AN ENGLISHMAN WINS RUSSIAN OPEN TITLE
FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
For the second year in a row, an Englishman has won the Russian open amateur international men's championship at Pestovo Golf & Leisure Resort, about 25 miles north of Moscow.
Last year it was Seve Benson, this week it was Christopher Wood (Long Ashton) who, the week before, lost in the quarter-finals of the British men's amateur championship at Royal Lytham.
Wood shot rounds of 70, 70, 73 and 72 for a three-under-par total of 285.
In a tournament marked by some sudden "lurches" in the standard of scoring - for whatever reason - Wood won by seven shots from a Russian, Andrey Pavlov, who scored 73, 72, 70 and 77.
Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park) finished third on 295 and the other lads sent by the English Golf Union did not too badly. Sam Hutsby from Liphook, last year's winner of The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament, finished joint fourth with - and here's what I mean by lurches in scoring - 71, 81, 75 and 69 for 296.
Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale) shared sixth place on 297.
The Russian rules permit professionals to play in what is ostensibly an "amateur" tournament which explains why Yorkshire's Gordon Brand, a European Seniors Tour player, tied for eighth place on 304 in a field of 41 of whom three or four were professionals.
Germany's Nina Holleder won the women's championship with scores of 72, 72, 72 and 78 for six-over-par 294. Russian Galina Rotmistrova was second on 298 and Stephanie Doering from Germany third on 307.
Lizzie Brand finished fifth in a female field of 14 despite having a horrendous total of 328, made up on 82, 75, 86 and 85.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
MEN (par 288: 4 x 72)
285 Christopher Wood (Long Ashton) 70 70 73 72.
292 Andrey Pavlov (Russia) 73 72 70 77.
295 Dale Whitnell (Forrester Park) 72 68 77 78.
296 Dmity Vinogradov (Russia) 75 77 71 73, Sam Hutsby (Liphook) 71 81 75 69.
297 Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale) 74 74 79 70, Philipp Mejow (Germany) 72 77 75 73.
304 Gordon Brand (Yorkshire) (pro) 79 75 73 77, Mikhail Morozov (Russia) 79 76 72 77.
WOMEN (par 288: 4 x 72)
294 Nina Holleder (Germany) 772 72 72 78.
298 Galina Rotmistrova (Russia) 75 77 69 77.
307 Stephanie Doering (Germany) 76 76 81 74.
322 Elizaveta Nikulina (Russia) 81 83 80 78.
327 Lizzie Brand (Ilkley) 82 75 86 85.

JUSTIN ROSE WINS EUROPEAN TOUR
SHOT OF THE MONTH FOR MAY

The superb wedge played by Justin Rose to secure a play-off in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club has been recognised as the European Tour Shot of the Month for May.
Knowing that only a birdie 4 at the last would suffice to catch Denmark’s Anders Hansen – who ultimately prevailed at the first hole of sudden-death – Rose played a threequarter pitching wedge from 109yd to within six inches of the hole.
The Englishman’s spectacular effort was judged to be the best played during a month sprinkled by outstanding shot-making on the European Tour International Schedule.
In second place was Padraig Harrington’s five-wood to the ninth green at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort which set up an eagle 3 and a first home win in the Irish Open for 25 years.
Third place went to a wonderful approach played by Welshman Bradley Dredge as he tried to catch Harrington, a perfectly judged seven-iron from the rough to 2 1/2 ft for a birdie at the 71st hole.
Looking back on his winning shot, Rose said: “I certainly knew what I had to do. I took a long walk up to the green to see if Anders had made a birdie. I knew I needed to make a 4 to get in the play-off and I had the perfect yardage for a three4quarter pitching wedge to fly it past the hole and spin it back. It was nice to pull it off and have a tap-in!”
The European Tour Shot of the Month Award is presented to a Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding during each calendar month on The European Tour International schedule.

