EMPHATIC WIN FOR BRAEHEAD OVER TILLICOULTRY IN CLACKMANNAN FOURSOMES

By HUGH HUNTER

The 2007 Clackmannan county club foursomes tournament ended with an emphatic win for Braehead Golf Club over Tillicoultry Golf Club at the rain-soaked Tulliallan course this evening.
The tournament uses a traditional scoring system whereby three couples play against each other over 18 holes, the result is decided by the aggregate of holes up and down. Braehead’s top couple of team captain Ross Benvie, partnered by Scott McChristie, quickly established a two-hole lead by the seventh. Although pulled back to a single hole by the 11th, the duo struck back with wins at 12 and 13, eventually finishing four holes up.
Although Tillicoultry made a slight rally in the last two games at the 11th and 12th holes, the result became clear well before the end and Braehead finished 16 holes up.
Their path to the final started with a shock win against the holders, Tulliallian over their home course, followed by a semi-final win against Alloa by seven holes.
Tillicoultry’s route to the final involved only a semi-final win against Dollar (who had beaten Alva in the first round) by 11 holes. Interestingly, the semi-final match found two former Wee County Scottish boy champions on opposite sides -- John Gullen for Tillicoultry and Bobby Watson for Dollar.

Caption for Hugh Hunter's picture above. Front row (left to right): Mike Rust, captain Ross Benvie with trophy, Scott McChristie. Back row: David Finlayson, James Muir and Scott Moffat.

Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Braehead beat Alloa by seven holes
Scott Moffat & Mike Russell 0, Ian Ross & James Aitken 0.
David Finlayson & James Muir 7, Phil Dempsey & Andre Scotland 0.
Ross Benvie & Scott McChristie 0, Craig O’Connor & Ian Guthrie 0.
Tillicoultry beat Dollar by 11 holes.
Andrew McPherson & Jim Malcolm 0, Dareren Hulston & Gary Smith 0.
John Gullen & Ross Jamieson 8, Vic Allan & Mark Inglis 0.
Colin Johnson & Gary Kinnaird 3, Craig Downie & Bobby Watson 0.
FINAL
Braehead beat Tillicoultry by 16 holes
Benvie & McChristie 4, Malcolm & McPherson 0.
Finlayson & Muir 4, Gullen & Jamieson 0.
Moffat & Rust 8, Kinnaird & Johnson 0.

MONTY HAS A 76 BUT HE'S ONLY
ONE BEHIND TIGER WOODS IN
PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Colin Montgomerie could do no better than a four-over-par 76 in the first round of the US Players' Championship at Sawgrass. Mind you, Tiger Woods, beset by putting problems, was only one better.
Setting a hot pace on 67 were Phil Mickelson and South African Rory Sabbatini.

SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (players from US unless stated)
67 Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini (SAf).
68 Chris DiMarco.
69 Peter Lonard (Aus).
70 Rodney Pampling (Aus), Tom Lehman, Carl Pettersson (Swe), Jason Gore
71 Brian Davis (Eng), Retief Goosen (SAf), Jeff Quinney, J.P. Hayes, Nathan Green (Aus), Jim Furyk, KJ Choi (Kor), Rich Beem.
72 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Steve Stricker, Cliff Kresge, Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Sean O'Hair, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Scott Verplank, Rocco Mediate, Brandt Snedeker, Henrik Stenson (Swe).
73 Jerry Kelly, Arron Oberholser, Zach Johnson, John Senden (Aus), Kevin Sutherland, John Mallinger, Steve Elkington (Aus), Charles Howell III, Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Jose Coceres (Arg), Ernie Els (SAf), Tim Clark (SAf), Shane Bertsch.
74 Joey Sindelar, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Harrison Frazar, Will MacKenzie, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Vijay Singh (Fij), Boo Weekley, Stuart Appleby (Aus), Adam Scott (Aus), Charl Schwartzel (SAf), Ted Purdy, Stewart Cink, Tom Pernice jun, Robert Allenby (Aus), Luke Donald (Eng), Brett Wetterich, Jonathan Byrd.
75 Nick Watney, Kirk Triplett, Charley Hoffman, Tiger Woods, Vaughn Taylor, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Todd Hamilton, Dean Wilson, Shaun Micheel, Mike Weir (Can), Craig Perks (NZ), Michael Campbell (NZ), Eric Axley, Jeff Sluman, Ian Poulter (Eng), Corey Pavin, Troy Matteson.
76 Bart Bryant, Ben Curtis, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Joe Durant, Bill Haas, Ken Duke, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Jason Bohn, Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Paul Casey (Eng), John Rollins, J.B. Holmes, J J Henry, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Shigeki Maruyama (Jap), D.J. Trahan, Padraig Harrington (Ire).
77 Pat Perez, Tim Herron, Davis Love III, David Toms, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Chris Couch, Bubba Watson, Greg Owen (Eng), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Ryan Palmer, Bo Van Pelt, Ryuji Imada (Jap), Douglas Labelle, Bobby Wadkins, Frank Lickliter II, Stephen Ames (Can).
78 Charles Warren, Paul Azinger, Billy Mayfair, Steve Lowery, Heath Slocum, Hunter Mahan, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Anthony Kim, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Justin Leonard, Brett Quigley, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Briny Baird, Ryan Moore.
79 Chad Campbell, Jeff Gove, Lucas Glover, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Flesch, Mark Wilson
80 Kent Jones, Jeff Maggert, Trevor Immelman (SAf), Paul Goydos, Brian Gay, Camilo Villegas (Col), Fred Funk.
81 Billy Andrade, Stephen Marino, Woody Austin, Olin Browne
82 Bob Estes, David Branshaw, Mark Calcavecchia
85 Robert Garrigus.
Withdrawn: Daisuke Maruyama (Jap).

