No one can hold that Tiger! Woods

goes seven clear with 9-under 62

Tiger Woods is back in business. Not that he's ever been away. He has shot into a seven-stroke lead in the US PGA Tour's BMW Championship at Cog Hill with a brilliant round - his lowest of the year - of nine-under-par course record score 62.
Tiger simply spreadeagled the 68-man field in this the third and penultimate FedEx Cup play-off event.
Woods also tied the tournament record, set last year by Jim Furyk outside St. Louis at Bellerive.
A course renovated by Rees Jones with hopes of landing a U.S. Open was no match for Woods. He never came close to missing a green in regulation.
His shot of the day was a three-wood from just over 300 yards to within 10 feet of the flagstick at the par-5 ninth for an eagle.
Woods is at 16-under 197 after 54 holes and has his largest lead on the US PGA Tour since he was eight shots in front in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines early last year.
He will play in the final pairing Sunday with Brandt Snedeker, who had a 66. Marc Leishman had a 68 and joined Snedeker at 9-under 204, both of them hopeful of finishing high enough to get into the Tour Championship.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
197 Tiger Woods 68 67 62
204 Marc Leishman (Aus) 67 69 68, Brandt Snedeker 69 69 66
205 Matt Kuchar 71 68 66, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 68 68 69
206 John Senden (Aus) 70 70 66, Mark Wilson 69 66 71
207 Jim Furyk 70 70 67, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 68 68, Bubba Watson 69 68 70, Luke Donald (Eng) 70 69 68
208 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 66 70 72, Zach Johnson 73 65 70, Sean O'Hair 70 68 70, Bo Van Pelt 67 69 72, David Toms 68 71 69, Ian Poulter (Eng) 69 71 68
209 Kevin Na 72 72 65, Kevin Sutherland 75 67 67
210 Phil Mickelson 71 69 70, Anthony Kim 69 69 72, Bill Haas 71 68 71
211 Steve Marino 66 77 68, Heath Slocum 70 69 72, Charles Howell III 69 72 70
212 John Rollins 73 65 74, Chad Campbell 70 70 72, Mike Weir (Can) 72 69 71, Stephen Ames (Can) 76 67 69
213 Dustin Johnson 69 73 71, Brian Davis (Eng) 71 70 72, Steve Stricker 72 73 68, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 72 71 70, Jason Dufner 74 70 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 74 71, John Mallinger 68 76 69
214 Nick Watney 70 71 73, Bryce Molder 70 73 71
215 Hunter Mahan 73 73 69, Jeff Overton 72 68 75, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 72 72 71
216 Charlie Wi (Kor) 71 73 72, Kenny Perry 77 69 70, Pat Perez 72 71 73, Charley Hoffman 73 71 72, Robert Allenby (Aus) 75 74 67, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 73 75, Stewart Cink 72 74 70
217 Justin Leonard 73 69 75, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 75 69, Scott Verplank 70 75 72, Webb Simpson 70 74 73
218 Jerry Kelly 76 73 69, Davis Love III 74 77 67, Ryan Moore 71 72 75
219 Paul Goydos 74 72 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 75 67 77, Brian Gay 73 71 75, Jason Day (Aus) 71 73 75, Jason Bohn 71 74 74
220 Ben Crane 75 69 76, Nathan Green (Aus) 73 74 73, Lucas Glover 74 75 71, Woody Austin 76 72 72, Tim Clark (Rsa) 78 69 73
221 Jonathan Byrd 69 79 73
222 Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 78 73
223 J.B. Holmes 78 73 72

Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne

Paul Lawrie three shots off the pace in joint

seventh place behind Peter Hanson

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Peter Hanson could be the man to give Sweden their third successive victory on the European Tour on Sunday.
After the victories for Peter Hedblom in Scotland and Alex Noren in Switzerland, the 31-year-old Hanson leads England's Simon Dyson, Dane Soren Hansen and South African James Kingston by one entering the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.
If he goes on to win, it would also keep the trophy in Swedish hands. Robert Karlsson, unable to play this week because of an eye problem which has kept him out since May, triumphed by two last year.
Three behind England's Chris Wood and Australian Scott Strange at halfway, Hanson came through with a joint best-of-the-day 67 while they shot 73 and 74 respectively.
Dyson won the KLM Open in Holland three weeks ago and his 68 came after he followed birdies on the 13th and 14th with an 18-foot eagle putt at the next.
"Confidence is amazing," said the 31-year-old. "When it's low you can't see yourself getting it, but when it's high you don't see it going away.
"I've probably not dedicated myself as well as I should have, but I'm really giving it everything now.
"I want to be pitting my wits against the best players in the world. I was hoping I would be by now, but I've seen my mates playing them and I want to be there."
Paul Lawrie is the top Scot on 208 - only three off the pace - after a third-round 69. The Aberdonian is in joint seventh place. Next Scot is David Drysdale on 210 after a 73.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
205 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 68 67
206 James Kingston (Rsa) 67 69 70, Soren Hansen (Den) 65 71 70, Simon Dyson 68 70 68
207 Anthony Wall 69 70 68, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 70 68 69
208 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 71 69, Chris Wood 66 69 73, Anders Hansen (Den) 70 68 70, Paul Lawrie 68 71 69
209 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 69 69 71, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 70 67 72, Scott Strange (Aus) 67 68 74
210 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 69 72 69, David Drysdale 67 70 73, Darren Clarke 70 70 70, Alex Cejka (Ger) 70 72 68
211 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 71 71 69, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 71 70 70, Lee Westwood 70 69 72
212 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 69 71, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 72 69, Graeme McDowell 70 72 70, Colin Montgomerie 72 69 71, Marcel Siem (Ger) 70 70 72, Paul McGinley 72 68 72, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 72 70
213 Alexander Noren (Swe) 71 72 70, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71 68 74, Danny Willett 72 70 71, Tano Goya (Arg) 74 69 70
214 Anthony Kang (USA) 71 71 72, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 74 68, Ross Fisher 67 69 78, Stephen Dodd 69 74 71, Richard Finch 69 72 73, Scott Drummond 71 69 74, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71 73
215 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 74 68 73, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 69 76 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 73 73, Jamie Donaldson 74 70 71, Graeme Storm 69 68 78
216 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 72 73, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 71 75 70, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 74 69 73, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 71 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 76 72 68, Gareth Maybin 76 73 67, Florian Fritsch (Ger) 74 71 71, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 70 74 72
217 Robert Rock 70 72 75, Steve Webster 76 67 74, David Howell 71 74 72, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 76 71 70, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 69 76 72
218 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 76 70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 73 70 75, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 73 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 75 72 71, Johan Edfors (Swe) 78 71 69
219 Shane Lowry 75 72 72
220 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 78 73 69, Damien McGrane 72 72 76, Nick Dougherty 69 76 75, Kenneth Ferrie 72 78 70
221 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 74 77
222 Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 73 70 79, John Bickerton 74 73 75, Gregory Havret (Fra) 77 72 73
223 Alastair Forsyth 74 75 74, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 77 75 71, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 73 80
225 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 76 78 71, Mark Brown (Nzl) 75 75 75
227 Michael Hoey 76 77 74
232 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 77 79 76
234 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 79 81 74

Americans take opening foursomes

3-1 in Walker Cup at Merion

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By MARK REASON
Britain and Ireland are trying to win the Walker Cup with a team of kids, and it was the more experienced Americans who took a surge of momentum into the afternoon singles at Merion Golf Club. They won the morning foursomes 3-1, an advantage that almost always leads to victory in the two-day, four sessions of play event.
Brian Harman, who helped the Americans to a 2 & 1 win in the crucial opening game, played in the Walker Cup four years ago with Anthony Kim. When he saw Kim partnering Phil Mickelson at last year's Ryder Cup, Harman texted him: "I'm still the best left-hander you're ever played with."
Harman was certainly too good for Wallace Booth and Sam Hutsby at the top of the order.
But the crusher for Colin Dalgelish's team came in the second match of the day. Walking off the 16th green Gavin Dear and Matt Haines were ahead against Peter Uihlein and Nathan Smith, but they lost both of the final two holes.
Stiggy Hodgson and Niall Kearney won the final match of the morning for GB&I, thanks to some fiendish putting from Hodgson. The 19-year-old said: "Putting is the strongest part of my game. Anywhere inside of 10 feet and I can be fairly deadly."
When did we last hear such words from an Englishman in America. But although Hodgson's brilliance on the greens limited the morning deficit to two points, you have to go back to 1995 to find the last time a team came back to win after losing the opening round of foursomes.
Padraig Harrington, who played on that winning team 14 years ago against an American side that included Tiger Woods, was yesterday trying to catch Woods for the lead of the BMW Championship.
The BMW is the penultimate tournament of a FedExCup series that culminates in a $10 million bonus next week. Harrington said: "They should give out the cash on the 18th green. We could take it in a wheelbarrow up to the clubhouse. Anything that falls out, it's the caddie's."
Remind me why these amateurs want to turn pro so quickly.
Eighteen months ago Chris Wood was playing amateur foursomes for England with Hutsby and harbouring Walker Cup ambitions. The haystack-haired one then finished fifth in the Open Championship and turned pro.
Already this season Wood has earned over half a million pounds in prize money and he goes into the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne just three shots behind Peter Hanson of Sweden.
Wood salvaged a bogey on the final hole after being advised by on-course commentator Wayne Riley that he was about to take an illegal drop from a hazard. Should Riley have intervened? Is it fair that the leaders benefit from advice that would not be available to others further down the field. It doesn't sound like equity.
SCOREBOARD TO COME

What a carry-on! McArthur and Murray

score well despite late arrival

FROM STEVEN TODD
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Glasgow's former Scottish amateur champion Andrew McArthur remains in contention going into the final round of the Challenge Tour's Dutch Futures tournament after using the frustration of getting his car towed away to his advantage with a superb 66.
McArthur and room-mate George Murray, another past Scottish amateur champion, found themselves in a spot of bother when the car they were sharing had been removed from its parking spot, meaning the pair, who were also playing partners, arrived at Golf Club Houtrak only 30 minutes before their tee time.
However the compatriots did not let the incident affect their concentration with Murray also carding a fine round of 68 in the Netherlands to lie in a share of third place.
McArthur, who is chasing his second European Tour victory, is just three strokes behind leader Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium after four birdies and a bogey on the front nine, followed by a birdie and an eagle on the last to move to 11 under par 205.
“I was in a bit of a huff going down the first after what happened with the car and only arriving half an hour before tee time – it wasn’t ideal preparation,” said the 30 year old. “But then I hit a good wedge into the second and made birdie and went on from there. Perhaps it took my mind of the golf a bit and actually helped. I always seem to play well with George too and he also plays well when paired with me.
“The eagle on the last was a great way to finish. I actually had a bad lie behind the pin but chipped in and it hit the flag at pace, otherwise it was going 10ft past.
“Maybe we should get the car towed again tonight!” he joked.
Murray had six birdies and two bogeys in his round to move to nine under par and in touching distance of the leaders.
Colsaerts fired a six under par round of 66 to finish on 14 under par 202, with Edoardo Molinari, the Challenge Tour Rankings leader, one stroke behind after also carding a 66.

LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
202 N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 66 67,
203 E Molinari (Ita) 68 69 66,
205 C Suneson (Esp) 67 69 69, A McArthur (Sco) 71 68 66, A Butterfield (Eng) 68 67 70,
206 B Wiesberger (Aut) 68 71 67, J Quesne (Fra) 69 68 69,
207 G Boyd (Eng) 70 67 70, C Moriarty (Irl) 70 71 66, S Tiley (Eng) 69 71 67, G Murray (Sco) 70 69 68, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 69 71, S Bebb (Wal) 70 70 67,
208 L Bond (Wal) 72 68 68, K Sullivan (Wal) 69 72 67,
209 J Lima (Por) 69 70 70,

Skipper Dalgleish looking for big things from

his "Black Watch" pair in Walker Cup

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By Mark Reason
Seven Englishmen, two Scots and an Irishman, with an average age of 21, are being sent over the top against America's best young guns when the Walker Cup match begins at historic Merion, in Pennsylvannia, on Saturday morning (US time)
It is the sort of tactic that usually ends in a bloodbath, but GB&I captain Colin Dalgleish does not agree. He thinks the result will be close – three previous Walker Cups have been decided by a point – and he is relying on his 'Black Watch' to spearhead the team.
Scots Gavin Dear, 25, and Wallace Booth, 24, are the two oldest members of the GB&I team and they are used to winning. Both men played in the Scotland team that won last year's Eisenhower (the world cup of amateur golf) and this year's European Championships.
Booth has been brought up to be a fighter. His father Wallace, a former bouncer for the Beatles, represented Great Britain at heavyweight wrestling and won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He still thinks he was robbed. Sister Carly became the youngest player to represent GB&I at last year's Curtis Cup.
The performance of Booth and Dear may just decide the match. If they can intimidate the Americans, then GB&I have a chance. But if the Americans get on top early, then the perma-tanned flag waving will turn even the most stoical stomach.
Whatever the outcome, there is always much entertainment to be had from playing 'Shooting Stars.' This year is the golden anniversary of the great American team of 1959 that included a 19 year-old Jack Nicklaus. Since then Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy have all played in the Walker Cup.
In the American team Morgan Hoffman, 19, looks as though he might be the next mighty golfer. But even if Hoffman turns out to be more of a Lucas Glover – a member of the 2001 American team – than a Golden Bear, he would still have a wonderful career ahead of him. Glover is now the US Open champion.
The pick of the GB&I team in future years may be Tommy Fleetwood, 18. He won this year's Scottish open amateur stroke-play championship at Murcar Links with a record score and was runner-up in the Amateur Championship when just 17. Is Fleetwood Britain's next Open champion?
Meanwhile, a closing double bogey from Dane Soren Hansen left England's Chris Wood and Australian Scott Strange sharing the halfway lead at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne on Friday.
Wood, the 21 year-old from Bristol who was third in The Open in July, continued his bid for a first European Tour title with a 69.
Strange, winner of last year's Wales Open and this season's China Open, scored a 68, while Hansen's 71 dropped him into a tie for third with South African James Kingston and England's Ross Fisher.
Laura Davies remains on course to retain her title at the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open at Wiener Neustadt in Austria as she maintained a share of the lead after two rounds.
The 45 year-old from England is level with Germany's Bettina Hauert and Marjet van der Graaff from Holland, with the trio finishing at eight-under-par 136 before play was suspended due to darkness with just one group left to finish.

