Paul Lawrie plays in first Scottish Senior 

Open at Craigielaw in August

        Paul Lawrie image by courtesy of Getty Images

Press release

Paul Lawrie, The 1999 Open Champion, will tee it up on home soil at the Scottish Senior Open for the first time on Europe’s over-50s circuit when the Staysure Tour returns to Craigielaw Golf Club from August 16-18.

Lawrie, who turned 50 at the beginning of the year, will continue his maiden voyage on the Staysure Tour with an appearance at the East Lothian links, just three weeks after playing The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Aberdonian Lawrie, who has eight European Tour titles to his name, including three on home soil; The 1999 Open Championship, the 2001 Dunhill Links Championship, and the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, is eager to take on the challenge.

“It will be very special to play in my first Scottish Senior Open in August,” he said.

“It’s always great to play on home soil and I’m looking forward to be playing in front of home crowds as a member of the Staysure Tour.”

“I’ve got a lot of happy memories from European Tour events in Scotland and hopefully I’ll be able to create some new ones this year on the over-50s' circuit.”

The two-time Ryder Cup player could write his name in the history books by winning the Scottish Senior Open, becoming just the second Scottish player in successive years to win their national senior open. 

Gary Orr won the championship in 2018 to become the first Scot to claim the title since Sam Torrance accomplished the feat in 2006. David Huish was the first home-grown winner in 1998 before Bill Longmuir clinched the title en route to finishing fifth on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit in 2004.  

Orr clinched the title in gruelling conditions during the final round, where birdies came at a premium. However, the Helensburgh-born home favourite kept his nerve, carding a birdie on the last hole to achieve a one-stroke victory over Rookie of the Year Paul Streeter.

Having grown up on Scottish links and become accustomed to the changing conditions, Lawrie is hoping his fond memories of home will stand him in good stead when he takes to tackling the Craigielaw track in August.

“I have played links golf all my life so I’m looking forward to the challenge of Craigielaw, which is one of a number of excellent East Lothian courses, but especially since there’ll be a title up for grabs.

“Naturally, it would be a privilege and honour for me to join the list of great names already on the Scottish Senior Open trophy.

“The weather normally plays a big part on links courses, as it did last year when Gary Orr won. You never know exactly how the conditions will play but that’s part of the fun of it and I’m certain it’ll be a great week when it comes around.”

East Lothian Council’s Head of Service (Development) Douglas Proudfoot, said: “I am delighted that once again East Lothian will be hosting this wonderful tournament. It is a fantastic family event with a great atmosphere.

“I’m sure the fact Paul Lawrie has confirmed he will play will be a big draw and we can look forward to an even bigger crowd than last year, all of whom I’m sure will enjoy visiting Scotland’s Golf Coast with its wonderful scenery and hospitality.”

Admission to the course is free on all three days, and car parking is charged at £5 per car with all proceeds going to a local charity.

Euan McIntosh T2 at Senior Tour Q School after first-round 68

As the Staysure Senior Tour Qualifying School First Stage reaches its halfway point, 47 players are currently tied for 20^th place or better on the way to Final Stage with 18 holes remaining.
Play began at Pestana Golf Resort across Gramacho Golf Course and Silves Golf Course with 144 players teeing it up with the aim of reaching next week’s Final Stage at Vale da Pinta.
American John Inman leads the way at Gramacho following a bogey-free, five under 67, which included an eagle on the 519-yd par five sixth.
He’s closely followed by Scottish amateur Euan McIntosh from Turnhouse and Canadian David Morland IV on four under par.
Across the resort at Silves Golf, American Ernest Kocs leads on four under par with Neil Cheetham and Kazuo Seike a shot back on three under.
Alan Tait had a 72 for a share of 20th place; Paul Blaikie had a 74 for a T38 position and Mike Lang is T43 after a 65
The second round will begin at 9.00am local time on Friday, with the field for next week’s Final Stage being finalised following the conclusion of First Stage.

