, birdied the first three holes and picked up further shots at the fifth and seventh, surprisingly missing out on a birdie at the par-5 sixth - statistically the second easiest hole on the course over the first two days.
Out in a best-of-the-week 31, the 40-year-old from Wisconsin also birdied the 13th and 14th and saved par from 30ft on the 15th after driving into a fairway bunker.
That was precisely the sort of round defending champion Tiger Woods had been looking for, but the world No. l had to settle for a 69 after twice hitting people in the crowd with wild shots.
One female spectator needed stitches in a head wound after being hit by Woods' sliced approach to the par-5 sixth hole.
Jennifer Wilson, 63, from County Antrim, was presented with a signed glove and ball from an apologetic Woods after suffering a cut to the left side of her head.
No damage was done when another fan was struck a glancing blow on the 14th, Woods going on to record one of his four birdies on the 514-yard par-5 to finish the day with a 69 for one-under-par 212 - eight shots behind Garcia.

But even Tiger was recalling 1999 winner Paul Lawrie's feat of eight years ago when he started the final round 10 shots off the pace and finished up winning the title after a three-way play-off.
Sadly, Alastair Forsyth's bid for glory came apart at the seams in the third round for which he required 78 shots for 219, the same total as Sandy Lyle.

Dubai-based Ross Bain, who qualified internationally, is the leading Scot on 216.

WEATHER NOTE: Chua Choo Chiang, Media Director of the Asian Tour, in sending out a Press Release about how Korean K J Choi was faring, prefaced his remarks with "On another FROSTY day at Carnoustie ..." Cold, yes. But, frosty? Hardly.

Choi said the chilly temperatures that forced him to use thick mittens to keep his hands warm and ensured that he struggled on the greens. He finished with a 72 to be one of the pack in joint third place on 210. Choi was won twice on the US PGA Tour this season.

THIRD ROUND
Par 213 (3 x 71)

204 Sergio Garcia (Esp) 75 71 68.
207 Steve Stricker (US) 71 72 64
210 Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 70 68, Chris DiMarco (US) 74 70 66, Stewart Cink (US) 69 73 68, Paul McGinley 67 75 68, Paul Broadhurst 71 71 68, Padraig Harrington 69 73 68, K J Choi (Kor) 69 69 72.

211 Vijay Singh (Fij) 72 71 68, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 70 70, Jim Furyk (US) 70 70 71, Mike Weir (Can) 71 69 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp) 69 70 72.
212 J J Henry (US) 70 71 71, Tiger Woods (US) 69 74 69, Justin Rose 75 70 67, Rich Beem (US) 70 73 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 73 67
213 Nick Watney (US) 72 71 70, Lucas Glover (US) 71 72 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 68 75 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 68 73 72.

214 Paul Casey 72 73 69, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 72 72, Pat Perez (US) 73 70 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71 73, Zach Johnson (US) 73 73 68, Nick Dougherty 71 74 69, Lee Westwood 71 70 73.
215 Jerry Kelly (US) 74 70 71, Hunter Mahan (US) 73 73 69, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 70 72, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73 70, Jonathan Byrd (USA) 73 72 70 , Boo Weekley (US) 68 72 75.

216 Won Joon Lee (Aus) 73 73 70, Arron Oberholser (US) 73 71 72, Charley Hoffman (US) 75 69 72, Mark Calcavecchia (US) 74 70 72, Shaun Micheel (US) 70 76 70, Ian Poulter 73 73 70, Ben Curtis (US) 72 74 70, Ross Bain 73 71 72
217 Brian Davis 74 72 71, Rory McIlroy 68 76 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 69 73, John Senden (Aus) 72 74 71, Scott Verplank (US) 72 73 72
218 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 68 78 72, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 75 73, Ryan Moore (US) 72 72 74
219 Anders Hansen (Den) 72 73 74, David Howell 72 74 73, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 69 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 75 74, Luke Donald 70 76 73, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 72 77, Mark Foster 76 70 73, Sandy Lyle 73 73 73, Alastair Forsyth 70 71 78.
220 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 74 76, Kevin Stadler (US) 75 71 74, Sean O'Hair (US) 71 75 74, Tom Lehman (USA) 73 73 74, Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 72 72 76
222 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 74 77, Mark O'Meara (US) 74 72 76, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 71 79.
225 Jon Bevan 73 73 79.

DAVID LEADBETTER'S QUICK
TIPS CAN BENEFIT ANY
CLASS OF GOLFER

David Leadbetter is one of the superstars of golf coaching, credited with helping Nick Faldo to several Major tournament wins and continuing to coach the world’s best players such as Ernie Els and Michelle Wie.
“LEADBETTER’S QUICK TIPS is a superbly accessible collection of mini-lessons that anyonhe can benefit from, whatever their golfing standard.
Derived from Leadbetter’s column in the US Golf Digest Magazine, it is lavishly illustrated with colour photographs and graphics.
The tips include:
*Longer and straighter drives.
*Consistency from the fairway.
*More accurate iron play.
*Better bunker shots.
*Making more putts.
David Leadbetter’s other books include the best-selling “The Golf Swing,” “100% Golf” and “Lessons from the Golf Greats.”
++“Leadbetter’s Quick Tips” will be published in hardback by Aurum Press on July 30, priced £12.99

SCORES FROM US PGA TOUR

US BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
Brown Deer Park Golf Club, Milwaukee.
Par 140 (2 x 70)
130 Joe Ogilvie 67 63
132 Jeff Maggert 63 69, Garrett Willis 64 68
133 Tim Herron 66 67, Billy Mayfair 69 64, Steve Flesch 69 64, Craig Bowden 66 67, Bob Heintz 69 64, Tim Clark (RSA) 68 65
134 Kenny Perry 69 65, Will MacKenzie 70 64, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 67, John Mallinger 68 66, Steve Allan (Aus) 68 66
135 Tom Johnson 66 69, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 66 69
136 Charlie Wi (Kor) 70 66, Tom Byrum 68 68, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 70 66, Cliff Kresge 67 69, Tommy Armour III 70 66
137 Brendon De Jonge 63 74, Robert Gamez 65 72, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 72 65, Jeff Brehaut 71 66, Chris Couch 70 67, Steve Wheatcroft 68 69, Mark Wilson 67 70, Jay Delsing 72 65, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 68 69, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 67, Jay Williamson 65 72, Bubba Dickerson 68 69
138 Kent Jones 72 66, Andrew Ruthkoski 74 64, Chris Riley 70 68, Jeff Sluman 71 67, Jeff Gove 70 68, J.P. Hayes 67 71, Heath Slocum 69 69, Michael Allen 71 67, George McNeill 69 69, Rich Barcelo 71 67
139 Kirk Triplett 70 69, Marco Dawson 70 69, Jeff Overton 68 71, Joey Sindelar 73 66, Chris Smith 69 70, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 70, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 74 65, D. J. Trahan 71 68, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 73, Alex Cejka (Ger) 68 71, Briny Baird 68 71
140 Michael Bradley 71 69, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 73 67, Tony Finau 75 65, Chris Tidland 68 72, Nathan Green (Aus) 71 69, Bob Estes 68 72, Ryan Palmer 72 68, Dicky Pride 68 72, Craig Kanada 70 70, Larry Mize 68 72, Mark Brooks 71 69, Jason Dufner 70 70, Bob Tway 75 65, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 71, Anthony Kim 72 68, Matt Hendrix 74 66, Olin Browne 71 69
MISSED THE CUT
141 Brian Gay 67 74, Neal Lancaster 69 72, Lee Janzen 75 66, James Driscoll 68 73, Billy Andrade 72 69, Bill Haas 69 72, Paul Goydos 71 70, Dan Forsman 71 70, Bo Van Pelt 69 72, Tripp Isenhour 72 69, Ron Philo Jr 71 70
142 Michael Sim (Sco) 71 71, Jon Turcott 69 73, Ted Purdy 69 73, Parker McLachlin 67 75, Alex Aragon 73 69, Kevin Na (Kor) 68 74, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 71 71, Corey Pavin 69 73, Glen Day 74 68, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 71 71, Skip Kendall 69 73, Troy Matteson 70 72
143 Paul Gow (Aus) 72 71, John Merrick 73 70, Paul Stankowski 74 69, David Branshaw 72 71, Brent Geiberger 71 72, Bob May 73 70, Brad Faxon 68 75, Kyle Reifers 72 71, DJ Brigman 71 72, Johnson Wagner 74 69, Frank Lickliter II 70 73
144 Chris Stroud 74 70, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 73, Craig Lile (Rsa) 72 72, Charlie Brown 71 73, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 72 72
145 Michael Boyd 72 73, Jim Lemon 77 68, Cameron Beckman 73 72, Gavin Coles (Aus) 73 72
146 Philip Francis 73 73, Jim, jr. Gallagher 70 76, Tag Ridings 73 73, Eric Axley 73 73, Carlos Franco (Par) 75 71, Douglas Labelle 74 72, Jason Schultz 75 71
147 Notah Begay III 74 73, Tim Petrovic 74 73, John Huston 75 72, Jerry Smith 79 68
148 Robert Garrigus 72 76, Ryan Armour 78 70
149 Darron Stiles 72 77, Kris Cox 79 70
150 Craig Perks (Nzl) 74 76
151 Scott Gutschewski 74 77
153 Bryce Molder 79 74

A GRAND PERFORMANCE BY GREIG

HUTCHEON AT PRESTONFIELD

Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon earned himself £1,060 with a four-under-par round of 66 to win the STV Prestonfield pro-am at Prestonfield Golf Club, Edinburgh.
Hutcheon, pictured right, won by one shot from the unattached Dean Robertson.
LEADING SCORES
Par 70
66 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) £1,060.
67 D Robertson (unatt) £847.
68 S Cairns (Westerwood), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), O Leslie (Prestonfield) £498 each.
69 A Lockhart (Ladybank), R Harrower (Boat of Garten), S Rettie (Royal Troon), J McKinnon (Irvine0, A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) £241 each.

LEADING SATURDAY TEE TIMES IN THE OPEN

11:55 Mark Calcavecchia & Jerry Kelly.

12:05 Fredrik Andersson Hed & Rich Beem.

12:15 Markus Brier & Tiger Woods.

12:25 Adam Scott & Raphaël Jacquelin.

12:35 Steve Stricker & Nick Watney.

12:45 Vijay Singh & Pat Perez.

12:55 Lucas Glover & Paul McGinley.

1:05 Stewart Cink & Rod Pampling.

1:20 Padraig Harrington & Gregory Bourdy

1:30 Paul Broadhurst & Ernie Els.

1.40 Retief Goosen & J J Henry.

1:50 Alastair Forsyth & Lee Westwood.

