ANDREW MARSHALL LEADS TEAM
TO VICTORY IN TRINIDAD
Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range) led the successful Baroid 2 team to victory with a net score of 62 in the BP Trinidad & Tobago Week of Golf scramble competition at St Andrews Golf Club, Trinidad today.
American Damien Hale led the Tucker/Weatherford team into second place on 63, pipping the Carillion team led by John Greaves (Glasgow) on a card countback. They also scored 63.
Bruce Davidson (River Oaks, Texas), originally from Banchory, finished fourth on 64 with the Offshore Technologies Solutions Ltd team.
Stephen Gray (Deer Park) also returned a score of 64 with the Evolve Partners team but was placed fifth on a card countback.
Graham Fox (West Kilbride) and Paramont Transport gained sixth prize with a score of 65.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Orange Blossom Tour continues at Coral Ridge Country Club
SCOT IN QUARTER-FINALS OF
FLORIDA MATCH-PLAY
Stirling University student Claire-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) is through to the quarter-finals of the Jones-Doherty women’s amateur golf tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Claire-Marie, the 20th qualifier for the match-play stages, beat Maggie Weder from North Carolina, the 29th qualifier, by 4 and 3.
The Scot now plays the fifth seed, Lindy Duncan from Florida. Lindy won by 5 and 4 against Emma Tipping from Sandiway, Cheshire, the only other Stirling student to reach the last 16.
In the first-flight competition for those who lost their first-round ties, Stirling students Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) and Rachel Cassidy (Dublin) had contrasting fortunes. Dawn won by 5 and 4 against Gia Fanelli but Rachel went down by 5 and 4 to Susan Choi.
A fifth Stirling student, Catherine Baines, went down by 8 and 6 to Lisa Schlesinger in a second-flight tie. In the same competition, Sarah Carty (Dublin) lost by 3 and 2 to Angel Sze.
The tournament is the third on the Orange Blossom Tour.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Second Round
Players from US unless stated.
Taylor Collins bt Jordyn Hage 2 and 1.
Mary Jane Hiestand bt Stefanie Kenoyer 1 hole.
Claire-Marie Carlton (Sco) bt Maggie Weder 4 and 3.
Lindy Duncan bt Emma Tipping (Eng) 5 and 4.
Marika Lendl Rachel Carpenter 2 and 1.
Susan Nam bt Marilyn Hardy 2 and 1.
Isabelle Lendl bt Laura Carson 5 and 4.
Kristina Wong bt Kyle Roig at 19th.
FIRST FLIGHT
First round
Alexandra Fraseir walk-over.
Patsy Ehret bt Gina Johnston 5 and 4.
Susan Choi bt Rachel Cassidy (Ire) 5 and 4.
Dawn Dewar (Sco) bt Gia Fanelli 5 and 4.
Natalie McNicholas bt Taffy Brower 3 and 2.
Julie Carmichael bt Julie Garner 4 and 2.
Dana Cummings bt Madison Pressel 2 and 1.
Boo Grotvedt Benedikte bt Reggie Parker 2 holes.
SECOND FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
Lisa Schiesinger bt Catherine Baines (Eng) 8 and 6.
Judy Dotten bt Michelle Hartnell 6 and 4.
Claire Grysko bt Mayura Skowronski 2 and 1.
Angel Sze bt Sarah Carty (Ire) 3 and 2.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Second round
Carol Semple Thompson bt Natalie Easterly 2 and 1.
Pedggy Woodard bt Linda Pearson 2 and 1.
Diana Schwab bt Barb Pagana 1 hole.
Connie Shorb bt Meredith Wolf 5 and 3.
Carolyn Creekmore bt Cynthia Curry 4 and 2.
Marleine Streit bt Angela Steward 1 hole.
Therese Quinn bt Debe Schwedler 4 and 2.
Cathy Richey bt Janice Wilson 2 holes.
FLORIDA MATCH-PLAY
Stirling University student Claire-Marie Carlton (Fereneze) is through to the quarter-finals of the Jones-Doherty women’s amateur golf tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Claire-Marie, the 20th qualifier for the match-play stages, beat Maggie Weder from North Carolina, the 29th qualifier, by 4 and 3.
The Scot now plays the fifth seed, Lindy Duncan from Florida. Lindy won by 5 and 4 against Emma Tipping from Sandiway, Cheshire, the only other Stirling student to reach the last 16.
In the first-flight competition for those who lost their first-round ties, Stirling students Dawn Dewar (Monifieth) and Rachel Cassidy (Dublin) had contrasting fortunes. Dawn won by 5 and 4 against Gia Fanelli but Rachel went down by 5 and 4 to Susan Choi.
