Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League

HOW THEY STAND

LEAGUE A

Nigg Bay P3 W3 6pt.

Hazlehead P2 W2 4pt.

Stonehaven P2 W2 4pt.

Bon Accord P3 W2 4pt.

Deeside P2 W1 2pt.

Auchmill P2 W0 0pt.

Westhill P2 W0 0pt

Craibstone P4 W0 0pt

LEAGUE B
Royal Aberdeen P2 W2 4pt.

Portlethen P1 W1 2pt.

Murcar Links P3 W1 2pt.

Caledonian P2 D1 W1pt.

Peterculter P2 W1 1pt.

Newmachar P1 D1 1pt.

Northern P1 W0 0pt

All the results so far

Tuesday 10th June
Nigg Bay 6, Craibstone 0.
Murcar Links 2, Royal Aberdeen 4.

Tuesday 17th June
Deeside 4 ½, Bon Accord 1½
Auchmill 2 ½, Stonehaven 3 ½
Westhill ½, Nigg Bay 5 ½

Monday 23rd June
Craibstone 2 ½, Bon Accord 3½.

Tuesday 24th June
Murcar Links 4½, Northern 1½.
Caledonian 3, Newmachar 3.

Thursday 26th June
Peterculter ½, Royal Aberdeen 5½

Monday 30th June
Craibstone 2, Stonehaven 4

Tuesday 1st July
Westhill 2½, Hazlehead 3½
Bon Accord 4½, Auchmill 1½
Nigg Bay 4, Deeside 2
Portlethen 4, Murcar 2

Thursday 3rd July
Peterculter 3 1/2, Caledonian 2 1/2

Monsoon weather hits European
Challenge tournament in France

From STEVE TODD, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Argentine Gustavo Rojas seized the early lead on the first day of the inaugural AGF-Allianz EurOpen de Lyon after heavy rain severely limited play today.
Flooding at the Golf du Gouverneur caused by 65mm of rain – almost the entire average July rain fall for Monthieux, France - meant that only half of the field made it out on to the course, with the afternoon groups sent home.
After an initial 4hr delay saw the first groups tee off at 11.30hrs local time (10.30hrs BST), only 58 minutes of play happened before the torrential downpours began again.
Play was then suspended until 18.00hrs (17.00hrs BST) while the course took a battering from the heavens. Once the players eventually emerged again to sunshine, it was European Challenge Tour veteran Rojas who took advantage to move to six under par after 12 holes.
The 40 year old, who has one Challenge Tour win to his name at the Open dei Tessali in 1999, reached the 12th hole without dropping a shot, picking up six birdies along the way.
Finland’s Roope Kakko and England’s Matthew Morris were a shot off the pace on five under par after the same number of holes along with Ireland’s Colm Moriarty, who had played nine holes.
The first round will be completed on Friday.

Lornie ahead with 69 in Scottish PGA championship

Ex-greenkeeper Graeme surprise

leader on Day 1 at Gleneagles

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE:

Former Aberdeen greenkeeper Graeme Lornie fired six birdies and an eagle for a four-under 69 to jump to the top of the leaderboard in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship today.

The 28-year-old, who worked on the greens staff of Royal Aberdeen and Newmachar golf clubs for eight years, is now trying to make a living as one of the pro team at city golf centre & driving range, King's Links, having belatedly begun his pro career at Aspire Golf Centre near Aberdeen's Bridge of Dee.
But four bogeys in five holes from the third threatened to undo a good early start over the PGA Centenary course, when Lornie (picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency) chipped in from 25 feet for an eagle at the second.
He got back on track with gains at the eighth, 10th, 12th, 13th 14th and 16th.
"This is the kind of thing that's been happening to me recently - getting birdies and giving them right back again. At least the bad stuff started early!"
Four players are in a tie for second place - European Tour player Craig Lee, Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Braid Hills pro Paul McKechnie, Challenge Tour player Eddie Thomson from Largs, and Steve Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
Lee admitted to having spent £40,000 on his European Tour activities since last November, with earnings considerably less. But his enthusiasm for the game at that level hasn't diminished.
"I've no regrets. It's a tremendous experience, it's what I've always wanted to do."

Birdies at all five long holes were the key to Scott-Smith's opening round. "I never missed a fairway", said the 34-year-old, who admitted he's been getting not much more than four hours sleep a night after the recent birth of his son, Murray.
A seven-time trier for the European Tour ("my best attempt was in 1996 when I missed it by four shots") he now devotes his time to the club and running as a private concern an adjoining driving range.
McKechnie has always proved himself a formidable player over 72-hole events on the Tartan Tour, and has again set himself up for the rest of the championship.

Under the coaching eye of PGA Scottish Region chairman, Alan White, the pro at Lanark, Paul says "Alan keeps things simple. He doesn't go in for the high-tech video stuff, and I've every confidence in what he's doing."
Another player to highlight the input of a coach was Eddie Thomson. This time the guru in question was Bob Torrance.
"Bob keeps telling me to believe in myself. Keep doing what you're doing and it'll come around."
Thomson missed just two fairways, and finished with a chip-in for an eagle at the 484-yard 18th. Taylor resumed where he left off two week ago - recording two wins and a second place over three successive pro-am days - and looks capable of offering a serious challenge over the remaining 54 holes.

Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
Par 73
69
Graeme Lornie (SCO)
Kings Links
71
Nigel Scott-Smith (SCO)
Palacerigg
Craig Lee (SCO)
Unattached
Paul McKechnie (SCO)
Braid Hills
Edward Thomson (SCO)
Senit Associates
72
Graham Fox (SCO)
East Kilbride
David Orr (SCO)
East Renfrewshire
Scott Henderson (SCO)
Kings Links
Liam Barn (SCO)
Noah's Ark
Craig Everett (SCO)
Caldwell
Steven Taylor (SCO)
Bothwell Castle
73
Samuel Cairns (SCO)
Colville Park
Euan Cameron (SCO)
Hamilton
Jason McCreadie (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
Craig Ronald (SCO)
Carluke
Kenneth Hutton (SCO)
Downfield
74
Stuart Morrison (SCO)
Tain
Scott Morrison (SCO)
Acushnet Europe Ltd
Adam Hunter (SCO)
Mearns Castle Golf Academy
David Patrick (SCO)
Elie

Terry Burgoyne (SCO)
Gotastroms Golf Klubb
Euan Little (SCO)
Co. Tipperary
Chris Doak (SCO)
Unattached
Mark Loftus (SCO)
Cowglen
Stewart Savage (SCO)
Dalmuir
75
Mark Finlayson (SCO)
Edzell
Steven Morgan (SCO)
Westin Turnberry
Chris Kelly (SCO)
Cawder
Alan Purdie (SCO)
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Alan Lockhart (SCO)
Ladybank
Alastair Webster (SCO)
Edzell
Christopher Russell (SCO)
RAW Golf Course Design
Gareth Adrian Wright (WAL)
West Linton
Steven Duncan (SCO)
Balbirnie Park
Jonathan Porteous (SCO)
Craigielaw
76
Stephen Craig (SCO)
Paragon Golf Akademie
Stuart Syme (SCO)
Dumfries & County
Jamie Stevenson (SCO)
Braehead
Colin Gillies (SCO)
Perry Golf
Gordon Law (SCO)
Uphall
Scott Catlin (SCO)
Greenburn
Lindsay Mann (SCO)
Carnoustie
James McKinnon (SCO)
Irvine
James McGhee (SCO)
Turnhouse Golf Club
Robert Arnott (SCO)
Bishopbriggs Golf Range
Jamie Anton (SCO)
Murrayshall
77
Billy Marchbank (SCO)
Crieff
Stephen Gray (SCO)
Hayston
Lee Harper (SCO)
Archerfield Links
Jonny Sharp (SCO)
The Carrick at Cameron House
Andrew Cooper (SCO)
Newmachar
Craig Matheson (SCO)
Falkirk Tryst
Callum Nicoll (SCO)
Prestwick
Dean Robertson (SCO)
Mearns Castle
Kenny Walker (SCO)
Castle Park Golf Club
Tom Buchanan (SCO)
Duddingston
78
Ian Campbell (SCO)
Unattached
Craig Imlah (SCO)
Peebles
Brian Leishman (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Gavin Cook (SCO)
Prestonfield
Mark King (SCO)
Kingsfield Golf Centre
Gary McFarlane (SCO)
Clober
Graeme McInnes (SCO)
Murcar Links
Donald McKay (SCO)
Wellsgreen
Stuart Pardoe (ENG)
Nevada Bobs
79
Brian Mason (SCO)
Drumoig Driving Range
John Robertson (SCO)
Glasgow
Garry Forrester (SCO)
St Andrews Golf School
Ryan Fitzpatrick (SCO)
Inchmarlo
Kenneth Monaghan (SCO)
Bothwell Castle
Alastair MacKenzie (SCO)
Duddingston
Bobby Wallace (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
Alan E Reid (SCO)
West Lothian
Ross Cameron (SCO)
McDonald Ellon
Russell Smith (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Jonnie Cliff (SCO)
Murrayfield
80
Iain Kennedy (SCO)
Mearns Castle
Richard Clark (SCO)
Bruntsfield Links
Andrew Erskine (SCO)
Ratho Park
Ricky Gray (SCO)
Torrance House
Alastair Love (SCO)
Charleton
Kris McGowan (SCO)
Burntisland
Anthony Mackrell (SCO)
East Kilbride
David Park (SCO)
Wishaw
Ian Taylor (SCO)
Drumpellier
Ewan Hogarth (SCO)
Peebles
Kevin McAleer (SCO)
Gleddoch
81
Ian Graham (SCO)
Crow Wood
Greg Rankin (SCO)
Stirling
Greg McFarlane (SCO)
Grangemouth
Jonathan Lomas (SCO)
Unattached
Malcolm Lacey (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Gary Collinson (SCO)
Esporta Dougalston
Kenneth Glen (SCO)
Royal Musselburgh
Murray Urquhart (SCO)
Inverness
Alan Fleming (SCO)
North Highland College
82
Alan Tait (SCO)
Spey Valley
Fraser Pook (SCO)
Aberdour
Martin Goldie (SCO)
Lochgelly
Steven Rettie (SCO)
All Golf Swing Centre
Ken Campbell (SCO)
Machrihanish
Stephen McNally (ENG)
Scottish Institute of Sport
Stewart Whiteford (SCO)
Wellsgreen Golf Range
Stuart Kerr (SCO)
Strathaven
Andrew Jowett (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
83
Bert Mackay (SCO)
Loch Lomond
Anthony Caira (SCO)
Kirkcaldy
Campbell Elliott (SCO)
Haggs Castle
Mark Barnard (SCO)
Inchmarlo
Greg Paxton (SCO)
Ralston
84
Duncan Williamson (SCO)
Kirkhill
John Murray (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Keith Lobban (SCO)
Keith Lobban Golf
Richard Holt (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
James Erskine (SCO)
Portpatrick Dunskey
Michael McAllan (SCO)
Murrayfield
David Thomson (SCO)
Carnegie Club
Stephen Forbes (SCO)
Deaconsbank
85
Matthew Gillingham (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel
Martin Pottinger (SCO)
North Gailes Golf Centre
Chris McCalman (SCO)
Unattached
Henry Wong (SCO)
Wellsgreen
87
Keith Baxter (SCO)
Buchanan Castle
88
David Boon (SCO)
Edinburgh Golf Shop Ltd
Steven Brown (SCO)
Carnoustie Golf Links
91
Michael Rae (SCO)
Alyth
Craig Donnelly (SCO)
Balbirnie Park
94
Andrew McMahon (SCO)
Grove Golf
Disqualified
Andrew MacRae (SCO)
Gleneagles Hotel