2:00 Andres Romero & Angel Cabrera.

2:10 Jim Furyk & Boo Weekley.

2:20 Mike Weir & Miguel Angel Jiménez.

2.30 K J Choi & Sergio Garcia.

GAVIN DEAR ONLY TWO OFF THE PACE
IN BIARRITZ CUP IN FRANCE

Gavin Dear from Murrayshall Golf Club, Perth is only two shots off the pace at the halfway stage of the Biarritz Cup over Le Phare course at Biarritz Golf Club in southwest France.
Gavin has had rounds of 65 and 69 for a four-under-par tally of 134 over the short (little over 6,000yd) but tricky par 69 lay-out.
Xavier Poncelet and Andres Cuenaa lead on six-under-par 132.
Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) are among a bunch of players sharing 27th place on 139. Gordon has scored 70 and 69 while Ross's rounds have been 69 and 70.

LEADERBOARD
132 Xaver Poncelet 67 65, Andres Cuenca 66 66.
133 Pedro Oriol 63 70.
134 Jorge Campillo 67 67, Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 65 69.
Other Scots:
139 Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 70 69, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 69 70.

The Editor thought you would like to read the following article, written by:

MICHAEL BAMBERGER
Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated.

OPEN STARTER IVOR ROBSON IS TOO
BUSY TO PLAY THE GAME

In Scotland, in summer, golf is an evening game. The St. Andrews locals have the first tee — no tourists allowed — between 5 p.m. and half-6, as they call the hour when the evening news comes on at home.
At 10 p.m., you'll still see people playing through the Valley of Sin in front of the home green on the Old Course. If the day's been bright, there's still a lovely light at that hour. If the day has been gray and overcast, there's still enough light to see the hole and make your final putt. Golf in the Scottish gloaming is one of the game's modest pleasures.
On the weekend at Carnoustie, the leaders will go around half-3, Scotland national time, 10:30 a.m. in the U.S. Eastern zone, 7:30 a.m. in the Pacific. Sergio Garcia, sitting pretty through 36 holes, said the long wait for a late tee time is never easy, but it beats the alternative. On the weekend, the better you're playing, the later you play.
But in the opening rounds, on Thursday and Friday, the last times of the day are reserved for obscure qualifiers. Today, at 4:21 p.m., the last group of the day went off: Won Joon Lee of Australia, Douglas McGuigan of Scotland and Toshinori Muto of Japan.
Before teeing off on Friday, McGuigan spoke to a friend in South Africa, who said, "Before you're done playing, I'll be drunk." As they say, it's 5 o'clock somewhere. More specifically, when it's 9 p.m. on Friday in Carnoustie — the rounds take between four and five hours here — it's 10 p.m in Durban, South Africa. The party is on.
It's not quite accurate to call McGuigan Scottish. His father, Frankie, is a Scot, and a long-retired professional footballer (soccer player) who played in Scotland, England, Canada and South Africa, all places where his son Douglas has lived.
Douglas lives, really, in Durban, but the official Open draw sheet lists his home country as Scotland, for reasons of local pride.
When Ivor Robson, the white-haired starter working his 33rd Open championship, announced McGuigan, he lingered, in his distinctive sing-song voice, on the word Scotland, and the little mellow crowd gathered on the first tee let out a little cheer. There's more art in what Robson does than he could ever know. In his mind, he says, he calls them all the same.
McGuigan's been playing evening golf all his life, in Scottish summers and in the long Canadian summer nights, too. "We'll say, 'Do you want to play tonight?'" That means a 6 p.m. start, after a day in the shop, or on the range picking balls.
Robson, a professional golfer by background, has his own custom for marking the end of the day. He says, "On the tee, the final game of the afternoon," and then he fills in the blank.
He doesn't play much golf anymore. "I'm too busy," he said Friday.
His job — he works many European tour events, too — keeps him on a golf course all day long. A lot of people who work in golf lose the burning desire to play. Their job fulfills their golfing desires. "I don't have time for it." In actual fact, he does. It all depends how you look at it.
He could get out of his red blazer and tie while walking to the car park and be on the first tee of some nearby course by 5 p.m. Five hours of daylight left.
In Scotland, if you're playing in, say, a two-ball match, you could play 36 in that time. For Lee and McGuigan and Moto — and all the others playing Carnoustie — 18 a day will be plenty.

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

NORTH DOUBLE WHAMMY OVER NORTH-EAST
IN TEENAGE MATCHES AT HOPEMAN

North beat North-east at Under-18 and Under-16 levels in an inter-district match at Hopeman Golf Club this week.
Details:
NORTH U-18s 6, NORTH-EAST U-18s 3
Foursomes: F Fotheringham (Nairn), R Asher (Nairn) lost to S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 2 and 1; C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), K Godsman (Hopeman) bt M Campbell Buckpool), R Penny (Portlethen) 5 and 4; S Connell (Inverness), A Begg (Muir of Ord) lost to T Spencer (Inchmarlo), C Treham (Inchmarlo) 3 and 2 (1-2).
Singles: Fotheringham bt Fraser 3 and 2, Gaittens bt Campbell 1 hole, Asher bt Penny 3 and 1, Begg bt Trehan 1 hole, Connell lost to Spencer 4 and 2, Godsman bt Dunton 3 and 2 (5-1).
NORTH U-16s 5, NORTH-EAST U-16s 4
Foursomes: L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), M Ross (Fortrose &Rosemarkie) halved with D Law (Hazlehead), C Robb (Inchmarlo); C Stewart (Brora), M Laing (Inverness) bt N McAndrew (Cullen), D Christie (Portlethen) 5 and 3; R Clarke (Moray), J Treasurer (Loch Ness) lost to J Littler (Inchmarlo), W Rennie (Royal Aberdeen) 3 and 1 (1 ½-1 ½).
Singles: Reid lost to Law 5 and 4, Clarke bt Robb 3 and 1, Stewart bt Littler 5 and 3, Treasurer halved with Rennie, Ross bt Christie 3 and 2, Laing lost to McAndrew 5 and 4 (3 ½-2 ½).

Alastair Forsyth leading Scot as Open enters third day at Carnoustie

PAUL LAWRIE AND COLIN MONTGOMERIE

MISS CUT (at 9.18pm) AS GARCIA

LEADS BY TWO AT HALFWAY STAGE

Paul Lawrie, the 1999 winner, and Colin Montgomerie, who has never won a Major, failed by one shot to survive the cut at four-over-par 146 in the Open championship at Carnoustie. Mind you, neither did Phil Mickelson but that will be no comfort for Paul and Colin.

Korean-born Australian Lee Won-joon expects to be an unpopular guy after defying the gathering gloom to put Montgomerie, Lawrie, Justin Leonard, Henrik Stenson and six others out of the Open.

Lee was in the final group and had to avoid a double-bogey 6 on the 499yd par-4 18th to make the halfway cut four over par 146, rather than five over 147. The Sydney-based golfer missed the green to the right but chipped on and two-putted.

It was 9.18pm by then and it was only then that Lawrie, winner on the course in 1999, Montgomerie, the course record holder, Leonard, beaten in the play-off eight years ago, and the others discovered their fate.

Acting as Lee's caddie was Englishman Pete Coleman, who for many years worked for Bernhard Langer.

"Peter told me he didn't want me to go to five over because it would bring in a few other guys," Lee joked.

"So we made sure I was going to make 5. I wouldn't go around telling anyone. There will probably be a big mob at the first tee!"

For Montgomerie it was a fifth straight missed cut in major championships since blowing his chance to win last year's US Open at Winged Foot.

"I'm disappointed obviously. I didn't play well but I battled well and played the last five holes in one under par, which is as good as it gets," said the 44-year-old.

"It wasn't easy. I played well on Thursday but didn't putt well."

Asked where he would be with a combination of first-round ball-striking and second-round putting, Montgomerie said: "I would be leading. But I'm not."
Alastair Forsyth (pictured above), Ross Bain and former Open champion Sandy Lyle are the only Scots through to the Saturday and Sunday action. Alastair, on 141, is five strokes behind the leader through the first two rounds, US-based Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

EARLY NERVES

Garcia overcame early nerves to retain his two-stroke lead - with more than a little help from an off-form Tiger Woods.
But now comes the hard part for the 27-year-old Spaniard - 12 times he has finished in the top 10 in majors, but not once yet has he achieved victory.
A chance to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal has arrived again on the same course where eight years ago he had the worst two rounds of his professional career.
From the nightmare of his 30-over-par total at Carnoustie in 1999, when rounds of 89 and 83 left him dead last - the world No. 13 today added a level-par 71 to his sparkling opening 65. A shot-a-hole improvement over the two days.
And with Woods' bid for a third successive Claret Jug hitting trouble from the moment he hooked a "safety" iron out of bounds off the first tee - he eventually came off with a 74 to fall seven behind - Garcia's six-under-par halfway total of 136 was always likely to keep him at the top of the leaderboard in the windy conditions.
South Korean KJ Choi, one place ahead of Garcia on the world rankings after two recent wins on the US Tour, looked for a while as if he might at least draw level with him after birdies at the 14th and 15th brought him one behind.
But he was almost in the Barry Burn with his closing drive and with a bogey 5 had to settle for a second successive 69.
Choi was still second on his own in the clubhouse, one ahead of Garcia's countryman Miguel Angel Jimenez and Canadian Mike Weir, while out on the course in-form Swede Pelle Edberg also stood three under with the feared closing four-hole stretch still to come in the cold of the evening. Edberg succumbed to a 73 for 145.
Sadly for the Irish fans, Paul McGinley, second overnight, hit early trouble and was down to level par with two to play. He finished on 75 for 142, while 18-year-old amateur Rory McIlroy failed to rediscover the magic of an initial 68 that had put him joint third.

SILVER MEDAL FOR RORY
But even with a 76 he was safely inside the halfway cut mark at two over 144 - and guaranteed the Silver Medal as leading amateur after 72 holes, because Rory is the ONLY amateur to get past the cut.

And that was more than world No 2 Phil Mickelson could say. With a double bogey on the last he crashed to a 77 and six over-par 148. He missed the cut by two strokes.

Only 12 men are under par after 36 holes which speaks volumes for Carnoustie as a true Open test of would-be champions. No 1999-style complaints about the rough or the narrowness of the fairways, just a recognition that Carnoustie is a course to sort out the men from the boys.