SEVEN SCOTS SURVIVE HALFWAY CUT IN
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT
By SCOTT CROCKET
Chief Press Officer, European Tour

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker continued to prove he was back in the groove when he carved himself a three shot lead at the halfway stage of the Estoril Challenge de Portugal at Quinta da Marinha, 30-odd miles west of Lisbon at Cascais, Estoril.
The 39 year old Englishman had been without an individual professional victory since August 1993 – a month before he played against the United States at The Belfry – but he put paid to that statistic in style last week when he won the Credit Suisse Challenge.
Now Baker, currently 11th on the Challenge Tour Rankings, is in line for his second successive tournament victory and one which would give him a great chance of cementing his place in the top 20 at the end of the season and gaining his European Tour card for 2008 by right.
Baker added a 66 to his opening 65 for an 11 under par total of 131 and a three shot lead over his fellow countryman Robert Coles who had set the target of eight under par 134 with his second consecutive 67 earlier in the day.
Out in 33, with one dropped shot at the eighth hole, Baker was flawless on the inward half, his only departures from par coming with birdies at the 11th and 13th and another to finish at the 18th where he fired a seven iron to six feet and rolled home the putt.
While Baker’s second round score was actually one shot worse than his opening round, the three time winner on The European Tour admitted it had been a better day’s work.
“That was a very good round of golf because the conditions, with the wind getting up, were certainly harder than my morning round on Thursday so I am very pleased with that,” he said.
“I saw Robert’s score before I went out and to be honest, my only real target was to keep around that mark so I was in the mix for the weekend. I would have been delighted to finish around eight under so to end up at 11 under is great.”
Second placed Coles might not have had the chance to watch his beloved West Ham perform their Houdini-like escape from relegation certainty last season, but the 34 year old is determined to utilise the same battling spirit as the boys from Upton Park to regain his own playing privileges for The European Tour.
The Englishman lost his card last year and, like Baker, has vowed to play the entire 2007 season on the Challenge Tour in an attempt to win it back. Currently in 40th place he is moving in the right direction but gave himself the ideal chance with another fine round at Quinta da Marinha.
“I actually saw a couple of the West Ham games towards the end of the season but then in the final game, against Manchester United at Old Trafford, I was playing in Toulouse and couldn’t go,” he said.
“But I had an early tee time on the Sunday and I saw a bar across from the hotel had Sky Sports so I thought, perfect, get back, get changed and have a few beers and watch the game – I couldn’t believe it when I turned up to find the bar didn’t open on a Sunday!
“I had to rely on my mates texting me from the game and every time my phone went off I thought, here we go, 1-0 Man United – I couldn’t believe it when we went 1-0 up and held on. It was brilliant and now I hope I can do as well this season on the course.”
Coles got off to a flying start in his second round with four birdies in his first seven holes. Tree trouble cost him shots at the eighth and 12th but recovered them with birdies at the tenth and 15th as he held his score together well in the strengthening winds.
“I’ve been doing okay this year on the Challenge Tour but apart from a third place earlier in the year where I had a good last round, to be honest, I’ve been treading water a little bit.
“I’ve never really been able to put four good rounds together to get a little run going and that is what you need to do on this Tour to push you up the top of the Rankings. This is by far and away my best start of the season so hopefully I can keep it going.”
Third place, two shots adrift of Coles, is shared by another Englishman, Ross McGowan, and Kasper Linnet Jorgensen of Denmark, who carded 68 and 69 respectively to finish on six under par 136.
Seven Scots in all were among those with 36-hole tallies of two-over-par 144 or better who will contest the weekend 36 holes - Andrew McArthur, Jamie McLeary, Elliot Saltman, Murray Urquhart, Scott Henderson, David Patrick, Eric Ramsay and Andy Oldcorn.
Scott Henderson put together his best round for a while - a bogey-free 67 to make the cut on level par 142. Scott birdied the fourth, sixth, seventh and 17th.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 P Baker (Eng) 65, 66
134 R Coles (Eng) 67, 67
136 R McGowan (Eng) 68, 68; K-L Jorgensen (Den) 67, 69
137 S Manley (Wal) 65, 72; A Tarchetti (Ita) 68, 69
138 G Clark (Eng) 68, 70; J Donaldson (Wal) 68, 70
139 J-A Larsen (Nor) 66,73; C Balmaseda (Esp) 70, 69; G Acosta (Arg) 69, 70; T Cruz (Por) 71, 68; M Carlsson (Swe) 72, 67; A McArthur (Sco) 69, 70; A Sobrinho (Por) 71, 68; M Wiegele (Aut) 74, 65.
Other Scots who beat the cut were:
142 J McLeary 68 74, E Saltman 68 74, M Urquhart 71 71, S Henderson 75 678.
143 D Patrick 71 72.
144 E Ramsay 75 69, A Oldcorn 76 68.
Scots who missed the cut were:
147 P Whiteford 74 73.
148 G Brown 78 70, G Murray 75 73, E Thomson 73 75.
150 C Doak 74 76.

