The winning Renfrewshire boys' team who played Lanarkshire at Kilmacolm GC.

Renfrewshire boys' West title chance

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNIONDon Bremner: e-mail- donbremner@ranfurly9.freeserve.co.uk
With two matches to play, Renfrewshire Golf Union junior team were still in with a chance of taking the West League championship. Victory in the home game against Lanarkshire at Kilmacolm Golf Club was a must and team convenors Graham McGee and Gary Havlin stressed that fact before the boys went to the tee.
Their pep talk obviously worked as Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch), in the first game, won 7 and 6 followed by Whitecraigs’ Euan Waugh winning 5 and 4. Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) continued the pattern with a 6 and 5 victory and his day was further enhanced when he learned that he had been selected to play in the under 16 Scotland team against England which is to take place on October 3 at Dinsdale Spa, Darlington.
This is just reward for the 15-year-old following his tremendous performance in the Scottish match- play championship.
Fraser Lauder (Paisley) looked as if he was going to break the sequence when he found himself four down with five holes remaining. The enigma which is Fraser again revealed itself as he proverbially pulled his socks up and proceeded to win the last five holes to record a one-hole victory. When he is good, he is very, very good.
Anton O’Donnell and Jamie Alexander from Whinhill and Gareth Caldwell (Greenock) also recorded good victories, leaving Old Ranfurly’s Stewart Watt as the odd boy out when he was beaten at the 15th hole.
A 7-1 victory and the team, full of confidence, travel to Dumbarton on September 19 when a similar performance will give them a good chance of the title.

RESULTS
Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch) bt James Allison (East Kilbride) 7 and 6.
Euan Waugh (Whitecraigs) bt Callum Connagher (Wishaw) 5 and 4.
Alasdair McDougal (Elderslie) bt Jay Haine (Bothwell Castle) 6 and 5. 
Fraser Lauder (Paisley) bt Ross Williamson (East Kilbride) 1 hole.
Anton O’Donnell (Whinhill) bt Jordan Bryce (Strathaven) 1 hole. 
Gareth Caldwell (Greenock) bt Calum Harrison (Carluke) 1 hole. 
Jamie Alexander (Whinhill) bt James Reilly (East Kilbride) 5 and 4.
Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) lost to Martin Scott (Hamilton) 4 and 3.

World Hickory Golfer

Some of you will know that I sometimes play (at) hickory golf.  The history of the game continually fascinates me,  and I love to read about golf in "the old days".

I'd like to draw your attention to a new on-line publication which has started this month called World Hickory Golfer.   The address is www.worldhickorygolfer.com.   I've made a permanent link in the index on the left so that you can always find it.   The editor is Lionel Freedman, founder and organiser of the World Hickory Golf Festival which is being played over courses in East Lothian in three weeks time.

I'm sure you'll enjoy his first edition as much as I have... Enjoy!

Best wishes
Gillian

European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 begins

DOHERTY, McNICOLL START

WELL BUT CORMACK

WELL BACK ON DAY ONE


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll (pictured) and former Scottish match-play boys' champion Paul Doherty made a good start to the long, long road that leads to the European Tour Final Qualifying School when they posted sub-par scores in the first round of the Stage 1 event at the London Club, Ash in Kent today (Tuesday).
But Inchmarlo's Paul Cormack's two-over-par 74 leaves him in joint 58th position in a field of 99. The precise number of qualifiers for Stage 2 at the end of 72 holes has not been finalised.

Doherty, based in South Wales, had a four-under-par 68 for joint eighth place overnight behind joint leaders Daniel Perrett (England) and Tim Sluiter (Netherlands) on 65.

McNicoll is sharing 13th place after a 69.

Doherty, McNicoll and Cormack are the only three Scots in the field at the Kent venue. The bulk of the Scottish aspirants will play in the Stage 1 event at Dundonald Links next week (September 7 to 10).

In the only other Stage 1 eliminator to begin today,

Jonas Pettersson of Sweden got his bid to earn a European Tour card off to an impressive start with a four under par 68 to set the early pace at Ribagolfe near Lisbon in Portugal.

It’s the start of a long road for many hopefuls with two stages to be negotiated before the six-round examination at the Final Stage. Those who make the grade will have played 280 holes to reach their goal.
Pettersson has a one-stroke lead over Neil Chaudhuri from England and Portugal’s Tiago Cruz.

SCOREBOARDLONDON CLUB, Ash, Kent
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72
65 Daniel Perrett (Eng), Tim Sluiter (Ned).
66 Will Roebuck (Eng), Ryan Harrison (Eng).
67 Ricky Neil-Jones (Eng), Richard Wallis (Eng), Michael McGeady (Ire).
68 Robert Perrett (Eng), Nick Redfern (Eng), Andrew Johnston Eng), Paul Doherty (Sco), Tom Sherreard (Eng) (am).
69 Matt Ford (Eng), Paul Maddy (Eng), Keir McNicoll (Sco), Guy Woodman (Eng), David Griffiths (Eng), Rohan Blizard (Aus), David Coupland (Eng) (am).
70 Ben Welch (Eng), Andrew Martin (Aus), Jason Barnes (Eng), Ben Fox (US), James Oliphant (Eng) (am), Steven Brown (Eng) (am)
71 James Horn (Eng), Shaun Norris (SAf), James Webber (Eng), Michael Vandenberg (Eng), Francis G McGuirk (Eng), Johan Eerdmans (Ned), Kieran Staunton (Eng), Mu Hu (Chn), Josh Cunliffe (SAf), Constantin Schwerz (Ger), Rory Kirway (Eng), Stiggy Hodgson (am).
72 Doug K Lee (Eng), Nicky Harris (Eng), John Hearn (Eng), Ross Whitelock (Eng), Kevin Harper (Eng), Billy Fowles (Eng), George Parker (Eng), David Callaway (Eng), Jon White (Eng) (am).
Selected scores:
73 Paul Cormack (Sco).


RIBAGOLFE, PORTUGAL
Par 72
68 Jonas Pettersson (Swe).
69 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng), Tiago Cruz (Por).
70 Oscar Fraustro (Mex), Dok Rea Noh (Spa).
71 Nico Bollini (US), Borja Etchart (Spa), Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (Spa) (am).
72 John M Kelly (US), Chris Cousins (Wal), Xavier Guzman (Spa), Ricardo Santos (Por), Miguel Pujalte Sastre (Spa).
73 Younes El Hassani (Mor), Iwan Griffiths (Wal), Andrea Basciu (Ita), Raul Quiros (Spa), Sam Vautier (Eng), Carlos Aguilar (Spa), Sebi Garcia (Spa), Robert Sture (Swe), Gonzalo Vicente Elena (Spa), Manuel Violas (Por) (am).