QUALIFIERS FOR THIRD ROUND
Par 142 (2 x 71)
136 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 65 71
138 K J Choi (Kor) 69 69
139 Mike Weir (Can) 71 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 70
140 Jim Furyk (US) 70 70, Boo Weekley (USA) 68 72
141 J J Henry (US) 70 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 70, Alastair Forsyth 70 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 68 73, Lee Westwood 71 70
142 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 72, Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 70, Stewart Cink (US) 69 73, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 72, Paul McGinley 67 75, Padraig Harrington 69 73, Paul Broadhurst 71 71
143 Steve Stricker (US) 71 72, Nick Watney (US) 72 71, Tiger Woods (US) 69 74, Pat Perez (US) 73 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 70, Lucas Glover (US) 71 72, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 71, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 69, Vijay Singh (Fij) 72 71, Rich Beem (US) 70 73, Markus Brier (Aut) 68 75
144 Jerry Kelly (US) 74 70, Charley Hoffman (US) 75 69, Arron Oberholser (US) 73 71, Chris DiMarco (US) 74 70, Ross Bain 73 71, Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 72 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 74, Rory McIlroy (am) 68 76, Mark Calcavecchia (US) 74 70, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 69, Ryan Moore (US) 72 72
145 Anders Hansen (Den) 72 73, Nick Dougherty 71 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 73, Paul Casey 72 73, Justin Rose 75 70, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 74, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 75, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73, Scott Verplank (US) 72 73, Jonathan Byrd (US) 73 72, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 75
146 Ben Curtis (US) 72 74, Won Joon Lee (Aus) 73 73, Sean O'Hair (US) 71 75, Mark O'Meara (US) 74 72, Shaun Micheel (US) 70 76, Sandy Lyle 73 73, Brian Davis 74 72, Zach Johnson (US) 73 73, Michael Campbell (NZ) 68 78, David Howell 72 74, John Senden (Aus) 72 74, Tom Lehman (US) 73 73, Jon Bevan 73 73, Hunter Mahan (US) 73 73, Kevin Stadler (US) 75 71, Ian Poulter 73 73, Luke Donald 70 76, Mark Foster 76 70.
MISSED THE CUT
147 Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn) 74 73, Colin Montgomerie 73 74, Tom Pernice (USA) 74 73, Matthew Zions (Aus) 72 75, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 75, Joe Durant (US) 77 70, Justin Leonard (US) 74 73, Paul Lawrie 73 74, Peter Fowler (Aus) 74 73, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 76.
148 Benn Barham 75 73, David Toms (US) 71 77, Toshimitsu Izawa (Jpn) 75 73, Darren Clarke 72 76, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 74, Phil Mickelson (US) 71 77, John Rollins (US) 72 76, Brett Quigley (US) 72 76, Drew Weaver (US) (am) 76 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72 76
149 Steve Alker (NZ) 74 75, Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 74 75, Ross Fisher 74 75, Peter Baker 73 76, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 75 74, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 78, Achi Sato (Jpn) 71 78, David Frost (Rsa) 74 75, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 72 77, Charles Howell III (US) 73 76, Chad Campbell (US) 74 75, Loren Roberts (USA) 74 75, Brett Wetterich (US) 75 74, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 74 75
150 Spencer Levin (US) 76 74, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 77 73, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 76 74, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 74 76, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 76 74, Graeme McDowell 77 73, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 75 75, Davis Love III (US) 79 71, Michael Putnam (US) 78 72, Matt Kuchar (US) 74 76, John Daly (US) 74 76, David Higgins 79 71, Bradley Dredge 76 74, Paul Sheehan (Aus) 75 75, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 76 74
151 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 78 73, Richie Ramsay (am) 76 75, John Bickerton 75 76, Stephen Ames (Can) 81 70
152 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 74 78, Nick Faldo 79 73, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 74 78, Robert Allenby (Aus) 73 79, Oliver Wilson 80 72, Kevin Harper 77 75.
153 Anthony Wall 77 76, Toshinori Muto (Jpn) 74 79, Dong-Hwan Lee (Jpn) 75 78, David Shacklady 76 77, Todd Hamilton (USA) 81 72, Seung Hoo Lee (Kor) 77 76, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 76 77, David Coupland 79 74.
154 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 75 79, Scott Laycock (Aus) 74 80, Steve Parry 73 81, Paul Waring 74 80, Mark Hensby (Aus) 79 75, Anders Hultman (Swe) 77 77
155 Duffy Waldorf (US) 82 73
156 Desvonde Botes (Rsa) 78 78, Vaughn Taylor (US) 82 74
157 Justin Kehoe 78 79, Doug McGuigan 77 80
158 Llewellyn Matthews (am) 75 83, Ben Bunny (Aus) 81 77, Graeme Storm 78 80
160 David Gleeson (Aus) 83 77, Scott Drummond 79 81, Adam Groom (Aus) 79 81
161 Tony Jacklin 78 83
162 Ewan Porter (Aus) 83 79

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

CHRIS BEATS GOLFING PAL TOM

IN FINAL OF NORTH-EAST

DISTRICT BOYS’ MATCH-PLAY

Chris Robb, pictured right, rallied from two down after 11 holes to beat his Inchmarlo clubmate Tom Spencer 3 and 1 to win the North-east District boys’ match-play title for the Bill Brown Trophy at Murcar Links Golf Club today.
On Thursday, Spencer won the district’s Under-18 boys’ stroke-play championship with Robb runner-up and winner of the Under-16s’ trophy.
The match was all square at the turn with both players out in level par 36.
Spencer went two up, winning the 10th and 11th with par figures before Robb found his touch again to win the 12th, 13th and 14th with a birdie-par-birdie run.
Spencer three-putted for a fourth time to go two down at the 16th and then lost ball off the tee at the next to lose a match which played at an admirable speed – 2hr 50min – and on a busy course at that.

Results
Semi-finals – C Robb (Inchmarlo) bt S Griffiths (Cullen) 3 and 2, T Spencer (Inchmarlo) bt R Bain (Strathlene) 1 hole.

Final – Robb bt Spencer 3 and 1.

RECORD NUMBER TO TEE UP FOR SENIOR OPEN
QUALIFYING AT CRAIGIELAW, DUNBAR
AND NORTH BERWICK ON MONDAY

A record number of 337 qualifiers, including 74 amateurs, will be attempting to earn one of the final 34 remaining spots available for entry into The Senior Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, at Muirfield from July 26-29, when Pre Qualifying takes place at three of east Scotland’s most testing links circuits.
On Monday, Craigielaw Golf Club, Dunbar Golf Club and North Berwick Golf Club will respectively host the many senior golfers seeking a route into the Senior Major, which gets underway on Thursday at the famous East Lothian club.
Highlighting the growth and stature of The European Seniors Tour, and particularly the special lure of The Senior Open Championship, it is the third consecutive year Pre Qualifying numbers have grown.
In 2005, 264 golfers entered Pre Qualifying and last year, 302 players teed it up in their efforts to join those already exempt for the Championship.
Each of the 34 qualifiers this time around will be hoping to emulate Pete Oakley, who, in 2004, made history by becoming the first qualifier to win The Senior Open title when he claimed a one shot victory at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
The previously unknown American, from Lincoln, Delaware, shocked the golfing world with his play and courage to hold off experienced challengers Tom Kite, Eduardo Romero and Mark James in Northern Ireland.
Oakley started the final round with a one stroke lead and held his nerve to fire a two under par 70 – getting up and down from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole to finish the tournament on four under par 284, one ahead of Kite and Romero, with James a further shot back.
This year, the 72 hole Senior Open Championship has 110 exempt players guaranteed their place at Muirfield – and among them are a host of legends, including 14 former Major Champions, and 21 Senior Major Champions.
Six times Major Champion Nick Faldo makes his European Seniors Tour debut, having turned 50 on July 18, and returns to the course where he won two of his three Open Championships, in 1987 and 1992.
Eight times Major Champion Tom Watson – who won five Open Championships in his prolific career – also won at Muirfield, in 1980, and returns keen to claim his second Senior Open in as many years, after winning at Royal Aberdeen in 2005 when he beat Ireland's Des Smyth at the third extra hole in their play-off.
That was Watson's fourth Senior Major victory, and second in a play-off, having beaten England's Carl Mason at the Westin Turnberry Resort in 2003. By winning at Turnberry, he joined Bob Charles as the only player to win an Open Golf Championship and Senior Open Championship at the same venue.
Wayne Grady, Tony Jacklin and Mark O’Meara are also in the 144 man field alongside the cream of international Seniors golfing talent.
Grady, winner of the 1990 US PGA Championship, celebrates his 50th birthday on the first day of the Championship and has chosen to swap his place in the BBC television commentary box for a place competing.
Jacklin, winner of The Open Championship in 1969 and the US Open Championship the following year, and O’Meara, who captured both the Claret Jug and the Masters Tournament during 1998, will be joined at the renowned links course by former Major winners Bob Charles, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, John Mahaffey, Jerry Pate, Gary Player, Dave Stockton, Scott Simpson and Craig Stadler.
Last year’s Senior Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, was won by former United States Ryder Cup player Loren Roberts, who defeated Eduardo Romero on the first play-off hole at The Westin Turnberry Resort.
The Senior Open Championship began in 1987 and its most prolific winner is Gary Player, who has three victories to his name.

CARLY MAKES WALLY A PROUD DAD

Proud dad Wally Booth with his 15-year-old daughter Carly Booth after her success in the final of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship over the Peterhead links this morning. Carly beat Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) 2 and 1 in a quality final between two very good young players. Full report on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Wally, an Aberdonian, knows what it's like to be close to silverware. He was a Commonwealth Games silver medallist at wrestling.

How did he and his Liverpool-born wife Pauline choose Carly for their daughter's name? Well, Carly Simon the singer was Top of the Pops around 15 years ago ...

NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIORS OPEN AT NAIRN DUNBAR

Leading first round scores (Par 72, CSS 74)

 

69-I C Hutcheon.

 

70-I Stewart.

 

72-P Tomisson.

 

73-F Urquhart.

 

74-J W Johnston, A K Pirie, J Watt, R Stewart, D Miller, G Paterson.

vcen

75-S Ellis, G Maatman, P Smith.

 

76-J Paton, J Johnston, R Paton, G Rees, M Jenkins, K Howie, C Christy.

 

77-D McCart, J Fraser, C Stewart, D Smith, W Kettles, K Bruce, R McLellan, R Edgar.

 

78-F Sharp, G Rodaks, B Grieve, D McQuade, J Broadfoot, D Brodie, J McDonald, A Fiddes, G MacDonald.

 

79-C Alexander, R Grant, R Millar, G Thomson, S Pond.

 

80-J Kinloch, R Gill, P Lamb, M Elder, D Miller.

 

81-B Methven, A Laird, P York, P Kinloch, C Moir, B Nicholson, L Fowler, D Albutt, A Cameron.

 

82-I Brotherston, K Lumsden, D Bunker, G Anderson, J MacPherson, M Lironi, D Dodson.

