Greig Hutcheon shares lead in
San Domenico Grand Final
From Paul Symes, Challenge Tour Press Officer
The opening round of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final was dominated by players most in need of big performances, as Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon and South Africa’s Branden Grace led the way, with England’s John Morgan in a quartet of players one shot back on five under par.
With many of the players near the head of the Challenge Tour Rankings enduring an indifferent day at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, attention turned to the race to capture the last few remaining places on The European Tour.
With Peterculter's Hutcheon currently in 33rd place in the Rankings, Grace two places back in 35th and Morgan in 27th position, the trio could not have timed their respective returns to form any better as they seek to leapfrog into the top 20 and so join The Race to Dubai.
Despite bogeying the final hole after getting a “flier” from the rough with his approach shot, Hutcheon was still in upbeat mood as he reflected on a six under par round of 65.
He said: “Overall I’ve got to be pretty pleased, because it’s a decent start to a big week. Realistically I probably need to finish in the top three to have any chance of getting my European Tour card for next year, so I’m under no illusions – it’s going to be tough. But that’s helped me with my focus coming into the week, and hopefully I’ll be up to the challenge – only time will tell. If I keep putting the way I did, I might have half a chance.”
Morgan, whose round of 66 featured six birdies, finds himself is in a similar predicament, having at times been let down by a lack of consistency this term. But the genial 30 year old – who made his name on the US PGA Tour before a series of epileptic fits affected his game – is determined to return to former glories and so banish the disappointment of a season which has, by his own elevated standards, stuttered somewhat.
He said: “I’m a happy boy. I only made one mistake all day when I overclubbed on the 13th hole, where I should probably have been thinking about a birdie and ended up walking away with a bogey. So my day could’ve been even better, and I had a few birdie chances coming down the home stretch which I didn’t convert. But most of my putts on the front nine dropped in, so I can’t complain too much because life’s pretty good. The weather’s gorgeous and the course is in great shape, so we should all count our blessings to be here.
“Having said that, life would be a lot better still if I could get a win under my belt here, which would probably take me into the top 15 and get me a good card for next season. I know what’s needed – now I’ve just got to go out there and do it! It’s easier said than done, but I’m going to give it everything this week. My season hasn’t been great compared to what I know I’m capable of, but I can forget about all that if I finish on a high here.”
Morgan shares third place with Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello, Finland’s Roope Kakko and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
.
Graham Gordon earns £4,766
in final PGA EuroPro
Tour event of the season
Englishman Robert Steele showed nerves akin to his name to win the Les Bordes Tour Championship on the 2008 Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour with a great final round of 68 over the daunting Les Bordes course in Loire Valley, France.
Steele (Kenilworth GC) earned £20,000 for the victory and leaped up the Order of Merit into the top five – but he had to show terrific resilience on the final two holes when he was held up for a lengthy period for a ruling.
Driving on the penultimate hole with a three-shot lead over Nicky Harris, Steele’s second into the green fell just short and plugged into the face of a waste area. He had to take a drop onto the edge of the area, where his chip from an awkward lie left him a nervy 10ft putt for bogey which he duly sank.
After that drama Steele held his game together superbly, nailing the daunting approach over to the water to the last green and two putting for the par to seal his two-stroke win.
“I went down a club and was just a yard off but on a course like this you have to just take the punishment and get on with it,” said Steele, explaining the tension on the 17th.
“The chip also didn’t come out right but I held my nerve on the putt and gained a solid par at the last.”
Steele’s victory means he takes the all-important fifth spot on the Order of Merit – with the top five players in the list gaining their cards for the Challenge Tour. Although it was a last gasp effort from the winner – whose winning score of 213 came from rounds of 73, 71 and 69 – he says he felt in good shape throughout his 14 events on Tour.
“I played well all year really but I’ve had a bit of bad luck with a few lip outs – pretty much what happened here to be honest,” said the 25 year-old, who was 66-1 with Skybet to win the title. “I had to hold up under the pressure but I just said to myself what I’ve said all year, ‘I’m just playing golf here, stick in’ and all the hard work has paid off.”
Steele knew he needed to win here to get into the top five as he was back in 27th position with just under £5,000 – Matthew Ford (Marriott Tudor Park) is the unlucky player who misses out in sixth spot by £1417.20.
The winner from Coventry actually had a poor start as he teed-off with Jack Doherty – the final pairing sharing the lead on level par along with Colin Roope. Steele bogeyed the first to drop to one over but got his round underway with a 20-footer for birdie at the fourth and another birdie at seven to go out one under. It was on the start of the back nine that he made his move when he birdied 10 and 11 to sit a shot clear at three under.
Harris (Whitefield GC) was the man he was clear of after he’d started his round with an eagle. He raced into action with two birdies in the first four holes to move from three over to one under, with another birdie at the tenth closing the gap to one shot.
It looked like being a tight finish but Steele picked up a birdie at 14 to move to four over while on the hole ahead of him, Harris dropped a shot to fall three shots behind on one under.
The 17th provided Harris with a chance as he had a five-foot putt for birdie but it slipped past – as did another chance on the last – and he finished with a final round of 68, which was the course record score set by Simon Thornton in Saturday’s Pro-Am and matched by Jack Doherty in his second round.
It turned out to be a crucial day for Lloyd Kennedy too, with the Chelmsford GC man shooting a three under par 69 to share third place in the Tour Championship – a result which moved him into third position in the money list. He nudged Alan Murray (Greystones GC) into fourth and finish behind runner-up Dale Marmion (Eaton) and 2008 Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit winner Noel Fox (MMI).
Aran Wainwright (DP Publicity) also shot 69 to join Kennedy on one under, with the third player tied on that score being Scotland’s Graham Gordon (SWM Golf Management), pictured above, a former Scottish amateur champion and past Walker Cup player for whom the £4,766 cheque will be very welcome after yet another season when he has rarely shown the skill and consistency which made him the top Scottish amateur a few years back.
Fellow Scot Jack Doherty was unable to improve on his level par and finished in sixth place on two over, one shot ahead of a trio in seventh place led by namesake Sean Doherty (Bury) who finished at three over (219) with Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland) and Hendriksen (Fingle Glen GC).
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Robert Steele 73 71 69 (£20,000).
215 Nicky Harris 76 71 68 (£10,000.00).
217 Lloyd Kennedy 78 70 68 (£4,766), Aran Wainwright 72 76 69 (£4,766), Graham Gordon 73 73 71 (£4,766).
218 Jack Doherty 76 68 74 (£2,730).
219 Sean Doherty 77 72 70 (£1,833), Jamie Moul 73 74 72 (£1,833), Paul Hendriksen 75 71 73 (£1,833).
220 Michael McDermott 75 75 70 (£1,100), Daniel Brooks 74 73 73 (£1,100).
IVOBANK PGA EUROPRO TOUR ORDER OF MERIT TOP FIVE
1 Noel Fox £26,897.48
2 Dale Marmion £26,361.65
3 Lloyd Kennedy £25,419.11
4 Alan Murray £25,345.39
5 Robert Steele £24,759.96
Click here for the final Order of Merit table: http://www.pga-tic.com/tic/tmoom.cgi?oom=03~imp=n~lspos=n~dc=N~bdlink=Y~season=2008~style=12~groupties=Y~pr=Y~textout=N~bordersize=1~fontsize=M~winfocus=Y~
Englishman Robert Steele showed nerves akin to his name to win the Les Bordes Tour Championship on the 2008 Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour with a great final round of 68 over the daunting Les Bordes course in Loire Valley, France.
Steele (Kenilworth GC) earned £20,000 for the victory and leaped up the Order of Merit into the top five – but he had to show terrific resilience on the final two holes when he was held up for a lengthy period for a ruling.
Driving on the penultimate hole with a three-shot lead over Nicky Harris, Steele’s second into the green fell just short and plugged into the face of a waste area. He had to take a drop onto the edge of the area, where his chip from an awkward lie left him a nervy 10ft putt for bogey which he duly sank.
After that drama Steele held his game together superbly, nailing the daunting approach over to the water to the last green and two putting for the par to seal his two-stroke win.
“I went down a club and was just a yard off but on a course like this you have to just take the punishment and get on with it,” said Steele, explaining the tension on the 17th.
“The chip also didn’t come out right but I held my nerve on the putt and gained a solid par at the last.”
Steele’s victory means he takes the all-important fifth spot on the Order of Merit – with the top five players in the list gaining their cards for the Challenge Tour. Although it was a last gasp effort from the winner – whose winning score of 213 came from rounds of 73, 71 and 69 – he says he felt in good shape throughout his 14 events on Tour.
“I played well all year really but I’ve had a bit of bad luck with a few lip outs – pretty much what happened here to be honest,” said the 25 year-old, who was 66-1 with Skybet to win the title. “I had to hold up under the pressure but I just said to myself what I’ve said all year, ‘I’m just playing golf here, stick in’ and all the hard work has paid off.”