Sacre bleu! Scots humbled by

French fightback in singles

Top seeds Scotland were humbled by defending champions France, the last of the eight match-play qualifiers, in the quarter-finals of the European men's amateur team golf championship at Royal Park Golf & Country Club, Turin in Italy today.
After their brilliant performance in the 36-hole qualifying test, the Scots looked well on their way to the semi-finals when they led France 2-0 in the morning foursomes.
Calum Macaulay (Tulliallan) and Wallace Booth (Comrie) won a tight tie by two holes over Alex Kaleka and Benjamin Hebert.
And Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) and Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) walloped Jean-Jacques Wolff and Eduardo Dubois 6 and 5.
But the Scots were slaughtered in the singles.
Needing to win only two of the five afternoon ties to qualify for a semi-final meeting with England, they collapsed to an ignominous defeat.
Macaulay was turned over 3 and 2 by Victor Dubuisson in the top singles; Dear lost by 2 holes to Hebert, Keir McNicoll (pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency), who has gone badly off form since winning the St Andrews Links Trophy, was trounced 7 and 6 by Dubois, young Michael Stewart lost by one hole to Antoneli and Booth halved with Kaleka.
France, trailing 2-0, took 4 1/2 pt out of a possible five from the singles to scored a famous - for them - victory by 4 1/2-2 1/2.
That means the best Scotland can do is to finish fifth in the championship. The four winners of today's ties continue their title quests tomorrow (Friday) but the Scots fall back to play the rest of the Championship Flight with the rest of the quarter-final losers/
So it's England, winners by 5 1/2-1 1/2 against Italy, who play the Frenchmen.
The other semi-final is between Ireland, conquerors of No 2 seeds Sweden by 5 1/2- 1/2, and Germany who beat Spain 5-2..
Results:
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
SCOTLAND 2 1/2, FRANCE 4 1/2
Foursomes - C Macaulay & W Booth bt A Kaleka & B Hebert 2 holes; G Dear & P O'Hara bt J-J Wolff & E Dubois 6 and 5 (2-0).
Singles - Macaulay lost to V Dubuisson 3 and 2, Dear lost to Hebert 2 holes, McNicoll lost to Dubois 7 and 6, M Stewart lost to D Antoneli 1 hole, Booth halved with Kaleka (1/2-4 1/2).

ENGLAND 5 1/2, ITALY 1 1/2
Foursomes - C Wood & S Hutsby bt F Colombo & N Bertasio 1 hole; C Ford & M Haines bt A Pavan & M Manassero at 21st (2-0).
Singles - S Uzzel bt Bertasio 3 and 2, Wood lost to Manassero 1 hole, Hutsby halved with Colombo, Ford bt Pavan 4 and 3, D Whitnell bt C Terragni 1 hole (3 1/2- 1 1/2).

SPAIN 2, GERMANY 5
Foursomes: J F Sarasti & B Etchart lost to S Gross & S Einhaus 2 and 1; J Campillo & P Oriol lost to A Knappe & M Kieffer 2 and 1 (0-2).
Singles: M Cobo bt A John 7 and 6, Etchart lost to Gross 5 and 3, Campillo bt Knappe 1 hole, Oriol lost to Kieffer 6 and 5, Sarasti lost to Einhaus 5 and 4 (2-3).

IRELAND 5 1/2, SWEDEN 1 1/2
Foursomes - S Lowery & G Shaw bt B Akesson & J Kennegard 4 and 2; J Caldwell & P Cutler bt F Quicker & T Rosendahl 6 and 5 (2-0).
Singles - Shaw bt Kennegard 3 and 2, P O'Hanlon lost to P Widegren 1 hole, Cutler bt H Norlander 2 and 1, Caldwell halved with Rosendahl, Lowry bt Akesson 1 hole (3 1/2-1 1/2).

Flight 2
Netherlands 4, Belgium 1.
Denmark 3, Norway 2.
Austria 3, Wales 2.
Portugal 4, Finland 1.

Flight 3
Switzerland 5, Poland 0.
Iceland 5, Estonia 0.