European senior men's amateur team championship

Scott MacDonald a non-counter but

Scots 4th after QR1

Despite a nightmare, non-counting round by Scottish seniors champion and former Walker Cup player Scott MacDonald, Scotland could fell well satisfied with fourth place at the halfway stage of the 36-hole qualifying test in the European senior men's amateur team championship at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire.
Ireland set the pace ahead of defending champions England in the first qualifying round. With Maurice Kelly and Tom Cleary leading the way with rounds of 71 and 72 - the par is 73 - respectively, the Irish were in a good enough position to discard a 78 by Adrian Morrow.
Their three other scorers were Arthur Pierse and Michael Quirke with 74s and Garth McGimpsey with a 76.
The top eight teams after Wednesday's second qualifying round will make up the championship match-play flight.
Tony Stafford (Dun Ochil) leding the way for the Scots with a two-under-par 71. He was backed up by Edzell's Jim Watt, pictured above by Tom Ward, with a 74, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 78, Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 79 and David Gardiner (Broomieknowe) also with a 79.
The surprising non-counter under the best five from six format was Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) who was expected to be the team leader. He had a nightmare round of 12-over-par 85.

SCOREBOARD

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 73
367 IRELAND (Maurice Kelly 71, Tom Cleary 73, Michael Quirke 74, Arthur Pierse 74, Garth McGimspey 76. Non-counting: Adrian Morrow 78.
372 ENGLAND (Alan Squires 73, Andrew Carman 73, Chris Reynolds 75, Philip Slater 75, Doug Arnold 76. Non-counting: Dave Jessup 83.
378 SWEDEN
381 SCOTLAND (Tony Stafford 71, Jim Watt 74, Ian Taylor 78, Colin Christy 79, David Gardiner 79. Non-counting: Scott MacDonald 85).
382 GERMANY.
393 FRANCE.
401 AUSTRIA, DENMARK.
===============TOP EIGHT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT QUALIFY
403 ITALY
404 SPAIN, SWITZERLAND.
406 NETHERLANDS, NORWAY.
415 BELGIUM.
416 PORTUGAL.
419 FINLAND.
425 SLOVENIA.
446 LUXEMBOURG.
457 POLAND.

Rhys Davies will be Monty's buggy

driver at Ryder Cup

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE
Rhys Davies insists he is not the token Welshman in Colin Montgomerie's Europe team for the first Ryder Cup in Wales.
Davies has been awarded an unofficial role in captain Montgomerie's backroom team at the Celtic Manor in October.
"Colin really wants me there to gain the experience of what it is like at a Ryder Cup," said Wales' number one.
The 25-year-old missed out on a Ryder Cup place in his rookie season but won a role as Montgomerie believes Davies is a 'Ryder Cup player of the future.'
Davies is the Celtic Manor's Ryder Cup course record holder after his 62 at this year's Wales Open where he finished runner-up to European team member and subsequent US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
The young Welshman - (Editor: He was born in Edinburgh actually) - will be Montgomerie's "personal buggy driver" in Newport at the golfing showpiece between October 1-3 after the world number 52 missed out on a place in the European team.
Davies secured a maiden win in his first season on the European Tour at the Hassan II Championship in Morocco in March and enjoyed five other top six finishes - including his second at June's Wales Open.

And Davies, son of a Welsh table tennis international, expectedly missed out on one of Monty's three wild card picks as Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari were chosen to make up the 12-man European team who will bid to regain the Ryder Cup from the Americans at Celtic Manor.
European captain Colin Montgomerie explains Rhys Davies appointment
But Davies insists his role as Montgomerie's driver at his home Ryder Cup "makes up" for the disappointment of missing out on the team.

"It has helped overcome the disappointment of not making the team," Davies told BBC Sport.

"Hearing that you are not picked to play in the Ryder Cup is disappointing to an extent as I worked so hard to be in a team like that but at start of the season it was so far off my radar.

"So I believe truly to come as close as I did was an achievement in itself and I suppose be included by Colin is a recognition of that and that pleases me to a large amount.

"I'm not just the token Welshman at all and Colin emphasised that.

"Two years ago in Valhalla, Martin Kaymer fulfilled a very similar role and it is obvious to see the success he has had in recent years and that was in a big way of being part of a Ryder Cup team.

"I guess this is something Monty thought of with his vice captains and perhaps the tour in general and I'm thrilled to be included in that kind of position."

German Kaymer has secured his spot in the 2010 European team after winning the US PGA Championship and moving to fifth in the golf world rankings.

And Davies, hailed by Montgomerie as "the guy with the $1m putting stroke," revealed the 'huge morale boost' of Ryder Cup great Monty considering him a Ryder Cup star of "the very near future."

Montgomerie played in eight European Ryder Cup teams - winning five - and  never lost in a singles match and his points scored tally of 23.5 is only 1.5 points behind all-time record-holder Nick Faldo.
"Colin's comments were a huge honour," said Davies.

"It was a very flattering comment from someone who really knows about the Ryder Cup and has achieved a huge amount of success in the Ryder Cups.

"And that emphasises the belief he has in me and it gives myself some confidence as people may think of me in that way."

Europe's victorious 2006 Ryder Cup skipper Ian Woosnam ruled out being on Montgomerie's backroom team after the Scot beat him to the role of 2010 European captain.

Monty also overlooked Welsh Ryder Cup hero Phil Price, who starred in Europe's 2002 win at the Belfry, as part of his backroom team while Davies was the closest player in the Ryder Cup qualification place as he finished 15th.

Late entries accepted for Sunday's Cadzow Cup

Ed Wood (Crow Wood) is defending the Cadzow Cup which is being played at Hamilton on Sunday (September 5).
Entries - handicap limit 5 - will be taken on the day to fill spaces or by phone to the secretary of Hamilton Golf Club at 01698 282872.