Steele knew he needed to win here to get into the top five as he was back in 27th position with just under £5,000 – Matthew Ford (Marriott Tudor Park) is the unlucky player who misses out in sixth spot by £1417.20.
The winner from Coventry actually had a poor start as he teed-off with Jack Doherty – the final pairing sharing the lead on level par along with Colin Roope. Steele bogeyed the first to drop to one over but got his round underway with a 20-footer for birdie at the fourth and another birdie at seven to go out one under. It was on the start of the back nine that he made his move when he birdied 10 and 11 to sit a shot clear at three under.
Harris (Whitefield GC) was the man he was clear of after he’d started his round with an eagle. He raced into action with two birdies in the first four holes to move from three over to one under, with another birdie at the tenth closing the gap to one shot.
It looked like being a tight finish but Steele picked up a birdie at 14 to move to four over while on the hole ahead of him, Harris dropped a shot to fall three shots behind on one under.
The 17th provided Harris with a chance as he had a five-foot putt for birdie but it slipped past – as did another chance on the last – and he finished with a final round of 68, which was the course record score set by Simon Thornton in Saturday’s Pro-Am and matched by Jack Doherty in his second round.
It turned out to be a crucial day for Lloyd Kennedy too, with the Chelmsford GC man shooting a three under par 69 to share third place in the Tour Championship – a result which moved him into third position in the money list. He nudged Alan Murray (Greystones GC) into fourth and finish behind runner-up Dale Marmion (Eaton) and 2008 Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit winner Noel Fox (MMI).
Aran Wainwright (DP Publicity) also shot 69 to join Kennedy on one under, with the third player tied on that score being Scotland’s Graham Gordon (SWM Golf Management), pictured above, a former Scottish amateur champion and past Walker Cup player for whom the £4,766 cheque will be very welcome after yet another season when he has rarely shown the skill and consistency which made him the top Scottish amateur a few years back.
Fellow Scot Jack Doherty was unable to improve on his level par and finished in sixth place on two over, one shot ahead of a trio in seventh place led by namesake Sean Doherty (Bury) who finished at three over (219) with Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland) and Hendriksen (Fingle Glen GC).
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Robert Steele 73 71 69 (£20,000).
215 Nicky Harris 76 71 68 (£10,000.00).
217 Lloyd Kennedy 78 70 68 (£4,766), Aran Wainwright 72 76 69 (£4,766), Graham Gordon 73 73 71 (£4,766).
218 Jack Doherty 76 68 74 (£2,730).
219 Sean Doherty 77 72 70 (£1,833), Jamie Moul 73 74 72 (£1,833), Paul Hendriksen 75 71 73 (£1,833).
220 Michael McDermott 75 75 70 (£1,100), Daniel Brooks 74 73 73 (£1,100).
IVOBANK PGA EUROPRO TOUR ORDER OF MERIT TOP FIVE
1 Noel Fox £26,897.48
2 Dale Marmion £26,361.65
3 Lloyd Kennedy £25,419.11
4 Alan Murray £25,345.39
5 Robert Steele £24,759.96
Click here for the final Order of Merit table: http://www.pga-tic.com/tic/tmoom.cgi?oom=03~imp=n~lspos=n~dc=N~bdlink=Y~season=2008~style=12~groupties=Y~pr=Y~textout=N~bordersize=1~fontsize=M~winfocus=Y~
PAUL DOHERTY WINSCELTIC PRO TOUR
PLAY-OFF
Former Scottish boys' match-play golf champion Paul Doherty won this week's Celtic Pro Tour event - the West Wales Classic - after a sudden-death play-off at Ashburnham Golf Club.
Doherty, based in South Wales, birdied the last two holes of the 36-hole turnament to tie with Glyn Bateman (Royal Eastbourne) on one-under-par 143. Both shot rounds of 73 and 70.
The Scot, pictured right, halved the difficult first extra hole with Bateman, before holding his nerve on the second extra hole to win the title and a cheque for £1,100.
Bateman received £550.
European Challenge Tour Scoreboard
APULIA SAN DOMENICO GRAND FINAL
FIRST ROUND
65 B Grace (SAf), Greig Hutcheon (Sco) (pictured right).
66 B Wiesberger (Aut), J Morgan (Eng), R Kakko (Fin), R Cabrera Bello (Spa).
67 Andrew McArthur (Sco), G Maybin (NIr), G Clark (Eng), E Goya (Arg), R Bland (Eng).
68 M Morris (Eng), J Quesne (Fra), C Gane (Eng), A Rocha (Braz), W Besseling (Neth).
69 M Korhonen (Fin), T Feyrsinger (Aut), R De Sousa (Swi), D Horsey (Eng).
70 C Nilsson (Swe), G Lockerbie (Eng), T Remkes (Net), Steven O'Hara (Sco), L Bond (Wal), A Ahokas (Fin), M Haastrup (Den), J Huldahl (Den).
71 G Boyd (Eng), S Davis (Eng), M Ruiz (Para), K Eriksson (Swe), M McGeady (Ire), M Higley (Eng), J Haeggman (Swe), David Drysdale (Sco).
72 Richie Ramsay (Sco), R Steiner (Aut), R Coles (Eng), S Benson (Eng).
73 M Hoey (NIr), A Tadini (Ita).
74 I Van Weerelt (Neth).
77 A Tampion (Aus), R McEvoy (Eng).
APULIA SAN DOMENICO GRAND FINAL
FIRST ROUND
65 B Grace (SAf), Greig Hutcheon (Sco) (pictured right).
66 B Wiesberger (Aut), J Morgan (Eng), R Kakko (Fin), R Cabrera Bello (Spa).
67 Andrew McArthur (Sco), G Maybin (NIr), G Clark (Eng), E Goya (Arg), R Bland (Eng).
68 M Morris (Eng), J Quesne (Fra), C Gane (Eng), A Rocha (Braz), W Besseling (Neth).
69 M Korhonen (Fin), T Feyrsinger (Aut), R De Sousa (Swi), D Horsey (Eng).
70 C Nilsson (Swe), G Lockerbie (Eng), T Remkes (Net), Steven O'Hara (Sco), L Bond (Wal), A Ahokas (Fin), M Haastrup (Den), J Huldahl (Den).
71 G Boyd (Eng), S Davis (Eng), M Ruiz (Para), K Eriksson (Swe), M McGeady (Ire), M Higley (Eng), J Haeggman (Swe), David Drysdale (Sco).
72 Richie Ramsay (Sco), R Steiner (Aut), R Coles (Eng), S Benson (Eng).
73 M Hoey (NIr), A Tadini (Ita).
74 I Van Weerelt (Neth).
77 A Tampion (Aus), R McEvoy (Eng).
World Cup line-ups named for Mission
Hills, China November 27 to 30
The 28 teams who will have the honour of representing their countries in next month’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China have now been confirmed.
The 28 nations, comprising 18 exempt countries, the host nation and nine qualifiers, will line up on the Olazábal Course at Mission Hills in China from November 27 to 30, all hoping to win the lions’ share of the $5.5 million prize fund.
Scotland, of course, will be defending champions following their victory over the Olazábal Course when Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren made amends for their play-off defeat a year earlier to take the title. Montgomerie is back on the Scottish team and will have a new partner in Alastair Forsyth this year.
The Swedish Team are the top seeds with a formidable partnership of Henrik Stenson and the in-form Robert Karlsson, the current European Tour Number One and winner of his last two events.
The teams and players are:
Australia (Richard Green, Brendan Jones)
Canada (Wes Heffernan and Graham DeLaet)
Chile (Felipe Aquilar, Mark Tullo)
China (Liang Wen-chong, Zhang Lian-wei)
Chinese Taipei (Lin Wen-tang , Lu Wen-teh)
Denmark (Søren Hansen, Anders Hansen)
England (Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher)
Finland (Roope Kakko and Mikko Korhonen)
France (Gregory Havret, Gregory Bourdy)
Germany (Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka)
Guatemala (Pablo Acuña, Alejandro Villavicencio)
India (Jeev M Singh, Jyoti Randhawa)
Ireland (Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley)
Italy (Francesco and Edoardo Molinari)
Japan (Ryuji Imada, Toru Taniguchi)
Korea (Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae)
Mexico (Oscar Serna, Daniel De León)
New Zealand (Mark Brown, David Smail)
Philippines (Angelo Que and Mars Pucay)
Portugal (Tiago Cruz and Ricardo Santos)
Scotland (Alastair Forysth, Colin Montgomerie)
South Africa (Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne)
Spain (Miguel Angel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazabal)
Sweden (Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson)
Thailand (Prayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee)
United States (Ben Curtis, Brandt Snedeker)
Wales (Bradley Dredge, Richard Johnson)
Hills, China November 27 to 30
The 28 teams who will have the honour of representing their countries in next month’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China have now been confirmed.