Ross Fisher starts European Open with
a record-breaking, nine-under-par 63

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
England's Ross Fisher continued to make it a week to remember when he began the European Open with a spectacular nine-under-par 63 at The London Club in Kent today.
Three days after finishing joint third in the Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale, the 27-year-old finished with six successive birdies to break the course record set by Seve Ballesteros in 1984 when he played in the official opening with designer Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin.
It was also the lowest round of Fisher's European Tour career and ensured he was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley, who were five under after 11 holes.
SCOREBOARD
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
63 Ross Fisher.
65 Graeme McDowell, David Frost (Rsa).
67 Rory McIlroy.
68 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Peter Hanson (Swe), Robert Rock, Peter Hedblom (Swe), David Lynn, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa).
69 Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Justin Rose, James Kingston (Rsa), Soren Hansen (Den), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Paul McGinley.
70 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Colin Montgomerie, Benn Barham, Marcel Siem (Ger), Rafael Echenique (Arg), Stuart Manley, Simon Khan, Anthony Wall, Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter, Santiago Luna (Spa).
71 David Griffiths, Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Markus Brier (Aut), Christian Cevaer (Fra), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Martin Wiegele (Aut), David Howell, Nick Dougherty, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Darren Clarke, Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Fabrizio Zanotti (Par), James Kamte (Rsa).
72 Garry Houston, Hennie Otto (Rsa), Phillip Price, Oliver Fisher, Paul Broadhurst, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Carl Suneson (Spa), Alexander Noren (Swe), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Gary Murphy, Alastair Forsyth, Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Padraig Harrington, Thomas Levet (Fra).
73 Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Gary Orr, Robert Dinwiddie, Paul Streeter, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), Simon Dyson, Simon Griffiths, Simon Wakefield, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Andrew Oldcorn, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Wen-chong Liang (Chn), Marcus Fraser (Aus), Gregory Havret (Fra), Steve Webster, Peter Whiteford, Peter Baker, Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Matthew Millar (Aus), Gareth Paddison (Nzl), Lee S James, Paul Lawrie, Richard Green (Aus), Jamie Donaldson, Phillip Archer, Gregory Bourdy (Fra).
74 Leif Westerberg (Swe), John Bickerton, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Simon Lilly, Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Stephen Dodd, Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Miles Tunnicliff, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), Scott Strange (Aus), Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Sion Bebb, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind), Thomas Aiken (Rsa).
75 Damien McGrane, Luis Claverie (Spa), Jean Van de Velde (Fra), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Johan Edfors (Swe), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Bradley Dredge, Richard Bland, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Peter Senior (Aus), Mark Brown (USA), Gary Emerson, Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Sam Walker, Mark Foster, Richard Sterne (Rsa), Peter O'Malley (Aus).
76 Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Robert Coles, Anthony Tarchetti, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Graeme Storm, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Peter Fowler (Aus), Anton Haig (Rsa), Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Julio Zapata (Arg), Tom Whitehouse, Ariel Canete (Arg), Ross McGowan, Barry Lane.
77 Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Michael Campbell (Nzl), David Dixon, Peter Lawrie
78 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Lee Slattery, Danny Willett, Florian Praegant (Aut).
79 David Carter, Richard Finch, Scott Drummond, Sam Little.
80 Sven Struver (Ger)
81 Iain Pyman, Marc Warren.
83 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind).

Paul McPhee finishes joint
fourth in English U-16s

Perth Academy pupil Paul McPhee, leader by two shots at halfway, finished joint fourth in the English Under-16 boys' open stroke-play golf championship for the McGregor Trophy at High Post Golf Club, Salisbury in Wiltshire today.
The 16-year-old junior member at King James VI Golf Club, the island club on the River Tay, was four under par for his first 36 holes and seven over par for the last two rounds with scores of 75 and 72 compared with his opening efforts of 67 and 69 which put him clear of the quality field. Nevertheless, Paul's three-over-par total of 283 was a good effort and he will be a worthy boys' representative for Scotland in the forthcoming R&A Junior Open at Hesketh at the start of Open championship week.
McPhee's third-round 75 dropped him out of the lead and down to fifth place but still very much in the hunt at only one shot behind the four joint-leaders.
In his last circuit, he birdied the sixth, 12th and 14th but consecutive bogeys at the seventh, eighth and ninth plus late shots shed at the 16th and 17th cost him second or third place.
Paul is the son of a sporting father although Ian McPhee's line was not golf but professional football. He played for Airdrie (twice), Forfar and Dundee United and was manager of Forfar Athletic for four season.
Jack Scott (Deeside) tied for 18th place on 290 with closing rounds of 74 and 71 while the only other Scot to make the last day, Scott Gibson (Southerness) came 27th on 293 with closing scores of 74 and 72.
The prestigious title went to a player from Workington - not normally regarded as a part of England that produces good young golfers. But Seb Crookall-Nixon had two shots to spare at the end of four rounds - 70 69 71 68 - for a two-under-par total of 278.
Runnere-up was Jamie Carney (Shirley) with 71 67 72 and 70 for 280.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70).
278 S Crookall-Nixon (Workington) 70 69 71 68.
280 J Carney (Shirley) 71 67 72 70.
282 J Brockington (Henley) 69 70 72 72.
283 P McPhee (King James VI) 67 69 75 72, M Chapman (Wentworth) 73 67 70 73.
284 A Otaegui (Spain) 71 72 72 69, E Peters (Beeston Fields) 69 70 73 72.
286 P Thomas (Belgium) 69 75 71 71, C Walsh (Hayling Island) 71 73 71 71.
Other totals:
290 J Scott (Deeside) 74 71 74 71 (jt 18tg).
293 S Gibson (Southerness) 78 69 74 72 (27th).