TEE TIMES
7.30 J Perera (Auchterarder), J Ralston (Shotts), K Loughrie (Cambuslang).
7.38 K Nisbit (Strathaven), S Wills (Lanark), S Gillespie (Cambuslang).
7.48 A Laird (Strathaven), G Nisbit (Strathaven), D Laing (Carluke).
7.54 A Ritchie (Strathaven), R Scott (Strathaven), K Will (Falkirk Tryst).
8.02 I Ross (Lenzie), E Moir (Hamilton), S Sewers (Cawder).
8.10 D Nichols (Carluke), C Rowan (Hollandbush), D Loudon (Hamilton).
8.18 A McEwan (Western Gailes), i MacMillan (Glasgow), M Moir (Hamilton).
8.26 R Jenkins (Crow Wood), G Campbell (Colville Park).
8.34
8.42
8.50 A Lunny (Strathclyde Park), S Douglas (Drumpellier).
8.58 D Fearon (Colville Park).
9.08 P Dempsey (Tulliallan).
9.14 P Gault (Westerwood).
9.22 K Bell (Elderslie).
9.30 B Smith (Hamilton).
9.38 S Rennie (Drumpellier), A Dick (Shotts), P Shields (Kirkhill).
9.46 A Weir (Crieff), E Wood (Crow Wood), I Ferguson (Drumpellier).
9.54 M Scott (Hamilton) J Bryce (Strathaven), J Hainie (Bothwell Castle).
10.02 J Whitelaw (Kames), Alan MacDonald (Crow Wood), C Carson (Innellan).
10.10 C Graham (Hamilton), S Whitelaw (West Linton).
10.18 I MacMillan (Glasgow).
10.24 D Wightman (Easter Moffat).
10.32 S Henderson (Hamilton), A Fairbairn (Kirkhill), W Bryson (Drumpellier).
10.40 G Beaton (Bonnyton), C Kelly (Bonnyton), W S O Sharpe (Hamilton).
10.48
10.56
11.04
11.12

EUROPEAN SENIOR MEN'S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The European senior men's amateur team championship started today at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORING

Luke Donald wants Ryder Cup     

selection overhaul

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE
Luke Donald has called for an overhaul of Europe's Ryder Cup qualification system despite being chosen as a wildcard for the event in October.
Donald, Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari were Colin Montgomerie's three wildcard picks, meaning world number eight Paul Casey missed out.

World number 23 Justin Rose, a two-time winner in the United States this season, was also overlooked.

"The European Tour has to look harder at the system," said Donald.

"I understand they want to protect the European Tour but at the same time the top guys are going to want to play against the best players in the world and you shouldn't be penalised for that."

European players qualify for their team either via the Ryder Cup World Points List or the Ryder Cup European Points List.
The best four players from the world list automatically qualify, as do the best five players on the European list who have not qualified via the world list, plus three captain's wild cards.
Some critics argue the system prevents the European side being as strong as it could be because too much importance is given to performances on the European Tour - Donald, Casey and Rose all spend large chunks of their seasons playing on the PGA Tour in the United States.
All three players, plus Harrington, chose to play in last week's Barclays FedEx Cup event in New Jersey rather than compete at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and attempt to qualify automatically.
Their decisions led to a lot of criticism, with some questioning their commitment to the European cause, although Casey said his failure to nail down an automatic place was more down the rib injury which kept him out of the game for more than three months last season.
"Being injured last year really hurt my ability to qualify automatically, but I'll be supporting them in the match," said the 33-year-old Englishman, who has played in three Ryder Cups.
"I probably need time to take it in. Simple fact is I'm not on the team. But I think Europe have got an unbelievable team and I wish them the best for the match, simple as that.


EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM
Lee Westwood (England) Age 37; Previous Ryder Cups 6
Martin Kaymer (Germany) 25; Debut
Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 21; Debut
Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 31; RC 1
Ian Poulter (England) 34; RC 2
Ross Fisher (England) 29; Debut
Francesco Molinari (Italy) 27; Debut
M A Jimenez (Spain) 46; RC 3
Peter Hanson (Sweden) 32; Debut
Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 38; RC 5
Luke Donald (England) 32; RC 2
Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 29; Debut

Casey added: "I'm not going to stand here and sort of plead a case for why I should be on the team. It's done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn't make it. I wasn't picked. I didn't qualify automatically. I wish I had."

Casey climbed from ninth to eighth in the world with a 12th-place finish on Sunday and also finished 12th in the USPGA Championship three weeks ago.

In addition he finished third in the Open Championship and his match play record - one win at Wentworth and the last two finals in Arizona - is exemplary.

"It's been one of the craziest selections for the Ryder Cup ever when guys in the top 10 in the world [himself and Casey] didn't know they were playing," added Donald, who has since slipped to 11th and who missed the last match after wrist surgery.

Rose said he "only had himself to blame", while outlining a case for why Montgomerie could have picked him.

The 30-year-old lost once on his debut two years ago, winning twice with Ian Poulter and beating Phil Mickelson in singles.

"When you play one you never want to miss another," he said. "I have and I only have myself to blame for that. I'm very disappointed. I figured I had as good a shot as anybody.

"For Paul Casey not to be in as well I think was a very interesting selection. I don't think many people would have got those three [picks].

"Unfortunately two of us were going to be left out, but that's ultimately our own fault. If you put yourself in that precarious position of looking for a wildcard this is what happens.

"I've got a three out of four record and a great ready-made partner in the team [in Poulter]. I thought those sorts of things would be positives in the pros and cons columns, so I'm disappointed not to be able to renew that partnership.

"But you have to pick yourself up and carry on. It's not like I'm Miguel Angel Jimenez trying to do it for the last time either - I've got plenty of time."

Poulter said: "I'm gutted for Justin and Paul - they are two great mates and golfers.

"I know what's going on in their minds. I know what the guys have gone through because I've been there and it's very hard to play golf that way."

This year's Ryder Cup takes place at Celtic Manor in Wales between 1-3 October.

United States name Eisenhower Trophy trio

United States world amateur team captain Fred RIdley will have a trio of collegiate golfers on top of their games at the ready when the American squad heads to Argentina in October to compete for the Eisenhower Trophy in the biennial event.
Selected for the men's squad are U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, runner-up David Chung and NCAA champion Scott Langley.

Uihlein's summer was capped with his 4-and-2 victory over Chung Sunday at Chambers Bay. Additionally the Oklahoma State junior claimed the title at the Sahalee Players Championship in July by seven strokes.

Despite losing to Uihlein in the Amateur final, Chung, a Stanford junior, claimed two prestigious victories this summer at the Porter Cup and Western Amateur.