A fifth Stirling student, Catherine Baines, went down by 8 and 6 to Lisa Schlesinger in a second-flight tie. In the same competition, Sarah Carty (Dublin) lost by 3 and 2 to Angel Sze.
The tournament is the third on the Orange Blossom Tour.
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Second Round
Players from US unless stated.
Taylor Collins bt Jordyn Hage 2 and 1.
Mary Jane Hiestand bt Stefanie Kenoyer 1 hole.
Claire-Marie Carlton (Sco) bt Maggie Weder 4 and 3.
Lindy Duncan bt Emma Tipping (Eng) 5 and 4.
Marika Lendl Rachel Carpenter 2 and 1.
Susan Nam bt Marilyn Hardy 2 and 1.
Isabelle Lendl bt Laura Carson 5 and 4.
Kristina Wong bt Kyle Roig at 19th.
FIRST FLIGHT
First round
Alexandra Fraseir walk-over.
Patsy Ehret bt Gina Johnston 5 and 4.
Susan Choi bt Rachel Cassidy (Ire) 5 and 4.
Dawn Dewar (Sco) bt Gia Fanelli 5 and 4.
Natalie McNicholas bt Taffy Brower 3 and 2.
Julie Carmichael bt Julie Garner 4 and 2.
Dana Cummings bt Madison Pressel 2 and 1.
Boo Grotvedt Benedikte bt Reggie Parker 2 holes.
SECOND FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
Lisa Schiesinger bt Catherine Baines (Eng) 8 and 6.
Judy Dotten bt Michelle Hartnell 6 and 4.
Claire Grysko bt Mayura Skowronski 2 and 1.
Angel Sze bt Sarah Carty (Ire) 3 and 2.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Second round
Carol Semple Thompson bt Natalie Easterly 2 and 1.
Pedggy Woodard bt Linda Pearson 2 and 1.
Diana Schwab bt Barb Pagana 1 hole.
Connie Shorb bt Meredith Wolf 5 and 3.
Carolyn Creekmore bt Cynthia Curry 4 and 2.
Marleine Streit bt Angela Steward 1 hole.
Therese Quinn bt Debe Schwedler 4 and 2.
Cathy Richey bt Janice Wilson 2 holes.
WAY THEY WERE IN N-E ALLIANCE OF YESTERYEAR
A North-east Alliance championship (?) presentation from yesteryear with Chapper Thomson (Muriel's father), then the secretary, presenting the trophy to Harry Bannerman. Jock Lawson is to the immediate right of Harry. A young-looking Ronnie McDonald, now Kemnay club pro, is on the extreme right. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.JOCK LAWSON: Murcar professional who
made Muriel Thomson a star
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Jock Lawson, who died a few weeks ago at Tain, was part-and-parcel of the North-east golf season for 13 years as professional at Murcar Golf Club so it is only right that Scottishgolfview.com traces his life story.
Muriel Thomson was a Murcar member and a successful amateur golfer before she became a successful tournament professional and then settled down as professional at Portlethen Golf Club.
Muriel says that Jock played a key role in her development as a golfer.
CHANGED HER GRIP
“I was at Jock’s funeral in Tain and was honoured to be asked by his family to speak at the service and pay tribute to him. I had always kept in touch with him and had visited him at Tain,” said Muriel.
“It was Jock who gave me my first golf lesson when I was a girl. I had joined Murcar as a cack-handed golfer. He was the one who changed my grip for me (round about the age of 15) and he was completely dedicated to seeing me improve.
“Jock Lawson was really the only golfing mentor I had. He taught me right through into my pro career when I visited him at Thorpeness. Yes, Jock played a very important part in my golfing career.
UNDER JOCK'S WING
“Who knows what path I might have gone down had Jock not been there at Murcar and taken me under his wing as a junior.”
Jock Lawson was born in Fife – either in 1920 or 1923, some doubt about which year – but brought up in Callander.
He got his toe on the ladder of PGA golf when he became an assistant at Windyhill Golf Club in 1938.
World War II came along in September 1939 and Jock served in the RAF.
On his demob, he picked up his golf career again as an assistant pro at Minchinhampton Golf Club, Gloucester in 1946. The following year he gained his first full club pro appointment at Barford Golf Club, near Oxford.
In 1953 he moved to Thornaby on Tees Golf Club, Yorkshire.
MOVE TO MURCAR IN 1959
In February 1959, he succeeded Bill McHardy as professional at Murcar Golf Club. The Press and Journal report of the time said that Jock was 36 at that time.
Jock soon built up a reputation as a golf teacher but he could also play the game and was a regular and sometimes successful competitor on the North-east Alliance circuit.