Tom Lehman MCB Tour Championship reduced to 48 holes by rainstorm

Former Ryder Cup captain

Tom Lehman (pictured

left) leads the MCB Tour

Championship-Seychelles

by one stroke after

unrelenting rain forced a

5hr delay at Constance

Lemuria, reducing the

tournament to a maximum of 48 holes.

 

The 32-man field started the day 4hr 45min behind schedule and played the first 12 holes in Seychelles for the first round.

 

 Competitors at the final event of the Staysure Tour season were unable to complete holes 13 to 18 due to the mountainous lay-out of the final six holes, which cannot be easily traversed on foot - buggies will be used by competitors during the second and third rounds, which are expected to be completed.

 

Lehman, winner of the Open Championship in 1996, started his round with a birdie and then made consecutive gains from the fourth to sixth holes, reaching four under par.

 

He then parred the next five holes, dropping a stroke on the 12^th and final hole for a three under par total.

 

“I’m surprised we were able to get on the golf course,” said Lehman. “It didn’t look too promising, but we managed to get out and play, and there was no lightning either – we didn’t want to sit around and do nothing.

 

“They did a good job of letting us know there wouldn’t be any golf until at least 14:30, so it was a relaxing morning. But when you know what the game plan might be, you reset your mind to be ready to play and it was good for everybody.

 

“I don’t think anybody had a number in mind. It’s so hard to know what a score is going to be on a new course.

“You never like to finish with a bogey, but the hole was playing very difficult. Over the course of a tournament, there are a lot of shots to be played and I got off to a very good start.”

 

Lehman leads by one stroke ahead of 2002 Ryder Cup player Phillip Price and Denmark’s Steen Tinning.

 

One stroke further back on one under par are eight competitors, including 1991 Masters winner Ian Woosnam and two-time Senior Major champion Roger Chapman.

 

Tournament Director Simon Higginbottom said: “Due to the unrelenting heavy rain we experienced at Constance Lemuria this morning, we took the decision to play the first 12 holes of the golf course in the first round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles and reduce the tournament to 48 holes.

 

“This is to ensure that we give this year’s competitors the opportunity to play as many holes as possible at the final event of the 2018 Staysure Tour season, and we intend to play all 18 holes during the second and third rounds – weather permitting.

 

“We feel it would have been unsafe for our competitors to both walk the final six holes today, or drive buggies as initially intended, as the pathways were made dangerous by the weather conditions.”

FROM

 

John Henry

 

  Our next event on the Big Johnson Tour is on Thursday, December 13 at Troon Darley. The event will be sponsored by Golf Finance and Ellmoll Builders.

  Tee times 10.30 -11.00

  Christmas jumpers permitted

 

 