GREAT SCOTT! JAMIESON UNDER PAR AGAIN
ON HOOTERS' TOUR QUICKSILVER CLASSIC

Scott Jamieson continues his good form as a rookie tour pro on the NGA Hooters Tour with a first-round, three-under-par 69 at the Quicksilver Classic at Quicksilver Golf Club, Midway in Pennsylvania.
That put the Glasgow man in a share of 11th place in the huge field at the end of the day.
Ulsterman Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, winner of this title 12 months ago, made an even better start with a 68 to be in joint fourth place.
David Skinns from Lincoln had a 70 and Colin Spiers from Dunkeld a 71 to be lying joint 35th.
Joel Hendry, the twice former Scottish youths champion from Elgin, is in joint 57th place after a par-matching 72.
Scots exile David Kirkpatrick from Edinburgh but a resident of Lakeland, Florida for at least a decade, had an uninspired one-over-par 73 to be sharing 81st place. To be among the leading 60 and ties who will beat the 36-hole cut on the NGA Hooters Tour you normally have to score at worst par over 36 holes.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
66 Tommy Biershenk (South Carolina), Tim Ailes (Ohio).
67 James Vargas (Miami).
Other scores:
68 Gareth Maybin (NIre) (jt 4th).
69 Scott Jamieson (Sco) (jt 11th).
70 David Skinns (Eng).
71 Colin Spiers (Sco) (jt 35th).
72 Joel Hendry (Sco) (jt 57th).
73 David Kirkpatrick (Sco) (jt 81st).
81 Andrew Bravant (Eng) (jt 160th).

ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE TIE RAINED OFF

Tonight's Caledonian v Northern Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League match was postponed because the King's Links course was closed after 24 hours of rain.
The Pennant League for 2007 started on Tuesday night with Bon Accord playing Craibstone. If anyone knows the result of that tie, we would be grateful if they could E-mail it to: colin@scottishgolfview.com
We would like to display the Pennant League results nightly as they are played but we need the co-operation of the home clubs.
The next scheduled round of matches is on Tuesday (May 15):
Bon Accord v Deeside.
Craibstone v Hazlehead.
Nigg Bay v Westhill.
Stonehaven v Auchmill.

JACQUELINE SNEDDON IS TOP QUALIFIER AGAIN
FOR PERTH & KINROSS MATCH-PLAY STAGES

Alyth’s Jacqueline Sneddon topped the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Perth & Kinross women’s county championship at Kinross today for the second year in a row.
On a day of non-stop rain, when the greens had to be repeatedly swept clear of excess water and the course played very long with no run on the ball, Jacqueline’s score of 82 was matched by Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) but the Alyth player was declared the top seed of a card countback.
The match-play starts over the same course at 9.28 on Saturday morning with the quarter-finals teeing off from 2.0. The semi-finals and final will be played on Sunday.
All three members of the Sneddon family who played in the qualifying round won their way through to the match-play. Apart from daughter Jacqueline, mother Jennifer and sister Jillian made it through in the handicap championship and could meet in the semi-finals.
QUALIFIERS
82 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
84 J Yellowlees (Murrayshall), A Bushby (Strathmore).
86 A Niven (Crieff), E Napper (Craigie Hill).
87 L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam), C Dunbar (Aberfeldy), G Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham).
90 S Shephered (Blairgowrie).
91 M Begbie (Alyth), J Griffiths (Crieff), D Butchart (Strathmore), G Wallace (Glenisla), N Morrison (Dunblane).
92 C Turner (Alyth).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Jacqueline Sneddon v Turner, Lambie v Dunbar, Niven v Griffiths,. Butchart v Bushby, Yellowlees v Wallace, Begbie v Napper, Fertacz v Shepherd, Morrison v Ogilvy.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
A Smith (Kinross) (15) v G Pennycook (Alyth) (13), L Murray (Kinross) (12) v C Peebles (Alyth) (21), M Walker (Alyth) (25) v Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (23), Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) v S Crystal (Taymouth) (19).