A contemporary of Alliance stalwarts such as Joe Little, Innes Wright, John Grant, Ian Phillips, Harry Bannerman, Graham Everett and Ian Smith, Jock was beaten four or five times in the final – with different partners – in the North-east Alliance pro-am foursomes.
He did win the NE Alliance mixed foursomes – whatever happened to that event? – for the George Duncan Trophy with Murcar’s Mrs Balfour at Banchory in April 1960. They headed a field of more than 50 couples with a gross 76, winning from Jimmy Nicol and Miss Margaret Brown (Peterhead) and Finlay Morrison and Mrs Kennaway (Deeside).
OFFER HE COULD NOT REFUSE
In early 1972, Jock Lawson received what he described as an offer he could not refuse from Tenby Golf Club, Pembrokeshire and he left to take up the South Wales post in 1972. His successor at Murcar was John Nicol.
“I had been very, very happy indeed at Murcar and they were very good to me but I just couldn’t turn down the offer from Tenby,” said Jock
After a few years at Tenby, Jock Lawson was tempted to move again and he did – to Shawhill Hotel golf courses at Chorley in Lancashire.
Later he moved to another hotel golf course set-up at Thorpeness in Surrey.
In the early 1980s, Jock returned to Scotland, as he had always wanted to, and spent a happy few years as Tain Golf Club professional. He retired in 1987 and was made an honorary member of the Professional Golfers Association.
He was in his 80s when he died in November 2006.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MEMORIES OF JOCK LAWSON, YOU CAN E-MAIL THEM TO colin@scottishgolfview.com
RYAN FITZPATRICK FINDS PUTTING SECRET FOR
FIRST WIN AT PETERHEAD
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Inchmarlo Golf Centre assistant professional Ryan Fitzpatrick, now a fully qualified PGA pro, has been experimenting with cack-hunting putting lately. Anything to change his luck on the greens.
Well, his luck certainly changed at Peterhead today when he headed a field of 85 in bright but latterly very cold conditions with a three-under-par round of 67. It was 27-year-old Ryan’s first win of the 2006-2007 North-east Alliance season.
“The funny thing about my putting today,” said Ryan, “was that I missed quite a few birdie putts of about six to eight feet. On the other hand, I holed four putts from 20 to 40ft range.”
Fitzpatrick turned in level par 35 with birdies at the fourth and eighth being cancelled out by bogeys at the sixth and ninth. When a third bogey, at the 10th, put him one over par, it looked like being another disappointing day, which had started with his intended partners failing to turn up on the first tee.
Then Ryan’s putting suddenly clicked and he started slotting them home from all angles. He birdied the 11th, 13th 15th and 16th, to come home in three-under-par 32 for his 67.
LONG-TIME CLUBHOUSE LEADER
That pipped long-time clubhouse leader, Iain Buchan (Craibstone Centre) by one shot. Iain had made his score the other way round from Fitzpatrick, covering the first nine in three-under-par 32 with birdies at the second, third, fifth and eighth and one bogey at the fourth.
Coming home, Buchan had bogeys at the 13th and 14th and only one birdie, at the 15th in 36 home for a 68.
It turned out to be a professional 1-2-3 with Kemnay’s Ronnie McDonald shooting a 70 for third place despite running up a double bogey 6 at the fourth and dropping to three over par with a bogey at the seventh.
McDonald got his first birdie at the ninth to be out in two-over 37, which dipped to three-over with a 5 at the 12th. Then he covered the last five holes in two over par with birdie 3rs at the 14th, 15th and 17th for 33 home.
IAN BRATTON ON HOLIDAY
So what happened to Newburgh club pro Ian Bratton who had won five of the earlier meetings this season? Well, he did not play this week - for the simple reason he is on holiday.
That gave the rest of the guys a break!
The pace of play was quite good at Peterhead - a field of 85 all back in the clubhouse by the back of 4pm. Walking smartly between shots keeps you warm in cold temperatures. Keep up the good work at Buckpool next Wednesday!
LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
Par 70 (p denotes professional; ap, assistant professional; s, senior).
67 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) ap.
68 I Buchan (Craibstone) p.
70 R McDonald (Kemnay) p.
71 R Pirie (Caledonian), F Bisset (Banchory)..
72 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) p, S Finnie (Caledonian), B Ritchie (Inverallochy).
73 A Campell (Deeside), E Kennedy (Stonehaven), S Davidson (Banchory) p, W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) s.
74 R Stewart (Cruden Bay) p, N Murray (Cruden Bay) p, T Mathieson (Murcar Links), R Hyland (Newmachar).
75 G Ingram (Inverurie), C Carnegie (Kemnay), J Morris (Craibstone), S Fraser (Northern), D Garrett (Huntly), S Scott (Auchmiill).
