Jacques Leglise Trophy boys' international

FOTHERINGHAM AND STEWART WINNERS AS GB&I
LEAD BY FIVE POINTS AT HALFWAY STAGE

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Great Britain & Ireland boys team built on their three-point lead from the morning foursomes to take a commanding five-point advantage into the second day of the Jacques Leglise Trophy against the Continent of Europe as they strive to reverse defeats over the past three years.
Floris de Vries of the Netherlands was Europe's first winner of the day at the Notts Golf Club, beating James Byrne by 4 and 2 in the opening match of the afternoon singles.
Then came three GB&I successes - Andrew Johnston holding out for a one hole victory over Edouard Dubois after winning four of the six opening holes, Jack Hiluta beating Pedro Figueiredo by 4 and 3 and Michael Stewart from Troon winning by 3 and 2 over Daniel Lokke, neither GB&I player losing a hole.
Tommy Fleetwood, a winner with Matt Haines in the morning foursomes, found Sean Einhaus of Germany in commanding form in the singles and was beaten by 4 and 3. His foursomes partner was more successful - Haines was never behind in winning by 3 and 1 against Christiano Terragni of Italy who had achieved Europe's only result in the foursomes, gaining a half point with compatriot Matteo Manassero.
In the anchor position, Fraser Fotheringham, the young man from Nairn who won his place in the team by reaching the final of the Boys' Championship two weeks ago, was brought back from two up to all square with one to play, but won the final hole to give the home side a handsome lead to take into the final day.

GLENEAGLES' CENTENARY COURSE WILL BE A
FANTASTIC RYDER CUP VENUE, SAYS MONTY

Colin Montgomerie has hit back at Darren Clarke's criticisms of the Centenary Course at Gleneagles, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Speaking after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship, Clarke had said: "There's only been one Ryder Cup in Scotland (in 1973 at Muirfield) and then they choose a course like this one. There are even two better ones here at Gleneagles (Kings Course and the adjoining Queens Course) - it's beyond my comprehension."
But Montgomerie, who may well be the European captain in six years' time, said: "People are entitled to their opinion and that's his. But my opinion is different."
He added: "It will be a fantastic venue. We have another seven years here and the course is getting better every year. As a venue and a resort there are very few better - the location and the hotel are world-class."
+Editor's note: The Irish venue (the K Club) chosen for the last Ryder Cup was hardly a links course and I don't remember Darren Clarke chirping about that at the time. If we are good enough to beat the Americans, then we will beat them wherever the Ryder Cup match is played.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR
ECCO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Odense Golf Club, Denmark
Par 140 (2 x 70)

++Play was halted for the day because of darkness. Several players will finish their second rounds on Saturday morning. The projected cut figure is that those with 139 and better will qualify.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
130 F Delamontagne (Fra) 65, 65;
131 I Pyman (Eng) 64, 67;
134 J Kamte (RSA) 69, 65, J Donaldson (Wal) 71, 63, I Van Weerelt (Ned) 65, 69, P Worthington (Eng)71, 63;
135 P Kyllainen (Fin) 67, 68, P Larrazabal (Esp) 70, 65, T Edlund (Swe) 68, 67, K Eriksson (Swe) 66, 69, K Nielsen (Am) (Den) 68, 67, J Davies (Eng) 67, 68, M A Carlsson (Swe) 65, 70, R Karlberg (Swe) 66,69;
136 C Del Moral (Esp) 69, 67, M Bliss (Can) 66, 70, Y Tuovinen (Fin) 67, 69, T Norret (Den) 67, 69, A Hogberg (Swe) 69, 67, P Ankersoe (Den) 66, 70, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 63, 73, B Mason (Eng) 68, 68,
137 T Nielsen (Den) 70, 67, B Willman (Eng) 70, 67, S Juul (Den) 66, 71, A Schmidt Hansen (Den) 69, 68, P Bach Jensen (Den) 71, 66, G Clark (Eng) 67, 70, J Mellor (Eng) 69, 68, A Butterfield (Eng) 69, 68, C Gane (Eng) 69, 68, J-A Larsen (Nor) 67, 70, P Kaensche (Nor) 68, 69.

Other scores:
139 M Urquhart (Sco) 73 66.
147 E Thomson (Sco) 76 71.

Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles

WARREN AND FORSYTH STILL IN THE HUNT BUT
LAWRIE MAKES CUT WITH NOTHING TO SPARE

FROM THE A O L GOLF WEBSITE
As far as Simon Wakefield is concerned two things usually happen on Saturdays - Port Vale lose and he struggles. But he hopes this weekend can be different on both counts after a four-under-par 69 at Gleneagles gave him another chance to win his first European Tour title.
The 34-year-old from Staffordshire goes into the third round of the Johnnie Walker Championship on nine under par 137 and joint leader with France's Thomas Levet. They are one ahead of first-round leader Marc Warren.
A second Scot, Alistair Forsyth, is joint fifth on 140 after a two-under-par 71 today.
But Paul Lawrie, a winner over the course, went backwards with a second-round 77 and just made the cut with nothing to spare on level par 146.
"I feel more comfortable on Thursday and Friday," said joint leader Wakefield after his six-birdie display in the windy conditions.
"For some reason Saturday is always the day that I don't enjoy. It's moving day, but I tend to move the other way. It's not that I dislike them - I think it's the hardest day. You've made the cut and you suddenly relax and don't try too hard."
Defending champion Paul Casey is the highest-placed of the quartet on four under and did well to get to that mark.
Down on level par after eight holes Casey, twice a winner on the course, was in danger of missing the cut. But he eagled the 564-yard ninth and birdied two more of the par-5s coming home.
Playing partners Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood both finished three under, but had starkly different rounds. Westwood got himself back into the hunt with a 69, but Montgomerie could do no better than 74.
There were three birdie 2s on the Scot's card, but also three 6s - two of them bogeys and the other a double bogey on the 461yd fifth. Colin was lucky to avoid an even higher score on the ninth after a wild drive, but after a long search the ball was found and he escaped with a par.
Darren Clarke was one further back following a 71, having criticised the lay-out on which the 2014 Ryder Cup will be played.
The non-qualifiers included last year's European Tour winner, Ross Fisher. Sic transit gloria.

JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Gleneagles Hotel Centenary Course
QUALIFIERS
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 146 (2 x 73)
137 Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 68, Simon Wakefield 68 69
138 Marc Warren 65 73
139 Phillip Archer 68 71
140 Alastair Forsyth 69 71, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 71 69, David Lynn 72 68, Graeme Storm 70 70
141 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 74, Zane Scotland (Gb) 68 73, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 72, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 66 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 71, Miles Tunnicliff 67 74, Barry Lane 70 71
142 Paul Casey 71 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 74, Santiago Luna (Spa) 73 69
143 James Kingston (Rsa) 70 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72, Robert Dinwiddie 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 75, Luis Claverie (Spa) 70 73, Alan McLean 72 71, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 71 72, Colin Montgomerie 69 74, Sion Bebb 71 72, Marcus Higley 69 74, Stephen Gallacher 71 72, Richard Finch 71 72, James Hepworth 68 75, Lee Westwood 74 69
144 David Griffiths 71 73, Steven O'Hara 71 73, Anthony Wall 73 71, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 71, Dean Robertson 69 75, Matthew Millar (Aus) 77 67, Ian Garbutt 70 74, Richard Bland 69 75, Mark Loftus 70 74, Greig Hutcheon 69 75, Phillip Price 68 76, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 73 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 73 71, Darren Clarke 73 71, Mark Pilkington 68 76, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 74 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 69 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 71
145 Garry Houston 73 72, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 71 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 76, Oliver Fisher 73 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 73, Ariel Canete (Arg) 73 72, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 74, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 69 76
146 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 76 70, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 72, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 75 71, Peter Lawrie 72 74, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 75, Stephen Dodd 72 74, Paul Lawrie 69 77, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 72 74, Terry Price (Aus) 71 75, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 73 73, Mark Foster 74 72
MISSED THE CUT
147 David Carter 75 72, Damien McGrane 73 74, Kevin McAlpine (am) 71 76, Ross Fisher 76 71, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 73 74, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 75, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 73 74, Kenneth Ferrie 76 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 72 75, Richie Ramsay 77 70, Scott Strange (Aus) 71 76, Gary Lockerbie 72 75, Sam Walker 70 77, Tom Whitehouse 69 78, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 74 73, Jonathan Lomas 77 70
148 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 76, Oliver Wilson 70 78, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 74 74, Richard McEvoy 73 75, Andrew Coltart 74 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 77, Robert Rock 70 78, Jamie Spence 72 76, Chris Kelly 77 71, Andrew Marshall 72 76, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 73 75, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 78, Edward Rush 74 74, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 73 75, Gregory Havret (Fra) 74 74
149 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 76, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 74 75, Steve Alker (Nzl) 71 78, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 73 76, Scott Henderson 75 74, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 78, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 74 75, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 74 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 77 72, David Frost (Rsa) 73 76, Simon Khan 76 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 77, Stuart Little 72 77
150 Gary Murphy 73 77, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 77 73, Benn Barham 75 75, David Bransdon (Aus) 72 78, Andrew Raitt 75 75, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 75 75
151 Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 75 76, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 79 72, John Gallacher (am) 78 73, Lee Slattery 72 79, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 78 73, David Higgins 74 77, Sam Little 75 76, Chris Doak 73 78
152 Graeme McDowell 77 75, Lee S James 77 75, Scott Drummond 75 77, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 72 80, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 79 73, Bradley Dredge 75 77
153 Gareth Davies 77 76, Kyron Sullivan 76 77
154 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 77 77, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 76 78, James Heath 70 84, David Park 74 80, Sandy Lyle 78 76
155 Craig Lee 79 76, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 78 77, Sven Struver (Ger) 77 78, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 72 83, Jason McCreadie 79 76, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 76 79
156 Carl Suneson (Spa) 74 82, Adrien Mork (Fra) 77 79, Robert Arnott 79 77
157 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 76 81
158 Shaun P Webster 76 82, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 79 79
160 Gary Emerson 76 84
162 Juan Parron (Spa) 79 83

Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship

BUCKPOOL BOYS THE BEST AT MURCAR LINKS
AS THEY HEAD QUALIFIERS FOR CARDRONA

Dylan Lawson and Edward Campbell (pictured left) from Buckpool GC were more than a match for the testing conditions at Murcar Links as they cruised to victory in the north final of the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship.

Lawson – a very capable 15 handicapper – and Campbell, playing off 5, paired up to perfection with an excellent better ball score of 63, eight under the card. Three consecutive birdies from the second set the ball rolling and two more birdies at holes 7 and 8 put the duo out in five under.

Two more birdies came on the 10th and the 13th, and Lawson’s two at the tricky 16th sealed a memorable round and top spot in the North regional final.
Elgin’s David Hector and Kevin Prosser (pictured above right) clinched the runners-up spot and their place in the final with a fine six under par 65. Prosser got the duo of to a dream start with an opening birdie three, which was followed up with his partner’s two at the 5th. Highlight of the round was two handicapper Hector’s superb eagle three at the 14th and they parred in from there to complete a great round of golf.
Host club Murcar Links kept up their fine record in Belhaven qualifying events ending the day in third place on 66, having set the early pace in the first group out. The partnership of David Leighton and Charles McKen had a fairly ordinary front nine of level par, before setting the inward half alight with five birdies to come home in 30.
Fifers Drumoig also fired an excellent 66, with Sean Anderson and Fraser Mackay teaming up well to finish in fourth spot, edging out near neighbours St Michaels in after their four under tally of 67. Alisdair McGowan and John McKenzie, representing Durness in the final game of the day, also shot a 66 to take fifth spot and book a place in the final.
Early morning sunshine was replaced by strengthening winds and rain making scoring difficult for the late afternoon groups. The tricky conditions were reflected in the top fifteen cut mark, which eventually fell at level par 71. Iverallochy and St Fillans clinched the final two spots on that mark, edging out 5 other clubs on the better inward half countback.
The final takes place in two weeks time at Macdonald Cardrona near Peebles on Friday 14th September with TV coverage on Setanta Sports.
Listed below are the Top 15 qualifiers from the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship (North Final) at Murcar Links.
1 Buckpool 63
2 Elgin 65
3 Murcar Links 66
4 Drumoig 66
5 Durness 66
6 St Michaels 67
7 Brora 68
8 Ballater 68
9 Edzell 69
10 Tarbat 69
11 Burntisland 69
12 Deeside 70
13 Nairn Dunbar 70
14 Inverallochy 71
15 St Fillans 71

THE BELFRY SIGNS UP TO GOLF SHOW

The Belfry’s Gary Alliss is one of Golf Monthly’s top 25 golf coaches in the country – and visitors to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, will be able to see for themselves just why he’s received that accolade.
Alliss, who also captains Great Britain’s PGA team’s defence of the Llandudno Trophy in the United States next month (September), will lead a team of Belfry professionals in providing free coaching at the show’s first outing in November.
The four-time Ryder Cup venue has signed up as an official partner to the inaugural show and will have a large presence at the NEC with a specialist coaching area.
The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is a new event for the National Exhibition Centre, but its sister show, the London Golf Show, is now in its fourth successful year at ExCeL in the city’s Docklands area – and the Birmingham show is set to copy that successful template.
Gary Silcock, The Belfry’s Scots-born director of golf, said: “Becoming a partner to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, was an easy decision for us. The success of the London Golf Show is well documented and there seems no reason why, at last, we should not have a well-attended show in the region.
“As the area’s premier golfing destination and venue – and with our superb academy facilities – we were delighted to be able to become involved with the show on so many levels. It gives our teaching professionals the opportunity to work with people who might not otherwise have considered The Belfry for their golf tuition.
“Gary Alliss will head up our team at the show offering free coaching to all the show’s visitors, plus there will be prizes to be won and many more interactive opportunities.”
Andy Barwell, managing director of the Golf Show Co Ltd – owner of The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham – explained: “The Belfry has really entered into the spirit of things by not only taking partnership status and a large stand, but by also offering some great prizes before and at the event, and lending their own marketing support to the show by way of hosting several of our events.”
Visitors to the show will enjoy a giant retail store; a specially-constructed indoor driving range; the chance to go head-to-head with celebrities; the opportunity to sink a 100ft putt; the best in golf fashion; numerous interactive attractions, many with amazing prizes; and an area dedicated to junior golf with free coaching, fun and games and prizes.
And new for The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is the Innovations area, where the designers and retailers of the myriad latest golf gadgets will be demonstrating dozens of game-improvement ideas.
■ The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, takes place at the National Exhibition Centre from November 16-18. For more information or tickets visit www.golfshownec.com

BARNES WINS PLAY-OFF FOR £10,000 PRIZE
ON PGA EUROPRO TOUR IN SUFFOLK

Dean Barnes has won his first PGA EuroPro Tour event in dramatic fashion.
After three rounds of the 2007 Motocaddy Championship, Barnes from Ferndown Golf Club, Dorset and Eddie Vernon (Burton-on-Trent) were tied on nine-under at Ufford Park, Suffolk.
That meant a play-off with a replay of the 18th hole. Barnes held his nerve by sinking a 12ft birdie putt to claim the £10,000 top prize, a result that catapults him up from 69th to eighth in the 2007 Order of Merit to eighth in the ranking
Doncaster-based Graeme Clark, who had already won three events this season, was aiming to become the first player in the PGA EuroPro Tour’s six-year history to win four tour competitions in one year.
Rounds of 64 and 67 had left him on nine-under at the start of Friday’s play with a two-shot advantage over Russell Claydon (Gog Magog, Cambridgeshire), Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill, Middlesex) and Eddie Vernon.
However, Clark’s hopes of another victory ended when he had a double bogey on the ninth and then dropped further shots on the last two holes as he ended tied fifth.
Lee Gauthier (Bearwood Lakes) and Russell Claydon finished equal third, while Welshman Rhys Davies, who represents Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup next month, was the leading amateur in level 18th.
South Wales-based Paul Doherty, the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut, finished with a 71 for joint 11th place on four-under-par 206. That earned him £675.
Six of the top ten in the Order of Merit list qualified for the final day and each pound earned could prove crucial as the top five players will qualify for 2008 Challenge Tour cards.
There was also a further incentive for the other competitors as the leading 50 players after two more events will qualify for the end of season Tour Championships.
The 13th out of the 14 regular 2007 events is the Ethos Recycling Classic, which takes place at the Stonebridge Golf Club, Meriden, Warwickshire, from September 5 to 7.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
201 Dean Barnes (Ferndown) 68 66 67 (£10,000), Eddie Vernon (Burton on Trent) 65 68 68 (£5,000), Barnes won sudden-death play-off at first extra hole.
203 Lee Gauthier (Bearwood Lakes) 69 66 68, Russell Claydon (Gog Magog) 65 68 70 (£2,100 each).
204 Matt Morris (Eng) 69 69 66, James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) 64 73 67, Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) 67 67 70, Graeme Clark (Eng) 64 67 73 (£1,125 each).
205 Martin Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 72 64, Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) 67 67 71 (£825 each).
206 Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) 73 68 65, Paul Ring (The Warren) 69 69 68, Andy Smith (Chart Hills) 71 67 68, Paul Doherty (Sco) 65 70 71 (£675 each).
207 Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen) 68 70 69, Paul Maddy (Gog Magog) 67 71 69, Michael McDermott (Stackstown) 63 72 72 (£500 each).

JOHN CHILLAS (70) ONE BEHIND LEADER ROCCA
IN EUROPEAN SENIOR MASTERS AT WOBURN

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Having used the recent break in the European Seniors Tour schedule to fine tune his golf swing, John Chillas is one shot off the European Senior Masters lead held by Italy’s Costantino Rocca, after carding an opening two under par round of 70 over the Duke’s Course at Woburn Golf Club today.
The 56-year-old Aberdonian fired two birdies on the first two holes and then recorded 15 consecutive pars before dropping a shot at the 17th, only to rally with a closing 10 feet birdie on the 18th hole.
Chillas said: “I worked on my game during the time off between The Midas English Seniors Open at St Mellion and coming here, and I’m pleased with the way I played. Woburn’s playing a little softer and longer than it has in the past, so you know the ball is not going to shoot off the fairways.
“I drove the ball nicely and just played very steady golf; I found the fairways and greens. It’s not a day to hit the ball close to the flags, as the wind is making it a bit fiddly, but my long-putting was good. I’m pleased I’m in with a chance and we’ll see what happens over the weekend.”
Fellow Scot Bill Longmuir, seeking a second consecutive Seniors Tour win after his Midas English Seniors Open triumph a fortnight ago in Cornwall, opened with a two over par 74. “It was a bit of a struggle today,” he said.
Sam Torrance meanwhile shot a three over par 75, as did Steve Martin and Mike Miller, while defending champion, England’s Carl Mason, shot a one under par 71, to be two off the pace. He said: “I’m pleased with that, because I couldn’t get my head on the job today. I had a strange feeling all the way around.”
Completing the Scottish challenge, Martin Gray and Ross Drummond and Martin Gray shot 78 and 79 respectively.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
69 C Rocca (Ita)
70 J Chillas (Sco), M Pinero (Spa), D Good (Aus) 70, A Sowa (Arg)
71 C Mason (Eng), M Foster (Eng), P Dugeny (Fra), E Rodriguez (Spa), J Quiros (Spa), G Cali (Ita)
72 P Oakley (USA), A Murray (Eng), E Darcy (Irl), S Owen (Nzl), G Encina (Chl), M Poxon (Eng)
73 I Mosey (Eng), B Cameron (Eng), GJ Brand (Eng), A Fernandez (Chl), D Cambridge (Jam), G Watine (Fra)
74 J Bland (RSA), B Longmuir (Sco), B Malley (USA), J Rivero (Spa), D O’Sullivan (Irl), T Gale (Aus), J Lapsley (Nzl)
75 P Teravainen (USA), D Merriman (Aus), T Johnstone (Zim), B Larratt (Eng), T Rastall (Eng), S Torrance (Sco), S Ginn (Aus), S Martin (Sco), B Lendzion (USA), D Johnson (USA), M Miller (Sco), H Carbonetti (Arg), B Lincoln (RSA), B Heuchan (Can)
76 N Ratcliffe (Aus), N Job (Eng), T Allen (Eng), M James (Eng), J Mashego (RSA), M Bembridge (Eng), J Rhodes (Eng), T Horton (Eng), L Carbonetti (Arg)
77 J Heggarty (Nir), D J Russell (Eng), A Garrido (Spa), J Bruner (USA), K Spurgeon (Eng)
78 G Ralph (Eng), M Gray (Sco)
79 I Palmer (RSA), P Leonard (Nir), D Durnian (Eng), R Drummond (Sco)
80 V Garcia (Spa)
81 N Coles (Eng), D Creamer (Eng), M Ferguson (Aus)
82 T Charnley (Eng), JM Canizares (Spa)
83 J Benda (USA), L Higgins (Ire)
84 B Smit (RSA)

Press Release

Click on the image (copyright Ross Kinnaird, Getty Images) for an enlargement.

R&A INTRODUCES THE MARK H McCORMACK MEDAL

The R&A is pleased to announce that the Mark H McCormack Medal will be presented annually to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The ranking is a weekly performance table of the world’s top 1200 players in men’s amateur golf, and reflects player performance over the previous 52 weeks.
The inaugural medal winner will be the player who leads the World Amateur Golf Ranking on Sunday, September 23, 2007, at the end of week 38. This timing allows ranking points in the US Amateur Championship and the European Individual Amateur Championship to be taken into account with the medal presentation then forming a new closing highlight to the world amateur golf season.
The medal commemorates the contribution to golf of Mark H McCormack, the late founder of IMG, who was elected a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1981.
The R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson commented,
“This is a fitting way to pay tribute to the legacy of a man who contributed so much to the game of golf around the world.
“Having been an able and enthusiastic player of the game at amateur level, and actively involved in the establishment of the Official World Golf Ranking for professionals, Mark would, I am sure, have shared our golf development aim in establishing The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking.
“We are delighted that the leading amateur player over the season will win the award that bears his name.”
Mark McCormack was instrumental in the growth of world golf. It was whilst playing college golf for The College of William and Mary in Virginia that he came up against a young Wake Forest golfer named Arnold Palmer. This meeting led to the celebrated handshake agreement between McCormack and Palmer that provided the foundation for IMG’s birth.
Within 18 months, IMG had also added Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus to the IMG client list. Between them, the ‘big three’ won eight Open Championships. McCormack also devised and created The Official World Golf Ranking, which The R&A sanctioned in 1986.
Todd McCormack, Mark’s son, said,
“Given IMG’s prevalence in the world of professional golf, people know little about my father’s devotion to the amateur game. His early trips to Britain to play in the Amateur Championship began so many treasured life long friendships.
“Knowing The R&A developed a ranking for the amateur game and an award that honours his life in this fashion would have meant so much to him.”
***The medal measures 1.5 inches in diameter and is made from sterling silver.

RUSSELL KNOX TURNS PRO IN

AMERICA, WILL BID FOR US

PGA TOUR CARD

Inverness-born Russell Knox has turned professional in the United States. Knox stayed on in America after playing the US college circuit successfully for four years as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida.
Last year Knox, pictured right, was capped for Scotland in the European youth team championships in Spain. He achieved 18 top-20 finishes in his last 19 American university tournaments.
More recently, earlier this summer, he finished section in the prestigious Jacksonville City Amateur and missed out on qualifying for the 2007 US Open by a single stroke.
His first target as a pro golfer is to survive the upcoming US PGA Tour Qualifying School process.
Russell has signed an exclusive representation agreement with Axcess Sports and Entertainment, based in Jacksonville.

Scottish senior amateur champion and now first winner of the Scottish Senior Golfing Society Order of Merit. That's Ian Hucheon receiving the merit trophy from SGU vice-president John Sommerville at Blairgowrie yesterday. You can enlarge the Cal Carson Golf Agency image (c) by clicking on it.

SCOTTISH SENIORS'
GOLF SOCIETY

Order of Merit Final Placings
(after Blairgowrie, August 30)
*compiled by secretary Keith Howie (right)


1 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 589.
2 Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven) 320.
3 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 292.5.
4 George Paterson (Northern) 260.
5 Jim Watt (Letham Grange) 245.
6 Patrick Tomisson (Nairn) 235.
7 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 231.25.
8 Robert Humble (Kilspindie) 211.5.
9 David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 202.5.
10 William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 187.5.
11 Donald McCart (Castlerock) 186.5.
12 George Rodaks (Moffat) 175.
12 Tony Stafford (Troon St Meddans) 175.
14 Ronald McLellan (Turnberry) 170.5.
15 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 166.
16 Robert Stewart (Tulliallan) 165.
17 Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 157.5.
18 Iain Stewart (Curragh) 135.5.
19 Gordon Thomson (Bearsden) 130.5.
20 Alexander Pirie (Hazlehead) 129.
21 James Kinloch (Cardross) 124.
22 Ronald MacLean (Hamilton) 110.
23 Charles Green (Cardross) 92.5.
24 Donald Longmuir (Verulam) 77.5.
25 Stephen Ellis (Cowal) 75.5.
26 Peter Lamb (Biggar) 75.
27 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 69.75.
28 James Paton (Kirkintilloch) 66.25.
29 Brian Smith (Hamilton) 60.
30 William Brown (Strathaven) 55.
30 Henry Anderson (Callander) 55.
32 Robin Paton (Nairn) 52.5.
33 William Wallace (Strathaven) 50.5.
34 Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links) 42.5.
35 Jock Brown (Hamilton) 40.
36 Brian Grieve (King James VI) 38.5.
37 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) 32.5.
37 Colin Cairnie (Monifieth) 32.5.
39 Harry Milligan (Hamilton) 30.
40 David Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 17.5.
40 Derek Murphy (Kinross) 17.5.
42 Jabil Aman (Grangemouth) 15.5.
43 Robert Edgar (Blackpool) 6.25.
44 James Roy (Grange) 3.5.
45 David Smith (Stirling) 1.5.
45 George Jenkins (Cathkin Braes) 1.5.

**SCROLL DOWN FOR ANOTHER PICTURE AND A REPORT + ALL THE SCORES AT THURSDAY'S ORDER OF MERIT SHOOT-OUT COMPETITION AT BLAIRGOWRIE.

DARREN CLARKE ATTACKS DECISION TO PLAY 2014
RYDER CUP ONGLENEAGLES' CENTENARY COURSE

FROM THE BBC SPORT WEBSITE

Darren Clarke has condemned the decision to stage the 2014 Ryder Cup on Gleneagles Hotel's Centenary Course, venue for this week's European Tour's Johnnie Walker Championship. Clarke feels the match should not be played on "an American-style" course.
"It is unbelievable they (the Ryder Cup committee) have chosen this course to stage the 2014 match," he said.
"Scotland is the home of golf. There are two better ones here at Gleneagles. We shouldn't play on an American style course. It's beyond my comprehension."
The Centenary course was originally designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, but the 39-year-old Clarke favours the adjacent King's course, that has staged European Tour events, or the Queen's layout.
"Gleneagles is a wonderful venue but this is the wrong course," Clarke said.
"There's only been one Ryder Cup in Scotland, in 1973 (Muirfield), and then they go and choose a course like this one. The Ryder Cup is steeped in history and I just can't see it here."
Clarke carded a level-par 73 in the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship today.

PAUL DOHERTY ONLY SCOT TO BEAT THE CUT IN
PGA EUROPRO TOUR'S UFFORD PARK CLASSIC

Paul Doherty was the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Ufford Park Classic.
The former Scottish boys' match-play title-winner at Dunbar had rounds of 65 and 70 to be joint eighth on 135 (five under par0 among the qualifiers.
Englishman Graeme Clark leads the field at nine-under-par 131.
SCOREBOARD
Par 140 (2 x 70)
131 G Clark (Eng) 64 67.
133 R Claydon (Eng) 65 68, E Vernon (Eng) 65 68, D Brooks (Eng) 66 67.
Scots qualifier:
135 P Doherty 65 70 (jt 8th).
Scots non-qualifiers:
142 C Campbell 72 70.
143 J Doherty 71 73.
144 Paul Cormack 70 74.
145 N Mitchell 72 73.
146 B Grown 72 74.
148 E Saltman 72 76.

English Golf Union Press Release

ENGLAND NAME TRIO FOR PORTUGAL NATIONS CUP

England is sending three of the team selected for next month’s Home Internationals to contest the Portugal Nations Cup at Vale do Lobo from September 1 to 3.
Ben Evans and Chris Wood were named as new England caps for the Home Internationals in Ireland and they will be joined on the Algarve by Ben Parker, all three having just returned from the European Amateur Championship in Germany.
A total of 14 European nations will compete over 54 holes of stroke play on the Ocean Course at Vale do Lobo, the best two scores from three each day to count. There will also be an individual prize.

PADRAIG WINS EUROPEAN TOUR SHOT OF THE
MONTH FOR JULY -- THAT CARNOUSTIE PITCH

A sublime pitch shot on the final hole at Carnoustie by Padraig Harrington, which kept alive his hopes of winning the Open Championship, has been recognised as the European Tour Shot of the Month for July.
The Irishman had been in the Barry Burn twice on the 72nd hole of the Championship Course and knew he had to pitch and putt for a double bogey 6 to have any chance of featuring in any subsequent play-off.
Under immense pressure and with the eyes of the golfing world upon him, Harrington played the shot to perfection, clipping the ball cleanly off the turf and stopping it four feet from the pin, from where he successfully holed out.
Sergio Garcia, whom Harrington went on to beat in the four-hole play-off, took second place in the eyes of the judging panel for a superb pitch shot to begin his second round in The Open.
After an excellent first round 65, Garcia’s second round looked set to get off to the worst possible start when he pushed his approach to the first hole way right of the putting surface into knee high rough. But with little green to work with, the Spaniard produced an exquisite escape to three feet to save par.
Third place also went to a shot from The Open and another from Harrington. After having secured his place in the play-off, the Irishman was keen to get off to a good start and did just that with a wonderful approach shot to six feet at the first hole for a birdie 3 which immediately gave him a two shot lead as Garcia bogeyed.