ends




Scott Crockett
Chief Press Officer
The European Tour

MONTGOMERIE ONLY ONE SHOT OFF THE LEAD
AT HALFWAY STAGE OF FRENCH OPEN

Le Golf National, Guyancourt, Paris,
Par 142 (2 x 71)
137 Simon Khan 70 67
138 Paul McGinley 69 69, Colin Montgomerie 68 70
139 Tom Whitehouse 70 69, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 68 71, Zane Scotland 68 71, Kyron Sullivan 65 74
140 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 68 72, Thomas Levet (Fra) 67 73, Graeme Storm 66 74, Damien McGrane 68 72, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 71, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 68 72, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70 70
141 Richard Finch 71 70, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 69 72, Peter Lawrie 69 72, Benn Barham 66 75, David Lynn 72 69, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 73
142 Nick Dougherty 73 69, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 71, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 71, Oliver Wilson 73 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 73 69, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 66 76, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 69
143 Juan Parron (Spa) 71 72, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 72, James Kamte (Rsa) 66 78, Paul Lawrie 71 72, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 66 77, Robert Rock 71 72, Lee Westwood 71 72 , Stephen Dodd 71 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 74
144 Gary Lockerbie 74 70, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 72 72, Bradley Dredge 73 71, Mark Foster 72 72, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 75 69, Markus Brier (Aut) 68 76, Steve Webster 72 72, Stephen Gallacher 71 73, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 74, David Griffiths 70 74, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 73 71, Phillip Archer 72 72, Ian Poulter 70 74, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 72
145 Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 72 73, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 75, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 68 77, Santiago Luna (Spa) 70 75, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 74, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 71 74, Simon Dyson 75 70, Johan Axgren (Swe) 69 76, Oliver Fisher 70 75, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 73 72
146 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 75 71, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 72 74, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 74, Marcus Higley 70 76 , Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 73, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 72 74
MISSED THE CUT
147 Julien Guerrier (Fra) 73 74, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 78, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 74 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) 71 76, David Park 73 74, Kenneth Ferrie 73 74, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 75 72
148 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 74 74, Philip Golding 75 73, Graeme McDowell 71 77, Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 71 77, Mark Pilkington 72 76, David Carter 75 73, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 78, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 75 73, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 73 75
149 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 74 75, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 75 74, Edward Rush 71 78, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 80 69, Richard Bland 75 74, Renaud Guillard (Fra) 74 75, Andrew Marshall 77 72, John Bickerton 71 78, Ross Fisher 71 78, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 73 76
150 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 74 76, Julien Quesne (Fra) 80 70, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 74 76, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 73 77, Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 78 72, Anthony Wall 69 81, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 77, James Hepworth 72 78, Gary Murphy 70 80
151 Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai) 70 81, Paul Broadhurst 74 77, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 74 77, Phillip Price 75 76, Scott Drummond 77 74, Carl Suneson (Spa) 78 73, Malcolm Mackenzie 76 75, Brett Rumford (Aus) 74 77 , Diego Torne (Spa) 75 76, Ian Garbutt 74 77
152 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 77 75, Eric Moreul (Fra) 76 76, Matthew Millar (Aus) 74 78, Andrew Coltart 76 76, James Heath 76 76, Richard Green (Aus) 79 73
153 Cedric Menut (Fra) 76 77, Steven O'Hara 74 79, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 79 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 75 78, Jonathan Evans 78 75
154 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 75 79, Alexander Noren (Swe) 78 76, Mardan Mamat (Sing) 72 82, Anders Hansen (Den) 74 80, Andres Romero (Arg) 79 75, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 77 77
155 Miles Tunnicliff 82 73, Adrien Mork (Fra) 77 78, Francois Calmels (Fra) 77 78, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 84
156 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 78 78, Raphael Pellicioli (Fra) 77 79, Laurent Richard (Fra) 76 80, YE Yang (Kor) 75 81
157 Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 79 78, Terry Price (Aus) 79 78, Sam Walker 83 74
158 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 75 83, Simon Wakefield 82 76, Adam Frayne 75 83, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 85 73
159 Julien Foret (Fra) 76 83
160 Lee Slattery 79 81
161 Marc Warren 81 80
162 Simon Hurd 80 82
166 Anton Haig (Rsa) 83 83
Retired Gary Orr, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Garry Houston, Gary Emerson
Withdrew Philip Walton, Andrew McLardy (Rsa)
Disqualified Ignacio Garrido (Spa)