The 28 nations, comprising 18 exempt countries, the host nation and nine qualifiers, will line up on the Olazábal Course at Mission Hills in China from November 27 to 30, all hoping to win the lions’ share of the $5.5 million prize fund.
Scotland, of course, will be defending champions following their victory over the Olazábal Course when Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren made amends for their play-off defeat a year earlier to take the title. Montgomerie is back on the Scottish team and will have a new partner in Alastair Forsyth this year.
The Swedish Team are the top seeds with a formidable partnership of Henrik Stenson and the in-form Robert Karlsson, the current European Tour Number One and winner of his last two events.
The teams and players are:
Australia (Richard Green, Brendan Jones)
Canada (Wes Heffernan and Graham DeLaet)
Chile (Felipe Aquilar, Mark Tullo)
China (Liang Wen-chong, Zhang Lian-wei)
Chinese Taipei (Lin Wen-tang , Lu Wen-teh)
Denmark (Søren Hansen, Anders Hansen)
England (Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher)
Finland (Roope Kakko and Mikko Korhonen)
France (Gregory Havret, Gregory Bourdy)
Germany (Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka)
Guatemala (Pablo Acuña, Alejandro Villavicencio)
India (Jeev M Singh, Jyoti Randhawa)
Ireland (Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley)
Italy (Francesco and Edoardo Molinari)
Japan (Ryuji Imada, Toru Taniguchi)
Korea (Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae)
Mexico (Oscar Serna, Daniel De León)
New Zealand (Mark Brown, David Smail)
Philippines (Angelo Que and Mars Pucay)
Portugal (Tiago Cruz and Ricardo Santos)
Scotland (Alastair Forysth, Colin Montgomerie)
South Africa (Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne)
Spain (Miguel Angel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazabal)
Sweden (Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson)
Thailand (Prayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee)
United States (Ben Curtis, Brandt Snedeker)
Wales (Bradley Dredge, Richard Johnson)
Scots dominate finish of Srixon PGA Play-offs
Chris Doak with the PGA Play-offs Trophy after his great win at Hoylake (image by courtesy of the PGA).Doak and McCreadie make it a
Tartan Tour 1-2 at Hoylake
Tartan Tour No 1 Chris Doak claimed the honour as the PGA's top-ranked player for 2008 after a comprehensive victory in the Srixon PGA Play-Offs over the Royal Liverpool Golf Club's Open championship links at Hoylake.
The 30-year-old, winner of the Scottish Order of Merit, secured a six-shot winning margin as he led home a Tartan Tour one-two with Buchanan Castle's Jason McCreadie claiming second spot.
The duo can now prepare to take on the might of the European Tour, having secured starts in the BMW PGA Championship plus the Scottish, English, Welsh and European Opens next year.
Doak staked his claim for glory with an opening day 66, in gale-force conditions, and eased his way to a second round 67 to finish at 11-under-par - comfortably ahead of the 21-man field, which comprised the three best players from each of the PGA's seven regions.
"It's fantastic to achieve this," said Doak. "You are always going for records in your region but to do it against the best in Great Britain and Ireland is fantastic. If you want to win, you want to win by a big margin. I just played my own game and again my caddie was just fantastic. He was like a 15th club.
"This tops a great year. We all play the region to get here and then to play a course like this and play as well as I have has been thoroughly enjoyable."
The unattached Greenock-born pro, who also won £2,000 and invites to a selection of Challenge Tour events, becomes the third winner of the annual event and the first from Scotland.
"It's huge kick start to the season for next year," he said."If I can combine these starts with a tour card it would be the best start I could have to my first year on the tour."
McCreadie, not for the first time this season, finished second behind his fellow Scot. However, it was a position he could hardly have imagined, having begun the day two over par in a share of eighth position.
However, the 38-year-old produced some stunning play, which included six birdies plus an eagle at the 16th to climb the leader board with a best-of-the-tournament score of 65.
McCreadie, who is coached by Bob Torrance, admitted that the day had begun as battle for second spot after Doak's impressive first round.
"It was just a case of going out there and seeing what you could do," he said."There was no pressure, it was just a case of trying to move up as far as I could get but realistically it was the Challenge Tour spots.
"You had to put Chris Doak out of the equation as he was away ahead so it was about second and third spots. I played woeful first day but a lot better today and just holed everything. I finished second behind Doak, but I've done a lot this year and it's not a bad place to be on this occasion, given what it means.
"I'm looking forward to playing against the best players. It changes my whole season too and I can't wait."
Yorkshire's Nick Ludwell (Selby) carded a second round 70 to finish third - ten shots behind the winner at one-under-par to secure an invite to next year's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and number of Challenge Tour events.
Completing the top five were Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), who finished on level par after second consecutive rounds of level par 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
133 Chris Doak (Sco) (unatt) 66 67.
139 Jason McCreadie (Sco) (Buchanan Castle) 74 65.
143 Nick Ludwell (Eng) (Selby) 73 70.
144 Eamonn Brady (Ire) (Clontarf) 72 72, Lee Thompson (Eng) (Dudsbury) 72 72.
145 James Ablett (Eng) (Lee-on-the-Solent) 74 71.
146 Mark Hooper (Eng) (Rayleigh GR) 74 72.
147 Andrew Barnett (Wal) (North Wales GR) 74 73.
148 Simon Lilly (Eng) (Wellingborough) 77 71, Paul Wesselingh (Eng) (Kedleston Park) 74 74, Jason Levermore (Eng) (Clacton) 76 72, Michael McLean (Eng) (Limpsfield Chart) 77 71.
149 John Kelly (Ire) (St Margaret's) 73 76, George Ryall (Eng) (Players' Club) 70 79.
150 Philip Walton (Ire) (unatt) 75 75, Cameron Clark (Eng) (Moor Hall) 75 75, Brett Taylor (Eng) (Chelmsford) 73 77.
153 Edward Goodwin (Eng) (Cirencester) 81 72.
154 Steven Cowle (Eng) (Farnham) 75 79.
155 Alex Belt (Eng) (Bridlington Links) 78 77.
156 David Orr (Sco) (East Renfrewshire) 83 73.
Tartan Tour 1-2 at Hoylake
Tartan Tour No 1 Chris Doak claimed the honour as the PGA's top-ranked player for 2008 after a comprehensive victory in the Srixon PGA Play-Offs over the Royal Liverpool Golf Club's Open championship links at Hoylake.
The 30-year-old, winner of the Scottish Order of Merit, secured a six-shot winning margin as he led home a Tartan Tour one-two with Buchanan Castle's Jason McCreadie claiming second spot.
The duo can now prepare to take on the might of the European Tour, having secured starts in the BMW PGA Championship plus the Scottish, English, Welsh and European Opens next year.
Doak staked his claim for glory with an opening day 66, in gale-force conditions, and eased his way to a second round 67 to finish at 11-under-par - comfortably ahead of the 21-man field, which comprised the three best players from each of the PGA's seven regions.
"It's fantastic to achieve this," said Doak. "You are always going for records in your region but to do it against the best in Great Britain and Ireland is fantastic. If you want to win, you want to win by a big margin. I just played my own game and again my caddie was just fantastic. He was like a 15th club.
"This tops a great year. We all play the region to get here and then to play a course like this and play as well as I have has been thoroughly enjoyable."
The unattached Greenock-born pro, who also won £2,000 and invites to a selection of Challenge Tour events, becomes the third winner of the annual event and the first from Scotland.
"It's huge kick start to the season for next year," he said."If I can combine these starts with a tour card it would be the best start I could have to my first year on the tour."
McCreadie, not for the first time this season, finished second behind his fellow Scot. However, it was a position he could hardly have imagined, having begun the day two over par in a share of eighth position.
However, the 38-year-old produced some stunning play, which included six birdies plus an eagle at the 16th to climb the leader board with a best-of-the-tournament score of 65.
McCreadie, who is coached by Bob Torrance, admitted that the day had begun as battle for second spot after Doak's impressive first round.
"It was just a case of going out there and seeing what you could do," he said."There was no pressure, it was just a case of trying to move up as far as I could get but realistically it was the Challenge Tour spots.
"You had to put Chris Doak out of the equation as he was away ahead so it was about second and third spots. I played woeful first day but a lot better today and just holed everything. I finished second behind Doak, but I've done a lot this year and it's not a bad place to be on this occasion, given what it means.
"I'm looking forward to playing against the best players. It changes my whole season too and I can't wait."
Yorkshire's Nick Ludwell (Selby) carded a second round 70 to finish third - ten shots behind the winner at one-under-par to secure an invite to next year's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and number of Challenge Tour events.