TONIGHT'S RESULTS FROM ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES

At Hazlehead.

Morrison Construction w.o. Aberdeen Motor Trade scr.

Insurance beat Sparrows Offshore by 11 holes.
Alastair Martin & Donald Love 5, Jim Henderson & Stuart Watt 0
Nick Henderson & Alan Ross 6, Brian Smith & Pat McCrory 0

Fish Trade beat Production Services Network by five holes
Francis Clark & Colin Fraser 1, Chris Flint & Andy Powell 0
Mike Pocock & Darren Ross 4, Alan Sheldrick & Bill Riley 0

Lawyers beat Agricola by 20 holes.
Bill Barclay & Jim Christie 9, John Wallace & Ray Sutherland 0
Duncan Kerr & Donald Macandrew 11, Russell Hooper & Dave Miller 0

Bakers beat Lumsden Security by one hole.
Stephen Scott & Gary Geddes 3, Cammy McBain & Frank McBeath 0
Kenny Milne & Stuart Milne 0, Neil Forbes & Fred Lawson 2

Elmar UK beat Meat Trade by four holes.
Gary Lyon & Kenny Coull 2, John Simmers & Donny Adam 0
Allan Strath & Kevin Selbie 2, Evan Leslie & Bruce Fraser 0

AUSSIE ZIONS LEADS EUROPEAN TOUR
EVENT AT ANDALUCIA, SPAIN

Matthew Zions, a 28-year-old Denver, Colorado-based Australian, who came through all three stages of the European Tour Qualifying School last year, was the surprise leader on seven-under-par 65 at the end of the first round of the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia at Aloha Golf Club on Span's Costa del Sol today.
He led by one shot from American-based Spaniard, Alejandro Canizares.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72. Players from GB&I unless stated.
65 Matthew Zions (Aus).
66 Alejandro Canizares (Spa).
67 Louis Oosthuizen (SAf), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Gary Lockerbie, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Chris Gane.
68 David Griffiths, Matthew Millar (Aus), Eduardo de la Riva (Spa), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Jamie Spence.
69 Richard McEvoy, Steve Jones (US), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Kenneth Ferrie, Phillip Archer, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Benn Barham, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Gareth Davies, Sam Walker, Carl Suneson (Spa), David Higgins.
70 Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Alvaro Salto (Spa), Denny Lucas, Robert Rock, Andrew Butterfield, Sion Bebb, Jamie Donaldson, Soren Hansen (Den), Oliver Fisher, Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Paul Broadhurst, Simon Dyson, David Lynn, Marcus Higley, Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Sebastian Fernandez (Arg)
71 Gary Emerson, Carlos Balmaseda (Spa), Sam Little, Lee James, Sven Struver (Ger), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Notah Begay (USA), Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Simon Nash, Paul McGinley, Adrien Mork (Fra), Garry Houston, Jorge Berendt (Arg).
72 Martin Maritz (SAf), Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), James Hepworth, Pedro Linhart (Spa), Andrew Raitt, Jean Hugo (SAf), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Anthony Wall, Damien McGrane, Santiago Luna (Spa), Edward Rush, Tomas Jesus Munoz (Spa), Raphael Eyraud (Fra), Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Euan Little, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Lee Westwood, Juan Parron (Spa), Ian Garbutt, Manuel Merizalde (Col), Daniel Quiros (Spa), Scott Strange (US).
73 Rafael Echenique (Arg), Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Spa), Ariel Canete (Arg), Terry Price (Aus), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Peter Fowler (Aus), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Miles Tunnicliff, Simon Hurd, Steve Alker (NZ), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Diego Borrego (Spa).
74 Fredrik Widmark (Swe), Philip Golding, YE Yang (Kor), Francis Valera (Spa), David Bransdon (Aus), David Drysdale, Shaun Webster, Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Thomas Levet (Fra), Taichi Teshima (Jpn), Cesar Monasterio (Arg), Johan Axgren (Swe), Henrik Nystrom (Swe).
75 Ivo Giner (Spa), Tim Milford, Carlos Del Moral (Spa), Stuart Little, James Heath, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa), Andrew Tampion (Aus), Jonathan Lomas, Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Phil Worthington, David Dixon, Gabriel Canizares (Spa).
76 Agustin Domingo (Spa), Francisco Cea (Spa), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Carlos Quevedo (Spa), Matthew Richardson, Francois Calmels (Fra), Thomas Nielsen (Den), Warren Bennett, Manuel Quiros (Spa), Andrew Oldcorn, Carlos Aguilar (Spa).
77 Pablo Larrazabal (Spa), Scott Drummond
78 Mickael Dieu (Fra), Raul Quiros (Spa), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Hernan Rey (Arg), Lee Slattery, Rafael Gomez (Arg), Keith Horne (SAf).
79 Vicente Blazquez (Spa), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Carlos De Corral (Spa)
80 Luis Claverie (Spa).
86 Andres Jimenez (Spa).