FORMER SHINTY ACE JOHN FRASER

WINS FIRST SCOTTISH SENIOR

CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT

Former Newtonmore shinty star John Fraser won the Central Scotland seniors’ open amateur stroke-play title at Stirling Golf Club today – the first event in a new national circuit for over-55s, although over-50s are being encouraged to enter as well.
Fraser, now a teacher in Edinburgh and a member at Royal Burgess Golf Club, combined being a top-class shinty player with being a district class golfer – he played regularly for North-east District’s six-man team and Murcar Golf Club when he was on the teaching staff at Mearns Academy.
John, who is 55 and plays off one of a handicap, had rounds of 73 and 71 for a total of level par 144 to win the inaugural event by three strokes from Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), age 57 and one of a handicap, and Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven), age 57 and two of a handicap, who both finished on 147 with matching rounds of 74 and 73.
Joint fourth-placed on 148, Gordon Thomson (Bearsden), also age 57 but a three-handicapper, matched John Fraser’s net aggregate of 142, the lowest in the tournament.
+Picture shows John Fraser with the Nairn Golf Club five-day open tournament trophy from about four or five years ago.

LEADING SCRATCH
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 72 72

144 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 73 71.
147 C Christy (Kilmacolm) 73 74, G Brown (Vale of Leven) 73 74.
148 G Thomson (Bearsden) 76 72, I Taylor (Royal Burgess) 74 74.
149 W Brown (Strathaven) 79 70, T Stafford (Alloa) 76 73, G Rodaks (Moffat) 71 78.
150 J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 76 74, B Grieve (King James VI) 76 74, W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 73 77.
151 J Aman (Grangemouth) 77 74, J Kinloch (Cardross) 77 74, A Fiddes (Murcar Links) 75 76, R Humble (Kilspindie) 75 76, D Murphy (Kinross) 74 77.
152 R McLellan (Turnberry) 81 71, J Noon (Leven GS) 79 73, I Stewart (Curragh) 76 76, J Watt (Letham Grange) 76 76, G MacDonald (Callander) 76 76, A Elder (Kirkcaldy) 75 77, H Milligan (Hamilton) 71 81.
153 A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 77 76, G Paterson (Northerh) 77 76, S Ellis (Cowal) 76 77, J McDponald (Cowglen) 76 77, R Gill (Gerrards Cross) 72 81.
154 W Crosbie (Crieff) 79 75, D Millar (St Andrews New) 77 77, A Ferguson (Drumpellier) 76 78, D Smith (Stirling) 76 78, A Wilson (Clober) 75 789, H Anderson (Callander) 73 81.
155 A Williamson (Bruntsfield Links) 79 76.
156 J Broadfoot (Turnberry) 81 75,D McQuade (Glenbervie) 79 77, B Edgar (Blackpool North Shore) 78 78, K Howie (West Kilbride) 76 80, P Boyd (Fereneze) 74 82.
157 K Bruce (Edzell) 77 80, R Stewart (Tulliallan) 76 81, P Kinloch (Cardross) 76 81.
158 W Morton (Dun bar) 83 75, J S Macdonald (Dunfermnline) 83 75, J Johnson (Northumberland) 81 77, B Bingham (Haggs Castle) 80 78.
159 J Wilson (Paisley) 78 81.]
160 J McNally (Williamwood) 81 79, M Lironi (Cathkin Braes) 81 79, D McKinnon (Ballochmyle) 80 80, C Moir (Worksop) 78 82.
161 R Thomson (St Andrews) 83 78, I Cumming (Eastwood) 82 679, K Forrest (Lenzie) 81 80, R MacDonald (Monifieth) 80 81, I Malcolm (Stirling) 79 82.