76 D McGlachan (Inverurie), S Troup (Kings Links) ap, K Smith (Aboyne), N Parker (Murcar Links).
77 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), B Harper (Newburgh), L Barbour (Cruden Bay), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) s, J M Hamilton (Murcar Links).
78 A Petrie (Oldmeldrum).
80 K Davidson (Turriff), F G Gray (Deeside) s, D Wilson (Duff House Royal), N Reid (Deeside) ap.
81 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), R Penny (Portlethen), S Chalmers (Banchory) ap, A Swift (Auchmill), D Leighton (Murcar Links).
82 M Lawrie (Kemnay), D Corkey (East Aberdeenshire).
83 F Barclay (Kintore), P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen) s, G Homer (Lumphanan).
LEADING HANDICAP RETURNS
Class 1 – F Bisset (Banchory) (4) 67; R Pirie (Caledonian) (3) 68; D McGlachan (Newburgh) (7), C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8), K Smith (Aboyne) (7) 69; J Morris (Craibstone) (5), B Ritchie (Inverallochy) (2), N Parker (Murcar Links) (6) 70; W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) s (2), G Ingram (Inverurie) (4), B Harper (Newburgh) (6), A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (7) 71; S Finnie (Caledonian) (scr), R Scott (Auchmill) (3), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) s (5); J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) (5), K Davidson (Turriff) (8) 72; A Campbell (Deeside) (scr), E Kennedy (Stonehaven) (scr), C Carnegie (Kemnay) (2), D Garrett (Huntly) (2) 73; S Fraser (Northern) (1) 74.
Class 2 – D Wood (Newburgh) (14) s 70; R Alison (Deeside) (13) s, G Homer (Lumphanan (12) 71; P Cornfield (Auchmill) (11); I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (11) 73; J Penny (Huntly) (12) 74; C Hood (Alford) (10), K Duncan (Cruden Bay) (12); J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) (14) s, G Travis (Auchmill) (15), R Addison (Newburgh) (18) s 76; D Randall (Banchory) s (11), G Kennedy (Meldrum House) (13) 79; J Robb (Turriff) (11), D Lawrie (Inchmarlo) (12) 80; J Short (Murcar Links) (14) 81; J Jones (Craibstone) (10) s, I Grant (Huntly) (18) 85.
LEADING SCORECARDS
Peterheard par 70:
OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-4-5-4-35.
IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-3-4-5-35
RYAN FITZPATRICK 67
OUT: 4-3-4-3-4-4-4-4-5-35
IN: 4—3-3-4-4-3-2-4-5-32
IAIN BUCHAN 68
OUT: 4-2—3-5-3-3-4-4-4-32
IN: 3-4-5-5-4-3-3-4-5-36
RONNIE McDONALD 70
OUT: 4-3-4-6-4-3-5-5-3-37
IN: 3-4-5-4-3-3-3-3-5-33
FERGUS BISSET 71
OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-4-5-6-4-38
IN: 2-3-5-4-4-4-4-3-4-33
ROY PIRIE 71
OUT: 6-3-4-4-5-3-4-4-4-37
IN: 2-4-4-3-4-5-3-4-5-34
LEADING ORDER OF MERIT (Scratch) PLACINGS
(At the end of 2006)
1 IAN BRATTON (Newburgh) 0.6
2 TERRY MATHIESON (Murcar Links) 0-7.
3 GARY ESSON (Portlethen) 1.3.
4 DEAN YATES (Newmachar) 1.4.
5 STEWART FINNIE (Caledonian) 1.8.
6 NEIL MURRAY (Cruden Bay 2.2.
6 COLIN NELSON (MacKenzie Club) 2.5.
8 IAIN BUCHAN (Craibstone) 2.3.
9 BILLY MAIN (Murcar Links) 2.4.
10 ANDREW CAMPBELL (Deeside) 2.6.
11 STEWART DAVIDSON (Banchory) 2.7.
12 CRAIG STEPHEN (Meldrum Hosue) 2.8.
13 DAVID CORKEY (East Aberdeenshire) 2.9.
14 PATRICK LOVIE (Inchmarlo) 3.2.
15 RONNIE McDONALD (Kemnay) 3.4.
16 RYAN FITZPATRICK (Inchmarlo) 3.6.
17 NICK REID (Deeside) 3.7.
18 BRIAN RITCHIE (Inverallochy) 3.9.
19 ROBBIE STEWART (Cruden Bay) 3.9.
20 EUAN KENNEDY (Stonehaven) 4.0.
21 RICHARD HYLAND (Newmachar) 4.2.
ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com
SPRINGBOK SCOT
DOUG McGUIGAN
BOOKS PLACE
AT CARNOUSTIE
When Doug McGuigan, pictured right, wrapped his arms around the Claret Jug at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today, nothing but the Open title itself would have left a wider smile.