After winning medalist honors at NCAAs in June, Langley qualified for the U.S. Open, where he finished T-16 securing a share of low amateur honors. The Illinois senior went on to reach the quarterfinals last week at Chambers Bay to secure his spot on the team.

All three golfers have experience competing for the U.S. in international competition. Uihlein was a member of the victorious Walker Cup squad last September, posting a 4-0 record in the competition. Chung and Langley both competed for the American side in the Palmer Cup this June.

"The players selected for the USA team all have played tremendous golf throughout their careers and on grand stages in 2010," Ridley said in a press release.
"More importantly, they are fine young men of character and each possess the human qualities which the game of golf represents. It is my distinct honor to captain these young men as they compete for the Eisenhower Trophy. We will represent the United States and the USGA with great pride."
Georgia senior Russell Henley and Oklahoma State junior Morgan Hoffmann have been named the first and second alternates.
The last time the U.S. won the World Amateur Team title was in Puerto Rico in 2004. The competition will take place Oct. 28-31 at Olivos GC, Buenos Aires.
+In the US amateur championship semi-finals, David Chung (North Carolina) bt Byeong-Hun An (South Korea) by one hole and Peter Uihlein (Orlando) bt Patrick Cantlay (California) 4 and 3. 

Scotland's squad, with non-playing captain Gordon MacDonald (Callander) centre, pictured this evening on the eve of the European senior men's amateur team championship at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire. Image by courtesy of Tom Ward.

HEATHER FAILS TO

QUALIFY FOR

NORTHERN OPEN

Heather MacRae, now attached to Downfield Golf Club, Dundee, has failed to win a place in the Northern Open championship at Meldrum House Golf Club, Oldmeldrum from September 21 to 23.
The former British women's amateur stroke-play champion, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, returned a score of nine-over-par 78 in today's qualifying round at Dunblane New.
Heather birdied the first and 11th but could not recover from double bogeys at the second and short seventh in an outward half of 42 although she did show better form with 36 for the inward nine.
In all 46 players qualified but only Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) of the five on the 76 mark went through after a card countback.
Surprise non-qualifier with a 78 was Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), winner of the Torrance Young Pros event at Dundonald Links last week.
The qualifiers were jointly headed on one-under-par 68 by Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) and Stuart Pardoe (unatt).
QUALIFIERS
Par 69
68 Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle), Stuart Pardoe (unatt).
69 Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Kyle Kelsall (unatt), Derek McIntosh (Elderslie).
70 Ian Taylor (Drumpellier), Gary Forbes (Murcar Links), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park).
71 Alan E Reid (West Lothian), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), David McCallum (Ralston).
72 Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Andrew Fullen (Largs), Jonny Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Stewart Winter (Callander).
73 Ewan Davie (Dunblane New), Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Greg Paxton (Ralston), Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), David Fleming (Prestwick), Lee Vannet (Carnouste Gofl Links), Owen Leslie (Craigentinny), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Greig McSporran (Kinross).
74 Garry Harvey (Kinross), David Blackadder (Kingsbarns), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Henry Wong (Wellgsreen), Michael Rae (alyth), Gregor Abel (Alloa), John Robertson (Glasgow), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland), Mark Bruce (Gullane), Craig Imlah (Peebles), Shaun Clark (Elie), Martin Shaw (Kilmarnock Barassie), Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate).
75 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Mark Finlayson (Edzell), Alan Mackay (Pumpherston).
76 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).
FAILED TO QUALIFY
76 (after card play-off) Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry), Andrew Cooper (Newmachar), Gavin Alison (Carrick on Loch Lomond).
77 Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch), Craig Everett (Caldwell), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond), Neil Murray (Cruden Bay), Alan Gowran (East Renfrewshire).
78 Sandy Aird jun (McDonald Ellon), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House), Paul Wilson (World of Golf), Ian Rowlands (unatt), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), Heather MacRae (Downfield).
Selected scores:
79 Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), Iain Buchan (Craibstone).

DUNDEE PAIR WIN SENIOR DOUBLES TOURNAMENT

The Dundee pairing of Graham Bell and Richard Scott, both members of the Downfield club, won the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society's double tournament over two rounds at Haddington and the Glen golf courses.
They had steady scores of 71 and 68 for a total of 139, which them victory by a single shot from three pairs - Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Mike Power (Duddingston), Sandy Pirie and Alastair McGregor (Hazlehead) and Dunfermline's David Taylor and Eddie Cornerford.
Brian Inglis and T C Davidson (Duddingston), playing off 10.8, had the best net total of 133.2. Runners-up were Edzell's Keith Bruce and Ian Farquhar on 134.8 off 7.2, with Ken Davidson and Dougie Burgess (Musselburgh) third on 135 off seven.
.
LEADING SCRATCH TOTALS
139 Graham Bell and Richard Scott (Downfield) 70 68.
140 Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Mike Power (Duddingston) 69 71, Sandy Pirie and Alastair McGregor (Hazlehead) 69 71, David Taylor and Eddie Cornerford (Dunfermline).
141 Mike Robson (Kingsknowe) and Robert Jack (Liberton) 67 74.
142 Keith Bruce and Ian Farquhar (Edzell) 70 72,, Ken Davidson and Dougie Burgess (Musselburgh) 72 70.
143 Alan O'Neil (West Lothian) and Joe McManus (Uphall) 70 73.
144 Brian Inglis and T C Davidson (Duddingston) 72 72.
145 Gordon Macdonald and Stewart Drummond (Callander) 71 74, Keith Howie and Bobby Blackwood (Cochrane Castle) 74 71, John W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) and Stuart Farmer (St Andrews New) 68 77, Lindsay Gordon and Alistair Taylor (Turnhouse) 70 75, Wilson Morton (Dunblane) and George Black (Torwoodlee) 72 73.