US PRO GOLF ROUND-UP

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
Coghill G&CC, Lemont, Illinois
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
135 Tiger Woods 68 67, Mark Wilson 69 66
136 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 66 70, Marc Leishman (Aus) 67 69, Bo Van Pelt 67 69, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 68 68
137 Bubba Watson 69 68
138 Anthony Kim 69 69, John Rollins 73 65, Zach Johnson 73 65, Sean O'Hair 70 68, Brandt Snedeker 69 69
139 Bill Haas 71 68, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 68, David Toms 68 71, Luke Donald (Eng) 70 69, Matt Kuchar 71 68, Heath Slocum 70 69
140 Phil Mickelson 71 69, Chad Campbell 70 70, Jeff Overton 72 68, Jim Furyk 70 70, John Senden (Aus) 70 70, Ian Poulter (Eng) 69 71
141 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 70, Nick Watney 70 71, Mike Weir (Can) 72 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 73, Charles Howell III 69 72
142 Dustin Johnson 69 73, Justin Leonard 73 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 75 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 74, Kevin Sutherland 75 67
143 Steve Marino 66 77, Pat Perez 72 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 72 71, Bryce Molder 70 73, Stephen Ames (Can) 76 67, Ryan Moore 71 72
144 Charley Hoffman 73 71, Jason Dufner 74 70, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 72 72, Brian Gay 73 71, John Mallinger 68 76, Jason Day (Aus) 71 73, Webb Simpson 70 74, Kevin Na 72 72, Charlie Wi (Kor) 71 73, Ben Crane 75 69
145 Steve Stricker 72 73, Scott Verplank 70 75, Jason Bohn 71 74
146 Hunter Mahan 73 73, Kenny Perry 77 69, Paul Goydos 74 72, Stewart Cink 72 74
147 Nathan Green (Aus) 73 74, Tim Clark (Rsa) 78 69
148 Woody Austin 76 72, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 75, Jonathan Byrd 69 79
149 Jerry Kelly 76 73, Robert Allenby (Aus) 75 74, Lucas Glover 74 75, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 78
151 J.B. Holmes 78 73, Davis Love III 74 77
WD: Bob Estes 77

Craig Bowden leads Utah Championship
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Craig Bowden recorded his second consecutive 65 Friday to get to 11 under par and leads by a shot after the second round of the Utah Championship. John Kimbell is one back at 11 under and the quintet of Steve Wheatcroft, Dave Schultz, Alistair Presnell, Josh Teater and Garrett Willis is tied for third at 10 under par.
Bowden was in the first group of the day and took the early clubhouse lead. He attributes his performance so far to prowess on the greens.
"I'm putting the ball really well," he said. "I'm seeing and hitting my lines and have made some putts, which you sure have to do to be competitive. I've gotten some good breaks and created some for myself as well."
After hitting 12 of 12 fairways in the first round, Bowden hit only six in the second. He recorded a 4-under-par 32 on the back nine despite missing every fairway opportunity but one.
"I didn't drive it as straight today and hit some first cuts [of rough]. But I was able to capitalize when I got good lies and convert a few times for birdies," he remarked. "I've kind of got it on auto-pilot right now -- just letting it roll and not worrying too much."
Bowden and Kimbell are the only players in the field yet to make a bogey after 36 holes.
"I haven't made any bogeys up to this point and if I can continue that trend I think it'll be alright by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around," he continued. "My goal is to get to about 20 under and see if that holds up. If I continue doing what I'm doing, I think I'll have a decent shot at it."
Bowden, 41, is a Nationwide Tour veteran making his eighth appearance at the Utah Championship. He finished tied for second here in 1999 and has three career Tour wins.
Willis made charge in the afternoon wave, firing a 7-under-par 71. He was 8 under through 13 holes and within one shot of Bowden before bogeying No. 8 (his 17th of the day).
First-round leader Presnell had a rollercoaster round that included six birdies, two bogeys and a double en route to a 2-under-par 69. Schultz turned in the low round of the day with a course record-tying 63. His round included an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.
The field was cut to 61 players at 3 under par or better. The third round begins at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning with twosomes going off the first tee. The final group of Bowden and Kimbell tees off at 1:30 p.m.
Notebook: American flags were used on the pins Friday in remembrance of Sept. 11th. ... Fran Quinn holed out for eagle on the par-4 14th with a gap wedge from 110 yards. In the same group, Bob Burns was next to play and hit his approach to a foot and subsequently converted for birdie. Josh Broadaway then hit his second, which found the left greenside rough -- from which he proceeded to chip in for birdie.
SCOREBOARD TO COME

Scroll down a bit to read earlier E-mails on the subject

Last word from Franco Henningan
(on the topic of who should pay the whacking
Tour School entry fee - if not the player himself!)

Colin,
May I draw your attention to a statement by Hamish Grey, Chief Executive of the Scottish Golf Union, which appears on their website: "The SGU and our partners are focused on providing opportunities and support towards Scottish golfers who have potential to deliver results on a world stage."
So, in view of what has previously been written, who decides which players recieve funding?
Is it 'sport for all' or a welfare state for the elite?
Kevin (McAlpine) was correct (scroll down to read his E-mail), I don't know what I am talking about, but that is because I am asking questions as a golf club member, not as an elite athlete.
I am keen that my golf club is sustainable with a healthy participation level, as opposed to trying to survive financially with nomad visitors, freebie juniors and funded elite players.
And I do value the Professional.
By the way, I do notice that the SGU appear to have at least 19 full-time employees theese days, and if as Mr (Chris) Kelly said, their remit is to develop young amateurs into good professionals, then can I ask, What exactly happened to the National Golf Centre at Drumoig?
All these issues, and those people at the helm, must have a bearing on where we are with the health of golf in Scotland.
Franco Henningan

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
OPS SCOTLAND PRO-AM
Insch Golf Club
Par 69
65 Michael Rae (Alyth) £500.
66 Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), James McGhee (Turnbouse), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) £308 each.
69 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) £180.
70 Alan Martin (Dunbar) £150.
71 Peter Mitchell (Hermitage) £130.
72 MarkKerr (Marriott Dalmahoy),Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) £102.50 each.

Scottish Seniors Golf Society Scoreboard
Order of Merit Final Tournament
BLAIRGOWRIE LANSDOWNE
CSS 74
72 Bob Stewart (Tulliallan), George Rodaks (Moffat).
75 Dave Downie (Kirriemuir), David J Smith (Stirling), Eric Lindsay (Blairgowrie), John Broadfoot (Turnberry).
76 George Paterson (Northern).
77 Keith Howie (West Kilbride), Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal), Tony Stafford (Dun Ochil), William Brown (Strathaven).
78 Alistair Fiddes (Deeside), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
79 John Johnston (Lanark).
80 David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Graham Brown (Royal Liverpool), Keith Bruce (Edzell), Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead).
81 Andrew Laird (Deeside), Derek Murphy (Kinross).
82 Brian Christie (Wilton), Jim Watt (Edzell).
84 Bill Methven (Royal Aberdeen), Brian Smith (Kilmacolm), Henry Anderson (Glenbervie).
Disqualified - Ian Hutcheon, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess).

2009 FINAL ORDER OF MERIT PLACINGS
1 George Paterson (Northern) (events 9) 490pt.
2 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) (10) 445.
3 David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) ( 7) 437.50.
4 Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) (10) 410.
5 Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & Co) 358.30.
6 Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) (7) 350.
7 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) (4) 325.
8 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) (10) 317.50.
9 David Downie (Kirriemuir) (5) 308.75.
10 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) (5) 305.
11 Derek Murphy (Kinross) (10) 252.50.
11 George Rodaks (Moffat) (10) 252.50.
13 Graham Brown (Royal Liverpool) (4) 222.50.
14 Donald McCart (Sherwood Forest) (7) 208.75.
15 Topny Stafforde (Dun Ochil) (6) 197.50.
16 Eric Lindsay (Blairgowrie) (6) 196.25.
17 Ronnie Maclean (Hamilton) (7) 189.10.
18 John Broadfoot (Turnberry) (10) 176.60
19 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) (8) 170.
20 Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) (7) 163.30.

From Keith Liddle
Scottish Alliance championship organiser


A big 'thank you' to everyone to has entered the Scottish Alliance Championship at Gullane on , 6th, 7th and 8th October.
Entries have been arriving at a fast pace over the last seven days. To date we have received 124 entries out of a possible 144. If you know of anyone who wants to play in the Championship, could you urge them to get their entry in as quickly as possible please?
I look forward to meeting everyone at Gullane in October.
Thanks again..
Keith Liddle
Secretary
EESGA (East Alliance)
secretary.eesga@btinternet.com

European Tour Scoreboard
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Gut Larchenof GC, Cologne, Germany
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Chris Wood 66 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 67 68 136 James Kingston (Rsa) 67 69, Ross Fisher 67 69, Soren Hansen (Den) 65 71
137 David Drysdale 67 70, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 70 67, Graeme Storm 69 68
138 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 69 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 68, Anders Hansen (Den) 70 68, Simon Dyson 68 70, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 70 68
139 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 71, Anthony Wall 69 70, Paul Lawrie 68 71, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71 68, Lee Westwood 70 69
140 Marcel Siem (Ger) 70 70, Scott Drummond 71 69, Darren Clarke 70 70, Paul McGinley 72 68
141 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 69 72, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 69, Richard Finch 69 72, Colin Montgomerie 72 69, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 71 70, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71
142 Graeme McDowell 70 72, Danny Willett 72 70, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 72, Alex Cejka (Ger) 70 72, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 74 68, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 71 71, Anthony Kang (USA) 71 71, Robert Rock 70 72, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 73
143 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 72, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 72, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 74 69, Steve Webster 76 67, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 70 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 71 72, Stephen Dodd 69 74, Tano Goya (Arg) 74 69, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 73 70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 73 70
144 Damien McGrane 72 72, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 71, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 70 74, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 74, Jamie Donaldson 74 70
145 Christian Nilsson (Swe) 69 76, David Howell 71 74, Nick Dougherty 69 76, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 69 76, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 73, Florian Fritsch (Ger) 74 71
146 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 71 75, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 74
147 Shane Lowry 75 72, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 76 71, John Bickerton 74 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 75 72
148 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 76 72, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 76
149 Gareth Maybin 76 73, Alastair Forsyth 74 75, Gregory Havret (Fra) 77 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 78 71
150 Kenneth Ferrie 72 78, Mark Brown (Nzl) 75 75
151 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 78 73
152 Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 77 75
153 Michael Hoey 76 77
154 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 76 78
156 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 77 79
160 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 79 81

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

McArthur and Murray four shots behind

leaders at halfway in Dutch Futures

By Steve Todd
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Scottish pair Andrew McArthur and George Murray are both in contention just four shots behind leaders Andrew Butterfield and Nicola Colsaerts at the halfway mark of the Dutch Futures.
McArthur, who is currently just outside the European Challenge Tour top 20, fired five birdies and just the single bogey in his round of 68.
He was joined on five under par by compatriot Murray whose 69 included four birdies and also just one dropped shot. Lloyd Saltman also made the cut, finishing on two under par.
Butterfield and Colsaerts carded rounds of 67 and 66 respectively to take a one stroke lead over France’s Christophe Brazillier, overnight leader Ben Mason of England and Spaniard Carl Suneson, with Challenge Tour Rankings leader Edoardo Molinari also in contention a further shot back.
Butterfield, who is currently second in the European Challenge Tour Rankings, was in fine form with the putter in Halfweg, also holing a 30ft birdie putt on the 16th hole to add to earlier birdies on the second and eighth holes before a crucial eagle on the 18th.
The 37 year old said: “The eagle putt on the 18th seemed to teeter on the edge for ages before going in. It was a great way to finish – I would have been on a high even if I had birdied that hole. I’ve been playing really well – I’ve only dropped one shot so far and didn’t even drop one in the Pro-Am so I’m delighted.”
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
+63 players made the cut at one under par or better.
135 N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 66, A Butterfield (Eng) 68 67,
136 C Suneson (Esp) 67 69, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 69, B Mason (Eng) 65 71,
137 E Molinari (Ita) 68 69, J Quesne (Fra) 69 68, G Boyd (Eng) 70 67, R Davies (Wal) 69 68,
138 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 67, M Crespi (Ita) 70 68,
139 B Wiesberger (Aut) 68 71, J Abbate (Arg) 71 68, M Zions (Aus) 68 71, G Murray (Sco) 70 69, J Lima (Por) 69 70, A McArthur (Sco) 71 68, N Meitinger (Ger) 69 70, P Golding (Eng) 69 70, W Vork (am) (Ned) 68 71,
140 L James (Eng) 70 70, B Pettersson (Swe) 69 71, S Bebb (Wal) 70 70, L Bond (Wal) 72 68, R Coles (Eng) 69 71, J Zapata (Arg) 71 69, A Marshall (Eng) 69 71, S Tiley (Eng) 69 71,
141 D Griffiths (Eng) 69 72, C Carranza (Arg) 74 67, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 70, F Colombo (Ita) 69 72, C Moriarty (Irl) 70 71, K Sullivan (Wal) 69 72, M Higley (Eng) 70 71, W Besseling (Ned) 72 69, M Cryer (Eng) 69 72,
142 T Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 70, J Grillon (Fra) 72 70, J Morrison (Eng) 71 71, B Evans (Eng) 69 73, O Floren (Swe) 75 67, M Cort (Eng) 67 75, R Steiner (Aut) 75 67, C Gane (Eng) 73 69, L Saltman (Sco) 72 70, R Santos (Por) 73 69, G Paddison (Nzl) 72 70, A Gee (Eng) 70 72, T Dykes (Wal) 73 69,
143 A Bernadet (Fra) 73 70, A Tampion (Aus) 70 73, J Larsen (Nor) 73 70, A Perrino (Ita) 73 70, R Swane (Ned) 72 71, G Gresse (Bel) 72 71, S Manley (Wal) 73 70, L Richard (Bel) 72 71, A Snobeck (Fra) 71 72, L Kennedy (Eng) 71 72, I Pyman (Eng) 73 70, G Houston (Wal) 70 73, E Canonica (Ita) 73 70,
MISSED THE CUT
144 M Wiegele (Aut) 69 75, D Nouailhac (Fra) 74 70, L Moolman (RSA) 71 73, M Delpodio (Ita) 70 74, J Parry (Eng) 74 70, R Kakko (Fin) 71 73, C Russo (Fra) 75 69, M Tullo (Chi) 72 72, V Riu (Fra) 73 71, A Willey (Eng) 72 72, R McEvoy (Eng) 72 72, J Olesen (Den) 67 77, T Sluiter (am) (Ned) 75 69,
145 A Ahokas (Fin) 73 72, C Günther (Ger) 73 72, R Muntz (Ned) 74 71, G Shaw (Nir) 70 75, J Boerdonk (Ned) 67 78, P Whiteford (Sco) 75 70,
146 A Kaleka (Fra) 71 75, S Davis (Eng) 72 74, E Ramsay (Sco) 73 73, M Mills (Eng) 74 72, J McLeary (Sco) 72 74, A Bossert (Sui) 74 72, J Moul (Eng) 70 76, S Jeppesen (Swe) 76 70, R Kind (Ned) 73 73, M Reale (Ita) 72 74, J Colomo (Esp) 73 73, B Miarka (Ger) 77 69, M Haastrup (Den) 73 73, B Hebert (Fra) 73 73, T Whitehouse (Eng) 72 74, R Saxton (Ned) 72 74,
147 M McGeady (Irl) 74 73, L Gagli (Ita) 75 72, F De Vries (Ned) 71 76, J De Vries (am) (Ned) 74 73,
148 S Van Duijn (Ned) 75 73, P Acuna (Gtm) 76 72, S Jamieson (Sco) 72 76, A Högberg (Swe) 79 69, K Jorgensen (Den) 75 73, D Huizing (am) (Ned) 75 73,
149 C Rodiles (Esp) 73 76, F Praegant (Aut) 75 74, T Cruz (Por) 73 76, F Keenan (Eng) 75 74, T Weiss (Sui) 74 75, T Laitto (Fin) 75 74, P Smith (Sco) 76 73,
150 J Caldwell (Nir) 75 75, L De Jager (RSA) 74 76, Z Scotland (Eng) 75 75, J Granberg (Fin) 72 78, S Henry (Sco) 79 71, A Grenier (Fra) 72 78, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 76 74,
151 F Calmels (Fra) 74 77, N Smith (USA) 71 80, C Simpson (Eng) 77 74, B Parker (Eng) 77 74, R Wechgelaer (Ned) 76 75,
152 J Theunis (Bel) 74 78, S Robinson (Eng) 77 75, F Van Hoof (am) (Ned) 80 72,
153 J Sjöholm (Swe) 76 77, J Doherty (Sco) 75 78, J Blanks (Eng) 73 80,
154 G Molteni (Ita) 73 81, B Alvarado (Chi) 75 79,
156 R Treis (Ger) 79 77, A Wagner (Arg) 80 76,
157 J Wahlqvist (Swe) 76 81
158 R Eccles (Ned) 75 83
159 D Küpper (Ger) 81 78
162 J Relecom (Bel) 82 80
164 N Kraaij (Ned) 83 81
165 F De Vooght (am) (Bel) 84 81
** M Pilkington (Wal) 80 WD

Dear and Booth have key role in GB&I

bid to regain Walker Cup at Merion

FROM THE ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL WEBSITE
Colin Dalgleish, the GB&I captain, is expecting the Scottish duo of Gavin Dear and Wallace Booth to play a key role in the Walker Cup match with the US, which gets under way at Merion, Pennsylvania, tomorrow.
Dear, 25, and Booth, 24, have both been in dominant form for Scotland in team competition over the past year and have driven their country to both the world and European amateur titles.
Now, Dalgleish is confident the Perthshire pair can turn on the style and help thwart America’s assault on a third Walker Cup win on the spin.
“Wallace has a great charisma about him,” said Dalgleish. “When he’s on form and he’s out there performing to the best of his ability, his opponents can find him impossible to deal with.
“Gavin is the oldest player in the team and I’d like to think he can play a leading role. He’s a powerful, solid player and he’s grown immeasurably as a golfer with the confidence he gained from helping Scotland win the world title.”
The pairings for tomorrow morning’s opening session of foursomes ties will be unveiled later today and Dear, the elder statesman of a GB&I side which has an average age of just 21, is looking to stamp his seniority on the contest.
He said: “With the experiences I have gained over the past year, I’d like to think the younger players will look at me as a leader. I like to lead from the front.”