CONFIDENT LONGMUIR SAYS HE CAN WIN AGAIN
IN EUROPEAN SENIOR MASTERS AT WENTWORTH

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Bill Longmuir says he has arrived at Woburn Golf Club for the European Senior Masters full of confidence after his recent triumph at the Midas English Seniors Open – and hopes lightning can strike twice by securing back to back victories in as many weeks.
A fortnight ago, the 54 year old Anglo-Scot broke his two year winless streak when he won at the St Mellion International Hotel, Golf and Country Club, in Cornwall, to take the Midas English Seniors Open from England’s Carl Mason in their final round tussle by two shots.
“I’ve been enjoying it – it still feels great,” he said with a smile. “I thought I had forgotten how to win, because it had been so long since it happened. To hold off a great player like Carl as I did, was very, very pleasing. I wobbled a little bit on the back nine and was feeling nervous, but to play and putt as well as I did felt great. It really has given me a huge lift for the rest of the season. Hopefully, it won't be long before I win again, and it’d be great to do it at Woburn.”
Having taken one title from the Englishman, Longmuir, who since his victory has spent a nice 10 days relaxing at his home in Essex with his family, could do the same at Woburn Golf Club, for Mason is the defending European Senior Masters champion.
There is added spice too, as the duo are once again paired in the same match, teeing off at 10.10am on Friday in the opening round, in the company of Italy’s Costantino Rocca, who is also in form, having won Wednesday’s pro-am over the Duke’s Course.
“It’s a great three-ball to start the tournament with,” said Mason who, a year ago, made a tearful return to the winner’s enclosure when he birdied two of the last three holes of the Duke’s Course to pip Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti by two strokes and claim his first win of 2006.
Since then, Mason has won a further four times to take his tally of European Seniors Tour victories to 16. He tops the 2007 Order of Merit, with earnings of €241,539 (£163,495), helped by his two wins so far this season – the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Conwy and Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland.
“My goal for the rest of the season, now it’s nearly finished, is to win the Order of Merit for a third time,” said the 2003 and 2004 John Jacobs Trophy winner, who, should he retain the European Senior Masters at Woburn, would overtake England’s Tommy Horton at the top of the European Seniors Tour Career Money List.
Horton, the most successful player in Seniors Tour history with five Order of Merit victories, has amassed €1,509,454 since the beginning of his Seniors Tour career in 1992.
Mason, winner of €1,472,123 in a five year period that has seen him win two Order of Merit titles, is only €37, 331 behind. He can pass Horton’s total by taking home the European Senior Masters’ first prize of €49,713 – providing Horton finishes outside of the top six come Sunday afternoon after the 54 hole event have been completed.
As well as that feat, Mason is also seeking to emulate fellow countryman Mark James as a double winner at Woburn.
James won the British Masters in 1990 at Woburn, and 15 years later claimed the European Senior Masters when he beat his great friend and rival, Scotland’s Sam Torrance, with a birdie on the 18th hole – the first of their sudden-death play-off after the pair had tied on a nine under par 207 total.
James tees off on Friday at 10.20am in the company of England’s Gordon J Brand and Australia’s Stewart Ginn, who is currently third in the Order of Merit and eager to secure his first win on the Seniors Tour after four runners-up finishes in the past 12 months.
It was another Australian, Graham Marsh, who won the first professional event staged at Woburn Golf Club – the 1979 Dunlop British Masters. His winning five under par 283 72 hole total saw him edge out England’s Neil Coles and Japan’s Isao Oaki by a stroke.
The 63 year old was due to compete in 2007 to try and emulate James as a double champion at Woburn Golf Club by adding the European Senior Masters title to his British Masters victory, but business commitments in America forced a disappointed Marsh to withdraw.
However, his fellow countryman, David Merriman, is instead looking to lead the Antipodean charge and maintain his form from St Mellion, where a closing one under par round of 71, that included four birdies, helped secure a third place finish and purse of €15,512 (£10,500).
That was the 2006 European Seniors Tour Qualifying School winner’s best result of 2007, and lifted him to 25th in the Order of Merit with earnings of €54,687 (£37,017).
Merriman said: “I played pretty solid, as I have been for most of the year, and it sets me up for a good finish to the season. I am happy with the way I’ve been playing this year.
“I’ve struggled with my putting a little bit, but I got a new putter from Ping about two months ago, and it’s slowly getting better and better. I feel more comfortable and I’m putting well, so it takes the pressure off your shots in, and your driver, so it helps your game.
“I’m looking forward to Woburn. I hit the ball straight or with a slight fade off the tee, and you need to keep it on the short grass around there with all the trees.”
Another Australian, Terry Gale, could pass the rare feat of having earned €1m Euros on the European Seniors Tour, should he have a successful week and finish inside the top three. The 61 year old has so far amassed €987,403 in just over a decade competing on the circuit.
Gale, who was fourth in Wednesday’s pro-am, said of his million Euros chase: “I don’t know if I’m going to beat it, or if it’s going to beat me, but I’m looking forward to this week and playing again after a nice week off in northern Italy. The course is in great condition.”
If they also finish inside the top three, England’s Nick Job, with €984,075 from seven years’ competing on the Tour, and Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan, who has €985,410 from his nine years on the Tour, could also pass that million Euros milestone.
There is also a £10,000 bonus, donated by the current Duke of Bedford, owner of the Bedford Estate where Woburn Golf Club is situated, available to the winning golfer, in addition to the top prize of £33,750 from the total purse of £225,000.
A strong field is competing at Woburn Golf Club, including Torrance, who is off at 10am alongside England’s David J Russell and Spain’s José Maria Cañizares, while three other former European Senior Masters champions – Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge, Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti and Northern Ireland’s Peter Leonard – are all seeking a second title.

Low scoring in Johnnie Walker Championship

WARREN AND BOB TORRANCE
BACK IN TUNE FOR A 65 IN
GLENEAGLES FIRST ROUND

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS WEBSITE

Marc Warren, pictured right, was back singing the praises of coach Bob Torrance after teeing off the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today with a superb eight under par 65.
After more than three months without a top 20 finish, last season's Rookie of the Year allowed his feelings to boil over earlier this week - with Bob Torrance, the man who steered Padraig Harrington to Open glory last month, in the firing line.
"I think it's sometimes easy to forget that Bob is in your corner," said Warren. "A lot of times players want to take it out on him purely because he is there. The caddie gets it on the course and he gets it on the range."
He added: "On Tuesday we were working away and it wasn't really the way I wanted it to be. I spoke to Bob later that night and we both agreed I was just frustrated the way I had been playing and it came to a head.
"Everything is fine now. He has a terrific talent for watching the golf swing. But he is human and everybody misses things."
A change to his set-up brought instant rewards, with Warren grabbing eight birdies on the par- 73 Centenary Course and missing his lowest-ever round on the circuit by only one shot.
Now the Scot is hoping he can still improve on his 42nd place on the Order of Merit last year - he is currently 69th - and, of course, win again.
Backin up Warren in the top 20 were fellow Scots Greig Hutcheon, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Dean Robertson and Alastair Forsyth, all on the four-under-par 69 mark.

ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
65 Marc Warren
66 Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)
67 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Miles Tunnicliff
68 Mark Pilkington, Zane Scotland (Gbr), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Joost Luiten (Ned), Phillip Archer, Phillip Price, James Hepworth, Simon Wakefield
69 Richard Bland, Greig Hutcheon, Soren Hansen (Den), Colin Montgomerie, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Marcus Higley, Paul Lawrie, Dean Robertson, Tom Whitehouse, Alastair Forsyth, Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Thomas Levet (Fra)
70 Mark Loftus, James Kingston (Rsa), Oliver Wilson, Luis Claverie (Spa), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Graeme Storm, Sam Walker, David Drysdale, Robert Rock, James Heath, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Barry Lane, Ian Garbutt
71 Martin Erlandsson (Swe), David Griffiths, Kevin Mcalpine, Sion Bebb, Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Steven O'Hara, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Terry Price (Aus), Steve Alker (Nzl), Scott Strange (Aus), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Paul Casey, Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Stephen Gallacher, Richard Finch, Ignacio Garrido (Spa)
72 Andrew Tampion (Aus), Christopher Hanell (Swe), Robert Dinwiddie, Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Peter Lawrie, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Lee Slattery, Stephen Dodd, Jamie Spence, Alexander Noren (Swe), Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Manuel Quiros (Spa), Alan McLean, David Lynn, Gary Lockerbie, Brett Rumford (Aus), Andrew Marshall, David Bransdon (Aus), Stuart Little
73 Damien McGrane, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Rafael Echenique (Arg), David Frost (Rsa), Oliver Fisher, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Anthony Wall, Santiago Luna (Spa), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Garry Houston, Richard McEvoy, Darren Clarke, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Gary Murphy, Taichi Teshima (Jpn), Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha), Ariel Canete (Arg), Martin Maritz (Rsa), Peter O'Malley (Aus), Chris Doak.
74 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Jean Hugo (Rsa), Andrew Coltart, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Martin Kaymer (Ger), David Park, Carl Suneson (Spa), Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), David Higgins, Mark Foster, Lee Westwood, Edward Rush, Gregory Havret (Fra)
75 David Carter, Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Scott Henderson, Benn Barham, Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Scott Drummond, Andrew Raitt, Sam Little, Bradley Dredge
76 Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Shaun P Webster, Ross Fisher, Marcel Siem (Ger), Kyron Sullivan, Kenneth Ferrie, Gary Emerson, Simon Khan, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Marcus Fraser (Aus)
77 Christian Nilsson (Swe), Richie Ramsay, Gareth Davies, Graeme McDowell, Johan Axgren (Swe), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Lee S James, Sven Struver (Ger), Matthew Millar (Aus), Adrien Mork (Fra), Chris Kelly, Jonathan Lomas
78 John Gallacher (am), Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Yong-eun Yang (Kor), Sandy Lyle
79 Juan Parron (Spa), Craig Lee, Jason McCreadie, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Robert Arnott, Cesar Monasterio (Arg), Mardan Mamat (Sin)

MORGAN ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL WITH A 64
IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN DENMARK

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Englishman John E Morgan, who took the US PGA Tour by storm in 2003 before a violent epileptic seizure derailed his promising career, rediscovered some hot form with a six under par 64 during the first round of the ECCO Tour Championship on the Challenge Tour.
The 29 year old from Bristol, who is having to rely on invitations for tournament starts this year, found Odense Golf Club in Denmark very much to his liking this morning with four birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free 64, one behind early pace-setter Johan Wahlqvist of Sweden.
Morgan, of course, has been here before having graduated through the Challenge Tour in 2002 prior to heading to the United States, where he won a card at that year’s US PGA Tour Qualifying School.
Not one to be backwards about coming forwards, the confident young Englishman soon befriended Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk to name but a few, and captivated the American golfing public with some mesmerising performances and his bright blue hairstyle.
Just as he looked to have found his feet Stateside with three top 10 finishes, including a rousing second place finish behind Mark Hensby at the 2004 John Deere Classic, Morgan was sidelined when a violent epileptic seizure left him with a ruptured sternum.
To make matters worse, the fit was the beginning of a series of injuries and misfortunes that have plagued some of his prime golfing years. Now, though, Morgan has returned to the golf course and is looking to fight his way back into the big time.
The 29 year old has missed half of the cuts on his six Challenge Tour starts in 2007, but a share of sixth place in Italy in April showed that, when fit and healthy, he remains a very talented performer.
Wahlqvist, the 26 year old Swede, is another fighting his way up the professional system and having won his place in the field courtesy of some fine results on the ECCO Tour in Denmark, he benefited from some good luck when he chipped in at the first hole and later holed a six iron for an eagle two at the 16th.
Those two shots helped Wahlqvist to a 63 on a perfectly calm morning and into the clubhouse lead by a stroke from Morgan, with Welshman Stuart Manley well placed after a 65.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70

63 Johan Wahlqvist (Swe).
64 John E Morgan (Eng), Iain Pyman (Eng)
65 Stuart Manley (Wal), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Inder Van Weerelt (Ned)
66 Matthew Bliss (Can), Peter Bocian (Swe), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Soren Juul (Den), Peter Ankersoe (Den), Klaus Eriksson (Swe)
67 Jan-Are Larsen (Nor), Ake Nilsson (Swe), Jamie Little (Eng), John Davies (Den), Colm Moriarty (Ire), Panu Kyllianen (Fin), Marcus Palm (Swe), Paul Dwyer (Eng), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Thomas Norret (Den), Gary Clark (Eng), Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin)
68 Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den), Ben Mason (Eng), Adam Gee (Eng), Brian Akstrup (Den), Knud Storgaard (Den), Mark Murphy (Ire), Benjamin Alvarado (Chi), Christian Aronsen (Nor), Van Phillips (Eng), Peter Kaensche (Nor), Christian Reimbold (Ger), Tony Edlund (Swe), Kalle Edberg (Swe), Kristian Nielsen (am) (Den)
Scots' scores:
73 M Urquhart.
74 A Hay.
76 E Thomson.

MASON WINS FIRST MIDLAND ALLIANCE OF SEASON
AT BALLUMBIE CASTLE WITH ONE-OVER-PAR 70

Drumoig Driving Range professional Brian Mason was the scratch winner of the first competition of the new Midland Golfers' Alliance season at sunny but blustery Ballumbie Castle course, Dundee today (Thursday).
Brian shot a one-over-par 70, good scoring in the windy condtions. He had a shot to spare from Steven Rettie, the Royal Troon assistant professional.
Best net score of the day was a 68 off a handicap of six by Fraser McKay (Drumoig).
Winneers of the Andrew Herd Team Competition were T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10) and H Grant (Muckhart) (6) with a net score of 61.

Scoreboard:

LEADING SCRATCH
Par 69
70 B Mason (Drumoig) p, 72 S Rettie (Royal Troon) ap. 73 G McLeod (Monifieth) p. 74 L Mann (Carnoustie Links) p, F McKay (Drumoig). 75 H Wong (Burntisland) ap, G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle).
76 D Wilson (Monifieth), S Harrod (Ballumbie Castle).
LEADING HANDICAP
F McKay (Drumoig) (6) 68; D Sievwright (Drumoig) (12) 70; T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), J Laing (Caird Park) (12), A Lawrence (Caird Park) (14), N McLeod (Monifieth) (5) 72; D Wilson (Monifieth) (3), S Harrod (Ballumbie Castle) (3) 73; N Henderson (Scotscraig) (11), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10), J Barnet (Dunfermline) (7), J Barnet (Dunfermline) (7) 74.
Andrew Herd Team Competition - T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10), H Grant (Muckhart) (6) 61; F Thomson (Crieff) (14), R Lauchlan (Crieff) (12), A MacDairmid (Crieff) (14) 62;
C Wallace (Caird Park) (11), J Laing (Caird Park) (12), A Lawrence (Caird Park) (14) 62.
Qualifiers for championship at Crailg in April: B Mason (Drumoig) p, S Rettie (Royal Troon) ap, G McLeod (Monifieth) (p).
Next week's meeting is on Monday (September 3) at Thornton where the tee has been reserved from 9am to 12.30.

Scottish Golf Union vice-president John Sommerville, Scottish Seniors Order of Merit winner Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander), captain of the Scottish Seniors Golf Society outside the Blairgowrie clubhouse. Click on the Cal Carson Golf Agency image (c) to enlarge it.

HUTCHEON FOURTH BUT CLINCHES SENIORS'
ORDER OF MERIT TITLE AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Monifieth maestro Ian Hutcheon duly won the inaugural Scottish Seniors Order of Merit at Blairgowrie Golf Club today, even though the 65-year-old former Walker Cup player finished only fourth in the end-of-the-season event restricted to the leading 30 players in the points table.
Hutcheon, the Scottish seniors amateur champion, had built up such a big lead in earlier events on the Scottish over-55s circuit, that he could not be caught even if he had finished last.
Ian totalled 589pt to win the Order of Merit title and trophy by more than 250pt from runner-up Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven), 320, with John Fraser (Royal Burgess) third with 292, George Paterson (Northern) fourth with 260 and Jim Watt (Letham Grange) fifth with 245.
“I don’t feel I need to practise as much as I once did,” said Ian after returning a two-over-par 74 (37-37) at the Lansdowne course, “especially if I am playing two or three times a week as I usually do.”

Ian had "only" one birdie in his round, at the 13th and three bogeys, at the seventh, 11th and 18th.
Winner of first prize for the Order of Merit Shoot-out meeting was Alloa man Tony Stafford who plays off scratch at Troon St Meddans Golf Club.
Stafford, 55, had a very good round of two-under-par 70 off the back tees on the Lansdowne course (6,952yd) despite finishing with four 5s in a row, which includes bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
Driving very well, mostly with a three-wood, he birdied the first, fifth, seventh, 10th and 12th and, without a blemish on his card, was five under par with four holes to play. He bogeyed the 15th even though he was playing a pitching wedge approach; he three-putted the 16th and had his one bad drive, into the trees, at the 18th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 37 (one over).
Stafford played for a spell as a professional on the Hooters and Golden Gate Tours in America in the 1990s.

He had played in only one of the Scottish seniors' circuit events, at Stirling Golf Club but plans to play the full tour next season.

Tony recalls he did play for a Midlands representative boys' team of yesteryear but was never capped for Scotland at Under-18 level and that he gave up golf completely for three years after getting married at the age of 18.

His Blairgowrie Lansdowne figures were:

OUT: 4-4-4-4-2-4-3-5-3-33.

IN: 3-4-3-4-3-5-5-5-5-37.
Robert Humble (Kilspindie) was runner-up with a 71 (36-35). Robert birdied the first, fourth, eighth, 12th, 13th and 17th but had bogeys at the second, third, sixth, 14th and 16th.

Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven), who did well in the recent British seniors' open amateur championship at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar, finished third on the day with a 73 (37-36).

Gordon birdied the first, seventh, 11th and 13th, bogeyed the fourth, ninth, 12th and 15th.

Collated scoreboard

SCOTTISH SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT SHOOT-OUT
Blairgowrie Golf Club, Lansdowne Course.
6,932yd. Par 72
SCRATCH
70 T Stafford (Troon St Meddans).
71 R Humble (Kilspindie).
73 G Brown (Vale of Leven).
74 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).
75 D McCart (Castlerock).
77 A K Pirie (Hazlehead), R Stewart (Tulliallan), W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox), D Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), P Tomisson (Nairn), J Fraser (Royal Burgess).
78 G Thomson (Bearsden), R MacLellan (Turnberry), G Paterson (Northern).
79 W Wallace (Strathaven), H Anderson (Callander), S Ellis (Cowal), I Taylor (Royal Burgess).
80 J Paton (Kirkintilloch), R MacLean (Hamilton).
81 W Brown (Strathaven), J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), G Rodaks (Moffat).
82 B Grieve (King James VI).
83 J Roy (Grange), B Smith (Hamilton), C Christy (Kilmacolm).
86 I Dickson (Lundin).
NR J Watt (Letham Grange).
HANDICAP – D McCart (Castlerock) (1) 74; G Thomson (Bearsden) (3), R Stewart (Tulliallan) (2), W Wallace (Strathaven) (4) 75.

SCOTTISH SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
1 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 589, 2 G Brown (Vale of Leven) 320, 3 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 292, 4 G Paterson (Northern) 260, 5 J Watt (Letham Grange) 245.

PRESS RELEASE

"CANADA CUP" COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR WORLD
CUP STAGING AT MISSION HILLS IN CHINA

A Total of 28 Nations to Play for the Original Trophy at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup
One of the most distinctive trophies in professional golf will be raised aloft for the first time in eight years in November when 28 nations contest the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.
Weighing a formidable 82 kilos and standing 56cms tall and 61cms wide, the trophy which began life in 1953 as the Canada Cup, will be presented to the 2007 champions at Mission Hills Golf Club on November 25 after four days of world class team competition.
The return of the World Cup trophy to active service was endorsed by the International Federation of PGA Tours at Carnoustie in Scotland during The 136th Open Championship. Since 2000, the trophy has been housed at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida. It will be on display during the OMEGA European Masters in Switzerland in September before taking up residence at its new, permanent home, Mission Hills Golf Club, in time for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Pictured with the impressive trophy are (left to right): Johan Immelman, Commissioner, Sunshine Tour; Tim Finchem, Commissioner, US PGA Tour; George O’Grady, Chief Executive, The European Tour; Ben Sellenger, CEO, PGA Tour of Australasia; Kosaku Shimada, Chairman, Japan Golf Tour and Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour.
The original World Cup of Golf was the brainchild of the late Canadian industrialist and founder of the International Golf Association (IGA), John Jay Hopkins, who donated the Canada Cup for competition among two-man teams representing their countries.
Argentina, represented by Antonio Cerda and 1967 Open Champion, Roberto de Vicenzo, defeated six other countries to capture the inaugural World Cup at Beaconsfield Golf Club in Montreal in 1953.
Since then, it has grown into one of the most prestigious world team events in golf, played on some of the finest courses and has fostered strong bonds between the different nationalities over the past 54 years.
Many great partnerships from the past and present have had their names inscribed on the famous trophy – Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle; Ben Hogan and Sam Snead; Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer; Fred Couples and Davis Love III in four consecutive years and the popular Irish pairing of Padraig Harrington, The 2007 Open Champion, and Paul McGinley. Other great champions such as Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer and Tiger Woods have won the event twice with different partners.
Since the year 2000, when the event became part of the World Golf Championships series, World Number One, Tiger Woods, has been successful twice, with David Duval and Mark O’Meara while Els and Retief Goosen were also victorious.
Woods and his close friend O’Meara were, in fact, the last partnership to accept the original trophy on behalf of the United States at the Mines Resort & Golf Club in Malaysia in 1999.
For the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup the leading 18 available players, each native-born citizens of different countries, from the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday September 3 will qualify. These 18 players will select a player of their choosing from the same country provided each player is ranked in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking on September 3. Ten countries from the World Qualifying Competitions to be held from September 27-30 will complete the field of 28 nations competing for the first prize of US$1,650,000 from a total prize fund of US$5,000,000.
The 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup will launch a new and exciting era in the history of the event first played in 1953 as the Canada Cup. The event is set to continue through 2018, and most probably beyond, at Mission Hills following the signing of an agreement, which brought the prestige watch manufacturer Omega together with the Club, which introduced international golf to China by hosting the World Cup in 1995.
The International Federation of PGA Tours will, as custodians, oversee the 53rd edition of the event as it unfolds less than one year before the staging in Beijing of the Olympic Games at which Omega has a unique role as Official Timekeeper.

COLIN SAVES SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP STATUS

Colin Montgomerie said at Gleneagles yesterday on the eve of the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Championship that he does intend representing Scotland in the World Cup in China in November.
Monty and Marc Warren lost a play-off to Germany in the Barbados last year.
Apart from Colin, Scotland's professional golfers are so far down the individual world rankings that Scotland might not have been eligible to field a team of two had he not made himself available.

ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL MOVES TO MALAYSIA

The 2008 Asian Tour Qualifying School will break new ground later this year when it is played for the first time in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Asian Tour announced today that the Qualifying School has also received the full support from Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism.
Approximately 500 players from all around the world are expected to head to the East Malaysian state in November and December in their attempts to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2008 season.
The Asian Tour is widely regarded as the fastest growing tour in the world, with a record US$27 million in total prize money on offer this year through the staging of 27 tournaments across the region.
The Qualifying School will feature two stages of stroke-play competition, with the First Stage being held over two separate weeks (November 7-10 and December 5-8) in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah. The courses which will be used are Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club and Borneo Golf and Country Club.
The all-important Final Stage will be held at Sutera Harbour and Sabah Golf Club from December 12-15 where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn playing rights for the 2008 season.
The Entry Form for the Qualifying School is available on www.asiantour.com.
Sabah, located in the northern part of Borneo, is the second largest state in Malaysia. The famous Sabah landscape, with lush green forests and mountainous terrain, has been a tourist attraction with its breathtaking views of tropical rainforest.

Editor's note: In common with Tour Qualifying Schools the world over, the cost of entry to the Asian Tour Qualifying School is high - $US 1,500, which is roughly £750. That is a one-off fee which covers all the stages. October 27 is the deadline for entries.

LET'S HOPE VIKKI'S EXAMPLE CAN

SPUR DAVID INGLIS TO RISE

OUT OF PRO TOUR DOLDRUMS

Scottishgolfview.com's David Inglis Watch continues on the Gateway Tour in Florida.
The young man from Glencorse, for whom a great future was predicted in golf not all that long ago when he was British boys champion, a successful player on the US college circuit while a student at Tulsa University, then a Walker Cup player, has had a professional career that just does not match up to the talent that is lying dormant for the moment.
David has played in 25 tournaments since January 5.
He has missed the 36-hole cut or withdrawn after one round in 20 events.
He is currently on a five missed-cuts sequence. His record is 10 in a row.
He won money from his first three events of the year when he was joint 11th, joint 30th and joint 19th. Since then he has had a payday only twice - in March when he was joint 24th and mid-July when he was 50th.
His Hooter Tour earnings this year add up to $7,833.
Let's hope that the Boy David hangs on in there as Vikki Laing, another very talented Scot as an amateur, did and was rewarded with her first pro win on the US Futures Tour at Gettysburg on Sunday.

Starting times for shotgun start on Monday

PAUL LAWRIE SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
(SCRATCH) TROPHY & A.T. PERSONNEL
SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
(HANDICAP) TROPHY

Peterculter Golf Club, nr Aberdeen: Monday, September 3

Players should register in the clubhouse before going to stated tee at 11.30 am for shotgun start.

GIRLS - RED TEES BOYS - WHITE TEES

HOLE ONE
Calum Geddes, Kincorth Academy
Zac Wood, Torry Academy
Ashley Alston, Montrose Academy

HOLE TWO
Ashley Smith, Grove Academy
Mhairi Johnstone, Aberdeen Grammar School
Fiona Fullerton, The Gordon Schools

HOLE THREE
Rebecca Wilson, Monifeith High School
Lauren Duncan, Aboyne Academy
Rachael Polson, Cults Academy

HOLE FOUR
Douglas Elrick. Hazlehead Academy
Ross Gordon, Peterhead Academy
John Elrick, Meldrum Academy

HOLE FIVE
Sean Lawrie, Kincorth Academy
Scott Keith, Dyce Academy
Ryan Gordon, Alford Academy

HOLE FIVE: MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Mark Thomson, Grove Academy
Nick Macandrew, Aberdeen Grammar School
Jack Scott, Robert Gordon’s College

HOLE SIX
Mark Stainton, Peterhead Academy
Sam MacNeil, Aboyne Academy
Euan McIntosh, Ellon Academy

HOLE SEVEN
Scott Barron, Kemnay Academy
Gordon McKechnie, Meldrum Academy
Andy Todd ,Grove Academy

HOLE SEVEN: MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Scott Bruce, Oldmachar Academy
Murray Adam, Cults Academy
Luke Sanderson, Bridge of Don Academy

HOLE EIGHT
Michael McNally, Monifeith High School
Ritchie Manson, Alford Academy
Ross Pert, Montrose Academy

HOLE NINE
Fraser Clarke, Westhill Academy
Ryan Dick, Hazlehead Academy
Nick Shewan, Mintlaw Academy

HOLE TEN
Michael Clark, The Gordon Schools
Sean Carrol, Torry Academy
Murray Kinnard, Bridge of Don Academy

HOLE ELEVEN
Ali Macdonald, Robert Gordon’s College
Ben Gourlay, Meldrum Academy
Andrew Cowieson, Monifeith High School

HOLE TWELVE
Andrew Simpson, Montrose Academy
Matthew Smith, Westhill Academy
Aaron Crouch, Mintlaw Academy

HOLE THIRTEEN
Cameron Murray, Dyce Academy
Kyle Gray, Torry Academy
Craig Barron, Kemnay Academy

HOLE 13 - MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Adam Dunton, Ellon Academy
Chris Robb, Banchory Academy
Scott Brown, Oldmachar Academy

HOLE FOURTEEN
Kamran Zeynalov, Kincorth Academy
Aaron Ingram, Mintlaw Academy
Lewis Morgan, Kemnay Academy

HOLE FIFTEEN
Matthew Mitchell, Bridge of Don Academy
Cameron Smith, Dyce Academy
Nicol Dow, Alford Academy

HOLE SIXTEEN
Matthew Wiseman, Peterhead Academy
Fraser O’Connor, Banchory Academy
Murray Paterson, Ellon Academy

HOLE SEVENTEEN
David Beaumont, Oldmachar Academy
Graham Guild, The Gordon Schools
Steven Smith, Westhill Academy

HOLE 17 - MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Donald Macandrew, Aberdeen Grammar School
Steven Smith, Robert Gordon’s College
Stewart McIntosh, Aboyne Academy

HOLE EIGHTEEN
Sean Mechie, Banchory Academy
Scott Patterson, Cults Academy
Michael Angus, Hazlehead Academy

***Middle of Fairway: Tee off before hooter at noon.

PAUL DOHERTY BACK IN CONTENTION
WITH AN OPENING ROUND OF 65

Former Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Doherty bounced back from the disappointment of missing the cut last week to be lying joint fifth with a five-under-par 65 in the first round of the PGA EuroPro Tour's Ufford Park Classic today.
SCOREBOARD
Par 70
63 M McDermott (Ire).
64 G Clark (Eng), J Ruebotham (Eng), S Cartwright (Eng).
65 P Doherty (Sco) 35-30, R Harris (Eng), R Claydon (Eng), E Vernon (Eng).
Other Scots scores:
70 P Cormack 36-34.
71 J Doherty 38-33.
72 G Brown 39-33, N Mitchell 37-35, C Campbell 37-35.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE SEASON STARTS AT
BRAEMAR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

The North-east of Scotland Golfers' Alliance annual meeting will be held at the Atholl Hotel, King's Gate in Aberdeen on Monday, September 10 at 7.30pm.
Entry forms for the Scottish Alliance championship at Monifieth and Arbroath from October 9 to 11 will be available at the meeting and also at the first competition of the new season, at Braemar on Wednesday, September 12.
Trouble is that the deadline for entries is Saturday, September 15 and there is a penalty clause for late entries to the Scottish Alliance championship this year. If you want to enter it and it is after Saturday, September 15, then there will be an additional fee of £20 on top of the "normal" entry free of £40.
If you want to get your hands on a Scottish Alliance championship entry form in good time, you can phone secretary Ron Menzies at 01224 780033.