American Clark coasts to victory   Mauritius Senior Championship
Tournament: MCB Tour Championship-Mauritius Venue: Constance Belle Mare Plage, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius
Image of Clark Dennis with the championship trophy by courtesy of Getty Images   Clark Dennis secured his fourth Staysure Tour senior title in stunning fashion as he equalled the Tour’s lowest 54-hole score to win the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius. The American, victorious at the Senior Italian Open  earlier this year, carded an eight-under-par final round of 64 to sign for a 23 under par total of 193, matching the record-setting score achieve by defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant at last year’s event. Even more impressively, last year’s Staysure Tour Number One didn’t drop a shot across the three days at Constance Belle Mare Plage, carding 21 birdies and an eagle over 54 holes. He started the final round three strokes ahead of Sweden’s Magnus P Atlevi and the pair traded blows on the front nine as they both made the turn four under par. Atlevi reduced the deficit to just one stroke after six holes, but Dennis crucially birdied the seventh and eighth holes to restore his advantage. There were just two strokes in it as Atlevi birdied the 13th hole. However, the American switched gear on the closing stretch and birdied four of the last five holes to sign for a 23 under par total, finishing eight strokes ahead of Atlevi. “To have my fourth victory on this Tour is amazing,” said Dennis. “I was not expecting much coming into this week. My game didn’t feel good and the jetlag was getting to me, but everything fell together. “I started striking it well, made some putts and here I am. I wish I knew what I did this week so I could bottle it and keep doing it. “Magnus played fantastically today. I couldn’t get away from him. I knew he was going to make a lot of birdies today, so my mindset was to keep making birdies and that helped me – knowing that he was going to play so well. “My son, Phillip, did a great job on the bag this week. He was quiet. He knew what to say and when to say it – we just had a lot of fun out there.” There was all to play for on the final day across the golf course as the top 29 on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit and three invitations will compete in next week’s MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles. Double Senior Major Champion Roger Chapman needed a top three finish to guarantee his spot in the season-ending event at Constance Lemuria in the Seychelles, and he carded a final round of 67, five under par, to claim third place outright on 13 under par. Sharing fourth place on 12 under par were 2002 Ryder Cup teammates Paul McGinley and Phillip Price, while 1996 Open Champion Tom Lehman finished sixth on 11 under par. Final scores: par 216 (3x72) 193 C Dennis (USA) 63 66 64 201 M Atlevi (Swe) 67 65 69 203 R Chapman (Eng) 68 68 67  204 P Price (Wales) 67 66 71, P McGinley (Ire) 67 68 69 205 T Lehman (USA) 69 69 67 206 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 69 71 66  207 P Golding (Eng) 71 67 69 208 C Williams (SAf) 67 71 70  209 P Baker (Eng) 70 69 70, J Sandelin (Swe) 68 70 71  210 T Wiratchant (Thailand) 71 70 69  211 I Woosnam (Wales) 68 74 69, M Martin (Spn) 68 72 71, R Gomez (Arg) 73 68 70, D Frost (SAf) 69 72 70 212 S Tinning (Denmark) 70 69 73, P Fowler (Australia) 70 68 74, D Shacklady (Eng) 68 70 74, M Molina (Arg) 71 70 71, M McNulty (Ire) 73 68 71, M Mamat (Singapore) 72 69 71  213 B Lane (Eng) 71 72 70, P Eales (Eng) 70 71 72, J Carriles (Spn) 73 72 68, S Brown (Eng) 74 72 67  214 M Brier (Austria) 69 71 74, J Remesy (Fra) 71 72 71, C Suneson (Spn) 71 69 74, T Thelen (USA) 69 74 71, J Coceres (Arg) 69 73 72, P Broadhurst (Eng) 73 69 72, S Dodd (Wales) 77 67 70  215 S Luna (Spn) 73 71 71, P Streeter (Eng) 71 72 72, P Wilson (Eng) 70 73 72  216 P Wesselingh (Eng) 71 74 71, A Bossert (Switz) 70 73 73  217 G Manson (Austria) 74 72 71, M Mouland (Wales) 73 72 72  218 J Kingston (SAf) 69 73 76 219 J Lomas (Eng) 73 74 72, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 74 74 220 M Farry (Fra) 72 71 77 221 M Mackenzie (Eng) 72 77 72, J Van De Velde (Fra) 78 69 74, C Monasterio (Arg) 71 71 79 222 G Marks (Eng) 76 75 71 225 B McGovern (Ire) 76 73 76  227 C Rocca (Ita) 79 72 76
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Atlevi's 65  but Dennis still leads   by three at Mauritius Seniors