Cardross juniors have had fantastic year

NEWS RELEASE
The Cardross Golf Club junior team were presented with the McIntyre League Trophy at the Junior Presentation Day held at Dumbarton Golf Club. The team, have had a fantastic year, going through their league matches unbeaten, securing the title with a game in hand, and on Monday evening secured their place in this year's DGU Knock Out semi-final. This is the third time in four years the village team have managed to secure the league spoils, which shows the strength and depth the junior section has within its ranks.
As winners of the league last year the team travelled to Westerwood to the Home Nations Inter-Club Scottish Finals. They finished a very creditable second to eventual UK winners - Craigielaw. This year the team will be hoping to go a stage further when they play in the Scottish Finals at Spey Valley later this year, by securing top spot and a place in the UK Finals to be played in Spain early 2011.
The Team and Convenors would like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their support and sponsorship this year: Weir Engineering, Shearwater Marine Services, Hullabaloo and Asbri Golf.
The team pictured above with the Junior McIntyre Trophy and their new bags supplied by ASBRI Golf are - left to right - Sean Currie, Liam Chambers, Ross McEwan, Cameron Black, Michael Currie, Alasdair Hughes-Hughes and Colin McKenzie.
Team members missing from the picture are: Cameron Farrell, Lee Gibson, Liam Halliday, Euan Fleming and Daniel Ward.

Stewart Crowned SGU Order of Merit Champion

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Ayrshire’s Michael Stewart has been crowned the 2010 Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit Champion to round off a superb season for the Troon Welbeck golfer.
The 20-year-old Scotland international, who captured the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Gullane last month, finished 43.5 points clear of Peterhead’s Philip McLean, who edged out fellow North East player Jordan Findlay for the runner-up spot following the completion of the domestic circuit after yesterday’s South East District Open Championship.
Stewart, who won the SGU Boys’ Order of Merit two years ago, has just returned from Italy where he represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy, while he is part of the three-man Scotland team which will defend the Eisenhower Trophy in Argentina in October. In June, he reached the last 32 of The Amateur Championship at Muirfield, finished seventh at the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy and tied third in the Tennant Cup at Haggs Castle.
The former East Tennessee State University student was delighted with his latest honour, saying:
“It’s great to win the Order of Merit and it’s a nice reward for all the hard work I’ve put in over the last year. I was playing well over in the States during the early part of the season and I’ve managed to keep that going since returning to Scotland in May.”
“Winning the Scottish Amateur Championship at Gullane was obviously the highlight and I’m also delighted to achieve my main goal of being selected for the Eisenhower Trophy team. My coach Ian Rae has been a big help as had my dad and its nice having such supportive people around me.”
“My next target is the Walker Cup next year at Royal Aberdeen. I talked at length to Nigel Edwards the GB and I captain in Italy last week and he gave me some great advice and shared his experiences so I’m really looking forward to next season with a place in that team to aim for.” added Stewart, who was also Scotland’s leading points scorer at the recent Home Internationals, dropping just half a point in six matches.
McLean, runner-up in the St Andrews Links Trophy and winner of the Edward Trophy, improved by two places on last season’s fourth spot in the SGU rankings to clinch the runners-up spot, with a resurgent Findlay just 2.5 points behind him in third place.
Last year’s Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Champion David Law ended the year strongly with three consecutive top four finishes to capture fourth spot in an injury-ravaged season, with St Andrews New’s Peter Latimer, winner of the East of Scotland Championship, in fifth place just ahead of Fife and Scotland team-mate James White.
Former winners of the SGU Order of Merit include Andrew Coltart (1991) Dean Robertson (1992, 93), Gordon Sherry (1995), Steven O’Hara (2001, 01) and Callum Macaulay (2007).
Final Standings in the 2010 SGU Order of Merit
1 Michael Stewart Troon Welbeck 5 events, 466.00pts
2 Philip McLean Peterhead 9 events, 422.50pts
3 Jordan Findlay Fraserburgh 12 events, 420.00pts
4 David Law Hazlehead 9 382.50
5 Peter Latimer St Andrews New 9 380.00
6 James White Lundin 9 375.42
7 James Byrne Banchory 2 355.00
8 Scott Larkin Royal Aberdeen 11 350.00
9 Graeme Robertson Glenbervie 13 341.25
10 Greg Paterson St Andrews New 8 337.50
11 Brian Soutar Leven GS 9 332.50
12 Allyn Dick Kingsknowe 8 317.50
13 Paul Shields Kirkhill 9 296.60
T14 Ross Kellett Colville Park 7 270.00
T14 Bryan Innes Murcar Links 3 270.00




ENDS

Langer's fifth win ... maybe Monty

should have picked him!

SNOQUALMIE, Washington. Maybe it wasn't such a way-out idea that Colin Montgomerie should make Bernhard Langer one of his Ryder Cup wild-card selections. The Florida-based German scored his fifth US Champions (Seniors) Tour win this year on Sunday.
Langer pulled off a Seattle sweep with a final-round 69 as he pulled away from Nick Price down the stretch to win the Boeing Classic.
Langer finished at 18-under 198 to earn his fifth Champions Tour victory this season, and the second in the greater Seattle area this year after winning the US Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., a month ago.
In his last three events in Washington state, he's won twice and finished tied for third at the Boeing Classic last year. His score under par matched Loren Roberts' tournament record from last year.

"I think right now I'm playing almost as good as I've ever played," Langer said. "I think my golf swing improved. The technique is better. My caddy said he hadn't seen me drive the ball as well as the last few weeks ever."

Leading by two shots after a bogey at No. 11, Langer made consecutive birdies at Nos. 15 and 16 to stretch his lead to four strokes with just two to play at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge.

"My lead was only two at that point with seven holes to go, so we still had a lot of golf left," Langer said. "My caddy came over and gave me a pep talk and said 'Let's play 2-under over the last five holes,' and I was able to go 3-under on the last few and increase my lead and have a (three-shot) lead coming into 18, which is a nice lead to have."

Price (71) wasn't able to find enough birdies on Sunday to keep up with the Charles Schwab Cup leader.

"In retrospect, I'm really happy with the way I played this week cause I played so poorly last week," Price said. "He's tough. I needed my 'A' game to beat him today and I didn't have it."

Langer gave Price opportunities early as Langer missed the first three fairways of the day. Langer drove his tee shot into a bunker on the uphill 439-yard third hole, opening the door for Price to apply some pressure trailing by just a stroke. But Price's drive found the same bunker as Langer.

Langer was able to clear the lip easily and put his second shot just through the green while Price was forced to lay up. Price couldn't save par and made bogey.

Price found the sand again off the tee on the fourth hole and his second shot caught the lip upon contact and landed in a greenside bunker. Price couldn't get up and down and made bogey, leaving a 6-footer short to save par.

"It was strange today actually because it was probably the best I drove the ball all week because I'd been struggling a little bit with my driver," Price said.