Completing the top five were Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), who finished on level par after second consecutive rounds of level par 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
133 Chris Doak (Sco) (unatt) 66 67.
139 Jason McCreadie (Sco) (Buchanan Castle) 74 65.
143 Nick Ludwell (Eng) (Selby) 73 70.
144 Eamonn Brady (Ire) (Clontarf) 72 72, Lee Thompson (Eng) (Dudsbury) 72 72.
145 James Ablett (Eng) (Lee-on-the-Solent) 74 71.
146 Mark Hooper (Eng) (Rayleigh GR) 74 72.
147 Andrew Barnett (Wal) (North Wales GR) 74 73.
148 Simon Lilly (Eng) (Wellingborough) 77 71, Paul Wesselingh (Eng) (Kedleston Park) 74 74, Jason Levermore (Eng) (Clacton) 76 72, Michael McLean (Eng) (Limpsfield Chart) 77 71.
149 John Kelly (Ire) (St Margaret's) 73 76, George Ryall (Eng) (Players' Club) 70 79.
150 Philip Walton (Ire) (unatt) 75 75, Cameron Clark (Eng) (Moor Hall) 75 75, Brett Taylor (Eng) (Chelmsford) 73 77.
153 Edward Goodwin (Eng) (Cirencester) 81 72.
154 Steven Cowle (Eng) (Farnham) 75 79.
155 Alex Belt (Eng) (Bridlington Links) 78 77.
156 David Orr (Sco) (East Renfrewshire) 83 73.
Three tie on 68 at Ballater in
North-east Alliance
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Banchory assistant professional Stewart Davidson and two amateurs, John Nicolson (Auchmill) and Northern’s George Paterson, jointly headed a field of 102 for today’s North-east Golfers’ Alliance meeting at bright but cold Ballater.
They all hit the two-under-par 68 mark but had contrasting views in the clubhouse.
Davidson, a winner already this season at Kemnay on the autumn-winter-spring circuit, was the early clubhouse leader and he thought there was no way he would still be in the pole position at the end of the day.
“There are bound to be scores better than a 68,” he said in the early afternoon.
But late finishers Nicolson and Paterson could only match Davidson’s effort although they had the chance to finish ahead of him.
Davidson had cancelled out a double bogey 6 at the sixth with an eagle 2 at the 319yd 14th and was three under par for the last eight holes in coming home in 33.
Nicholson, out in 34, was four under par standing on the 16th tee. Pars at the last three holes would have given him outright victory by two strokes.
But he bogeyed the 16th and 18th to fall back into a tie on 68.
Paterson, who had eagle 3 at the 509yd seventh in reaching the turn in 32, an outward half matched only by Scotland boy cap David Law (Hazlehead), dropped shots at the 10th, 12th and 13th before collecting a hat-trick of birdie 3s from the 14th to the 16th.
Then George three-putted the short 17th for a bogey 4 and came home in 36 for his 68.
David Law, incidentally, three-putted the last from 15ft when one putt would have given him a winning 67, and two putts a share of first place on 68.
Thirteen greens were of the winter variety but that did not stop Murcar Links veteran from including only 24 putts in a 69 which earned him joint fourth place.
The clutch of players on the one-under-par mark included former Aberdeen Links champion Graeme Mitchell, now a Braemar Golf Club member with seven of a handicap.
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 70
68 S Davidson (Banchory), J Nicolson (Auchmill), G Paterson (Northern).
69 G Mitchell (Braemar), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links), F Bisset (Banchory), D Law (Hazlehead), D Garrett (Turriff), B Urquhart (Murcar Links), D Naylor (Banchory).
70 J Thomas (Craibstone), C Stephen (Meldrum House), G Bruce (Westhill).
71 A Nelson (Banchory), D Nelson (Aboyne), M Barnard (Inchmarlo), B Nicolson (Auchmill).
72 N Hardie (Kintore), C Nelson (MacKenzie Club), H Roulston (Stonehaven), C Law (Hazlehead), C Dempster (Inchmarlo), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), R McDonald (Inchmarlo).
73 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), B Ritchie (Inverallochy), A Graham (Portlethen)..
74 I Craik (Portlethen), C Buchanan (Hazlehead), D Corkey (Murcar Links), I D Smith (Hazlehead), A J Smith (Turriff), S Lawrie (Portlethen), A Petrie (Oldmeldrum), R Bryant (Kemnay), S Elrick (Kemnay), N Williamson (Banchory), C Clark (MacKenzie Club).
75 A Campbell (Deeside), L Prouse (Hazlehead), D McKay (Caledonian), N Stewart (Northern), D Wilson (Duff House Royal), C S Davidson (Braemar), D Clark (Duff House Royal), C Alexander (Murcar Links), D S Leighton (Northern).
76 P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen), C Cassie (Nigg Bay), D Bisset (Banchory), J Murray (Banchory), G Homer (Lumphanan), R Hyland (Craibstone), B Bavidge (Murcar Links), S Scott (Auchmill).
77 J Duncan (Newburgh), S Cooper (Banchory), F G Gray (Newmachar), C Hood (Alford), J Mooney (Turriff), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), A Grant (Portlethen), K Beverige (Aboyne).
78 P Anderson (Deeside), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links), J Kinsella (Braemar), M F R Rogers (Kemnay).
79 K Davidson (Turriff), N K Parker (Murcar Links), D Read (Banchory).
HANDICAP
Class 1 – G Mitchell (Braemar) (7) 62; N Hardie (Kintore) (8), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) (5) 64; J Dalgarno (Hazlehead) (8) 65; C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8), A Nelson (Banchory) (5), N Williamson (Banchory) (8), J Nicolson (Auchmill) (5) 66.
Class 2 – A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10), N Stewart (Northern) (11), M Rogers (Kemnay) (14) 64; G Homer (Lumphanan) (11) 65; B Bavidge (Murcar Links) (10), G Kelly (Peterculter) (14), R Lumsden (Northern) (18) 66.
LEADING SCORECARDS
BALLATER PAR IS 70: OUT: 5-4-3-4-3-4-5-4-3--35. IN: 4-5-4-3-4-4-4-3-4--35
STEWART DAVIDSON 68
OUT: 5-4-3-4-2-6-4-4-3--35. IN: 5-4-4--3-2-4-4-3-4--33
JOHN NICOLSON 68
OUT: 5-4-3-3-3-4-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-3-3-3-5-3-5--34
GEORGE PATERSON 68
OUT: 4-4--3-3-4-4-3-4-3--32. IN: 5-5-5-4-3-3-3-4-4--36
BOB NICOLL 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-3-4-5-3-4--36. IN: 5-4-3-3-3-4-4-3-4--33
GRAEME MITCHELL 69
OUT: 4-5-3-5-3-4-5-4-4--37. IN: 3-5-4-3-3-4-4-3-3--32
DAVID LAW 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-2-4-3-3-3--32. IN: 4-6-4-3-3-5-4-4-4--37.
FERGUS BISSET 69
OUT: 4-4-4-4-3-4-5-4-3--35. IN: 4-4-4-3-3-4-4-4-4--34
DON GARRETT 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--37. IN: 4-4-5-2-3--5-4-2-3--32
BILL URQUHART 69
OUT: 5-5-3-4-3-4-4-3-3--34. IN: 4-5-5-3-4-4-4-3-3--35
DAVID NAYLOR 69
OUT: 4-5-3-4-3-5-4-4--3--35. IN: 4-5-5-3-2-4-4-3-4-34
+Next Wednesday's meeting is at Edzell.
North-east Alliance
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Banchory assistant professional Stewart Davidson and two amateurs, John Nicolson (Auchmill) and Northern’s George Paterson, jointly headed a field of 102 for today’s North-east Golfers’ Alliance meeting at bright but cold Ballater.
They all hit the two-under-par 68 mark but had contrasting views in the clubhouse.
Davidson, a winner already this season at Kemnay on the autumn-winter-spring circuit, was the early clubhouse leader and he thought there was no way he would still be in the pole position at the end of the day.
“There are bound to be scores better than a 68,” he said in the early afternoon.
But late finishers Nicolson and Paterson could only match Davidson’s effort although they had the chance to finish ahead of him.
Davidson had cancelled out a double bogey 6 at the sixth with an eagle 2 at the 319yd 14th and was three under par for the last eight holes in coming home in 33.
Nicholson, out in 34, was four under par standing on the 16th tee. Pars at the last three holes would have given him outright victory by two strokes.
But he bogeyed the 16th and 18th to fall back into a tie on 68.
Paterson, who had eagle 3 at the 509yd seventh in reaching the turn in 32, an outward half matched only by Scotland boy cap David Law (Hazlehead), dropped shots at the 10th, 12th and 13th before collecting a hat-trick of birdie 3s from the 14th to the 16th.
Then George three-putted the short 17th for a bogey 4 and came home in 36 for his 68.
David Law, incidentally, three-putted the last from 15ft when one putt would have given him a winning 67, and two putts a share of first place on 68.
Thirteen greens were of the winter variety but that did not stop Murcar Links veteran from including only 24 putts in a 69 which earned him joint fourth place.