The 2007-2008 NE Alliance season starts on Wednesday, September 12 at Braemar.
The fixtures are:
September 12 Braemar. 19 Kemnay. 26 McDonald Ellon.
October 3 Huntly. 9-11 Scottish Alliance championship (Monifieth & Arbroath). 17 Insch. 24 Ballater. 31 Edzell.
November 7 Peterculter. 14 Newmacahr. 21 Turriff. 28 Portlethen.
December 5 Cruden Bay .
January 9 Craibstone. 16 Peterhead. 23 Buckpool. 30 Inverallochy.
February 6 Montrose. 13 Deeside. 20 Murcar. 27 Newburgh.
March 5 Fraserburgh. 12 Cruden Bay (championship first round). 19 Duff House Royal (championship second round). 27-28 Murcar (foursomes).


ends

KEMNAY POST FOR GLENEAGLES STAFF
MAN DAVID BROWN

Kemnay Golf Club near Aberdeen has appointed David Brown, a member of the Gleneagles Hotel golf staff, to succeed Ronnie McDonald as club professional.
Elgin-born Brown will take up his duties from Saturday, September 1.
McDonald has resigned from the Kemnay post because wants to make a serious attempt at getting on to the European Seniors Tour. He has failed narrowly to gain a player's card for the over-50s circuit at the past two Qualifying Schools on the Algarve.
Brown, 28, was PGA Scottish trainee of the year in 2004.

TOP NORWICH GOLF POST FOR BLAIRGOWRIE MAN

Blairgowrie-born golf professional Keith Grant, a former winner of the Grampian TV boys' championship before he competed on the Tartan Tour for a spell, has been appointed director of golf at the Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel & Country Club on the outskirts of Norwich.
The facilities include a 6,547yd 18-hole course and a 27-bay floodlit driving range.
Keith was previously on the pro staff at Hanbury Manor Hotel & Country Club and also Fairmont St Andrews Resort.

Press Release

R&A ANNOUNCES NEW RULES ON
CLUB ADJUSTABILITY

The R&A has announced a change to the Rules of Golf regarding additional forms of club adjustability, effective from 1 January, 2008. All new forms of adjustability must be approved in advance by The R&A and adjustments during a round will continue to be disallowed as at present.
The Rules of Golf currently state that woods and irons must not be designed to be adjustable, except for weight. In March 2005, The R&A first indicated an interest in allowing more types of adjustable features on woods and irons and in February 2007, a proposed Rule change was published for review and comment.
The R&A has decided to adopt the proposal after careful consideration of comments from manufacturers and other interested parties.
“We believe that the Rule change regarding club adjustability will create opportunities for both manufacturers and golfers alike, without diminishing the challenge of the game,” said David Rickman, R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.
“Top professional golfers have long had the opportunity to have their clubs adjusted or modified quickly and often. This has allowed them to ‘fit’ their clubs to their swings as they wished. By changing the Rules to permit greater club adjustability, all golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy similar fitting benefits” added Rickman.

1. The new Rule will state the following:

“All clubs may incorporate mechanisms for weight adjustment. Other forms of adjustability may also be permitted upon evaluation by The R&A.

The following requirements apply to all permissible methods of adjustment:

(i) the adjustment cannot be readily made;

(ii) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and

(iii) all configurations of adjustment conform with the Rules.

During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means (see Rule 4-2a)”

2. There is no change to the Rules for putters, which are already permitted to incorporate other forms of adjustability as well as for weight.

3. An announcement on the 2008 Rules of Golf, including the principal changes to the “playing Rules”, will be made at the end of October / early November.

Aberdeen exile Paul Patterson pictured in his new golfing abode at Perth, Western Australia. Life can be tough sometimes!

Colin Farquharson writes:

Paul Patterson was a well-known local amateur golfer in the North-east area for several years. A member of Murcar (Links) Golf Club, Aberdeen, Paul was a good enough player to be selected for the North-east District many times.

Recently, I received an E-mail from Paul, telling me he was now living and working in Australia - and was delighted to discover that he could now keep up todate with the golf scene in Scotland and the North-east, having just discovered www.scottishgolfview.com

I invited Paul to could tell us about life in Australia as he knows it. Here is his reply:

PAUL PATTERSON'S LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA

I have been in Perth , Australia for nearly four years now. I moved here with my wife and two young sons as Yvonne was offered a position in Perth as H R manager with an Italian oil company. I work as a part-time share trader and "full time" as a father.
I still miss my golfing mates from Aberdeen (Alan Reith, Bryan Innes, Graeme McInnes, Andy Campbell, Ronnie Brechin etc) but the golf here is really enjoyable.

The weather is just perfect for about 10 months per year.
I play my golf at Joondalup Country Club which is a 27-hole compex which has been voted No.1 resort in Australia for the past three years. It is a Robert Trent Jones junior-designed course with huge sloping greens which are real fast at certain times of the year.

I got to know Michael Sim (US Tour) who was born in Aberdeen and played all his amateur golf at Joondalup. He is a really down to earth guy and has a short game to die for !!!
I play just as much golf here as I did back in Scotland. There are plenty of good quality tournaments to play in such as The Vines and Lake Karenup.

I play pennant golf for Joondalup which is played as seven singles matches. It's very competitive and after the food and speeches , each team gets up and sings the club song !!!!
We're really settled here now and it is a real outdoor lifestyle and climate we love but watching sporting events from UK can be a bit tiresome at 3 o'clock in the morning !!!
I'm glad I found your website as I still like to see how the boys are doing back in the North East.
Regards,
Paul Patterson

English Golf Union Press Release

ENGLAND NAME SIX FOR DUTCH JUNIOR MASTERS

Adam Best, a member of England’s triumphant Boys Home Internationals team, and under 16 Champion Adam Carson have been named in a six-man squad to compete in the International Dutch Junior Masters at Westfriese in Holland on September 1 and 2.
The full squad is
Jonathan Bell (Royal Blackheath), Tom Berry (Wentworth), Adam Best (Cleveland), Adam Carson (Long Ashton), Richard Prophet (Shifnal) and Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse).

AMATEUR PETE JAMES WINS CELTIC PRO
TOUR'S SWANSEA BAY OPEN

English amateur Pete James led from start to finish to win the Swansea Bay Open, the sixth event of the Dragon Tour, and the eighth event on the Celtic Pro Tour.
Overnight leader James, of Belmont Lodge, held on to his lead to win his first event on the Celtic Pro Tour by one shot from professional Lewis James (ISM/Southerndown).
Pete James becomes the eighth different winner on the Celtic Pro Tour this season. Three players were tied for third place - home professional Jonathan Clewett, Andy Lambert (Belmont Lodge) and Leon Clark (Greenmeadow)
Pete James' first round one under par round of 69 on the west Wales course would have been much better as he stood at four under par after 15 holes and triple-bogeyed the 16th hole to bring the chasing golfers back into contention.
The amateur was in a similar position at the Wicklow Open in Tulfarris last month when he triple bogeyed the 17th on the Irish course.
The Celtic Pro Tour, while designed mainly for young professional golfers to hone their skills, is also open to quality amateur golfers looking to develop their game.
Clinching the title with a closing round 72, Pete James joins Neath's Richard Hooper as the second amateur to win on the tour and received the voucher for the leading amateur, a Sunderland of Scotland waterproof suit, a Powerbug electric trolley and the Swansea Bay Open title and trophy.
Lewis James walked away with the professionals’ prize money of £500 and also claimed the bonus money for the best round over the two days with 71 on both occasions. Lambert, Clark and Clewett split the 2nd and 3rd place money, each taking home £100.
The next Celtic Pro Tour event, the Carnoustie Country Open takes place at Montrose (Medal Course), on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th September,
A special package price is available for Welsh-based golfers wishing to compete in this famous golfing heartland.
“We are putting together a very attractive package for golfers from Wales wishing to travel to Montrose, a venue that staged final qualifying for this year’s Open Championship and golfers must remember that in order to qualify for the final Order of Merit placings, they must compete in at least one non-Welsh based event,” said Tour director Rhydian Thomas.
“This is an excellent opportunity to meet that condition, as we have already played two events in Ireland and there is only one more Scottish event after Montrose, which will be at Murcar in the first week of October. Indeed, as we get closer to the end of the season, golfers who have yet to play an event on the Celtic Pro Tour are reminded that they will need to play in at least one standard event in order to be able to enter the Tour Championship at St Pierre on 17th, 18th and 19th of October when we will be playing for our biggest prize fund.”
For more information on the Scottish event or the Tour Championship, visit the website at www.celticpro.com, or contact Tour Director, Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568

CELTIC PRO TOUR EVENT AT MONTROSE
DELAYED A DAY TO SEPTEMBER 11-12

The Celtic Pro Tour 36-hole golf tournament at Montrose Links has been put back a day to September 11 and 12. It was originally due to be played on the Monday and Tuesday. Now it will start on the Tuesday and finished on the Wednesday.
The only other Celtic Pro Tour event in Scotland, the Grampian Open, will be held over Murcar Links on October 1 and 2.
Both events are open to low-handicap amateurs as well as professionals.
Details are available from Celtic Pro Tour Director Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568.

BELL WINS ANGUS MATCH-PLAY TITLE

Graham Bell (Downfield) is the new Angus District match-play champion.
He beat Ian Reid (Letham Grange) over the Letham Grange course at the 20th hole in an epic final.

ELS PULLS OUT OF US TOUR EVENT AT BOSTON

World ranked No 4 Ernie Els has pulled out of this week's US PGA Tour event, the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
Els is spending the week at his Wentworth, Surrey home, supervising family matters and he will miss this week's round of the US PGA Tour play-offs for the FedExCup.
Tiger Woods missed last week's tournament.
"I have been on the road now for almost eight weeks and it is important that I return home where my children will be preparing for their return to school," said Els after finishing fourth in the weekend's Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club.
"I regret having to miss such a prestigious and important tournament and I wish everybody there an enjoyable and successful week," Els said.
Els will return for the third round of the FedEx Cup at the BMW Championship next week.

LAMB CHOPS BUCHANAN’S LONG RUN IN
PAUL LAWRIE YOUNG PROS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS

Broomieknowe’s Stephen Lamb won the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals’ match-play title and a £900 cheque at Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire today.
Stephen beat the defending champion, Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) by 3 and 2 in the final. Buchanan’s runner-up prize was £650.
It was certainly never going to be a case of leading Lamb to the slaughter .. Stephen has playing experience on the European Challenge Tour and the PGA EuroPro Tour.
Buchanan won the first hole in the final but Lamb squared with a birdie at the second and was never in arrears after that. Three up at the turn, the Broomieknowe man defied his opponent’s attempts to reduce the lead significantly.
In the morning semi-finals, Buchanan beat David Orr (East Renfrewshire) by two holes. Including last year’s championship and this one, it was the first time Buchanan had had to play the 18th hole.
Lamb beat James McGhee (Turnhouse) by 3 and 2 in the other semi-final.
The beaten semi-finalists each received £440.
Today's results:

Semi-finals – T Buchanan (Duddingston) bt D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 2 holes, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) bt J McGhee (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
Final – Lamb bt Buchanan 3 and 2.

LOCKHART WINS AT ARCHERFIELD FROM ACE CRERAR

Ladybank's Alan Lockhart won the £831 top prize in today's Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society pro-am at Archerfield Links Golf Club, East Lothian.
Lockhart finished with a four-under-par 68 which was a good round in its own right but he could have had an exceptional score over a tough course but for a double-bogey at the very last hole.
Prior to that Alan had birdied the third, fifth, sixth, 10th,14th and 15th and was six under par standing on the 18th tee.
Runner-up Andrew Crerar (King James VI) had a hole in one at the third (181yd) with a seven iron. It was is third ace. His score of 69 earned him £664.
Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) led the Saltire Taverns' amateur trio of Billy Lowe (13), Ian Lynn (18) and Steve Paterson (18) to victory with a net better ball score of 12-under-par 60 - but only on a better inward half of 29.
Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) and the Best Cellars' team also had a net score of 60.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 72
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank).
69 A Crerar (King James VI).
71 S Cairns (Westerwood), S Bayne(Archerfield Links).
72 C Ronald (Carluke), J McKenna (Irvine), G McFarlane (Clober), G Harvey (Kinross), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
73 G Law (Uphall), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), J Porteous (Craigielaw).
74 L Vannet (Carnoustie GL), D Robertson (Mearns Castle).

SCOTLAND SCHOOLS TEAMS ANNOUNCED

The Scotland teams for the schoolboys and schoolgirls' international matches against their England counterparts at Westerwood Hotel Golf & Country Club, Cumbernauld on Monday, September 10 have been announced.
Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to see who's in and who's not.

BUCHANAN v LAMB FOR PAUL LAWRIE YP TITLE

Title-holder Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) is through to the final of the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals' match-play championship for the second year in a row.
In this morning's semi-finals at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club, Buchanan beat David Orr (East Renfrewshire) by two holes while Stephen Lamb (Balbirnie Park) beat James McGhee (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
Final tees off at 12.30 today.

English Golf Union Press Release

COLIN EDWARDS ROLLS YEARS BACK TO WIN
ENGLISH MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Colin Edwards proved he is still a force in the game by winning the English men's mid-amateur stroke-play championship for the Logan Trophy in style at Minchinhampton recently - 12 years after his last national triumph.
The 44-year-old from Bath, whose appearances in national events have been restricted by business commitments and a car accident 18 months ago, rolled back the years to lead from start to finish.
Edwards carded a closing 70 for 206, seven under par, and a six-shot winning margin from Cheshire’s Gareth Bradley, 44, who took the runner-up spot on countback, also with a last-round 70, and defending champion Martin Young, 37, with 73.
Edwards’ last national title was a share of the Brabazon Trophy in 1995 but he proved he has lost none of the skills that brought him 86 England appearances between 1991 and 2003.
“This is unbelievable,” he said after starting the day three strokes clear of Young. “It is fantastic to win and means the world to me because it proves I can still win at national level. At the start of the week I probably felt I couldn’t win.
"I was hitting the ball poorly but the opening 68 was a big boost. I wanted to win more than anything and in some ways I probably tried too hard.
“Although I had a comfortable lead I could never relax until the end because I knew how good a player Martin is," added the man with 12 Somerset titles to his credit.
From Young’s point of view, Edwards’ three-stroke lead going into the final day was a gap too far and he never managed to claw it back. closing 70 for second spot.
John Kemp, another ex-England cap, also finished with 70 including a back nine of 32, for 218 and joint seventh spot but the week belonged to Edwards, who is hoping to add another national crown in the County Champions event at Woodhall Spa next month.
Full results and news items can be found at the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org

MAJOR HANDICAP CHANGE IN C O N G U PIPELINE

Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read a Lewine Mair story from the Daily Telegraph website (www.telegraph.co.uk) about a major change in the handicapping system is in the pipeline from CONGU.

COLT KNOST SUCCEEDS RICHIE

RAMSAY AS UNITED STATES

AMATEUR CHAMPION

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE

Colt Knost of Dallas earned a 2-and-1 victory over Michael Thompson of Tucson, Arizona to win the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club’s par-70, 6,948-yard Lake Course near San Francisco.

And so Knost succeeded Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) - now a tour professional - as the title-holder. Picture of Knost with the championship trophy is from the USGA website.
It was the second USGA title of 2007 for the 22-year-old Knost, who won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month. With the victory, Knost became the sixth golfer in history to win two USGA championships in the same season, and the second to win the US Amateur and the Amateur Public Links in the same year. Ryan Moore was the first to do so, in 2004.
Knost held a one-hole lead after the first round of the scheduled 36-hole final thanks to a conceded birdie on the 18th hole. In the second round, Thompson squared the match with a brilliant par on the 247-yard third hole, the 21st of the match, when he got up and down from the left rough above the green.
Thompson, 22, took the lead two holes later when he made a 45-footer for par and Knost couldn’t match from 35 feet. But that would prove to be Thompson’s last lead of the day.
Knost squared the match one hole later when Thompson hit his tee shot in the left rough and had to pitch out to the fairway.

He missed his par putt from 10 feet and Knost safely two-putted from 6 feet to again square the match. Knost again took a 1-up lead with a 10-footer for birdie on the eighth hole but gave it back when he missed an 8-footer for par on No. 11, the 29th of the match.
"I kept telling myself, ‘It's 36 holes, just stay patient,’ " said Knost. "I felt like this match, after that morning 18, I felt I could take control of the match coming out, and I didn’t. And I knew I was going to be in for a long haul."
But Knost would finally take the lead for good on No. 13, the 31st of the match, with a 20-foot birdie putt. One hole later, he chipped in from the rough just left of the green and Thompson was unable to match, giving Knost a two-up advantage.
"At that point I'm thinking that I've got to give myself birdie opportunities," said Thompson. "I've got to give myself a chance to win a couple holes."
It looked like Thompson might get one back at No. 15 when Knost hit his tee shot to the rough in front of the green. But he chipped to 10 feet and made his par, allowing him to maintain a 2-up lead.
"I think that was probably more important than the other two, because it kept the momentum in my favour," said Knost. "If I miss that, then he wins the hole and he's obviously got control even though I'm one up with three holes to play."
Thompson did cut into the lead at No. 16 when he hit his approach shot from 118 yards to 3 feet, which he made to cut the deficit to 1 down. But on the next hole, the 35th of the match, he hit his approach shot into the rough well right of the green. He was unable to get his third shot onto the green, and eventually conceded Knost’s par putt, giving Knost his second USGA title in 2007.
For Thompson, there was a silver lining in the loss. He and Knost are assured of a spot in the 2008 U.S. Open field, and will receive invitations to play in the 2008 Masters Tournament as well.
"That's my dream come true," said Thompson of playing in the Masters. "I don't want to get ahead of myself or get too excited, but come that time, I'm going to practice real hard and try to do as best as I can and really enjoy it."
Story written by Beth Murrison of USGA Media Relations. Contact her at bmurrison@usga.org with questions or comments.

ORR READY TO KNOCK-OUT HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPION IN PAUL

LAWRIE MATCH-PLAY

Stranraer-born Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), defending champion in the Paul Lawrie young professionals’ match-play tournament, is through to tomorrow morning's semi-finals.
He will play the in-form David Orr (East Renfrewshire) at 8am. In the other tie, tee-ing off at 8.10, it will be James McGhee (Turnhouse) against Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe).
Buchanan won the title last year without having to play the last two holes in any of his four ties.
Yesterday, he had to play the 17th for the first time. After beating Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 3 and 2 in the first round, Tom beat Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond) in the quarter-final by 2 and 1.
Buchanan, pictured above, is a 6ft 3in 27-year-old who tips the scales at 18stone. He was a senior football prospect in his youth, playing a trial for Rangers and training with Kilmarnock.
He is a past East of Scotland Alliance title-winner.
Orr will be in the mood to knock-out the heavyweight champion after producing a record-equalling round of 61 in coming from several shots behind to pip Greig Hutcheon for the Williamwood 36-hole pro-am top prize.
Stephen Lamb won a marathon first-round tie at the 22nd against Graham Lornie.
Monday results:
First round – T Buchanan (Duddingston) bt I Graham (Crow Wood) 3 and 2, B Mackay (Loch Lomond) bt A MacKenzie (Liberton) at 19th, J Wales (Kings Acre) bt G Fox (West Kilbride) at 20th, D Orr (East Renfrewshire0 bt C McCalman (unatt) 1 hole, J McGhee (Turnhouse0 w.o. A Carlton (Cawder) scr, P Mitchell (Aberdour) bt J Cliff (Murrayfield) 1 hole, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) bt G Lornie (Aspire) at 22nd, S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) bt R Scott (Musselburgh) 6 and 5.
Quarter-finals – Buchanan bt Mackay 2 and 1, Orr bt Wales 3 and 2, McGhee bt Mitchell 3 and 2, Lamb bt Duncan 3 and 2.

ends

FOWLER AND STANLEY COMPLETE USA TEAM
FOR WALKER CUP MATCH AT ROYAL Co DOWN

Rickie Fowler, 18, of Murrieta, Calif., and Kyle Stanley, 19, of Gig Harbor, Wash., have been selected to complete the 10-man squad that will represent the United States against Great Britain & Ireland at Royal Couonty Down Golf Club, Newcastle in Northern Ireland on September 8 and 9.
The USGA had earlier announced eight members of the team:
Billy Horschel, 20, of Grant, Fla.
Dustin Johnson, 23, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Chris Kirk, 22, of Woodstock, Ga.
Colt Knost, 22 of Dallas, Texas.
Trip Kuehne, 35, of Irving, Texas.
Jamie Lovemark, 19, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Jonathan Moore, 22, of Vancouver, Wash.
Webb Simpson, 21, of Raleigh, N.C.
All but Kuehne are collegians or recent graduates, who are playing on their first Walker Cup team.
The alternates to the team, in rank order, are
Michael Thompson, 22, of Tucson, Ariz.
Drew Weaver, 20, of High Point, N.C.
Alex Prugh, 22, of Spokane, Wash.
The Walker Cup Match consists of 16 singles and eight foursomes matches.
The USA reclaimed the Cup with a one-point victory at Chicago Golf Club in 2005.
Great Britain and Ireland’s team had won the three previous Matches, in 1999, 2001 and 2003, twice by scores of 15-9 and by 12½ -11½ in 2003. The USA leads the series overall, 32-7-1.

Fowler won the 2007 Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa., by one stroke, finishing at 8-under-par 272 for his four rounds. He followed with a win at the 2007 Players Amateur in Bluffton, S.C., where he was 24 under par for 72 holes. He also was a quarterfinalist at the 2006 U.S. Amateur.

At the Sunnehanna, he was in the 60s for three of the four rounds. At the Players, his four rounds in the 60s included a 63 and 64.

He won the individual title at the 2007 Southern California High School Championship and the 2006 California State High School Championship. He is currently in his first year at Oklahoma State University.

Stanley won the 2006 Southern Amateur in Birmingham, Ala., as part of a resume that includes five top-10 finishes in highly regarded amateur events over the past two summers. In winning the Southern Amateur, he posted a 9-under-par total of 275 for 72 holes to win by a single stroke. He reached the second round of match play at the 2007 U.S. Amateur.

He was individual runner-up at the 2007 NCAA Championship, where he had a 65 in the third round. He was invited to play in the PGA Tour’s 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Stanley, a sophomore year at Clemson University, will be playing in his first Walker Cup Match.
George “Buddy” Marucci, 55, of Villanova, Pa., who played on the USA Walker Cup teams of 1995 and 1997 and was runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1995 U.S. Amateur, will serve as team captain.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to lead this Walker Cup squad to Ireland,” said Marucci. “It is an honor to be involved with this competition and these fine young men who will represent the USA. I appreciate the commitment on the part of our players who were chosen and those who were considered.”


MEET THE 2007 USA TEAM –
Player Age Hometown
Billy Horschel 20 (12/7/86) Grant, Fla.
Rickie Fowler 18 (12/13/88) Murrieta, Calif.
Dustin Johnson 23 (6/22/84) Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Chris Kirk 22 (5/8/85) Woodstock, Ga.
Colt Knost 22 (6/26/85) Dallas, Texas
Trip Kuehne 35 (6/20/72) Irving, Texas
Jamie Lovemark 19 (1/23/88) Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Jonathan Moore 22 (4/17/85) Vancouver, Wash.
Webb Simpson 21 (8/8/85) Raleigh, N.C.
Kyle Stanley 19 (11/19/87) Gig Harbor, Wash.

Captain
George “Buddy” Marucci 55 (3/6/52) Villanova, Pa.

The USGA is the national governing body of golf in this country and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the game’s golfers and golf courses.

The Association conducts 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, maintains an official Handicap System and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program, which has allocated more than $56 million over 10 years to programs that seek to grow the game. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

NO QUALIFICATIONS - BUT BELGIAN GOLF GURU
IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!

Brought to you by Golfhub Ireland
and JO MAES

Who is Josh ?It has gone a bit quiet around Josh Vonstiephoet, the Belgian self-professed golf 'guru'.
Jos Vanstiphout, his real name, has assisted numerous tour pros to win golf tournaments and it has made him a rich man in the process. His qualifications have always been doubted by the other educated psychologists on tour and rightfully so because he has none.
Jos was one of 10 kids and left school at 13. He floated through a variety of jobs from cleaning toilets to advertising sales. He also joined a pop/rock group called Jerimia in the 70's and represented Belgium at the World Song Festival in Tokyo competing against the likes of Demis Roussos and Vicky Leandros.
'If you don't believe in the product, don't sell it. Dream, believe, work your ass off and success will come' was his philosophy during his time as advertising sales. He was going to use a similar philosophy on the Golf Tour but before he could go there, there was one thing left to do, he had to play the game.
So he started playing golf at age 41 and got down to a 10-handicap within the year. He read 500+ philosophy books and the one book that struck him was 'The inner game of Golf' by Timothy Gallwey. He withdrew close to 30,000 Euros and went to the States to look the guy up. He ended up spending a month together with Gallwey and decided he was ready for the tour.
Unfortunately, the tour wasn't ready for him. He invested a fortune turning up on tournaments every week with people thinking of him as a 'big bloody joke'.
No one believed in what he was saying. Luckily for Jos, one man did. Ross Drummond asked his caddy, journalist Lawrence Donegan, if he should work with 'that funny little Belgian guy'. He thought it was good for his book and said 'yes.'
Ross Drummond hired Jos for £250 per week and, funnily enough, after 19 winless seasons on tour, Drummond finished second behind a then little known South African golfer called Goosen. Drummond decided that £250 was too much and Jos went on to bigger things.
At the 2002 Open in Muirfield, Jos had two players in the play-off. Ernie Els had not won a major in five years and a tournament in a year before he hired Jos. In the eight months after signing him, Ernie won eight tournaments plus the Open.
Levet, in the same play-off, won the British Masters 10 days after signing Jos. Vanstiphout also had Goosen and Hansen in the top 10 that year, providing him with a handy bonus at the end of the weekend.
In the meantime, Jos has moved residence to Monaco and has no shortage of golfers who want to work with him. He's a bundle of energy, often on the putting green at dawn, chain-smoking, leaving the range at dusk heading to the hotel for some night time pep talk sessions.
Does he care about his lack of qualifications?
"Do you think the boys on tour care about qualifications, a diploma, a piece of paper?" Jos spits. "Goosen has made more money in six months than in the previous five years. Do you think he cares? And Ernie, do you think he wants to see my CV?
"No Sir, at the end of the month they say, thanks very much , Jos - and here's your cheque!"
+++By the way, the reason it’s gone a bit quiet around ‘Josh’ is because he took some time off to stand by his ex-wife who was terminally ill. (She died). He’s back now with Ernie and also took on Marcel Siem.
Reactions to jo@irishgolfcommunity.ie

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNANSHIRE NEWS

2007 COUNTY GOLF LEAGUES ----- DOUBLE FOR ALVA

A great year for the Alva golf teams - it's now official with their teams topping the boys' and senior leagues in the County inter-club matches. With a combined total of twelve matches in both leagues, Alva teams won ten and halved two, making 2007 a year to remember, and leaving the other County Clubs struggling in their wake.
The Boys were first up, undefeated in their eight home and away matches, with two halves in the difficult away matches. As if inspired by this, the Alva Senior team went one better- played 4, won 4. Seniors representing Alva were Steve McIvor, Kevin McFarlane, Michael Robertson, Alan Aitken, Michael Graham, Eric Richardson, Lawrence Allan and Alan Flanangan. Much credit for the wins must go to Steve McIvor the Alva Captain and Davie Allan who have shown great enthusiasm and leadership in their respective roles with the Seniors and Boys teams.
The Alva Boys team will now go forward to a Scottish final to be played over the highly acclaimed new course – the Carrick on Loch Lomond on Saturday 6th October.

BOYS' LEAGUE - FINAL POSITIONS

1, ALVA 14 points; 2. DOLLAR 11 points 3. TILLICOULTRY 8 points 4 BRAEHEAD 4 points 5 ALLOA 3 points.

SENIOR LEAGUE - FINAL POSITIONS

1. ALVA 8 points (beat Braehead 4-2, Dollar 4-2; Tillicoultry 6-0; Alloa 3-2 with one half) 2 ALLOA 5 points 3. BRAEHEAD 4 points 4 DOLLAR 3 points 5. TILLICOULTRY 0 points.

Hopefully next year Tulliallan will be able to compete to provide some more competitive opportunities.

EUROPEAN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Playing for Scotland in the squad of six, Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay produced a sound performance over the Berlin course last week. He finished in the top twenty, third Scot behind Wallace Booth and Scott Henry, with a one over par score for the seventy two holes. Callum actually led the other five Scots after his first one under par round, but the shine wore off a bit in the second and third rounds, but nevertheless a good performance in the 100 strong field of top European golfers. His final total of 289 (71, 74, 73, 71) was one over par and left him in 18th equal place, 12 shots behind the winner.

SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT FINAL
Also from Tulliallan, Bob Stewart will have a chance to top the Scottish Seniors scene at Blairgowrie this week when he takes his place in the Scottish Final with 30 other competitors.

BELHAVEN CAPTAINS' AND SECRETARIES' CHAMPIONSHIP
Unfortunately, Wee County Golf Administrators were unable to match the achievements of some of their golfing members recently. At a qualifying event held at Duddingston, and from a field of 40 couples, Dollar Golf Club came closest to qualifying for the Scottish final with a score of 70, just missing out by one shot and leaving them in 13th equal position. Further down the field were Alloa (71; 15th equal) and Tulliallan (83 39th equal). Haddington won with as score of 65 and will go forward to the Scottish final next month, with Clubs from the other 4 qualifying venues.

LEADING SCORES AT EASTER MOFFAT PRO-AM

Leading scores in today's Tartan Tour Easter Moffat Golf Club pro-am were:

Par 72
67
Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) £1,108 each.
68
Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range) £738.
69
Steven Thompson (Castle Golf DR), Adam Hunter (Mearns Castle) £498 each.
70
Iain Pender (Aberfoyle), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Brian Mason (Drumoig Driving Range) £298 each.
71
Samuel Cairns (Westerwood), Craig Ronald (Carluke), James McKinnon (Irvine), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) £174 each.
72
Mark King (Kingsfield Golf Range), Gordon Law (Uphall), Garry Harvey (Kinross), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Vincent Brown (Westerwood), Steven Rettie (Royal Troon), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) £85.89 each.