162 A William Wallace (Strathaven) 84 78.

163 S Quinn (Stirling) 86 77, C Gibson (Glenbervie) 84 79, M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 80 83, A MacLennan (Stirling) 78 85.

164 A Cameron (Gourock) 78 86.

165 I Dickson(Lundin) 84 81, R Grant (Caledonian) 83 82, A Laird (Deeside) 83 82, I Habbick (Cathkin Braes) 80 85, R Barton (Alloa) 78 87.

166 L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 78 88.

167 J Fairbairn (Bonnybrige) 84 83, J Stevens (Hayston) 83 84, V Trojan (Kirriemuir) 82 85.

168 N MacDonald (Glenbervie) 82 86.

169 P Costello (The Hirsel) 84 85.

170 K Lumsden (Glenbervie) 980 80, M Brook (Queens Park) 87 83, I Wilson (Craigie Hill) 87 83, M Mather (Ballater) 85 85.

171 R Goodale (Aberdour) 89 92, A Cross (Whitecraigs) 88 83, R Barton (Alloa) 84 87.

172 B Highley (Buchanan Castle) 86 86, M Hill (Douglas Park) 83 89.

173 J Scott Miller (Crieff) 88 85.

176 C Griffin (Stirling) 87 89, D Nelson (Aboyne) 87 89, D Anderson (Balmore) 809 89.

180 R Hepburn (Kames) 94 86.

187 R Stark (Drumpellier) 93 94.

LOWEST NET AGGREGATES

142 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) (1) 72 70, G Thomson(Bearsden) (3) 73 69.

143 G Brown (Vale of Leven) (2) 71 72, A Williamson (Bruntsfield Links) (6) 73 70.

144 J W Johnson (Royal Aberdeen) (3) 73 71, W Crosbie (Crieff) (5) 74 70, A Wilson (Clober) (5) 70 74, D McQuade (Glenbervie) (6) 73 71.

145 C Christy (Kilmacolm) (1) 72 73.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview

Scotland team captain Scott Knowles, back row, centre-left, receives the trophy from Barry Doyle, president-elect of the Irish Golf Union, after the Scots' victory over Ireland in the annual youths international match at West Waterford. Coach Neil Marr is on the right of the front row.

BORROWMAN CATCHES BUT CANNOT HOLD
LOCAL HERO POWER WHO GOES ON TO WIN
IRISH YOUTHS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY

With the exception of a short spell during the last nine holes, local hero Seamus Power led from pillar to post to capture the Irish youths' amateur open championship at West Waterford Golf Club in the south-east corner of Ireland.
Host club members were out in force at the wonderfully scenic course, which is nestled between the Comeragh and Knockmealdown Mountains to the north and east and the Drum Hills to the south, to witness a historic occasion for the club which has boasted a junior friendly policy since its foundation in 1993.
Power led by two strokes after day one of the championship, having recorded a four-under-par 68 in round one followed by a 71.
Scots Zander Culverwell and Scott Borrowman lay tied for second place and while Culverwell fell away with a third round 74, Borrowman, the new Scottish youths champion, closed the gap to one stroke with a fine round of 69.
Power edged further ahead early in the final round but back to back birdies from Borrowman at the seventh and eighth left the pair level playing the ninth.
They each made pars on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes before Borrowman birdied the 12th to edge to the lead for the first time.
Borrowman found the Brickey river on the difficult 14th hole and a dropped shot left the pair level again before a Power birdie on the 15th lifted the Irishman back in front.
Borrowman’s tee shot on the 16th found an unplayable lie in the trees on the right hand side and the Scot ran up a double bogey 7 which put paid to his title hopes and left Power with what proved an unassailable lead.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
280 S Power (West Waterford) 68 71 70 71.
283 S Borrowman (Dollar) 71 70 69 73.
284 B Kerr (Eng) 72 72 71 69, S Healy (Claremorris) 71 73 72 68.
285 N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 74 72 70 69, A Hogan (Newlands/UCD) 72 72 71 70, D Lernihan (Castle/UCD) 69 76 72 68.
286 F Rafferty (Dungannon) 71 73 70 72.
288 Z Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 70 74 73.
290 L Kirton (Newmachar) 75 74 74 67, B Campbell (Malone) 71 71 74 74.
292 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71 73 75, N O'Briain (Royal Dublin) 72 72 73 75.
293 W McCully (Donaghadee) 74 75 75 69, R O'Connor (The Island) 73 75 75 70, H Pyykola (Finland) 72 72 78 71, R McGee (Rosapenna) 71 74 76 72.
294 J Monaghan (The Island) 74 71 74 75, C McNamara (Limerick) 73 75 76 70, D Leathem (Lisburn) 72 73 73 76.
295 A Pitcher (The Island) 76 75 73 71, L Cameron (Eng) 75 76 75 69.
296 P O'Kane (Moyola Park) 79 71 77 69, R Kellett (Colville Park) 70 77 75 74.
297 J Tobin (Carrick-on-Suir) 78 72 75 72, N Grant (Knock) 78 69 78 72.
298 A O'Callaghan (Douglas) 75 73 74 76, T Coulson (England) 73 71 80 74.
300 C O'Connor (UCD/Athlone) 75 73 76 76.
301 C Carvill (Belvoir Park) 77 73 76 75, G Dunne (Seapoint) 74 74 81 72.
302 G Smyth (Clonmel) 76 75 78 73, D Carvill (Belvoir Park) 73 78 74 77, G Reid (Spa) 71 76 78 77.
303 C Jusslin (Finland) 71 79 81 72.
305 B Walton (Island/UCD) 72 78 78 77308: R Weldon (Hermitage) 73 75 77 83.
311 R O'Reilly (Headfort) 73 77 77 84.
Withdrew: L Mulligan (Stackstown) 74 76 86 WD

GRAY WINS £858 PRIZE AT TORRANCE HOUSE PRO-AM

Hayston's Steven Gray won the top cash prize of £858 in the Torrance House Golf Club pro-am today (Friday) with a five-under-par round of 67. He had seven birdies - at the first, third, sixth, seventh, 12th, 13th and 17th - and bogeys at the eighth and 11th in winning by two shots from a group of five players.
Sam Cairns (Westerwood) lead the P R Interiors trio of amateurs, Craig McDonald (handicap 15), Steven Reid (6) and Robert McLintoch (13) to victory in the pro-am team event with a net scorfe of 16-under-par 56.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 72
67 S Gray (Hayston).
69 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), C Gillies (Kingsfield), G Law (Uphall), J McKinnon (Irvine), M King (Kingsfield).
70 S Cairns (Westerwood), A Lockhart (Ladybank), G Hutcheon (Peterculter), S Catlin (Greenburn).

Carly Booth with the Under-21 championship trophy resting on the Menzies Trophy (best Under-18 years performance) at Auchterarder.


