Thomson makes his mark in Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge at

Fairmont St Andrews

Mark Thomson, a pupil at Dundee’s Grove Academy, celebrated his magnificent win in the Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge with a high speed dash from Fairmont St Andrews to pack for the golf trip of a lifetime.

Thomson, 17, shot a 75 in difficult, breezy conditions, o sd the challenging Devlin Course, to win the overall scratch prize.

Then he rushed away for a 2am departure as one of a 10-strong team heading to New Orleans on a very special golf exchange. Ten members of Lake Charles Golf Club, near New Orleans, a city still suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, came to Angus last year to watch the Open Championship at Carnoustie and stayed with the families of junior members of the Grange Golf Club at Monifieth.

Now the Scottish youngsters are to pay a return trip to Louisiana. Thomson, who plays off a handicap of one, said: “I am delighted to have played so well in such an important competition and it is the perfect note on which to go on this very special trip to the United States. I have ambitions to go there on a golf scholarship in 2009, if everything works out.”

Jenna Scott, from Bell Baxter High School, completed a remarkable double when she won the Senior Girls division for the second straight time, with a splendid net score of 66, a 13-shot improvement on last year.

Golf is obviously in the blood as her father is David Scott, Director of Golf at Kingsbarns, one of the three golf courses featured in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Jenna said: “I think the draw was a big plus. Playing with boys really helped me to concentrate. With girls, I would just have been chatting all the way around.”

The Senior Boys title went to Jamie Stephen, 17, from Inverkeithing High School, with a net 64, which completed a remarkable seven days for the 13-handicapper. Last week he was goalkeeper in the Donibristle Under-17 football team, which won the Forth Valley Challenge Cup, getting knocked about in the process.

“I split my head, but today I was splitting the fairways. And I just couldn’t go wrong on the greens. My putting was terrific,” said Jamie, who begins a NC Golf Studies course at Elmwood College, Cupar, in the autumn.

It was an exceptionally good day for Inverkeithing as Samantha Munro, who celebrated her 15th birthday two weeks ago, won the Junior Girls title with a net score of 78. In the last month Samantha has won the Fife Schools Junior Girls title and the Fife Girls Championship, but she revealed that but for the Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge she could have given up golf completely.

Samantha, a member of Aberdour, said: “Two years ago I was considering giving up golf to concentrate on badminton, but I finished second in the 2006 Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge and that convinced me to stick with it. And now I’m a winner.”

The Junior Boys category was won by Scottish Under 15 squad member Andrew Whyte, 14, from Madras College, with a net 74, playing off six handicap. He played the first nine in a splendid one under par to set up his victory.

The best young school golfers from Fife, Angus and Dundee took part in the event, which provided serious, but enjoyable competition. The event aims to encourage potential future champions, but also to give everyone who plays a wonderful golfing day out.

All winners, their parents and a school representative will now be invited to the exclusive ‘Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Welcome Reception’ attended by many of the world’s leading golf professionals and amateurs, in the Alfred Dunhill Pavilion overlooking the 17th Green of the Old Course, on the evening of Tuesday, September 30, for the official prize-giving.

Additionally, everyone who entered the Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge will be invited, together with their parents and a school representative, to the final day of the 2008 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday, October 5 and to an exclusive Golf Clinic on the Championship practice ground given by the internationally renowned golf coach Robert Baker. The 2008 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be played from October 2-5 over the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.

The final day’s action will focus solely on the Old Course. The championship, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is one of the highlights of the European Tour.

Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 5. Entry for under 16s and students is free.

Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates. There is free parking for spectators and a free shuttle bus service will be in operation between the courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

ROOM FOR FOUR MORE TEAMS IN PAUL
LAWRIE SCHOOLS CHALLENGE

Torry Academy, Aberdeen teacher Derek Johnstone has room for four more teams in the Paul Lawrie Schools Team Challenge golf tournament at Peterculter Golf Club, near Aberdeen on Monday, September 1.
Pupils must be on the school roll at September 1.
Entry fee is £24 per team of three pupils - boys and/or girls. There are scratch and handicap team competition prizes with all three scores to count. Shotgun start at noon.
Team entries will be accepted from Highland, Grampian and Tayside schools and must be in Mr Johnstone's hands by the end of term, Friday, July 4.
Postal address is:Mr Derek Johnstone, Torry academy, Tullos Ciorcle, Aberdeen AB11 8HD

Scott Simpson (left) and Scott Keith (right), winners of the higher handicaps' competition at the Paul Lawrie Aberdeen Schools Championships. For an image of the scratch winners, switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk.

Nick and Sophie win Paul Lawrie

Aberdeen Schools Championships

By DEREK JOHNSTONE
It was a one-two for the MacAndrew family representing Aberdeen Grammar School in the Paul Lawrie Aberdeen Schools’ (Scratch-12) Championships at Craibstone on Thursday. Two-handicapper, Nick won the scratch trophy with a three over par 72, one shot better than his older brother Donald.
In his round, Nick had three birdies - at the first, fifth and 16th. But on the debit side he had a triple bogey 7 at the aptly named Gruesome Glen 11th and single shots dropped at the seventh, eighth and 10th. Donald’s round consisted of birdies at the tenth and 16th but a double bogey at the 11th and dropped shots at the third, eighth, 15th and 18th meant he had to be satisfied with the runners-up slot.
There was further success for the Grammar School when nine-handicapper Mark Wareham lifted the Paul Lawrie Handicap Trophy with a net 64. His only dropped shots were all on the front nine at the first, seventh, 8th and 9th.
The Paul Lawrie Girls’ Championship was won by Sophie Alexander of Robert Gordon’s College. The 10-handicapper’s impressive net 63 was helped by a one over par back nine which included birdies at the 14th and 17th. However, Sophie also fell victim to the difficult Gruesome Glen where she walked off with a double bogey.
On Tuesday the Paul Lawrie Schools’ Handicap (13 to 24) championships were also held at Craibstone. The scratch trophy was won by Scott Keith of Dyce Academy with a nine over par 78 while Scott Simpson of Robert Gordon’s College won the handicap trophy with a net 60 off his 19 handicap. His score was even more impressive given his tee shot at the first ended out of bounds and he started with a double bogey 6.

LEADING SCORES

BOYS’ SCRATCH (White tees) CSS 68
72 N MacAndrew (AGS)
73 M Wareham (AGS); D MacAndrew (AGS); C Chalmers (Oldmachar)
75 R Dick (Hazlehead)
76 N Barnes (RGC); C Lamb (Bridge of Don); A Carrell (Cults); S Smith (RGC)
77 D Elrick (Hazlehead)
79 F McDonald (Hazlehead); S Fraser (RGC); L Kinnear (AGS)
80 E Robertson (Cults); R Lawrence (Oldmachar)
82 G Joss (Hazlehead)
83 M Beattie (St Machar); G Jamieson (Oldmachar); A Shand (Dyce)
84 S Stewart (Hazlehead)
85 C Black (RGC); G Singer (Oldmachar)
89 L Sandison (Bridge of Don)
NR G Munro (Oldmachar); M Angus (Hazlehead); A Burr (AGS)

BOYS’ HANDICAP
64 M Wareham (AGS) (9).
66 C Lamb (Bridge of Don) (10).
67 F McDonald (Hazlehead) (12).

GIRLS’ HANDICAP CSS 70
63 S Alexander (RGC) (10).
73 V Powell (Cults) (20).
78 C Prouse (St Machar) (8), C Geddes (Kincorth) (18).

LEADING SCORES - TUESDAY

BOYS’ SCRATCH (Yellow tees) CSS 68
78 S Keith (Dyce)
79 S Simpson (RGC)
80 S Main (Hazlehead)
83 M Kinnaird (Bridge of Don); R Yule (Cults);
84 C Johnstone (AGS); R Stewart (Oldmachar)

BOYS’ HANDICAP
60 S Simpson (RGC) (19).
65 L McKenzie (Oldmachar) (24), S Keith (Dyce) (13).
66 M Kinnaird (Bridge of Don) (17), J Milton (Oldmachar) (19).
67 Z Wood (Torry) (18), R Michie (RGC) (21).
68 S Main (Hazlehead) (12) J Polson (Cults) (20).