MANDATORY USE OF BUGGIES ON PUBLIC GOLF
COURSES IS SPREADING IN UNITED STATES

FROM CBSSports.com WIRE REPORTS

A Long Island, New York woman is boycotting her favourite course. A man in Florida has published a book and filed lawsuits to defend his rights. A former golf executive thinks the game, under these circumstances, shouldn't even be called golf.
"It ought to be called 'cart ball.' It isn't golf," said Sandy Tatum, a bona fide golf purist who once served as president of the U.S. Golf Association and won an NCAA golf championship at Stanford.
A growing number of course-owning American cities and counties are mandating the use of electric or gas-powered carts, believing they are needed to speed play and therefore allow more golfers on the courses.
Officials in Nassau County, on Long Island, came under fire last month when they announced that carts would be required for anyone wishing to play its premier municipal 18-hole course -- Eisenhower Red, a Robert Trent Jones-designed loop that annually hosts a PGA Champions Tour event for golf professionals older than 50.
It is not known how many other courses around America have similar policies. Anecdotal evidence suggests it has become more of an issue in densely populated areas where large numbers of people are competing for a relatively small number of tee times.
Nassau County officials argued that Eisenhower Red is so popular that carts are necessary to keep up the pace of play. They contend that anyone who wants to walk can still use the county's two adjacent 18-hole courses at the park named in honour of one of the country's best-known presidential duffers.
Of course, the added income from golfers paying up to $29 each to rent a cart won't hurt the bottom line in a county that only several years ago teetered on the brink of bankruptcy.
"We're not doing it for the money," Deputy County Executive Peter Gerbasi said after the policy went into effect. "We're trying to make the course more available to more people."
Adrienne Danzig of Westbury isn't buying it. She is among the golfers who contend that carts are anathema to the sport.
"I love to walk," she said on a recent summer morning as she prepared to grab her pull cart from the boot of her car. "I think golf is made for walking unless you're at a resort where you have to walk a mile to the next hole. I've played here for many years, love to walk, love the Red Course, and they have completely destroyed this option."
Rich Martorana of Massapequa said it was wrong to insist on carts, especially on a public course. He also questions whether carts have actually made for quicker rounds.
"I use carts with my friend all the time," he said. "However, you shouldn't force people on a public golf course to now take up a cart. And it doesn't speed up play. It hasn't improved anything. ... I think the county is simply making money on the deal."
Editor's comment: Don't snigger at the back. What happens in the States today, usually happens over here tomorrow. And if our powers-that-be cotton on to the idea that here's another great money-making idea, just like car-parking tickets and speed cameras, it will happen. Remember where you heard it first.

STRICKER ENDS SIX-YEAR NO WIN SPELL
BY LIFTING "THE BARCLAYS"
American PGA Tour player Steve Stricker ended a no-win spell of six years, covering 146 tournaments in all, when he won "The Barclays" tournament today at Harrison, New York State.
Stricker had let four winning opportunities pass him by earlier this season. But this one was not going to slip through his fingers. In fact, he grabbed it by birdieing four of his last five holes for a two-under-par 69 and two-stroke victory K J Choi.
"It was hard, but it was fun," Stricker said as tears streamed down his face. "I never knew if I was going to win again."
When his final birdie putt dropped from eight feet, Stricker raised his arms and gave a hug to his caddie Tom Matthews, who first caddied for him when he won the 2001 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Australia.
Stricker has climbed to fifth in the world after his thrilling victory at "The Barclays."
Stricker jumps nine places in the latest world rankings, while runner-up Choi is into the top 10 for the first time as well, improving from 11th to eighth.
Tiger Woods, who returns to action this week, has now held the No 1 position for a total of 458 weeks.
HOW THEY FINISHED AT "THE BARCLAYS"
Par 284 (4 x 71)
268 Steve Stricker 67 67 65 69
270 KJ Choi (Kor) 64 66 70 70
271 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 63 71 69 68
272 Mark Calcavecchia 67 75 65 65, Ernie Els (Rsa) 65 71 68 68, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 66 69 69
273 Phil Mickelson 67 70 69 67, Rich Beem 64 68 69 72
274 Jerry Kelly 67 70 69 68, Robert Garrigus 70 70 68 66, Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 67 70 67
275 Steve Flesch 65 72 67 71, Woody Austin 69 68 66 72
276 Adam Scott (Aus) 67 69 72 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 68 70 68, Heath Slocum 66 73 67 70
277 Hunter Mahan 70 69 62 76, Anthony Kim 68 68 71 70, Bob Heintz 69 73 70 65, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 68 72 68
278 Arron Oberholser 67 70 68 73, Tim Petrovic 69 69 68 72, Ryan Armour 72 67 70 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 70 73 67
279 Nick Watney 70 72 68 69, Jason Dufner 73 69 68 69, Zach Johnson 68 71 70 70, Stewart Cink 72 67 73 67, Kenny Perry 69 67 68 75, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 67 70 71, Brett Quigley 67 73 72 67, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 67 70 73, Jim Furyk 70 69 71 69, Sean O'Hair 73 69 69 68
280 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 72 69 70, Boo Weekley 71 67 72 70, Matt Kuchar 69 68 69 74, Scott Verplank 68 71 69 72, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 66 70 73, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 71 68 70 71
281 J.B. Holmes 76 66 65 74, Mike Weir (Can) 69 73 72 67, Davis Love III 69 69 72 71, Brian Gay 65 73 72 71, Douglas Labelle 69 73 71 68, Briny Baird 66 75 71 69, Frank Lickliter II 71 69 70 71
282 Charley Hoffman 69 72 70 71, Tim Herron 71 70 71 70, Bill Haas 68 68 72 74, Paul Goydos 71 69 66 76, Fred Funk 71 69 73 69, Troy Matteson 70 71 70 71
283 Brian Davis (Eng) 68 71 70 74, John Rollins 71 71 70 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67 77 69, Corey Pavin 68 73 72 70, J.P. Hayes 75 67 71 70, Cliff Kresge 69 70 72 72
284 Dean Wilson 74 68 68 74, Joe Durant 71 69 72 72, Vaughn Taylor 71 71 77 65, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 68 74 74, D.J. Trahan 73 68 70 73
285 Bob Estes 70 72 71 72, Bart Bryant 72 70 70 73, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 69 71 74, Johnson Wagner 73 69 76 67
286 Nathan Green (Aus) 72 70 74 70, Steve Marino 72 69 74 71
287 Jason Gore 72 67 75 73
288 Jeff Maggert 66 73 73 76, John Mallinger 68 72 74 74, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 65 72 74 77
290 Rocco Mediate 69 73 74 74

DEESIDE'S CAMPBELL WINS STONEHAVEN OPEN

Deeside's Andrew Campbell pipped playing partner Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), played over his one-time home course, to win the £500 voucher in the Stonehaven 36-hole men's open, played today for the first time in 10 years.
Campbell shot rounds of 67 and 64 against a CSS of 68 and 67 for a total of 131 and a three-shot victory from Innes who scored 66 and 68.
Gary Esson (Portlethen) and Keith Douglas (Stonehaven) had the next best aggregates of 135, Esson with 68 and 67, Douglas with 67 and 68.
The field was a disappointingly low one of only 44 competitors, despite the big prize fund.
Campbell's one-under-par total of 131 represented solid golf in tricky conditions, with the 44-player field having to contend with a difficult wind and fast greens.
Innes was one shot ahead of Campbell after the first round but the players were level overall with three holes to play in the second round.
Then Campbell struck the decisive blow. At the 482yd 16th hole, his five-iron second shot just clung on to the fringe of the green, only inches above a steep bank. From there, he holed a 20ft putt for an eagle, whereas Innes, just short in two, chipped poorly and could only make a par.
Innes then bogeyed the next, while Campbell parred his way home to win by three shots.
Gary Essen, playing in the last group, almost snatched second place but three-putted the last. However, he did take third place on countback from leading local Keith Douglas.
Many of the competitors praised the condition of the Stonehaven course but the organisers were a bit disappointed that the £1,500 prize pot could only attract 44 competitors.


LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
131 A Campbell (Deeside) 67 64.
134 B Innes (Murcar Links) 66 68.
135 G Esson (Portlethen) 68 67, K Douglas (Stonehaven) 67 68.
136 A Reith (Royal Aberdeen) 67 69.
137 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 69 68.
138 A Cruickshank (Caledonian) 69 69, E Kennedy (Stonehaven) 69 69, N Irvine (Stonehaven) 68 70.
140 G Adamson (Stonehaven) 70 70.
142 S Burt (Murcar Links) 74 68.
143 F McCarron (Stonehaven) 73 70.
145 B Paterson (Stonehaven) 76 69, I Taylor (Stonehaven) 73 72, G Sharp (Murcar Links) 68 77.
146 W Main (Murcar Links) 76 70.
148 C Brown (Stonehaven) 76 72, C Brechin (Portlethen) 70 78, R Borland (Haggs Castle) 77 71.
150 C Irvine (Stonehaven) 76 74, K Gardiner (Glenisla) 76 74, B Mitchell (Murcar Links) 75 75.

FISHER HAS TO ENDURE LENGTHY RULES
INVESTIGATION BEFORE HE IS
CONFIRMED AS KLM OPEN WINNER

FROM THE A O L SPORTS NEWS SERVICE

England's Ross Fisher survived a nerve-wracking finish and a lengthy rules investigation before claiming his first European Tour title in extraordinary fashion in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.
Fisher saw a four-shot lead disappear over the closing stretch before regaining his composure to birdie the last from 10 feet and seemingly secure a one-shot victory over local favourite Joost Luiten.
However, before Fisher could sign his card he was informed of a potential rules violation on the 12th hole and driven off in a buggy to investigate. The debate centred on whether Fisher had moved a bramble from near his ball before playing his second shot to the par-5 hole.
The 26-year-old initially thought it was a loose impediment which he could move, but discovered it was still attached to the ground.
Tour officials Miguel Vidaor and Jose Maria Zamora accompanied Fisher as they tried to recreate the incident and study television footage to see whether he had improved his lie.
Eventually Fisher was cleared of any wrongdoing and could celebrate lifting the trophy and £180,000 first prize.
Alastair Forsyth, Germany's Bernhard Langer, Swede Alexander Noren, France's Thomas Levet and New Zealand's Steve Alker shared third place on eight under.
Overnight joint leader David Carter slumped to a closing 75 for a share of 23rd place.

EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL TOTALS
KLM OPEN
Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Netherlands
(Players from GB&I unless stated otherwise)
Par 280 (4 x 70)
268 Ross Fisher 66 67 68 67 (266,660 Euros).
269 Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64 71 66
272 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71 67 67, Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66 69 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67 72 68, Alastair Forsyth 66 71 69 66 (70,400 Euros), Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70 68 69
273 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71 70 68, Stephen Gallacher 70 68 66 69 (34,320 Euros), Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68 70 68, Tom Whitehouse 68 67 71 67
274 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71 69 69, Richard Finch 68 67 72 67, John Bickerton 68 67 69 70, David Lynn 65 70 70 69, Simon Khan 67 69 69 69
275 Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70 69 67, Chris Riley (USA) 66 69 71 69, Garry Houston 68 68 72 67, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71 71 64, Phillip Price 68 68 67 72, David Higgins 68 67 68 72
276 David Carter 65 65 71 75, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67 72 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67 69 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70 69 67
277 Simon Dyson 67 73 66 71, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70 69 68, Simon Wakefield 68 68 73 68, Lee Slattery 66 73 70 68, Sam Walker 69 64 75 69, Gary Murphy 67 71 70 69, Mark Pilkington 71 68 68 70, Paul Lawrie 66 69 69 73 (13,568 Euros) David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69 70 70, James Hepworth 70 69 66 72
278 Steve Webster 65 71 72 70, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68 71, Nick Dougherty 69 67 69 73, Andrew Coltart 65 73 71 69 (10,080 Euros), Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69 71 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71 69 71, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70 69 70, Marcus Higley 72 67 72 67, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72 71 71
279 Kenneth Ferrie 66 74 68 71
280 Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72 68 74, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70 73 70, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73 68 72, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70 71 72, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70 70 71
281 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68 73 71, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66 75 69, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67 71 73, James Heath 70 69 71 71, Steven O'Hara 68 69 69 75, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 76 68
282 Robert Rock 69 69 72 72, David Griffiths 71 64 72 75, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68 71 74, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 70 73, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70 71 71
283 Andrew Marshall 66 73 71 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72 73 70
285 Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69 73 73, David Drysdale 70 68 75 72, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71 72 74, Ian Garbutt 73 67 70 75
287 Shaun P Webster 71 66 74 76
289 Anthony Wall 69 69 71 80, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70 75 75, David Park 70 69 77 73

McARTHUR LOSES PLAY-OFF - JUST MISSES
FIRST CHALLENGE TOUR VICTORY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Andrew McArthur cruelly missed out on a maiden Challenge Tour victory by missing a two foot par putt at the second extra hole of a sudden-death play-off at the POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem in Germany today.
The 28 year old from Glasgow had surged into an early three-stroke lead during the final round at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf but was powerless to prevent eventual winner Felipe Aguilar of Chile and England’s Paul Waring mounting a comeback to tie the Scot on 18 under par 266 after 72 holes.
McArthur played beautifully during the final round, carding a bogey-free five under par 66, but it was not to be his day as Aguilar compiled a stunning back nine of 30 and overnight leader Waring staged an improbable comeback from an early treble bogey to force the tournament to extra holes.
The three men went back to the 18th to for the sudden-death shoot-out, with Waring falling out of the play-off after making bogey at the first extra hole.
McArthur and Aguilar halved in par and made their way back to the 18th to try and find a winner. Both players hit fine drives, with Aguilar then smashing a fine approach to 15 feet.
McArthur’s second flew the green before rebounding off an advertising board to leave the former Scottish Amateur champion a chance to chip and putt for par. He played a fine pitch to two feet, and when Aguilar’s birdie attempt lipped out, the play-off seemed destined for a third hole.
It was not to be, though, as McArthur pulled his short par putt to hand Aguilar the title.
“I don’t know what to say,” said McArthur. “I was three ahead at one point and then the boys just started holing everything and making birdies everywhere. There is nothing that you can do about that but that last putt of mine was disastrous.”
McArthur can take some consolation in the fact that his prize money of €12,600 moved him to 13th place on the Challenge Tour Rankings and inside the all important top 20 for the first time this season.
FINAL TOTALS LATER

BUCHAN MAKES ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN THE
NORTH OF SCOTLAND OPEN

AT WINDY DORNOCH

By ROBIN WILSON

FORMER professional Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) made all the running to win the North of Scotland Open amateur stroke-play 72-hole championship for the David Blair Trophy over the windswept Royal Dornoch links today.
Buchan, pictured right with trophy, by courtesy of Robin Wilson, stole a march on the field with an opening round of five-under-par 65, which was only one stroke outside the amateur course record for the world-ranked links. He increased his advantage to five shots at the Saturday night halfway stage with a 69 for six-under-par 134.
On Sunday, when the wind was at its strongest, Buchan adopted a what-I-have-I-hold policy and rounds of 71 and 70 give him a five-under-par total of 270 and a two-stroke win from Robert Carson from Dalmahoy.
Carson, with closing rounds of 69 and 68, had the best Sunday 36-hole total of three-under-par 137 - compared with the winner's 141 - but he had left himself with too much ground to make up.
Buchan, one of the leading amateurs in the North-east over the past decade, did turn professional for a short spell but found he could not make enough money to make ends meet and was soon reinstated as an amateur.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), winner of two Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit events this summer, the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links and then the North-east of District Open at Newmachar last weekend, finished third on three-over-par 283 after closing rounds of 70 and 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70)
275 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69 71 70.
277 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73 69 68.
283 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72 70 72.
288 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70 74 73.
289 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 74 74, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73 73 77.
292 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77 73 70, J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76 74 73.
293 S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76 70 71, A Dick (Shotts) 70 71 74 70.
294 B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78 73 70, P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75 75 75, J White (Lundin) 70 73 73 78.
295 D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76 72 73.
296 S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73 75 78.
297 G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74 80 69, P Betty (Hayston) 71 77 72 77.
298 G Yeats (Hilton Park) 73 77 75 73.
300 K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74 80 72.
301 B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81 71 76, C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 76 77 70 78.
302 M Ferries (Tain) 69 81 78 74, A Main (Thornton) 74 77 73 78, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 70 77 76 79.
303 M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 72 80 78 73, I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76 79 74, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74 77 77.
304 J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80 73 78, D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74 77 79.
305 D McIntosh (Nairn) 75 79 78 73. G Murray (Cullen) 74 75 78 78.
307 G Thomson (Moray) 78 75 76 78.
309 A Howard (Murrayshall) 70 81 80 78.
310 A Everett (Tain) 75 77 75 83.
313 A Gilmour (Invergordon) 71 82 79 81, J Brownlee (Craigielaw) 77 77 73 86.
314 M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 79 81 80, E Polson(Inverness) 76 77 78 83.
315 J Forbes (Inverness) 75 79 82 79.
316 B Ferries (Taain) 76 76 83 79.
319 N Howitt (Nairn Dunbaqr) 72 79 88 80
No return – S Dingwall (Muir of Ord) 69 82 NR 79
MISSED HALFWAY CUT
155 S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 79, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 78 77, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 76 79.
157 G Robertson (Silverknowes) 73 84, N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 79, D Thorburn (Thurso) 77 80.
158 S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston) 73 83, G Paterson (Northern) 77 81.
159 G Brass (Blairgowrie) 76 83, G Mitchell (Braemar) 82 77, G Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 84, M Murray (Brora) 74 85, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 77 82, J Broadley (Deeside) 74 85.
160 J S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 82 78, R MacLeod (Tain) 81 79.
161 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 84, M Robson (Kngsknowe) 78 83.
162 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch) 80 82, G Blair (Haddington) 77 85, R Cameron (Inverness) 80 82.
168 B Spoor (Westhill) 78 90.
174 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 87 87.
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw), J Lockie (Tantallon) 83 -.
No Returns – S Michie (Thornton) NR, L Miller (Cawder) 75 NR, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 77 NR, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 80 NR, I MacMillan (Glenearn) 76 NR.

North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship

MICHAEL BUCHAN LEADS BY FOUR FROM ROBERT
CARSON WITH ONE ROUND IN THE WIND TO GO

BY ROBIN WILSON
Halfway leader Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) had his lead trimmed from five shots to four over the third round of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship at a windy Royal Dornoch today.
Buchan shot a one-over-par 71 - bogeys at the third, fourth, ninth and 11th and three birdies at the fifth, sixth and 15th - for a 54-hole tally of 205, four ahead of Robert Carson (Dalmahoy) who moved into second place with a 69 for 209. That one-under-par 69 was the best by anyone in the third round.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), winner of two SGU Order of Merit events this summer, edged into third place on 211 with a 70.
Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Buchan's nearest challenger overnight, slipped down to fourth place on 212 with a 73.
The championship for the David Blair Trophy is sponsored by Allied Surveyors and A J G Parcels.

LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
205 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69 71.
209 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73 69.
211 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72 70.
212 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73 73.
215 A Dick (Shotts) 70 71 74, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 74, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70 74.
216 J White (Lundin Links) 70 73 73.
218 S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73 75.
219 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76 74, P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75 75.
220 P Betty (Hayston) 71 77 72.
222 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77 73, D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76 72, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76 70.
223 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 70 77 76, C Mailley (Rooyal Dornoch) 76 77 70.
224 B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78 73, A Main (Thornton) 74 77 73
225 D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74 77, G Yates (Hilton Park) 73 77 75, B McDermott (Levfen GS) 73 81 71.
226 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74 77, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80 73.
227 G Murray (Cullen) 74 75 78, A Everett (Tain) 75 77 75.
228 G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74 80, K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74 80, M Ferries (Tain) 69 81 78.
229 I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76 79.

Tournament of Nations

Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn) , Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) and David Law (Hazlehead) show off the Girls and Boys International team trophies which they won at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium in Brussels on Friday. Kelsey was also runner-up in the Girls Championship.

UNITED STATES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
IT'S NOT THE SAME WITHOUT RICHIE RAMSAY

BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Twelve months ago this weekend, not only Aberdonians but most Scottish golfers were jumping up and down with excitement because Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) had reached the final of the United States men's amateur championship at Hazeltine, Missouri.
That he went on to win the 36-hole final was arguably one of best performances by any Scottish/British sportsman in 2007 - although BBC TV viewers who vote for these things didn't seem to think so.
Anyway, the US championship is reaching a climax again. Pity that Richie couldn't defend it for a number of reasons, the main one being he is now a professional - and doing very nicely on the European Challenge Tour.
(If anyone can tell me how a rookie pro who has not yet been to the European Tour Qualifying School can step straight on to the Challenge Tour, while Graham Gordon, the Docherty brothers and Elliot Saltman, to name but four other Scots, are toiling away in the "Third Division" PGA EuroPro Tour, I will publish the answer).
Never mind, that's just an aside. I couldn't help contrasting the difference this year with the Scottish golfing perception of the US amateur championship. Nobody is caring the slightest who is through to the final at the Olympic Club a mile or two south of San Francisco.
Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.
It will be United States v United States in the final with Colt Knost, winner of the US Public Links title in June, facing Michael Thompson from the University of Alabama.
In the semi-finals, Thompson beat another guy you've never heard of, Casey Clendenon, 3 and 2.
Have you noticed how in America they never list an amateur player's home club in brackets after his name, as we do on this side of the Atlantic? In the States, they tend to list their home town or university.
Knost, a 22-year-old Southern Methodist University graduate, beat Jonathan Vegas (Venezuela) 4 and 3.
Thompson hopes his strong play in the US amateur championship will gain him one of the still-t0-be decided spots in the United States Walker Cup team alongside Knost, who's already in after winning the Publinx.
"There's no doubt in my mind that I should play in the Walker Cup," Thompson said. "Colt came up to me this morning and told me, 'Go get 'em, you deserve to be on that team with us.' That was real nice to hear before the round that all those guys were convinced I could play with them."
Nothing like a bit of confidence.
We'll give you the result of the final of Monday morning. Unlike last year, no-one over here is holding their breath waiting for the news.

MARTIN LAIRD MISSES FOURTH CUT BUT HE'S
ON COURSE TO WIN PROMOTION TO US TOUR

Former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird has missed only his fourth cut in 19 starts on the Nationwide Tour, the No 2 men's professional circuit in the United States, with scores of 69 and 75 for level par 144 in the quaintly-named National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic at Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Martin, one of the longest drivers on circuit with an average tee shot in excess of 300yd, has not been guilty of wasting a lot of shots this season during which he has won $192,496 and chalked up a victory.
But he had a double bogey at the fifth and four bogeys, the costly last one at the 18th, to miss the cut by a single stroke.
The top 25 when the Nationwide Tour ends in early November will automatically gain the right to step up to the US PGA Tour in 2008 - as Aberdeen-born, Australian-raised Michael Sim did last year by finishing 19th on the Nationwide money list.
It is reckoned that the cut-off point to be absolutely certain of making the top 25 will be $200,000 so Martin Laird is almost there. Going into the current Nationwide tournament, the Scot was 11th on the money table.

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
KLM OPEN
Kennemer G & CC, Netherlands
(Players from GB&I unless stated).
Par 210 (3 x 70)
201 David Carter 65 65 71, Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66 69, Ross Fisher 66 67 68
203 Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64 71, Phillip Price 68 68 67, David Higgins 68 67 68, Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70 68
204 Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67 72, Stephen Gallacher 70 68 66, Paul Lawrie 66 69 69, John Bickerton 68 67 69
205 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71 70, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71 67, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67 72, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71 69, Nick Dougherty 69 67 69, David Lynn 65 70 70, Simon Khan 67 69 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67 69, Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68 70, James Hepworth 70 69 66
206 Chris Riley (USA) 66 69 71, Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72 68, Tom Whitehouse 68 67 71, Alastair Forsyth 66 71 69, Steven O'Hara 68 69 69, Simon Dyson 67 73 66
207 David Griffiths 71 64 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71 69, Mark Pilkington 71 68 68, Richard Finch 68 67 72, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69 70
208 Garry Houston 68 68 72, Steve Webster 65 71 72, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67 71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73 68, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68 71, Kenneth Ferrie 66 74 68, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70 69, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70 69, Sam Walker 69 64 75, Gary Murphy 67 71 70, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70 71
209 Andrew Coltart 65 73 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70 69, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70 70, Simon Wakefield 68 68 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 70, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70 69, Anthony Wall 69 69 71, Lee Slattery 66 73 70
210 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68 73, Robert Rock 69 69 72, James Heath 70 69 71, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70 73, Andrew Marshall 66 73 71, Ian Garbutt 73 67 70
211 Shaun P Webster 71 66 74, Marcus Higley 72 67 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71 71, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71 72, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70 71
212 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66 75, Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69 73
213 David Drysdale 70 68 75, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 76
214 Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70 75
216 David Park 70 69 77

ORR EQUALS WILLIAMWOOD COURSE
RECORD OF 61 AND PIPS HUTCHEON

FOR TOP PRIZE OF £2,700

David Orr (East Renfrewshire) equalled Stephen Gallacher's Williamwood Golf Club course record of seven-under-par 61 in the second and final round of the Williamwood 36-hole pro-am today. And part-time Glasgow taxi driver finished up pipping overnight leader Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) for the first prize of £2,700.

It was a first two-round victory of the season for Orr who threatened to win the Gleneagles PGA Scottish championship at one stage of that 72-hole tournament at the start of the month.

He had one 18-hole pro-am success to his credit in June at East Renfrewshire.

Orr, pictured right, had birdies at the fourth, sixth, eighth, 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th in bogey-free halves of 30 (three under par) and 31 (four under par).
Added to his first-day score of 66, that put Orr in the clubhouse lead at nine-under-par 127.

Hutcheon, clear overnight leader with a 62, which gave him a four-shot advantage over Orr at the start of the second day, had seen his lead cut to two by halfway.

Greig reached the turn in one-under-par 32 with birdies at the third and seventh and his first bogey of the tournament at the sixth.

Orr was playing several holes ahead of Hutcheon but a hole-by-hole comparison of their scorecards shows that they were level for the tournament after the 10th at which there was a two-shot swing in Orr's favour. He birdied it, Hutcheon bogeyed.

They both birdied the 12th and Orr's 13th hole birdie matched by Hutcheon's 14th hole birdie left the two players level through the 15th and 16th.

So it all boiled down to the last two holes.

Hutcheon slipped one behind with a bogey at the 17th. Orr had birdied the 18th when he played it which meant that Hutcheon needed an eagle for a tie. He had to settle for a par, which meant that Orr had won by two strokes.

Hutcheon finished with a 67 for seven-under-par 129 and collected a £2,150 prize to add to the money he has won with a superlative run of form since the last round of the Gleneagles PGA Scottish championship in which he finished sixth.

Winner of the Tartan Tour Order of Merit last year, the North-east man is leading the way again.

Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) finished third at Williamwood with 66 and 65 for 131 and a £1,700 prize.

Hayston tour pro Steven Gray came joint sixth on 135 with 70 and 65 and led "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" trio of amateurs - Alastair Crabb (handicap 15), Brian Connelly (6) and John McLachlan (12) - to victory in the team event with a net 36-hole two-ball score of 33-under-par 239.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 136 (2 x 68)

127 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 66 61 (£2,700).

129 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 62 67 (£2,150).

131 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 66 65 (£1,700).

134 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 69 65, M King (Kingsfield Golf Range) 67 67 (£1,150 each).

135 S Gray (Hayston) 70 65, J McKinnon (Irvine) 68 67, S Catlin (Greenburn) 68 67, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 68 67 (£637 each)

136 G Law (Uphall) 69 67, G Lornie (Aspire) 69 67 (£408 each).

137 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 68 69, C Nicoll (Prestwick) 67 70 (£345 each).

138 M Urquhart (Inverness) 70 68, S Cairns (Westerwood) 70 68, G Fox (West Kilbride) 69 69, C Kelly (Cawder) 69 69, R Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 68 70 (£253 each).

139 C Ronald (Carluke) 72 67 (£190).

140 G McInnes (Murcar Links) 72 68, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 71 69, C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 69 71 (£153 each).

141 J McCrfeadie (Buchanan Castel) 74 67, C Gillies (Kingsfield Golf Range) 68 73 (£127 each).

142 D Patrick Mortonhall) 75 67, J McGhee (Turnhouse) 74 68, G McFarlane (Clober) 74 68, D McKay (Wellsgreen) 72 70, E Cameron (Hamilton) 71 71, C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 74 (£109 each).

143 J Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House) 71 71, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 74.

144 J Stevenson (Braehead) 71 73.

145 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 71, A Fullen (Irvine) 73 72, A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) 72 73, M Loftus (Cowglen) 71 74, J Clive (Buchanan Castle) 71 74.