"I missed my lines by probably 10, 12 yards on both of those holes and I paid the penalty."

After a big drive at the fifth, Price chunked a wedge and barely trickled on to the front edge of the green and three-putted from 50-feet for his third straight bogey.

But Langer allowed Price to hang around. A massive drive at the downhill 484-yard, par-4 11th left Langer just 86 yards out, but his second shot flew close to 20 feet past the hole and he three-putted for bogey. Price birdied the eighth and 11th to pull within two of the lead but couldn't get any closer to the methodical Langer.

"My hat's off to Bernhard," Price said. "He played super solid today. He's a tough, tough competitor."

Home-town favourite Fred Couples closed with a 67 to finish in third at 9 under. He struggled down the stretch on Saturday, shooting 4-over par on Nos. 15, 16 and 17 to fall out of contention. The Seattle native received a huge ovation after making birdie at No. 18 to close out his weekend.

"I don't come back to Seattle much at all, but to come back and play (here) two weeks has been truly remarkable," Couples said.

Mike Reid and Hal Sutton finished tied for fourth at 8-under par.
SCOREBOARD LATER

Scot earns biggest prize of $810,000 for finishing second

Kuchar beats Laird in play-off for Barclays

Matt Kuchar beat Martin Laird at the first hole of a sudden death play-off climax to The Barclays tournament at Ridgewood Country Club, New Jersey.

Kuchar made up five shots on Laird with a final round of 66 for a total of 12-under-par 272, the same as Laird who closed with a 71.

They had finished two shots ahead of Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman.

Laird, pictured above, had a double-bogey 7 at the long third and bogeys at fourth, short eighth and - crucially - the 18th where he three-putted. He birdied the first, second, sixth, 12th and 17th. Kuchar birdied two late holes to get into the play-off. His cheque for more than $1million makes him the leading US PGA Tour money-winner this season with in excess of $4million.

Laird's cash prize for a great effort was $810,000, his biggest yet in his pro career. He has now won $1,562,764 this season and is 43rd on the US PGA Tour money list. Tiger Woods finished with a 67 for 277, sharing 12th place with Paul Casey who, ironically, after being left out of Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup squad, finished a shot ahead of Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose.
Donald had a bizarre last round of 68. He birdied the first six holes  and was leading the tournament at that point. He reached the turn in 28 ... then got the message that he had been selected for the Ryder Cup ... and took 40 shots to come home!
"I lost my concentration completely," said Luke.

Padraig Harrington dropped like a stone down the final standings with a last round of four-over 75. But he still finished ahead of Rory McIlroy who had a disappointing tournament. Both Harrington and McIlroy are in Monty's Ryder Cup line-up.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
272 Matt Kuchar 68 69 69 66, Martin Laird 69 67 65 71 (Kuchar bt Laird at second hole of sudden-death play-off).
274 Steve Stricker 70 70 68 66, Kevin Streelman 72 63 71 68.
275 Rory Sabbatini 6874 6964, Vaughn Taylor 65 70 71 69, Ryan Palmer 66 74 66 69, Jason Day 67 67 70 71.
276 Heath Slocum 67 71 70 68, Adam Scott 66 71 68 71, Dustin Johnson 71 69 64 72.
277 Ben Crane 67 70 73 67, Tiger Woods 65 73 72 67, Paul Casey 69 69 70 69.
278 Stewart Cink 67 69 73 69, Luke Donald 70 72 68 68, Angel Cabrera 68 71 69 70, Ian Poulter 70 72 66 70, John Senden 67 69 70 72, Justin Rose 72 69 65 72.
279 Tim Petrovic 68 69 75 67, Chris Couch 67 72 72 68, D J Trahan 67 71 72 69, Zach Johnson 69 69 71 70, Brian Gay 66 72 71 70, Retief Goosen 70 70 69 70.
280 Charley Hoffman 68 72 70 70, J P Hayes 72 69 67 72, Ryuji Imada 72 65 70 73.
281 Davis Love III 67 74 72 68, Sean O'Hair 69 70 72 70, Bubba Watson 71 70 70 70, Greg Chalmers 70 71 69 71, Hunter Mahan 70 71 69 71.
282 Bryce Molder 72 67 74 69 282, Justin Leonard 71 71 71 69, Nick Watney 69 71 72 70, Marc Leishman 70 70 71 71, Michael Sim 69 70 71 72, Kevin Na 72 69 69 72, Troy Matteson 71 69 70 72, Stephen Ames 73 69 69 72, Webb Simpson 72 65 72 73, Josh Teater 68 71 70 73, Rickie Fowler 71 70 67 74.
283 Y E Yang 73 67 74 69, Robert Allenby 73 67 74 69, D A Points 70 70 72 71, Bill Haas 69 73 67 74, Padraig Harrington 69 68 71 75.
284 Jimmy Walker 68 74 71 71, Andres Romero 73 69 70 72, Stuart Appleby 70 71 71 72, Robert Garrigus 69 72 69 74.
285 Jonathan Byrd 67 72 75 71, Jeff Overton 68 73 73 71, Aaron Baddeley 72 70 72 71, Rory McIlroy 68 74 71 72.
286 Brian Davis 72 70 75 69, Chad Campbell 72 69 72 73, Matt Jones 72 70 70 74, Pat Perez 67 73 70 76.
287 Chad Collins 68 74 73 72, Spencer Levin 72 69 73 73, David Duval 68 72 72 75, Camilo Villegas 67 74 71 75.
288 Scott Verplank 67 75 73 73, Kenny Perry 72 70 75 71, John Merrick 73 69 73 73.
289 Ernie Els 71 71 73 74.
291 J J Henry 68 73 77 73.

Renfrewshire overpower Lanarkshire in boys' match

Renfrewshire had a convincing 7-1 win over Lanarkshire today at Kilmacolm in the West of Scotland Boys' League.
Callum Connacher of Wishaw had four 2s but still lost 5 and 4 to Euan Waugh who holed a wedge shot for eagle and also had four birdies. Best comeback of the day was from Fraser Calder of Paisley who won the last five holes against Ross Williamson of East Kilbride to win by one hole.
Results (Renfrewshire names first):

UNDER-18s
Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) lost to Martin Scott (Hamilton) 4 and 3.
Jamie Alexander (Whinhill) bt James Reilly (East Kilbride) 5 and 4.
Gareth Caldwell (Greenock) bt Calum Harrison (Carluke) 1 hole.
Anton O'Donnell (Whinhill) bt Jordan Bryce (Strathaven) 1 hole.