From Steven Carmichael


Hi Colin,
I think you drew a line under this one prematurely (scroll down to read the E-mails from readeres about Tour School entry fees and whether they should be paid by the Scottish Golf Union for the top amateurs).
It's clearly a topic that divides opinion and one that should be openly debated.
Re Franco's point about does it grow the game - of course it can. It's not the only way and some of the 'grass roots' stuff needs attention but kids can be inspired to take up the game by seeing success from a Scottish player.
There is also no real chance of kids being inspired to take up the game by a guy on a mini tour because they are not visible or high profile enough. So, by trying to help them onto the 'big show,' the SGU must be applauded.
I'm also assuming that by paying this for them there is a quid pro quo and the player would need to give something (not money but time) back when they are successful? Perhaps one of the recipients could answer this.
Now whether there should be a body that assists all young Scottish players like Chris Kelly, professional or amateur, thats a real debate......
-- Steven Carmichael

Editor: OK, Steven. Point taken. We'll keep the lines open on this topic for another day or two.

England name four Canadian International

Junior Challenge at Ontario venue

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Adam Carson (Long Ashton), who helped Gloucestershire to the runner-up spot in the recent English boys' county championship finals, has been named in a four-strong squad to represent the English Golf Union in the Canadian International Junior Challenge at OslerBrook Golf and Country Club in Ontario from September 14 to 18.
He will be accompanied by Tom Boys (Royal, Liverpool), Scott Campbell (Hallowes, Yorkshire) and Tyrell Hatton (Harleyford, BB&O), all being members of the England Under 18 Squad. Carson, won the Fairhaven Trophy this year, finished runner-up in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, and was third in the English Under 18 Championship (Carris Trophy).
He was also a member of England’s victorious side in the Boys Home Internationals and of the winning GB&I team in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
In 2008, Tom Boys won the Fairhaven Trophy but just missed out in the playoff for the individual title in the Canadian Junior Challenge. He also played in the Boys Home Internationals and this year has represented the EGU in South Africa and America. Campbell was also a member of the winning side in the Boys Home Internationals, his debut in England colours.
This followed a fourth place in the Carris Trophy and equal seventh in the Fairhaven Trophy. This will be his second transatlantic trip of the year, Campbell being a team-mate of Boys in the Thunderbird International in Arizona. Hatton is a former winner of the BB&O Junior Order of Merit who finished fourth in the Faldo World Series Final in Brazil last year. This year, he finished runner-up in the BB&O Junior Championship and tied sixth in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters. The Canadian International Junior Challenge is a nations cup-style event, the best three scores from four each day to count. There are also prizes for the leading individuals. --

European Tour Scoreboard
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Gut Larchenhof GC, Cologne, Germany
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
65 Soren Hansen (Den)
66 Chris Wood
67 David Drysdale, Ross Fisher, James Kingston (Rsa), Scott Strange (Aus)
68 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Paul Lawrie, Simon Dyson
69 Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Christian Nilsson (Swe), Nick Dougherty, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Graeme Storm, Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Anthony Wall, Stephen Dodd, Richard Finch, Markus Brier (Aut)
70 Graeme McDowell, Anders Hansen (Den), Marcel Siem (Ger), Darren Clarke, Alex Cejka (Ger), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Pablo Larrazabal (Spa), Peter Hanson (Swe), Robert Rock, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Lee Westwood, Thomas Levet (Fra)
71 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Christian Cevaer (Fra), Rodney Pampling (Aus), David Howell, Scott Drummond, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Anthony Kang (USA), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Alexander Noren (Swe), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha)
72 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Damien McGrane, Colin Montgomerie, Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Danny Willett, Kenneth Ferrie, Paul McGinley, Alvaro Quiros (Spa)
73 Hennie Otto (Rsa), Oskar Henningsson (Swe), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa)
74 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Alastair Forsyth, Jamie Donaldson, Tano Goya (Arg), John Bickerton, Florian Fritsch (Ger)
75 Shane Lowry, Mark Brown (Nzl), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)
76 Steve Webster, Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Gareth Maybin, Michael Hoey
77 Michael Campbell (Nzl), Fabrizio Zanotti (Par), Gregory Havret (Fra)
78 Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Johan Edfors (Swe)
79 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind)

Gavin Dear bowing out as Scotland's

Amateur Golf of the Year

RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Murrayshall’s Gavin Dear goes into this weekend’s Walker Cup having been crowned the 2009 Scottish Golfer of the Year after finishing as the leading Scottish player in the R&A‘s World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The 25-year-old Perthshire player from the village of Scone has capped his final season as an amateur by claiming the coveted title from his World Cup team mate Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) who has since joined the paid ranks on the European Tour, a feat that Dear also hopes to emulate in the coming weeks.
The World Champion began this year as the first Scottish winner of the 78th Dixie Men’s Amateur Championship, a prestigious title he claimed in December. Dear continued his red hot form into 2009 on the domestic front when he won the first SGU Order of Merit event, the Craigmillar Park Open in a sudden death play-off.
Leaving home shores once again, Dear added another title to his growing CV when he claimed the AIB Irish Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Royal Dublin. However, the plus 4 handicapper was pipped to the Bidwells Scottish Stroke Play Championship at Murcar Links, by his Walker Cup team-mate, England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
A busy schedule saw Dear claim top finishes at home and abroad, notably finishing third at the Spanish Amateur in claiming more valuable points as he climbed the rankings to 14th best amateur in the world.
Despite missing out on long runs at either The Amateur or Scottish Amateur Championships, victory in Wales when Scotland triumphed at the European Team Championship helped Dear
become just one of two Scots with his name on the prestigious Eisenhower and European Team Trophies.
Those achievements earned both Dear and Wallace Booth their call up to the Walker Cup as the only Scottish representatives in a GB&I side which are about to take on the US on home soil at Merion, Pennsylvania.
On the cusp of turning professional with the Walker Cup being his last competitive experience as an amateur, Dear had said it was a great honour to be selected and hopes are high that he can help bring this one more trophy home with him before he embarks on his transition to the pro ranks.
Dear finished his season with 1049.33 world ranking points, whilst European Amateur Championship runner up Ross Kellett finished with 923.94 points and ranked 52nd on the WAGR leaderboard. James Byrne finished just behind Kellett on 912.31 points, with SGU Order of Merit winner Paul O’Hara finishing on 866.67 points and ranked 96th in the world.
Previous winners of the Scottish Golfer of the Year title include Steven O’Hara and Richie Ramsay.

Another E-mail from Frank (Franco) Hennigan

Dear Colin
My original Email was in response to Jock MacVicar's article stating that 43 Scots had paid £1,350 each,when, in fact, some have and some have not had it funded by the SGU. I was only looking at a fact.
I then simply asked the questions that followed. What I did not do was to express my opinion on the matter.
If I may be allowed, and in the light of the responses so far, I would now like to ask some more weighted questions.
Why do not all the Scots get their entry fees paid?
It seems a shame that such a promising player as Chris Kelly has to pay this himself, and as Kevin McAlpine says there is a least one explanation.
Talented young golfers can't afford this hefty entrance fee.
And is the answer to an individual's success as a professional,and the potential pot of gold, obviously more funding?
Does this 'grow the game'?
Alternately, should we spend more on education?
I am interested in how golf club members benefit
Frank

Note from Editor: I think we are starting to go round in circles on this topic, so let's draw a line under with this item. Colin Farquharson

George Murray five shots off the pace

Challenge Tour's Dutch Futures

By STEVE TODD
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Anstruther’s former Scottish amateur champion George Murray opened with a two under par round of 70 to lie five shots off the pace in the Dutch Futures on the European Challenge Tour today.
A day after Scotland agonisingly failed to beat the Dutch football team in their vital World Cup qualifier, Murray – currently 46th on the European Challenge Tour Rankings – is aiming for a good week to boost his own qualification battle for his European Tour card.
The 26 year old carded four birdies and two bogeys at Golf Club Houtrak, with England’s Ben Mason setting the pace after a seven under par round of 65.
Fellow Scot Andrew McArthur opened with a one under par 71 while Scott Jamieson, Jamie McLeary and Lloyd Saltman all signed for a level par rounds of 72.
Aberdeen's Peter Smith, based in Holland for a number of years, an aiming to go to the European Tour Seniors Q School later this year, had a 76 as he tried to regain a competitive edge that won him the Northern Open in his younger days.
Mason fired an eagle and six birdies for a superb opening round 65, holing his second shot with a wedge from 130 yards on the par four 16th hole after opening with three birdies in his first five holes.
He picked up another shot on the 18th but dropped one straight after the turn – his only bogey of the day - before adding further birdies on the second and eighth holes.
Those final two birdies moved him clear of five players who are locked on five under par; home favourite John Boerdonk, France’s Christophe Brazillier, fellow Englishman Matthew Cort, Danish teenager Jacob Olesen and Spain’s Carl Suneson.
“I was hitting it pretty close all day,” said Mason. “It’s my best round of the year – I had a 64 in Poland but that was a par 70 so that was only six under. To be honest though it was tricky out there with the wind and anything under 70 would have been so to shoot 65 is fantastic.”
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70
65 B Mason (Eng)
67 J Boerdonk (Ned), M Cort (Eng) , J Olesen (Den) , C Suneson (Esp) , C Brazillier (Fra) ,
68 M Zions (Aus), A Butterfield (Eng) , B Wiesberger (Aut) , E Molinari (Ita) , W Vork (am) (Ned) ,
69 J Lima (Por) , P Golding (Eng) , B Pettersson (Swe) , N Meitinger (Ger) , D Griffiths (Eng) , J Quesne (Fra) , R Coles (Eng) , R Davies (Wal) , F Colombo (Ita) , M Cryer (Eng) , A Marshall (Eng) , B Evans (Eng) , N Colsaerts (Bel) , S Tiley (Eng) , M Wiegele (Aut) , K Sullivan (Wal) ,
70 M Higley (Eng , C Moriarty (Irl) , G Murray (Sco) , J Moul (Eng) , M Crespi (Ita) , A Gee (Eng) , M Delpodio (Ita) , G Houston (Wal) , A Tampion (Aus) , G Boyd (Eng) , S Bebb (Wal) , G Shaw (Nir) , L James (Eng) ,
71 A Snobeck (Fra) , A McArthur (Sco) , R Kakko (Fin) , L Moolman (RSA) , M Korhonen (Fin) , J Morrison (Eng) , L Kennedy (Eng) , N Smith (USA) , A Kaleka (Fra) , J Zapata (Arg) , F De Vries (Ned) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , J Abbate (Arg) ,
72 J McLeary (Sco) , A Grenier (Fra) , J Grillon (Fra) , R McEvoy (Eng) , T Feyrsinger (Aut) , J Granberg (Fin) , W Besseling (Ned) , L Richard (Bel) , L Bond (Wal) , L Saltman (Sco) , M Tullo (Chi) , R Saxton (Ned) , M Reale (Ita) , R Swane (Ned) , S Davis (Eng) , G Gresse (Bel) , A Willey (Eng) , T Whitehouse (Eng) , G Paddison (Nzl) , S Jamieson (Sco) ,
73 C Günther (Ger) , G Molteni (Ita) , M Haastrup (Den) , R Kind (Ned) , T Dykes (Wal) , C Gane (Eng) , S Manley (Wal) , V Riu (Fra) , J Larsen (Nor) , B Hebert (Fra) , A Ahokas (Fin) , C Rodiles (Esp) , E Canonica (Ita) , A Perrino (Ita) , I Pyman (Eng) , J Colomo (Esp) , E Ramsay (Sco) , R Santos (Por) , J Blanks (Eng) , A Bernadet (Fra) , T Cruz (Por) ,
74 T Weiss (Sui) , J Theunis (Bel) , R Muntz (Ned) , F Calmels (Fra) , L De Jager (RSA) , D Nouailhac (Fra) , A Bossert (Sui) , C Carranza (Arg) , M McGeady (Irl) , J Parry (Eng) , M Mills (Eng) , J De Vries (am) (Ned) ,
75 F Praegant (Aut) , S Van Duijn (Ned) , C Russo (Fra) , O Floren (Swe) , Z Scotland (Eng) , P Whiteford (Sco) , T Laitto (Fin) , J Caldwell (Nir) , F Keenan (Eng) , R Steiner (Aut) , K Jorgensen (Den) , J Doherty (Sco) , L Gagli (Ita) , B Alvarado (Chi) , R Eccles (Ned) , D Huizing (am) (Ned) , T Sluiter (am) (Ned)
76 N Vanhootegem (Bel) , J Sjöholm (Swe) , P Smith (Sco) , J Wahlqvist (Swe) , P Acuna (Gtm) , R Wechgelaer (Ned) , S Jeppesen (Swe) ,
77 B Miarka (Ger) , B Parker (Eng) , S Robinson (Eng) , C Simpson (Eng) ,
79 S Henry (Sco) , R Treis (Ger) , A Högberg (Swe) ,
80 M Pilkington (Wal) , A Wagner (Arg) , F Van Hoof (am) (Ned) ,
81 D Küpper (Ger)
82 J Relecom (Bel)
83 N Kraaij (Ned)
84 F De Vooght (am) (Bel)

Lee Westwood named Golfer of Month for August

England’s Lee Westwood has been named The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month for August after two outstanding performances on golf’s grandest stage.
Westwood, who will receive a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne along with an engraved alms dish in recognition of his achievement, followed up an excellent ninth place finish at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational with another superb performance in a Major as he finished tied third alongside Rory McIlroy at the US PGA Championship behind Y E Yang and Tiger Woods.
Those performances lifted the 36 year old to fourth place in The Race to Dubai and to ninth on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Westwood said: “I nearly won the US Open last year and finished third in two Majors this year, so I feel I am getting closer all the time. I seem to be getting more opportunities to win Majors to it would be nice to have another couple of chances in 2010 and try to win one after coming so close this season.”
The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month voting panel, which comprised members of the Association of Golf Writers in addition to commentators from radio and television, also gave great consideration to the achievements of Yang, England’s Simon Dyson, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.
Hedblom lost out in a play-off to Dyson at the KLM Open just seven days before lifting the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, while Harrington continued his return to top form with a second place finish at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, and a tie for ninth at the US PGA Championship.
But Westwood’s continued consistency at the very highest level was the deciding factor, with the Observer newspaper’s golf correspondent, Bill Elliott, commenting: “In an outstanding month for European Tour Members it may seem harsh ultimately to overlook Y E Yang’s US PGA Championship victory or Peter Hedblom’s stellar performances, but we felt that Lee Westwood’s consistency at the game’s sharpest edges deserved recognition.”
Westwood joins McIlroy (January), Geoff Ogilvy (February), Søren Kjeldsen (March), Angel Cabrera (April), Shane Lowry (May), Nick Dougherty (June) and Martin Kaymer (July) as a winner of The 2009 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award.
The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year will be selected following the Dubai World Championship at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19-22, 2009, where the winner of The Race to Dubai will be confirmed.

2009 FIFE ORDER OF MERIT for THE MACKAY BOWL

Positions after 22 events.

1 James White (Lundin) 920 pt.
2 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 690pt
3 Colin Martin (Balbirnie Park) 475pt
4 Danny Sommerville (St Andrews) 460pt
5 Alex Main (Thornton) 450pt
6 Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) 320pt
7 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 305pt.
8 Michael Main (Thornton) 269pt

++The last counting event for the 2009 FIFE ORDER OF MERIT is the rearranged Pitreavie 36 Hole Open on September 27.

E-mail from Chris Kelly

Hi Colin,
Re Tour School entry fee (£1,350).
Just a quick note to back up Kevin McAlpine on this subject (scroll down to read his E-mail).
My own entry fee came straight out my bank account and I have the gaping hole to prove it.
I am in full support of the SGU paying some top amateurs' Tour School entry fees, given the success of last season with Callum and Scott getting European and Challenge tour cards respectively.
This my not have happened without such support form the SGU so on this subject they should be congratulated.
I have one question for "Franco." What would he like the SGU to spend his levy on, given that the part of their remit is to develop young amateurs into good professionals.