 

++Second and final round being played today.

DOUGLAS PHILIP TROPHY FINALISTS

 Royal Aberdeen's Steven Buchan will meet Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) in the final of the Douglas Philip Trophy – the match-play championship for Aberdeen golf club champions – at Deeside Golf Club on Sunday (10am).

In the semi-finals, Buchan beat Lee Vitesse (Nigg Bay) by two holes while Finnie beat Matthew Greig (Bon Accord) by 2 and 1.

 

GAVIN DEAR (65) IN JOINT THIRD PLACE
IN BIARRITZ CUP

Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) had a four-under-par round of 65 in the first round of the Biarritz Cup international amateur tournament over the shortish but tricky Le Phare course at Biarritz Golf Club.
The course measures only 5402 metres - about 6,000 yards - but it has 70 bunkers, and when the wind blows off the Bay of Biscay to this southwest French venue, the locals say the par can be as high as 75!
Ross Kellett from Colville Park had a 69 to be lying third and Gordon Yates (Stirling University), the third player sent by the Scottish Golf Union to play in last week's Chiberta Grand Prix and stay on for the Biarritz Cup, had a 70 to be joint 52nd in the massive field of 162 players.
Romain Barbey leads the way with a seven-under-par 62, one ahead of Pedro Oriol.
Then come comes Gavin Dear in joint third place on 65 with three players.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Carnoustie. Par 71
Players GB&I unless stated.
65 Sergio Garcia (Spa)
67 Paul McGinley
68 Rory McIlroy, Michael Campbell (Nzl), Boo Weekley (USA), Markus Brier (Aut), Angel Cabrera (Arg)
69 Tiger Woods (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), KJ Choi (Kor), Stewart Cink (USA), Padraig Harrington
70 Rodney Pampling (Aus), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Peter Hanson (Swe), J J Henry (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Shaun Micheel (USA), Alastair Forsyth, Rich Beem (USA), Luke Donald, Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Carl Pettersson (Swe)
71 Steve Stricker (USA), Lucas Glover (USA), Nick Dougherty, David Toms (USA), Achi Sato (Jpn), Nick O'Hern (Aus), Paul Broadhurst, Phil Mickelson (USA), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Sean O'Hair (USA), Mike Weir (Can), Andres Romero (Arg), Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson (Swe)
72 Nick Watney (USA), Anders Hansen (Den), Ben Curtis (USA), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Johan Edfors (Swe), Toru Taniguchi (Jpn), Vijay Singh (Fij), Brett Quigley (USA), Ernie Els (Rsa), Gregory Havret (Fra), David Howell, John Senden (Aus), Matthew Zions (Aus), Darren Clarke, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Hideto Tanihara (Jpn), Paul Casey, John Rollins (USA), Richard Green (Aus), Scott Verplank (USA), Ryan Moore (USA)
73 Charles Howell III (USA), Won Joon Lee (Aus), Sandy Lyle, Arron Oberholser (USA), Pat Perez (USA), Adam Scott (Aus), Zach Johnson (USA), Colin Montgomerie, Peter Baker, Tom Lehman (USA), Ross Bain, Steve Parry, Hunter Mahan (USA), Jon Bevan, Robert Allenby (Aus), Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter, Jonathan Byrd (USA)
74 Ross Fisher, Adilson Da Silva (Bra), David Frost (Rsa), John Daly (USA), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Chad Campbell (USA), Justin Leonard (USA), Yong-eun Yang (Kor), Mark O'Meara (USA), Peter Fowler (Aus), Stuart Appleby (Aus), Scott Laycock (Aus), Brian Davis, Jerry Kelly (USA), Steve Alker (Nzl), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Paul Waring, Chris DiMarco (USA), Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn), Tom Pernice (USA), Toshinori Muto (Jpn), Matt Kuchar (USA), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Loren Roberts (USA)
75 Charley Hoffman (USA), Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Benn Barham, Llewellyn Matthews, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Toshimitsu Izawa (Jpn), John Bickerton, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Kevin Stadler (USA), Justin Rose, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Dong-Hwan Lee (Jpn), Brett Wetterich (USA), Paul Sheehan (Aus)
76 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Spencer Levin (USA), Richie Ramsay (am), Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), David Shacklady, Chih-bing Lam (Sin), Drew Weaver (USA) (am), Mark Foster, Richard Sterne (Rsa), Bradley Dredge
77 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Anthony Wall, Joe Durant (USA), Graeme McDowell, Anders Hultman (Swe), Kevin Harper, Doug McGuigan, Seung Hoo Lee (Kor)
78 Desvonde Botes (Rsa), Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Justin Kehoe, Michael Putnam (USA), Tony Jacklin, Graeme Storm
79 Nick Faldo, Davis Love III (USA), Mark Hensby (Aus), Scott Drummond, David Higgins, Adam Groom (Aus), David Coupland
80 Oliver Wilson
81 Ben Bunny (Aus), Todd Hamilton (USA), Stephen Ames (Can)
82 Duffy Waldorf (USA), Vaughn Taylor (USA)
83 David Gleeson (Aus), Ewan Porter (Aus)

CLARK WINS AGAIN AND JACK DOHERTY PICKS
UP £2,500 CHEQUE FOR THIRD PLACE

Englishman Graeme Clark has become the first golfer to win two PGA EuroPro Tour events this season. Clark ended on 12-under-PAR 204 to triumph by four shots at The Players Club in Bristol for his second victory of the campaign, after also finishing first at Faithlegg, Waterford in May.
Five shots clear of the field goin ginto the final day, Graeme held his nerve with a third round of 70 to claim the £10,000 top prize.
This victory moves him back to the top of the Order of Merit standings and he has now won more than £24,000 this year.
His impressive form means Clark is now almost certain to be competing in the Tour Championship in October. The top five golfers in the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit standings after the Tour championship will move up to the Challenge Tour and be a step closer to playing on the main European Tour.
Elsewhere, Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) has jumped up to tenth in the Order of Merit after finishing second. .
Scotland’s Jack Doherty finished third to collect £2,500, while Welshman Alex Smith, England’s Martin Le Mesurier and Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll came tied fourth.
The next event in the PGA EuroPro Tour season is the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands Golf and Country Club in Harold Park, near Romford, Essex.
This will be held from Wednesday, August 1 to Friday, August 3.

LEADING TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
204 G Clark (Eng) 69 65 70 (£10,000).
208 M Smith (Eng) 71 69 69 (£5,000).
209 J Doherty (Sco) 72 69 68 (£2,500).
212 A Smith (Wal) 72 72 68, M Le Mesurier 9Eng) 69 73 70, B McCarroll (Ire) 72 67 73 (£1,433 each).
Other Scottish totals:
217 A Hay (Royal Winchester) 69 72 76 (jt 22nd) (£360).
220 E Saltman 75 71 74 (jt 36th) (£260).
224 J Taylor 78 69 77 (jt 49th) (£197).
225 G Gordon 73 72 80 (53rd) £185)

WILLIAM BREMNER RETAINS ANGUS BOYS
MATCH-PLAY TITLE AT BRECHIN

William Bremner (Edzell) retained the Angus County Golf Association boys' match-play title at Brechin Golf Club today.
He beat A Cappi (Letham Grange), the Angus boys' stroke-play champion from 2007 and 2006.

Details:
STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
69 A Cappi (Letham Grange).
71 W Bremner junior (Edzell).
73 R Storrier (Downfield).
MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals
A Cappi (Letham Grange) bt G Farquharson (Kirriemuir) 5 and 4.
D Lawrence (Ballumbie) bt D Mellon (Carnoustie) 3 and 2.
W Bremner junior (Edzell) bt M McKenzie (Forfar) 2 holes.
R Storrie (Downfield) bt R Mitchell (Downfield) 5 and 4.
Semi-fiinals
Cappi bt Lawrie 2 and 1.
Bremner b t Storrier 3 and 2.
Final
Bremner bt Cappi 6 and 5.

Inchmarlo Golf Club pair score double whammy at Murcar Links

Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), winner of the North-east District Under-16 boys' championship at Murcar Links today.

Tom Spencer with the North-east District boys' championship trophy at Murcar Links.

TOM SPENCER BACK IN FORM TO WIN
NORTH-EAST BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Scotland boy international Tom Spencer regained the form that gained him a cap by winning the North-east District boys’ championship after a long, long day's golf at Murcar Links.
Spencer opened up a four-stroke lead with a first-round, two-under-par 69 to which he added a 74 for a one-over-par tally of 143.
Tom had bogey-free opening round highlighted by birdies at the first and short fifth in halves of 34 and 35. He again got a 2 at the fifth second time round and a birdie 3 at the ninth but his halves of 36 and 38 also included five bogeys, three on them on the inward half.
Neverthless, Spencer had three shots to spare at the finish from Inchmarlo clubmate Chris Robb who had a pair of 73s for 146.
Robb won the Under-16s trophy.
Sam Griffiths (Cullen), the long-time clubhouse leader, finished third on 147 with 74 and 73.
Sam won the prize for the best net aggregate of 139.

+++Two players, Steven Smith (Deeside) and Fraser Clarke (Westhill), both had holes in one at the short fifth.

The top four players qualify to contest the North-east District boys' match-play championship, also at Murcar Links, on Friday. The semi-finals, starting at 8.45am, are:

Tom Spencer v Ryan Bain (Strathlene) (better second round than two others who finished on 148).

Chris Robb v Sam Griffiths.