The clutch of players on the one-under-par mark included former Aberdeen Links champion Graeme Mitchell, now a Braemar Golf Club member with seven of a handicap.
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 70
68 S Davidson (Banchory), J Nicolson (Auchmill), G Paterson (Northern).
69 G Mitchell (Braemar), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links), F Bisset (Banchory), D Law (Hazlehead), D Garrett (Turriff), B Urquhart (Murcar Links), D Naylor (Banchory).
70 J Thomas (Craibstone), C Stephen (Meldrum House), G Bruce (Westhill).
71 A Nelson (Banchory), D Nelson (Aboyne), M Barnard (Inchmarlo), B Nicolson (Auchmill).
72 N Hardie (Kintore), C Nelson (MacKenzie Club), H Roulston (Stonehaven), C Law (Hazlehead), C Dempster (Inchmarlo), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), R McDonald (Inchmarlo).
73 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), B Ritchie (Inverallochy), A Graham (Portlethen)..
74 I Craik (Portlethen), C Buchanan (Hazlehead), D Corkey (Murcar Links), I D Smith (Hazlehead), A J Smith (Turriff), S Lawrie (Portlethen), A Petrie (Oldmeldrum), R Bryant (Kemnay), S Elrick (Kemnay), N Williamson (Banchory), C Clark (MacKenzie Club).
75 A Campbell (Deeside), L Prouse (Hazlehead), D McKay (Caledonian), N Stewart (Northern), D Wilson (Duff House Royal), C S Davidson (Braemar), D Clark (Duff House Royal), C Alexander (Murcar Links), D S Leighton (Northern).
76 P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen), C Cassie (Nigg Bay), D Bisset (Banchory), J Murray (Banchory), G Homer (Lumphanan), R Hyland (Craibstone), B Bavidge (Murcar Links), S Scott (Auchmill).
77 J Duncan (Newburgh), S Cooper (Banchory), F G Gray (Newmachar), C Hood (Alford), J Mooney (Turriff), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), A Grant (Portlethen), K Beverige (Aboyne).
78 P Anderson (Deeside), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links), J Kinsella (Braemar), M F R Rogers (Kemnay).
79 K Davidson (Turriff), N K Parker (Murcar Links), D Read (Banchory).
HANDICAP
Class 1 – G Mitchell (Braemar) (7) 62; N Hardie (Kintore) (8), R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) (5) 64; J Dalgarno (Hazlehead) (8) 65; C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8), A Nelson (Banchory) (5), N Williamson (Banchory) (8), J Nicolson (Auchmill) (5) 66.
Class 2 – A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10), N Stewart (Northern) (11), M Rogers (Kemnay) (14) 64; G Homer (Lumphanan) (11) 65; B Bavidge (Murcar Links) (10), G Kelly (Peterculter) (14), R Lumsden (Northern) (18) 66.
LEADING SCORECARDS
BALLATER PAR IS 70: OUT: 5-4-3-4-3-4-5-4-3--35. IN: 4-5-4-3-4-4-4-3-4--35
STEWART DAVIDSON 68
OUT: 5-4-3-4-2-6-4-4-3--35. IN: 5-4-4--3-2-4-4-3-4--33
JOHN NICOLSON 68
OUT: 5-4-3-3-3-4-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-3-3-3-5-3-5--34
GEORGE PATERSON 68
OUT: 4-4--3-3-4-4-3-4-3--32. IN: 5-5-5-4-3-3-3-4-4--36
BOB NICOLL 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-3-4-5-3-4--36. IN: 5-4-3-3-3-4-4-3-4--33
GRAEME MITCHELL 69
OUT: 4-5-3-5-3-4-5-4-4--37. IN: 3-5-4-3-3-4-4-3-3--32
DAVID LAW 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-2-4-3-3-3--32. IN: 4-6-4-3-3-5-4-4-4--37.
FERGUS BISSET 69
OUT: 4-4-4-4-3-4-5-4-3--35. IN: 4-4-4-3-3-4-4-4-4--34
DON GARRETT 69
OUT: 5-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--37. IN: 4-4-5-2-3--5-4-2-3--32
BILL URQUHART 69
OUT: 5-5-3-4-3-4-4-3-3--34. IN: 4-5-5-3-4-4-4-3-3--35
DAVID NAYLOR 69
OUT: 4-5-3-4-3-5-4-4--3--35. IN: 4-5-5-3-2-4-4-3-4-34
+Next Wednesday's meeting is at Edzell.
England name their 2009 Squad
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Four teenagers have been included in the England Squad, formerly the Elite Squad, in the English Golf Union’s (EGU's) review of its various squads for 2009.
The teenagers are Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Haines, Sam Hutsby and Eddie Pepperell while English Champion Todd Adcock also earns a place along with multiple winner Luke Goddard and Andrew Sullivan, an Amateur Championship semi-finalist.
The squad includes all members of the team from this year’s Home Internationals that took place at Muirfield, along with several players who have stepped up from this year’s ‘A’ Squad. Abbott, from Suffolk, made his full England debut in the Home Internationals while Sussex-based Adcock was a surprise winner of the English Amateur at Woodhall Spa in July, beating several England caps in the process.
Lancashire’s Fleetwood, the England Boys’ Home Internationals Captain, also made his full debut in Scotland then became England County Champion, while Ford, from Leicestershire, who earned his first cap in last year’s Home Internationals made the full squad having graduated from the University of Tennessee.
Goddard, from Middlesex, who has had nine top-ten finishes this season and finished third in the PING/EGU Order of Merit, also earned his first cap at Muirfield. Goddard was in Australia this month as part of England’s team chosen for the World Amateur Team Championship, the Eisenhower Trophy.
As was Hampshire-based Hutsby, an England regular since making his debut in last year’s Home Internationals, he also represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy. Haines, from Kent, secured his first international cap against France in May before going on to win the Lytham Trophy. Keenan, from Surrey, is another US college graduate who won the Berkshire Trophy before debuting in last month’s Home Internationals, while Palmer, another Leicestershire player, is the Midland Open Amateur Champion and a graduate of Birmingham University).
BB&O’s Pepperell also made his full England debut at Muirfield last month having been an under 16 and boy cap and represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Sullivan, from Warwickshire, winner of the Berkhamsted Trophy last April also reached the last four of the Amateur Championship and was a member of the Under 21 Squad in 2006.
Brabazon Trophy winner Uzzell, from Yorkshire, also won the Russian Amateur, while Essex-based Whitnell, who debuted in last year’s Home Internationals, is another multiple winner this year, his successes include the Lagonda and Tillman Trophies and the North of England Youths Championship.
He was the third member of the Eisenhower team Northumberland’s Paisley, beaten by Adcock for the English title, is attending the University of Tennessee but his other successes this year include victory in the Czech Amateur and second places in the South of England Stroke Play and the Tillman Trophy.
Sherreard, from Kent, who is at Georgia State University, was a semi-finalist in the English Amateur also made his debut in the Home Internationals at Muirfield and is another who has stepped up from the ‘A’ Squad. He finished a very credible T19 at this year’s Open at Royal Birkdale.
The full England squad is:
Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley)
Todd Adcock (The Nevill)
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall)
Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe)
Luke Goddard (Hendon)
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham)
Sam Hutsby (Liphook)
Farren Keenan (Sunningdale)
Jason Palmer (Kirby Muxloe)
Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park)
Andrew Sullivan (Nuneaton)
Steve Uzzell (Hornsea)
Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes)
Players based overseas:
Chris Paisley (Stocksfield)
Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills)
Officials:
Bob Meston – England Squad Manager
David Ridley – Lead Coach
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Four teenagers have been included in the England Squad, formerly the Elite Squad, in the English Golf Union’s (EGU's) review of its various squads for 2009.
The teenagers are Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Haines, Sam Hutsby and Eddie Pepperell while English Champion Todd Adcock also earns a place along with multiple winner Luke Goddard and Andrew Sullivan, an Amateur Championship semi-finalist.
The squad includes all members of the team from this year’s Home Internationals that took place at Muirfield, along with several players who have stepped up from this year’s ‘A’ Squad. Abbott, from Suffolk, made his full England debut in the Home Internationals while Sussex-based Adcock was a surprise winner of the English Amateur at Woodhall Spa in July, beating several England caps in the process.
Lancashire’s Fleetwood, the England Boys’ Home Internationals Captain, also made his full debut in Scotland then became England County Champion, while Ford, from Leicestershire, who earned his first cap in last year’s Home Internationals made the full squad having graduated from the University of Tennessee.
Goddard, from Middlesex, who has had nine top-ten finishes this season and finished third in the PING/EGU Order of Merit, also earned his first cap at Muirfield. Goddard was in Australia this month as part of England’s team chosen for the World Amateur Team Championship, the Eisenhower Trophy.