SCOTTISH SCHOOLS GOLF TOTALS

Dumfries & Galloway's winning team in the Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolboys championship at Inchmarlo Golf Centre. With sponsor Paul are (left to right) Chris Corbett, Kyle McClung and Scott Gibson.
Click on the image to enlarge it (Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved).

Images of the leading girls' trophy winners can be seen on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Paul Lawrie Scottish schools championships

SCOREBOARD

BOYS

The Laird's Course, Inchmarlo Golf Centre.

CSS 71 70

137 C Robb (S Aberdeenshire) 67 70, S Strachan (N Aberdeenshire) 68 69 (Robb won sudden death play-off at first hole).

139 A Cappi (E Lothian) 70 69.

141 A Tester (Clackmannan) 69 72.

142 D Law (Aberdeen City) 71 71.

143 K McClung (Dumfries & Galloway) 70 73, O Huish (E Lothian) 70 73.

144 T Sharkey (W Dunbartonshire) 74 70.

146 P Shields (S Lanarkshire) 79 67, M Kelly (S Lanarkshire) 73 73, C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) 73 73.

147 S Gibson (Dumfries & Galloway) 78 69, R Pert (Angus) 73 74.

148 I Redford (Fife) 74 74, J Henry (W Dunbartonshire) 77 71.

149 C Bremner (S Aberdeenshire) 77 72, A Dunton (N Aberdeenshire) 78 71.

150 N Beattie (Fife) 73 77, J Arthur (Perth & Kinross) 70 80, D Gallagher (W Dunbartonshire) 76 74.

151 N McAndrew (Aberdeen City) 76 75, M Thomson (Dundee City) 72 79, L Reid (Highland) 75 76, C Stewart (Highland) 76 75.

152 S Fairbairn (Scottish Borders) 80 72, A Wiseman (N Aberdeenshire) 74 78, J Barrett (Stirling) 80 72.

153 K Howie (N Ayrshire) 79 74, M Bell (Perth & Kinross) 74 79, C Anderson (Glasgow) 81 72.

154 N Clenaghan (N Lanarkshire) 73 81, R Gillan (S Lanarkshire) 74 80.

155 C Trahan (S Aberdeenshire) 82 73, T White (Perth & Kinross) 80 75.

156 F Lawrie (N Ayrshire) 78 78, P Timmons (S Ayrshire) 77 79.

157 J White (Fife) 77 80, D Aitken (Glasgow) 79 78, L Allan (Clackmannan) 84 73.

158 R Forgie (Clackmannan) 80 78, C Bisset (Falkirk) 80 78.

159 C Maclean (N Ayrshire) 78 81, A Todd (Dundee City) 81 78, A Blaney (City of Edinburgh) 78 81.

160 J Treasurer (Highland) 79 81, M Murphy (Glasgow) 80 80, J Auchinvole (Falkirk) 80 80.

161 B Herriot (Scottish Borders) 80 81.

162 M Smith (S Ayrshire) 86 76.

164 R Beattie (Scottish Borders) 81 83, S Smith (Aberdeen City) 80 84, E Douglas (Stirling) 83 81.

165 J Westwell (E Lothian) 92 73, D Don (Stirling) 84 81.

166 S McGregor (Angus) 85 81.

167 C Norman (N Lanarkshire) 89 78.

168 S Campbell (N Lanarkshire) 86 82.

182 J Aird (City of Edinburgh) 92 90.

BOYS' TEAM

436 Dumfries & Galloway.

438 North Aberdeenshire.

441 South Aberdeenshire.

442 West Dunbartonshire.

446 South Lanarkshire.

447 East Lothian.

455 Fife.

456 Clackmannan.

457 Aberdeen City.

458 Perth & Kinross.

462 Highland.

468 North Ayrshire.

470 Glasgow.

477 Scottish Borders.

489 North Lanarkshire.

NRs Dundee City, Angus, City of Edinburgh, South Ayrshire.