Chris Kelly

As golf world celebrates his 80th birthday,

Palmer still has a passion to play the game

FROM THE US PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
Tiger Woods passed Arnold Palmer on the US PGA Tour's career victory list last year, and some found it surprising how the King chose to congratulate him.
"We've had a couple of text messages back and forth," Palmer said.
=========================
Click on links to read more related stories:
HAIL TO THE KING: PGA Professionals share stories about, and love for, Palmer
INTERVIEW WITH THE KING: Arnold Palmer talks to PGA.com's John Kim at Bay Hill
PGATOUR.COM: Impact and images of Arnold Palmer's amazing career
=========================
If it's hard to imagine Palmer punching his thumbs on a cell phone to send a text, another sign of the times comes on Thursday when Palmer celebrates his 80th birthday.
And how to mark the big occasion? By playing golf, of course.
Palmer was in Orlando, for some weekend festivities. He threw out the first pitch Tuesday night at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. Then he retreated to his home in western Pennsylvania for golf and dinner Wednesday at Laurel Valley. His office said he would play golf with friends Thursday at Latrobe Country Club.
That's where Palmer learned to play golf. After all these years, it remains his greatest passion.
"I think of him as the greatest amateur-professional who ever lived," longtime friend Dow Finsterwald said in this month's issue of Golf Digest. "By that I mean he never stopped playing the game for the love of it, like an amateur. Sure, he liked making a nice living. But he loved to play. Still does."
Jack Nicklaus, a close friend and rival, met up with him at the Masters this year and the conversation turned to golf. Nicklaus asked how he was playing and Palmer told him, "Horrible."
"'How much are you playing?' He said, 'Every day,'" Nicklaus said. "But that's him. That's what he does."
Padraig Harrington recalled watching a Champions Tour event a decade ago, when Palmer came off the course excited as ever.
"He is buzzing," Harrington said. "You've never seen a man with so much excitement and enthusiasm, because he found the secret to the game. I just love the fact he's played the game at least 50 years competitively, and he's still convinced that there's a secret. I just love his enthusiasm."
Nicklaus believes Palmer's record, including seven majors, only tells part of the story.
Palmer won the Masters four times, but his swashbuckling style and the arrival of television proved to be the perfect marriage to make golf appealing to the masses.
His only U.S. Open victory defined his hard-charging style. Americans rarely traveled to the British Open until Palmer made the trip in 1960 and made golf's oldest championship relevant again.
He never won the PGA Championship, although it was Palmer who created the modern Grand Slam.
"I think he brought a lot more to the game than his game," Nicklaus said. "What I mean by that is, there's no question about his record and his ability to play the game. He was very, very good at that. But he obviously brought a lot more. He brought the hitch of his pants, the flair that he brought to the game, the fans that he brought into the game.
"He brought more than just his golf game."
And he keeps right on going. Palmer is the only living player with a PGA Tour event named after him -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill -- and he was among those who made a strong pitch for golf to become part of the Olympics.
He remains current to players not even born when he won his last PGA Tour event in 1973, including Woods.
While talking about Palmer's impending 80th birthday, Woods recalled nearly losing his college eligibility because of the kindness of the King. The Champions Tour was in northern California one year, and Woods was in Stanford when Palmer invited him to dinner.
"The tab comes, and I'm not going to say, 'Hey, Arnold, it's on me.' He picks up the tab like it's no big deal," Woods said. "And (I) come to find out, my coach had to report me because that was a violation. I had to send him a check."
Phil Mickelson patterns much of his game and his personality after Palmer. No other star signs more autographs and makes more eye contact than Mickelson, and it pleases Palmer especially that Mickelson's signature is legible.
Mickelson qualified for his first Masters in 1991 as a U.S. Amateur champion, and he quickly arranged a practice round with Palmer.
"We walked off the 18th tee about 100 yards, and he kind of grabs my arm and pulls me over and stops, and says, 'Right here. Right here,'" Mickelson said. Palmer then told him of the 1961 Masters, when someone in the gallery congratulated him for a sure victory. He hit into a bunker, made double bogey and lost.
"He was still fuming about it 30 years later," Mickelson said.
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was on his way to Laurel Valley on Wednesday and said only that the tour would have a "little presentation" for him. What to get one of the most popular figures in golf for his 80th birthday?
Harrington wouldn't know where to begin. He remains in awe of the time he was at an Italian restaurant last year in Miami having an appetizer when he heard someone approach the bar and order an Arnold Palmer.
"Now that's getting to another level," Harrington said. "Think about it. You don't go up there and order a Tiger Woods at the bar. You can go up there and order an Arnold Palmer in this country and the barman -- he was a young man -- knew what the drink was. That's in a league of your own."

E-mail from Kevin McAlpine

Colin,
I am E-mailing you with my response to the E-mail sent by "Franco" regarding Tour School expenses.
I think he has no idea what he is talking about.
Tour school expenses are paid by the Scottish Golf Union to a very select FEW of Scotland's TOP amateur golfers each year.
I would also like to say that when the debate about how ‘few top Scottish golfers there are on Tour’ arises, there is at least one explanation.
Young talented golfers cannot afford this hefty (entrance) fee (£1,350) and it is only right the SGU steps in to help them out.

Kevin McAlpine

+If you have news, views or images you would like to pass on to Scottishgolfview, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Wallace Booth has one-track mind as

far as Walker Cup is concernted

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By Oliver Brown
The enduring allure of the Walker Cup is reflected in the attitude of Wallace Booth.
The Perthshire man has shelved all attempts at turning professional to concentrate on Great Britain and Ireland’s three-day amateur showpiece against the United States, which begins on Thursday on the fearsome course of Merion, Pennsylvania.
Booth had not entertained any notion of helping to regain the Walker Cup before he fell short last year at the European Tour qualifying school. Suddenly, the primacy of the professional game could be forgotten.
“It was a big disappointment,” said the 24 year-old from Perthshire. “But I was determined not to let it get me down. I took a long, hard look at my game and I decided I needed to work on certain things to get better.
“The Walker Cup was the goal. “Everything was focused on getting to Merion. I was desperate to make the team. When I got the call it justified all the hard work I’d put into my game.”
Booth brings an advantage to his team through his grounding on long, rough-dominated American courses, having taken the college golf route at Augusta State University. Most of his team-mates are unaccustomed to the improvised bunker shots that Merion’s deep greenside rough forces them to play - save for Chris Paisley, who represented Tennessee, and Gavin Dear, who spent four years at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

SCOT MATHESON RELISHES PGA CUP TEST

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
Craig Matheson’s broad shoulders will carry the weight of a nation as Scotland’s only representative in this year’s PGA Cup – which returns to the home of golf for the first time since 1996.
The self-taught Falkirk Tryst professional, who at 26 is the youngest member of Gary Alliss’ 10-man Great Britain & Ireland team, has admitted that the forthcoming match against the USA at The Carrick on Loch Lomond between September 18-20, will be an entirely new experience compared to events on the Tartan Tour.
“I’m really excited about this as it’s the biggest tournament I’ve played in by a mile,” said the Tartan Tour regular.
“Being the only Scot in the team and because I don’t really know the other guys I’m kind of nervous too. I guess I am the carrying the flag of Scotland, but I’ve never seen it as that, I just think of us as GB&I.
“As it is in Scotland I’m hoping there will be a wee crowd. I know a few people from my golf club are getting a bus to come and cheer me on which is great because the only other time a few people have come along is at Open qualifying so that will be exciting.”
The PGA Cup – based on a Ryder Cup style format of foursomes, fourballs and singles - is the most prestigious event for PGA professionals on both sides of the Atlantic and it dates back to 1973.
Matheson booked his place in the side after finishing in a share of fifth place at this year’s Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at Dundonald Links back in June.GB&I has enjoyed some of its finer moments in the tournament on Scottish soil, having twice won the tournament in 1983 & 84 and halving it on its last visit at Gleneagles.
That record bodes well as the team bid to win back the Llandudno Trophy they saw slip from their grasp in Georgia, USA, two years ago. That side, which was also skippered by Alliss, went down 13.5 to 12.5, when a draw would have seen them retain the trophy.Matheson, who is one of six PGA Cup ‘rookies’ in the team, is relishing a return to matchplay and the ensuing battle against the Americans.
“I’ve not played matchplay since I was an amateur, which was a few years ago, so it’ll be exciting to play it as it’s essentially a new format,” he said. “There’s a chance to be aggressive when you can., so I’m looking forward to that.”Ahead of making his bow, Matheson has also received plenty of encouragement from his fellow Tartan Tour pros – including one member of the victorious 2005 GB&I side which regained the trophy at The K Club after a 21 year gap.“
After qualifying there was a lot of interest and guys congratulating me and wishing me well,” said Matheson.“Fraser Mann, who played on the winning PGA Cup team in 2005, has been really good. He said any help I need or advice, just give him a shout. I really appreciated that, especially from a guy that’s gone and done it.”The 2009 team also includes Jeremy Robinson who was a former Walker Cup team-mate of Colin Montgomerie in 1987.
The full GB&I team is: captain Gary Alliss (The Belfry), Andrew Barnett (North Wales Driving Range), Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre), Will Barnes (Garstang G&CC), Jamie Harris (Nevill Golf Club), James Lee (Caerphilly), Craig Matheson (Falkirk & Tryst), Jeremy Robinson (Twyford), Paul Simpson (West Berkshire), Barry Taylor (Houghwood) and Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park).

Three amateurs tie for Midland Alliance victory

By LEE SUTHERLAND
The Midland Golfers Alliance was held at Forfar Golf Club in near perfect conditions yesterday. There was a tie for first scratch between three amateurs - Ross Bell (Downfield), senior Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and Martin Brown (Monifieth) - with three-under-par scores of 66.
Best net score of the day was a 67 by four-handicapper John Black (Scotscraig).

LEADING SCRATCH
66 R Bell (Downfield), B Stewart (Tulliallan), M Brown (Monifieth).
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap, L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) p.
69 S Hume (Noah's Ark) ap, K Hutton (Downfield) p, S Spence (Lundin Links) ap, C Donnelly (Balbirnie Park) p.
71 G McLeod (Monifieth) p, M Rae (Alyth) ap, M Finlayson (Edzell) ap, R Redpath (Scotscreaig), J Black (Scotscraig), P Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
LEADING HANDICAP
65 B Stewart (Tulliallan) (1).
67 J Black (Scotscreaig) (4).
68 R Redpath (Scotscraig) (3), M Brown (Monifieth) (+2).
69 R Bell (Downfield) (+3).
70 R Farquhar (Carnoutie) (9), M Fraser (Leven Thistle) (3), J Henderson (Craigie Hill) (5), J Ward (Carnoustie) (5).
71 R Lamont (Bathgate) (4), D MacGregor (St Andrews) (14), R McDonald (Monifieth) (4).

Qualifiers for the Midland Golfer’s Alliance Championship in April at Pitlochry

A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) p.
S Hume (Noah’s Ark) ap.
K Hutton (Downfield) p.
S Spence (Lundin Links) ap.

Next Week's Meetings

Tuesday, 15th September
Dunfermline
Mixed Foursomes
9.30 - 12.30

Thursday, 17th September
Pitlochry
8.30 - 12.30
Lee Sutherland

CARNEGIE INVITATIONAL

GOLF COPY CREDIT DAVID BEGG SPORTS QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON MOBILE 07943 758 031   CRAIG RONALD WINS CARNEGIE INVITATIONAL   Carluke's Craig Ronald won the Tartan Tour's two-day Carnegie Invitational with a six-over-par aggregate of 148. Ronald followed an opening round of seven-over 78 in a gale-force wind which forced play to be halted on the opening day with a one-under 70 in today's (Wed) more benign conditions. Ronald earned £4,500 for a one-shot victory from Craig Lee (unattached) (75-74), David Orr (East Renfrewshire) (76-73) and Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) (74-75) who each received £3,000. Craig Lee won the one-club challenge, which has become part of the tradition at this event, at the third hole of the play-off.   CARNEGIE INVITATIONAL Skibo Castle FINAL TOTALS Par 142 (2x71) 148 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 78 70 (£4,500). 149 Craig Lee (unatt) 75 74, David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 76 73, Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 74 75 (£3,000 each). 154 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 74 80 (£2,300). 155 Chris Doak (unatt) 80 75, Mark King (Kingsfield) 85 70 (£2,000 each). 156 Chris Campbell (Grantown on Spey) 82 74, Gordon Law (Uphall) 80 76 (£1750 each). 157 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 78 79 (£1600). 158 Colin Gillies (Playsport Golf) 83 75 (£1,500). 161 Ronan Rafferty (unatgt) 82 79, Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) 80 81 (£1,425 each). 162 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 77 85 (£1360). 163 David Thomson (CarnegieClub) 81 82 (£1335). 172 Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 88 84 (£1310. 180 Jody Romstock (Carnegie Club) 89 91, Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club) 98 82 (£1,272 each).   e ds

Mark Kerr looks on Tour School

costs as an investment

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Edinburgh golfer Mark Kerr is bracing himself for a hefty hit in the pocket but admits he's looking at the cost of entering the European Tour Qualifying School as an investment.
Kerr, who has just secured a top-ten finish on this season's Tartan Tour Order of Merit, is among seven Lothians players due take part in the first stage of the gruelling examination next week.They've all forked out £1,350 entry fee and Kerr, who is attached to Marriott Dalmahoy, knows from experience how costly it can be once players get closer to securing one of those cherished Tour cards.
"I got to the second stage last year and it cost me just over £3,000 all in," he said. "I suppose you've got to look at it as an investment, though, and I'd be daft not to try my luck, especially when my form this year has been pretty good."
Kerr, in fact, has arguably been the most improved player on the Scottish circuit this season, the two-times losing finalist in the Lothians Championship securing sixth spot on the final Order of Merit.
"All in all, I've had a successful campaign and I'd probably say the highlight was finishing in a tie for fourth at Gleneagles (in the Scottish Professional Championship," he reflected.
"It was disappointing that I missed out on the Srixon Play-offs at the end of the year as there are five European Tour starts up for grabs in those. However, I am hopeful that, by finishing sixth in Scotland, I will earn a place in next year's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, though that may depend on what happens with the invites."
Kerr starts his Tour School bid at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire next Tuesday and hopes to pass that test with flying colours before turning his thoughts back to the EuroPro Tour.
"Having come through the qualifying at Dundonald last year, I'm confident I can do so again and I certainly hope I will as I'm desperate to get another crack at the second stage in Spain," he added.
"I'm also starting to focus on the EuroPro Tour again but will need to win either the event at Fairmont St Andrews next month or the Tour Championship after that to earn one of the spots on next season's Challenge Tour."
John Gallagher, Lee Harper, Mark Hillson, Shaun McAllister, Lloyd Saltman and Zack Saltman are the other Lothians players due to be in action in Stage 1, either at Dundonald next week or The Oxfordshire the week after.

Reader's E-mail

FROM FRANCO HENNIGAN

With regard to the Scottish Golfview article,'SCOTS PAY 1350 EACH TO ENTER TOUR SCHOOL' may I remind you that the SGU pays that bill for a lot of them.
Is this good and fair use of public money?
Would most club members who pay their subs to their golf club and the levy be happy?

Editor's response.
I think some would and some wouldn't.

Colin Farquharson

P& K county weekend double for Nicky Barr

over Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne

Nicky Barr, beaten in the final of the Scottish mid-amateur championship final, gained a measure of compensation when he won both the Perth & Kinross men’s county stroke-play AND match-play championships on the SAME weekend.
Craigie Hill Golf Club member Barr was capped for Scotland in the boys' home internationals of 2001. The following year he accepted a golf scholarship at Midland College, Texas where he stayed from 2002 to 2004.

HERE’S JOHN SIMPSON'S REPORT, FIRST OF THE STROKE-PLAY:

The re-scheduled Perth & Kinross county stroke-play championship was played on Saturday (September 5) over 18 holes of the Lansdowne Course, Blairgowrie.
Players and officials were grateful for a dry day after so much recent rain.
As in 2007 the championship was reduced to 18 holes. The scoring turned out to be excellent, which was a credit to the players and to the greenkeeping staff at Blairgowrie.
All eight qualifiers for the match-play stage scored 72 or better.
The winner of the championship was Nicky Barr from Craigie Hill with a fine score of 68. Runner-up was David Simpson of Crieff who prevailed over local player Stuart Graham on the better inward nine after they both returned 70s.

STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD
CSS 73 (match-play qualifiers highlighted)

Nicky Barr Craigie Hill 68
Ian McLeod Kinross 74
David Simpson Crieff 70
Roger Lamond Blairgowrie 75
Stuart Graham Blairgowrie 70
Tom McLevy Blairgowrie 76
Philip Scott Auchterarder 71
Mark Rose Pitlochry 78
Stuart McKendrick Dunkeld+Birnam 72
Fraser Inglis King James IV 78
George Brass Blairgowrie 72
Darren Watson Blairgowrie 79
David Murray Blairgowrie 72
Andrew Jackson Kinross 80
Wayne Crole Blairgowrie 72
Andrew Merrilees Muckhart 80
Neil Cameron King James IV 81
Eric Lindsay Blairgowrie 73
Patrick Sandison Blairgowrie 81
Glenn Campbell Blairgowrie 73
Scott Michie Kinross 82
Stephen Carruthers Pitlochry 74
Iain Simpson Craigie Hill 84
Daniel Harrison Crieff 74
Andrew Hutchison Kinross 84
Jason Thomson Kinross 74
Jim Wardrope Kinross 86
Bruce Caldow Kinross 74

NOW FOR THE P&K MATCH-PLAY REPORT:
The eight qualifiers from an 18 hole P&K stroke-play championship all scored 72 or less.
On Sunday morning, the semi-finals were contested: Nicky Barr beat Philip Scott on the last green, while Stuart Graham needed one extra hole to shake off George Brass.
In the afternoon the final produced excellent golf again. The standard of golf between the two rivals was very high with accurate driving and impressive iron play.
Nicky was one up playing the 16th but drove into the trees. Both players were in the middle of the 17th fairway.
Stuart hooked his second but had the good fortune to see it come back out towards the fairway; Nicky hit a good second just short of the green; Stuart played his third to about ten feet; Nick's approach shot hit the pin and sat close to the hole for a 4. Stuart missed his birdie putt to go back to one down with one to play.
Both players hit good tee shots down the middle of the 18th fairway; Nicky played a short iron first, pin high fourteen feet right of a front pin position; Stuart hit an impressive approach which backed-up a little to fifteen feet.
Stuart putted first and holed for a birdie three but as he was contemplating another trip up the nineteenth, Nicky holed for his birdie and the match.
A great game played in good spirit between the next best players in the county after the big four. The big four, however, may have struggled to compete with these two on this showing.

MATCH-PLAY RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS
Nicky Barr bt Wayne Crole 2 holes.
Philip Scott bt Stuart McKendrick 1 hole.
Stuart Graham bt David Murray 6 and 5.
George Brass bt David Simpson 1 hole.
SEMI-FINALS
Barr bt Scott 1 hole.
Graham bt Brass at 19th.
FINAL
Barr bt Graham 1 hole.

PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION JUNIOR JUG

Coln Baird's score of 72 was outstanding

in conditions at Dundonald Links
.

By MURRAY CARNIE
Organiser, Paul Lawrie Foundation
Over a very windy and often wet Dundonald Links, our finalists in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug competition battled it out to become the "Jug" champions for 2009.
Scoring proved to be very high, especially for the late starters who had the worst of the weather. However our young golfers persevered against the elements and produced some excellent golf.
Highlight of the day was the performance of Stirling Univerity student Colin Baird who knocked it round the links in 72 shots.
With the flag poles bent double and driving rain this was truly an outstanding score. He won the scratch title from Scott Gibson (Southerness GC) and Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen GC) who both shot 78. Scott pipped Eamon for second place with a better last six holes.
In the handicap event it was a very close run event with only one shot seperating the first three places. Jamie Lynch ( Falkirk) lifted the title on a better inward half from Gorden Cowen (West Lothian) after the pair had registered a 76 nett.
Close on their heels was Chris Low (Tantallon GC) who shot a nett 77.
Our first ever national competition was a huge success. We had seven regional qualifying events with over 500 golfers attempting to qualify for the final 56 places. The Paul Lawrie Foundation would like to thank all the clubs and tournament officals for their hard work in making this tournament run so smoothly.
Special thanks must be given to Adam Hunter, Emma and Beth who ran Saturday's tournament like a Tour Event.
+All the players received a signed photo with Paul.
+The range and practice area were set up for them to get warmed up and they were fed and watered before, during and after their golf.
Adam also organised a question and answer session with Paul which went down a treat with the players and parents followed by the prize giving.
The only disappointing part of the day was the fact that two of the prize winners were not present to receive their trophies.

£65million expansion of Forrester Park

Golf Centre near Dunfermline

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
A new family golf centre is to be created in West Fife as part of an ambitious £65million expansion of the Forrester Park Resort, near Dunfermline.
The plans include a five-star hotel, spa and family leisure complex, but the owners are just as excited about a new nine-hole course that will be specifically aimed at juniors and women.
"It will be a pay-and-play course open to everyone but we are hoping it will be a boost in particular to junior and ladies' golf," said Robert Forrester, the resort's managing director. Forrester Park first became associated with golf when it opened a driving range in 1993 and, since 2001, it has been the home of an 18-hole course, which currently has 600 members.
As part of the expansion, a new driving range and clubhouse will also be built.
Hamish Grey, chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, said: "We believe family golf centres are the future of golf in Scotland.

Carnegie Invitational blown to a halt at Skibo

Gale force winds forced play to be abandoned for the day with six or seven groups still to complete the first round in the Tartan Tour's Carnegie Invitational tournament at Skibo Castle.
The groups who were unable to finish today will resume tomorrow at the holes where they left on.
A decision has yet to be made about whether the originally planned two-round tournament can be played.

Paul O'Hara follows in brother Steven's

footsteps as SGU Order of Merit winner

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE

Colville Park's Paul O'Hara, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has completed a memorable family double by winning the Scottish Golf Union's order of merit. He had already secured the No1 position ahead of the weekend's Newlands Trophy, in which he was third.
O'Hara's success comes eight years after big brother Steven topped the SGU rankings.

SGU ORDER OF MERIT

1 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 935.00

2 J Byrne (Banchory) 668.30

3 J White (Lundin) 582.50

4 P McLean (Peterhead) 467.50

5 R Kellett (Colville Park) 447.85

6 G Dear (Murrayshall) 442.50

7 K McAlpine (Alyth) 430.00

8 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 407.50

9 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 392.50

10 S McEwan (Caprington) 386.60.

Gullane Juniors and Loretto Golf Academy's

thrilling 5-5 tie at breezy Gullane

By Iain McLean
Loretto Golf Academy brought a strong international team, with players from Scotland, Spain, Italy, Germany, England and South Korea, to a breezy Gullane No 1 to play against Gullane Juniors last Sunday.
It was an early experience of Scottish links golf, with testing winds and thick rough, for many of the new arrivals at Loretto led by German internationalist Max Waltz and + 2.8 handicap 14 year old Julie Yang from South Korea.
With a combination of internationalists and talented and fast improving young players on both sides, the match consisted of a mixture of handicap four-balls and foursomes. It was "nip and tuck" all the way coming down to the very last shot:

Michael Williams & Jamie Black bt Max Link & Sami Bouzabia 4 and 3.
Tom Grey & Graham Swan bt Victor Wall-Gremstrup & Giorgio Diezi 3 and 1.
Rachel Watton & Lara Frostwick lost to Lesley Atkins & Laura Alexander 1 hole
Jonny Lauder & Craig Spinks lost to Elena Krause & Hannah Schwabe 6 and 5.
Oliver Ladbrooke & Gregor Wood halved with Pablo Ruiz de Velasco & Finbar Dalton.
Scott Gillies & Gary Brownlie lost to Tim Seifert & Timon Sitte 5 and 3.
Ally Simpson & Greg Houlston halved with Julie Yang & Max Waltz
Peter Legget & Callum Stephen halved with Tom Scott & Andrew Minto
Rory Grey & James Fisher bt Navjosh Dhallu & Nicholas Bringsken 3 and 1.
Alexander Wilson & Duncan McLean halved with Ian McDowall & Tim Huebner.

Tim Huebner chipped in from off the green for a birdie 3 on the 18th to win the hole and salvage a half against Alexander & Duncan to make the final score Gullane 5, Loretto 5.
An excellent result followed by soup, bacon rolls and cake in the Clubhouse.
The Gullane team is looking forward to the return at Craigielaw on 1st November.

______________________________________________________________________
For more info re Gullane Juniors please see our new blog http://www.gullanejuniorgolf.blogspot.com/.

For more info re Loretto please see http://www.lorettoschool.co.uk/extra_curricular/golf_academy/ or contact Kevin Reid

Gullane are top of the East Lothian Junior Golf League just now having completed their 10 matches - we nervously await the outcome of Musselburgh Old's two final matches ( at home to Dunbar and away to Royal Musselburgh this weekend coming ) to determine the final outcome of the league - please see http://www.eastlothianjuniorgolf.org.uk/

Michael Sim has a chance of being given

a Presidents Cup place by Greg Norman

There is a fair chance that Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim will be named as one of captain Greg Norman's two picks when his Presidents Cup International team line-up is announced on Tuesday.
The event will be played at San Francisco's Harding Park from October 6 to 11.
The insider betting is that Greg Norman will name as his wild card selections as Ryo Ishikawa, the 17-year-old from Japan, and – the bolt from the blue – the 23-year-old Scot-Aussie Michael Sim who was born in Aberdeen in 1986 and did not arrive on Australia's shores until 1993.
Speaking last weekend ahead of Ishikawa’s third win of the year on the Japan Tour – a victory which propelled him to the top of the Japan money list – Australian Geoff Ogilvy said: “Ishikawa should definitely get picked. I think he should be guaranteed at this point. He’s playing well every week, so how can you not pick him?”
While Ogilvy doesn’t get to make the call, he pointed to a very important factor in Norman’s thinking: “Greg has said he’s going to go on current form and (Ishikawa is) probably playing better than any of us. I would love to play with Ishikawa. That would be awesome. The Japanese always bring enthusiasm and enthusiasm is what wins.”
And Ishikawa, together with the presence of PGA champion YE Yang in the team, will bring the inestimable value of TV ratings in the Far East.
Of Michael Sim's selection prospects, Ogilvy said: “If you go purely on form and take politics out of it, I think Greg should pick Michael Sim. Yeah, he’s played the Nationwide Tour but you can only beat who you’re playing every week - and he's done that three times this year.
“It's not like he played bad when he came up to good fields. He played pretty good the last round of the US Open playing with Tiger Woods.
“It’s not going to get any worse than that anywhere, New York with Tiger on Sunday in his first ever major. I’m pretty sure Michael can handle (the pressure).”
Sim’s main rival for the final spot on the team may be Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, who tied for 49th at the European Masters on Sunday.

DALSWINTON TROPHY NEW DATE

The Dalswinton Trophy inter-club men's amateur team golf competition, hosted annually by Deeside Golf Club, has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 27 over 18 holes. It was postponed on Sunday because of the wet condition of the Bieldside course.
The North-east District champion of champions event was another victim of the excess rain in the area. It was arranged for Kintore last Sunday but had to be postponed because the course was waterlogged..
"I have provisionally rescheduled the event for Sunday, September 27, although it may only be the handicap final that day as John Godward from McDonald, Ellon will be at Prestwick that weekend, taking part in the National Club Championship final," said NE District secretary George Young.

Stricker birdies last two holes to win

Deutsche Bank Championship

Steve Stricker birdied the last two holes to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, Massachusetts and move to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings with two tournaments remaining.
In a wild Monday finish - it's Labour Day in America - a half-dozen players had a chance to win on the par-5 18th hole.
Stricker grabbed his chance with a chip from behind the green that settled 2 feet away for a tap-in birdie for a 4-under 67.
That avoided a play-off with Jason Dufner (65) and Scott Verplank, who birdied his last four holes for a 67.
Stricker won for the third time this year and moves up to No. 2 in the world ranking for the first time in his career. He moved past Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup, assuring that he will have a chance at the $10 million prize at the end of the month.
Padraig Harrington, whose worst score was his fourth-round 68, tied for fourth place on 269, two shots behind Stricker.
Tiger Woods finished with a brilliant round of 63, which pulled him up to within five shots of the winner. Woods' total of 12 under par 272 gave him a share of 11th place.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
267 Steve Stricker 63 72 65 67.
268 Jason Dufner 66 69 68 65, Scott Verplank 65 68 68 67.
269 Angel Cabrera 65 69 70 656, Dustin Johnson 68 65 70 66, Padraig Harrington 67 67 67 68.
270 Geoff Ogilvy 66 68 70 66.
271 Jim Furyk 63 67 73 68, Sean O'Hair 66 64 70 71, Tetied Goosen 65 67 68 71.
272 Tiger Woods 70 67 72 63, John Senden 69 64 70 69, Jerry Kelly 66 69 67 70, Kevin Na 69 66 66 71.
Selected scores:
276 Sergio Garcia 70 71 68 67 (jt 26th).
277 Phil Mickelson 71 68 72 66 (jt 27th).
281 Brian Davis 67 70 73 71 (jt 49th).
282 Justin Rose 69 70 77 66, Luke Donald 69 72 72 69 (jt 54th).

Paris appearance by Seve still doubtful

FROM THE IRISH TIMES WEBSITE
It remains doubtful whether Seve Ballesteros will attend the Vivendi Trophy, formerly called the Seve Trophy, in Paris in two weeks’ time due to ongoing radiotherapy treatment as he recovers from a brain tumour.
The Britain and Ireland team captained by Paul McGinley is set to defend against Continental Europe led by Thomas Bjorn at St Nom la Breteche on September 24th-27th.
Ballesteros collapsed with a brain tumour in October last year, had four major operations and then began treatment which has so far been so successful that he is even talking of playing in next July’s Open at St Andrews.
However, manager and nephew Ivan Ballesteros said today: “Seve is with his radiotherapy treatment and this should be finished around the end of this month.
“It is difficult to say if Seve is going to be able to travel. He will take this decision based on his doctor’s suggestions.”
The line-up of the two teams also has question marks over it. Pádraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey all qualify for Britain and Ireland, but are currently in the States hoping to make it into the Tour Championship the same week.
The same applies to Sergio Garcia, while Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson are both recovering from injuries.
Next Monday is the cut-off point, with five players coming off the world rankings and five from the European Tour money list.
If everybody was available the two sides would at the moment be as follows:
Britain and Ireland: Paul Casey, Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson, Robert Rock, Nick Dougherty, Simon Dyson
Continental Europe: Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson, Soren Kjeldsen, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Alvaro Quiros, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen, Peter Hanson

Fortrose & Rosemarkie win Ross Leagues.

By ROBIN WILSON

Home club Fortrose & Rosemarkie completed a clean sweep over visiting clubs Alness and Invergordon to win Ross Singles League and the Highland Fabricators Cup for the first time since 2003 at their Channory Point course .
Alness were first to be crushed 5-0 in the semi final and it was the same result in the final against the cup holders, Invergordon although three of the games were much closer. Invergordon who have the best record of all the Ross shire clubs in the competition, eleven previous wins, fought their way into another final with a 4-1 semi final result over Tain.
Invergordon's only loser in this tie was Craig Cameron and he paid the price by being sacrificed for the final by being put out first to play Fortrose's top player, Michael MacDonald. Cameron only got another twelve holes as MacDonald put his club's first point of the final on the score sheet.
The second game between Chris Gaittens and Invergordon's North Youth Champion Lyle McAlpine was the closest of the five. Gaitten's won it on the back nine at the 18th after being level at the turn.

The local won the 12th and 15th holes, the 15th with a birdie but when putting for a birdie on the 17th to win he missed and missed the return but got the necessary half of the final green for point number two.
Lewis Reid, the second of three teenagers in Fortrose's team showed how he became the Fortrose club champion to Invergordon's club champion with a fightback that saw him win four holes in six and then go dormy five up at the 13th and win by driving the next green to win 6&4.
At 3-0 ahead the cup was now in Fortose's possession and their second emphatic 5-0 rout was completed by the youngest and oldest players in their team.

Michael Manson (16), with birdies on the 15th and 16th, beat Ali MacDonald 2&1 and Robert Mackay (57), also with a birdie on the 16th, beat James Fraser 3&2 in the last game.

Later results:

SEMI-FINALS
Invergordon 4,Tain 1

L. McAlpine bt M. Ferries 2 holes, Andrew Gilmour bt R I Mackenzie 1 hole, A MacDonald bt D Vass 4 and 2, J Fraser beat G. MacKintosh 1 hole, C. Cameron lost to A. Bell 5 and 4.
Fortrose & Rosemarkie 5, Alness 0

M MacDonald bt R Black 6 and 4, C Gaittens bt G Dunbar 6 and 5, L Reid bt S McCloy 8 and 7, M Manson bt D Stevenson 2 and 1, R Mackay bt G Hart 6 and 4.
FINAL

Fortose & Rosemarkie 5, Invergordon 0

M MacDonald bt Cameron 8 and 7.

Gaittens bt McAlpine 1 hole.

Reid bt Gilmour 6 and 4.

Manson bt A MacDonald 2 and 1.

Mackay bt Fraser 3 and 2.