He qualified at Atlantic Beach in 2005 and two years later he has done it again.The fact that he was sharing the spotlight with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, did not bother McGuigan in the least, but he did admit that he would have preferred not to share the first place spoils.
"At least our flights are both covered," said a smiling McGuigan as he reluctantly let go of golf's most coveted piece of silverware, the Claret Jug, to join the press.
First in the clubhouse at 10-under-par 134 after the final round of International Final Qualifying (Africa) meant that the South African-born Scot was the first player from IFQ to book his berth in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie in July.
COURSE RECORD 62 BY BOTES
McGuigan and Adilson Da Silva, fellow Sunshine Tour players, shot matching rounds of 66 and 68 to tie for the lead, while 14-time Sunshine Tour winner, Desvonde Botes, wrote a little history of his own at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington on his way to sharing the third spot
In 1991, Botes won the South African amateur championship at the East Course with 3 and 1 victory over Barry Sundelson, becoming the youngest winner of the match-play title at the age of 16.
Sixteen years later, breaking par for the first time on the West course, Botes tore up the course with 11 birdies against a lone bogey for a course record 62.His score, one better than another Springbok-Scot, Andrew McLardy's six-day record set during last weeks' Joburg Open, took his overall score to nine-under
Australian challenger Terry Pilkadaris, after having a glance at the leaderboard, birdied 14 and 15, then holed a crucial putt for eagle at the last for a final round 68 to tie Botes for the third spot on 135.
The feisty Aussie also claimed rookie honours as the only player in the leading quartet not to have teed it up in an Open before.
McGuigan said afterwards that some of his inspiration to qualify came from a letter in the post five weeks ago, when he received a signed photo of the legend 'Jack Nicklaus' at St Andrews after his final appearance at the Open.
"Just looking at that picture gave me the courage to fight for a spot," he said afterwards. "It doesn't matter how many times you go there, you are always in awe when you get there."
McGuigan played in the 2005 Open, where he missed the cut. A four time Dunhill Links competitor at Carnoustie, McGuigan hopes to keep his form alive until the Open there.
"I'm going over to Carnoustie a little wiser and a little older," he said.
"But in the greater scheme of things, to be standing on the driving range with guys like Tiger Woods, Chris Dimarco and Jim Furyk is an overwhelming experience.
"I hope my Dunhill Links experience will do me well, because it a difficult course that requires accuracy and the precision of a surgeon. The greens alone at Carnoustie produce more tears than a funeral."
The remaining four IFQ's will be played at:
The Lakes, Sydney (Australasia) on February 6.
Sentosa, Singapore (Asia) on March 27 & 28.
Oakland Hills, Michigan (America) on 2 July 2.
Sunningdale (Europe) on July 2.
Leading scores:
QUALIFIERS FOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
134 Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 66 68, Douglas McGuigan (Sco) 66 68.
135 Desvonde Botes (South Africa) 72 63, Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67 68.
Other scores (players from South Africa unless stated):
136 Trevor Moore 71 65.
136 Dion Fourie 68 68, Michael Lamb (Zimbabwe) 68 68, Vaughn Groenewald 68 68, Tyrone Van Aswegen 66 70.
137 Tongoona Charamba (Zimbabwe) 71 66.
DOUG McGUIGAN
BOOKS PLACE
AT CARNOUSTIE
When Doug McGuigan, pictured right, wrapped his arms around the Claret Jug at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today, nothing but the Open title itself would have left a wider smile.
He qualified at Atlantic Beach in 2005 and two years later he has done it again.The fact that he was sharing the spotlight with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, did not bother McGuigan in the least, but he did admit that he would have preferred not to share the first place spoils.
"At least our flights are both covered," said a smiling McGuigan as he reluctantly let go of golf's most coveted piece of silverware, the Claret Jug, to join the press.
First in the clubhouse at 10-under-par 134 after the final round of International Final Qualifying (Africa) meant that the South African-born Scot was the first player from IFQ to book his berth in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie in July.
COURSE RECORD 62 BY BOTES
McGuigan and Adilson Da Silva, fellow Sunshine Tour players, shot matching rounds of 66 and 68 to tie for the lead, while 14-time Sunshine Tour winner, Desvonde Botes, wrote a little history of his own at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington on his way to sharing the third spot
In 1991, Botes won the South African amateur championship at the East Course with 3 and 1 victory over Barry Sundelson, becoming the youngest winner of the match-play title at the age of 16.