QUALIFIERS FOR LGU MEDAL GRAND FINAL AT CRIEFF

Leading scores in the Ladies Golf Union Medal North area final at Monifieth today were:

Silver Division – Caroline Barclay (Milnathort) (15) 73; Ann B Ramsay (Kirriemuir) (10) better inward half, Lynne Fotheringham (Grange) (4) 74; Ruth Mitchell (Murcar Links) (15) 75 (bih).
Bronze Division – Judy Proudfoot (Taymouth Castle) (26) 66; Angie Isbister (Montrose Caledonia) (22) 69; Anne Geddes (Arbroath Artisans) (34) 70; Sheila Walton (Kintore) (23) 72.
Mrs Ramsay is unable to attend the Grand Final at Crieff on Sunday, June 3, which means the qualifiers are: Barclay, Fotheringham, Mitchell, Proudfoot, Isbister and Geddes.

NORTHERN VETS BEAT MIDLANDS

AT GLENISLA

Northern beat Midland 5-2 in a veteran women's inter-area golf match to win the Patrick Rosebowl at the third attempt at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth today at Glenisla.
Details (Northern names first):.
K Sutherland (Royal Montrose ) bt F De Vries (St Regulus) 4 and 3, H Anderson (Downfield ) lost to L Bennett (Ladybank) 6 and 5, L Terry (Cruden Bay ) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 2 and 1, F Neish (Murcar Links) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 5 and 4, A Smart (Banchory) bt A Chisholm (Dunfermline) 3 and 2, R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) bt K Keir (Elie & Earlsferry) 3 and 2, P Wilson (Murcar Links ) lost to I Harvey (St Regulus) 3 and 2.

BRITAIN'S GOLF GIRLS WIN COMMONWEALTH
TITLE AFTER SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA
LOSE TO TOURNAMENT UNDERDOGS

Great Britain's female amateur golf squad today won the Commonwealth Tournament for the first time since 1991 - when they were miles away from the course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Britain still have to play host nation South Africa on Friday's final programme but Thursday's results meant that Sue Turner's team, with three wins out of three over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, cannot be overtaken at the top of the league table, whatever happens in the final session of play.
Today, the underdogs bit back. New Zealand, whipped by the Brits on Wednesday, beat South Africa 4-3 and Canada, thrashed 7-0 by Britain on Monday, shocked Australia by beating them 4-3.
Britain have 3pt, and their nearest challengers, Canada with 2pt, have completed their programme of four matches. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have 1pt apiece. They are playing for runner-up place on Friday.
British skipper Sue Turner said: “We may be out of reach at the top of the table because no other team can catch us, but we are determined to win all of our four matches before we celebrate our victory.”
The British team - Scotland's Krystle Caithness, Breanne Loucks from Wales, and England's Melissa Reid, Kerry Smith and Naomi Edwards, were playing with lion cubs and on a shopping spree, when news filtered through of the shock defeats for their only challengers, South Africa and Australia.
The last British team to win the tournament, played every four years, comprised of two Scots, Catriona Lambert (Matthew), Elaine Farquharson, two English players, Julie Hall and Linzi Fletcher, and Vicki Thomas from Wales. They won in 1991 over the Northumberland Golf Club course.
Today's results:
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club - Third day - New Zealand 4, South Africa 3; Canada 4, Australia 3.