UNDER-16s
Paul Reilly (Lochwhinnoch) bt James Allison (East Kilbride) 7 and 6.
Euan Waugh (Whitecraigs) bt Callum Connacher (Wishaw) 5 and 4.
Alistair MacDougal (Elderslie) bt Jay Hainie (Bothwell Castle) 6 and 5.
Fraser Calder (Paisley) bt Ross Williamson (East Kilbride) 1 hole.

Ian Craik regains Portlethen club championship


By ROBERT DICKSON
On a windswept and soggy Portlethen, Ian Craik today overcame a spirited challenge from Ryan Donaldson to regain the club championship which he won two years ago. In horrendous weather conditions, Ian’s game was better suited to the driving rain and blustery winds and he hung in to return a 4 and 3 victory in the 36-hole final.

In the worst conditions seen this summer, the game swung back and forward over the first nine holes until Ian took control with wins at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th to be four up at lunch. With the rain receding but the winds strengthening in the afternoon session, Ryan was quickest to regain the momentum winning the 20th and 22nd and could easily have squared the match within an hour of the restart.

However, he could not capitalise on his chances and had to watch Ian Craik hole a 40 foot putt to halve the 23rd hole in par threes. This was to prove a turning point and when Ian won the 27th and 28th with battling pars, he only had to hang in to secure his 4 and 3 success.

In the handicap championship, two 12-handicappers needed 35 holes to separate them. Gary Thomson was too strong for Jake Mearns, grinding out a 3 and 1 victory, having led by two holes at lunch.

The junior championship was won by Sean Lawrie who overcame Robbie Murdoch by 7 and 6 in the 36 hole final, while the seniors championship saw Arthur Graham birdie the 16th hole to win his third consecutive hole to close out Neil Watt by 3 and 2.

Gary Chalmers defeated the luckless Graeme Rennie 3 and 2 in the C R Associates final and the Murdoch Smith four-ball final was won by David Fleming and Bob Inkster who were too strong for Jim Webster and Drew Tremain.

+The Portlethen women's club championship is a stroke-play event and was won by Sara Beattie for the second year in a row. Linda Craik, runner-up in the scratch championship, won the handicap title.

JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Edoardo Molinari birdies last three

holes to win

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
GLENEAGLES, Perthshire (AP) — Edoardo Molinari birdied the final three holes at Gleneagles today to win the Johnnie Walker Championship and secure a place on Europe's Ryder Cup team.
The 29-year-old Italian received a wild card pick from European captain Colin Montgomerie, a few hours after shooting a one-under 71 during the final round to beat Brett Rumford by a shot.

"I was under a lot of pressure out there because I did not know if second place was going to be good enough to impress Colin Montgomerie with the wild-card situation," Molinari said. "So the win was very important to me."

Molinari finished at 10-under 278. Overnight leader Francesco Molinari - Edoardo's brother - shot 75 to share third with Wales' Jamie Donaldson and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain. Jimenez also secured a Ryder Cup spot, as did Sweden's Peter Hanson, who finished tied for 19th.

"My caddy told me on the 16th tee that with a couple of birdies I could still win and I feel fantastic to have been able to do that," said Molinari, who trailed Rumford by two shots at the time, only to birdie the next two holes to draw even.
Rumford did not expect to be in contention for his third European Tour victory but, a pair of closing birdies left him with a 2-under 70 and the clubhouse lead.
"It was never going to be a day of low scoring," he said. "The wind was very strong out on the course and very difficult to read."
The decision by Jimenez to seek a late entry to play at Gleneagles rather than attend his nephew's wedding in Malaga paid off.
He started the tournament in the ninth and last automatic qualifying place to play in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. An even-par 72, which left him at 7 under, earned him a share of third place and his fourth match against the United States team.
"It means a lot to me," the 46-year-old Jimenez said. "It means more as you get older and now to be playing alongside the likes of Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy will mean I am playing with a third generation.
"My nephew and my family understood about the wedding - they told me I had to what I had to do, and that's what I did."

On a day of high winds and high scoring, Hanson also secured his Ryder Cup debut with a 73 and a 2 under finish. He had recently climbed into automatic qualifying position by winning the Czech Open.

"I was very tired coming here to Scotland and I have been battling not to think about making the team," Hanson said. "But now I am going to celebrate."

FINAL TOTALS
PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire
Par 288 (4x72). Yardage 7.316.
278 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 70 68 69 71
279 Brett Rumford (Australia) 71 70 68 70
281 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 68 70 68 75, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70 68 71 72, Jamie Donaldson 69 74 69 69
282 Simon Dyson 68 70 70 74
283 Damien McGrane 72 67 70 74, Marcel Siem (Germany) 71 71 71 70, Bradley Dredge 71 68 74 70
284 Phillip Archer 70 73 69 72, Gregory Bourdy (France) 68 70 70 76, George Coetzee (S Africa) 69 68 74 73, Jyoti Randhawa (India) 70 70 69 75
285 Gary Boyd 67 68 74 76, Stephen Gallacher 67 70 71 77, Ross Fisher 72 67 73 73, Oliver Wilson 70 70 68 77, Rhys Davies 73 70 72 70
286 Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 69 75 73, Robert Rock 67 71 75 73, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 65 72 75, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 68 67 73 78, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 69 69 77, Steven O'Hara 70 70 72 74, David Lynn 67 68 77 74
287 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 72 70 73 72, John Parry 72 70 71 74, Paul Waring 69 73 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 69 70 70 78, Gary Lockerbie 68 73 70 76, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 70 69 76, Stephen Dodd 71 72 68 76, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 69 74 74, Simon Thornton 71 71 67 78
288 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 70 74 74, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72 72 73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 69 71 75, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 72 70 76, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 72 70 75, Mark Foster 70 67 73 78, Paul McGinley 68 70 74 76
289 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 72 70 76, Phillip Price 72 69 77 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 71 73 73
290 Richard Bland 67 75 71 77, Robert Dinwiddie 72 71 73 74, Nick Dougherty 68 72 75 75
291 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 68 75 76 72, Robert Coles 72 69 80 70, Tommy Fleetwood 73 68 76 74
292 Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 72 71 72 77, Sam Walker 68 71 72 81, Richard Finch 66 74 70 82, Paul Lawrie 69 73 73 77, Sion E Bebb 72 70 74 76
293 Sam Hutsby 72 71 71 79, Marc Warren 68 70 71 84, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 69 74 75 75
294 Marco Ruiz (Par) 71 71 76 76, Graeme Storm 71 72 73 78
295 Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 72 68 74 81
296 Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 73 70 72 81
297 Martin Wiegele (Aut) 72 71 75 79, Oliver Fisher 69 73 76 79
299 James Morrison 71 72 75 81
303 Miles Tunnicliff 69 74 77 83