CAPTION TO ROBIN WILSON'S PICTURE ABOVE
Front kneeling , Fortrose and Rosemarkie's teenagers, with the Highland Fabricators Cup front kneeling, left to right- Lewis Reid, Chris Gaittens, Michael Manson. Back row – Andrew Gilmour (Invg), Ali MacDonald (Invg) Michael MacDonald , club captain Alan Murray, Craig Cameron (Invg)Lyle McAlpine (Invg). John Fraser(Invg) and Robert Mackay.-

Better second round wins it for David

McCreadie after 34-hole tie with Buchan

By ROBIN WILSON
On a three-hole swing at the final hole, the Gardner Trophy moved from the North-east to the Central Belt and so too did the Fraser Shield after the results of Royal Dornoch's final 36 hole open tournament of the year.
But instead of the normal 36 holes only 34 were played, two of the Struie holes being under water when an already swollen Dornoch Burn burst its banks when prevented from flowing out to sea due to a very high tide. This flooded the fairways at the 15th and 16th holes..
After the low handicap section completed the first 15 holes they then moved to the 18th tee.
Leading the scoring for the 16 holes were Steven Mitchell (Crieff) 63, Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) 64, Mark Gray (Royal Dornoch) 64, holder Allan Duff (Cruden Bay) and from the Isle of Skye Alasdair Grant, also on 65.
A 66 from Royal Dornoch's vice-captain Hamish Macrae and cluster of four players on 67, included the eventual winner David McCreadie (Bellshill).
Five handicapper Macrae slumped to a second round 84 on the championship course and the change from Sconsor on Skye to the Dornoch championship test was too big for Grant, despite a creditable 74, and seven handicapper Gray who by then had set his focus on the Fraser Shield.
This left the quartet of McCreadie, Duff, Buchan and Mitchell in the scratch mix. A second round 79 from five handicapper Mitchell, slipped him back to a joint third finish on 142 with Duff the Cruden Bay member shooting the better round 77 to jump into second place.
After nine holes of their final round Buchan's three-shot lead over McCreadie had been cut to two, 36 against 35, but when they went to the final tee the Cruden Bay member who won the North of Scotland 72 hole title at Dornoch in 2007 had recovered his three-shot lead before running up a costly double bogey 6 for 74 and 138.
In contrast McCreadie birdied the final hole for 71 and a tie but on the better second round was awarded the Gardner Trophy.
Although Cawder Golf Club, Bishopbriggs is his home club, Gray is also a member of Royal Dornoch and this eligibility allowed him put his name on the Fraser Shield for the first time. He followed up his net 57 on the Struie with a net 71 on the championship course for a net 128.
Results
(Handicaps adjusted for the 16 hole Struie round are shown in brackets).
Scratch
Gardner Trophy.
138 D McCreadie (Bellshill) 67 71, M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 64 74.
142 A Duff (Cruden Bay) 65 77, S Mitchell Crieff) 63 69.
143 M Gray (RDGC) 64 79, K. Matheson (Royal Dornoch) 68 75, A Grant (Isle of Skye) 65 78. 144 B. Nicolson (Auchmill) 67 77.
146 B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch) 72 74.
Handicap
Fraser Shield
M Gray (Royal Dornoch) (7/8) 128; A Grant (Isle of Skye) (4) 135; N Campbell (Royal Dornoch) (6/7) 136; B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch) (4) 138.
Individual Scratch scores
Championship
S MacKintosh (Crieff) 74.
Struie
H Macrae (Royal Dornoch) 66.
Individual Handicap
Championship
A Kennedy Newtonmore (10) 72 (bih).
Struie – A Graham (Newmacher (9) 61 (Last 6).

South double by Iain Thomson of Powfoot

Local player Iain Thomson of Powfoot followed up his win in the South of Scotland stroke-play championship with a convincing 6 and 4 win over clubmate Mike Grunwell to win the South of Scotland match-play title for the second time. Both events were hosted by Powfoot Golf Club.
The previous weekend had seen four players emerge from the preliminary rounds of the match-play all with a realistic chance of winning. After two closely fought semi finals it came down to the top 2 seeds with Thomson’s solid golf proving too much for Grunwell on a windy links day.

RESULTS
Semi-finals
Iain Thomson (Powfoot) bt Barry Scott (Lochmaben) 2 holes.
Mike Grunwell (Powfoot) bt Clark Riddick (Southerness) 3 and 2.
Final
Thomson bt Grunwell 6 and 4.

North-east Under-14 boys team at Forres (image by courtesy of Alan Joss).

North beat North-east with ease in

Under-14 boys' match at Forres

The Paul Lawrie Foundation sponsored North-east team were soundly beaten 7-2 by the North team in yesterday's Under-14s match at Forres.
Results (North boys first)
Foursomes (2 1/2-1/2)
Andrew Burgess (Nairn) & Craig Black (Inverness) bt Ben Murray (Portlethen) & Liam Minty (Northern) 5 and 3.
Scott Murray (Inverness) & Andrew Kenyon (Inverness) halved with Grant Joss (Royal Aberdeen) & Benjamin Henderson (Deeside)
Alistair Ross (Fort William) & Keiran Mackay (Loch Ness) bt Jack Moir (Newburgh) & Calvin Cheyne (Newburgh) 2 holes.
SIngles (4 1/2-1 1/2)
Andrew Burgess bt Ben Murray 1 hole
Alistair Ross bt Jack Moir 5 and 4.
Craig Black halved with Grant Joss.
Scott Murray lost to Benjamin Henderson 1 hole.
Andrew Kenyon bt Liam Minty 6 and 5.
Keiran Mackay bt Calvin Cheyne 4 and 2.

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

CLACKMAMMAN BOYS LEAVE IT TOO LATE

IN GARY HARVEY TROPHY EVENT

In the Gary Harvey Trophy event contested by teams of eight boys from the midland counties, the Clackmannan boys' team recovered form a poor start to finish runners-up to the Perth and Kinross boys, playing over their home ground at Dunkeld and Birnam.
Top performer for Clackmannan was John McPherson (Braehead) who was undefeated with two wins and a halved match. Next best were Tillicoultry’s Steven Watson and Alloa’s John Salmond with two wins out of three.
County boys captain Willie Hatley was delighted with the result: “ Some of the team started badly in the first game and couldn’t recover. However, they learned from that and saved their best performance till last… a great win against a strong Angus side.”
Details:

CLACKMANNAN 1 1/2, PERTH & KINROSS 6 1/2
Gary Chalmers (Dollar) lost to Paul McPhee 4 and 3.
John Salmond (Alloa) lost to Sam Craigon 1 hole.
John McPherson(Braehead) bt Jamie Arthur 1 hole.
Scott Bair (Tillicoultry) lost to Ben Lindsay 4 and 3.
Grant Dowie (Alloa) halved with Allan Bass.
Daniel Ash (Alva) lost to Greig Stewart 3 and 2.
Steven Watson (Tillicoultry) lost to Callum Graham 2 and 1.
Kevin Ross (Tillicoultry) lost to Bradley Neil 3 and 2.

CLACKMANNAN 4, FIFE 4
Dowie lost to Jack Thorburn 1 hole.
Ross halved with Andrew Pillans.
McPherson halved with Neil Beattie.
Salmond bt Andrew Whyte 2 holes.
Chalmers halved with John Douglas.
Ashe lost to Robbie Spriddle 7 and 6.
Watson bt David Hall 2 and 1.
Baird bt Ryan Mitchell 7 and 6.

CLACKMANNAN 6, ANGUS 2
Dowie beat Matthew Reid 2 and 1.
Ross lost to Reece Mitchell 6 and 5.
McPherson bt Andy Simpson 1 hole.
Salmond bt Grant Bowman 1 hole.
Chalmers bt Scott Nicol 3 and 1.
Ashe bt Michael Maxwell 4 and 3.
Watson bt Jevin Wilkie 2 and 1.
Baird lost to Chris Bremner 5 and 4.

Points Totals
Perth & Kinross 5
CLACKMANNAN 3
Angus 2
Fife 2.

CLACKMANNAN GOLFERS BOUNCE BACK
After disappointing results last week, it was pleasing to see recoveries all round--- first up was Tulliallan’s senior international Bob Stewart who led the way at the Midland Alliance event held over the Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie.
With a score of 74 over the 6,800 yard course, Bob outplayed the golf professionals to earn a place in the Midland Alliance Championship alongside Alloa’s Michael Niven who continued his good form with net 73, giving him a share of third place in the same event.
Dollar’s Scott Borrowman also improved, making the cut by four shots in the Newlands Trophy at Lanark and finishing on 306 (75 77 78 76), spookily on the same mark as Alloa’s team captain Jamie Aitken (75 76 78 77)who was making his first venture into Scottish Order of Merit events. Both however, were some way behind the winner Mark Bookless who finished on 276.
Finally, European Tour pro Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) made the cut after two rounds of the European Masters with nothing to spare at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland. In the third round, he raced to the turn in a four under 32 giving his supporters some hope---- however he couldn’t improve and a last round was spoiled by some over par scoring, putting him in 49th place. Nevertheless it keeps him in the hunt to retain his tour card and he currently lies at 123 in the race to Dubai with a world ranking of 375.
Incidentally its now almost one year since Callum embarked on his professional golf career, and the next group of would-bess will be competing in the European Tour Qualifying events next week.
Some 749 golfers have entered, paying £1,350 each and there are eight qualifying venues. Around 30 from each venue move to the second stage in Spain in November., and that’s not all--- the best from this stage go to the final qualifying also in Spain.
The standard is very high--- top professionals play to a handicap of plus 6 or 7, and even playing to plus +4 will sometimes just make the cut in the professional events

MIDLAND TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
County selectors have just chosen the team to represent Clackmannanshire in the four-county Midland District Championship at Tulliallan this weekend. Captain John Gullen is optimistic:
“Clackmannanshire have a strong team playing on their home ground, and we hope for a good result”
Team is;
Scott Borrowman , Darren Hulston, Gary Chalmers (all Dollar), Jamie Aitken, Ian Ross (Alloa), Ross Benvie (Braehead).

Merritt beats Adams in play-off, Matthew

Richardson finishes third in Mexico Open

Rookie Troy Merritt birdied the first play-off hole with a 20ft putt to beat Australian Adam Bland in the Nationwide Tour's Mexico Open at Leon.
Adams missed his putt from 8ft.
The two players finished up a weather-hit tournament - preferred lies were in operation most of the time - at the El Bosque Country Club tied at 15-under 273. Merritt shared the 54-hole lead with South Africa's Garth Mulroy and posted a 3-under 69 to match Bland, who set a course record with a career-best 8-under 64.
England's Matthew Richardson (67) was third, two shots back. Mulroy (72) and Aussie Andrew Buckle (70) shared fourth place three behind. Another Aussie, Steve Bowditch (67) was sixth and four behind the playoff pairing.
"I won a lot in college," said Merritt, who chalked up 21 total wins in his four seasons at Division II Winona State and Division I Boise State. "The difference between college and here is the level of play. Out here it's unbelievable. Anybody out here can win any week of the year. I know how to win once I get myself there. To be able to finally come through like this is a great feeling."
Getting there wasn't easy for Merritt, who looked like he was headed for a quick week when he started the tournament with four consecutive bogeys on Thursday morning.
"I would always get off to slow starts and be 2 over after four or five holes and my college coach would just say that I was spotting them a few strokes," he said. "You just have to battle back one shot a time and one birdie at a time."
Slowly, Merritt worked his way back. Seven birdies resulted in a 3-under 69 in Round 1. A second-day 68 put him into contention. Saturday's third round featured six birdies and only one bogey.
Merritt and Mulroy, playing in the final threesome, returned to the course early Sunday to finish up one hole of the third round. Both players were 12 under and couldn't finish on time Saturday because of darkness. Periods of heavy rains and threats of lightning all week had players stopping and starting on a repeated basis. None of the first three rounds was completed on schedule thanks to more than four inches of rain and electrical storms circling the area.
Merritt started the final round with an eagle putt of 10 feet on the first hole, setting the pace quickly. Mulroy followed with three birdies on the opening five holes, taking the lead at 15 under. Two groups ahead was Bland, a 27-year-old from Adelaide who was making a charge at the leaders by making every putt he looked at.
"I knew I was going to have to shoot low because those guys were five in front to start the day," said Bland. "I knew at least one of them would play well. I made a few putts, holed a few bombs and everything went my way I guess."
Merritt and Mulroy played cat-and-mouse for most of the afternoon when Merritt pulled away with birdies at Nos. 10, 12 and 13. Bland, meantime, kept making birdies to stay within striking distance.
"Adam came out of nowhere with that great round," said Merritt, who pocketed $117,000 for his first career title and vaulted from No. 146 to No. 27 on the money list. "It was a bit of a shock to have to birdie 16 to get back into the lead."
The two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year had a chance to end things in regulation but missed a 10-footer for birdie.
"It was a battle all day," he said. "The key out here is to stay patient, especially on the greens. They're very tricky to read. You're not going to shoot low scores if you're looking at 20-footers for birdie all day."
It turned out, Merritt needed only to look one extra time.
SCOREBOARD TO COME.

Hole in one helps Jeff Sluman win Walmart

First Tee Open on US Seniors Tour

Last year's tournament winner Jeff Sluman came from six strokes back deficit at Pebble Beach, California to retain the Walmart First Tee Open title. En route he had a hole in one at the fifth in finishing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory.
Sluman, who started the day tied for fifth after a second-round 73, had four birdies and the hole-in-one on the 187yd fifth to finish at 10-under 206.
"I don't think I've come back from two, certainly not from six, but this is the kind of golf course (where) that can happen," Sluman said. "When the wind picks up and the conditions get rough, if you're not spot-on your game it's difficult to make pars out there."
Gene Jones shot a 70 to finish second. Tom Lehman (73) and Mark O'Meara (75) followed at 7 under, and second-round leader Loren Roberts (78) tied for fifth with David Eger (69) and Olin Browne (71) at 6 under.
Sluman won for the first time this season after winning twice last year in his first full season on the Champions (Seniors) Tour. He won six times on the US PGA Tour.
The hole-in-one was his fifth time in competition.
"Being nearly 52 I never saw it go in," Sluman said. "I heard a bunch of people say, 'Get in,' so obviously it was going in the correct direction. Any time you make one it's great. To make one on the last round when it's really important, pretty special."
After catching Roberts, Sluman had held off runs by Jones and Mark O'Meara after they closed within a shot of the lead.
Sluman opened with a 65 at Del Monte and shot a 73 on Saturday at Pebble Beach.
He shot a front-nine 31, highlighted by the ace on No. 5 that pulled him into a tie with O'Meara, two shots behind Roberts. Roberts and O'Meara, playing behind Sluman, both followed with bogeys on No. 5 to make it even tighter.
Sluman kept the pressure on and took the lead with a birdie on No. 9 while Roberts bogeyed Nos. 7 and 8 to drop two shots back.
"All of the years of playing Pebble under so many different conditions helped me out there," Sluman said. "The experience and kind of knowing where to hit it and knowing how to get it around this golf course. That was key for me."
Roberts, coming off a one-stroke victory over O'Meara last week in the Boeing Classic in Washington, couldn't stop his freefall and ended the day with six bogeys after getting making just two in the first two rounds.
Jones made his run with three birdies on the front nine. He then birdied No. 10 to pull within one of the lead but bogeyed 11 and 14 to fall back.
"It was one of those kind of days," Jones said. "You have to stay relaxed in the wind. It was a grinding type of day."
O'Meara, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour who was two shots off the pace heading into the final round, is winless since joining the Champions Tour in 2007.
Sluman's bogey on No. 11 cut his lead to one stroke, but he came back to birdie No. 14, then parred three of the final four holes for the win.
As he prepared to putt out on No. 18, Sluman was interrupted by comedian Bill Murray who stood about 30 feet away and yelled "We love you Jeff!" as the crowd laughed.
Roberts, meanwhile, was left to think about what could have been after blowing what appeared to be a comfortable lead.
He had three bogeys in a four-hole span on the front nine, then bogeyed three consecutive holes on the back nine to fade away.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Jeff Sluman 65 73 68
208 Gene Jones 68 70 70
209 Mark O'Meara 67 67 75, Tom Lehman 71 65 73
210 Loren Roberts 66 66 78, Olin Browne 66 73 71, David Eger 68 73 69
211 Tom Jenkins 72 66 73, Tom Watson 70 69 72, Mark McNulty (Irl) 68 70 73, Fred Funk 69 71 71
212 Gary Hallberg 69 72 71, John Cook 68 71 73
213 Tom Kite 67 72 74, Scott Simpson 68 74 71
214 Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 73 70 71, Keith Fergus 70 75 69, Andy North 69 71 74
215 Lonnie Nielsen 72 70 73, Nick Price (Zim) 68 72 75
216 Andy Bean 72 70 74, Fulton Allem (Rsa) 75 69 72, Mike Goodes 71 71 74, Bob Gilder 69 68 79, Jerry Pate 71 74 71, Mark Wiebe 70 70 76, John Jacobs 73 73 70, Allen Doyle 71 69 76, Tim Simpson 71 69 76
217 Gil Morgan 72 71 74, R.W. Eaks 71 71 75, Russ Cochran 72 75 70, Bruce Lietzke 73 68 76, Michael Allen 69 73 75, Jim Thorpe 72 72 73, Chip Beck 70 72 75, Bobby Wadkins 72 72 73
218 Tom Purtzer 75 69 74, Mike Reid 69 72 77, Ronnie Black 74 71 73, Hale Irwin 76 70 72
219 Bruce Fleisher 71 73 75, Bruce Vaughan 74 76 69, Ben Crenshaw 78 67 74, Keith Clearwater 70 71 78
220 Phil Blackmar 72 67 81, Joey Sindelar 75 68 77, Craig Stadler 74 68 78, Dan Forsman 79 67 74, Donnie Hammond 73 72 75, Greg Norman 69 72 79, Sandy Lyle (Sco) 71 71 78
221 Denis Watson (Zim) 73 75 73, Tom Wargo 73 73 75, Walter Hall 76 69 76, Blaine McCallister 74 72 75, Hal Sutton 73 72 76, Jim Chancey 71 76 74, Don Pooley 73 74 74
222 Brad Bryant 70 73 79, John Harris 71 74 77, Lanny Wadkins 77 69 76, Steve Thomas 72 71 79
223 Fuzzy Zoeller 74 71 78, Morris Hatalsky 75 72 76, Larry Nelson 72 78 73
224 James Mason 72 78 74
226 Dave Eichelberger 76 73 77
227 Mick Soli 81 72 74, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 77 73 77
228 Gary Player (Rsa) 76 72 80, Tom McKnight 74 77 77
232 Peter Jacobsen 77 76 79, Bruce Summerhays 75 75 82, Graham Marsh (Aus) 76 75 81
233 Mike Hulbert 80 74 79, Wayne Levi 74 81 78
239 Mike McCullough 74 87 78