GRAHAM GORDON LEADING SCOT

IN PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

AFTER DAY OF TOUGH CONDITIONS

Conditions were so tough for the second round of the Oceanico Group Irish Classic, this week's PGA EuroPr0 Tour event at Roganstown Golf Club, that the projected 36-hole cut figure rose steadily during the day until it reached 150.
Everyone with 151 or worse failed to make it through to Friday's final round.
That meant that Aberdonian Graham Gordon, the former Scottish amateur champion, qualified after all. An early finisher, it had looked has if his total of 147 (75-72) would be on the wrong side of the cut.
But as events transpired Gordon (pictured right) finished the second day as the leading Scot in the field!
Paul Cormack and Paul Doherty were the only two compatriots who joined him among the qualifiers. They were both on 149 and both with rounds of 74 and 75.
Graham Brown, Elliot Saltman and Freddy Valenti were sidelined on 151 and, surprisingly enough, so too was Christopher Campbell who was the joint top Scot with Paul Cormack at the end of Day 1. The Skibo Castle man slumped to a second-round 78 for 152.
SCOREBOARD
138 C Hanson (Eng) 66 72, R Steeele (Eng) 69 69.
139 G Clark (Eng) 70 69, N Fox (Ire) 66 73.
141 J Ruebotham (Eng) 70 71.
Other qualifiers included:
147 G Gordon (Sco) 75 72.
149 P Cormack (Sco) 74 75, P Doherty (Sco) 74 75.
SCOTS WHO MISSED CUT
151 G Brown 75 76, E Saltman 79 72, F Valenti 78 73.
152 C Campbell 74 78.
154 N Mitchell 75 79.
156 J Doherty 81 75.
157 A Mackenzie 78 79.
159 L Harper 78 81.

NORTH-EAST BLOOD McLEAN AGAINST ARGYLL & BUTE

Peterhead's Philip McLean, a Scotland youth international, will make his debut for the North-east men's six-strong team in the first of the Scottish area championship ties at Murcar Links a week on Sunday against Argyll & Bute.
Team is:
Gary Esson (Portlethen), Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links), Philip McLean (Peterhead), Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay).
Reserve: Alan Reith (Deeside).

FOUR SHARE VICTORY IN SCOTTISH WATERAID 54-HOLE PRO-AM
AT FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

It could hardly have been closer at the top of the final scoreboard in the Scottish Wateraid 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am over the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews (formerly St Andrews Bay).
It was a logjam on three-under-par 213 with four players tied for the top spot and no play-off according to the rules of the SPGA competition.
The four men who each earned £1,756 were former PGA Cup player Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), pictured right, Stephen Gray (Hayston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Gary McFarlane (Clober).
McFarlane had shared the lead with Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter with one round to go but could do no better than a closing score of 71 for 213.
Robert Arnott made up the most ground with a 67, Gray a 68 and McKechnie a 69.
Hutcheon slipped back to joint fifth place, only one shot behind, on 214 with a closing 72. Alson o 214 was Sam Cairns (Westerwood).
TOP FINAL PLACINGS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 73 73 67, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 74 71 69, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 73 71 69, Gary McFarlane (Clober0 72 70 71.
214 Sam Cairns (Westerwood) 73 71 70, Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) 71 71 72.
215 Chris Doak (unatt) 77 68 70.
216 Graham Rankine (Drumpellier) 76 71 69, Jim McKinnon (Irvine) 74 72 70, Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 76 68 72, Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70 73.