Sixteen years later, breaking par for the first time on the West course, Botes tore up the course with 11 birdies against a lone bogey for a course record 62.His score, one better than another Springbok-Scot, Andrew McLardy's six-day record set during last weeks' Joburg Open, took his overall score to nine-under
Australian challenger Terry Pilkadaris, after having a glance at the leaderboard, birdied 14 and 15, then holed a crucial putt for eagle at the last for a final round 68 to tie Botes for the third spot on 135.
The feisty Aussie also claimed rookie honours as the only player in the leading quartet not to have teed it up in an Open before.
McGuigan said afterwards that some of his inspiration to qualify came from a letter in the post five weeks ago, when he received a signed photo of the legend 'Jack Nicklaus' at St Andrews after his final appearance at the Open.
"Just looking at that picture gave me the courage to fight for a spot," he said afterwards. "It doesn't matter how many times you go there, you are always in awe when you get there."
McGuigan played in the 2005 Open, where he missed the cut. A four time Dunhill Links competitor at Carnoustie, McGuigan hopes to keep his form alive until the Open there.
"I'm going over to Carnoustie a little wiser and a little older," he said.
"But in the greater scheme of things, to be standing on the driving range with guys like Tiger Woods, Chris Dimarco and Jim Furyk is an overwhelming experience.
"I hope my Dunhill Links experience will do me well, because it a difficult course that requires accuracy and the precision of a surgeon. The greens alone at Carnoustie produce more tears than a funeral."
The remaining four IFQ's will be played at:
The Lakes, Sydney (Australasia) on February 6.
Sentosa, Singapore (Asia) on March 27 & 28.
Oakland Hills, Michigan (America) on 2 July 2.
Sunningdale (Europe) on July 2.
Leading scores:
QUALIFIERS FOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
134 Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 66 68, Douglas McGuigan (Sco) 66 68.
135 Desvonde Botes (South Africa) 72 63, Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67 68.
Other scores (players from South Africa unless stated):
136 Trevor Moore 71 65.
136 Dion Fourie 68 68, Michael Lamb (Zimbabwe) 68 68, Vaughn Groenewald 68 68, Tyrone Van Aswegen 66 70.
137 Tongoona Charamba (Zimbabwe) 71 66.
STENSON WINS ABU DHABI
SHOOT-OUT WITH DRIVE
OF 710 YARDS AT AIRPORT
London Golf Show-sponsored Paul Slater lost out to Ryder Cup hero Henrik Stenson when the two went head-to-head in a long drive shoot-out in Abu Dhabi today.
Stenson set a new Asian long-drive record with a prodigious effort of 710 yards to beat world-record holder Slater when the two went up against each other, driving off the wing of an Etihad Airways 767 jet at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in an event to promote the Abu Dhabi golf championship.
They were joined by five amateurs who had won the right to compete in competitions in various golf magazines across the world.
Slater, from Warrington, could manage "only" 640 yards as the rain lashed down, making the wing very slippery underfoot.
Stenson’s new Asian best is still some way short of Slater’s world best of 884 yards, set last April at NMSI Wroughton, in Wiltshire.
Jay Tyson, the operations director for Slater’s sponsor, the London Golf Show, accompanied the world-record holder out to the Middle East.
He said: “Slates hit the ball well enough but everybody apart from Henrik seemed to go off to the left. Henrik’s ball went straight down the middle and stayed straight. I suppose it emphasises the subtle differences between the pros and the Tour pros.”
Slater returns to the UK later this week and will be demonstrating his long-driving skills – and offering some tips – at the London Golf Show at ExCeL from April 26-29.
+Just in case you are wondering how they are able to drive the ball so far ... the obvious explanation is that they are not driving on to grass but the tarmac runways down which a golf ball can bounce for miles, well, almost!
SHOOT-OUT WITH DRIVE
OF 710 YARDS AT AIRPORT
London Golf Show-sponsored Paul Slater lost out to Ryder Cup hero Henrik Stenson when the two went head-to-head in a long drive shoot-out in Abu Dhabi today.
Stenson set a new Asian long-drive record with a prodigious effort of 710 yards to beat world-record holder Slater when the two went up against each other, driving off the wing of an Etihad Airways 767 jet at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in an event to promote the Abu Dhabi golf championship.
They were joined by five amateurs who had won the right to compete in competitions in various golf magazines across the world.
Slater, from Warrington, could manage "only" 640 yards as the rain lashed down, making the wing very slippery underfoot.
Stenson’s new Asian best is still some way short of Slater’s world best of 884 yards, set last April at NMSI Wroughton, in Wiltshire.
Jay Tyson, the operations director for Slater’s sponsor, the London Golf Show, accompanied the world-record holder out to the Middle East.