Knox collects $16,671 for second

place finish on Hooters Tour

Inverness exile Russell Knox earned his biggest pay cheque yet on the Hooters Tour by finishing second on Sunday in the Dothan Classic at Highland Oaks Golf Club, Dothan in Alabama.

Jacksonville Beach-based Knox, who stayed on in Florida after four good years on the US college circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, shot rounds of 69, 71, 65 and 71 for a 12 under par total of 276 over a long course of some 7,591yd.

In a final round played in a rising wind, Knox closed within one shot of all-the-way leader Jim Rennie who scored 66, 70, 66 and 73 for 275 to win the $33,566 top prize.

The Scot started well enough on Sunday with birdies at the first and fifth but faltered with bogeys at the seventh, eighth and 10th before he found his touch again to birdie the 16th and 18th which lifted him back into second place.

Knox received $16,671 which boosted his Hooters Tour earnings for the season to $61,686 from 11 events in which he has missed only one cut

The pay-out topped the £12,455 he earned for finishing joint second in the Savannah Lakes Village Classic in April and the $11,013 he received for a third place finish in the more recent Texas Open.

Knox is now fourth in the Hooters Tour money table. He has been a steady earner since he turned pro on the American satellite tour.

LEADING TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72)

275 Jim Rennie 66 70 66 73 $33,566.

276 Russell Knox 69 71 65 71 $16,671.

277 Grant Leaver 72 71 67 67 $11,077.

Padraig Harrington only a shot off the lead

Even Tiger has tough days

at office: This was one of

them .. one-over-par 72

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE

By Jeff Babineau

It will sound a bit dramatic, seeing the guy came into this weekend’s Deutsche Bank Championship having finished 1-1-2-2 in his last four tournaments, but he has established standards like no other.

So, the burning question among the masses permeating the crisp, autumn-like air at TPC Boston on Sunday was this: What the heck is wrong with Tiger Woods?
Woods needed to scramble for birdie at his finishing hole to post a one-over 72, and at four under for the tournament, even he won’t be able to catch ALL the leaders during the tourney’s Labour Day finish on Monday.
On Sunday, he got off to a rocky start. One swing at the short par-4 first hole resulted in a tee ball that flared right, and his next move of the day was a drop for an unplayable lie. Bogey. No, certainly not the dream start. And that’s kind of how it went.
It was breezy and tough, sure, tougher than the first two days at TPC Boston, but Woods didn’t make his first birdie of the day until the 15th hole, and he ‘captalized’ on that momentum by dumping his tee shot into the pond fronting the par-3 16th. It just wasn’t very Tiger-like stuff. He hit only 10 greens for the day.
By the time NBC came on the air Sunday afternoon, Woods was finishing up on 18. That’s not something you see very often on the weekend. Afterward, he didn’t stop to chat about what had been a pretty tough day at the office.

Some people probably find a little comfort in the fact that yes, even Tiger Woods has them.

LATER NEWS
Steve Stricker, South African Retief Goosen and Sean O'Hair are sharing the lead at 13-under-par 200 going into the final day of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Padraig Harrington is only one behind in a share of fourth place.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 213 (3x71)
200 Steve Stricker 63 72 65, Sean O'Hair 66 64 70, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 65 67 68
201 Kevin Na 69 66 66, Scott Verplank 65 68 68, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 67 67 67
202 Jerry Kelly 66 69 67, Kevin Sutherland 68 65 69
203 Dustin Johnson 68 65 70, Jim Furyk 63 67 73, Jason Dufner 66 69 68, John Senden (Aus) 69 64 70
204 Marc Leishman (Aus) 70 62 72, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 66 68 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 65 69 70, Matt Kuchar 65 71 68
205 Justin Leonard 65 68 72, Jeff Overton 69 66 70, Mike Weir (Can) 68 65 72, Mark Wilson 70 69 66
206 Zach Johnson 68 71 67, Jason Day (Aus) 68 66 72
207 Charlie Wi (Kor) 71 64 72, Bill Haas 69 66 72
208 Hunter Mahan 73 66 69, Charley Hoffman 69 69 70, Anthony Kim 71 70 67, Bryce Molder 67 69 72, Charles Howell III 68 69 71
209 Michael Letzig 68 68 73, Tiger Woods 70 67 72, Scott McCarron 70 70 69, Lucas Glover 69 68 72, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 71 68, David Toms 67 69 73, Kevin Streelman 70 68 71, Vijay Singh (Fij) 67 72 70, Steve Marino 70 68 71, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 71 69 69, Troy Matteson 66 71 72, Stephen Ames (Can) 67 73 69, Jason Bohn 73 67 69
210 Brian Davis (Eng) 67 70 73, Pat Perez 70 65 75, Brian Gay 70 67 73, Davis Love III 69 70 71, Scott Piercy 67 69 74, Bubba Watson 68 71 71, Kenny Perry 69 72 69, J.B. Holmes 72 67 71, Brett Quigley 70 69 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 70 69 71, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 70 69
211 Nick Watney 71 69 71, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 67 70 74, Woody Austin 67 70 74, Greg Owen (Eng) 69 69 73, Phil Mickelson 71 68 72, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 67 71 73, Boo Weekley 68 69 74, Brandt Snedeker 70 70 71
212 D.A. Points 69 70 73, Bob Estes 70 71 71, Jonathan Byrd 67 74 71
213 Luke Donald (Eng) 69 72 72
214 J J Henry 72 68 74, Briny Baird 73 67 74
215 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 68 72 75, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 68 77, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 74 66 75
216 Justin Rose (Eng) 69 70 77
217 D.J. Trahan 71 70 76
219 Ben Crane 73 68 78

MISSED THE CUT

142 Stewart Cink 71 71.

143 Ian Poulter 72 71.

North Alliance reverts to fortnightly

programme of fixtures in 2009-2010

By ROBIN WILSON
The North Golf Alliance club delegates met in the Brora Golf Clubhouse last week to draw up the fixture list for the forthcoming winter season and review the previous season.
Attendances had fallen due, it was thought to several factors: the weather, cancellations and a big fall of on entries in the second half of the season. Playing members also expressed the view that too many fixtures were crammed into the first half of the season and played too many weekends in succession.
The delegates took this on board and for the coming season reverted to a fortnightly programme of fixtures, thus cutting back the overall number to 11, one for each club with the exception of Brora Golf Club who would also host the team event in December but in coming years this fixture would rotate to other venues.
As a result of the reduction and imbalance of North and South venues a change was made to the scores required for the individual scratch and handicap trophies. From the previous compulsory two at North and South courses only one score from each will now be mandatory with any other two scores making up the required four.
To give a better balance to the numbers completing in each handicap section, Class 1 will now be handicaps scratch to 9 and Class 2 include handicaps 10 to 28.
The North Alliance season will commence at Durness on Sunday October 4 and end with the prize-giving at Reay on Sunday March 21, 2010.
Dates and venues for the 2009-2010 season:
October 4 - Durness.
October 18 - Thurso.
November 1 - Invergordon.
November 15 - Royal Dornoch.
November 29 -Tain.
December 13 - Brora (Teams).
January 17 - Golspie.
January 31 - Wick.
February 21 - Brora.
March 7 - Tarbat.
March 21 - Reay.
In the event of any postponement the fixture will be played the following Sunday.
Membership at £3 and Entry Fee £7 remains unchanged.

Victory for Rhys Davies on the Canary Islands

By RODDY WILLIAMS
European Tour website editor and senior press officer
Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies won his second Challenge Tour title of the season after a one stroke victory over Swede Steven Jeppesen in the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana on the Canary Islands.
A final round of 67, four under par, at Tecina Golf on La Gomera took the 24 year old to 17 under par 267 while Jeppesen, who shared the lead with Davies going into the final round, closed with a 68 to finish runner-up for the fifth time in his career.
Victory moved Davies, who played on the US college circuit as a student at East Tennessee State University, a step closer to joining The European Tour as he advanced to sixth on the Challenge Tour Rankings with €74,024 while one more win will secure immediate promotion to the top flight.
Davies made six birdies in an epic final day battle, notably with Jeppesen, and it was the last of these, on the 17th, which secured the title as he hit a two iron to ten feet on the par five and while the eagle putt refused to drop, the resultant birdie was good enough to keep his nose in front.
“It was a great fight out there,” said Davies, who also won the SWALEC Wales Challenge earlier in the year. “There were a number of boys trying hard, especially Steven. This win is really special because it looks like I've got my card for next year. When I won in Wales, it was a play-off, I lost in Finland in a play-off, and with such a tight finish today I couldn't help to think about it and said, I wish I could do this without a play off! Fortunately I was able to win outright.”
Davies joins England’s Robert Coles as the only multiple winners of the season to date and is only the second Welshman, after Jamie Donaldson in 2001, to record multiple wins on the Challenge Tour.
The leading pair set out tied on 13 under and the tournament swung back and forth as they traded birdies and bogeys. Jeppesen had the edge at the turn after an eagle two on the ninth put him one ahead, but Davies hit back with a birdie on the 13th while Jeppesen bogeyed the 15th after a poor drive to fall behind. From there, Davies refused to let his grip on the trophy slip.
“I played well but hit a bad tee shot on the 15th and made bogey,” said the Swede. “That was a big blow and I think I lost my chances there. He played better. I am very happy with my second position though, it helps a lot towards the ranking, and I'm pleased with my game overall.”
The Spanish pair of Luis Claverie and Pedro Oriol shared third place on 15 under par after rounds of 68 and 66 respectively and while the tournament was denied a home winner, Oriol’s performance in particular was impressive as he only turned professional at the end of August.
He said: "I am very happy, played great and I've used my head as I have never had done before. I was very concentrated on my game.
“Before turning professional I made a resume of my career as an amateur, and I set a goal to play calm and take mistakes as a challenge. I think I have never been so concentrated in my whole life, and made no bogeys in 49 holes in a row for the first time in my life.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
267 R Davies (Wal) 65 70 65 67
268 S Jeppesen (Swe) 65 63 72 68
269 P Oriol (Esp) 69 68 66 66, L Claverie (Esp) 69 67 65 68
270 J Arruti (Esp) 65 65 71 69, S Davis (Eng) 67 70 69 64, C Russo (Fra) 67 67 70 66
271 S Tiley (Eng) 69 69 67 66, J Campillo (Esp) 68 70 66 67, M Wiegele (Aut) 67 70 66 68
272 C Gane (Eng) 66 70 67 69, M Haastrup (Den) 68 67 66 71, C Carranza (Arg) 66 71 67 68
273 J Morrison (Eng) 67 69 66 71, Z Scotland (Eng) 67 71 66 69, L De Jager (RSA) 69 66 69 69
274 D Wardrop (Eng) 67 70 68 69, J Colomo (Esp) 66 68 71 69, J Sköld (Swe) 67 72 64 71
275 B Miarka (Ger) 66 70 69 70, S Manley (Wal) 68 65 68 74, R McEvoy (Eng) 70 66 66 73, M Reale (Ita) 73 68 65 69, R De Sousa (Sui) 66 73 66 70
276 S Bebb (Wal) 68 63 73 72, F Cea (Esp) 66 74 67 69, C Smith (Wal) 69 68 71 68, N Meitinger (Ger) 67 72 69 68
277 J Zapata (Arg) 68 71 68 70, C Günther (Ger) 69 69 70 69, J Parry (Eng) 69 70 67 71, R Santos (Por) 68 71 71 67, D Griffiths (Eng) 69 69 69 70, P Linhart (Esp) 68 71 68 70, A Tampion (Aus) 69 68 68 72
278 B Pettersson (Swe) 70 69 70 69, M Zions (Aus) 71 69 68 70, S Walker (Eng) 70 70 72 66, J Hepworth (Eng) 67 74 66 71
279 M Tullo (Chi) 68 71 70 70, M Mills (Eng) 71 69 67 72, K Sullivan (Wal) 70 68 75 66, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 68 67 73
280 J Grillon (Fra) 68 70 72 70, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 71 68 74, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 70 69 70, L Moolman (RSA) 71 70 70 69, A Wagner (Arg) 68 69 72 71, A Marshall (Eng) 69 71 73 67, M Quiros (Esp) 70 67 68 75, O Floren (Swe) 70 71 70 69, G Houston (Wal) 73 68 69 70
281 A Salto (Esp) 71 67 74 69, P Golding (Eng) 70 71 71 69, L Bond (Wal) 69 69 73 70
282 R Harris (Eng) 73 68 70 71, M Higley (Eng) 70 68 74 70
283 J Larsen (Nor) 69 72 71 71, G Davies (Eng) 65 74 70 74
284 D Ulrich (Sui) 69 72 74 69, S Jamieson (Sco) 71 69 69 75, C Suneson (Esp) 71 68 74 71,
285 T Weiss (Sui) 71 70 75 69, P Richardson (Eng) 70 71 74 70
286 P Del Grosso (Arg) 66 69 78 73, B La Roche (Esp) 71 70 71 74, A Hansen (Den) 67 72 74 73, I Giner (Esp) 67 69 74 76
288 G Murray (Sco) 70 70 74 74, J Ruth (Eng) 69 72 74 73