CARLY WINS SCOTTISH UNDER-21 TITLE BY
NINE STROKES - AND SAYS HER BROTHER
WALLACE DESERVES THE CREDIT

Only a few days after her old brother Wallace won the Tennant Cup by five shots, Carly Booth from Comrie spreadeagled the field to win the Scottish Under-21 girls’ open amateur stroke-play championship by nine strokes at Auchterarder Golf Club today (Friday).
“Anything he can do, I can do better,” joked Carly, who had her 15th birthday only last week and has a +2 handicap that should soon be +3.
“Seriously, I owe this win to Wallace for sorting out my golf swing after I came home from a few months at the Golf Academy in Florida. My brother took me back to basics, back to the natural swing that I had lost and he has worked hard to put me back on track.”
Carly, a former member of the Auchterarder club, had rounds of 70, 68 and 69 for a three-under-par total of 207 over a course lengthened by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association to 5,488yd with a par of 70, but a standard scratch score of 72 specially for this event. Carly was 10 under the combined CSS (73-72-72) of 217 for the tournament.
Despite dropping three shots late on in her final round, including a double-bogey at the par-3 last where she was plugged in a bunker, Miss Booth won by the runaway margin of nine strokes from Robert Gordon University student Laura Murray (Alford) and Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle).
Carly's final round of 69 was made up of an eagle 3 at the ninth, birdie 2s at the short eighth, short 14th and short 16th, and a birdie 3 at the 10th. She had a bogey 6 at the long sixth and a bogey 5 at the seventh and a bogey 6 at the long 15th as well as that double bogey at the short 18th hole.
Over the three rounds, Miss Booth had one eagle and 14 birdies - fantastic scoring for one so young. One wonders what the future holds for a player so good so young.
Carly also won the Menzies Cup for the lowest scored by an Under-18 year old
The record winning margin in this championship was set only 12 months ago by Krystle Caithness who beat the field by 11 shots with a record low total of 202. Krystle was unable to defend the title this week because she was required to practise with the rest of the Great Britain & Ireland squad at Fairmont St Andrews for next month’s Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent.
Carly, who has played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup match, has now won two Scottish titles. Last year, she won the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open title.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), beaten quarter-finalist in the recent Ladies British open amateur championship, finished fourth, thanks to a 68, the best final round by anyone, for a total of 218.
Fifth on 221 was 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).

FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70) CSS 73 72 72
207 C Booth (Comrie) 70 68 69.
216 L Murray (Alford) 76 71 69, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 75 69 72.
218 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 76 74 68.
221 K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 77 73 71.
222 E Alonso (France) 75 75 72.
224 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 75 78 71.
226 R Niven (Crieff) 81 75 70, K Brotherton (Tulliallan) 79 76 71, E Fairnie (Dunbar) 77 76 73.
228 H Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) 79 73 76.
229 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 78 78 73.
230 E Muirhead (Pitlochry) 78 72 80.
231 R Wilson (Monifieth) 76 80 75, G Webster (Hilton Park) 82 72 77, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) 76 77 78.
232 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 78 78 76.
234 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 87 72 75, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 76 75 83.
235 L Hendry (Routenburn) 82 77 76.
237 S Vass (Tain) 81 80 76.
238 J Meldrum (Dullatur) 79 82 77, L MacGregor (Falkirk) 79 80 79, G Monteith (Portpatrick Dunskey) 80 80 78.
241 J Sneddon (Alyth) 80 80 81.
243 S Leslie (Westhill) 80 84 79, S Herd (Dunblane New) 79 82 82.
245 R McIntyre (Eden) 84 78 83.
247 R McQueen (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 80 89 78.
248 J Wycherley (Merchants of Edinburgh) 87 83 78, A Niven (Crieff) 85 82 81, L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 83 82 83, J Linklater (Largs) 84 81 83.
250 L Whitehead (Droitwich) 86 86 78, I Craigie (Torwoodlee) 81 80 89.
252 L Allan (Kilbirnie Place) 85 82 85.
253 E MacKay (Nairn Dunbar) 83 85 85, L Atkins (Minto) 88 80 85.
255 L McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) 85 87 83.
256 R Watton (Mortonhall) 87 82 87.
258 C Mulholland (Hilton Park) 85 89 84, A Smith (Monifieth) 83 88 87.
259 R Archibald (Merchants of Edinburgh) 83 89 87.
260 A McKechin (Elderslie) 88 85 87, F Blair (Monifieth) 80 92 88, G Arnott (Kilbirnie Place) 85 86 89.
261 K Scott (Windyhill) 86 87 88.
263 A McGarty (Harburn) 88 89 86, L Meldrum (Dullatur) 87 89 87.
265 N Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 87 93 85.
266 H Gaunt (Troon Bentinck Ladies) 89 90 87.
267 G MacDonald (Prestonfield) 92 90 85.
270 J Vass (Tain) 89 85 96.
280 H Goodwin (Glenbervie) 96 96 88.
282 N Taylor (Thornton) 99 88 95.
285 M Aird (Strathmore) 96 100 89.
290 A A Alston (Royal Montrose) 101 96 93.
297 A Goodwin (Glenbervie) 98 93 106.
313 J Smith (Kinross) 105 106 102.
320 A Burnett (Dunkeld) 116 109 95.
357 E Aird (Strathmore) 134 114 109.
Withdrew: R Howie (West Kilbride) 108 103 - , L Smith (Monifieth) 83 80 -.