As was Hampshire-based Hutsby, an England regular since making his debut in last year’s Home Internationals, he also represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy. Haines, from Kent, secured his first international cap against France in May before going on to win the Lytham Trophy. Keenan, from Surrey, is another US college graduate who won the Berkshire Trophy before debuting in last month’s Home Internationals, while Palmer, another Leicestershire player, is the Midland Open Amateur Champion and a graduate of Birmingham University).
BB&O’s Pepperell also made his full England debut at Muirfield last month having been an under 16 and boy cap and represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Sullivan, from Warwickshire, winner of the Berkhamsted Trophy last April also reached the last four of the Amateur Championship and was a member of the Under 21 Squad in 2006.
Brabazon Trophy winner Uzzell, from Yorkshire, also won the Russian Amateur, while Essex-based Whitnell, who debuted in last year’s Home Internationals, is another multiple winner this year, his successes include the Lagonda and Tillman Trophies and the North of England Youths Championship.
He was the third member of the Eisenhower team Northumberland’s Paisley, beaten by Adcock for the English title, is attending the University of Tennessee but his other successes this year include victory in the Czech Amateur and second places in the South of England Stroke Play and the Tillman Trophy.
Sherreard, from Kent, who is at Georgia State University, was a semi-finalist in the English Amateur also made his debut in the Home Internationals at Muirfield and is another who has stepped up from the ‘A’ Squad. He finished a very credible T19 at this year’s Open at Royal Birkdale.
The full England squad is:
Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley)
Todd Adcock (The Nevill)
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall)
Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe)
Luke Goddard (Hendon)
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham)
Sam Hutsby (Liphook)
Farren Keenan (Sunningdale)
Jason Palmer (Kirby Muxloe)
Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park)
Andrew Sullivan (Nuneaton)
Steve Uzzell (Hornsea)
Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes)
Players based overseas:
Chris Paisley (Stocksfield)
Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills)
Officials:
Bob Meston – England Squad Manager
David Ridley – Lead Coach
Stirlingshire are first Scottish
senior men's team champions
Stirlingshire won the inaugural Scottish senior men’s amateur inter-county team golf championship at Monifieth.
They totalled 378 for a 14-shot victory from Fife with Lothians (397) third in a field of 14 district teams.
In bitterly-cold and windy conditions, 74 was the lowest individual score and Stirlingshire had four players who shot 74 or 75.
The winning team comprised Gordon MacDonald, Henry Anderson, Lindsay Blair, Robert Irvine, David Smith and Billy Erskine.
Fife were represented by Ian Dickson, Alan Elder, Bob Thomson, Jim McArthur, Steve Ellis and Brian Mustard.
Lothians’ players were Camie Stewart, Ian Fraser, Ian Taylor, Graeme Millar, George Blair and John Fraser.
Jim McArthur (Fife), Lindsay Blair (Stirlingshire) and Ron McLellan (Ayrshire) shared the individual honours with 74s.
TEAM TOTALS
378 Stirlingshire.
392 Fife.
397 Lothians.
399 North-east.
400 Perth & Kinross.
404 Ayrshire.
407 Glasgow.
410 Renfrewshire.
411 Dunbartonshire.
414 Angus, South of Scotland.
415 Lanarkshire.
425 Clackmannanshire.
435 Borders.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
74 Jim McArthur (Fife), Lindsay Blair (Stirlingshire), Ron McLellan (Ayrshire).
75 Gordon MacDonald (Stirlingshire), Henry Anderson (Stirlingshire), John Fraser (Lothians), Robert Irvine (Stirlingshire).
77 David Miller (Ayrshire), George Paterson (North-east), Peter Jamieson (Glasgow).
78 Alan Elder (Fife), Derek Murphy (Perth & Kinross), Douglas Martin (Renfrewshire), George Rodaks (South of Scotland).
79 Billy Erskine (Stirlingshire, Charles Gallagher (Perth & Kinross), Colin Christy (Renfrewshire), Ronnie MacLean (Lanarkshire), Sandy Pirie (North-east), Steve Ellis (Fife).
senior men's team champions
Stirlingshire won the inaugural Scottish senior men’s amateur inter-county team golf championship at Monifieth.
They totalled 378 for a 14-shot victory from Fife with Lothians (397) third in a field of 14 district teams.
In bitterly-cold and windy conditions, 74 was the lowest individual score and Stirlingshire had four players who shot 74 or 75.
The winning team comprised Gordon MacDonald, Henry Anderson, Lindsay Blair, Robert Irvine, David Smith and Billy Erskine.
Fife were represented by Ian Dickson, Alan Elder, Bob Thomson, Jim McArthur, Steve Ellis and Brian Mustard.
Lothians’ players were Camie Stewart, Ian Fraser, Ian Taylor, Graeme Millar, George Blair and John Fraser.
Jim McArthur (Fife), Lindsay Blair (Stirlingshire) and Ron McLellan (Ayrshire) shared the individual honours with 74s.
TEAM TOTALS
378 Stirlingshire.
392 Fife.
397 Lothians.
399 North-east.
400 Perth & Kinross.
404 Ayrshire.
407 Glasgow.
410 Renfrewshire.
411 Dunbartonshire.
414 Angus, South of Scotland.
415 Lanarkshire.
425 Clackmannanshire.
435 Borders.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
74 Jim McArthur (Fife), Lindsay Blair (Stirlingshire), Ron McLellan (Ayrshire).
75 Gordon MacDonald (Stirlingshire), Henry Anderson (Stirlingshire), John Fraser (Lothians), Robert Irvine (Stirlingshire).
77 David Miller (Ayrshire), George Paterson (North-east), Peter Jamieson (Glasgow).
78 Alan Elder (Fife), Derek Murphy (Perth & Kinross), Douglas Martin (Renfrewshire), George Rodaks (South of Scotland).
79 Billy Erskine (Stirlingshire, Charles Gallagher (Perth & Kinross), Colin Christy (Renfrewshire), Ronnie MacLean (Lanarkshire), Sandy Pirie (North-east), Steve Ellis (Fife).
North of Scotland Golfers' Alliance Scoreboard
LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
Par 69
69 K Thomson (Moray).
71 B R Fotheringham (Forres).
72 K Godsman (Moray), G Hay (Grantown).
73 D Joel (Loch Ness), M Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie ), A Cameron (I), R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p.
74 N McWilliam (GK), C Campbell p, J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), J Foley (Forres), I A Johnstone (Inverness).
75 L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Wilson (Inverness), J A Grant (Grantown), R Mackay (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
76 I Findlay (Grantown), D F Sharp (Boat of Garten), W Hutchison (Inverness), K B Taylor (Elgin), R McKerron (Forres).
77 J C Milne (Rothes), M Mann (Moray).
78 J A G Innes (Elgin), R Nixon (Boat of Garten), R Douglas (Inverness) p.
79 R Laing (Grantown), R Proctor (Forres).
LEADING HANDICAP
Section One (8 and under)
69 J C Milne (Rothes) (8), W Hutchison (Inverness) (7), J R Ingram (Boat of Garten).
70 D F Sharp (Boat of Garten) (6).
71 R Nixon (Boat of Garten) (7), R Mackay (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (4), I A Johnstone (Inverness) (3), M Mann (Moray) (6).
Section Two (9 to 14)
70 R Laing (Grantown) (9).
71 R G Macpherson (Moray) (9).
72 P Watts (Grantown) (14), L Duncan (Elgin) (11), I Cassells (Boat of Garten) (12), T Loynes (Boat of Garten) (13).
LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
Par 69
69 K Thomson (Moray).
71 B R Fotheringham (Forres).
72 K Godsman (Moray), G Hay (Grantown).
73 D Joel (Loch Ness), M Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie ), A Cameron (I), R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p.
74 N McWilliam (GK), C Campbell p, J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), J Foley (Forres), I A Johnstone (Inverness).
75 L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Wilson (Inverness), J A Grant (Grantown), R Mackay (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
76 I Findlay (Grantown), D F Sharp (Boat of Garten), W Hutchison (Inverness), K B Taylor (Elgin), R McKerron (Forres).
77 J C Milne (Rothes), M Mann (Moray).
78 J A G Innes (Elgin), R Nixon (Boat of Garten), R Douglas (Inverness) p.
79 R Laing (Grantown), R Proctor (Forres).
LEADING HANDICAP
Section One (8 and under)
69 J C Milne (Rothes) (8), W Hutchison (Inverness) (7), J R Ingram (Boat of Garten).
70 D F Sharp (Boat of Garten) (6).
71 R Nixon (Boat of Garten) (7), R Mackay (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (4), I A Johnstone (Inverness) (3), M Mann (Moray) (6).
Section Two (9 to 14)
70 R Laing (Grantown) (9).
71 R G Macpherson (Moray) (9).
72 P Watts (Grantown) (14), L Duncan (Elgin) (11), I Cassells (Boat of Garten) (12), T Loynes (Boat of Garten) (13).
Turkish Delight as PGA Sultan is
named for Eisenhower Trophy
PRESS RELEASE
A PGA branded course in Turkey has cemented its growing international reputation by being selected to jointly stage the prestigious Eisenhower Trophy.