Tournament: MCB Tour Championship-Mauritius Venue: Constance Belle Mare Plage, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius
This image of Magnus P Atlevi is displayed by courtesy of Getty Images .   Magnus P Atlevi carded the lowest round of the day, a seven-under-par 65, but is still three strokes behind 36-hole leader Clark Dennis (USA) at the MCB Tour Senior Championship – Mauritius. The Swede started the day at Constance Belle Mare Plage on five under par, four strokes behind Dennis, and the pair traded blows on the front nine as they both carded five birdies. Dennis came home in 35, one under par, for a round of 66 and a 15 under par total of 129, as Atlevi made two further gains on the back nine to reduce the deficit to three shots. Both players will go in search of their second victories of the 2018 season, with Dennis successfully defending his Senior Italian Open presented by Villaverde Resort title and Atlevi winning the European Tour Properties Senior Classic in September. “Yesterday and the day before, my golf didn’t feel good at all,” said Atlevi. “But you have to get on with it. I didn’t start very well yesterday and I haven’t played well here in the past. I told myself I needed to be patient and, bit-by-bit, some birdies fell in and I finished five under par. “Today I could feel my body was more prepared – I felt as though I had more speed. My goal for the week is to not take it too seriously, which I have done in the past. So tomorrow I need to go out there, be relaxed, and enjoy it, no matter what. “I can’t believe I’m 12 under and I don’t feel as though I’ve tried – I have a lot to look forward to with the final round tomorrow and another tournament next week.” Dennis, who is playing in just his second season on the Staysure Tour, will hope to add to his growing trophy cabinet, having already won three times on the European over-50s circuit. The American remains bogey-free after the first two rounds in Mauritius. “I left a lot of shots out there today,” said Dennis. “I hit it so good on the front nine, hit it close and made some putts. I had some chances on the back nine but missed three or four putts for birdie from about five feet. You can’t complain when you’re 15 under, but it could have been a special day. “It helped playing with Magnus again. You know you can’t just make pars on this course – it was good to see him start off well and I thought ‘if he’s going to go, I have to go too’.” 2002 Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price will join Dennis and Atlevi in tomorrow’s final group after matching Dennis’s round of 66 for an 11 under par total. Incredibly, the Welshman birdied seven holes on the back nine after making the turn one over par. Paul McGinley, Ryder Cup Captain in 2014, is fourth on nine under par and double Senior Major Champion Roger Chapman sits in fifth on eight under par after successive rounds of 68. The 1996 Open Champion Tom Lehman is one of six golfers in a share of sixth place a stroke further back. There is still all to play for on the final day as the top 29 players on the Order of Merit and three invitations will go on to the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles next week, the final event of the 2018 Staysure Tour season. Scores after round two: par 144 (2x72) 129 C Dennis (USA) 63 66  132 M Atlevi (Swe) 67 65 133 P Price (Wales) 67 66 135 P McGinley (Ire) 67 68, 136 R Chapman (Eng) 68 68  138 P Golding (Eng) 71 67, C Williams (SAf) 67 71, T Lehman (USA) 69 69, P Fowler (Australia) 70 68, D Shacklady (Eng) 68 70, J Sandelin (Swe) 68 70  139 P Baker (Eng) 70 69, S Tinning (Denmarl) 70 69 140 C Suneson (Spn) 71 69, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 69 71, M Brier (Austria) 69 71, M Martin (Spn) 68 72, 141 D Frost (SAf) 69 72, T Wiratchant (Thailand) 71 70, M Molina (Arg) 71 70, M McNulty (Ire) 73 68, P Eales (Eng) 70 71, R Gomez (Arg) 73 68, M Mamat (Singapore) 72 69  142 J Kington (SAf) 69 73, I Woosnam (Wales) 68 74, C Monasterio (Arg) 71 71, P Broadhurst (Eng) 73 69, J Coceres (Arg) 69 73 143 M Farry (Fra) 72 71, P Wilson (Eng) 70 73, B Lane (Eng) 71 72, J Remesy (Fra) 71 72, P Streeter (Eng) 71 72, T Thelen (USA) 69 74, A Bossert (Switz) 70 73 144 S Luna (Spn) 73 71, S Dodd (Wales) 77 67, 145 G Brand junior (Sco) 71 74, J Carriles (Spn) 73 72, M Mouland (Wales) 73 72, P Wesselingh (Eng) 71 74 146 S Brown (Eng) 74 72, G Manson (Austria) 74 72, 147 J Van De Velde (Fra) 78 69, J Lomas (Eng) 73 74, 149 M Mackenzie (Eng) 72 77, B McGovern (Ire) 76 73, 151 G Marks (Eng) 76 75, C Rocca (Ita) 79 72