GIRLS

143 K MacDonald (Highland) 71 72.

148 E Briggs (Renfrewshire) 73 75, J Meldrum (E Dunbartonshire) 73 75.

149 L Atkins (Scottish Borders) 77 72.

152 R Watton (City of Edinburgh) 75 77.

154 S Leslie (S Aberdeenshire) 76 78.

155 S Vass (Highland) 82 73, R Wilson (Angus) 79 76.

156 G Scanlan (S Lanarkshire) 77 79.

157 A Smth (Dundee City) 80 77.

158 R McQueen (S Ayrshire) 78 80, J Graham (Dumfries & Galloway) 80 78.

160 A Niven (Perth & Kinross) 81 79.

161 C Easton (City of Edinburgh) 78 83, A McKechin (Renfrewshire) 77 84.

162 L Allan (N Ayrshire) 80 82, L McGillivary (S Aberdeenshire) 84 78, R Polson (Aberdeen City) 80 82.

163 G Simpson (City of Edinburgh) 82 81.

164 I Craigie (Scottish Borders) 81 83, T MacTaggart (Scottish Borders) 80 84.

165 S Cameron (E Lothian) 82 83.

166 Z Differ (N Lanarkshire) 80 86, G Arnott (N Ayrshire) 82 84, K McIntosh (Midlothian) 82 84, K Scott (E Dunbartonshire) 83 83.

167 J Vass (Highland) 87 80, L Duncan (S Aberdeenshire) 76 91, N Wilson (Glasgow) 81 86, J Meek (Angus) 83 84.

168 A Summers (Dundee City) 88 90.

169 L Meldrum (E Dunbartonshire) 82 87, H McCook (Highland) 85 84, L Cosh (Glasgow) 83 86.

170 N McLuckie (N Lanarkshire) 89 81.

171 L Smith (Dundee City) 86 85, K Vannet (S Aberdeenshire) 86 85.

173 N Taylor (Fife) 89 84, E Bisset (Glasgow) 86 87.

174 C Prouse (Aberdeen City) 92 82, A Alston (Angus) 87 87.

175 F Fullerton (N Aberdeenshire) 89 86.

176 C Tait (Fife) 92 84, N Qayum (Renfrewshire) 85 91.

177 K Seam (S Aberdeenshire) 91 86.

179 S Munro (Fife) 89 90.

180 M McKay (N Ayrshire) 93 87, L Stevenson (Glasgow) 96 84.

181 H Peebles (Dundee City) 92 89, H Scott (City of Edinburgh) 83 98.

182 A King (Dumfries & Galloway) 91 91, K Reid (Dundee City) 92 90.

185 A Mitchell (Scottish Borders) 97 88.

187 C Freeburn (N Lanarkshire) 94 93.

188 K MacCallum (N Aberdeenshire) 90 98.

190 A Tait (Fife) 95 95.

192 E Aird (Perth & Kinross) 100 92.

210 M Aird (Perth & Kinross) 107 103.

GIRLS TEAM

298 Highland.

313 Scottish Borders.

315 City of Edinburgh.

316 South Aberdeenshire.

317 East Dunbartonshire.

324 Renfrewshire.

328 North Ayrshire.

329 Angus.

336 Aberdeen City.

338 Dundee City.

340 Dumfries & Galloway.

347 Glasgow.

349 Fife.

353 North Lanarkshire.

363 North Aberdeenshire.

370 Perth & Kinross.

NR East Lothian.

Chris Robb (South Aberdeenshire & Inchmarlo Golf Centre) receives the Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolboys' championship trophy from sponsor Paul Lawrie after beating (left) Sam Strachan (North Aberdeenshire) in a play-off for the title. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it (Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved).