The leading 12 players (also those on 151 or better plus one from the 152 mark: Ewan Barrack with a better second round) qualified to be the North-east District representatives in the Platform 2 boys and girls tournament, sponsored by Eric Lindsay, at Letham Grange on Sunday, September 16.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT UNDER-18 BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Murcar Links. Par 71, CSS 73 72.
LEADING SCRATCH
143 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 69 74.
146 C Robb (Inchmarlo) 73 73.
147 S Griffiths (Cullen) 74 73.
148 R Bain (Strathlene) 75 73, C Trahan (Inchmarlo) 74 74, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 74 74.
150 O Coull (Buckpool) 76 74, S Robertson (Hazlehead) 75 75, M Campbell (Buckpool) 77 73, D Law (Hazlehead) 78 72.
151 F Clarke (Westhill) 80 71.
152 M Stainton (Peterhead) 77 75, E Barrack (Oldmeldrum) 78 74, W Rennie (Royal Aberdeen) 77 75, R Penny (Portlethen) 75 77.
153 K Watson (Newburgh) 78 75, S Strachan (Inverallochy) 76 77.
155 C Cromar (Lumphanan) 76 79, E McIntosh (McDonald Ellon) 80 75.
156 N Barnes (Deeside) 74 82, C Chalmers (Oldmeldrum) 80 76, C Brown (Stonehaven) 77 79, S Brown (Murcar Links) 78 78, J Scott (Deeside) 77 79.
157 M Mair (Cullen) 84 73.
158 R Milne (Aboyne) 78 80, N McAndrew (Cullen) 81 77.
159 D Ibbotson (Murcar Links) 80 79, D McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) 80 79, J Robertson (Turriff) 81 78, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 76 83.
160 S Smith (Deeside) 82 78.
163 F O’Connor (Inchmarlo) 84 79, C Ross (Northern) 81 82.
164 M Roger (Fraserburgh) 82 82.
165 M Kelly (Deeside) 80 85.
166 I McLeod (Stonehaven) 83 83.
168 K Booth (Hazlehead) 90 78, G Law (Oldmeldrum) 85 83.
169 S Goodbrand (Westhill) 83 86, M Wiseman (Peterhead) 81 88.
171 G Kennedy (Hazlehead) 90 81, M Patterson (McDonald Ellon) 89 82.
172 M Kidd (Newburgh) 86 86, P Lemon (Peterhead) 92 80.
174 S Sharp (Newburgh) 92 82.
175 M Lawson (Peterhead) 86 89.
179 D Christie (Portlthen) 89 90.
180 G McKechnie (Oldmeldrum) 90 90.

UNDER-14s (Strabathie course, Par 70, CSS 67)
Leading scratch - 72 C Kelman (Deeside). 73 R Gauld (Cruden Bay). 75 J Presley (Deeside). 77 S McNeill (Inchmarlo). 79 R Gordon (Alford), A Carrell (Peterculter). 81 C Campbell (Inchmarlo). 83 G Joss (Royal Aberdeen). 84 C Cross (Peterhead). 85 D Ross (Portlethen). 86 E Robertson (Peterculter). 87 S Skinner (Peterhead). 88 M Fraser (Alford). 89 G Wilson (Alford), C Polson (Auchmill).
Leading handicap – C Kelman (Deeside) (13) 59; J Presly (Deeside) (11), R Gauld (Cruden Bay) (9) 64; R Gordon (Alford) (11), G Joss (Royal Aberdeen) (15), L Minty (Northern) (22) 68; C Campbell (Inchmarlo) (11), E Robertson (Peterculter) (16) 70; S McNeill (Inchmarlo) (6) 71.

CARLY v MEGAN FOR SCOTTISH GIRLS' TITLE

CARLY v MEGAN FOR GIRLS' TITLE

Carly Booth (Comrie) will play Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) in the 18-hole final of the Scottish girls' championship at Peterhead on Friday morning. Tee off: 9am.

Read all about Thursday's play - Megan had a hole in one at the 16th in her semi-final - and all the results by switching to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

SCOTTISH GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

BYRNE, STEWART FAVOURITES TO DOMINATE
SCOTTISH BOY' STROKE-PLAY AT CARDRONA

With the ‘Open’ season well and truly underway on Scottish shores this week, Scotland’s future stars of the game will tee up among a field brimming with talented players at the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke play championship next week (Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, 24-26 July).
The boys' national title will be contested at the MacDonald Cardrona Hotel Golf & Country Club, one of Scotland’s parkland gems set in the picturesque Scottish borders near Peebles.
The event has produced a number of notable champions who have gone on to grace the upper echelons of the amateur game. In 2003, Lloyd Saltman etched his name on the trophy, before progressing to the men’s game to distinguish himself with a stunning array of accolades, including his sensational Open silver medal winning performance in 2005.
Previous winners also include Scottish international Scott Henry (2004) - who narrowly missed out on holding the stroke-play title over two consecutive years, a ‘double feat’ he was only able to clinch in the Scottish match-play event – as well as Scott Jamieson, who is now carving out a promising professional career on the other side of the atlantic.
Aspiring golfers travelling from as far a field as New Zealand, Singapore and the US - as well as a strong contingent from Europe - will provide fierce competition in this three day tournament. Last year’s champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) is too old to contest the title – leaving a wide field of hungry hopefuls keen to cast their eyes over the silverware.
The two lowest handicappers in the event, Scottish caps James Byrne and Michael Stewart will start as two of the favourites. Troon Welbeck star Stewart, who has regularly competed at the highest level on the domestic and international circuit for Scotland, will be keen to get his first SGU ‘major’ individual title under his belt.
Banchory teenager James Byrne, who graduated to the men’s game at the European team championship, helping Scotland to a bronze medal finish at Western Gailes, will also prove to be a worthy contender. With a Junior Tour win under his belt this season and a US golf scholarship beckoning at the end of this summer, the stroke play title would provide a treasured leaving present for one of Scotland’s hottest prospects.
Boasting a number of recent champions, the line up includes Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Ferrier who raced to victory at Dunbar earlier this year.
Ian Redford, fresh from his win last week at the Scottish Under-16 championship, will be keen to demonstrate his prowess again over a parkland course. Redford will rub shoulders with his King James VI clubmate and former Under-16 champion Sam McLaren, also not to be discounted.
Other names to watch include, boys finalist William Bremner and semi-finalist Jeff O’Malley, who after coming so close to taking their first national title, their keen appetite for a victory will make them likely rivals to the throne.
Action commences at 7am on Tuesday and only the top 40 players plus ties will survive the cut on Wednesday night, to progress to the final 36 holes on Thursday.

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:

TEXAN COLT KNOST ENTERS WORLD AMATEUR
GOLF RANKINGS' TOP TWENTY

Texan player Colt Knost, entered the top 20 of The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking after his victory at the US Amateur Public Links in which he defeated Cody Paladino 6 and 4 in the final. The 22-year-old Texan scored just seven bogeys over six rounds at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton Illinois. Knost moves up 18 places to No 17 following on from his win, and he also gains exemption into the 2007 and 2008 US amateur championships.
An invitation to the 2008 Masters is also likely if he remains an amateur. This performance will also strengthen Knost’s bid to feature in the 2007 US Walker Cup team, captained by George “Buddy” Marucci.
American, Rickie Fowler has risen to No 25 after an impressive performance at the Players Amateur held at the Belfair Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina. Finishing two strokes ahead of fellow American Michael Thompson at 24 under par, Fowler added to his victory in the Sunnehanna Amateur last month.
As a result of his most recent win, Fowler has climbed 118 places in the rankings. The second place finish has moved Thompson firmly inside the top 20, at No 16 while third place player Kyle Stanley remains at No 9.
Englishman Seve Benson has moved up 25 places to No 42, following his victory in the Tillman Trophy at Wentworth. The Wentworth player carded an aggregate of 285 to claim victory by a solitary stroke over Dale Whitnell who climbed up 130 places to No 118 in The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking.

The new top 31 are:
1 Jamie Lovemark (US) 1093.75.
2 Billy Horschel (USA) 1050.82.
3 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1050.00.
4 Rhys Davies (Wal) 1049.18.
5 Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 1045.76.
6 Dustin Johnson (USA) 1038.89.
7 Chris Kirk (USA) 1034.92.
8 Webb Simpson (USA) 1016.39.
9 Kyle Stanley (USA) 1005.00
10 Alan Wagner (Arg) 992.11
11 Daniel Summerhays (USA) 982.61.
12 John Parry (Eng) 972.73.
13 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 969.05.
14 David Horsey (Eng) 962.90.
15 Gary Boyd (Eng) 955.81.
16 Michael Thompson (USA) 950.91.
17 Colt Knost (USA) 949.18.
18 Rory McIlroy (Ire) 945.61.
19 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng) 945.21.
20 Paul Waring (Eng) 936.36.
21 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 922.22.
22 Kevin Chappell (US) 919.05.
23 Roberto Castro (USA) 913.51.
24 Bjorn Akesson (Swe) 911.43.
25 Rickie Fowler (USA) 909.38.
26 Benjamin Alvarado (Chi) 907.89.
27 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 906.38.
28 Charlie Beljan (USA) 904.88.
29 Rob Grube (USA) 900.00.
29 Niklas Lemke (Swe) 900.00.
31 Danny Lee (NZ) 894.20.

MONTY FANCIES HIS CHANCE AT CARNOUSTIE

Hope springs eternal. Well at least it does with Colin Montgomerie.
He missed the cut last Friday in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie but today he was saying that he really believes he has a good chance of winning his first major this weekend.
Given that no other Scot in the field has anything like a bit of form, it must be the 44-year-old who carries the home hopes on his shoulders.
"I'm playing as well as I have - tee to green certainly - for many years," said Monty who has always been one of the most articulate players around in the build-up to a tournament. "I have a chance, of course I do. I'm playing well enough."
A lot of rain is forecast for the Carnoustie area on Saturday and a tee time that dodges the worst of the weather on any of the four days could make or break a potential Open champion.
Montgomerie is hoping for a decent break when he tees off at 9.31am tomorrow alongside American Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink and Japan's Toshi Izawa.
However, with the weather incredibly changeable - Tuesday's glorious sunshine was replaced by driving rain today - getting a clear run is all down to luck.
"I've got a good time in the draw and you just take it as it comes," the eight-time Order of Merit winner added, as the rain continued to lash the press tent as he spoke.
"If I get off to a decent start - by 11am if I'm a couple under par or something - then we can stay in contention.
"The start is very important to me and if I can get a decent first round I should be there by Sunday. It depends on the weather and if we are lucky with conditions.
"If this was Thursday and I was out there at 9.30am and then it all clears up and dries up for the afternoon it could work in reverse. You don't know. One just takes their chances with the weather on these links courses."

QUALIFIERS FOR PAUL LAWRIE YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS' MATCH-PLAY

Fourteen qualifiers out of a field of 77 for the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals' match-play tournament at Newburgh on Ythan are:

VENUE FOR QUALIFIER: WEST LOTHIAN
Par 71
67 James McGhee (Turnhouse), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Chris McCalman (unatt).
68 Jonnie Cliff (Murrayfield), Graham Fox (West Kilbride).
69 Calum Smith (Royal Musselburgh), Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe), Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond).
70 Jamie Wales (Kings Acre), Alastair MacKenzie (Liberton), Peter Mitchell (Aberdoour), Graeme Lornie (Aspire).
71 Andrew Carlton (Cawder), David Orr (East Renfrewshire).

SHOTTS PRO GUIDE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' QUALIFIER.
Par 70
65 Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Graham Fox (West Kilbride).
66 Chris McCalman (unatt).
68 James McGhee (Turnhouse).
69 Kris McGowan (Burntisland), Nicholas Reid (Deeside).
70 Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), Daivd Orr (East Renfrewshire.