KATHRYN IMRIE ON 73 AS REBECCA SETS
PACE WITH 65 AT SPANISH LADIES OPEN

Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson was back at her best with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the Ladies Spanish Open by one shot at the end of the first round at Campo Mediterraneo in Castellon.
Rebecca started at the 10th and covered her first nine holes in 30, only one above the Ladies European Tour record low for nine holes.
Kathryn Imrie was the best of the two Scots in the field. She scored a 73 with birdies at the sixth, eighth, 13th and 17th to be sharing 49th place on 73.
Lynn Kenny had a 75 with no birdies and Liz McKinnon a 76, again with no birdies.
Clare Queen is not in the field for this one.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (Players from GB&I unless stated).
65 Rebecca Hudson.
66 Kirsty Taylor, Gwladys Nocera (Fra).
67 Danielle Masters.
68 Louise Friberg (Swe), Nikki Garrett (Aus), Elin Ohlsson (Swe)
69 Asa Gottmo (Swe), Amy Yang (Kor), Fany Schaeffer (Fra), Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (am), Ellen Smets (Bel), Lynn Brooky (NZ).
70 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den), Sarah Kemp (Aus), Iben Tinning (Den), Martina Eberl (Ger), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Helena Alterby (Swe), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Lara Tadiotto (Bel).
71 Paula Marti (Spa), Bettina Hauert (Ger), Anna Rawson (Aus), Cassandra Kirkland (Fra), Lisa Jean (Aus), Anna Tybring (Swe), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Eleanor Pilgrim, Federica Piovano (Ita), Tullia Calzavara (Ita).
72 Maria Boden (Swe), Lee-Anne Pace (SAf), Lora Fairclough, Becky Brewerton, Lisa Hall, Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Natascha Fink (Aut), Julie Tvede (Den), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Kiran Matharu
73 Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Georgina Simpson, Sophie Giquel (Fra), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger), Elisa Serramia (Spa), Fame More, Anja Monke (Ger), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Rebecca Stevenson (Aus), Kathryn Imrie, Claire Coughlan, Karen Lunn (Aus), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Suzanne Dickens, Isabella Maconi (Ita), Mianne Bagger (Den), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Denise Simon (Ger).
74 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin), Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Jo Clingan, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Anne Lise Caudal (Fra), Samantha Head, Marlene Hedblom (Swe), Kirsty S Taylor, Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Leah Hart (Aus), Rebecca Coakley, Tania Elosegui (Spa), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Ana Larraneta (Spa), Sofia Renell (Swe), Rikke Rasmussen (Den), Mette Buus (Den).
75 Martina Gillen, Lynn Kenny, Joanne Mills (Aus), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Virginie Auffret (Fra), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Kris Lindstrom (US), Emma Cabrera (Spa) (am), Anna Knutsson (Swe), Sara Beautell (Spa).
76 Carlie Butler (Aus), Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ), Stefania Croce (Ita), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Trish Johnson, Nicole Gergely (Aut), Sarah Heath, Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Marta Prieto (Spa), Shani Waugh (Aus), Bree Turnbull (Aus), Anna Rossi (Ita)
77 Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned), Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Marina Arruti (Spa), Vanessa Vignali (Spa)
78 Felicity Johnson, Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Nuria Clau (Spa), Katie Bakken (US).
79 Nora Angehrn (Swi), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Anna Temple (US), Carmen Alonso (Spa), Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Natalie Claire Booth, Maria Angeles Jimenez (Spa).
80 Nathalie David-Mila (Fra)
81 Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor), Sophie Hunter.
82 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi), Maria Beautell (Spa).
89 Maria Blomqvist (Swe).