He said: “Slates hit the ball well enough but everybody apart from Henrik seemed to go off to the left. Henrik’s ball went straight down the middle and stayed straight. I suppose it emphasises the subtle differences between the pros and the Tour pros.”
Slater returns to the UK later this week and will be demonstrating his long-driving skills – and offering some tips – at the London Golf Show at ExCeL from April 26-29.
+Just in case you are wondering how they are able to drive the ball so far ... the obvious explanation is that they are not driving on to grass but the tarmac runways down which a golf ball can bounce for miles, well, almost!
NORTH ALLIANCE SEASON
GETS BACK IN FULL SWING
AT TAIN ON SUNDAY
By ROBIN WILSON
Tain duo Mike Keay and Billy Ferries are the current top two golfers in the North Alliance, holding the best 72-hole aggregate scores before the fixtures resume after the holiday break at Tain this coming Sunday.
The two trophies they are in contention for when the season ends in March are the MacKintosh Salver for net returns and the Alliance Quaich for scratch rounds. Used to find the winners are the best two scores returned over Caithness venues added to their best two rounds at venues in Ross-shire and Sutherland.
Keay, the greenkeeper at Tarbat golf course and playing in his first Alliance season, currently leads the MacKintosh Salver handicap aggregates with 282: made up of a 71 at Tain, 69 at Invergordon, 70 at Wick and 72 at Reay.
Mike has has a net three-shot stroke advantage over Ferries who, at the same stage, holds the Alliance Quaich scratch lead on 293 from rounds of 72 at Tain, 76 at Invergordon, 70 at Reay and 75 at Thurso.
Ferries reduces his scratch total to 285 when his handicap of two is applied.
ANOTHER TAIN CHALLENGER
Tain has a third member in the hunt for one of the trophies. Steve Holmes is on a net total of 290 with his best handicap rounds of 71 at Tain and Invergordon, a 72 at Wick and a 76 at Durness (Durness although in Sutherland counts as a Caithness venue).
Munro Ferries, who has been runner to the scratch winner in the past two seasons, is six shots behind his brother, Billy, but has every opportunity to close the gap this weekend over his home course.
There are two Caithness club members who can leap into contention should they choose to play for a second “away” score this weekend. Defender of the scratch trophy, Ronnie Taylor (Wick), who last time scored 75 at Tain but missed the Invergordon fixture, is on a three-score total of 216 while Doug Thorburn (Thurso) is better placed on 213, but also requiring a second counting score outwith Caithness.
Doug also missed Invergordon but has counting scores at Thurso (69), Reay 71 and Tain 73 to work with.
GETS BACK IN FULL SWING
AT TAIN ON SUNDAY
By ROBIN WILSON
Tain duo Mike Keay and Billy Ferries are the current top two golfers in the North Alliance, holding the best 72-hole aggregate scores before the fixtures resume after the holiday break at Tain this coming Sunday.
The two trophies they are in contention for when the season ends in March are the MacKintosh Salver for net returns and the Alliance Quaich for scratch rounds. Used to find the winners are the best two scores returned over Caithness venues added to their best two rounds at venues in Ross-shire and Sutherland.
Keay, the greenkeeper at Tarbat golf course and playing in his first Alliance season, currently leads the MacKintosh Salver handicap aggregates with 282: made up of a 71 at Tain, 69 at Invergordon, 70 at Wick and 72 at Reay.
Mike has has a net three-shot stroke advantage over Ferries who, at the same stage, holds the Alliance Quaich scratch lead on 293 from rounds of 72 at Tain, 76 at Invergordon, 70 at Reay and 75 at Thurso.
Ferries reduces his scratch total to 285 when his handicap of two is applied.
ANOTHER TAIN CHALLENGER
Tain has a third member in the hunt for one of the trophies. Steve Holmes is on a net total of 290 with his best handicap rounds of 71 at Tain and Invergordon, a 72 at Wick and a 76 at Durness (Durness although in Sutherland counts as a Caithness venue).
Munro Ferries, who has been runner to the scratch winner in the past two seasons, is six shots behind his brother, Billy, but has every opportunity to close the gap this weekend over his home course.
There are two Caithness club members who can leap into contention should they choose to play for a second “away” score this weekend. Defender of the scratch trophy, Ronnie Taylor (Wick), who last time scored 75 at Tain but missed the Invergordon fixture, is on a three-score total of 216 while Doug Thorburn (Thurso) is better placed on 213, but also requiring a second counting score outwith Caithness.
Doug also missed Invergordon but has counting scores at Thurso (69), Reay 71 and Tain 73 to work with.