CELTIC TOUR PRESS RELEASE

CELTIC PRO TOUR HEADS BACK TO IRELAND
FOR WICKLOW OPEN ON MONDAY-TUESDAY

The Wales-based Celtic Pro Tour heads back to Ireland next week, when Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort hosts the Wicklow Open on Monday and Tuesday, July 23 and 24.
The Tour, which has grown from the Dragon Tour, encompasses two visits to Ireland and two events in Scotland.
It has a further seven events in Wales from August to October at Ashburnham, Clyne, Pwllheli, St Mellons & St Mary's (joint event), Cottrell Park, Aberdovey and St Pierre.
“Our first four events in Wales this season have already created a lot of interest, with Setanta Golf, S4C and BBC 2 Wales visiting and filming parts of each event, said Tour Director, Rhydian Thomas. “The four events have also produced four different winners.”
Companies in Wales are now coming forward to support the Tour with Porthcawl-based Waterfront Promotions supplying the golfers with bottled water at each event.
"This kind of support is invaluable to the players,” said Thomas. “It enables them to keep fluids in their system throughout the four or five hours of a long round, helping them to maintain peak physical and mental performance when the competition is at its toughest.''
Golfers can still join the Celtic Pro Tour, with individual event entry priced at £99 per person. Amateur golfers with a scratch handicap or better can also enter events at a cost of £55.
Prize money at each event will be at least £1,000 to the winner, with the top 25% in the field winning money also.
A voucher will be available to the leading amateur, depending on numbers in the field.
Golfers wishing to enter next week's event, the Wicklow Open at Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort on Monday and Tuesday, are asked to contact Tour Director, Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568 or register online at the website at www.celticpro.com by 5pm on Saturday, July 21.
The next Welsh-based event is the West Wales Classic at Ashburnham on Monday 13th and Tuesday, August 14.

GRAEME CLARK IN COMMAND AT PGA EUROPRO
TOUR EVENT AT BRISTOL

Englishman Graeme Clark produced a stunning second day effort to take control of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event.
Clark was equal third on three-underpar 69 after Tuesday’s first round at The Players Club in Bristol but he bettered that with a 65 today for a 36-hole tally of 10-under-par 134.
He now has a commanding five-shot lead and is in a great position to win another competition after also finishing first at Faithlegg in May.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll is on course for his best finish of the season after an impressive second round of five-under 67 for 139. He shares that mark with two Englishmen, Mark Smith and Matthew Woods.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 G Clark (Eng) 69 65.
139 M Smith (Eng) 71 68, B McCarroll (Ire) 72 67, M Woods (Eng0 68 71.
140 I Ridgway (Eng) 70 70.
141 A Hay (Sco) 69 72, J Doherty (Sco) 72 69, P Hendriksen (Eng) 71 70, C Moriarty (Ire) 68 73.
Other Scottish scores:
145 G Gordon 73 72 (jt 28th).
146 E Saltman 75 71 (jt 35th).
147 J Taylor 78 69 (jt 45th).
DID NOT QUALIFY
148 C Kelly 74 74, C Nicoll 75 73.
149 P Doherty 73 767, P Cormack 75 74, G Brown 73 73.
152 N Mitchell 79 73.
156 C Farr 79 77.
160 C Campbell 80 80.

QUARTER-FINALS IN SCOTTISH UNDER-18 GIRLS
CHAMPIONSHIP AT PETERHEAD

Thursday morning's quarter-finals in the Scottish Under-18 girls championship at Peterhead are:
8.45 Carly Booth (Comrie) v Rebecca Watson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies).
8.50 Eve Muirhead (Pitlochry) v Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
9.05 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) v Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
9.15 Sammy Vass (Tain) v Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).

Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, and read all about Wednesday's play and the results, including the Ansley Reid Salver competition.

AWARD WINNING ALYTH GOLF CLUB BECOMES MORE

ACCESSIBLE

Alyth Golf Club is celebrating after securing an award to make its club more accessible to its members and visitors. The Perthshire club made an application for an Awards For All grant to obtain funds to purchase a buggy and storage facility to ensure less abled golfers could continue to enjoy the game at their club.
The forward thinking club formed the Alyth Golf Club Disabled Users Group, after recognising some of their golfers were resigning from their membership.

Managing Secretary for the club, Jim Docherty said: “It had become apparent that we were losing some of our members as they were no longer able to get around our course unassisted and were leaving due to health reasons.
“The club was keen to remedy the situation as soon as possible, so club members donated money to form and set up the group to specifically look after the interests of our less able members.”
Docherty and the group recognised that buggies would help to resolve the accessibility issues and submitted the funding application, supported by local MP Peter Wishart.
Docherty was recently notified that his funding application had been successful and would receive a grant of £5,000. The Disabled Users Group met and agreed the award would be used to purchase a buggy and storage facility.
Docherty said, “We were absolutely delighted when we discovered we would receive the award and are very grateful to the support we received which helped our application. It will make a huge difference to some of our members and we hope to attract some of the former members back to the club as well as coax new members to become involved and enjoy the game.”
Keen to keep the momentum going, Docherty and the members group is now seeking to attract further funding from Perth and Kinross Council to buy three more buggies for the club and also hope to get support from Scottish Hydro Electric to instal electrical services for the buggies.
Hamish Grey, CEO at the Scottish Golf Union said, “Alyth is a great example of a club showing initiative and successfully ensuring their club and facilities are as inclusive as possible for its members and visitors alike."

Any parties interested in lending support or funding to Alyth’s Disabled Users Group should contact Jim Docherty, the group’s secretary and treasurer (telephone 01828 632268).

JOE CARR AND KEL NAGLE AWARDED PLACES
IN WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

Irishman Joe Carr and Australian Kel Nagle will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on November 12 as part of the Class of 2007.
Carr, who died in 2004, will become the first Irish member and was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category.
Nagle was selected in the Veteran’s Category. Both categories were determined by the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors Selection Committee.
“I am very pleased to be recognized and look forward to joining some of my old friends in the Hall of Fame, including Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson—all with whom I’ve played golf during my career,” said Nagle.
Carr and Nagle are the final two to be named as part the Class of 2007, which includes Hubert Green (Veteran’s Category), Charles Blair Macdonald (Lifetime Achievement), Se Ri Pak (LPGA Points System) and Curtis Strange (PGA TOUR Ballot).
The 2007 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at the Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
“Both Joe Carr and Kel Nagle are legends of golf and it is appropriate that they be honoured at the highest level,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of the R&A and a member of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors.
“Joe remains Ireland’s most outstanding amateur golfer and Kel boasts a remarkable career in the game where he dominated his home tour and found success as he travelled to play around the world. It is a pleasure to make this announcement at The Open Championship. Kel will always be remembered for his victory in The Centenary Open in 1960.”
Born just outside Dublin in 1922, Carr won the Amateur championship in 1953, 1958 and 1960. Between 1941 and 1969, he won 37 championships in Ireland, including the Irish Amateur Championship six times and the Irish Open Amateur Championship four times.
Carr played in a record 10 Walker Cup matches and chose to be a non-playing captain in 1965. He won the USGA’s Bob Jones Award in 1961 and in 1991 was Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

PRESS RELEASE

OUTSTANDING FIELD FOR SENIOR OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIP AT MUIRFIELD

An outstanding field of Major champions and some of golf’s most charismatic characters will head to Muirfield golf course, in the Lothians village of Gullane, next week to challenge for one of the biggest honours in over-50s golf at the Senior Open Championship 2007, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
At close of entries for the US$2,000,000 championship, to be played over 72 holes on the magnificent Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers' links from July 26-29, a total of 14 Major champions and 21 senior Major champions featured on the list of 110 exempt players.
Included in the international line-up are three championship debutants with nine major trophies between them: Nick Faldo of England, who celebrates his 50th birthday today, Wayne Grady of Australia and Mark O’Meara of the United States.
Faldo is arguably the greatest English golfer of all time. For 20 years from 1977, his relentless pursuit of perfection saw him win 39 titles worldwide.
He took a while to win a Major, finally doing so in 1987 at Muirfield on a memorable last day when he defied the conditions and his opponents with a display of precision golf which saw him par every hole.
Faldo added five more Majors - the Open in 1990 and the 1992 edition back at Muirfield, plus the Masters in 1989, 1990 and 1996.
Although Faldo will be only eight days into his 50th year when he tees up in next Thursday’s first round, he will not be the youngest competitor in the 144 man field. That honour goes to Grady, the 1990 US PGA Champion and BBC golf commentator, who celebrates his 50th on the first day of the Championship.
O’Meara, who tasted success in the Open and the Masters during a brilliant spell in 1998, reached seniors eligibility in January and forms part of a star-studded United States contingent that also features, among others, defending Senior Open champion Loren Roberts, US Champions Tour Money Leader Jay Haas, and Major winners Ben Crenshaw, Jerry Pate, Craig Stadler and Tom Watson.
Watson, winner of The Senior Open Championship in 2003 and 2005, previously tasted success at Muirfield in The Open of 1980 and another of the venue’s former Open champions, and a three-time winner of The Senior Open, South African Gary Player, is set to make his 20th appearance in the competition at the age of 71.
Tony Jacklin is another veteran whose return to Muirfield will bring back some strong memories. The former Ryder Cup captain was denied a second Claret Jug when Lee Trevino rode his luck to the edge a dramatic final day in 1972, but 35 years later Tony is glad to be heading back to the East Lothian links.
He said: “I think Muirfield is the best links course we have in Britain. When I say that I mean I think it is the fairest of all the links: you have run-ins to all the holes and you can bounce the ball in. It’s a great test of golf and a wonderful place.
“This year you have Faldo and a great field from America, so it should be a great Championship. Jay Haas and some of those Champions Tour guys are quite phenomenal.”
From mainland Europe there is Italian favourite Costantino Rocca, who is having a fine maiden season on the European Seniors Tour having won the AIB Irish Seniors Open in June.
Juan Quiros of Spain is in excellent form having won the Open de France Senior Divonne last weekend, while Carl Mason of England, a 15-time winner on the European Seniors Tour, has proven his ability at this level by losing a play-off to Watson in The 2003 Senior Open Championship.
Sam Torrance, winner of the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit in the last two seasons, has bounced back to form in time for the event with victory in the Bendinat London Seniors Masters and a share of fifth place at the US Senior Open.
Last year’s runner-up Eduardo Romero went desperately close to winning the US Senior PGA in May and will be trying to notch a memorable double for Argentina after Angel Cabrera’s US Open victory.
An adult season ticket (which allows entry to the course on all four tournament days plus the practice day on Wednesday July 25) costs £60 and £20 for any one-day ticket, while entrance to the practice day is £10. There is no entry charge for U-16s, providing an adult accompanies them, and car parking is also free.