GEORGE MURRAY STARTS
WITH A 67 IN CHALLENGE
TOUR EVENT IN FRANCE
From MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour
An explosive finish of an eagle and two birdies in his closing three holes saw former Scottish amateur champion George Murray leap into contention in joint sixth place at the European Challenge Tour’s A.G.F. Allianz Golf Open de Toulouse today.
The 23-year-old from Anstruther, who started his round on the back nine, covered his closing three holes at the Golf de Toulouse-Seilh in four under par after a spectacular eagle 2 at the par-4 seventh hole was supplemented by consecutive birdies to help Murray to a five-under-par 67 which included a double bogey at the fourth.
In all, Murray, pictured right, had an eagle and five birdies.
That left the Fifer just three shots off the pace set by Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Christian Reimbold of Germany. Hoey won the British amateur championship at Prestwick in 2001; Reimbold was beaten in the previous year's final of that event.
Murray leads the Scottish challenge, with former European Tour Rookie of the Year Scott Henderson of Aberdeen and Glasgow’s Andrew McArthur, like Murray a former Scottish amateur title-holder, on two under after a pair of opening 70s.
Scott Henderson started with a double-bogey 6. He birdied the seventh and 10th before bogeying the 11th. The Aberdonian finished strongly with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th.
McArthur birdied the fifth, seventh and eight for a sparkling first nine of 33. But he bogeyed the 10th and 13th and had to birdie the 14th to get back to two under par.
Peter Whiteford had a disappointing 74 with included a double bogey 7 at the long 11th. He birdied the second and eighth but dropped single shots at the fourth and 18th.
Edinburgh's former Walker Cup player David Patrick soon lost the form that won him the Callaway Challenge on the Tartan Tour a week or so ago. Patrick had double bogeys at two short holes, the sixth and the 18th as well as single shots dropped at the second and 16th. Birdies at the fifth, seventh and 15th could not repair all the damaged as he stumpled to a 75.
Next to Murray, the leading Scottish-based player was Welshman Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton club professional. Gareth birdied the sixth, ninth, 13th, 14th and 17th with only one bogey, at the 12th.
LEADERBOARD
6,924yd. Par 72
64 Michael Hoey (NIr), Christian Reimbold (Ger).
66 Van Phillips (Eng), Rodolfo Gonzalez(Arg), Sebastian Delagrange (Fra).
67 George Murray (Sco), Robert Dinwiddie (Eng), Andre Bossert (Swi), Johan Skold (Swe), Leif Westerberg (Swe).
68 Kalle Edberg (Swe), Gareth Wright (Wal), Paul Dwyer (Eng), Nicola Maestroni (Ita), John Wade (Aus), Jacob Okello (Ken), Jean Marc De Polo (Fra).
69 Robert Coles (Eng), Stephen Browne (Ire), Marc Farry (Fra), Raphaël De Sousa (Swi), Julien Quesne (Fra), Adam Gee (Eng), Jamie Little (Eng), Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), Jacques Thalamy (Fra), Kalle Brink (Swe), Toni Karjalainen (Fin), Michiel Bothma (SAf).
70 Nicolas Joakimides (Fra), Peter Kaensche (Nor), Scott Henderson (Sco), Christoffer Lange (Den), Bruno-Teva Lecuona (Fra), Benjamin Miarka (Ger), Mikko Korhonen (Fin), Joost Luiten (Net), Pontus Ericsson (Swe), Carlos Cardeza (Arg), Kieran Staunton (Eng), Stuart Davis (Eng), Bertrand Coathalem (Fra), Andrew McArthur (Sco), Fabien Marty (Fra), Wilhelm Schauman (Swe), Oskar Bergman (Swe); Magnus A Carlsson (Swe); Jan-Are Larsen (Nor), Oliver Whiteley (Eng), Arnaud Gabellon (Fra), Gareth Paddison (NZ), Peter Baker (Eng), Inder Van Weerelt (Net), Edouard Dubois (Fra) (am).
71 Pierre-Henry Brunel (Fra), Laurent Richard (Bel), Christophe Brazillier (Fra), Samuel Tanfin (Fra), Simon Robinson (Eng), Anders Schmedt Hansen (Den), Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den), Frédéric Schoettel (Fra), Colm Moriarty (Ire), Liam Bond (Wal), Richard Treis (Ger), Charles-Edouard Russo (Fra), Anthony Snobeck (Fra), Iain Pyman (Eng), Julien Guerrier (Fra); Paul Nilbrink (Nor), Gary Clark (Eng), Ghislain Rosier (Fra), Fabrizio Zanotti (Par), Michael McGeady (Ire), Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Benoit Teilleria (Fra), Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa), Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel).
72 Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Didier De Vooght (Bel), Wil Besseling (Net), Dominique Nouailhac (Fra), Juan Abbate (Arg), Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Daniel Barbetti (Arg), Eric Chaudouet (Fra), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra), Marco Crespi (Ita); Neil Walker (Eng), Kevin Harper (Eng).
73 Roope Kakko (Fin);Julien Van Hauwe (Fra); James H Williams (Wal); Ben Willman (Eng); Ben Mason (Eng); Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin); Raphaël Pellicioli (Fra); Daniel De Leon (Mex); Per Barth (Swe); Julien Millet (Fra); Andrea Maestroni (Ita); Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra); Manuel Kempe (Ger); Magnus Persson (Swe); Frédéric Cupillard Fra); Klas Eriksson (Swe).
74 Niki Zitny (Aut); Cédric Menut (Fra); Martin Wiegele (Aut); Jacques Chevalier (Fra); Julien Grillon (Fra); Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut); Jerome Theunis (Bel); Lasse Jensen (Den); Ally Mellor (Eng); Morten Hedegaard (Den); Michael Hill (Fra), Zane Scotland (Eng); Emilien Chamaulte (Fra); Daniel Denison (Eng); Robin Swane (Ned), Peter Whiteford (Sco).
75 John E Morgan (Eng); Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe); Thomas Fournier (Fra); Paul Hendriksen (Eng), David Patrick (Sco), Thomas Rouyer (Fra), Jean-Charles Thoreux (Fra); Olivier David (Fra); Benjamin Hebert (Fra) (am).
76 Stuart Cage (Eng); Charles Dubois (Fra); Jd Yvet (Fra), Ross McGowan (Eng), Kariem Baraka (Ger); Anthony Pailler (Fra) (am).
77 Laurent Pargade (Fra), Stuart Manley (Wal), Julien Foret (Fra), Benoit Bozio (Fra); Alessio Bruschi (Ita), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut); Ilya Goroneskoul (Fra); Robert Mcguirk (Eng); Alan Bihan (Fra), Renaud Guillard (Fra).
78 Matthew King (Eng).
79 Miguel Rodriguez (Arg).
80 Philip Rowe (Eng), Lionel Alexandre (Fra), Stephane Piget (Fra), Anthony Grenier (Fra).
86 Jeremy Kirkland (Fra).