Antalya Golf Club’s PGA Sultan course will play host to some of the world’s best amateur golfers in the biennial team championship 2012.
The PGA Sultan's selection by the International Golf Federation sees it follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names including St Andrews’ Old Course, Royal Melbourne, Pinehurst and Royal Adelaide which have all hosted the Eisenhower Trophy since its inception in 1958.
Antalya club manager Ugur Budak is delighted with the decision, which saw them beat off competition from Italy and Austria, and will see the Sultan share matches with the Cornelia’s Faldo course.
Budak cited the PGA status as pivotal in its success in securing the event.“I believe the PGA brand was one of the key factors why so many people showed confidence in us,” he said.
“In golf, tradition is everything therefore hosting such an event with a whole tradition behind it is an amazing honour and big opportunity.
“Turkey and Antalya has done a lot during last few years to promote golf and improve the quality of its courses. This caps all these efforts and as the manager of the Antalya Golf Club I always believed that being a PGA branded course took us a couple of steps ahead of our competitors and put us in a unique position among many reputable and prestigious courses.
“The selection of the PGA Sultan course as host of the Eisenhower Trophy 2012 is proof of this. This event will not only cement Turkey and Antalya’s standing as important figures in the golf world it will also increase the importance of golf in Turkey.”
Antalya, which will host Europe's largest pro-am, the PGA National Pro-Am Championship next month, is situated on the shores of the Turkish Mediterranean and the complex includes the Sirene Beach and Hotel Resort and Kempinski Hotel.
Robert Maxfield, PGA property and commercial director, said: "It's fantastic news for Antalya Golf Club and we're delighted that one of our PGA branded courses has been recognised with being awarded such a prestigious tournament.”
The PGA Sultan is one of a growing number of PGA branded facilities that includes Gleneagles, The Belfry and Palmerstown House.Overseas resorts carrying the PGA brand have also been established in India, Russia, Spain, and China with agreements also signed for Tunisia.ends
named for Eisenhower Trophy
PRESS RELEASE
A PGA branded course in Turkey has cemented its growing international reputation by being selected to jointly stage the prestigious Eisenhower Trophy.
Antalya Golf Club’s PGA Sultan course will play host to some of the world’s best amateur golfers in the biennial team championship 2012.
The PGA Sultan's selection by the International Golf Federation sees it follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names including St Andrews’ Old Course, Royal Melbourne, Pinehurst and Royal Adelaide which have all hosted the Eisenhower Trophy since its inception in 1958.
Antalya club manager Ugur Budak is delighted with the decision, which saw them beat off competition from Italy and Austria, and will see the Sultan share matches with the Cornelia’s Faldo course.
Budak cited the PGA status as pivotal in its success in securing the event.“I believe the PGA brand was one of the key factors why so many people showed confidence in us,” he said.
“In golf, tradition is everything therefore hosting such an event with a whole tradition behind it is an amazing honour and big opportunity.
“Turkey and Antalya has done a lot during last few years to promote golf and improve the quality of its courses. This caps all these efforts and as the manager of the Antalya Golf Club I always believed that being a PGA branded course took us a couple of steps ahead of our competitors and put us in a unique position among many reputable and prestigious courses.
“The selection of the PGA Sultan course as host of the Eisenhower Trophy 2012 is proof of this. This event will not only cement Turkey and Antalya’s standing as important figures in the golf world it will also increase the importance of golf in Turkey.”
Antalya, which will host Europe's largest pro-am, the PGA National Pro-Am Championship next month, is situated on the shores of the Turkish Mediterranean and the complex includes the Sirene Beach and Hotel Resort and Kempinski Hotel.
Robert Maxfield, PGA property and commercial director, said: "It's fantastic news for Antalya Golf Club and we're delighted that one of our PGA branded courses has been recognised with being awarded such a prestigious tournament.”
The PGA Sultan is one of a growing number of PGA branded facilities that includes Gleneagles, The Belfry and Palmerstown House.Overseas resorts carrying the PGA brand have also been established in India, Russia, Spain, and China with agreements also signed for Tunisia.ends
Flying Dutchman wins a 10,000
Euros bonux from Bjorn
PRESS RELEASE
Red hot Dutchman Taco Remkes has capped a magnificent month by winning the ECCO Performance Award by Thomas Björn, and with it a cheque for €10,000.
Remkes – who is bidding to finish the season as the Challenge Tour Number One at this week’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final – sealed his third title at last week’s Margara Diehl-Ako Platinum Open, just three weeks after triumphing on home soil at The Dutch Futures Presented by The Royal Bank of Scotland.
The man from Amsterdam was thus the unanimous choice of the four man judging panel, which was made up of European Tour Members Thomas Björn and Colin Montgomerie, Challenge Tour Managing Director Alain de Soultrait, and ECCO Chief Executive Dieter Kasprzak.
Current Number Two Remkes, whose maiden victory came at the Scottish Challenge in June, said: “It’s been a great month for me, and winning the award is another confirmation that I’m doing a good job. To be recognised by such a prominent player as Thomas Björn is very special, because I’ve looked up to him since I started playing golf.
“I know like me Thomas also won three times on the Challenge Tour, and is I can go on to achieve even half of what he’s done in his career, I’ll be a very happy man. If I could do for golf in Holland what he did for the game in Denmark, that would be massive. I’d love to become the first Dutchman to play in The Ryder Cup. But that’s a long way off yet – for now, I’m just concentrating on this week, and trying to win the Challenge Tour. That would also be very special.”
Björn, who won the Challenge Tour in 1995, said: “It is a great pleasure to be involved in an award which recognises outstanding achievement on the Challenge Tour – a Tour which played a big part in my golfing education when I competed on it for three years in the early 1990s. Taco Remkes has been rightly rewarded for an outstanding debut season on the Challenge Tour, and I look forward to competing against him and his fellow graduates on The European Tour next season.”
Alain de Soultrait said: “It is staggering to think this was Taco’s first season on the Challenge Tour. His improvement has been fantastic, and he is a fine example of the seriously talented young players who make the Challenge Tour such an exciting Tour. We will be sorry to lose him to The European Tour next season, but I have no doubts whatsoever that he will thrive there and continue to go from strength to strength.”
Dieter Kasprzak said: “Taco Remkes was the obvious choice for the panel after becoming the first player to win three times in this, his debut season. He has been consistency personified, and is a very worthy winner of this award.”
All players competing at this week’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final will receive a pair of golf shoes courtesy of ECCO, who have supported seven events on this season’s Schedule.
Euros bonux from Bjorn
PRESS RELEASE
Red hot Dutchman Taco Remkes has capped a magnificent month by winning the ECCO Performance Award by Thomas Björn, and with it a cheque for €10,000.
Remkes – who is bidding to finish the season as the Challenge Tour Number One at this week’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final – sealed his third title at last week’s Margara Diehl-Ako Platinum Open, just three weeks after triumphing on home soil at The Dutch Futures Presented by The Royal Bank of Scotland.
The man from Amsterdam was thus the unanimous choice of the four man judging panel, which was made up of European Tour Members Thomas Björn and Colin Montgomerie, Challenge Tour Managing Director Alain de Soultrait, and ECCO Chief Executive Dieter Kasprzak.
Current Number Two Remkes, whose maiden victory came at the Scottish Challenge in June, said: “It’s been a great month for me, and winning the award is another confirmation that I’m doing a good job. To be recognised by such a prominent player as Thomas Björn is very special, because I’ve looked up to him since I started playing golf.
“I know like me Thomas also won three times on the Challenge Tour, and is I can go on to achieve even half of what he’s done in his career, I’ll be a very happy man. If I could do for golf in Holland what he did for the game in Denmark, that would be massive. I’d love to become the first Dutchman to play in The Ryder Cup. But that’s a long way off yet – for now, I’m just concentrating on this week, and trying to win the Challenge Tour. That would also be very special.”
Björn, who won the Challenge Tour in 1995, said: “It is a great pleasure to be involved in an award which recognises outstanding achievement on the Challenge Tour – a Tour which played a big part in my golfing education when I competed on it for three years in the early 1990s. Taco Remkes has been rightly rewarded for an outstanding debut season on the Challenge Tour, and I look forward to competing against him and his fellow graduates on The European Tour next season.”
Alain de Soultrait said: “It is staggering to think this was Taco’s first season on the Challenge Tour. His improvement has been fantastic, and he is a fine example of the seriously talented young players who make the Challenge Tour such an exciting Tour. We will be sorry to lose him to The European Tour next season, but I have no doubts whatsoever that he will thrive there and continue to go from strength to strength.”
Dieter Kasprzak said: “Taco Remkes was the obvious choice for the panel after becoming the first player to win three times in this, his debut season. He has been consistency personified, and is a very worthy winner of this award.”