146 S Lamb (Broomieknowe) 74 72, A Crerar (King James VI) 73 73.

147 S Garrett (East Renfrewshire) 76 71, N Huguet (Musselburgh) 72 76.

149 A Fleming (North Highland College) 76 73, S Wilson (Gleneagles Hotel) 75 74.

150 B Dunbar (Esporta Dougalston) 76 74, A Hutton (World of Golf) 70 80.

151 K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) 73 78.

152 S Marshall (Williamwood) 78 74.

154 C McCalman (unatt) 78 76.

Retired: C Doak (unatt) 75 -.

ends

WALLACE BOOTH (10th) IS TOP SCOT IN FINAL
EUROPEAN AMATEUR INDIVIDUAL TOTALS

France's Benjamin Hebert is the new European individual amateur champion. He beat Sweden's Joel Sjoholm in a play-off after they had tied at 11-under-par 277 after 72 holes at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
England provided four of the first seven finishers.
Wallace Booth was the leading Scot in 10th place on five-under-par 283.
Scott Henry (Cardross), turning in his best sustained performance of the season, was the next Scot on 284.
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD
1 Hebert, Benjamin FRA 68 69 70 70 277 –11
2 Sjoholm, Joel SWE 69 69 70 69 277 –11
3 Willett, Daniel ENG 73 71 70 66 280 –8
4 de Vries, Floris NED 75 68 68 69 280 –8
5 Boyd, Gary ENG 72 71 67 70 280 –8
6 Evans, Ben ENG 69 68 68 75 280 –8
7 Wood, Chris ENG 70 68 72 71 281 –7
8 Campillo, Jorge ESP 72 68 69 73 282 –6
9 Blixt, Jonas SWE 69 71 70 72 282 –6
10 Booth, Wallace SCO 74 63 72 74 283 –5
11 Moul, Jamie ENG 72 69 70 73 284 –4
12 Henry, Scott SCO 75 68 67 74 284 –4
13 Gill, James NZ 73 68 70 74 285 –3
14 Etchart, Borja ESP 72 69 70 75 286 –2
15 Davies, Rhys WAL 71 74 75 68 288 0
16 Einhaus, Sean GER 72 74 73 69 288 0
17 Granberg, Joonas FIN 74 74 68 72 288 0
18 Maurits, Sven NED 71 75 72 71 289 +1
19 Thomas, Ryan WAL 71 74 73 71 289 +1
20 Relecom, Pierre BEL 73 72 72 72 289 +1
21 Glans, Nicklas SWE 74 72 73 70 289 +1
22 Cryer, Matthew ENG 73 73 69 74 289 +1
23 Macaulay, Callum SCO 71 74 73 71 289 +1
24 Horsey, David ENG 75 71 72 71 289 +1
25 Parker, Ben ENG 73 75 68 73 289 +1
26 Kristiansen, Anders NOR 72 71 73 73 289 +1
27 Parry, John ENG 75 74 71 70 290 +2
28 Nemecz, Lukas AUT 73 72 72 73 290 +2
29 Mivis, Christopher BEL 76 69 66 79 290 +2
30 Enander–Hedin, Jonas GER 75 74 73 69 291 +3
31 Poncelet, Xavier FRA 74 73 71 73 291 +3
32 Almstrom, Victor SWE 71 74 76 70 291 +3
33 Stanislav, Matus CZE 71 77 70 73 291 +3
34 Cambis, Guillaume FRA 76 69 71 75 291 +3
35 Bey, Matthieu FRA 78 76 68 70 292 +4
36 John, Allen GER 76 73 72 71 292 +4
37 Urquizu, Inigo ESP 71 78 73 70 292 +4
38 Gersztein, David GER 73 70 77 72 292 +4
39 Perrier, Damien FRA 77 72 71 72 292 +4
40 Elvira, Ignacio ESP 71 77 70 74 292 +4
41 Nielsen, Rasmus DEN 69 80 69 74 292 +4
42 Pavan, Andrea ITA 76 69 74 73 292 +4
43 Ward, Simon IRE 75 70 72 75 292 +4
44 Salminen, Mikael FIN 74 74 75 70 293 +5
45 Dubois, Edouard FRA 73 74 73 73 293 +5
46 Manassero, Matteo ITA 77 73 73 71 294 +6
47 Akesson, Bjorn SWE 80 73 69 72 294 +6
48 Weiss, Tino SUI 74 73 74 73 294 +6
49 Benson, Seve ENG 71 77 75 71 294 +6
50 Kollevold, Frederik NOR 80 70 71 73 294 +6
51 Kind, Richard NED 71 72 76 75 294 +6
52 Baldwin, Matthew ENG 72 73 76 74 295 +7
53 Mayrhauser, Moritz AUT 74 77 72 72 295 +7
54 Benz, Ken SWI 72 72 76 75 295 +7
55 Kilpatrick, Richard IRE +3,0 +1 74 72 74 75 295 +7
56 Fritsch, Florian GER 67 75 79 74 295 +7
57 Goddard, Luke ENG 77 70 74 74 295 +7
58 Whitnell, Dale ENG 74 69 76 76 295 +7
59 Schneider, Romain FRA 74 76 73 72 295 +7
60 Matthews, Llewellyn WAL 71 73 75 76 295 +7
61 Kieffer, Maximilian GER 72 75 71 77 295 +7
62 Guerisoli, Marco ITA 72 73 74 77 296 +8
63 Lowry, Shane IRE 74 77 72 73 296 +8
64 Christiansen, Lerchedahl DEN 77 72 72 75 296 +8
65 Vigano, Claudio ITA 79 70 74 74 297 +9
66 Dobias, Marc SWI 79 70 74 75 298 +10
67 Cutler, Paul IRE 76 74 71 77 298 +10
68 Nicklaez, Rasmussen DEN 72 76 74 76 298 +10
69 Hanauer, Patrick BEL 71 77 74 77 299 +11
70 Grud, Kristian DEN 71 79 69 80 299 +11
71 McNicoll, Keir SCO 73 73 75 79 300 +12
72 van Driel, Darius NED 72 72 77 81 302 +14
73 Slabe, Gregor SLO 73 74 74 81 302 +14

THE FOLLOWING MISSED THE THIRD-ROUND CUT

74 Westermann, Philipp GER 75 79 70 NC NC NC
75 Figueiredo, Pedro POR 79 74 71 NC NC NC
76 Moral, Lluis ESP 78 71 75 NC NC NC
77 Pollari, Tuomas FIN 74 76 74 NC NC NC
78 Samooja, Kalle FIN 72 74 78 NC NC NC
79 Schulte, Frederik GER 70 73 81 NC NC NC
80 Barberan, Carlos ESP 75 78 72 NC NC NC
81 Widegren, Pontus SWE 80 71 74 NC NC NC
82 Schunck, Christian GER 75 74 76 NC NC NC
83 Le Sager, Kenny FRA 78 73 74 NC NC NC
84 Dittmer, Jonny NZ 71 75 79 NC NC NC
85 Madsen, Morten DEN 75 75 76 NC NC NC
86 O'Keeffe, Peter IRE 73 79 74 NC NC NC
87 Henriques, Nuno POR 79 75 72 NC NC NC
88 Grant, Stephen IRE 75 75 76 NC NC NC
89 Rodrigues, Tiago POR 73 78 75 NC NC NC
90 Roos, Patrik FIN 72 81 73 NC NC NC
91 Kellett, Ross SCO 76 74 76 NC NC NC
92 Legarrea, Jesus 127 ESP +2,0 1 76 75 76 NC NC NC
93 Green, Andrew 101 NZL +3,0 +1 79 73 75 NC NC NC
94 Feyaerts, Xavier 152 BEL +2,6 0 74 78 75 NC NC NC
95 Friestad, Are 102 NOR +2,5 0 73 76 78 NC NC NC
96 Knappe, Alexander GER 78 69 80 NC NC NC
97 Sigl, Benjamin GER 75 71 81 NC NC NC
98 Másson, Sigmundur GER 2 75 82 71 NC NC NC
99 Kearney, Niall IRE 74 80 74 NC NC NC
100 Edwards, Nigel WAL 80 74 74 NC NC NC
101 Satama, Henri FIN 79 77 72 NC NC NC
102 Oriol, Pedro ESP 76 76 76 NC NC NC
103 Guillet, Jacques FRA +4,0 +2 75 78 75 NC NC NC
104 Pohl, Paul EST 0,8 4 81 71 76 NC NC NC
105 Wattel, Romain FRA +3,5 +1 75 76 77 NC NC NC
106 Dogil, Tomek GER 78 73 78 NC NC NC
107 Runcie, Adam WAL 78 76 75 NC NC NC
108 Novy, Marek CZE 79 74 76 NC NC NC
109 Kromer, Kajetan AUT 78 76 75 NC NC NC
110 Antonelli, David 46 FRA +2,9 +1 73 76 80 NC NC NC
111 Korvenmaa, Immu 38 FIN +1,8 1 76 78 76 NC NC NC
112 Veijalainen, Miro 45 FIN +2,3 0 78 76 76 NC NC NC
113 van den Dungen, David N9E7D +2,9 +1 73 84 73 NC NC NC
114 Svajlen, Peter 120 SK +1,2 2 79 73 78 NC NC NC
115 Drost, Philip 13 DEN +2,4 0 77 74 79 NC NC NC
116 Kölbing, Jonas 70 Feldafing, GC +2,5 0 75 77 78 NC NC NC
117 Chapellan, Baptiste FRA 75 76 79 NC NC NC
118 Bühring, Nils GER 76 73 81 NC NC NC
119 Jordan, Maurice GER 80 77 74 NC NC NC
120 Baunsoe, Peter Jesper DEN 78 77 76 NC NC NC
121 Gross jr., Stephan GER 74 78 79 NC NC NC
122 Watremez, Guillaume BEL 74 75 82 NC NC NC
123 Mejow, Philipp GER 78 78 76 NC NC NC
124 Terragni, Cristiano ITA 79 79 74 NC NC NC
125 Boshart, Dylan NED 79 80 73 NC NC NC
126 McAlpine, Kevin SCO 76 79 77 NC NC NC
127 Altonen, Joachim FIN 76 77 79 NC NC NC
128 Collins, Luke ENG 76 75 81 NC NC NC
129 Krämer, Max GER 76 77 80 NC NC NC
130 Vinogradov, Dmitry RUS +0,7 2 78 76 79 NC NC NC
131 Scotto, Cédric FRA +3,5 +1 76 82 76 NC NC NC
132 Sarasti, Francisco ESP +2,0 1 82 78 75 NC NC NC
133 Ojala, Matti FIN +1,5 1 78 80 77 NC NC NC
134 Chiapuzzo, Andrea ITA +1,4 1 81 75 80 NC NC NC
135 Junker, Marius GER 80 79 79 NC NC NC
136 Carlota, Joao POR 78 83 80 NC NC NC
137 Dupuis, Rémi 53 FRA +3,2 +1 82 78 81 NC NC NC
138 Hansen, Stian 103 NOR 0,2 3 82 81 78 NC NC NC
139 Fürnweger, Eugen 1 AUT +1,4 1 85 81 77 NC NC NC
140 Arnaudet, Allan 47 FRA +3,1 +1 80 86 81 NC NC NC
141 Gould, Zac 147 Wal +2,0 1 78 89 80 NC NC NC
142 Furrer, Roger 142 SUI +0,7 2 81 81 85 NC NC NC
143 Suursalu, Mark 35 EST 0,1 3 97 74 79 NC NC NC
144 Benatzky, Thilo 156 Berlin–Wannsee, G&LC +0,3 3 85 87 83 NC NC NC
145 Saluda, Maksymilian 10 7P L 0,0 3 88 89 87 NC NC NC
146 Pavlov, Andrey 112 RUS +0,6 2 78 81 NC NC NC NC

SCOTLAND'S YOUNGSTERS' DOUBLE TRIUMPH IN BELGIUM

Scotland's youngsters - David Law (Hazlehead), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) - scored a magnificent double victory for Scotland on the last day of the Belgian Junior International championship.
Switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to read about how Scotland won BOTH the boys' and girls' team trophies.

ANDREW McARTHUR TWO BEHIND

LEADER WARING WITH ONE ROUND

TO GO IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Andrew McArthur (pictured right) remains in striking distance of his first Challenge Tour victory at the Postbank Challenge in Germany.
The 28 year old from Glasgow carded a third round of two under par 69 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf to trail leader Paul Waring of England by just two strokes with 18 holes to play.
McArthur’s third round was a hypocritical mix of disappointment and delight that included a four-putt and two three-putts but also five birdies.
“If that is the bad round of the week out of the way then I have to be optimistic,” said the former Scottish amateur champion from the Windyhill club.
“I played great apart from those stupid putts that I gave away and I am only two behind because Paul three-putted the last.
“I was playing the 18th thinking that I was going to be three behind starting the final round, and that seemed a lot but when he bogeyed the last I started to think that two shots is nothing.”

Paul Waring, for his part, kept an old head on his young shoulders to extend his overnight lead.
TWO WEEKS A PRO

He may have only been a professional for two weeks, but the 22 year old Waring has played like a veteran for the first three rounds, producing a composed and clinical performance to record scores of 68-62-68 for a 15-under-par 198 total and a two-shot lead over McArthur.

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar – one of the 2007 Challenge Tour’s most consistent performers – moving into third place on 12 under after his own 69.
Waring was well aware that it would be tough to follow his low scoring second round of 62 on Saturday afternoon, but five birdies, 11 pars and two bogeys ensured he would stretch his lead going into the final round.
“I three putted the last which is always disappointing but I have extended my lead by a shot and if I could have had that situation going onto the last round then I would have certainly taken it,” said Waring, the 2005 English Amateur champion.
“I am feeling comfortable on the course and generally in this environment because I know a lot of the guys out here from amateur golf – guys like Andrew McArthur who I played with today.
“I will approach tomorrow the same as I do every other day and try to look after myself. That’s all you can do in golf. If someone makes a charge at me I can’t do anything about that. I just have to keep going and give myself opportunities.
“If it turns out that I have to grind it out then I will just have to chip and putt well to stay in it, but if I am playing well then I will try and low as low as I can.
“It has been a great start to my pro career, but I am trying not to think too far ahead at the moment because that’s when things can come back at you in this game.”

LOT OF PUTTS
McArthur’s third round was a hypocritical mix of disappointment and delight that included a four putt and two three putts but also five birdies.
“If that is the bad round of the week out of the way then I have to be optimistic,” said the former Scottish Amateur champion.
“I played great apart from those stupid putts that I gave away and I am only two behind because Paul three-putted the last.
“I was playing the 18th thinking that I was going to be three behind starting the final round, and that seemed a lot but when he bogeyed the last I started to think that two shots is nothing.”
Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field in 15th position on seven-under 206 after a third round 68, while George Murray and Scott Henderson are respectively 36th and 50th on 210 and 212 against the 54-hole par of 213.

SCOREBOARD

Par 213 (3 x 71)

198 P Waring (Eng) 68 62 68.

200 A McArthur (Sco) 64 67 69.

201 F Aguilar (Chi) 66 66 69.

202 J Kamte (SAf) 69 65 68.

203 M Cort (Eng) 69 65 69, S Delagrange (Fra) 66 66 71, C Gane (Eng) 67 66 70, Z Scotland (Eng) 71 66 66.

Other scores:

206 R Ramsay (Sco) 68 69 69 (jt 15th).

210 G Murray (Sco) 71 68 71 (jt 36th).

212 S Henderson (Sco) 70 71 71 (jt 50th).

North of Open stroke-play for David Blair Trophy

MICHAEL BUCHAN (134) LEADS

BY FIVE AT HALFWAY STAGE

AT ROYAL DORNOCH

By ROBIN WILSON

Cruden Bay’s Michael Buchan, pictured right, kept up the momentum of his first-round 65 – only one stroke outside the Royal Dornoch course record – with a 69 for a six-under-par tally of 134 to lead to lead by five shots at the halfway stage of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship for the David Blair Trophy today.
Buchan coped a lot better than most of his rivals with a rising wind which saw him carry over a five-stroke lead from Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) into Sunday's final two rounds.
Buchan dropped just one shot to par, at the 17th, in his second circuit, which was no mean over a world-rated links that many feel is good enough to host the Open but is just that bit too far north.
Brought up in golfing terms on another classic links at Cruden Bay, Buchan got his birdies in an outward half of two-under-par 33, at the third and the ninth.
Graeme Mitchell (Braemar) had a hole in one at the sixth in his first-round 82. He didn’t get an ace in his second round but he was still able to improve by five shots for a 77 and 159, which was five too many to beat the halfway cut.

A total of 44 players with totals of 154 and better qualified for the final day.

One surprise No Return in the rising wind was former Scottish boys’ open stroke-play champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) who had a great run in the recent Scottish match-play championship at Prestwick. He had a first-round 77 which was by no means a bad score.

(SCROLL DOWN PAST THE SCORES FOR THE FIRST-ROUND STORY)

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
134 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69.
139 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73.
140 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73.
141 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70, D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72, A Dick (Shotts) 70 71.
143 J White (Lundin) 70 73, S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73.

144 P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75.

145 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76.
147 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 70 77, A Main (Thornton) 74 73.
148 D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74, P Betty (Hayston) 71 77, K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74, G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74.
149 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77, G Murray (Cullen) 74 75, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74.
150 M Ferries (Tain) 69 81, I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76, G Yates (Hilton Park) 73 77, D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76.
151 S Dingwall (Muir of Ord) 69 82, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78, A Howard (Murrayshall) 70 81, N Howitt (Nairn)72 79..
152 A Everett (Tain) 75 77, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76, M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 72 80.
153 A Gilmour (Invergordon) 71 82, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 77 76, M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 79, C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 76 77, E Polson (Inverness) 76 77, G Thomson (Moray) 78 75, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 79 74.
154 J Brownlee (Craigielaw) 77 77, J Forbes (Inverness) 75 79, B Ferries (Tain) 78 76, D McIntosh (Nairn) 75 79, B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81.

MISSED THE CUT
155 S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 79, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 78 77, B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 76 79.

157 G Robertson (Silverknowes) 73 84, N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 79, D Thorburn (Thurso) 77 80.
158 S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston) 73 83, G Paterson (Northern) 77 81.
159 G Brass (Blairgowrie) 76 83, G Mitchell (Braemar) 82 77, G Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 84, M Murray (Brora) 74 85, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 77 82, J Broadley (Deeside) 74 85.
160 J S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 82 78, R MacLeod (Tain) 81 79.
161 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 84, M Robson (Kngsknowe) 78 83.
162 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch) 80 82, G Blair (Haddington) 77 85, R Cameron (Inverness) 80 82.
168 B Spoor (Westhill) 78 90.

174 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 87 87.
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw), J Lockie (Tantallon) 83 -.
No Returns – S Michie (Thornton) NR, L Miller (Cawder) 75 NR, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 77 NR, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 80 NR, I MacMillan (Glenearn) 76 NR.

NEWS OF THE FIRST ROUND SCORES

Michael Buchan recovered from a bogey 4 at the short second hole to birdie the third, sixth and ninth in an outward half of three-under-par 33. The North-east District team player maintained his momentum to get further birdies at the 10th, 12th and 15th in a bogey-free inward half of 32.
But that very good round did not put him clear of the field.
Mark Hillson from Craigielaw was snapping at his heels with halves of 33 for a 66 and another Lothians player, Robert Carson, posted a 65 after going to the turn in 32 with birdies at the third, sixth and ninth.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), who followed up his East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links by winning last week’s rain-shortened North-east District Open at Newmachar, gave himself a platform for another good weekend by returning a 69.
Stewart, recently returned from four successful years on the American college circuit as a Jacksonville University, Florida student, was out in one-over 36, having double-bogeyed the short second and dropped another shot at the eighth with birdies at the seventh and ninth recouping only two of these strokes.
But he reeled off seven pars and birides at the 10th and 12th for 33 home to signal his intent to be a contender yet again for another Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit tournament success.

Graeme Mitchell (Braemar) had a hole in one at the short sixth on his way to an 82.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70. CSS 74
65 M Buchan (Cruden Bay).

66 M Hillson (Craigielaw).
67 R Carson (Dalmahoy).
69 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch), M Ferries (Tain), S Dingwall (Muir of Ord), D Stewart (Grantown on Spey), P McLean (Peterhead).

70 P O’Hara (Colville Park), J White (Lundin), A Howard (Murrayshall), S Hume (Murrayshall), A Dick (Shotts).
71 A Gilmour (Invergordon), G Campbell (Blairgowrie), Z Saltman (Craigielaw), P Betty (Hayston).
72 S McEwan (Caprington), N Howitt (Nairn), M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar)..
73 B Fotheringham (Forres), G Yates (Hilton Park), B McDermott (Leven GS), J Duff (Newmachar). G Robertson (Silverknowes).

74 D Murray (Blairgowrie), G Murray (Cullen), I Rennie (Royal Dornoch), M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), K Nicholson (Haddington), M Murray (Brora), D Gould (Ladybank), G Dear (Murrayshall), J Broadley (Deeside), A Main (Thornton).
75 A Everett (Tain), L Miller (Cawder), I Angus (Duff House Royal), K Nicol (Fraserburgh), S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston), J Forbes (Inverness), D McIntosh (Nairn).
76 S Borrowman (Dollar), I MacMillan (Glenearn), C Mailley (Royal Dornoch), E Polson(Inverness), G Stewart (Murcar Links), S Robertson (Sandyhills).
77 S McAllister (Craigielaw), C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), J Brownlee (Craigielaw), G Blair (Haddington), R Hyland (Hazlehead), G Paterson (Northern), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar), D Thorburn (Thurso).
78 G Brass (Blairgowrie), B Spoor (Westhill), C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle), G Thomson (Moray), M Robson (Kingsknowe), B Ferries (Tain), N Sadler (Murcar Links).
79 S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).
80 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch), Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh), R Cameron (Inverness).
81 R MacLeod (Tain).
82 G Mitchell (Braemar), S Knowles (Kingsknowe).
83 J Lockie (Tantallon).
87 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw).
No Return – S Michie (Thornton).

SCOTTISH SENIORS' ORDER OF MERIT
SHOOT-TOUR AT BLAIRGOWRIE

The inaugural Scottish Senior Men's Order of Merit climaxes at Blairgowrie Golf Club - over the Rosemount course - on Thursday (August 30).
The leading 31 players from the Order of Merit standings will be play 18 holes.
Scottish senior champion Ian Hutcheon from Monifieth has an unassailable lead but there are other leading placings to be decided.

Draw:
11.25 Ian Dickson (Lundin), James Roy (Grange).
11.33 William Wallace (Strathaven), Tony Stafford (Alloa).
11.40 Henry Anderson (Callander), William Brown (Strathaven), Brian Smith (Hamilton).
11.48 James Paton (Kirkintilloch), Stephen Ellis (Cowal), Peter Lamb (Biggar).
11.55 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead), Ronald MacLean (Hamilton), Gordon Thomson (Bearsden).
12.03 Robert Humble (Kilspindie), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan), James Kinloch (Cardross).
12.10 Donald McCart (Castlerock), Iain Stewart (Curragh), William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox).
12.18 Ronald MacLellan (Turnberry) Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess), David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).
12.25 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), George Rodaks (Moffat), Patrick Tomisson (Nairn).
12.33 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), George Paterson (Northern), Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven).
12.40 James Watt (Letham Grange), John Fraser (Nairn Dunbar), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth).

++We'll have a full report and pictures on Scottishgolfview.com next Thursday evening.

US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD
THE BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Westchester CC, New York State.
Par 142 (2 x 71)
Players from US unless stated

130 KJ Choi (Kor) 64 66.
132 Rich Beem 64 68.
134 Steve Stricker 67 67, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 63 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 66
136 Kenny Perry 69 67, Anthony Kim 68 68, Bill Haas 68 68, Adam Scott (Aus) 67 69, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 67, Ernie Els (Rsa) 65 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 68
137 Jerry Kelly 67 70, Arron Oberholser 67 70, Steve Flesch 65 72, Woody Austin 69 68, Matt Kuchar 69 68, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 66, Phil Mickelson 67 70, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67, Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 67, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 68, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 65 72
138 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 67, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 68, Brian Gay 65 73, Davis Love III 69 69, Tim Petrovic 69 69, Boo Weekley 71 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 70
139 Brian Davis (Eng) 68 71, Zach Johnson 68 71, Stewart Cink 72 67, Heath Slocum 66 73, Cliff Kresge 69 70, Hunter Mahan 70 69, Jeff Maggert 66 73, Jim Furyk 70 69, Ryan Armour 72 67, Scott Verplank 68 71, Jason Gore 72 67, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 71 68
140 Joe Durant 71 69, Paul Goydos 71 69, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 69, Brett Quigley 67 73, Robert Garrigus 70 70, Fred Funk 71 69, John Mallinger 68 72, Frank Lickliter II 71 69
141 Steve Marino 72 69, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 72, Charley Hoffman 69 72, Tim Herron 71 70, Corey Pavin 68 73, Briny Baird 66 75, Troy Matteson 70 71, D.J. Trahan 73 68
142 Nick Watney 70 72, Vaughn Taylor 71 71, Bart Bryant 72 70, J.P. Hayes 75 67, Dean Wilson 74 68, Bob Estes 70 72, Nathan Green (Aus) 72 70, Sean O'Hair 73 69, Mike Weir (Can) 69 73, Bob Heintz 69 73, Douglas Labelle 69 73, Jason Dufner 73 69, John Rollins 71 71, J.B. Holmes 76 66, Mark Calcavecchia 67 75, Johnson Wagner 73 69, Rocco Mediate 69 73
MISSED THE CUT
143 Charles Warren 73 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72, Lucas Glover 72 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 74 69, Bubba Watson 72 71, Alex Cejka (Ger) 73 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 70 73, Luke Donald (Eng) 68 75, Ryan Moore 73 70
144 John Merrick 74 70, Jeff Overton 74 70, David Toms 73 71, Steve Allan (Aus) 69 75, Mark Wilson 70 74, Brian Bateman 72 72, Kevin Na (Kor) 73 71, Charlie Wi (Kor) 75 69, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 74, Bo Van Pelt 72 72, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 71 73
145 Billy Mayfair 70 75, Tom Lehman 71 74, Tom Pernice Jnr. 70 75, Billy Andrade 68 77, Chad Campbell 70 75, Shaun Micheel 71 74, Brandt Snedeker 72 73, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 72 73
146 John Senden (Aus) 75 71, Chris DiMarco 69 77, Bob Tway 76 70, Will MacKenzie 73 73, Vijay Singh (Fij) 75 71, Justin Leonard 73 73, Craig Kanada 70 76, Brett Wetterich 74 72, Jonathan Byrd 74 72
147 George McNeill 75 72, J J Henry 72 75, Pat Perez 72 75, Jeff Gove 75 72, Ted Purdy 69 78, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 72 75
148 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 70 78, Robert Allenby (Aus) 77 71, Ken Duke 74 74, Kevin Sutherland 73 75, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 77 71
149 Michael Putnam 75 74, Ben Curtis 75 74, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 74 75
150 Jose Coceres (Arg) 75 75, Joe Ogilvie 71 79, Jeff Quinney 75 75, Harrison Frazar 75 75, Tommy Armour III 76 74, Charles Howell III 75 75
151 Peter Lonard (Aus) 75 76
153 Kevin Stadler 78 75
159 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 77 82

HUTCHEON GOES FOUR CLEAR
WITH A 62 AT WILLIAMWOOD

Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon continued his excellent run of form by forging four strokes clear of the field at the end of the first round of the Williamwood Golf Club 36-hole pro-am today
Hutcheon, pictured right, shot a six-under-par, blemish-free round of 62 with birdies at the first, fourth and sixth in an outward 30 and at the 10th, 12th and 13th in 32 for the back nine.
Next best in the field of 50 professionals are Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire) on 66. Arnott had halves of 33. Orr was out in 34 and home in 32.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 68
62 G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
66 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), D Orr (East Renfrewshire).
67 M King (Kingsfield), C Nicoll (Prestwick).
68 C Gillies (Kingsfield),C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), S Taylor (BothwellCastle), S Catlin (Greenburn), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), J McKinnon (Irvine).
69 C Elliott (Haggs Castle), C Kelly (Cawder), G Lornie (Aspire), G Fox (West Kilbride), G Law (Uphall), D Robertson (Mearns Castle).
70 S Gray (Hayston), S Cairns (Westerwood), A Hutton (World of Golf), M Urquhart (Inverness).