Monty picks Harrington, Donald and

Edoardo Molinari

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Paul Casey and Justin Rose will not be part of Europe's bid to win back the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in just over a month.
Colin Montgomerie, pictured, faced with arguably the most difficult decision any captain has had regarding wild cards, has named Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari as the three men to complete his line-up.
They join automatic qualifiers Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson.
Because the so-called FedEx Four - Harrington, Casey, Donald and Rose - chose to stay in America in the last two weeks when returning to Europe could have seen them qualify, Montgomerie was left with five players in the world top 22 chasing a pick.
He had leave one of the four out and it also left him facing calls to omit another because they put their US Tour careers ahead of the Ryder Cup.
Montgomerie asked them all to play at Gleneagles and they all turned him down, but the Scot, who was critical of Poulter for doing the same two years ago, insisted that at the end of the day his job was to pick the strongest side.
No brothers have played in the same match since Bernhard and Geoff Hunt in 1963 and Edoardo Molinari piled on the pressure with a three-birdie finish to win the Johnnie Walker Championship in dramatic fashion.
Meanwhile, Rose was lying fifth, Casey and Harrington 12th and Donald 28th with a round to go in New Jersey, but Montgomerie chose not to wait for the final result there before making his announcement.
In Harrington's favour was that he was the only three-time major winner amongst the candidates. Against him, though, was the fact that he did not win a game either in the defeat two years ago or the nine-point victory at The K Club in 2006.
The biggest pluses for Donald, who missed the last match following wrist surgery, were that he has lost only one of seven cup games, has a perfect four wins out of four in foursomes, was third at Celtic Manor in June's Wales Open and was ranked 10th in the world.
Casey was one higher than that and his head-to-head record also strengthened his hand. He won the World Match Play at Wentworth in 2006 and was a finalist in the last two WGC-Accenture Championships in Arizona.
Against that, he needed a wild card last time after staying in the States then as well and scored only two half-points from three games.
Rose was much more successful with three points out of four on his debut, partnering Poulter to two wins and beating Phil Mickelson no less in the singles.
He has played less than anybody in Europe this season, though, and after two brilliant US Tour victories earlier this summer he missed the halfway cut in the last two majors - just like Harrington.
And then there was Edoardo Molinari, whose brother clinched his debut on Thursday when England's Ross McGowan pulled out of the final counting event through injury.
They won the World Cup together last November and Edoardo, winner of Europe's "second division" Challenge Tour last season, also stakes his claims by winning the Dunlop Phoenix title in Japan and the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond - as well as coming second to Ernie Els in the US Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Against him, though, was his lack of experience both in majors and the Ryder Cup - and, of course, Montgomerie already had five debutants in McIlroy, Kaymer, Fisher, Francesco Molinari and Hanson.
Out from the last team are Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen, Casey and Rose.
Only eight of the American side are known at the moment. Captain Corey Pavin adds four wild cards on Tuesday week and Tiger Woods is among those waiting for a call.
After announcing that Sergio Garcia will join the team as a fourth vice-captain, Montgomerie went on to explain the reasons behind his three picks.
He said: "Padraig Harrington has won three major championships in the last three years...the stature of Padraig...he is someone we feel that nobody in match-play golf wants to play.
"He is a great competitor and someone that will bring everything to the team that we know about European golf.
"Luke Donald has played seven times in Ryder Cup and has lost only once.
"And Edoardo Molinari, what can one say about his performance today?
"In my time on the European Tour, over 24 years, I have never seen a finish like that. All credit to him, having to win and doing just that."
When asked about what had counted against Casey and Rose, he added: "I would rather talk about the strengths of the ones I have picked.
"I feel sorry for Paul Casey and Justin Rose, he has won twice in the USA this year and is doing well in the Barclays at the moment.
"I and my team had to leave out two world stars and I am afraid they are the world stars left out on this occasion."
Montgomerie suggested he already knew his three picks before the Gleneagles event but admitted this evening he may have been stretching the truth.
He said: "I was lying at that stage!
"What Edoardo Molinari did this week was incredible, he is the kind of player we need to regain the Ryder Cup.
"I have managed to speak to some of the players today, to let people know of a decision which will go against them.
"I haven't spoken to Paul Casey as he is playing but I have spoken to Justin Rose as he was on the driving range.
"But I thought it was better for him to hear from me.
"I must have made a dozen phone calls today, I wasn't on to apologise because we have an embarrassment of riches."
European Ryder Cup team:
Lee Westwood (England)
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
Martin Kaymer (Germany)
Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)
Ian Poulter (England)
Ross Fisher (England)
Francesco Molinari (Italy)
Peter Hanson (Sweden)
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)
Luke Donald (England)
Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
Edoardo Molinari (Italy)

CRAIBSTONE WIN SIMMERS TROPHY


Craibstone's No 1 team won the North-east District's Simmers Trophy men's foursomes title at very windy Cruden Bay today.
D Melvin and B Wood combined to return an alternate-shot 74, finishing three strokes ahead of runnersup A Bews and D Raitt.
Nigg Bay 2 and Bon Accord 1 finished third on 79.
TOTALS
74 Craibstone 1 (D Melvin, B Wood).
77 Murcar Links 1 (A Bews, D Raitt).
79 Nigg Bay 2, Bon Accord 1.
81 Cruden Bay 1.
83 Caledonian 2, Turriff, Nigg Bay 1, Royal Aberdeen, McDonald Ellon.
84 Caledonian 1, Murcar Links 2, Duff House Royal 1.
85 Cruden Bay 2, Newmachar 1.
86 Inverallochy.
87 Banchory 2.
89 Banchory 1, Craibstone 2.
90 Auchmill 2, Duff House Royal 2, Kintore, Northern 1.
91 Auchmill 1, Bon Accord 2.
93 Northern 2.
95 Peterculter 2.
NRs Peterculter 1, Newmachar 2.