Crookall-Nixon powers to McGregor victory
PRESS RELEASE BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Seb Crookall-Nixon produced some exhilarating final day golf to win the English Boys Under 16 Stroke Play Championship for the McGregor Trophy at High Post in Wiltshire. The 14 year old from Cumbria carded closing rounds of 71 and 68 for an aggregate of 278, two under par, two strokes better than Birmingham’s Jamie Carney and four shots clear of James Brockington from Henley.
Crookall-Nixon, the only player to finish under par, began the day three strokes behind Paul McPhee from Scotland but his morning 71 put him into a four-way tie on 210 with a round left. And his closing 68 was the perfect way to win the title although he would have finished even more emphatically but for bogeys at the final two holes.
However, he had a big enough lead not to have done serious damage and he was naturally delighted to be crowned champion. “Hopefully this will see my golfing career take off,” he said. “Things will change dramatically after this and hopefully I’ll catch the eye of the England selectors. I wasn’t feeling confident at the start of the week because I didn’t practice that well. But I felt two under would be good enough to win and I was proved right. I’m also hoping my win will encourage the kids back at my club to come and play and to do what I have done.”
His win will also remind Crookall-Nixon of the day at Gosforth two years ago when persistent rain forced the under 14 championship to be cut to one round which left the Workington lad stranded in third place without a chance to challenge for the title.
There wasn’t a chance the weather would intervene again although a day of brilliant sunshine was punctuated by a couple of heavy downpours over the glorious Wiltshire course. By the turn in the final round, Crookall-Nixon had got to four under for the tournament while birdies at the 11th and 12th saw him virtually home and dry.
A string of pars kept him well clear but three putts at the short 17th and another dropped shot at the last might have put some doubt in his mind. But his pursuers were not making any forward progress and were left to battle for the other places.
Perhaps the most disappointed was McPhee, who led for the first two rounds but faltered on the final day with rounds of 75 and 72 for 283 and joint fourth place. “I’m a wee bit disappointed that I couldn’t hold on to my lead but I’m delighted to finish in the top five,” he admitted.
“Nothing really clicked for me today but that was some performance from Seb.”
Crookall-Nixon, who also won the under 15 award, is now setting his sights on the under 18 title and the Carris Trophy at the end of the month. “I’ll be up for that and I’ll also be back to defend this next year,” he added.
More information, news and hole by hole results can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org

Scotland and England lead their
foursomes 2-0 in Italy

Traditional rivals Scotland and England were heading for a semi-final meeting in the European men's amateur team championship at Royal Park Golf & Country Club, Turin in Italy ... based on their 2-0 leads in the morning foursomes when the match-play started today.
Calum Macaulay and Wallace Booth beat Alex Kaleka and Benjamin Hebert by 2 holes.
Gavin Deer and Paul O'Hara beat Jean-Jacques Woolff and Edouard Dubois by 6 and 5.
England established a 2-0 lead over Italy with Chris Wood and Hutsby winning by one hole againstg Federico Colombo and N Bertasio.
Charles Ford and Matt Haines won a nail-biter at the 21st against Andrea Pavan and M Manassero.
In the bottom half of the draw, Germany led Spain 2-0 after the foursomes.
Ireland, the No 7 of eight qualifiers, were also 2-0 ahead after the morning play against No 2 seeds Sweden.
Shane Lowry and Gareth Shaw won by 4 and 2 against JBjorn Akesson and Jesper Kinnegard whil Walker Cup player Jonny Caldwell and Paul Culter finished 6 and 5 winners against F Quicker and T Rosendahl.

Paul McPhee loses lead
but still in hunt for
English Under-16 title

Perth's Paul McPhee dropped out of the No 1 position he had held either jointly or on his own through the first two rounds when the third round was played in the English Under-16 boys' open amateur stroke-play championship for the McGregor Trophy at High Post Golf Club, Wiltshire this morning.
Four players, Matthew Chapman, James Brockington, Seb Crookall-Nixon and Jamie Carney, share the lead on level par 210 with a round left.
In glorious sunshine this morning, Chapman, from Wentworth, threatened to build a solid lead by getting to two under. But he surrendered his advantage over the closing three holes to sign for 70.
Brockington, from Henley, who started the day on one under, had to settle for 71 as did Crookall-Nixon, from Workington, while Carney also got to three under through ten holes but also fell foul of the back nine and finished with 72.
Overnight leader Paul McPhee (picture above by courtesy of Tom Ward) was tied with Carney on three under through ten but also found the homeward stretch a tough nut to crack, taking 39 shots for a 75 and 211, one off the lead.
To emphasise that the title is wide open, three players are on 212, Will Chambers with 70, Welshman Rhys Pugh with 72 and Eddie Peters who returned 73.
The best morning rounds were returned by Curtis Griffiths from Wentworth with 67 for 213 and by Jack Bush from Wales and Yorkshire’s Cameron Hutchinson, both with 68.
Just five strokes cover the leading 16 players with 18 holes to play.

White leads Fife Order of Merit

James White of Lundin Golf Club continues to lead the Forrester Park Fife Order of Merit golf competition for the Mackay Bowl.
Current top 10 are:
1 J White (Lundin) 470pt; 2 S Crichton (Aberdour) 330; 3 G Page (Balbirnie Park) 305; 4 S Meiklejohn (Aberdour) 275; 5 Alan England (Balbirnie Park) 250; 6 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 220; 7 D Gould (Ladybank) 210; 8 M Main (Thornton) 200; 9 (equal) K Anderson (Charleton), C Bardley (Pitreavie) 130.