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
KLM OPEN
Par 140 (2 x 70)
130 David Carter 65 65
132 Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66, Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67, Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64
133 Sam Walker 69 64, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67, Ross Fisher 66 67
135 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71, Chris Riley (USA) 66 69, David Griffiths 71 64, David Lynn 65 70, John Bickerton 68 67, Richard Finch 68 67, Paul Lawrie 66 69, Tom Whitehouse 68 67, Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68, David Higgins 68 67, Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70
136 Garry Houston 68 68, Steve Webster 65 71, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71, Nick Dougherty 69 67, Phillip Price 68 68, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69, Simon Khan 67 69, Simon Wakefield 68 68, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72
137 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68, Shaun P Webster 71 66, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68, Steven O'Hara 68 69, Alastair Forsyth 66 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68
138 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71, Andrew Coltart 65 73, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71, Anthony Wall 69 69, David Drysdale 70 68, Gary Murphy 67 71, Robert Rock 69 69, Stephen Gallacher 70 68, Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72
139 Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71, David Park 70 69, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70, Mark Pilkington 71 68, Lee Slattery 66 73, Marcus Higley 72 67, James Heath 70 69, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71, Andrew Marshall 66 73, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70, James Hepworth 70 69
140 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70, Kenneth Ferrie 66 74, Simon Dyson 67 73, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70, Ian Garbutt 73 67, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70
MISSED THE CUT
141 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 68, Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 72 69, Juan Parron (Spa) 73 68, Gareth Davies 71 70, Benn Barham 70 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 68 73, David Frost (Rsa) 71 70, Oliver Fisher 76 65, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 70 71, Michael Kraaij (Ned) 71 70, Lee S James 74 67, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 70 71, Phillip Archer 71 70, Sam Little 68 73
142 Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 69 73, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 70 72, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 70 72, Scott Strange (Aus) 72 70, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 70 72, Andrew Raitt 73 69, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 67 75, Lloyd Saltman (am) 74 68, Gary Lockerbie 70 72, Rolf Muntz (Ned) 75 67, Stephen Dodd 70 72, Marc Warren 68 74, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 75 67, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 71 71, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 70 72
143 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 67 76, Damien McGrane 71 72, Matthew Zions (Aus) 71 72, Kyron Sullivan 74 69, Richard McEvoy 70 73, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 72, Ronald Stokman (Ned) 71 72, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 72, Hiddo Uhlenbeck (Ned) 72 71, Barry Lane 70 73
144 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 69 75, Antonio Maldonado (Mex) 72 72, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 70 74, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 70 74, Jurien Van der vaart (Ned) 71 73, Adrien Mork (Fra) 72 72, Pablo Martin (Spa) 72 72, Miles Tunnicliff 71 73, Mark Foster 71 73, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 74
145 Tony Finau (USA) 68 77, Johan Skold (Swe) 74 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 68 77, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 72 73, Scott Drummond 71 74, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 75, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 73 72, Stuart Little 73 72
146 Richard Bland 74 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 71 75, Robin Swane (Ned) 70 76, Wil Besseling (Ned) 76 70, Max Kramer (Aut) 75 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 72 74, Terry Price (Aus) 70 76, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 72 74
147 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 76 71, Jamie Spence 68 79, Sion Bebb 73 74, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 75, Ruben Wechgelaer (Ned) 70 77, Edward Rush 71 76
149 Tim Sluiter (Ned) 79 70
150 Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 73 77
151 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 74 77, Reinier Saxton (Ned) 76 75
152 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 78 74
154 Jonathan Lomas 75 79
157 Eric Kruyning (Ned) 78 79
161 Andrew Hastie (Ned) 79 82
189 Stefan Langer (Ger) 98 91

BOOTH AND HENRY IN TOP 10 WITH ONE ROUND
TO GO IN EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Comrie's Wallace Booth dropped out of a share of the lead with a 72, which included a double bogey 5 at the short 13th, but he is still in joint fourth place, four shots behind Englishman Ben Evans who leads at 11 under par 216 with one round to go in the European men's individual amateur championship at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
Scott Henry had one of the best rounds of the day - a five-under-par, bogey-free 67 - to improve to a share of sixth place on six-under-par 210. Scott, back at his best after a disappointing season todate, had birdies at the fifth, sixth, 12th, 14th and 17th.
SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
Today's third round score listed.
205 B Evans (Eng) 68.
207 B Hebert (Fra) 70.
208 J Sjoholm (Swe) 70.
209 J Campillo (Spa) 69, W Booth (Sco) 72.
210 G Boyd (Eng) 67, S Henry (Sco) 67, J Blixt (Swe) 70, C Woods (Eng) 72.
211 J Gill (Aus) 70, J Moul (Eng), B Etchart (Spa) 70, F De Vries (Net) 68, C Mivis (Ger) 66.
Other scores:
214 D Willett (Eng) 70.
215 M Cryer (Eng) 69.
216 B Parker (Eng) 68.
217 S Ward (Ire) 72.
218 D Horsey (Eng) 72, C Macaulay (Sco) 73 (jt 24th).
219 D Whitnell (Eng) 76, L Matthews (Wal) 75.
220 R Davies (Wal) 75, J Parry (Eng) 71, R Kilpatrick (Ire) 74.
221 L Goddard (Eng) 74, M Baldwin (Eng) 76, K McNicoll (Sco) 75, P Cutler (Ire) 71 (jt 48th).
223 S Benson (Eng) 75.
226 R Kellett (Sco) 76.
228 N Edwards (Wal) 74.
232 K McAlpine (Sco) 77

CONSERVATIVE McARTHUR LEFT ONE BEHIND
AFTER PAUL WARING'S 62 PUTS HIM IN LEAD

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Paul Waring continued the dream start to his professional career by surging into the lead at the European Challenge Tour’s POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem after a brilliant second round of nine under par 62 left him one shot ahead in Germany.
The 22 year old from the Wirral, who played at this year’s Open Championship, turned professional just a fortnight ago, making his pro debut on the Challenge Tour at last week’s Lexus Open, where he finished in 24th place.
Having found his feet in the company of some of Europe’s brightest young professionals, Waring travelled to Germany as an invitee, carding a first round 68 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf before storming into the lead with his second round 62 to move to 12 under 130.
Waring is one ahead of Scotland’s Andrew McArthur, with Felipe Aguilar of Chile and Frenchman Sebastian Delagrange a further stroke back.
“I have been playing well for a while and it just all clicked together today,” said Waring who posted nine birdies and nine pars on a blemish-free scorecard.
“I actually had a few more proper chances – I missed a five footer for birdie on 17 – but I’m pretty pleased with that.
“Norway was a good event for me last week because I ticked off a lot of things that are good to get out of the way when you turn pro. I made the cut, shot under par and managed to finish in a pretty decent position for my first event so it was a nice start.
“My plan was always to turn pro this year and when I got the invite to Norway I just went for it because I wanted to get used to everything looking ahead to The Tour School. That’s my main aim, so I am looking at whatever happens out here as a bonus.”
Waring, who represented England at all levels as an amateur and narrowly missed out on a place on the Great Britain and Ireland team for the forthcoming Walker Cup, has enjoyed a fairytale summer, playing in The Open alongside former Champion Ben Curtis of the USA and Australian Aaron Baddeley – a two time winner on the US PGA Tour.
He also managed to squeeze in practice rounds with European Tour champions Niclas Fasth of Sweden and the South African Trevor Immelman at Carnoustie.
“I spoke to so many people at The Open – everyone I could – and learned so much, mostly about myself and that I could cope under that sort of pressure,” said Waring.
Waring will find a new type of pressure this weekend, as he looks to complete that dream start to his professional career by securing a maiden victory in Germany.
While Waring was on the attack during his excellent 62, second placed McArthur McArthur continued his “conservative approach” to plotting a maiden professional win.
The Scot, who has not dropped a stroke in the first 36 holes, carded a second round 67 for his 11 under 131 halfway total.
The 28 year old Glaswegian is seeking the victory that would take him to the brink of winning a place on The European Tour via the top 20 on the Challenge Tour Rankings.
“I’m just plodding along nicely,” said McArthur, currently 21st on the Rankings. “I’m going for the conservative approach this week and it seems to be working for me.
“I’m pretty much playing target golf, trying to focus on picking my spot and I have managed to do it for most of the first two rounds.”

Rookie Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field on five under par 135 after opening scores of 67-68, with George Murray on 139 (71-68) and Scott Henderson on 141 after scores of 70-71.
Scottish non-qualifiers included Robert Russell and Eric Ramsay (both 143), Graeme Brown (146), Peter Whiteford (147) and Jamie McLeary (150).

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
130 P Waring (Eng) 68 62.
131 A McArthur (Sco) 64 67.
132 S Delagrange (Fra) 66 66, F Aguilar (Chi) 66 66.
133 C Gane (Eng) 67 66.
Others Scots scores:
137 R Ramsay 68 69.
139 G Murray 71 68.
141 S Henderson 70 71.

SCOTTISH NON-QUALIFIERS
143 R Russell 71 72, E Ramsay 71 72.
146 G Brown 75 71.
147 P Whiteford 71 76.
149 E Thomson 74 75.
150 J McLeary 78 72.

Elliot Saltman slumps in final round, finishes jt 16th

GREWAL SETS NEW PGA EUROPRO TOUR RECORD
WITH A ROUND OF 60 AT WHITTLEBURY

Sandeep Grewal has re-written the PGA EuroPro Tour record books by shooting the best round in its history.
Grewal, 25, fired a score of 60, including an albatross 2 at the par-5 ninth, during the final day of the PartyPoker.net English Masters at the Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club in Northamptonshire.
However, his day could have been even better as he narrowly missed with a putt on the last that would have gave him the magical score of 59, a total achieved by only a handful of players in world golf.
"This is the best round of my career by far," said a delighted Grewal, a member of the Heswall Golf Club in Merseyside.
"I was one-under after eight and I had just played steadily with nothing special. But I holed my second shot at the ninth and that got me going.
"I just played solidly, kept hitting it to ten-feet from the pin and I didn't miss a putt. There was not much wind, the conditions were perfect and I birdied the last six holes."
Grewal, a former England amateur international, turned professional in 2000 and has been a regular on the PGA EuroPro Tour, the leading developmental golf tour in Europe, since it began in 2002.
Grewal started the final day in level 39th after scores of three-over and one-over at the par-71 course before his record-breaking 11-under 60 saw him become the clubhouse leader.
However, he could not clinch the first prize as Doncaster-based Graeme Clark won his third tournament of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Clark will be playing on the Challenge Tour in 2008 after winning his third tournament of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Doncaster-based Clark, who also won at Faithlegg, Waterford and The Players Club, Bristol, ended on 10-under-par for the 54 holes to secure another £10,000 first prize.
This takes his 2007 winnings to more than £35,000 and guarantees him a place inside the top five on the end of season Order of Merit.
As a result he will secure automatic qualification for the Challenge Tour.
Clark did not make the best of starts as a level-par 71 on Wednesday left him in equal 21st and four shots behind the lead.
WINNER BY ONE STROKE
But a four-under 67 on Thursday brought him back in contention before he ended his week in style with a six-under 65 to win by one shot.
Grewal tied for second on nine-under alongside Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) and Martin Le Mesurier (Vear Group).
Elliot Saltman from Dalkeith was joint leader at the start of the final day but such is the high standard of play on this satellite circuit that a two-over-par 73 dropped him down to a share of 16th place on three-under--par 210. Elliot earned only £415. He bogeyed the second, fourth, fifth and sixth which just about killled his chances even though he did birdie the ninth to be out in three-over-par 38.
Coming home Elliot, bogeyed the 13th, birdied the 16th, bogeyed the 17th and then finished in the grand manner with an eagle 3 at the 18th .
Saltman could have done with Lee Harper's final round of 66. The Archerfield Links player came storming home in 31 with an eagle at the 11th, birdies at the 12th, 16th, 17th and 18th - and one bogey, at the 13th.
He also had three birdies on the way out, at the second, third and ninth. Lee's payday was £340.
Neil Mitchell from Murcar Links also broke par at the last time of asking with a 69 for one-under-par 212 for a £299 pay-out. Neil birdied the first, third and sixth and then covered the last 12 holes with 11 pars and a bogey at the 17th in halves of 32 and 37.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
203 G Clark (Eng) 71 67 65 (£10,000.
204 S Grewal (Eng) 74 70 60, I Keenan (Eng0 71 69 65, M Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 69 66 (£3,066 each).
Scottish scores:
210 E Saltman 72 65 73 (jt 16th) (£415).
211 L Harper 76 69 66 (jt 24th) (£340).
212 N Mitchell 70 73 69 (jt 29th) (£299).

FINAL TOTALS TO COME LATER

US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD

THE BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Westchester Country Club, Rye, New York State).
Par 71
63 Rory Sabbatini (RSA)
64 KJ Choi (Kor), Rich Beem
65 Ernie Els (RSA) Steve Flesch, Brian Gay, Carl Pettersson (Swe)
66 Jeff Maggert, Briny Baird, Heath Slocum
67 Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Arron Oberholser, Brett Quigley, Mark Calcavecchia, Adam Scott (Aus)
68 Brian Davis (Eng), Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), John Mallinger, Billy Andrade, Anthony Kim, Bill Haas, Retief Goosen (Rsa), Corey Pavin, Luke Donald (Eng), Camilo Villegas (Col), Scott Verplank
69 Charley Hoffman, Woody Austin, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Tim Petrovic, Mike Weir (Can), Bob Heintz, Douglas Labelle, Rodney Pampling (Aus), Davis Love III, Chris DiMarco, Ted Purdy, Matt Kuchar, Cliff Kresge, Steve Allan (Aus), Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate, Tim Clark (Rsa)
70 Nick Watney, Robert Garrigus, Billy Mayfair, Bob Estes, Chad Campbell, Justin Rose (Eng), Craig Kanada, Tom Pernice Jnr., Steve Elkington (Aus), Mark Wilson, Hunter Mahan, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Jim Furyk, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Mathew Goggin (Aus), Ian Poulter (Eng), Troy Matteson
71 Anders Hansen (Den), Vaughn Taylor, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Joe Durant, Shaun Micheel, Boo Weekley, Frank Lickliter II, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Andrew Buckle (Aus), Tim Herron, Joe Ogilvie, Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Aaron Baddeley (Aus), John Rollins, Paul Goydos, Padraig Harrington (Irl)
72 Pat Perez, Bart Bryant, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink, Bubba Watson, Brian Bateman, Steve Marino, J J Henry, Nathan Green (Aus), Bo Van Pelt, Ryan Armour, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), Brandt Snedeker, Jason Gore
73 Charles Warren, Jason Dufner, David Toms, Kevin Sutherland, Alex Cejka (Ger), Kevin Na (Kor), Will MacKenzie, Justin Leonard, Sean O'Hair, Johnson Wagner, D.J. Trahan, Ryan Moore
74 Dean Wilson, Jeff Overton, John Merrick, Ken Duke, Angel Cabrera (Arg), Brett Wetterich, Jonathan Byrd, Stuart Appleby (Aus)
75 Jeff Gove, Jeff Quinney, John Senden (Aus), J.P. Hayes, Michael Putnam, Harrison Frazar, Ben Curtis, Charles Howell III, Peter Lonard (Aus), Charlie Wi (Kor), George McNeill, Vijay Singh (Fij), Jose Coceres (Arg)
76 J.B. Holmes, Tripp Isenhour, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Bob Tway, Tommy Armour III
77 Daniel Chopra (Swe), Robert Allenby (Aus), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
78 Kevin Stadler

ANDREW COLTART EQUALS EUROPEAN

TOUR RECORD LOW (27) FOR NINE

HOLES IN KLM OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and Japan's Taichi Teshima equalled the Kennemer course record of six under par 64 to take the first round lead in The KLM Open on Thursday.
The leading duo lead a seven-strong chasing pack that includes 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Scot Andrew Coltart, pictured right, whose back nine of 27 equalled the European Tour record low score for nine holes.
In becoming only the fifth player to shoot a 27, the Dumfries man's bid to equal the record of eight successive birdies came up one short when, having birdied seven in a row from the tenth, his 18 foot birdie putt on the 17th narrowly missed.
Teshima took full advantage of the benign conditions at Kennemer as he battles to keep his playing privileges for next season. It is the second time he has opened with a 64, the first being in the Italian Open, but on that occasion he missed the cut.
"I shot 64 in Italy (Italian Open), eight-under, but then followed up with a 77 and missed the cut by one," Teshima, who has won five times on the Japanese tour, said.
"Hopefully I can put that right now. I've had several good starts but not been able to follow them up."
Fickle weather in Europe has hindered Teshima's progress in his first year, but he is determined to stick it out and win a card for another year.
"I thought I could do better but I've missed too many cuts, which is something I didn't do in Japan," he said.
"We don't get a lot of wind in Japan and the rough is very different over here. I am determined to make my card, but I know I have to play well in every tournament I have left, to do that."
Gonnet has no such worries about his card anymore after his second place finish in last week’s Scandinavian Masters lifted him to 86th on The European Tour Order of Merit. Starting at the tenth he reached the turn in 29 with five birdies and then added another two before dropping his only shot at the seventh to match Teshima's score.
“Last week was unbelievable and I have now got my card in my pocket and it is great,” beamed the Frenchman. “I was very relaxed today and it is great for the rest of the season. I am just enjoying my game. That is why I play golf. Last week was very good and to follow that with a low round is very positive. But my goal is to get a victory and there is a long way to go.”
Campbell was another to enjoy a burst of low scoring with six birdies in eight holes lifting him into a share of third place in his bid to get back into the winners’ enclosure.

With caddie Pete Coleman on his bag, Campbell drew on his wealth of experience to post a five under par 65.
“I got off to a pretty average start and then got some momentum with six birdies in eight holes,” said Campbell.

“I have Pete Coleman on the bag for the first time. He has been caddieing for over 30 years and has 57 wins, two Majors and he knows what he is talking about. I asked several times the lines of the putts and he was right every time. He is earning his money this week.”
Campbell is targeting a return to winning ways having seen his close friends Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington win the US Open and Open respectively in recent weeks.
“I have been doing a lot of thinking the last three days and it is not much fun being down in 40th place in the Order of Merit and it is time to do something about it. I have had my holidays and it is time to get back over the next couple of months. Get back in that winning arena. It is something I have missed.”
David Lynn, the winner in 2004, was another player on five under par along with fellow Englishmen David Carter and Steve Webster and French Ryder Cup player Thomas Levet, who has finally recovered from vertigo which blighted his last year. Alexander Noren of Sweden, who boosted his season with a tied fifth in last month's Players Championship, completed the group on five under par.
There were mixed fortunes for the Langer family as father Bernhard, a three time winner of the event who turns 50 on Monday, carded a three under par 67 but his 17 year old son, Stefan, making his European Tour debut, struggled all day on his way to an opening 98.
A raking 40 footer for par on the last gave the youngster some encouragement but he still finished 31 strokes behind his father who explain that young Stefan is in the middle of a period when he is making major changes in his swing.

FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 70

64 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Taichi Teshima (Jpn)
65 David Carter, Steve Webster, Michael Campbell (Nzl), Alexander Noren (Swe), Andrew Coltart, David Lynn, Thomas Levet (Fra)
66 Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Steve Alker (Nzl), Chris Riley (USA), Ross Fisher, Kenneth Ferrie, Lee Slattery, Sven Struver (Ger), Andrew Marshall, Paul Lawrie, Alastair Forsyth
67 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Andrew Tampion (Aus), Luis Claverie (Spa), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Johan Axgren (Swe), Simon Dyson, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Simon Khan, Gary Murphy, Markus Brier (Aut), Emanuele Canonica (Ita)
68 Joost Luiten (Ned), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), John Bickerton, Steven O'Hara, Simon Wakefield, Tony Finau (USA), Marc Warren, Jamie Spence, Matthew Millar (Aus), David Higgins, Sam Little, Garry Houston, Shiv Kapur (Ind), Marcel Siem (Ger), Phillip Price, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Richard Finch, Tom Whitehouse, David Bransdon (Aus)
69 Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Nick Dougherty, Rafael Echenique (Arg), Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Marc Cayeux (Zim), Brett Rumford (Aus), Anthony Wall, Sam Walker, Robert Rock, Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe)
70 James Kingston (Rsa), Benn Barham, Christopher Hanell (Swe), David Park, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Robin Swane (Ned), James Heath, Stephen Dodd, Terry Price (Aus), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Anton Haig (Rsa), Jean Hugo (Rsa), Richard McEvoy, Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Ruben Wechgelaer (Ned), Gary Lockerbie, David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Ariel Canete (Arg), James Hepworth, Barry Lane, Martin Maritz (Rsa), Cesar Monasterio (Arg)
71 Damien McGrane, David Griffiths, Gareth Davies, David Frost (Rsa), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Jurien Van der vaart (Ned), Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Miles Tunnicliff, Edward Rush, Christian Cevaer (Fra), Shaun P Webster, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Matthew Zions (Aus), Scott Drummond, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Ronald Stokman (Ned), Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Michael Kraaij (Ned), Mark Pilkington, Phillip Archer, Mark Foster
72 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Antonio Maldonado (Mex), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Scott Strange (Aus), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Marcus Higley, Adrien Mork (Fra), Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Hiddo Uhlenbeck (Ned), Santiago Luna (Spa), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa), Pablo Martin (Spa)
73 Juan Parron (Spa), Rahil Gangjee (Ind), Sion Bebb, Andrew Raitt, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Manuel Quiros (Spa), Stuart Little, Ian Garbutt
74 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Richard Bland, Lee S James, Johan Skold (Swe), Kyron Sullivan, Lloyd Saltman (am), Gary Emerson
75 Rolf Muntz (Ned), Max Kramer (Aut), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Jonathan Lomas
76 Wil Besseling (Ned), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Reinier Saxton (Ned), Oliver Fisher
78 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Eric Kruyning (Ned)
79 Tim Sluiter (Ned), Andrew Hastie (Ned)
98 Stefan Langer (Ger) (am).

QUALIFIERS FOR NICK FALDO GRAND FINAL

For the names of the six Scottish teenagers who qualified for the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor in October, please switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

ELLIOT SALTMAN SHARES LEAD IN EUROPRO
TOUR EVENT AT WHITTLEBURY PARK


Rookie pro Elliot Saltman from Dalkeith is sharing the lead after 36 holes of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event at Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club in Northamptonshire.
Saltman had a superb second-round 65 for five-under-par 137 to join Welshman David Price in the lead.
Adam Lee (St Mellons, Cardiff) crashed out of the tournament despite hitting a hole-in-one on the 163-yard par-three 14th. A poor score of a six-over 77 on Wednesday left him with too much to do on the second day as he finished well down the field.
Apart from Saltman, the only other Scots to make it through to the final day were Neil Mitchell (Murcar Liks) on 143 and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) on 145, the limit mark.
Jack and Paul Doherty, Graham Gordon, Thomas Higson and Christopher Campbell all missed the cut.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
137 D Price (Wal) 70 67, E Saltman (Sco) 72 65.
138 G Clark (Eng) 71 67, S Doherty (Eng) 71 67, D Callaway (Eng) 70 68, Russell Claydon (Eng) 67 71, R Harris (Eng) 71 67, M McDermott (Ire) 70 68, M Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 69.
Other scores:
143 N Mitchell (Murcar Links) 70 73.
145 L Harper (Archerfield Links) 76 69.
SCOTS WHO MISSED CUT
146 J Doherty 75 71.
147 G Gordon 74 73.
152 T Higson 74 78.
153 C Campbell 77 76, P Doherty 71 82.

ROCKET MAN WALLACE BOOTH (course record
63) SHARES HALFWAY EUROPEAN LEAD

Wallace Booth rocketed into a share of the halfway lead in the European men's amateur individual championship with a brilliant course-record round of nine-under-par 63 on the second day at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
Wallace had a 74 in the first round but he improved by 11 strokes with an eagle 3 at the 11th and birdies a tthe first, second, third, sixth, seventh, 12th and 14th in a bogey-free round.
That put the Comrie 22-year-old, who has spent the last four years playing the American circuit as a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, into a triple tie for the lead with England's Ben Evans (69-68) and Benjamin Hebert (France) (68-69) on seven-under-par 137.
For the 24 holes since the 13th in the first round, Booth is a remarkable 11 under par.
Next best Scot is Scott Henry (Cardross) who came back to the tip-top form that has, in the main, eluded him this season. Henry improved from 75 on Wednesday to 68 today for one-under 143 and a share of 12th place.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) slipped back to joint 24th position on 145 with a 74.
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) has had a pair of 73s for 146 and a share of 365th position.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) is sharing 76th place after a second-round 74 for 150.
And spare a thought for Scottish stroke play champion Kevin McAlpine Alyth who was doing not too badly with two holes to play ... and then ran up two triple bogeys - a 6 at the short 17th and a 7 at the par-4 18th. That gave him a 79 for 155 and puts him way back in the field in joint 122nd place.
One side issue worthy of comment has been the lacklustre display of the Irish team who won the European team championship at Western Gailes just a few weeks ago. They don't have last year's title-winner, Walker Cup man Rory McIlroy, in their ranks but one would have expected them to have at least one player in the top 20 after 36 holes.
Not so. Simon Ward is the best placed Irishman in joint 24th place on 145 with a 75 and a 70.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
137 W Booth (Sco) 74 63, B Evans (Eng) 69 68, B Hebert (Fra) 68 69.
138 C Woods (Eng) 70 68, J Sjoholm (Swe) 69 69.
140 J Campillo (Spa) 72 68, J Blixt (Swe) 69 71.
141 J Gill (NZ) 73 68, J Moul (Eng) 721 69, B Etchart (Spa) 72 69.
142 F Fritsch (Ger) 67 75.
Other scores:
143 S Henry (Sco) 75 68, G Boyd (Eng) 72 71, D Whitnell (Eng) 74 69 (jt 12th).
144 D Willett (Eng) 73 71, L Matthews (Wal) 73 73 (jt 20th).
145 C Macaulay (Sco) 71 74, R Davies (Wal) 71 74, M Baldwin (Eng) 72 73, S Ward (Ire) 75 70 (jt 24th).
146 K McNicoll (Sco) 73 73, M Cryer (Eng) 73 73, R Kilpatrick (Ire) 74 72 (jt 36th).
148 S Benson (Eng) 71 77 (jt 53rd).
149 J Parry (Eng) 75 74 (jt 64th).
150 R Kellett (Sco) 76 74, S Grant (Ire) 75 75 (jt 76th).
155 K McAlpine (Sco) 76 79 (jt 122nd)

ROBERTSON AND DOAK TIE ON 66 AT TURRIFF

Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle) and Chris Doak (unattached) tied for victory on four-under-par 64 in today's Turriff Golf Club pro-am.
Both received £947 for scores of four-under-par 66.
Robertson had a bag of eight birdies (the first, third, fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 17th) and four bogeys (seventh, 14th, 15th and 16th) in going out in 34 and back in 32.
Doak had six birdies (second, third, sixth, ninith, 14th and 16th) with just two bogeys, at the fourth and 15th in halves of 33.
They finished a shot ahead of Northern Open winner Murray Urquhart (Inverness).
Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan) steered the J G P Builders Ltd trio of John Paterson (handicap 18), Wayne Stuart (12) and Neil Smith (9) to victory in the team event with a 16-under-par net total of 124.
David McCormack (East Aberdeenshire) finished joint eighth on 70 in one of his last outings as a golf professional. He joins the Police Force next week.

LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
66 D Robertson (Mearns Castle), C Doak (unatt).
67 M Urquhart (Inverness).
68 G McInnes (Murcar Links), L Mann (Kings Links), C Kelly (Cawder).
69 S Gray (Hayston).
70 D McCormack (East Aberdeenshire), C Gillies (Kings Links), I Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), S Rettie (Royal Troon).

European Challenge Tour

Eagle lands for McArthur in Germany
to give him first-round lead on 64

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

A sensational 50 foot eagle putt landed Scotland’s Andrew McArthur the early lead at the POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem. And he held on to it all day in Germany.
The 28 year old’s brilliant eagle effort ensured an opening score of seven under par 64 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr and a one stroke lead over Frenchman Jean-Nicolas Billot and Argentina’s Rafael Gomez after both men posted opening scores of 65.
McArthur, currently 21st on the Challenge Tour Rankings after three top ten finishes in his last seven events, is hoping to secure the maiden Challenge Tour victory that would take him to the cusp of a place on The 2008 European Tour as one of the top 20 players on the end of season Rankings.
“It’s always a good day when you hole a 50 foot putt on the last for eagle,” smiled the Scotsman after signing for a 64.
“I thought that the ball was going to finish just short of the hole and was shaking my head in disbelief when it dropped in at the last moment.
“I am feeling confident just now and that I am ready to win. I have been close but I seem to throw in an inopportune 72 or 73 in the weeks that I am playing well and that has been holding me back. I just have to eliminate that and I will be very close to getting my first win.”
Recently turned professional Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field after a three under 68. George Murray, who lost out in a sudden-death play-off at the Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open last week, posted a level par 71 first round score, the same mark as Peter Whiteford.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 A McArthur (Sco).
65 J-N Billot (Fra), R Gomez (Arg).
Other scores:
68 R Ramsay (Sco) (jt 16th).
70 S Henderson (Sco) (jt 44th).
71 G Murray (Sco), E Ramsay (Sco), R Russell (Sco), P Whiteford (Sco) (jt 56th).
74 G Wright (Wal) (jt 108th).
75 G Brown (Sco) (jt 124th).
78 J McLeary (Sco) (jt 140th of 154).

DEESIDE GOLF CLUB JUNIOR
OPEN LEADING SCORES

Deeside Golf Club Junior Open leading scores this week:

BOYS
(Deeside members where first names are given)
Haughton Course, Yellow Tees.
Class 1
Scratch
71 Jack Scott.
73 D Macandrew, Fraser Clarke.
75 C Innes.
Handicap
68 C Innes (6).
69 Jack Scott (2), D Macandrew (4).
70 Fraser Clarke (3), S Goodbrand (7).
71 Michael Kelly (6).
72 R Dick (7).
74 Thomas D Rennie (2), Steven Smith (6).
Class 2
Scratch
72 J Presly.
80 Stephen Dunn.
81 Sean Hassard, F Grant.
82 A Taylor.
83 Jamie Pryde, Grant Joss.
Handicap
62 J Presley (10).
65 Stephen Dunn (15).
67 A Taylor (15), Jamie Pryde (16), Sean Hassard (14).
69 F Grant (12), C Sutherland (18), Grant Joss (14).
71 D Irvin(13), Matthew Trail (14).
72 Niall White (16)
73 Ashley Anderson (18), G Ritchie (14).
Class 3
Scratch
89 David Young.
91 C Newbury.
93 Benhamin Henderson.
94 Lewys Anderson.
Handicap
70 David Young (19).
72 Craig Lawrie (25), C Newbury (19).
74 Lewis Clark (21), Benjhamin Henderson (19).
75 Lewys Anderson (19) 75.
76 Ross Powell (24), Michael Lawrie (38).

Switch over to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ to see the Girls' scores from the Deeside Junior Open.

NEIL MITCHELL THREE OFF THE PACE IN PGA
EUROPRO TOUR EVENT AT WHITTLEBURY PARK

Neil Mitchell from Murcar Links was the leading Scot at the end of the first round in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Whittlebury Park Golf Club.
Neil had a one-under-par 70 to be three shots behind pacemaker Russell Claydon (Gog Magog).
SCOREBOARD
Par 71
67 R Claydon (Gog Magog).
68 J Spagnuolo (The Hertfordshire), M Woods (Donnington Castle), H Proos (Dunscar).
Scots' scores:
70 N Mitchell (jt 11th).
71 P Doherty (jt 21st).
72 E Saltman (jt 43rd).
74 G Gordon, T Higson (jt 67th).
75 J Doherty (jt 82nd).
76 L Archer (jt 96th).
77 C Campbell (jt 113th).

European men's amateur individual championship

MACAULAY LEADS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE IN BERLIN

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) was the best placed of the six Scots in the field at the end of the first round of the European men's amateur championship at Sporting Berlin Golf Club today.
Callum had a one-under-par round of 71 to be in joint ninth position behind the leader, Germany's Florian Fritsch with a 67.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 F Fritsch (Ger).
68 B Hebert (Fra).
69 B Evans (Eng), J Blixt (Swe), J Sjoholm Swe), R Nielsen(Den).
Scots scores:
71 C Macaulay (jt 9th).
73 K McNicoll (jt 37th).
74 W Booth (jt 55th).
75 S Henry (jt 75th).
76 R Kellett, K McAlpine (jt 91st).