BUICK OPEN FIRST ROUND SCORES
Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.
Par 72. Players from US unless stated.
64 Rocco Mediate
65 Brett Quigley, Woody Austin, Brian Bateman
66 Jim Furyk, Cameron Beckman, Scott Verplank, Steve Elkington (Aus)
67 Jeff Quinney, Kyle Reifers, Mark Hensby (Aus), Craig Kanada
68 Robert Garrigus, Marco Dawson, Lucas Glover, Gavin Coles (Aus), Alex Cejka (Ger), Charlie Wi (Kor), Billy Andrade, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Corey Pavin, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Bubba Dickerson
69 Joey Sindelar, Brian Gay, J.P. Hayes, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn), Charles Howell III, John Daly, Bob Estes, Justin Leonard, Craig Bowden, Frank Lickliter II, Andrew Ruthkoski, Jason Dufner, Joe Ogilvie, Matt Kuchar, Scott Piercy, Stephen Marino, Jeff Maggert, Robert Allenby (Aus), Mathew Goggin (Aus), Tripp Isenhour, Lee Williams
70 Tom Byrum, Chris Couch, Greg Owen (Eng), Steve Wheatcroft, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Dicky Pride, Briny Baird, Pablo Martin (Spa), Robert Gamez, Brian Davis (Eng), Jeff Sluman, Steve Flesch, Steve Lowery, Michael Putnam, Parker McLachlin, Fred Funk, Brent Geiberger, Tom Pernice Jnr., Bob Tway, Scott Hebert, Kevin Na (Kor), Michael Boyd, John Rollins, Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Arjun Atwal (Ind), DJ Brigman, Ryan Moore
71 Jeff Overton, Jeff Gove, Tag Ridings, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Will MacKenzie, Chris Tidland, Craig Lile (Rsa), Bill Haas, Sean O'Hair, Ken Duke, Jason Gore, Kent Jones, John Merrick, John Senden (Aus), Vance Veazey, Tom Lehman, Bob May, Kenny Perry, Kevin Stadler, J J Henry, Scott Gutschewski, Jay Williamson, Glen Day, Tom Gillis, Brandt Snedeker, Johnson Wagner
72 Tom Johnson, Charley Hoffman, David Branshaw, Kris Cox, Jim Rutledge (Can), B.J Staten, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Brendon De Jonge, Michael Sim (Aus), Rodney Pampling (Aus), Andrew Buckle (Aus), Chris DiMarco, Jeff Brehaut, Mark Wilson, Matt Hendrix
Richard S Johnson (Swe), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), John Cook, Olin Browne, Paul Sheehan (Aus), Rich Barcelo,
73 Charles Warren, Chris Riley, Chris Stroud, Stuart Deane, Eric Axley, Darron Stiles, Lee Janzen, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa), Harrison Frazar, Heath Slocum, Darren Clarke (NIrl), Steve Allan (Aus), J.B. Holmes, Bob Heintz, Jason Schultz
74 Brian Hadley, Paul Gow (Aus), Paul Stankowski, Andy Matthews, Ted Purdy, Todd Hamilton, Matt Harmon, Peter Lonard (Aus), Jerry Smith, George McNeill, Michael Allen, Duffy Waldorf
75 Tim Petrovic, Bo Van Pelt
76 Brad Faxon, Douglas Labelle, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), John Mallinger
77 Tommy Armour III
78 Craig Perks (Nzl), Ryan Armour
79 Steven Bowditch (Aus)