ONLY ONE DOUGLAS PHILIP TROPHY TIE PLAYED

The format for the Douglas Philip Trophy - contested by the champions or beaten finalists of Aberdeen golf clubs from the previous year - is likely to be changed after only one of the scheduled quarter-final ties was played at Deeside Golf Club this week.
Steven Buchan (Royal Aberdeen) beat Brian Rae (Northern) 3 and 2.
Lee Vitesse (Nigg Bay), Matthew Greig (Bon Accord) and Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) were given walk-overs in the three other ties because their opponents had other commitments.
Even Deeside, the host club, could not field an opponent against Stewart Finnie.
The semi-finals line-up at Thursday at 5pm is:
Steven Buchan (Royal Aberdeen) v Lee Vitesse (Nigg Bay).
Matthew Greig (Bon Accord) v Stewart Finnie (Caledonian).

SCOTTISH MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
FOR PRESTWICK
Draw for the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club from July 30 to August 4:
MONDAY 30 JULY
6.45 Lindsay Miller (Cawder) v David Strachan (Turnberry).
6:53 Euan Polson (Inverness) v Chris Conroy (Paisley).
7.01 Gary Thomson (Moray) v David Miller (Kilmacolm).
7.09 Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) v Mark Hislop (Glenbervie).
7.17 Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) v Graham Turner (West Linton).
7.25 Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) v Frank Drum (Cowglen).
7.33 Steven Rennie (Airdrie) v Steven Robertson (Sandyhills).
7.41 Philip McLean (Peterhead) v Stephen Neilson (Dunbar).
7.49 Colin Mundie (Falkirk) v Malcolm Graham (Newbattle).
7.57 Richard Hyland (Hazlehead) v Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn).
8.05 Peter Keeling (North Berwick) v Joshua Clarke (Royal Montrose).
8.15 Mark Wilkie (St Andrews New) v David Donaldson (Bruntsfield Links).
8.21 George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) v John Cairney (Irvine Ravenspark).
8.29 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) v Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck).
8.37 Scott Green (Westhill) v Colin Kelly (Kirkhill).
8.49 Alexander Main (Thornton) v David Simpson (Crieff).
8.57 James Bunch (Prestwick) v Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton).
9.05 George Barrie (Callander) v Stewart Tully (Duddingston).
9.13 Alexander Gourlay (Irvine) v Paul O'Hara (Colville Park).
9.21 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) v William Bremner (Edzell).
9.29 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links) v Douglas Hunter (Marriott Dalmahoy).
9.37 David Walker (Paisley) v Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links).
9.45 Duncan Weir (Lundin) v Andrew McKay (Balmore).
9.53 Stewart McCulloch (McDonald Ellon) v James Hendrick (Pollok).
10.01 Richard Craig (Merchants of Edinburgh) v Wallace Booth (Comrie).
10.09 James White (Lundin) v Shaun Gordon (Glen).
10.17 James Gunn (Royal Dornoch) v Graeme Mitchell (Braemar).
10.25 Steven McEwan (Caprington) v Mark Dickson (Alwoodley).
10.33 Steven Hume (Murrayshall) v Bryan Fotheringham (Forres).
10.41 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) v Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle).
10.53 Scott Henry (Cardross) v Barry Lindsay (Mount Ellen).
11.01 Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) v Alex Moir (Thornton).
11.09 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) v Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).
11.17 Calum Morrison (Kilmacolm) v Munro Ferries (Tain).
11.25 Jack Bradley (Paisley) v Richard Graham (Hayston).
11.33 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) v Ian MacMillan (Glenearn).
11.41 Kristian Branum-Burns (Bearwood Lakes) v James Smart (Paisley).
11.49 Neil Cameron (King James VI) v Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie)
11.57 Neil Henderson (Glen) v Nicky Gold (Bonnyton).
12.05 Kevin Fergusson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) v Malcolm Davidson (Craigie Hill).
12.13 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) v Anthony Bews (Murcar Links).
12.21 Graham Molloy (Wishaw) v Craig McLaughlin (Largs).
12.29 Scott Mann (Carnoustie) v James Foley (Forres).
12.37 Andrew Weir (Montrose Mercantile) v Brian Moore (Largs).
12.45 Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) v Scott Herald (Whitecraigs).
12.57 Garry Duncan (Caledonian) v Stephen Keane (Cathkin Braes).
1.05 Ross Noon (Longniddry) v Chris Baron (Oldmeldrum).
1.13 Gordon Black (Fereneze) v Ross Bell (Downfield).
1.21 Les Pirie (Millport) v Craig Haugh (Cathkin Braes).
1.29 Richard Elrick (Kilmacolm) v Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert).
1.37 Matthew Burt (Helensburgh) v Ross McKen (Newburgh on Ythan).
1.45 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) v Ross Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie).
1.53 David Mitchell (Leven Thistle) v Zack Saltman (Craigielaw).
2.01 Ryan McKenzie (Easter Moffat) v Terry Corrieri (Callander).
2.09 Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) v Scott Bordon (Mouse Valley).
2.17 Paul McGhee (US) v Wilson Bryson (Drumpellier).
2.25 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) v Gordon Hillson (Craigielaw).
2.33 John Godward (McDonald Ellon) v Stewart Elder (Kirkcaldy).
2.41 Ross Leeds (Muckhart) v John Shanks (Irvine).
2.49 James Byrne (Banchory) v Allan Johnston (Bonnyton).
3.01 Chris Heslip (Monifieth) v Liam McGowan (St Andrews New).
3.09 David Currie (Kilmarnock Barassie) v Jamie Farmer (St Andrews).
3.17 Colin Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) v Murray Stewart (Ranfurly Castle).
3.25 John McMahon (Cardross) v Christopher Wedgeworth (Cowglen).
3.33 Jonathan King (Glasgow) v William Campbell (Kirkintilloch).
3.41 Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) v Steven Higgins (Gourock).
3.49 Keith Spence (Newmachar) v Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie).
3.57 Aaron Sweeney (Carnoustie) v Greg Paterson (St Andrews New).
4.05 Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) v Frazer Bone (Cardross).
4.13 Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) v Andrew Hay (Westhill).
4.21 Allan Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) v Michael Campbell (Renfrew).
4.29 Gordon Sangster (Cathkin Braes) v Lewis Kirton (Newmachar).
4.37 Gregor Munro (Ranfurly Castle) v David Marshall (Marriott Dalmahoy).
4.45 Martin Stein (Craigielaw) v Jordon Findlay (Fraserburgh).

TUESDAY 31 JULY
6.45 Steven Fraser (Tain) v David Ferguson (Paisley).
6.53 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) v Craig Elliot (Carrickvale).
7.01 Angus Cappi (Loretto School) v Stephen Spence (Irvine).
7.09 David Henderson (Hamilton) v Colin Heuchan (Southerness).
7.17 Simon Barras (Helensburgh) v George Crawford (Williamwood).
7.25 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) v Philip Edwards (Meldrum House).
7.33 Daniel Harrison (Crieff) v Joe Lockie (Tantallon).
7.41 Gavin Smith (Stirling) v Alan Brown (Strathaven).
7.49 Michael Williams (Craigielaw) v Mark Bookless (Sandyhills).
7.57 Graham Lowson (Auchterarder) v Andrew Hogg (Mortonhall).
8.05 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) v Colin Peddie (Hayston).
8.13 Tom Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) v Kenneth Fairbrother (Cochrane Castle).
8.21 Barry Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) v Greg Watson (Dunaverty).
8.29 Stephen McBlain (Prestwick St Cuthbert) v John Miller (Gullane).
8.37 Niall Lamond (Balmore) v David Murray (Blairgowrie).
8.49 Robert Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy) v John Burns (Mount Ellen).
8.57 Warren Blair (Troon Portland) v Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park).
9.05 Stuart Roberts (Gullane) v Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld & Birnam).
9.13 Robert Ferguson (Royal Troon) v Stephen Simants (Dunbar).
9.21 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) v David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie).
9.29 Kristofer Harper (Carnoustie) v Graeme Gorrie (Glasgow).
9.37 Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) v Steven MacDonald (Nairn).
9.45 Alister Ferguson (Dunfermline) v Graeme Belch (Haggs Castle).
9.53 Clark Riddick (Dumfries & Galloway) v Scott Michie (Thornton).
10.01 Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) v Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert).
10.09 Aaron Howard (Murrayshall) v Garry Wood (Crow Wood).
10.17 Kevin Brock (Prestwick St Nicholas) v John Greer (Gourock).
10.25 Alan McLean (Kilbirnie Place) v Derek Anderson (Cochrane Castle).
10.33 Mark Lamb (Haddington) v Graeme Sorbie (Hamilton).
10.41 Richard Bunch (St Andrews New) v Gregor Munro (Archerfield Links).
10.53 Pete McLachlan (Bonnyton) v Paul Ferrier (Baberton).
11.01 Les McLaughlin (Cowglen) v Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society).
11.09 Ross Crowe (Newcastle Utd) v Graeme Rodger (Cambuslang).
11.17 John Gallagher (Swanston New) v George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark).
11.25 Stan Morrison (US) v Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle).
11.33 Fraser Henderson (Craigielaw) v Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar).
11.41 Colin Colraine (Windyhill) v Allan McKie (Glencruitten).
11.49 Allan McDonald (Crow Wood) v Thomas Sharkey (Helensburgh).
11.57 Stephen Clark (Haggs Castle) v Stuart Graham (Blairgowrie).
12.05 Allyn Dick (Shotts) v Michael Daily (Erskine).
12.13 Mark Kerr (Craigielaw) v Iain Brown (West Kilbride).
12.21 Anthony Doherty (Cowglen) v Gordon Yates (Hilton Park).
12.29 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) v Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie).
12.37 William Anderson (Cambuslang) v Stephen Burt (Murcar Links).
12.45 Paul Betty (Hayston) v Keith Hamilton (Whitecraigs).
12.57 Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) v Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
1.05 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) v Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie).
1.13 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) v Jamie Neilson (Dunbar).
1.21 James Paterson (Hayston) v Robby Anderson (Duddingston).
1.29 Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) v Kevin Reid (Moray).
1.37 Stephen Buckley (Royal Burgess) v Neil McBride (Cowglen).
1.45 Michael Main (Thornton) v Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon).
1.53 Richard Gill (Craigmillar Park) v Michael Smyth (Royal Troon).
2.01 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) v Euan McIntosh (Newmachar).

MICHAEL SIM WILL COME OVER FOR NEXT
YEAR'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Aberdeen-born Michael Sim, who finished joint 11th in the John Deere Open on the US PGA Tour on Sunday, has E-mailed Scottishgolfview.com from his United States base.