The next counting tournaments are the Cameron Corbett Vase at Haggs Castle GC on July 5 and 6 and the Fife stroke-play championship at Balbirnie Park GC on Sunday.

ends

Adam Lindsay named

to Ping NAIA

All-Region team

PRESS RELEASE FROM IOWA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

The Iowa Wesleyan College men’s golf team received yet another honor from its 2007-08 season when Adam Lindsay, a junior year student from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Ping NAIA All-North Region team.
Lindsay is one of just 60 NAIA golfers to make one of the all-region teams and one of 15 named to the All-North Region team. It is the second straight year IWC has placed a player on the GCAA Ping regional teams, as Jordan Crampton (Senior-London, Canada) was named to the team after the 2006-07 season.
Lindsay had a strong junior (third year) year in which he led IWC in low scoring in the fall season and finished second individually at the Midwest Collegiate Conference meet in the spring. He finished the year with a stroke average of 74.8 and posted five top 10 finishes, including the lowest round by an IWC golfer all season (66 at the William Penn Statesmen Fall Classic). He also was named to the MCC all-conference first team.
His presence on the GCAA Ping regional team made IWC one of just two MCC schools to be represented on the All-North Region team. St. Ambrose University placed four golfers on the regional team.
“‘Scottie’ has had great success while at IWC,” said Tigers Head Coach Ted Peetz. “He is well deserving of this honour, and we look forward to him having continued success in his senior year.”

Pitreavie hold their challengers
at Cruden Bay with a 63 (-7)

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Club secretary Eddie Comerford and super-sub partner David Taylor clinched victory at the Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship (North Final) with a stunning seven-under par 63 amid glorious sunshine at Cruden Bay.
The Fife duo, who arrived at the venue after midnight, dovetailed to perfection to record five gross birdies between them at the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th and 13th holes, as well as net birdies at the 9th and 14th holes.
A delighted Comerford said: “The course was in great condition and we both played well. It was a game of two halves really – most of the back nine were my scores and David played superbly on the front nine.”
“Myself and last year’s captain reached the Belhaven Best final at Blairgowrie in 2007, finishing eighth, so we’re looking forward to challenging for the title in September. We arrived here late last night after a long journey from Dunfermline, but it was very worthwhile.” added the 3-handicapper.
Allan Bantick and Kevin Strathdee, representing Abernethy GC, were pipped into second place after their excellent round of 64. The pairing got off to a great start with Strathdee’s net birdie at their opening hole, the 17th, and a barrage of threes on the back nine gave them the runners-up spot and a place in the Grand Final.
Third place went to Duff House Royal with a four-under par 66, with Eric Wilson and Allan Burns storming home with an inward half of 30. With teams on 67, East Aberdeenshire clinched fourth spot courtesy of their better inward half of 31, edging Ballater and Strathpeffer into fifth and sixth place respectively.
Caledonian GC, also on 3-under par, were in seventh spot whilst eighth place and the final qualifying position fell to Nigg Bay’s Gary Stewart and Gary Thom, whose 2-under par 68 crept in as a result of their inward half of 30. Cathkin Braes, Banchory and Brora were the unfortunate clubs who missed out on a place in the final on the countback.
With just one regional final remaining, captains and secretaries from across Scotland will have their eyes on the Grand Final, which takes place at the plush Murrsayshall Golf & Country Club on Tuesday 16 September.
+Log on the the Scottish Golf Union website for the full results from Cruden Bay.
http://www.scottishgolfunion.org/

Leader Paul McPhee admits he's
"a bit nervous being out in front"

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Paul McPhee from Perth goes into the final day of the McGregor Trophy with a two stroke lead and bidding to take the title North of the Border for the first time.
The 16 year old Scot, who shared the overnight lead, carded a second round 69 for 136, four under par, and is two clear of James Carney from Birmingham and three ahead of the rest of the field.
“This is new territory for me,” said McPhee. “I’ve never been in this position in a competition of this standard so I’m delighted. I’ll be a bit nervous being out in front but I’ll take each shot at a time and let the score take care of itself.”
Although the scoring was mush improved on round one, the weather certainly wasn’t with dull conditions and rain persisting for long periods until the sun broke through in the late afternoon. However, much lighter winds produced more opportunities and these were seized upon by many of the talented field.
Carney, captain of the Warwickshire under 16 team and a member of the under 18 squad, had an eagle and four birdies in his best-of-the-day 67 for 138. He was relieved to have found some form after admitting: “I had a terrible practise round. I was knocking it all over the place so I returned to the range and put a lot of things right.”
Three players lie joint third on 139, Seb Crookall-Nixon, Eddie Peters and James Brockington. Fourteen-year-old Crookall-Nixon, the Cockermouth Club Champion, had four birdies in a 69 and set the early target. He was joined on one under par by Peters, another 14 year old, who would have been the outright leader if he hadn’t double-bogeyed the long sixth and missed four putts from inside three feet.
Sixteen year old Brockington from Henley, Surrey-based Matthew Chapman, a member of the England Under 16 Squad, raced to the turn in five under par but then the rain kicked in and he was only able to take his birdie tally to six before shedding shots at the 16th and 17th in a 67.
He shares sixth spot with Rhys Pugh from Wales, who slipped to a 73 following his opening 67.
Ben Herbert from Essex, who shared the overnight lead with Pugh and McPhee, “couldn’t buy a putt” and signed for 74 and 141.
The halfway cut came at seven-over-par 147 with 46 players surviving for the final two rounds. England were victorious in the battle for the Nations Cup with their two teams sharing the trophy after finishing tied on 280, one stroke ahead of Scotland A.
Despite having only two players following the first round disqualification of Billy Downing, Eddie Peters and Chris Lloyd both shot 70 for England A, while Matthew Chapman with 67 and James Burnett with 69 ensured England B a share of the honours.
If Paul McPhee hadn’t dropped a shot at the 16th, Scotland A would also have finished on 280.
More information, news and hole by hole results can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org

Open Regional Qualifying scores
at Musselburgh

Scores from yesterday's Open championship Regional Qualifying at Musselburgh:

*Scroll down for scores from English venues.