CHRIS ROBB AND KELSEY MACDONALD

WIN PAUL LAWRIE SCHOOLS' TITLES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

North and North-east players dominated the Paul Lawrie Scottish schools golf championships played over the Banchory and Inchmarlo courses today (Monday).

Chris Robb (South Aberdeenshire), playing over his home Inchmarlo course, claimed the national schoolboys title after a play-off with Sam Strachan (North Aberdeenshire).

They tied for the top spot on 137, Robb with rounds of 67 and 70, Strachan with 68 and 69.

In the first hole of the sudden-death play-off, Strachan, first off the tee, found a bunker with his driver.

Robb, using his local knowledge, played safe with a five-iron off the tee, hit the middle of the green with his second and holed a 5ft putt for a winning birdie 3.

Full Scotland international Kelsey MacDonald, and member at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club and representing Highland Schools, won the girls' title with steady scores of 71 and 72 for a 143 total over the Banchory Golf Club course.

Kelsey completed her first 18 holes in little over 2hr 30min. She went on to win the girls' championship by five strokes from Eilidh Briggs (Renfrewshire) and Jill Meldrum (East Dunbartonshire) who both totalled 148

Eilidh was officially placed second on a countback that went to the last six holes of the second round.

Thanks to Kelsey MacDonald and Sammy Vass's efforts, Highland won the girls' team trophy by 15 shots from Scottish Borders (Lesley Atkins and Isla Craigie) with City of Edinburgh (Gillian Simpson and Rachael Watton) third on 315.

Dumfries and Galloway (Scott Gibson, Kyle McClung and Chris Corbett) won the boys' team championship with a total of 436.

North Aberdeenshire (Adam Dunton, Alexander Wiseman and Sam Strachan) were runners-up on 438 with South Aberdeenshire (Chris Robb, Chris Bremner and Callum Trahan) third on 441.

Aberdeen Schools League results

Recent Aberdeen Schools Golf League results:

League A
Oldmachar 0, Robert Gordon's College 3.
Hazlehead 3, Dyce 0.
League B
St Machar 1, Kincorth 2.
Aberdeen Grammar School 3, Torry 0.

Aberdeen Schools League results

LEAGUE A

Harlaw 0, Robert Gordon's College 3 (April 29).
Dyce 3, Oldmachar 0 (April 29).

Oldmachar 0, Robert Gordon's College 3 (May 6).
Hazlehead 3, Dyce 0 (May 8).

Still to play:
Oldmachar v Hazlehead (Monday, May 19).
Dyce v Harlaw (Tuesday, May 20).

How they stand
1 Hazlehead 3-3-0-0-6pt
2 Robert Gordon's College 4-3-0-1-6.
3 Dyce 3-1-0-2-2pt.
4 Harlaw 3-0-1--2-1pt.
5 Oldmachar 3-0-1-2-1pt.

LEAGUE B
Cults 1.5, Kincorth 1.5 (April 28).
Torry 2.5, St Machar 0.5 (April 28).

Still to play:
St Machar v Kincorth (Monday, May 12).
Grammar School v Torry (Thursday, May 15).

Kincorth v Grammar School (Thursday, May 22).
St Machar v Cults (Thursday, May 22).

How they stand
1 Torry 3-2-1-0-5pt.
2 Grammar 2-1-1-0-3pt.
3 Cults 3-0-3-0-3pt.
4 Kincorth 2-0-1-1-1pt.
5 St Machar 2-0-0-2-0pt

SCHOOLS INTERNATIONALS' DETAILS

Scotland beat England in the schoolboys international at Westerwood, Cumbernauld today for the first time since 1990.
But Scotland lost to England in the schoolgirls international at the same venue.
Hugh Hunter reports on both matches on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