"I didn't try to qualify for the Open. I would love to play in it next year, not sure where it is (answer: Royal Birkdale), but I am looking forward to playing whether it is next year or the following.
"John Deere was a great tournament. The course suited my eye well, and I had my coach, David Milne over earlier in the week from Australia, so we worked hard and it was nice to get my best finish so far.
"Carnoustie should be a great test of golf. I have never played there but from what I have heard the lay-out is a fair challenge. I will definitely be watching on TV over here."

Michael Sim.

TIGER'S CONCEPT OF TIME: "FOUR HOURS HITTING
BALLS, NOT MUCH"

Quote of the week so far at Carnoustie came from no less a person that Tiger Woods.
Asked how much time a day on average he devotes to hitting balls in practice when he is limbering up for a major, he answered without the hint of a smile:
"Hitting balls? I don't spend that much time hitting range balls. At the most, maybe three or four hours, not that much."
No-one asked him how long he spent on gym work. The answer would probably have been along the same lines.
Most professional golfers are golfers. Tiger is an athlete-golfer or golfer-athlete.
When Butch Harmon was his coach, he once said that not only could Tiger beat the field at golf but if it were an athletics contest, Tiger could also beat them at running (sprinting or middle distance), high or long jump, throwing the javelin, putting the shot, weight-lifting, arm-wrestling, and so on.
We believe him.

PGA PRESS RELEASE

DAVID LEADBETTER RECEIVES PGA MASTER
PROFESSIONAL AWARD

Swing king David Leadbetter picked up another accolade today after receiving his PGA Master Professional award at Carnoustie.
The Zimbabwe-born coach was presented with a specially inscribed plaque by PGA captain Parnell Reilly and PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.
Leadbetter, who is guiding the challenges of a number of players at this week's Open including Ernie Els, admitted he was delighted with the honour and revealed he was still as passionate about coaching the game as he was as a teenager when he used 1994 Open champion Nick Price as a guinea pig.
"It's a great privilege," said Leadbetter. "I think it is something that you aspire to when you first start in the profession - everybody aspires to be the best they can be and obviously to be awarded the highest one that the PGA has to offer is very pleasing and I'm thrilled about it.
"I joined the PGA back around 1970 when I was 19 so I go back with it a long way," he added.
"At the time I still really wanted to be a player but I loved teaching all along and always had my nose in books and magazines even way back when and the technique side of things really fascinated me.
"It was something that probably affected my playing career because I was so swing orientated and very much a perfectionist and having grown up with peers like Nick Price and Mark McNulty they were handy guinea pigs in those early years.
"Looking back it was great because coaching, especially in the upper echelons, is still a fairly new approach shall we say. OK, Jack Nicklaus had Jack Grout, but I had the good fortune to hook up with Nick Faldo in the mid-1980s and that probably helped turn things around with player-coach relationships from that point on.
"If you look now there are very few players, especially in the younger ranks, that don't have coaches. The great thing for me is that you are continually learning, whole new areas are opening up from the mental side to bio-mechanics which is a very exciting area too, looking at how certain techniques work with certain players depending on their build, depending on their mindset.
"These days, there's a big thing in matching clubs and equipment to players but you are also doing the same thing with techniques, matching swings to players so it's really fascinating. "Obviously it was done years ago with Tom Morris who did instruction books and these days it's a specialised art and it's been a great journey."
Paying tribute to David Leadbetter, Sandy Jones described him as an 'inspiration.
"He's set new standards for coaches to aspire to and if there was an order of merit for coaches, David would be right up there among the very best," he said.
PGA Master Professional status is awarded as part of the Association's Accreditation of Prior Achievement and Learning programme designed to reflect members who have made a significant and outstanding contribution to golf.
endsIssue date: 17 July 2007Image of David Leadbetter receiving his award from PGA captain Parnell Reilly and PGA chief executive Sandy Jones attached for use courtesy of Dave Cannon at Getty Images.For further information contact Nathaniel Sylvester on 01675 470 333 or email media@pga.org.uk

PGA EUROPRO TOUR WINNERS ON TRAIL
OF REPEAT PERFORMANCE

COLM Moriarty and Matthew Woods are aiming to become the first player to win two events in the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Both men, who have won previous competitions at Wensum Valley and Bovey Castle respectively, made a fine start to event eight, which is being held at The Players Club in Bristol.
On day one the pair both fired rounds of four-under-par 68 to lead the race for the £10,000 top prize in the field of 168.
Irishman Moriarty, a member of the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, had birdies at the first, third, eighth and 18th, while Woods (Donnington Grove) secured five birdies but a dropped shot at the 13th cost him the overall lead.
It was also a good day for the other former winners as each of the seven players are well positioned in the event, which is sponsored by Claytons Kola Tonic.
Faithlegg victor Graeme Clark is one of five men on three-under in equal third, along with Anglo-Scot Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester), Martin Le Mesurier, Steve Surry (Cumberwell) and James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City).
The top 50 plus ties after Wednesday's second round will advance to Thursday's third and final round.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
68 C Moriarty (Ire), M Woods (Eng).
69 G Clark (Eng), A Hay (Sco), M Le Mesurier (Eng), S Surry (Eng), J Ruebotham (Eng).
Other Scots' scores:
72 J Doherty (24th).
73 G Gordon, P Doherty (jt 34th).
74 C Kelly (jt 51st).
75 E Saltman, C Nicoll, P Cormack (jt 70th).
76 G Brown (jt 82nd).
78 J Taylor (jt 117th).
79 C Farr, N Mitchell (jt 126th).
80 C Campbell (jt 139th).

SCOTTISH GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT
ON WWW.KIRKWOODGOLF.CO.UK

For a full report on Carly Booth's superb round of 64 and all the other scores and match-play draws in the Scottish Under-18 girls' championship at Peterhead, switch to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

World University Games

The Great Britain Golf Squad to travel to the World University Games, was announced today with 7 athletes looking to perform well in the heat of Bangkok. The Golf tournament lasts four days - August 14, 15,16 and 17 - at Watermill Golf & Gardens, Nakhonnayok.

Georgia State University in America has provided two of the delegation with Anna Scott and Thomas Sherreard representing Great Britain at the Games. Anna Scott will be in good form after reaching the Semi Finals of the English Amateur Championship 2007, though arguably her greatest achievement to date was her bronze medal at the European U21 Team Championships for England in 2006. Thomas Sherreard was captain of the England Boys' Golf Home International Squad in 2005 at which he was named player of the tournament. Thomas is also an England A Squad player who has turned down the chance to represent England in the Czech Amateur Championship to compete for GBR at these Games.

Charles Ford of the University of Tennessee travels to Bangkok with the advantage of being on a golf scholarship at the University while Hannah Burke, from Baylor University (USA), was a member of the 2006 English Elite Squad.

Emma Fairnie, pictured left, from The University of Edinburgh is a Scotland U21 International who won the 2007 BUSA regional Order of Merit in Scotland. Emma also finished 2nd in the R&A Bursars Tournament in 2007 and has, thus far, enjoyed a very successful 2007.

Gavin Dear (University of Stirling), pictured right, who plays off a +3 handicap, gained his first senior international cap last week when he represented Scotland at the Chjiberta Grand Prix in France. Gavin is currently ranked 4th in the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit 2007 and he played an important role in helping Stirling retain its British Universities Team Matchplay title for the 3rd successive year.

Daniel Willett completes the squad and is no stranger to University International Competition. Daniel helped team GBR to a bronze medal at the World University Golf Championships in Torino last year and when he returns from Bangkok he will represent England in the European Amateur Championships after winner the NCAA Strokeplay event this year.

Raleigh Gowrie, Golf Team Manager for the Games, is happy with his squad and is eagerly anticipating the games. 'Team GBR finished 3rd at the 2006 World University Golf Championships in Torino. The team appears to be stronger this year and a podium position is anticipated for the highly talented squad of players this time around' said Raleigh. This seems to be a squad to watch at the Games this year.

Golf Squad in full for the World University Games in Bangkok 2007

Gavin Dear – University of Stirling (GBR)
Daniel Willet – Jacksonville State (USA)
Charles Ford – University of Tennessee (USA)
Hannah Burke – Baylor University (USA)
Anna Scott – Georgia State University (USA)
Thomas Sherreard – Georgia State University (USA)
Emma Fairnie – University of Edinburgh (GBR)

Raleigh Gowrie – Team Manager
Jason Atkins – Assistant Manager

ABERDEEN JUNIOR PENNANT LEAGUE FINALISTS

Peterhead will be play Deeside in the final of the Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant League competition at McDonald Ellon Golf Club on Sunday, July 29 (12.0 first tee off for six foursomes)
In the semi-finals, Peterhead beat Westhill 4-2 at Portlethen while Deeside beat Hazlehead 3 1/2-2 1/2 at Newburgh.

PAUL’S FIRST WIN OF SEASON EARNS HIM £1,106

Burntisland professional Paul Wytrazek scored his first win of the season on the Tartan Tour with a four-under-par round of 65 in the Dumfries & County Golf Club pro-am.
Paul earned the £1,106 prize by one shot from Jim McKinnon (Irvine) and Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre, Stirling) who received £774 each.
Home club pro Richard Clark led the Unicorn Restaurants’ amateur trio of Gordon Ho (handicap 14), Win Ho (12) and Kenny Ho (9) to victory in the team event with a net score of 20-under-par 118.
LEADING PROFESSIONAL SCORES
Par 69
65 P Wytrazek (Burntisland).
66 J McKinnon (Irvine), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre).
67 S Cairns (Westernwood), C Ronald (Carluke), B Mason (Drumoig).
68 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
69 J Cliff (Murrayfield), C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), G Hutcheon (Peterculter), A Marshall (Houston Golf Range), C Doak (unatt), P McKechnie (Braid Hills).

PRESS RELEASE

JACK NICKLAUS FLIES IN TO MAKE TOUR OF
URY ESTATE, STONEHAVEN TODAY

Golf great and course designer Jack Nicklaus will today visit Ury Estate, Stonehaven, just five days after it was announced that Ury Estate is to become home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.
Nicklaus, nicknamed the Golden Bear, will explore the spectacular course site, which spans at least 160 acres of the Mearns countryside with commanding views extending to the North Sea, before beginning to map out the 18-hole championship course.
Nicklaus will be joined by his design team at Ury Estate, which Nicklaus says offers unrivalled landscape for a memorable golf experience. Nicklaus says he is looking forward to the challenge of infusing his course design with the incredible Mearns scenery, including the majestic centrepiece of Ury House.
A £40million vision to breathe new life into Ury Estate is planned that will include restoring Ury House, which is widely believed to be the birthplace of Stonehaven, to its former glory and converting it into the golf clubhouse, complete