LEHMAN AND WALDORF
COMING OVER FOR
ITALIAN OPEN IN MAY
Tom Lehman, the 2006 United States Ryder Cup team captain, and DuffyWaldorf, one of his backroom assistants at The K Club, will bring a Ryder Cup flavour to the Telecom Italia Open, which returns to Castellodi Tolcinasco G&CC, Milan, from May 3-6.
The American duo, two of the nicest personalities in world pro golf, have long been close friends, teaming up three times to win Hyundai Cup team matches. They will be competing in the Telecom Italian Open for the first time.
Lehman joined the game's elite with his Open championship victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1996, a year he topped the US PGA Tour money list and also forced his way to the top of the Official World GolfRanking to become world No. 1.
Waldorf, winner of four titles on the US PGA Tour, is one of the mosteasily recognisable players in world golf with his penchant for colourful shirts and caps. His golf balls are also adorned with messages and reminders from his wife and children. His best year was 1999 when he won twice. As a connoisseur of fine wines, Waldorf is sure to enjoy his visit to Italy.
COMING OVER FOR
ITALIAN OPEN IN MAY
Tom Lehman, the 2006 United States Ryder Cup team captain, and DuffyWaldorf, one of his backroom assistants at The K Club, will bring a Ryder Cup flavour to the Telecom Italia Open, which returns to Castellodi Tolcinasco G&CC, Milan, from May 3-6.
The American duo, two of the nicest personalities in world pro golf, have long been close friends, teaming up three times to win Hyundai Cup team matches. They will be competing in the Telecom Italian Open for the first time.
Lehman joined the game's elite with his Open championship victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1996, a year he topped the US PGA Tour money list and also forced his way to the top of the Official World GolfRanking to become world No. 1.
Waldorf, winner of four titles on the US PGA Tour, is one of the mosteasily recognisable players in world golf with his penchant for colourful shirts and caps. His golf balls are also adorned with messages and reminders from his wife and children. His best year was 1999 when he won twice. As a connoisseur of fine wines, Waldorf is sure to enjoy his visit to Italy.
GIVE US YOUR VIEW ON TODAY'S TALKING POINT
THE OPEN SHOULD BE THE TOUGHEST TEST,
SO LET'S MAKE IT
OVER SIX ROUNDS!
This week sees the Bob Hope Classic in California, the only five-round or 90-hole event on any of the major golf tours of the world – if you discount the qualifying schools.
When, where and why did 72 holes become the norm for a professional golf tournament? Was it a bit like 18 holes becoming the standard length of a golf course, really by chance rather design?
Does anyone out there agree with me that the Open championship should be over at least six rounds?
Why? Because it should be THE major test of golf and two extra rounds would ensure that the best player in the field is the winner at the end of almost a week of solid play.
“Normal” cricket matches are over three days. But Test matches are over five (unless it’s England playing Australia, of course).
“Normal” boxing matches are over 10 rounds. But world championship matches are over 15 rounds.
This week sees the Bob Hope Classic in California, the only five-round or 90-hole event on any of the major golf tours of the world – if you discount the qualifying schools.
When, where and why did 72 holes become the norm for a professional golf tournament? Was it a bit like 18 holes becoming the standard length of a golf course, really by chance rather design?
Does anyone out there agree with me that the Open championship should be over at least six rounds?
Why? Because it should be THE major test of golf and two extra rounds would ensure that the best player in the field is the winner at the end of almost a week of solid play.
“Normal” cricket matches are over three days. But Test matches are over five (unless it’s England playing Australia, of course).
“Normal” boxing matches are over 10 rounds. But world championship matches are over 15 rounds.
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION
And I am sure there are other examples.
Michael Bonallack (before he became a “Sir), pictured above, once told me – and a few hundred other golf writers at an Open Press conference – that the rough SHOULD be longer, the fairways SHOULD be narrower, the bunkers deeper, etc at an Open championship because it is a tournament to find out the best all-round player.
He compared it with education: A university entrance examination should be and is a lot harder to pass than say your normal term test at school. And so it should be with the Open championship compared with run-of-the-mill tournaments.
And I am sure there are other examples.
Michael Bonallack (before he became a “Sir), pictured above, once told me – and a few hundred other golf writers at an Open Press conference – that the rough SHOULD be longer, the fairways SHOULD be narrower, the bunkers deeper, etc at an Open championship because it is a tournament to find out the best all-round player.
He compared it with education: A university entrance examination should be and is a lot harder to pass than say your normal term test at school. And so it should be with the Open championship compared with run-of-the-mill tournaments.
On a not so serious note. When you think of the money that the R&A makes from a four-day Open championship and spreads liberally around the world for the good of golf, just think how much more money would be generated by two extra days of tournament play.
COLIN FARQUHARSON
YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE. Let me have your view on the subject by E-mailing me at colin@scottishgolfview.com