SCOTLAND SCHOOLS TEAMS ANNOUNCED

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

GRAMMAR WIN

SCHOOLS TITLE

AFTER CAPTAIN

MHAIRI HOLES

BIRDIE PUTT

Aberdeen Grammar School won the Aberdeen schools golf championship final by the narrowest of margins over Robert Gordon’s College over the Hazlehead No 1 course this evening.
The final ended in a draw: Grammar 1 ½, Gordon’s 1 ½ and the title went to Grammar by one hole on a holes-up countback.
Nick McAndrew and David Law won the first tie for Grammar by beating Michael Kelly and Steven Smith 4 and 3.
Gordon’s College pair Chris Black and Andrew Harris levelled the overall score at 1-1 by beating William Rennie and Kevin Bass 3 and 2.
Under the holes-up format, that meant Grammar had a one-hole lead (4 to 3) which would prove decisive should the last match to finish end all square.
And it did.
Gordon’s boys Neale Barnes and Harris Jones were one up on Grammar’s Donald McAndrew and Mhairi Johnstone playing the last hole in front of a large gallery.
Mhairi played a real captain’s part for Grammar by holing a 6ft birdie putt on the 18th green to halve the match and secure the trophy for the school on the countback.
Details:
Grammar School names first:
N McAndrew, D Law bt M Kelly, S Smith 4 and 3.
W Rennie, K Bass lost to C Black, A Harris 3 and 2.
D McAndrew, M Johnstone halved with N Barnes, H Jones.
++Picture, by courtesy of Derek Johnstone, shows the winning Grammar School team with Mhairi Johnstone holding the trophy.

Mhairi Johnstone said later:
Through 10 holes, Donald and I were three down and feeling down and out, but when Donald holed for a 2 at the 12th, all of a sudden we were pumped and and ready for the ultimate comeback.
We went back to being thre down on the 14th but birdies at the 15th and 16th got us back to one down.
By this time we that that David and Nick had won and that Kevin and William had been beaten.
Donald had a putt on 17 to win the hole but it just slid by. We knew we had it all to do, going down the last but, having played with each other before, we knew that, beween the two of us , we could make something happen.
Donald hit his drive and I hit my five wood. Donald was unlucky with his lie and his second shot landed short of the green.
Our opponents had both hit to the back of the green and I knew I had to land my ball close. Using my nine iron, I stuck the ball into six feet and at that point I had a feeling that it might just be our night.
After some discussion with my partner, I strode up to the ball and slotted it home, just like any other putt.
Afterwards I was overwhelmed. The looks on my team-mates' faces summted it up perfectly. We were all in complete shock.
Our first pair, Nick McAndrew and David Law, played phenomenal golf. They were seven under par through 15 holes, including five consecutive birdies from the 11th.

GRAMMAR v GORDON’S FOR ABERDEEN
SCHOOLS GOLF TITLE ON THURSDAY

Arch rivals Aberdeen Grammar School and Robert Gordon’s College will meet in the final of the Aberdeen schools golf championship over the Hazlehead No 1 course tomorrow. The first match will tee off at 4.33pm.
When Gordon’s and Grammar last met in the final, two years ago, Grammar won the title 3-0.
Results of Tuesday evening's semi-finals:
Aberdeen Grammar School 3, Bridge of Don Academy 0.
Robert Gordon’s College 2, Hazlehead Academy 1.

ROOM FOR ONLY THREE MORE SCHOOL ENTRIES
IN PAUL LAWRIE TEAM CHALLENGE EVENT

There is room for entries from only three more schools in the North, North-east or Tayside for the Paul Lawrie Schools Team Challenge golf tournament at Peterculter Golf Club, near Aberdeen on Monday, September 7.
Each school team is made up of three pupils, boys and/or girls, whose individual scores in a one-round competition will count for scratch (Paul Lawrie Team Trophy) and handicap (A T Personnel Trophy) team prizes. All three scores count.
Pupils must be on the school roll at September 3, 2007.
No caddies are allowed.
Completed entry forms alongwith a fee of £21 per team (cheque made payable to “Torry Academy”) should be sent to Derek Johnstone, Torry Academy, Tullos Circle, Aberdeen AB11 8HD.