STIRLING UNIVERSITY GOLFERS ARE TOP
OF THE CLASS IN BRITISH FINALS

Stirling University golf teams won both the BUSA Championship final and the BUSA Trophy final at the British Universities Sports Association match-play finals at Royal Liverpool Golf Club this week.
In the championship semi-finals at Hoylake, Exeter beat St Andrews 5-4 and Stirling beat Dundee 8 ½-1/2. Stirling beat Exeter 5 ½-3 ½ in the final to win the championship for the third year in succession.
The Stirling University second team beat University of Highlands and Islands 5-4 to win the BUSA Trophy.
The winning teams were:

Stirling University first team: Gordon Yates, Gavin Dear, Scott Borrowman, Bobby Rushford, Paul Betty, James White, David Booth.
Stirling University second team: Rory Doran, Evan Bryceland, Craig Haugh, Bradley Brooke, Byron Campbell, Matt Dargie.

“The wins are on the back of Stirling’s triumphs in the Scottish universities championships and the winter team trophy competition,” said Raleigh Gowrie, the Stirling sports performance manager.
“This proves that the University of Stirling is the strongest institution for golf in Britain.”
Stirling University head coach Gordon Niven said: “The students have performed consistently well throughout this season. It’s good that they can take this form into the final stages of events and produce the golf that is required to win tournaments. Hopefully, their form can continue through to the British universities individual championship next month.”
Twelve Stirling University golfers have qualified for the 54-strong field for the BUSA individual championship at De Vere Slaley Hall Golf Club from June 13 to 15.
They include Gordon Yates (sports studies), who represented the R&A in the Manual Prado Cup tournament in Peru recently, Gavin Dear (international managerment studies), who finished third in the Craigmillar Park Open last month, and David Booth (sports studies), winner of the BUSA regional order of merit (Scotland).

R&A PRESS RELEASE

SELECTION TARGET FOR GB&I BOYS

Notts Golf Club at the end of August is the target for boys aiming to cap a successful season by being selected for the GB&I team to compete against the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
For many years GB&I had an unyielding grip on the trophy but the 19½ - 4½ win for Europe at Marianske Lazne in 2006 showed that they are now a force to be reckoned with.
Over the next few months, contenders for the GB&I team will be expected to compete in most of the major boys events and while a few names have already been ‘pencilled in’, the way is still open for relatively unknown boys to play their way into contention.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of the Boys Selection Committee said: “We will be naming the team after the Boys Championship therefore there is everything to play for in the events before that. There are only three of last year’s team still available for selection so we will be picking at least six players who have not previously played for GB&I.
“Even at this early stage of the season, there have been several outstanding performances and at the Lytham Trophy, no fewer than four boys who are eligible for selection, made the cut –a superb achievement that points to a stronger GB&I team this year.”
“From a selection point of view, the Boys Home Internationals and European Boys Team Championship in Denmark will be top of our list as all potential candidates are likely to be in their respective national teams.”
Events at which selectors have been and will be present: -
Scottish Boys - Dunbar.
Peter McEvoy Trophy - Copt Heath.
Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters - Nizels.
European Boys Team Championship - Denmark.
Scottish Boys Open Strokeplay - Cardrona.
English Boys Open Strokeplay - Saunton.
Welsh Boys Championship - Nefyn & District.
Boys Home Internationals - Machynys Peninsula.
Boys Championship - Royal Porthcawl
Selection Committee: -
Jeff Toye – Chairman
Richard Cusack
Mark Heames
Jim Miller
Brian Roake

TIGHT FINISH ON CARDS IN

SCOTTISH WATERAID

ORDER OF MERIT PRO-AM

It promises to be a tight finish later today in the 54-hole Scottish Wateraid Order of Merit pro-am over the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews.
Gary McFarlane (Clober) and Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon (pictured right) are locked together in the lead at two-under-par 142.
Gary has had rounds o f 72 and 70, Greig a pair of 71s.
They are one stroke ahead of Mark Loftus (Cowglen) who has scored 73 and 70.
Then, on 144, come Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), Sam Cairns and Paul McKechnie.

The total prize fund is £16,000 so keen competition for the top four-figure cheques.

The top 10 with one round to go are:

142 Gary McFarlane (Clober) 72 70, Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) 71 71.
143 Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70.

144 Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 76 68, Sam Cairns (Westerwood) 73 71, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 73 71.

145 Chris Doak (unatt) 77 68, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 75 70, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 74 71, Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links).

+ Our apologies for being unable to display the scores last night but the Scottish PGA is having problems with its national computer network so we had to wait until this morning to contact Tournament Director Hugh Malcolm at Fairmont St Andrews. He will supply Scottishgolfview.com with the top final totals at the end of play today - so look out for them on Scottishgolfview.com in the early evening.