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Dennis dominates on day one in   Mauritius
Tournament: MCB Tour Championship-Mauritius Venue: Constance Belle Mare Plage, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius
The above image of Clark Dennis is displayed by courtesy of Getty Images   Reigning Number One Clark Dennis returned to an all-too-familiar position on his first Staysure Tour start in three months after carding a nine under par round of 63 to top the leaderboard at the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius.   His total of 63 is his joint-lowest on the Staysure Tour and just one stroke off the course record at Constance Belle Mare Plage, which was set last year by Jarmo Sandlin and then equaled by defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant.   The American, a three-time winner on the European over-50s circuit since earning his card at last year’s Qualifying School, made the turn in three under par after birdies on the fourth, fifth and seventh holes, and then came home in just 30 strokes as he carded four birdies and an eagle on the back nine to move to nine under par.   “It was one of those days where everything went right,” said Dennis. “It’s not often you chip in twice during a round – one for an eagle and the other for par.   “It’s a funny game. My game didn’t feel great coming into this week, I didn’t feel good physically; so you never know.   “My eldest son Will sent me a video of me working with a teacher from four or five years ago and he said: ‘just watch it Dad’. I noticed a little change in my posture and it just made that much difference.   “There’s a lot of great players to go up against over the next two days. You can’t rest, you have to keep making birdies out there. Thaworn finished level par today but he could easily go 18 under over the next two days.   “My son Philip was an all-star on the bag today. It’s the second time I’ve shot a 63 with him as my caddie – I’m sure he’ll be texting his older brother, who has caddied for me before, saying that he’s taking his job.”   Dennis is four strokes ahead of 2016 Rookie of the Year Magnus P Atlevi, 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, 2002 Ryder Cup player Phillip Price and last year’s Order of Merit runner-up Chris Williams who share second place on five under par.   “It was a solid round,” said McGinley. “I had a great start on the front nine but didn’t give myself any chances on the back nine.   “The key to playing golf on the Staysure Tour is having a fast start. If you shoot 71 or 72 in the first round you’re out of it because the standard is so good – 15 under is the number to go for every week. It’s something I’ve not done a lot this year. I opened with a 72 last week in Spain and found myself in that position.   “You have to be on it early because the standard is so good. At least now I’m on the pace early, but I still have to do better than this over the next two rounds. ” Sharing sixth place on four under par are two-time Senior Major Champion Roger Chapman, Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin, former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin, VTB Russian Open Golf Championship winner David Shacklady and 1991 Masters Tournament winner and former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam. Scores after round one: par 72 63 C Dennis (USA)  67 P McGinley (Ire), M Atlevi (Swe) , C Williams (SAf) , P Price (Wales)    68 D Shacklady (Eng) , M Martin (Spn) , I Woosnam (Wales) , R Chapman (Eng) , J Sandelin (Swe)   69 T Lehman (USA) , D Frost (SAf) , J Kingston (SAf) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , T Thelen (USA) , M Brier (Austria) , J Coceres (Arg)   70 P Wilson (Eng) , P Baker (Eng) , P Eales (Eng) , A Bossert (Switz) , P Fowler (Australia) , S Tinning (Denmark)  71 P Streeter (Eng) , M Molina (Argentina) , P Golding (Eng) , B Lane (Eng) , J Remesy (Fra) , C Monasterio (Arg)entina), G Brand Jnr (Sco) , P Wesselingh (Eng) , C Suneson (Spn T Wiratchant (Thailand) 72 M Mamat (Singapore), M Farry (Fra) , M Mackenzie (Eng)  73 S Luna (Spn) , R Gomez (Argentina) , P Broadhurst (Eng) , J Lomas (Eng) , M Mouland (Wales) , M McNulty (Ire) , J Carriles (Spn)   74 S Brown (Eng) , G Manson (Austria) 76 G Marks (Eng) , B McGovern (Ire)    77 S Dodd (Wales)   78 J Van De Velde (Fra)  79 C Rocca (Ita)
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