Fifth place finish puts Sam Torrance in

the hunt for Senior Order of Merit title

BY RODDY WILLIAMS, European Tour senior press officer
Sam Torrance moved within a whisker of the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit after a fifth place finish behind winner Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe in the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn Golf Club today.
Torrance now trails Order of Merit leader Mark McNulty of Ireland by just €261 (£129) with only three events remaining of the season after overtaking Ian Woosnam in the race to finish No 1.
A final round of 69, where he birdied the last, lifted Torrance 11 places to fifth and while it was not quite enough to claim pole position, he has thrown down the gauntlet to last year’s No 1, Woosnam, as the Scot looks to regain the Order of Merit crown he won in 2005 and 2006.
“He’s got to come and catch me now,” said the former Ryder Cup captain from Ayrshire. “It will be interesting run in to the end of the season. I was just thinking shoot as low as I could. I knew that putt on the last was important. Good job done.
“I just want to put Woosie in his place that’s all,” he joked. “It was great for Woosie to win it in his first year out, I just really want to win it again. I’ll be playing every event now. The next event in the Czech Republic is huge. That’s the one to win. Win that and it could all be over.”
While Torrance was looking ahead to the rest of the season, Johnstone, once told he would never play golf again after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, was savouring the moment.
It was his second win since undergoing a revolutionary new treatment for the condition which affects the central nervous system, following his previous success in Jersey last year and he did it the hard way, overcoming a four stroke deficit to win by one.
A brilliant final round of six under par 66 proved too good for overnight leader Peter Senior of Australia, who closed with a 71.
While putt after putt dropped into the hole for Johnstone, Senior’s broomhandle putter went cold and the gap was gradually closed. A seventh birdie of the day on the 17th finally gave Johnstone the lead and a hole later he tapped in a par putt for a winning ten under par total of 206.
It was a first victory over the magnificent Duke’s Course at Woburn for Johnstone after a number of near-misses over the years, notably in the 1992 British Masters to Christy O’Connor Jnr when he lost a play-off.
“I have always had this feeling inside me that one day I would win a tournament round here,” he said. “I have lost a play-off and had a couple of seconds and thirds. From the first time I ever played this course it has been one of my four favourites anywhere in the world and to win around here is just wonderful.
“Pete played really well, but his putter went cold which is unusual for him as he uses that broomhandle like a wand normally. And unfortunately mine was seriously hot today. I just putted the eyes out of it. It is a lovely feeling to be doing that again. It’s a great feeling.”
It was also the perfect send-off for Johnstone who hosts the MS Society Pro-Am at Sunningdale tomorrow to raise funds for a cause so close to his heart.
“Jersey was ultra-special as it was my first win after having treatment for MS but I am not too disappointed with this one, in fact I am ecstatic. It is ideal timing with the Pro-Am tomorrow. Everything has just come together this week and it is wonderful.
“I have played well all season and particularly putted well all season. I have gone back to using a bullseye putter and that jab of mine. Once the putter starts working you get the belief and once you have the belief, what can hold you back.”
Senior looked odds on to win in only his second start since turning 50 at the end of July but it wasn’t to be his day.
“I played pretty well, hit 18 greens in regulation and you can’t do any better than that but I just putted probably as bad as I have ever putted,” he said. “I had chances coming in but had nothing on the greens at all. But I played well all week and I’ll look forward to the next one. Tony holed the putts and that is what you have to do in this game.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 T Johnstone (Zim) 69 71 66
207 P Senior (Aus) 69 67 71
211 J Rivero (Esp) 72 70 69
213 C Williams (RSA) 75 67 71
214 S Torrance (Sco) 71 74 69
215 B Longmuir (Sco) 70 76 69, D Merriman (Aus) 72 69 74, M Clayton (Aus) 72 71 72, D Hospital (Esp) 70 73 72
216 M Piñero (Esp) 73 72 71, J Bruner (USA) 74 72 70, N Job (Eng) 78 70 68
217 C Rocca (Ita) 69 75 73
218 G Brand (Eng) 72 71 75, B Cameron (Eng) 75 73 70,
219 L Carbonetti (Arg) 74 71 74, B Smit (RSA) 73 74 72, M Farry (Fra) 74 75 70, G Encina (Chi) 70 73 76, A Franco (Par) 71 71 77
220 B Boyd (USA) 78 70 72, H Carbonetti (Arg) 75 73 72, S Ginn (Aus) 73 74 73, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 74 74 72, J Heggarty (NIr) 72 72 76
221 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 71 77, S Bennett (Eng) 75 76 70, A Murray (Eng) 71 76 74, M Harwood (Aus) 70 77 74
222 M Cunning (USA) 76 74 72, T Gale (Aus) 77 74 71, G Ralph (Eng) 76 72 74, D Good (Aus) 72 79 71, R Drummond (Sco) 74 74 74
223 A Fernandez (Chi) 72 73 78, P Oakley (USA) 77 72 74, P Mitchell (Eng) 76 73 74, J Quiros (Esp) 73 76 74, J Rhodes (Eng) 75 72 76, I Woosnam (Wal) 75 69 79, D Smyth (Irl) 76 75 72, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 75 69 79
224 S Owen (Nzl) 77 72 75, T Allen (Eng) 80 74 70, M Williams (Zim) 76 76 72, D Durnian (Eng) 77 73 74, E Darcy (Irl) 74 78 72
225 D Russell (Eng) 74 77 74, D Johnson (USA) 76 73 76, J Hoskison (Eng) 75 76 74
226 P Barber (Eng) 76 73 77, B Lincoln (RSA) 76 70 80, A Garrido (Esp) 72 76 78
227 J Chillas (Sco) 78 76 73, A Barrera (Arg) 79 75 73, P Allan (Eng) 77 75 75
228 R Chapman (Eng) 77 76 75, M Miller (Sco) 72 82 74, D Cambridge (Jam) 78 76 74, J Hawkes (RSA) 80 73 75
229 J Bland (RSA) 82 74 73
230 T Giedeon (Ger) 83 78 69, G Towne (USA) 76 76 78, K Spurgeon (Eng) 82 76 72,
231 E Polland (NIr) 83 76 72
233 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 82 72 79,
235 M Bembridge (Eng) 82 78 75,
237 I Mosey (Eng) 81 79 77,
239 T Charnley (Eng) 78 78 83, M Poxon (Eng) 79 82 78,
241 V Garcia (Esp) 82 79 80, J Hall (Eng) 80 83 78,
Disqualified: C Mason (Eng) 75 77 DQ,

Alex Noren holes bunker shot on way to two-shot

European Masters win from Bradley Dredge

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Swede Alex Noren grabbed his maiden European Tour title in Switzerland today - and there is no doubt what shot he will remember most.
In the first qualifying event for next year's Ryder Cup, the 27-year-old holed a difficult bunker shot for an eagle 3 at the long 15th as he took the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in the majestic Swiss Alps.
It helped Noren to a two-stroke victory over Welshman Bradley Dredge, the 2006 winner.
Noren, who played four years on the American college circuit as an Oklahoma State University student, said: "I was so happy when that bunker shot went in. I've never felt this good about my game, and to win was just brilliant."
As for being the first leader in the Ryder Cup race, he added: "Now I will just have to stay there!"
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For more golf news, click on the links:
Official website of the Ryder Cup
European Tour's official website
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A first prize of just over £292,000 - and the same number of cup points - was achieved with a closing round of 66 and 20-under-par total of 264.
Dredge, desperate to make a debut on home soil next year, will have reminded European captain Colin Montgomerie of what he can do - after crashing to 256th in the world from 46th.
"It was a fun battle, and Alex produced a great shot on the 15th - so congratulations to him," said Dredge, after a 65 that included a 63-yard pitch-in for eagle on the long ninth as he drew level from four behind.
England's Ross McGowan, also round in 65, was third - and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez fourth - while the low score of the day was a 64 from 20-year-old Rory McIlroy, last year's play-off loser.
With an eagle and eight birdies, he had climbed from 34th to third standing on the final tee but was put off by a photographer and by bogeying the 18th finished in a tie for seventh.
Lee Westwood, fourth on the table, closed with a 66 for 23rd place - along with 16-year-old Italian amateur Matteo Manassero, youngest-ever British amateur champion and 13th at The Open in July.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
264 Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 70 63 66 (333,330 Euros).
266 Bradley Dredge 68 65 68 65 (222,220 Euros).
267 Ross McGowan 67 67 68 65 (125,200 Euros).
269 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 65 68 69 67
270 Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 65 71 67 67
271 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 68 65 71
272 Rory McIlroy 67 71 70 64, David Howell 68 69 68 67, Angelo Que (Phi) 69 65 68 70, Simon Dyson 63 71 73 65
273 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 68 71 67 67, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 71 68 67 67, Paul Broadhurst 72 67 68 66
274 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 70 66 68 70, Julien Clement (Swi) 69 67 71 67, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 70 67 69 68
275 Tano Goya (Arg) 70 68 72 65, Paul McGinley 66 68 70 71
276 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 69 68 70 69, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 65 70 74 67, David Dixon 69 69 68 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 68 72 68 68
277 Oliver Wilson 70 68 69 70, Metteo Manassero (Ita) (am) 68 70 69 70, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 68 66 72, Danny Willett 65 71 72 69, Graeme Storm 69 66 70 72, Mark Foster 70 70 70 67, Pablo Martin (Spa) 70 66 73 68, Lee Westwood 71 67 73 66, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 68 71 70 68
278 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 68 72 70 68, Chris Wood 66 72 65 75, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 68 64 75 71, Graeme McDowell 68 70 71 69, Robert Dinwiddie 74 66 67 71, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 71 69 66 72, David Lynn 68 70 72 68, Brett Rumford (Aus) 62 73 72 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 69 68 69 72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 70 68 70 70
279 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 72 70 70, Danny Lee (Nzl) 71 67 73 68, Andres Romero (Arg) 65 70 72 72, Benn Barham 70 66 73 70
280 Luke List (USA) 70 69 67 74, Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 65 71 70, Marcel Siem (Ger) 67 70 69 74
281 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68 69 70 74, Anthony Kang (USA) 71 69 71 70, Callum Macaulay 68 72 68 73, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 68 67 74 72, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 70 71 70, Johan Edfors (Swe) 66 69 69 77, Seve Benson 71 69 71 70 (8,600 Euros each).
282 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 72 69 74, Gary Orr 69 71 72 70, David Drysdale 70 70 73 69, Scott Drummond 72 67 72 71 (6,450 Euros each).
283 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 69 73 73, David Horsey 70 70 72 71, Darren Clarke 69 68 74 72
284 Richard Bland 71 68 73 72, Anthony Wall 69 71 77 67, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 69 71 71 73
285 Gareth Maybin 70 68 76 71
288 Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 71 74 75
289 Gary Lockerbie 73 67 78 71
292 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 69 71 76 76, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 69 73 81

Mark Bookless wins Newlands

Trophy after third-round 64

Glasgow's 19-year-old Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), winner of the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship last year, scored his first SGU Order of Merit 72-hole tournament win today in Lanark Golf Club's Newlands Trophy.

Bookless, who had followed up a promising opening round of three-under-par 67 with a six-over 76, shot into contention with a Sunday morning third round of six-under-par 64. Mark then signed off with a 69 for a four-under-par total of 276.

That sub-par total, the only one in the field after 72 holes round the par-70 circuit, gave the teenager, pictured right, a four-stroke victory from Ed Wood (Crow Wood) with Paul O'Hara (Colville Park), winner of two Order of Merit events this season plus an appearance in the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship final at Royal Troon, coming third on 281.

Wood scored 70, 70, 71 and 69; O'Hara 67, 73, 71 and 70.

Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh), winner of the recent North-east District Open after a play-off, was a creditable fourth on 282 with scores of 71, 72, 71 and 68. Kris finished four shots clear of the fourth-placed Glasgow youngster James Hendrick (Pollok).

FINAL TOTALS

Par 280 (4x70). CSS 73 73 72 72

276 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 67 76 64 69.

280 Ed Wood (Crow Wood) 70 760 71 69.

281 Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) 67 73 71 70.

282 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 71 72 71 68.

286 James Hendrick (Pollok) 70 71 73 72.

289 Ben Sloan (Cathkin Braes) 72 73 71 73.
290 Stuart Boyle (Harburn) 76 71 69 74, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 73 69 71 77.

291 Steven McEwan (Caprington) 77 72 74 68, Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 78 69 72 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 69 71 78 73.

292 Stewart Henderson (Hamilton) 76 74 70 72.

294 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 74 76 75 69, Robert Carson (Dalmahoy Hotel) 76 75 71 72, Philip McLean (Peterhead) 68 78 73 75.
295 Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 74 71 72 78.

296 Chris Lawton (Stirling) 72 70 79 75.

297 Chris Orr (Lanark) 75 77 72 73.

298 Scott Adams (Lanark) 74 75 75 74.

299 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 78 76 75 70, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 79 71 76 73.

300 Alistair Lauder (Paisley) 73 81 74 72, Sean McGarvey (Glen Gorse) 72 80 75 72, Fraser Campbell (Clober) 78 69 74 79, Marco Russo (Craigielaw) 72 76 72 80.

301 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 77 78 77 69, Malcolm Campbell (Swanston) 77 78 73 73, Graeme Duncan (Shotts) 76 75 77 73, Stephen Wills (Lanark) 74 76 74 77, Andrew McLachlan (Glenbervie) 75 73 76 77.

302 Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 76 77 73 76.

303 Tom Blennerhassetrt (Dalmahoy Hotel) 79 75 76 73, Alastair McPhail (Ratho Park) 78 77 74 74, Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 81 75 72 75, James Johnston (Greenburn) 77 74 75 77.

304 Peter Scanlon (Hamilton) 81 75 75 73, Ben Renfrew (The Wynyard) 77 76 77 74, Ross Bell (Downfield) 82 71 73 78.

306 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 77 78 76, James Aitken (Alloa) 75 76 78 77.

307 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 73 78 79 77.

308 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 76 75 77 80.

309 Kristofer Harper (Carnoustie) 74 78 79 78.

314 William Steele (Carnwath) 73 82 80 79.

TAYLOR, THOMSON, ORR IN TRIPLE TIE FOR VICTORY AT DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Edward Thomson (Senit Associates) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire) figured in a triple tie for victory on eight-under-par 128 at the end of the Tartan Tour's Kerr Investments Classic 36-hole pro-am at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club today. They each collected £1,871. Taylor had rounds of 65 and 63, Thomson a pair of 64s and Orr scored 63 and 65 over the short par-68 course. Taylor had an eagle 2 at the 500yd second in his final round. He dropped shots at the seventh and 10th but 2s at the par-3 eighth, ninth and 12th, as well as further birdies at the 13th and 16th gave him halves of 32 and 31 for his 63. Thomson birdied the fifth, sixth, ninth, 16th and 18th in halves of 32. He had one bogey, at the 12th. His birdies at the 16th and 18th got him into the winning frame. Orr will be rueing bogeys at the seventh and eighth which marred his scorecard of 75. He did birdie the first, fourth, fifth, ninth and 14th in halves of 33 and 32. Try as he might he could not get a birdie over the last four holes, which would have given him outright and a bigger take-home pay. Orr, Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Stephen Gray (Hayston) had shared the overnight lead on 63. Former Welsh amateur cap Wright slipped back to fourth palce with a 66 for 129. Gray was three over par for the last 11 holes and finished joint seventh with a 69 for 132. Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) led the CWL amateur trio of Murray Wilson (handicap 15), Ian Turnbull (16) and Nigel McKinnon (6) to victory in the team event with a net two-round total of 234. ALL THE FINAL TOTALS Par 136 (2x68) 128 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 65 63, Edward Thomson (Senit Associatates) 64 64, David Orr (East Renfrewshire). 129 Gareth Wright (West Linton). 131 Craig Lee (unatt) 66 65, Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 65 66. 132 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 68 64, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 66 66, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 64 68, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 64 68, Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 64 68, James McKinnon (Irvine) 64 68, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 63 69. 133 James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 68 65, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 64 69. 134 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 66 68. 135 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 70 65, Thomas Buchanan (Duddingston) 69 66, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 66, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 67, Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie) 68 67, Gordon Niven (Stirling Univ) 67 68. 136 Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 71 65, Mark King (Kingsfield) 70 66, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 70 66, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 67, Euan Cameron (Hamilton) 69 67, James McGhee (Turnhouse) 69 67, Russell Smith (Gleneagles Hotel) 68 68. 137 Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) 71 66, Gordon Law (Uphall) 69 68. 139 Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle) 70 69, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 68 71, Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 68 71, Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 67 72, Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 66 73. 140 Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) 70 70, Samuel Cairns (Colville Park) 68 72. 141 Colin Gillies (Playstport Golf) 73 68, Fraser McLaughlin (Bothwell Castle) 66 75. 142 Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 73 69, Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs) 72 70. 143 Richard Smith (Dumfries-shire GA) 72 71, Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 69 75. 145 Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) 72 73, Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 69 76. 146 Gareth Hardy (Belleisle) 73 73. 152 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) 76 76. 154 David Gordon (Paisley) 78 76, David Snodgrass (Hilton Park) 77 77.

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts
SECOND ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)
130 Sean O'Hair 66 64, Jim Furyk 63 67.
132 Marc Leishman 70 62, Retief Goosen 75 67.
133 Dustin Johnston 68 65, Scott Verplank 65 68, John Senden 69 64, Justin Leonard 65 68, Mike Weir 68 65, Kevin Sutherland 68 65.
Selected scores:
134 Padraig Harrington 67 67 (jt 11th).
137 Brian Davis 67 70, Tiger Woods 70 67 (jt 28th).