QUALIFIERS
68
Graeme Brown, Dalmahoy
69
Steven Rettie, All Golf Swing Centre
Graham Gordon, www.golfblogger.co.uk
70
David Patrick, Elie Sports Club
Alfredo Da Corte, Italy
71
Colin Mundie (A), Falkirk
James McGhee, Turnhouse
Christopher Kelly, Cawder
72
John Mathers (A), Haggs Castle
Mark Kerr, Scotland
Mark Finlayson, Edzell
Neil McKinnon (A), Murcar Links
Also 72: Reserve 16
Scott Borrowman (A), Dollar
Reserve 17
Peter Latimer (A), St Andrews New
Reserve 48
Scott Dixon, Marriott Dalmahoy
Reserve 49
Peter Mitchell, Hermitage
73
Neil Mitchell, Murcar Links
Steven Mackie, Dunnikier Park
Duncan Stewart, Unattached
Stewart Savage, Dalmuir
74
Iain Galbraith (A), Murcar Links
Gordon Morrison (A), Nairn
Andrew Wallace (A), Glenbervie
Steven Rennie (A), Drumpellier
Mark Loftus, Cowglen
Brian Leishman, Gleneagles Hotel
75
Richard Clark, Bruntsfield Links
Gordon Niven, University of Stirling
Paul Ferrier (A), Baberton
Clive Robertson (A), Green Haworth
Ross McGuire (A), Marriott Dalmahoy
Chris McCalman, Unattached
Greig McSporran, Kinross
Iain Powell (A), Murcar Links
Yasushi Nakazaki, Japan
Philip McLean (A), Peterhead
Shaun McAllister (A), Craigielaw
Neil Cunningham (A), Duddingston
76
Stephen Simants (A), Dunbar
Gordon Stevenson (A), Whitecraigs
Tommaso Orzalesi, Italy.
Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst
Alan Anderson (A), Bruntsfield Links
Francisco Pintor (A), Spain
David Field, USA
David Donaldson (A), Bruntsfield Links
77
Andrew Jowett, Gleneagles Hotel
Jamie Stevenson, Braehead
Matia Malagutti, Italy
Ian Sandbrook, Steigerwald
Jonathan Sharp, The Carrick on Loch Lomond
Stephen Burt (A), Murcar Links
78
Scott Stewart-Cation (A), Balbirnie Park
Nigel Scott-Smith, Palacerigg
Gareth Hardy, South Africa
Alan McCloskey, Bothwell Castle
79
Jamie Gardiner (A), Montrose Mercantile
Jonas Hedberg, Sweden
Stephen McNally, Scottish Institute Of Sport
Eric Walker, Burntisland
Fraser McLaughlan, Bothwell Castle
David Boon, The Edinburgh Golf Shop Ltd
Anthony Caira, Kirkcaldy
Stefan Delyster, Australia
Steven Buchan (A), Royal Aberdeen
Lee Vannet, Carnoustie
80
Peter MacKenzie, Sale
Michael Rae, Alyth
81
Alastair MacKenzie, Duddingston
82
Alex Scott (A), Nairn
Norman Huguet, Musselburgh
83
Keith Turnbull (A), Larkhall
Fraser Fotheringham (A), Nairn
Simon Selin, Sweden
Joe Lockie (A), Tantallon
Stephen Pointon (A), Canada
Jonathan Cliff, Murrayfield
84
Bjorn Kleppen, Norway
James Dick, Duddingston
85
Filip Olsson, Sweden
87
Jonathan Holmes, Scotland
92
Alan Stuart, Aspire
99
John Spreadborough, Brucefields

SCRATCHED
Sandy Aird, Forres
Brian Cairns, USA
Scott Jamieson, Cathkin Braes.
Douglas Waugh (a) (Baberton).
Mark Whitten, Orsett.

DISQUALIFIED
Steve Brown (A), Old Padeswood

NO RETURNS
Zeke Martinez, USA
Martin Stein (A), Craigielaw
Adam Strang, Unattached