++You can get all the scores and look at all the scorecards by logging on to the European championship website at: http://www.golf.de/amateur/

URQUHART AND NICOLL TIE ON 66

AT FRASERBURGH PRO-AM

Northern Open champion Murray Urquhart from Inverness and Prestwick's Callum Nicoll earned £915 apiece in a tie for victory in the Fraserburgh Golf Club pro-am today (Wed).
Both shot four-under-par 66 with Urquhart, pictured right, having the bigger bag of birdies - at the sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 12th and 13th. He bogeyed the fourth and 11th.
Nicoll had a bogey-free round with birdies at the first, fourth, 10th and 13th.
They finished two strokes clear of third-placed Alan Lockhart (Ladybank).
Urquhart also led the Belmar Engineering team of James Cardno (7), Ross Buchan (6) and Sam Strachan (2) to victory with a net score of 24-under-par 116.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
66 M Urquhart (Inverness), C Nicoll (Prestwick).
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank).
69 M King (Kingsfield), C Gillies (Kingsfield), L Mann (Kings Links).
70 G McFarlane (Clober), G Forbes (Murcar Links), C Kelly (Cawder), C Doak (unatt), G Harvey (Kinross), G McInnes (Murcar Links), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon).

MURCAR LINKS BOYS WIN OFF THE TEE TROPHY AT ELLON

Murcar Links beat Deeside by eight holes in the final of the Off the Tee Trophy boys' inter-club team match-play tournaments.

Semi-finals
Murcar beat Inverurie by four holes.
Deeside wo Peterculter scr.

Final
Murcar beat Deeside by 8 holes (Deeside first string finished two holes up; Murcar Links second string finished 10 holes up after one of the Deeside boys injured a wrist during the round).

GRAY IS LEADING SCOTS PRO IN
PGA SUPER-60s

Gordon Gray was the leading Scottish professional in the first round of the PGA Super-60s tournament at Forest Pines Golf & Country Club, Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire.
He had a four-under-par 69, one off the lead shared by Englishmen Roger Fidler and Graham Burroughs.
SCOREBOARD
Par 73
68 R Fidler (Eng), G Burroughs (Eng).
69 B Longworth (Eng), G Gray (Sco).
70 J Hume (Sco), J Hudson (Eng), T Squires (Eng).
Other scores:
71 J Steven (Sco), I D Smith (Sco), I Clark (Sco) (jt 8th).
72 F Hadden (Sco) (jt 14th).
73 D Craik (Sco) (jt 17th).
80 M Burgess (Sco) (30th).

Editor's Note: From memory, I recall that the professionals in this event played with a partner from their home. For instance, Ian Smith (Retired Hazlehead professional) played with former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie, also of Hazlehead, last year. But, unfortunately, the PGA website lists only the professionals' names.

CLARKE JOINS RYDER CUP TEAM MATES FOR
GLENEAGLES' JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke has announced that he will join other confirmed team mates in competing in this year’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Darren will now be one of four winning European Ryder Cup team players, who will tee off on August 30. These include defending champion Paul Casey, Championship chairman Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood.

Darren is looking for a strong finish to the season and hopes to build on the momentum of his performance in the US PGA Championship.

A popular member of the European Tour, Darren became the hero of the 2006 Ryder Cup by winning all three of his matches in what was an extremely emotionally charged week.

Darren said: “The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles is a great course and hopefully I will be able to shoot some good scores over the duration of the Johnnie Walker Championship and improve on my standing. I am also looking forward to my return to Scotland after the USA PGA Championship - hopefully I can bring some of the American weather back with me!”

Tournament Director, Graeme Marchbank added: “I am delighted that so many of last year’s winning Ryder Cup team have chosen to play at the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship. It is a great endorsement of the tournament and shows that it has become an important event on the Tour calendar.”

Since its inaugural tournament in 1999, the Johnnie Walker Championship has continued to grow and is now one of the most popular events on the Tour. Previous winners include Adam Scott and Pierre Fulke. Championship Chairman, Colin Montgomerie and defending Champion Paul Casey have also confirmed.

Tickets are priced at £18 for a daily adult ticket (£15 concession) and £35 for an adult season ticket (£25 concession). These are available in advance at The Golf Shop at Gleneagles or by calling 01764 694361. Alternatively tickets will be available at the gate during the tournament

STONEHAVEN MEN'S OPEN PLACES
AVAILABLE FOR SUNDAY

SOME places are still available in the draw for the 36-hole Open tournament at Stonehaven Golf Club on Sunday (August 26), an event sponsored jointly by Aberdeen Industrial Finance and Accenture, the management consultants.
Late entries will be accepted on 01569 762124.
Prize vouchers on offer are the largest allowed in amateur golf in Scotland and range fom a £500 voucher for the winner of the scratch-only event to a £50 voucher for eighth place.
Among a number of leading amateurs from the North-east who have entered is Bryan Innes of Murcar Links, a former Scotland international team player and still a +3 handicapper, who knows his way round the tricky Stonehaven course better than most.
Bryan, pictured right, grew up in Stonehaven and was club champion six times between 1992 and 1998 before moving to Murcar.
But he will face strong local opposition led by 49-year-old Neil Irvine, a one-handicapper who equalled the course record of 60 (six-under-par) in a club medal last Saturday.
Stonehaven's captain, David Callaghan, said: "If the weather is kind and the wind doesn't blow, that record could be under threat on Sunday as our greens are beautiful this year and putts are being holed. Whatever, we are looking forward to welcoming some of the best players in the area to Stonehaven and we anticipate a superb day's golf."
============================================================
Note from Colin Farquharson: Editor of Scottishgolfview.com

The first golf tournament I reported on as a very raw cub reporter with Aberdeen Journals was the Stonehaven 36-hole men's open in 1955. I remember catching the bus out to Stonehaven from Aberdeen.
Aged 17, I was nervous and, dare I say it, "shy" .... so I declined the invitation of the Stonehaven club officials to "come in and have something to eat."
I spent the whole day outside the clubhouse, jotting down scores from a scoreboard and not speaking to anyone, not even the players, before catching the bus back into the city in the evening.
I do remember the name of the winner of the tournament - Wallace Anderson who played football for Falkirk, if I remember correctly.
Golden days.

ROY CASE TO BECOME PRESIDENT-ELECT
OF ENGLISH GOLF UNION

Roy Case, a champion of junior golf for the past three decades, has accepted the nomination to become president elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2008 with a view to becoming its president in 2009.
During his time in junior golf, Roy helped develop the careers of many current professional including Nick Dougherty, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme Storm, Lee Westwood, Mark Foster, and Oliver Wilson as well as current leading amateurs such as Paul Waring, John Parry, Matthew Baldwin, Ben Parker and new English champion Daniel Willett.
“This has come as a complete shock,” he says. “I had no idea. It is not something I’d even thought would ever come to me, but I’m delighted.”
Roy, currently the secretary of the Nottinghamshire Golf Union, has served the R&A and the EGU in various guises since the early 1990s but his involvement with junior golf dates back to 1980 when he took over as junior organiser at his home club of Radcliffe on Trent.
He held that position for five years after which he was captain at Radcliffe in 1984 and ‘85 and club president in 2000/1. He has been chairman of junior golf in Nottinghamshire since 1984 and was instrumental in launching the McGregor Trophy, now the English Boys Under 16 Championship, in 1982.
Roy served on the R&A’s GB&I boys selection committee from 1994 until this year, while his involvement with the EGU also began in 1994 when he joined the Venues Sub Committee, of which he is still a member.

SCOTLAND WOMEN'S TEAM NAMED FOR DUNBAR

The Scotland team for the women's home internationals at Dunbar Golf Club from September 12 to 14 has been named today.
Log on to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to see who has capped.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

OF SCOTTISH GOLF

UNION IN A "FINANCIAL
PREDICAMENT"

Dr Douglas G Fowlie, pictured right, president of the North-east District Association of the Scottish Golf Union, has sent the following letter to all the district's affiliated clubs:

(In the interests of brevity, the letter has been edited down to its salient points: Editor, Scottishgolfview).

Special General Meeting - Wednesday, September 12, 2007.

Dear Secretary,
Your club is invited to attend a special genereal meeting of North-east District club representatives (one or two per club as described in Para 4 of the constitution) to be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 7.30-m at the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society rooms, Foresterhill Hospital, Aberdeen.
The District finds itself in a financial predicament which is currently the subject of police investigation. As a result, it has no access to funds to cover predicted expenses. This meeting has been called to give you the backround to this situation and to consider the implications for future funding and governance.
Immediately after the annual meeting (on March 11, 2007), the newly-elected office-bearers discussed concerns with the (then) secretary/treasurer. Lax administration and communication had been noticed in the preceding months.
An arrangement was agreed to provide assistance in managing the district commitments. The plan proved unworkable and on May 24, immediately following another failed meeting, arrangements were put in place to close bank accounts, change signatories and request all available financial information.
Championships and matches are proceeding but all associated arrangements have had to be checked and re-established.
The immediate consequences of this financial, administrative and constitutional breakdown has resulted in a curtailed programme.
The secretary/treasurer responsibilities are being shouldered by Mr George Young and his commitment has allowed events to take place. He has been aided by the committee.
The Scottish Golf Union has been briefed and remains a source of guidance and may provide temporary finaancial aid.

Dr DOUGLAS G FOWLIE
President

McNULTY WINS HIS FIRST MAJOR ON THE
US SENIORS TOUR JUST WHEN HE NEEDED

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Mark McNulty claimed his first Major title on the US Champions (Seniors) Tour by capturing the JELD-WEN Tradition at Crosswater Golf Club, Oregon, finishing five shots ahead of American David Edwards.
The Zimbabwean-born Irishman, who led after the first and third rounds, closed with a final round of 68 for a 16 under par total of 272. The six time Champions Tour winner led Edwards by three shots at the turn and birdied the 11th and 15th.
By the last, he was seven ahead of the field but a double bogey took some of the gloss off his victory as a potential seven-stroke victory became five.
McNulty said: "My putting all week was fantastic except for the last hole, but my concentration had gone out the window by then."
McNulty, renown for his brilliance on the greens, added: "Guys who putt well through the ages are born with it. And whether it's [Ben] Crenshaw, whether it's Tiger [Woods], you are born with it and you putt well," he explained.
"You have times when you go through poor putting rounds, tournaments, times, but it always comes back because you have it, because it's inbred, it's inside."
"I can attest, he is a very good putter," said Edwards, who finished runner-up to McNulty. "I played with him the last three days and he played very solid. He didn't miss very many shots.”
As well as picking the right time on Sunday to charge ahead, he also picked the right time in his career to notch a win. McNulty needed a top 30 finish on the 2007 Champions Tour Money List to be fully exempt for 2008.
Upon first joining the Over-50s Tour, he earned three wins and Rookie of the Year honours in 2004 before following that up with two wins in 2005, but a lack of wins since put him in a precarious position on the exemption list.

FOX BEATS ORR IN PLAY-OFF TO WIN AT SHOTTS
... after leader Glen drops FIVE shots over
the last three holes

Musselburgh's Kenneth Glen blew his victory chance in the North Lanarkshire Council/Pro Guide Young Professional's 36-hole tournament with a disastrous slump over the last three holes at Shotts Golf Club.
Glen had shared the first-round lead with David Orr (East Renfrewshire) on four-under-par 66 and after birdies at thesecond, fifth, 10th and 12th (bogeys at the eighth and ninth), he was six under par for the tournament coming into the last three holes in the second round.
He needed only to par them for a 68 and a clear-cut winning total of 134. Even a single bogey and two pars would have been good enough for him to win by one shot.
Sadly, Kenneth bogeyed the 16th, double-bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the 18th - five shots shed in three holes - for a 73 and a total of 139 which gave him a share of sixth place and a cheque for £110.
Graham Fox (West Kilbride) holed a putt for a birdie 3 to beat David Orr at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Fox and Orr had tied on four-under-par 136, Graham with rounds of 69 and 67, David with 66 and 70.,
Fox earned £400 and Orr £297.
Joint third on 137 were Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (69-68) and Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) (70-67).

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
136 G Fox (West Kilbride) 69 67, D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 66 70 (Fox bt Orr at first hole of sudden death play-off).
137 L Harper (Archerfield Links) 69 68, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 70 67.
138 I Pender (Aberfoyle) 67 71.
139 K Glen (Musselburgh) 66 73, G Hardy (unatt) 72 67.
141 R Scott (Musselburgh) 71 70, G Rankin (Stirling) 70 71.
142 J McGhee (Turnhouse) 67 75.
143 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 72 71.
145 G Lornie (Aspire) 73 72, J Anton (Noah's Ark) 70 75, C McCalman (unatt) 72 73.
146 F McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) 75 71, M Sweenie (Westin Turnberry) 69 77, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) 73 73, T Buchanan (Duddingston) 74 72, J Cliff (Murrayfield) 75 71.

The pro-am part of the original programme was rained off on Sunday and has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 2.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

GB&I TEAM FOR JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY

Fraser Fotheringham, a Scottish boy international, has been rewarded for reaching the final of the Boys Amateur Championship by being selected for the GB&I team to play the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Notts Golf Club on 31 August and 1 September.
Fotheringham, 18, from Nairn who had reached the final contrary to his own expectations came up against an in-form 16-year-old Emilio Cuartero of Spain and was unlucky to lose by 1 hole.
Other Scots in the nine-man line-up are Banchory’s James Byrne, the runner-up in the Scottish Stroke Play at Dornoch and who made his full international debut in the European Team Championships, and Michael Stewart of Troon Welbeck.
England are represented by five of their six-man team that finished runner-up to Denmark in the European Boys Team Championship.
Carris Trophy winner Matthew Haines scored 4½ points out of a possible six in the Boys Home Internationals while 16-year-old Tommy Fleetwood, in his international debut won all six of his matches. The other three English players are Jack Hiluta, the captain, Andrew Johnston and Eddie Pepperell.
IRISH REPRESENTATIVE
Paul Cutler who has recently been selected for the Irish men’s team, is rewarded with a place in the side after a strong performance in the Boys Internationals in which he won 5 points from a possible six. Earlier in the year he had lost in the final of the West of Ireland after defeating Rory McIlroy in the last eight.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of The R&A Boys Selection Committee said: “We are still smarting from last year’s defeat but believe that we have selected a team that is particularly strong in match play and is more than capable of regaining the Trophy.”
“The players have performed well throughout the season, not only in junior events, but more importantly in many cases on the highly competitive mens’ amateur circuit.”
“This is not only a team that will try hard, but, I believe, a team of winners.”
Until recently, GB&I had assumed almost automatic possession of the trophy but last year’s 19½ - 4½ win for the Continental boys at Marianske Lazne confirmed that their success 12 months earlier at Royal Porthcawl was anything but a fluke.
RAILWAY CONNECTION
Notts Golf Club, like many clubs formed in the early part of the last century, owes much to the expansion of the railways. Shortly after the present course opened in 1901, the Great Central Railway built a station at Hollinwell and, for the next 40 years, the railway provided a convenient mode of transport for both members and visitors.
Since then, Notts has hosted countless championships and major tournaments and has the reputation of being one of the most testing, yet fair, inland courses in the British Isles.

TEAM
James Byrne, Banchory
Paul Cutler, Portstewart
Tommy Fleetwood, Formby Hall
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn
Matthew Haines, Rochester & Cobham
Jack Hiluta (Captain), Chelmsford
Andrew Johnston, North Middlesex
Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park
Michael Stewart, Troon Welbeck

US TOUR FINAL TOTALS
WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Par 288 (4 x 72)
266 Brandt Snedeker 70 67 66 63
268 Jeff Overton 65 67 66 70, Billy Mayfair 69 68 64 67, Tim Petrovic 68 65 68 67
269 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 66 67 68 68
270 Greg Kraft 66 67 71 66
271 Will MacKenzie 64 71 68 68, Kevin Stadler 68 67 70 66, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 66 69 67 69, Jason Gore 67 68 69 67
272 Jeff Maggert 67 70 69 66, Anders Hansen (Den) 69 64 68 71
273 Dean Wilson 70 68 70 65, Charles Warren 68 67 70 68, Nathan Green (Aus) 68 66 70 69, Joey Sindelar 69 67 68 69, Brian Gay 69 67 69 68, Jonathan Byrd 69 66 73 65
Frank Lickliter II 68 70 68 67
274 John Merrick 66 69 69 70, Andy Bare 70 66 68 70, Lucas Glover 65 71 66 72, John Huston 66 66 72 70, Tripp Isenhour 69 70 65 70, Johnson Wagner 68 68 69 69, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 69 67 68
275 Kent Jones 67 70 69 69, Bob Estes 69 69 68 69, J J Henry 70 69 67 69, Vaughn Taylor 67 70 69 69, Eric Axley 68 70 69 68, Brent Geiberger 68 68 70 69
276 Ryan Palmer 68 70 70 68, Craig Bowden 70 69 68 69, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 70 69 69 68, Craig Kanada 68 65 70 73
277 Brian Davis (Eng) 65 73 68 71, Mark Hensby (Aus) 67 70 72 68, Jeff Brehaut 71 66 67 73, Bob Tway 67 69 73 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 68 67 72 70, Kevin Na (Kor) 69 70 70 68, Chris Tidland 68 71 71 67, Steve Marino 65 67 71 74, Cameron Beckman 68 68 69 72, Rich Beem 69 69 69 70, Jay Williamson 70 68 70 69, Jason Schultz 69 67 70 71
278 Steve Wheatcroft 68 66 71 73, Tommy Armour III 72 64 69 73, Charlie Wi (Kor) 68 67 70 73, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 69 69 70 70, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 66 70 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 69 70 70 69, Scott Gutschewski 68 70 70 70, D.J. Trahan 68 70 71 69
279 Billy Andrade 68 71 70 70, Michael Bradley 69 70 68 72, Craig Barlow 68 71 72 68, Tag Ridings 70 66 72 71, John Senden (Aus) 67 70 70 72, Todd Fischer 66 72 71 70
Michael Putnam 67 68 73 71
280 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 71 70 71, George McNeill 70 68 68 74, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 72 67 71 70
281 Chad Campbell 69 68 72 72, Kirk Triplett 67 69 72 73, Joe Durant 67 69 72 73, Jay Delsing 68 69 68 76, Robert Garrigus 69 69 73 70, Cliff Kresge 67 69 69 76, Spike McRoy 71 66 73 71
283 Paul Gow (Aus) 68 70 73 72, Todd Hamilton 66 69 77 71, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 70 70 74
284 Tom Johnson 70 69 73 72, Chris Riley 70 68 74 72, Craig Lile (Rsa) 70 69 70 75, Olin Browne 70 68 75 71, Briny Baird 70 69 73 72
285 Ryan Blaum 71 68 72 74
286 Willie Wood 71 68 71 76
288 Neal Lancaster 69 69 77 73
291 Jim Gallagher jr 69 70 71 81
292 Steve Allan (Aus) 67 72 74 79

BILL LONGMUIR SCORES FIRST SENIORS
TOUR WIN FOR TWO YEARS

By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir ended Carl Mason’s dominance of the tournament by claiming The Midas English Open by two strokes from his rival at St Mellion – and spoke of how great it felt to be a winner once more after his final round of 69 secured his first victory in two years.
Longmuir, who hails from Thundersleigh, slew his own putting demons and the English dragon Mason, who was chasing a record-setting fourth consecutive English Open win over the course where he holds the record, a 63 shot in 1995.
Trailing Mason by one stroke – he was on five under par to Mason’s six under par after 36 holes – at the start of the final round, Longmuir went out in three under par 33 and back in level par 36.
Holding a three-shot lead down coming down the 18th hole, Longmuir could afford the three-putt on the last green he took as he claimed his first victory since the Scandinavian Seniors Open in 2005. His winning 54 hole total of eight under par, 208, also saw him pick up the first prize of £22,500.
Longmuir said: “It’s a good feeling – it’s a long time since it happened. I thought I’d forgotten how to win. What made it harder was that I was up against Carl. He won last week in Switzerland and has had four great years in this event, so I’m really proud that I held him off.
“I could never relax because I knew he’d put the pressure on. I was fortunate he had a bad day with the putter, but I’m very pleased with the way I putted. I had five birdies. My putting has been my major problem for a long time now, but I’m giving myself more chances and feel like I’m getting nearer to making them.”
With his 16 year old son Callum acting as caddie in Cornwall, father and son Longmuir repeated the partnership that secured the 2004 Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open.
Longmuir said: “It feels even better to win with Callum on the bag. He’s done really well for me this week and a big bonus is coming his way!”
Mason was quick to praise his conqueror and said: “Bill played superb golf and putted great – the best I’ve seen him for ages. He deserves it. He played wonderfully well.
“It was a tough day and I think we both did great. We had 27 holes to play, and as you know, the conditions have been horrible. I thought level par would win this week, with the bad weather we’ve had.”
Two other Scottish players fared well. Martin Gray tied for 14th place after rounds of 73-75-72, while John Chillas was tied 22nd after rounds of 72-75-75.
Henry Arnott was 65th after rounds of 79-87-83, while Steve Martin and Mike Miller both withdrew from the final 18 holes after matching each other’s scores on the first two days, shooting 76-81 respectively.
FINAL TOTALS
208 B Longmuir (Sco) 70 69 69
210 C Mason (Eng) 69 69 72
216 D Merriman (Aus) 71 74 71
217 K Tomori (Jpn) 74 71 72, S Ginn (Aus) 70 75 72
218 D O’Sullivan (Irl) 72 73 73, M Foster (Eng) 74 72 72, D Johnson (USA) 73 72 73, P Dugeny (Fra) 72 72 74, I Mosey (Eng) 72 78 68, J Heggarty (Nir) 70 71 77
219 J Bland (RSA) 70 73 76, S Owen (Nzl) 71 72 76
220 M Gray (Sco) 73 75 72, T Dill (USA) 72 72 76
221 B Cameron (Eng) 74 73 74, G Townhill (Eng) 72 73 76, B Heuchan (Can) 74 75 72, DJ Russell (Eng) 70 72 79, A Fernandez (Chi) 73 74 74, J Mashego (RSA) 74 72 75
222 B Larratt (Eng) 71 77 74, N Job (Eng) 70 80 72, J Chillas (Sco) 72 75 75
223 B Malley (USA) 72 77 74, J Rhodes (Eng) 71 76 76, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 74 76
224 G Ralph (Eng) 71 77 76
225 G Encina (Chi) 73 78 74, J Bruner (USA) 73 78 74, G Levenson (RSA) 74 72 79
226 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 78 75, B Smit (RSA) 72 77 77, GJ Brand (Eng) 72 80 74, T Rastall (Eng) 73 78 75, D Cambridge (Jam) 72 78 76
227 J Benda (USA) 75 74 78
228 M Bembridge (Eng) 75 74 79, R Stelten (USA) 72 75 81
229 K Spurgeon (Eng) 77 76 76, JP Sallat (Fra) 80 76 73, A Mew (Tri) 70 77 82, M Poxon (Eng) 70 81 78
230 I Palmer (RSA) 73 80 77, T Gale (Aus) 74 80 76, P Teravainen (USA) 73 80 77
231 D Creamer (Eng) 74 78 79, G Cali (Ita) 82 73 76
232 B Lendzion (USA) 74 76 82, R Carrasco (USA) 80 79 73, J Lapsley (Nzl) 75 81 76
233 B Hardwick (Can) 72 80 81, T Horton (Eng) 80 81 72, R Mann (Eng) 78 80 75
234 D Good (Aus) 78 76 80, N Clarke (RSA) 77 78 79
235 G Watine (Fra) 79 76 80
236 T Gideon (Ger) 74 81 81, B Lincoln (RSA) 79 79 78
237 M Ferguson (Aus) 80 75 82
238 P Barber (Eng) 79 83 76
239 J Hall (Eng) 81 80 78, V Garcia (Esp) 78 82 79
244 T Allen (Eng) 88 79 77
249 H Arnott (Sco) 79 87 83, T Charnley (Eng) 89 77 83
254 I Richardson (Eng) 84 89 81
Withdrew: P Dawson (Eng) 79 90, S Martin (Sco) 76 81, M Miller (Sco) 76 81, E Darcy (Irl) 75, G Wintz (USA) 82

A GRAND ROUND OF GOLF BY JASON
AT SANDYHILLS PRO-AM

Buchanan Castle tour pro Jason McCreadie earned himself £1,149 for a Sunday round of golf - winning the Sandyhills Golf Club pro-am with a very good score of six-under-par 64.
Jason had birdies at the first, fourth, eighth, 10th, 11th, 13th and 16 with only one bogey - at the seventh - in halves of 34 and 30. Preferred lies were in operation following the heavy rain in the Glasgow area on Saturday.
He won by one shot from Calum Nicoll (Prestwick) and Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon, each of whom earned £804.
Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) led the winning J Colhoun I team with a net score of 17-under-par 53 - Jim Boyle (handicap 8), Johnnie Dixon (14) and Alistair Waugh (12).
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
64 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
65 C Nicoll (Prestwick), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
66 A Hunter (Mearns Castle).
67 S Cairns (Westerwood), M King (Kingsfield), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), C Kelly (Cawder), G McFarlane (Clober).

GEORGE MURRAY BEATEN IN PLAY-OFF ON
CHALLENGE TOUR IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

George Murray’s bid for his maiden professional victory fell at the final hurdle today after he lost a play-off for the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway.
The Anstruther 24 year old could not match Austrian Martin Wiegele’s par 4 at the first extra hole and had to settle for second place and a cheque for €14,300.
Murray, who was leading by one at the start of the final round at Miklagard Golf Club, dropped two shots in his opening three holes but mounted a fine comeback with five birdies to tie Wiegele at the top of the 72-hole scoreboard on 10-under-par 278.
But the Austrian, who had surged through the field with an excellent six under 66, proved irresistible in the sudden-death shoot-out, nailing a drive down the centre of the fairway before Murray blocked his tee shot into 12 inch rough.
The Scot could not reach the par-4 green with his second shot and hacked his ball across the fairway into more rough. Wiegele found the green with his second shot, leaving himself a 25ft birdie putt. Murray made the green with his third but then missed his 12ft par putt, leaving Wiegele to knock in a three-footer for the title.
Murray can take some consolation in the fact that he climbed 27 places on the Challenge Tour Rankings, from 61st to 34th – taking a great step towards the Challenge Tour’s all important top 20.
Murray’s second place was also the best finish of his professional career, and given that the former Scottish amateur champion has been improving steadily throughout his first season as a professional, it should not be long before he makes a winning breakthrough.
Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson was the next best Scot in the Lexus Open field, finishing in a tie for 10th place on three-under-par 285 which was a very creditable finish, given the trauma of having his personal cheque book stolen from his hotel room at the Scottish Challenge at Cardrona.

LEXUS OPEN LEADING FINAL TOTALS

278 M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73 66, G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70 69. Wiegele (20,800 Euros) bt Murray (14,300 Euros) at first hole of play-off.
281 M Bothma (SAf) 70 73 73 65 (9,100 Euros).
283 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68 73, F Delamontagne (Fra) 72 70 71 70 (7,150 Euros each).
Other Scots scores:
285 S Henderson 73 69 70 72 (jt 10th) (2,643 Euros).
287 M Urquhart 73 73 70 71 (jt 18th) (1,427 Euros).
288 R Ramsay 74 71 70 73, P Whiteford 77 70 72 69 (jt 24th) (1,105 Euros each).
297 E Ramsay 73 73 75 76 (61st) (403 Euros).

DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR NEIL

BEATTIE AT LADYBANK

Madras College pupil, Neil Beattie, 13-year-old junior member of St Andrews Golf Club, won the Cartmore Cup given to the overall winner of the Fife Golfing Association boys' stroke-play championship at Ladybank Golf Club at the weekend with a gross 72.
Neil, pictured right, also won the Graham Trophy as FGA Under-16 stroke-play champion for the second consecutive year.
Neil, who plays off three, is currently the Fife Schools Golf Association junior boys' scratch champion and the juvenile club champion at St Andrews Golf Club AND the New Club , St Andrews.

Top 20 finish for Paul Lawrie in Sweden

EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL TOTALS
SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS
Par 280 (4x70)
274 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 67 72 67 68
276 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 69 69 69, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 67 70 71 68, Nick Dougherty 68 69 69 70, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 68 68 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 71 68 69
277 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 68 67 74, Corey Pavin (USA) 70 70 70 67, Paul Broadhurst 69 73 64 71
278 Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 69 72 68 69, David Higgins 69 69 71 69
279 Steve Alker (Nzl) 74 69 68 68, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72 71 65, Scott Strange (Aus) 64 75 69 71, Peter Lawrie 71 70 69 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 72 67 70, Sam Walker 65 70 72 72, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 67 74 67, Barry Lane 70 72 69 68
280 Garry Houston 70 73 68 69, Paul Lawrie 68 72 72 68, Edward Rush 69 68 74 69
281 Alan McLean 69 74 71 67, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 70 69 70, Simon Dyson 69 71 72 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70 73 68
282 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 69 69 75, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68 73 74, Stephen Gallacher 68 72 71 71, Tom Whitehouse 72 69 70 71, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 71 71 68
283 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 67 74, Luis Claverie (Spa) 69 73 72 69, Richard McEvoy 71 67 76 69, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71 72 70
284 David Carter 73 68 71 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 71 71 70, Damien McGrane 70 70 73 71, Phillip Archer 68 74 67 75, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 69 73 69, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70 72 70, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 68 76 67
285 Richard Bland 70 72 72 71, Jeff Sluman (USA) 70 71 72 72, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 73 72 73, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 71 69 70 75, Ian Garbutt 67 75 70 73, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 73 74 68
286 Gary Lockerbie 69 74 73 70, Gary Murphy 68 75 71 72, Lee Slattery 70 72 73 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 76 66 70 74, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 73 75 69, Gary Emerson 73 70 75 68
287 Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 65 75 73 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 67 72 72 76, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 69 73 71, Simon Khan 70 71 73 73
288 Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 71 72 76, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 72 71 71 74
289 Lee S James 67 73 74 75, Andrew Marshall 72 71 77 69, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 67 76 75
290 James Heath 71 71 71 77, Stephen Dodd 72 71 72 75, John Bickerton 72 70 74 74
291 Shaun P Webster 69 72 78 72, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 74 78 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71 70 78
292 Simon Wakefield 69 72 77 74

MATTHEW CRYER BEATS PAUL SIMSON IN FINAL
OF BRITISH MID-AMATEUR AT ALWOODLEY

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Matthew Cryer produced the faultless golf he had played most of the week to beat American Paul Simson 5 and 4 in the final of the British men's mid-amateur chhampionship at Alwoodley, Leeds this afternon.
He was three under par when the match finished on the 14th green.The 32-year-old England international said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won after the disappointment of two weeks ago when I lost in the final of the English amateur.
“My game’s just got better and better all week. I’ve driven it really nicely and putted really well.
“This my best win so far without a doubt,” said the Coventry and Warwickshire player, who is in the England team for the Home Internationals at Co Louth next month.
“The quality of some of the containing golf I’ve had to play against such good opposition this week has really stretched me, which is fantastic, great for my game. I just hope I can carry it through this next week,” said Cryer, who flies to Berlin on Monday morning to compete in the European men's individual amateur championship, in which he finished runner-up in Belgium two years ago.
BIRDIES AT SECOND AND THIRD
After they shared pars on the first hole Cryer went ahead on the second when he sank a six foot birdie putt and extended his lead on the long third with another birdie. Simson conceded the short seventh when he failed to get down in par with Cryer just eight feet away.
Cryer won the long eighth against the odds. He was in heather off the tee and could only hack out. Simson had hit a great drive, but then pushed his three-wood second into a bunker short and right of the green, while Cryer hit his third pin high right.
Simson splashed out just short of the green and pitched to five feet but missed. Cryer pitched stone dead to win the hole with a par and go four up.
Simson, last year's British seniors amateur champion and fifth in his defence at Nairn the week before last, hit back briefly at the short ninth when he holed a monster putt for a birdie 2 to cut the deficit to three, but after they halved the 10th he lost the short 11th to go back to four down when he took three from the front of the green.
Needing to win holes, the 56-year-old insurance executive from North Carolina was perhaps running out of steam after an arduous week and although he only had short irons into the greens of the 12th and 13th he couldn’t get them close enough for birdies.
When he took three from the front of the green on the 206-yard par-3 14th and Cryer got a regulation par, it was all over.
“He played very solidly and played some fantastic golf,” said Simson. “I just couldn’t do anything about it this afternoon. But I think I’ll be invited back next year,” said the American, who is due at Pinehurst about an hour from his home in North Carolina to defend the North-South Amateur Championship on Tuesday.