All players competing at this week’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final will receive a pair of golf shoes courtesy of ECCO, who have supported seven events on this season’s Schedule.
HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS
MAGNIFICENT MACAULAY AGAIN
In what might be his final National appearance in amateur golf, Callum Macaulay(Tulliallan) turned in a breath-taking golf performance in the Eisenhower Trophy event in Adelaide, Australia last week.
In what might be his final National appearance in amateur golf, Callum Macaulay(Tulliallan) turned in a breath-taking golf performance in the Eisenhower Trophy event in Adelaide, Australia last week.
Allied to top performances from team-mates Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear, Scotland took their first Eisenhower title - the World Amateur Team Championship event- in fine style with an emphatic nine-shot win over the American team.
The Scottish team clawed their way to the top of the leader board after three rounds holding a four shot advantage, and pulled away from the opposition on the front nine, helped by four consecutive birdies from Macaulay.
The Scottish team clawed their way to the top of the leader board after three rounds holding a four shot advantage, and pulled away from the opposition on the front nine, helped by four consecutive birdies from Macaulay.
In the individual event, Callum almost took the title, finishing eight under par for the 4 rounds (19 birdies, 1 eagle 13 bogeys and the rest pars in rounds of 67, 70, 73,and 72) and only 2 shots behind American Rickie Fowler who finished 10 under for the event.
Scotland finished with a team score (best two rounds from three to count) of 20 under par 560, while the USA finished on 11 under par 569. In total, 65 teams competed, but spare a thought for the Gabon team from West Africa who finished in 65th position.
With what must have been great perseverance (final rounds of 96, 99 and 111) they finished the event at 204 over par (784) just a bit behind…..
Callum must be feeling confident for his next main event which is on the way to a European Tour place. This is at the second stage qualifying in Spain. Callum has been allocated the Arcos Gardens course in southern Spain, and along with two other venues, the top qualifiers will go through to the Final qualifying event.
For the Clackmannan County Golf Union, 2007 was a great year and 2008 has proved to be even better. It will come as no surprise to find that a celebration is being planned to honour the top performers.
Callum must be feeling confident for his next main event which is on the way to a European Tour place. This is at the second stage qualifying in Spain. Callum has been allocated the Arcos Gardens course in southern Spain, and along with two other venues, the top qualifiers will go through to the Final qualifying event.
For the Clackmannan County Golf Union, 2007 was a great year and 2008 has proved to be even better. It will come as no surprise to find that a celebration is being planned to honour the top performers.
County President Sam Kinnaird is hopeful “ It would be great for the County if we could get the County golfing heroes --- Callum, Scott Borrowman and Bob Stewart to a celebration. Details will be finalised soon”
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK JOIN
HSBC CHAMPIONS TITLE QUEST
PRESS RELEASE
The US PGA Tour’s hottest young stars, Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas, have joined the field for next month’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai; adding extra spice to what was already a world-class line-up at the Sheshan International Golf Club, 6th to 9th November, 2008.
Both players surged into the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in their careers in September, thanks to impressive results during the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup play-off series.
Kim finished third at both the Tour Championship and the BMW Championship and in between set the tone for the United States’ Ryder Cup victory with his inspirational partnership with Phil Mickelson. Coupled with his wins at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National it was enough to propel the 23-year-old American up to number 6 in the world, having started the year in 75th.
Kim, who has also had four other top three finishes this season, said: “I have had a great year, winning the Ryder Cup back and winning my first two titles on tour. The cool thing about climbing so high in the world rankings is that I now qualify for the big international tournaments like the HSBC Champions. I would be so pumped if I could win in China and continue my good run this year.”
Camilo’s rise has in some ways been even more remarkable than Kim’s. Although he started the year rated higher, at 56th, the 26-year-old Columbian with the muscles and looks of a catwalk model, only started his charge into the world’s elite in August.
Having tied for fourth place at the PGA Championship, the final Major of the year, he soared to new heights during the FedEx Cup winning the final two events and moving into 7th in the world rankings.
Villegas explained: “I'm in the form of my life and I can't wait to take on all the other top players in Shanghai. Obviously Phil Mickelson is there to defend his title but I'm definitely going there to win. I know what to expect because I played in Shanghai two years ago. It's such an awesome event and I'm so glad I didn't miss out on it this year.
The young pretenders join a star studded HSBC Champions field that boasts 7 of the world’s top 8 active players, including defending champion, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson.
English star, Justin Rose has also thrown his hat in the ring entering the 4th HSBC Champions, joining the likes of K.J. Choi, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and 2008 Masters Champion, Trevor Immelman.
HSBC CHAMPIONS TITLE QUEST
PRESS RELEASE
The US PGA Tour’s hottest young stars, Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas, have joined the field for next month’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai; adding extra spice to what was already a world-class line-up at the Sheshan International Golf Club, 6th to 9th November, 2008.
Both players surged into the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in their careers in September, thanks to impressive results during the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup play-off series.
Kim finished third at both the Tour Championship and the BMW Championship and in between set the tone for the United States’ Ryder Cup victory with his inspirational partnership with Phil Mickelson. Coupled with his wins at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National it was enough to propel the 23-year-old American up to number 6 in the world, having started the year in 75th.
Kim, who has also had four other top three finishes this season, said: “I have had a great year, winning the Ryder Cup back and winning my first two titles on tour. The cool thing about climbing so high in the world rankings is that I now qualify for the big international tournaments like the HSBC Champions. I would be so pumped if I could win in China and continue my good run this year.”
Camilo’s rise has in some ways been even more remarkable than Kim’s. Although he started the year rated higher, at 56th, the 26-year-old Columbian with the muscles and looks of a catwalk model, only started his charge into the world’s elite in August.
Having tied for fourth place at the PGA Championship, the final Major of the year, he soared to new heights during the FedEx Cup winning the final two events and moving into 7th in the world rankings.
Villegas explained: “I'm in the form of my life and I can't wait to take on all the other top players in Shanghai. Obviously Phil Mickelson is there to defend his title but I'm definitely going there to win. I know what to expect because I played in Shanghai two years ago. It's such an awesome event and I'm so glad I didn't miss out on it this year.
The young pretenders join a star studded HSBC Champions field that boasts 7 of the world’s top 8 active players, including defending champion, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson.
English star, Justin Rose has also thrown his hat in the ring entering the 4th HSBC Champions, joining the likes of K.J. Choi, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and 2008 Masters Champion, Trevor Immelman.
Asian Tour Q School Final stage
to be played over five rounds
PRESS RELEASE
The 2009 Asian Tour Qualifying School will be staged in Thailand in January where the all-important Final Stage will for the first time be played over five rounds.
An estimated 500 players from around the world are expected to gather in Thailand where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn playing privileges on the fast-growing Asian Tour.
Three venues, Lam Luk Ka Country Club, St Andrews 2000 Golf Club and Rayong Green Valley Country Club – all located on the outskirts of Bangkok, will host the First Stage from January 6 to 9, 2009.
The Final Stage will be held at St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley from January 13 to 17, 2009. Entry Form for the Qualifying School is available on www.asiantour.com.
The Asian Tour is widely regarded as the fastest growing tour in the world, with a record US$39 million in total prize money on offer this year through the staging of an unprecedented 30 tournaments across the region.
Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour, said he was expecting another strong turn-out of entries at the 2009 Qualifying School.
“With the Asian Tour enjoying another record season in 2008, we are anticipating a good response from players to vie for the 40 Tour cards for our 2009 season,” said Han.
Han added that the introduction of the fifth and final round at the Final Stage would create a sterner test for the Qualifying School hopefuls to gain their playing rights on the Asian Tour.
to be played over five rounds
PRESS RELEASE
The 2009 Asian Tour Qualifying School will be staged in Thailand in January where the all-important Final Stage will for the first time be played over five rounds.
An estimated 500 players from around the world are expected to gather in Thailand where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn playing privileges on the fast-growing Asian Tour.
Three venues, Lam Luk Ka Country Club, St Andrews 2000 Golf Club and Rayong Green Valley Country Club – all located on the outskirts of Bangkok, will host the First Stage from January 6 to 9, 2009.
The Final Stage will be held at St Andrews 2000 and Rayong Green Valley from January 13 to 17, 2009. Entry Form for the Qualifying School is available on www.asiantour.com.
The Asian Tour is widely regarded as the fastest growing tour in the world, with a record US$39 million in total prize money on offer this year through the staging of an unprecedented 30 tournaments across the region.
Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour, said he was expecting another strong turn-out of entries at the 2009 Qualifying School.
“With the Asian Tour enjoying another record season in 2008, we are anticipating a good response from players to vie for the 40 Tour cards for our 2009 season,” said Han.
Han added that the introduction of the fifth and final round at the Final Stage would create a sterner test for the Qualifying School hopefuls to gain their playing rights on the Asian Tour.