OTHER VENUES

Leading scores at other venues in the Open Championship 18-hole regional qualifying competitions
x denotes amateurs:
Berwick-upon-Tweed
67 Jack Doherty
68 (x) James Atkinson, Iain Simpson, Ryan Riley
69 David Clark, George Cowan, Hugh MacDonald
70 Vince Guest, (x) Myles Cunningham, James Harper, (x) Keith Hamilton
Pleasington
65 Barry Taylor (Houghwood)
68 Mark Sheppard (Darland)
69 Colin Maroney (Harwood), Nicky Harris (Whitefield)
70 Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale), Mark Ramsdale (Formby), Jonathan Hurst (Shaw Hill), Andrew Green (Turton)
71 Mark Bradley (Chorley)
72 Ian Cording (Heron's Reach), Sandeep Grewal (Heswall), Daniel Sefton (Lancaster), Mark Young (Longridge), Mark Millhouse (Bolton), James Barr (Chilli Dip)
Prestbury
(Par 71)
65 David Green (Dukinfield)
67 Ally Laing (Mount Murray)
69 Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool), David Corsby (Fleetwood)
70 Alex Hogben (Ringway), Jamie Howarth (Stockport), Josh Simms (Caldy), Ben Briscoe (Old Colwyn), Antony Millar (Cheadle)
71 Nick Deme (Brookdale), Jon Cheetham (Gatley), Mark Pilling (Prestbury), Scott Jackson (Golf Works), Ian Winstanley (Formby)
Royal Dublin
70 Brendan McCarroll
73 Mark Murphy, Daniel Sugrue, Mark Heinemann
74 Tim Rice
75 Noel Fox, (x) David Rawluk, (x) Stanislas Jeuffrain (Fra), Mark O'Sullivan
Ashridge
67 Matthew Richardson
69 (x) Sean Elliott
70 Robert Watkins, Noel Quinn
71 Francis McGuirk, James Ruebotham, Mark Laskey, Marco Donghi (Ita), Daniel Wood
Coventry
67 Anthony Sproston
68 Darren Bartlett, Jason Powell, James Crompton
69 Chris Hall, Adam Norman, Eddie Vernon, (x) Duncan Harris, John-Paul Banbury
Effingham
67 (x) Darren Wright
69 Chris Hudson, Nick Redfern, (x) Steven Brown, (x) Kelvin Day
70 (x) Billy Fowles, Matthew Wilcox, Matthew Mills, Alistair White, Jonathan Evans
Enville
67 Cameron Clark
68 Craig Simmons
69 Ian Walley, Ian Proverbs, Matthew Edwards
70 Paul Reed, Lee Wood, (x) Oliver Farr, (x) Jonathan Gidney
Ferndown
66 (x) Farren Keenan
67 Steven Surry
68 Craig Bell, Matthew Griffiths
69 (x) Charlie Cossins, Martin Sell, (x) Nick Day, Paul Curry,
Roger Tuddenham, Barry Forster, (x) Corey Coshan, (x) Billy Hemstock
Gog Magog
67 (x) Adam Keogh
68 (x) Anthony Richardson, (x) Jason Palmer
69 James Gurry, Paul Maddy, (x) Andrew Thorpe, Mats Hallberg (Swe), Adam Chamberlain
Lindrick
68 Nevil Bland
71 Scott Emery, Adam Pond, Ian Ridgway, Simon McGreal, Danny Belch, Michael Hempstock, Jim Sorenson (USA), Stephen Bennett
Old Fold Manor
65 Daniel Brooks
66 (x) Jack Hiluta
68 (x) Kevin Freeman
70 Craig Housden, Lloyd Kennedy, Darren Parris, Peter Berman (Rsa)
Pannal
66 Chris Hanson
67 (x) Duncan McCarthy
69 David Mansell, (x) Jack Senior, Greg Tucker
70 Andrew Miller, Sean Doherty, Mark Harling, (x) Adam Andrews, Daryl Ley, Ben Scott
Rochester and Cobham Park
66 (x) Lloyd Godwin, Peter Appleyard
67 Jorge Garcia (Spa)
68 (x) Thomas Sherreard, (x) Jason Barnes
69 Ian Lewis, Roger Gray, Andy Smith, Richard Wallis, Johan Rydheim (Swe)
Royal Ashdown Forest
69 (x) Chris Cannon
70 Lee Nash
71 Diego Torne (Spa)
72 (x) Jack Bartlett, Daniel Belcher, Matthew Freeland, Andrew Cloke
73 Laurence Collier, (x) Stuart Havelock, Robert Leopold (US), (x) Lee Heaton

'New' Chris Doak bidding

to win his first Gleneagles
Scottish PGA title

By RON MARSHALL, Scottish PGA Press Officer

A quite unprecedented run by Chris Doak could be extended even farther this week if he can pick up the title he so far has failed to win, the flagship £55,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, beginning this morning over the PGA Centenary course.
The 30-year-old Gourock player, picture right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has all but engraved his name on the PGA Scottish Region’s Order of Merit by winning the last four tests – the Audi/Callaway 36 holes at Craigielaw, the WaterAid 36 holes at Kilmarnock Barassie, the 72-hole Northern Open at Spey Valley, and finally the Wishaw 36 holes.
Not renowned in previous years for such consistency, Doak has one simple explanation for his new outlook on the game.
“I’ve calmed down. I’m a different player now. I’ve screwed my head on properly, and I’m trying not to let things get me down.”

Defending champion Mark Loftus would be the first to admit his form running into this week has been less stellar. But the Cowglen pro is upbeat about his prospects.
“I’m playing great tee to green, and the Centenary course is ideal for me – it demands good driving and long-iron play. I had a practice round two weeks ago and thought the greens were a wee bit slow, but a lot can happen in that time.”
One of his minor concerns is that his coach, former European Tour winner Adam Hunter, is currently lying ahead of him in the Order of Merit.
“I’m 23rd and Adam’s 14th. I’d never live it down if he’s still in front at the end of the season!”
The player currently in cracking form is David Orr, despite a recurring twinge in his right shoulder. Never lower than third place in seven of his last eight outings, David has an enviable record in three appearances in the championship – runner-up in 2002, tied third four years later, and a share of fourth last year.
A practice round earlier this week confirmed his liking for a course he’s played around 50 times.
“I was a member at Gleneagles a few years ago when I was playing the Challenge Tour, and the course is as good as I’ve seen it. You have to think your way round it, and patience has to be, if you like, your 15th club.”
David, aged 34, still drives taxis on Glasgow’s south side. He and his wife have two sons, James and Finlay, the latter christened at the weekend, and David is studying for his PGA exams, attached to East Renfrewshire Golf Club. A win this weekend would be further cause for family celebration.
The leading 50 players after the opening 36 holes will contest the championship over the weekend.