HOW THE SEMI-FINALS WENT

Scot Paul Moultrie must be wondering how he missed out on a place in the British mid-amateur final at Alwoodley. The Troon Portland player was four up at one stage and never behind in his match against 56-year-old North Carolina insurance executive Paul Simson but it was the American who clinched the match with a 15ft birdie putt at the second extra hole.
Simson was four down after six holes but made a ‘gagger’ from 45 feet on the seventh and turned only two down after winning the ninth.
Moultrie birdied the long 10th but the American replied with a critical 10ft winning putt at the next.
“We halved the next four holes," said Simson, "so I’m two down with three to play. Paul missed a two-footer on 16 that would have halved the hole and made me dormie two. On the next I chipped dead for my par and Paul made a good seven-footer for a half."
Simson had a solid par at the last where Moutrie had a chip out of the deep rough just off the green. “The ball was nestled pretty deep and I used the wrong club. It went 12 feet past and I missed it,” said Moultrie, a 42-year-old chartered surveyor.
“It was the wee putt on 16 which I missed that was the crucial point. That would have kept me two up with two to play. I thought I’d holed my chip on the 19th, then I thought I’d holed my putt on the 20th. But it was not to be. That’s the game. “It’s been a great week, great fun,” said Moultrie.
“To get through to the semi-final and lose on the 20th to a fantastic golfer like Paul, is a week I’ll never forget."
In the other semi-final Matthew Cryer continued the steady play he has displayed all week with a 4 and 3 victory over 36-year-old landscape gardener Lee Yearn from Ely City.“I was really pleased how I played,” he said.
“I dropped one shot and parred all the holes. Given the weather conditions that was pretty difficult to play against. I got the pressure on Lee early on and was three up after six and held on to that until the turn.
"Lee came back to win 10 and 11 with birdies, but then I won the next three holes with pars and halved the 15th to close out the match.
“I hit all the fairways and greens apart from the fourth where I got my only bogey and I putted really solidly. Very pleased with my morning’s work."
Yearn was disappointed but delighted to have played so well. "It's been a great week. I love this event and I'll be back at Royal St David's next year," he said.

Sunday's results:

SEMI-FINALS
Paul Simson (US) bt Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) at 20th.
Matthew Cryer (Coventry) bt Lee Yearn (Ely City) 4 and 3.

FINAL
Cryer bt Simson 5 and 4.

Duncan Stewart with the North-east District Open championship trophy.
Image copyright retained by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Reproduction on other websites is against the law.

Grantown man refuses to criticise selectors for leaving him out

DUNCAN STEWART WINS NE DISTRICT OPEN
FOLLOWING SUCCESS IN EAST OF SCOTLAND

BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Grantown on Spey’s Duncan Stewart chalked up his second SGU Order of Merit tournament win of the summer at Newmachar today when he won the rain-shortened North-east District Open by three strokes from Glen Taylor and Glenn Campbell.
Stewart, after four years playing on the American college circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida, won the East of Scotland Open over 72 holes at Lundin Links a few weeks ago.
It is rare for the winner of two Order of Merit tournaments in the same season not to be included in the Scotland team for the forthcoming home internationals but Stewart said he did not blame the selectors for not choosing him in the squad announced last week.
“Winning the East of Scotland Open was not enough and the team was selected before I won here at Newmachar. The man I really for sorry for is Ross Kellett after his great run in the British amateur championship,” said 23-year-old Duncan who also won the Chiberta Grand Prix last year.
Now he sees his future in the professional ranks and will compete in the European Tour First Qualifying Stage at Chart Hills Golf Club, Kent next month.
Play was suspended for the best part of two hours from 11.30 after parts of the course began to flood following more than 24 hours’ continuous rain. During the enforced break, excess water was squeejeed off the worst affected greens.
It was decided to cancel the fourth round and the third round was resumed around 1.30pm after the rain had eased.
From an original entry of 79, only 29 players completed the three rounds.
As a trivia question, here's one for a pub quiz. Which player took more than two hours to birdie the first hole at Newmachar in a championship. Answer: Duncan Stewart.
"I played my approach shot to about 10ft from the flag at the first and had just marked my ball when play was suspended and we were all called back to the clubhouse," said Duncan later.
"When we went back out more than two hours later, I holed the putt for a birdie 3!"
Stewart, after further birdies at the eighth, 11th, 13th and 16th, had so much in hand over the closing holes at the Hawkshill course that he was able to afford the luxury of bogeying the last two holes for a one-over-par 73 and a final total of three under par 213.
He had a pair of 70s over the shorter Swailend course to share the Saturday 36-hole lead on four-under-par 140 with former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell from Blairgowrie.
Campbell faded to a closing 76 with a double bogey 5 at the short ninth and a double bogey 6 at the 18th.
Campbell finished on the same par 216 total as former Newmachar club professional Glen Taylor who joined the Meldrum House club after being reinstated as an amateur.
Taylor, now a very successful businessman in supplying and renting keep-fit equipment to health clubs, individuals and the oil rigs, had a superb round of seven-under-par 65 over the Swailend course on Saturday afternoon. It will need some checking to see if that is a course record for the No 2 Newmachar course.
Glen, 45 on August 1 when he set a Meldrum House course record of 63, was awarded second place over Campbell by virtue of a better third round, a 75 to a 76.
Taylor also won the prize for the best performance by a North-east District player.

(C)+This report is covered by copyright laws and may not be reproduced in whole or in part on any other website without the express permission of Colin Farquharson.

FINAL TOTALS
First two rounds over Newmachar Swailend. Third round over Newmachar Hawkshill. Fourth round cancelled due to rain
Par 216 (3 x 72). CSS 72 71 NC

213 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 70 70 73.
216 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 76 65 75, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 70 76.
217 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 70 74 73.
218 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 71 71 76.
219 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 68 74 77, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 71 70 78.
220 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 75 75, G Esson (Portlethen) 77 69 74.
221 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 74 74, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 71 79.
223 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 76 70 77.
224 John Duff (Newmachar) 74 76 74.
225 P McLean (Peterhead) 75 71 79, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71 81.
226 D Gould (Ladybank) 75 71 80.
227 J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 75 71 81, K Shearer (Murcar Links) 69 75 83.
228 B Fotheringham (Forres) 71 76 81.
230 A Cameron (Inverness) 70 78 82, E Forbes (Inverness) 76 71 83.
231 F Milne (Fraserburgh) 75 74 82, C Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) 78 69 84.
232 J Scott (Deeside) 74 74 84.
234 B Spoor (Westhill) 76 74 84.
238 G Mitchell (Braemar) 75 80 83, R Barr (Newmachar) 74 74 90.
240 A Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 79 73 88.
245 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 78 90.

Sunday withdrawals: E McIntosh (Newmachar 72 72, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 71 76, J Williamson (Turriff) 72 75, T McInroy (North Berwick) 77 73, P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 77, F McCarron (Stonehaven) 79 73, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 76 77, O Morton (Glenearn) 78 77, D Miller (Oldmeldrum) 75 81.

North-east District Open winner Duncan Stewart (Grantown-on-Spey), NE District president Dr Douglas G Fowlie and Glen Taylor (Meldrum House), placed 2nd ahead of Glen Campbell (Blairgowrie) on the better last round and also winner of the shield for the best finish by a player from the North-East District (Image copyright of Cal Carson Golf Agency).

STONEHAVEN RECORD EQUALLED

Stonehaven Golf Club member Neil Irvine equalled his home-course record of six-under-par 60 in a club competition on Saturday. He was partnered by Harry Roulston.

The record was set by another club member, Ewan Kennedy, two years ago.OLF

 

+GOLF CLUB OFFICIALS ARE INVITED TO E-MAIL SCOTTISHGOLFVIEW WITH NEWS OF RECORD OR RECORD-EQUALLING ROUNDS AT THEIR COURSES. E-mail the details to colin@scottishgolfview.com

NE DISTRICT OPEN CUT TO THREE ROUNDS

The North-east District Open has been cut to three rounds after play had to be suspended for more than 1 1/2hr at lunchtime due to the accumulative effects of non-stop rain on Newmachar Golf Club's Hawkshill course since early Saturday morning.

Officials and greenkeeping staff squeejeed the worst affected greens during the enforced break.

Glen Campbell (Blairgowrie) and Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) led after 36 holes on four-under-par 140 after both had rounds of  70-70 over the Swailend course.

Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) and Glen Taylor (Meldrum House) were next best on 141.

 

LLOYD SALTMAN IN KLM OPEN FIELD THIS WEEK

Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), set to turn pro after the match against the United States at Royal County Down on September 8 and 9, is listed among the amateur invitations in the field for this week's European Tour event, the KLM Open at Kennermer Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands, starting on Thursday.

SIX SCOTS BID FOR EURO TITLE IN BERLIN

Six Scots will be trying to emulate Stephen Gallacher's winning achievement in Finland in 1994 when the European men's individual amateur championship is played over 72 holes at Sporting Club, Berlin from Wednesday to Friday this coming week.
They are: Wallace Booth (Comrie), Scott Henry (Cardross), Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed a Walker Cup squad practice at Royal County Down last week because of a back injury, is not defending the European title he won by three shots in Italy last year.

NO SUNDAY PLAY AT SHOTTS, FINGERS
CROSSED FOR MONDAY

No play was possible today in the North Lanarkshire Council/Pro Guide Young Professionals 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am tournament at Shotts Golf Club because of flooding on parts of the course.
The pro-am section of the tournament will now be played on Sunday, September 2.
The 36-hole competition, with a prizefund of £5,5000, for the young professionals only will go ahead tomorrow if the Shotts course has dried out sufficiently.

Ireland win European senior men's amateur team final

Scotland's squad in the European senior men's amateur team championship in Slovenia.

SILVER LINING FOR SENIOR SCOTS
FA HAE WI' HUTCHEON BLED

Scotland failed by the narrowest of margins to win the European senior men's amateur team championship for the second year in a row.

In Saturday's final against Ireland at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia, Ireland won 3-2.Donald McCart (Castlerock) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) beat Ireland's Nigel Duke and Val Smyth by one hole in the opening foursomes tie.

Skipper Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) got Scotland's second point by beating Seamus McParland 2 and 1.

But Brian Grieve (King James VI) lost by 5 and 4 to Tony Goode and John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) lost to Maurice Kelly by 3 and 2.

The Stephen Ellis (Cowal) v Hugh Smyth singles tie then became the decider. Smyth holed from 10ft on the 18th green to square the match - and it was then into sudden-death extra holes.

The 19th was halved in 4.

The 20th was halved after another great Smyth putt under pressure, this time from 20ft.

At the third extra hole, Ellis, after being in a lateral hazard, took two more to get on the green. Smyth played a perfect chip to within an inch of the cup to win the tie and the European senior gold medals for Ireland.
This adds another chapter in Ireland's great golfing success story over the past few weeks:

1 Padraig Harrington won the Open.
2 Rory McIlroy won the amateur silver medal at Carnoustie.

3 Ireland won the European men's amateur team championship at Western Gailes.

4 Arthur Pierse from Tipperary won a play-off to take the British senior men's amateur title at Nairn.

5 Danielle McVeigh from Kilkeel won the women's golf medal in the World Student Games in Thailand on Friday.

But all credit to the Scots. They struck gold last year and silver this year. And they may yet retain the senior men's home internationals title.

England beat France 4-1 in Slovenia to gain the third-placed bronze medals.

Saturday's results:

FINAL

SCOTLAND 2, IRELAND 3
Foursome: D McCart, G MacDonald bt N Duke, V Smyth 1 hole (1-0).
Singles: S Ellis lost to H Smyth at 21st, I C Hutcheon bt S McParland 2 and 1, B Grieve lost to T Goode 5 and 4, J W Johnson lost to M Kelly 3 and 2 (1-3).

THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF

ENGLAND 4, FRANCE 1

Foursome: R Smethurst, A Morrison lost to J P Chombart, G Roumeas 7 and 6 (0-1)
Singles: D Lane bt R Fontagneres 1 hole, C Reynolds bt A Riviere 3 and 2, D Arnold bt A Godillot 2 and 1, A Squires bt A Coune 3 and 2 (4-0)

Fifth place play-off: Germany 4, Italy 1.

Seventh place: Spain 4, Sweden 1.

Ninth place: Netherlands 3, Austria 2.

11th place: Finland 4, Belgium 1.

13th place: Netherlands 3, Austria 2.

15th place: Slovenia 5, Czech Republic 0.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN CARRRIES ON

Despite even more rain overnight, the final day of the North-east District Open championship at Newmachar has begun on time at 8am.
The Hawkshill course, over which the third and fourth rounds are being played, is wet but playable.

GEORGE MURRAY ON VERGE OF BREAKTHROUGH
CHALLENGE TOUR WIN IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Fifer George Murray stands on the verge of a maiden professional victory at the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway after a third round of two under par 70 left him one stroke clear of the field with 18 holes to play.
The former Scottish Amateur champion from Anstruther did not drop a single shot during his third round, and his two birdies helped him post an aggregate score of seven under 209 – one stroke clear of Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, and three ahead of Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson, Julien Foret of France and the Austrian Martin Wiegele.
Victory at the Miklagard Golf Club, which is worth €18,400, would see Murray soar up the Challenge Tour Rankings, from his current position of 61st towards the all-important top 20. The top 20 players at the end of the season automatically win a place on the 2008 European Tour.
The 24 year old has been in contention to win twice this season – in France earlier in the season and then in Scotland last week – but has yet to close out his first win as a professional.
But his recent improvement in form has seen Murray playing some of his best golf since turning professional at the end of last year. If he can repeat his bogey-free third round, he will be a hard man to catch on Sunday afternoon.
Of the chasing pack trying to overhaul Murray’s advantage, Henderson is the most experienced player. The former European Tour Rookie of the Year, posted his own third round 70 that included a bogey 5 on the 18th.
LEADING SCORES
209 G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70.
210 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68.
212 S Henderson (Sco) 73 69 70, J Foret (Fra) 72 72 68, M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73.
Other Scots scores:
215 R Ramsay 74 71 70 (jt 14th).
216 M Urquhart 73 73 70 (jt 19th).
219 P Whiteford 77 70 72 (jt 40th).
220 G Wright (Wal) 70 77 73 (jt 46th).
221 E Ramsay 73 73 75 (jt 56th).

NEWS FROM ROLEX TROPHY

Meanwhile, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary both missed the cut at The Challenge Tour’s second event of the week, the Rolex Trophy at Geneva Golf Club, Switzerland.
The Scots duo qualified for the elite 39-man event via their exalted position on the Rankings. Despite missing the 54-hole cut, the pair will pick up a cheque for €2,250 – potentially invaluable ranking points as the season enters its final stage.
LEADING SCORES
202 R McGowan (Eng0 69 66 67.
204 M Lorenzo-Vera (It) 71 65 68.
205 C Moriarty (Ire) 69 68 68.
SCOTS' SCORES:
214 A McArthur 72 75 67 (jt 26th).
219 J McLeary 75 72 72.

ROSS CURRIE BEATS MACHRIHANISH
WIND, RAIN TO WIN COUNTY TITLE

Ross Currie of Machrihanish Golf Club, pictured right, secured his second area title by winning a rain-reduced Argyll and Bute men's stroke-play title over his home course.
Torrential rain, accompanied by a brisk south-easterly breeze, made the exposed links an inhospitable place to be. Scoring was very difficult and Ross's 72 was fine effort.
This was good enough to secure a two-shot victory from Alan McKie of Glencruitten.
In joint third place were Bute's Graham Bolton and Dunaverty's Greg Watson.
CSS for the day was 74 (reduction only).
Glencruitten won the team title and will represent Argyll and Bute in the Scottish club championship at Glenbervie on Sunday, September 30.
Listed below are the top 16 finishers who qualify for the 2008 Argyll and Bute match-play championship to be held on April:
Ross Currie (Machrihanish) 72.
Allan McKie (Glencruitten) 74.
Graham Bolton (Bute) 75.
Greg Watson (Dunaverty) 75.
David Graham (Machrihanish) 76.
Stuart Campbell (Machrihanish) 77.
Stephen Kelly (Machrihanish) 78.
Gordon Tyre (Cowal) 79.
Donald Standaloft (Port Bannatyne) 79.
Chris Timms (Rothesay) 80.
George Reynolds (Rothesay) 80.
Ian McNab (Glencruitten) 80.
Les Pirie (Millport) 81.
Matthew McAulay (Machrihanish) 81.
Michael Fraser (Glencruitten) 81.
Rory McPherson (Machrihanish) 82.

+Scottishgolfview invites all county associations to E-mail their competition scores, other information and pictures to colin@scottishgolfview.com

BELL v REID FOR ANGUS MATCH-PLAY TITLE

Graham Bell from Downfield will play Iain Reid (Letham Grange) in the final of the Angus county match-play championship at Letham Grange this coming Wednesday (August 22) with a 5pm tee-off.
Results:
Semi-finals - Graham Bell (Downfield) bt Chris Heslip (Monifieth) 4 and 3, Iain Reid (Letham Grange) bt George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 4 and 3.

BROADHURST NEEDS THE MONEY - AND
HE COULD GET IT BY WINNING THE
SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Paul Broadhurst's season may be coming to a premature end but it could yet do so with victory in the Scandinavian Masters.
Broadhurst carded a superb 64 in the third round at Arlandastad on Saturday to lie just three shots off the lead shared by Germany's Martin Kaymer and South African James Kingston.
"My wife has to go into hospital for surgery next week so I'll be out of action for about 12 weeks with four kids and a sick wife to take care of," Broadhurst explained. "I might be able to play the British Masters at The Belfry because it's local but it's a good incentive to get some money in the bank before a long break."
It looked as though Broadhurst's season was over on Friday afternoon when he stood five over par with four holes to play, but the 42-year-old Midlander birdied three of those holes to make the cut with just a shot to spare.
Broadhurst, who won both his matches in the 1991 Ryder Cup and missed out on automatic qualification by just one place last year, then produced an even better finish to his third round to boost his chances of a seventh European Tour title.
Birdies on the third and fourth took him to the turn in 32 and he picked up another shot on the 11th. A bogey on the 12th halted his charge temporarily but he again tamed the tough closing stretch with birdies on the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th - the latter from 30ft - to set a clubhouse target only bettered by Kaymer and Kingston in the last two groups.
"The scoring is so bunched that anyone who shot three or four under was going to go flying up the leaderboard, but I didn't dream of shooting six under par to be fair," he added.
"I thought anything par or better would be a really good score and to shoot 64 means a few things went my way."

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD

SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS
Arlandastad GC, Sweden
Par 210 (3 x 70).
Players GB&I unless stated
203 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 68 67, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 68 68
206 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 67 72 67, Nick Dougherty 68 69 69, Paul Broadhurst 69 73 64
207 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 69 69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 69 69, Sam Walker 65 70 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 71 68
208 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 67 70 71, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 64 75 69
209 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 72 67, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 69 72 68, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 67, Phillip Archer 68 74 67, David Higgins 69 69 71
210 Corey Pavin (USA) 70 70 70, Peter Lawrie 71 70 69, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 71 69 70
211 Garry Houston 70 73 68, Steve Alker (Nzl) 74 69 68, Stephen Gallacher 68 72 71, Tom Whitehouse 72 69 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 70 69, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 67 72 72, Barry Lane 70 72 69, Edward Rush 69 68 74
212 David Carter 73 68 71, Simon Dyson 69 71 72, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 73 72, Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 71 72, Paul Lawrie 68 72 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 76 66 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 67 74, Ian Garbutt 67 75 70
213 Damien McGrane 70 70 73, James Heath 71 71 71, Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 65 75 73, Jeff Sluman (USA) 70 71 72, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71 70
214 Richard Bland 70 72 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72 71, Luis Claverie (Spa) 69 73 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 72 71 71, Richard McEvoy 71 67 76, Simon Khan 70 71 73, Alan McLean 69 74 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 71 71, Gary Murphy 68 75 71, Lee S James 67 73 74, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 67 76, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 71 71, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70 72
215 Lee Slattery 70 72 73, Stephen Dodd 72 71 72, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 69 73
216 Gary Lockerbie 69 74 73, John Bickerton 72 70 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 69 73
217 Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 73 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 68 76, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 73 74
218 Simon Wakefield 69 72 77, Gary Emerson 73 70 75
219 Shaun P Webster 69 72 78, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 74 78
220 Andrew Marshall 72 71 77

British men's mid-amateur championship down to last 4

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

TROON MAN PAUL MOULTRIE KEEPS SCOTS
FLAG FLYING IN ALWOODLEY SEMI-FINALS

The semi-finals of the British men's mid-amateur championship will be played over 18 holes on Sunday at Alwoodley, Leeds between England international Matthew Cryer and Lee Yearn from the Ely City club in Cambridgeshire on the one hand and, on the other, American Paul Simson who faces Scot Paul Moultrie.
The quarter-final between Cryer and former Scotland international Sandy Twynholm from Morpeth looked to be going all Cryer’s way when some scintillating golf saw him move to four up with five to play.
“I played some really good golf for thirteen and a half holes then on the 14th I hit it into a bunker, played a really nice shot out and missed from about three feet and Sandy won with a par. So instead of being dormie four I’m three up with four to play," said Cryer.
“We halved 15th. Then I hit a really bad tee shot at 16 and lost my ball, so I’m now only dormie two with two difficult finishing holes to come, where anything can happen. Fortunately for me, we halved the 17th to clinch it for me,” he added.
Simson, a 56-year-old insurance executive from North Carolina, beat Euan Moir from Hamilton 2 and 1 in his quarter-final while Moultrie, a 42-year-old chartered surveyor from Troon, won a keenly contested fourth round match against Durham City’s Graeme Marchbank with a par at the second extra hole.
Simson recovered from a disastrous start against Moir. “I played the first two holes like I’d never played golf before, so I was two down, but then promptly won the next three to get one up,” said Simson.
“After that we got back to all square a number of times. The key was 14 and 15. I got up and down out of a bunker, making about a seven-footer to stay all square at 14, then at 15 I had casual water in a bunker but elected to play it out of the water rather than drop it and watch it plug.
"I came out to about 15 feet and made it and Euan missed about a 10-footer, which got me one up. It was a good close game all the way round and I’m pleased to be through to the last four.”
Moultrie’match against Marchbank was another close game. “There was never more than one in it on the front nine," said the Ayrshire man. "Then I went two up at the 10th with a concession birdie when Graeme took a 6. He won the next when I missed my par putt from about six feet and the next with a birdie to take us back to all square."
The next four holes were exchanged before Moultrie won at the 20th as Marchbank chipped 15 feet past the flagstick and missed the putt back.
“I’m delighted to make it into the semi-finals. I’ve played in this before but this is the farthest I’ve got by a long way. It must be the caddie,” said Moultrie referring to his 12-year-old son Callum who has been pulling his trolley all week.
The fourth quarter-final between Yearn from Ely City and England international Ed Richardson from Rye also went to the 20th before Yearn, a 36-year-old landscape gardener, won with a birdie 3.
Richardson was never behind until the 20th hole! He was two up on the 17th tee before Yearn sank a 30-footer at that hole to take it down the last. Then Yearn parred the 18th to his opponent’s bogey to move into extra holes.
“I hit it into trouble on the first extra hole like I had done all day," admitted Yearn, "chopped it out into more trouble then chopped it out again to 30 feet and sank it for a half. On the 20th I was again in the long grass off the tee, got it to about five feet and sank it for a winning birdie.”

Results:
QUARTER-FINALS
Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland bt Graeme Marchbank, Durham City at 20th.
Paul Simson, USA bt Euan Moir, Hamilton 2 and 1.
Matthew Cryer, Coventry bt Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth 3 and 1.
Lee Yearn, Ely City bt Edward Richardson, Rye at the 20th.

SCROLL DOWN FOR EARLIER RESULTS

North-east District Open field decimated by withdrawals

CAMPBELL AND STEWART

SHARE LEAD AT A

VERY WET NEWMACHAR

Former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey lead at the halfway stage of the North-east District Open golf championship after a day of unrelenting rain over Newmachar Golf Club’s Swailend course near Aberdeen.
Both had two rounds of 70 for four-under-par 140. Campbell, named in the Scotland team earlier this week for the home internationals, has won the NE District Open title before, beating Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay) in a play-off at Balgownie.

Stewart, winner of the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links earlier this "summer," is a little bit unlucky not even to be named a reserve to the Scotland team.
They hold a one-stroke advantage over Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) and former Newmachar club pro Glen Taylor, who joined Meldrum House Golf Club after being reinstated as an amateur. Taylor, pictured on the left, had only 22 putts in a second-round, seven-under-par 65, which may or may not be a Swailend course record but was definitely an 11-shot improvement on his opening round.
Taylor's second-round scorecard read:
OUT: 3-4-5-3-2-4-3-4-4-32 (four under par).
IN: 3-3-2-3-5-4-5-4-4-33 (three under par).
Glen had an eagle 3 at the 11th and birdies at the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, 12th and 13th. His only bogey came at the 16th.
Starting his round at the 10th, he had only three putts over the 10th-11th-12th-13th-14th. He single-putted the 10th, 11th and 12th and holed 40ft and 30ft pitches at the 13th and 14th.
"I celebrated my 45th birthday by breaking the Meldrum House course record with a 63 on August 1. This 65 was a similar type of round, holing everything, putts and pitches," said Taylor who has flourished in the leisure business by supplying keep-fit equipment to individuals, health clubs and the oil rigs.
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) is sharing fifth place on 142 with the Fraserburgh pair of Jordan Findlay and Kris Nicol.
Paterson, a 21-year-old, +3 handicap player who lives in Drumoig, was a surprise, eight-shot winner of the Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries & Galloway a few weeks.
"I worked hard on my game with the help of coach Spencer Henderson," said Greg who had an eagle 3 at the 11th in his first-round 68 and a double bogey 6 at the second hole in his afternoon 74.
Paterson had never seen the Newmachar courses before today. In fact, he had never played golf in the Aberdeen area until today. Golf certainly broadens one's horizons!
Sunday’s third and fourth rounds will be played over the slightly tougher Hawkshill course, also designed by Dave Thomas, but if the rain continues unabated overnight there must be some doubt about the tournament going the scheduled four rounds.
The bad weather played its part in the decimation of the field with the number of withdrawals, “failed-to-shows” and "retired" after one round well into double figures.
The leading 40 players and ties with aggregates of 156 survived the halfway cut, which was tough luck on the only other four players who did complete 36 holes and are now eliminated. For all the difference it would have made to Sunday's time schedule, they could have been allowed to play on.
QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
CSS 72 71
140 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 70 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 70.
141 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 76 65, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 71 70.
142 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 68 74, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 71, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 71 71.
144 K Shearer (Kemnay) 69 75, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71, M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 70 74, E McIntosh (Newmachar) 72 72.
145 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 75.
146 J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 71 75, G Esson (Portlethen) 77 69, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 76 70, D Gould (Ladybank) 75 71, P McLean (Peterhead) 75 71.
147 J Williamson (Turriff) 72 75, J Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 74, C Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) 78 69, E Forbes (Inverness) 76 71, B Fotheringham (Forres) 71 76, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 71 76.
148 J Scott (Deeside) 74 74, R Barr (Newmachar) 74 74, A Cameron (Inverness) 70 78.
149 F Milne (Fraserburgh) 75 74.
150 B Spoor (Westhill) 76 74, T McInroy (North Berwick) 77 73, J Duff (Newmachar) 74 76.
151 P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 77.
152 S Burt (Murcar Links) 75 77, A Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 79 73, F McCarron (Stonehaven) 79 73.
153 N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 75, K Spence (Newmachar) 78 75, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 76 77.
155 R Hyland (Newmachar) 77 78, O Morton (Glenearn) 78 77, G Mitchell (Braemar) 75 80.
156 D Millar (Oldmeldrum) 75 81.
MISSED THE CUT
157 R Penny (Portlethen) 77 80.
158 G Sharpe (Murcar Links) 77 81, D Corkey (East Aberdeenshire) 80 78.
159 A Shah (East Aberdeenshire) 83 76.