JOINT LEADER ADAM SCOTT HAS TIGER WOODS' CADDIE ON HIS BAG

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania (AP) — Adam Scott must have felt as though he got another crack at the U.S. Open in the AT and T National. Only this course felt more like a U.S. Open.
Aronimink built on its growing reputation when only 28 players managed to break par in the opening round despite warm sunshine and a mild breeze. Scott and Hunter Haas, who were tied atop the leaderboard at 4-under 66, followed a U.S. Open formula by trying to keep the ball in play off the tee and being cautious on the greens.
"It's a great golf course, obviously, but in great shape," Scott said. "But they've set the course up beautifully. The greens are perfect and they've got very generous fairways, but severe rough, which is a nice balance. There are good scores out there, but you have to play well."
The U.S. Open became a talking point because of how hard players had to work for their scores on a course with firm fairways, fast greens and several diabolical hole locations. The average score was about 71.5, and all but four of the holes played over par.
Rain softened the course at Congressional two weeks ago, and while Rory McIlroy turned in a command performance with a record 16-under 268, the 20 scores under par at the end of the week were unusual for a U.S. Open.
"They obviously didn't get the greens where they really would have liked them," said Scott, who missed the cut by one shot at Congressional. "And here, I think they've got the greens probably where the U.S. Open would have liked them on a Thursday."
Scott holed birdie putts of 20 feet and 25 feet early in his round, and finished with a 15-foot par save on the 17th and another 15-footer for birdie on the 18th. His lone bogey came on a three-putt from the fringe on the difficult 10th, and he called it a "stress-free" round.
The 30-year-old Australian wasn't even planning to play the AT and T National, but felt his game was in decent shape and that he could use another start. So he lined up Tiger Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, for another week of work. This time, they figure to stick around a little longer.
Haas ran off four straight birdies on the back nine early in his round and he was the only player to get to 5 under until he got out of position of the tee at No. 7 and made his lone bogey.
When he played his practice round Tuesday, it was raining. Haas was surprised how quickly the course became firm, especially the greens. The reminder came from a scoreboard he saw just before he teed off, showing four players from the morning batch at no better than 67 - Joe Ogilvie, Jhonattan Vegas, Dean Wilson and Kyle Stanley.
"I said, 'Wow, I thought the scores would be a lot lower than that.' And that's just kind of where I put my mindset on the scoring and how to play this golf course," Haas said.
Pat Perez was in the group at 68 that included Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler, Justin Leonard and Robert Garrigus. Perez didn't play the U.S. Open and felt as though he did on Thursday. Perhaps most telling is that Perez had no complaints about his score.
"This place is a month away from playing the U.S. Open," Perez said. "If they brought the fairways in, no joke this course is ready for a U.S. Open doing very little. Because if you hit it in the rough five or six times, you're dead."
And then there was Chris Riley, who opened with a 69. He received some criticism for not trying to qualify for the U.S. Open, and he said even some of his friends at home in San Diego asked him why he didn't qualify.
"I told them I was playing a U.S. Open in two weeks on this course," he said with a grin.
That was the consensus of most players, and details of some of the rounds added more credence. Vegas managed to get around Aronimink without making a bogey. On No. 16, the easiest of the two par 5s, Wilson figured he had squandered his chance until he flopped a shot out of the rough and it firmly struck the pin and dropped for eagle.
Ogilvie said the key to his round was a bogey on No. 10. From where he hit his tee shot, left into the deep grass and trees, he figured he would be lucky to make double bogey. Instead, he managed to get up-and-down from about 90 yards to limit the damage.
"I didn't do anything crazy on the greens. I just played them solid," Ogilvie said. "This course is set up like a U.S. Open. The fairways are a little bit wider, but it's definitely playing similar - except for this year's U.S. Open."
Garrigus was the low American at the U.S. Open, where he tied for third. He shot all four rounds under par at Congressional, and still finished 10 shots behind. He struggled to break par at Aronimink and was close to the lead after one round.
"Anything under par today is great," he said. "They changed a few of the greens, a little more severe around the edges, so you can hit a pretty good shot and not get rewarded. But you know where you can miss it. You know where you can't hit and you know where you can.
"I don't think double digits is going to win this week."

TO VIEW THE US PGA TOUR'S SCORING SERVICE FROM THE AT and T TOURNAMENT
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TADINI LEADS CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN SWEDEN WITH A 66

By SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
A stunning start of five consecutive birdies from the first hole helped give Alessandro Tadini the lead in the first round of The Princess by Schüco in Sweden.
The Italian signed for a six under par 66 to lead by one shot from South African Branden Grace at PGA of Sweden National in Malmö, while five players are a further shot back at four under.
Frenchman Edouard Dubois, who is in search of his third win in a month following victories in the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda and the Scottish Hydro Challenge, is among that group two shots off the lead.
Tadini, whose last of three Challenge Tour victories came last season, was delighted with the way he played.
“I started in fifth gear with those five birdies in a row,” said the 37 year old. “That’s the second time in my life I’ve done that. After that it was easy and I played very well, with a lot of confidence. I putted very well today and I was very accurate with my irons.
“I played the last four holes brilliantly because there was a strong wind against us. I just kept it simple, and if you play good shots and hit it where you want to it seems easy.
“The difference today was the way I started. They were all good birdies and came from hitting my approach close. The first was a bunker shot to within gimme length, the second was a two-metre putt, the third from one metre, the fourth – a very long par three – was a putt from three metres, and the fifth was about a metre and a half.
“I hope I can continue this form all week. Normally if I play that well I don’t putt so well. Today it was different and I hope I can keep it up.”
Grace was one under at the turn after three birdies and two bogeys, but his round came to life with an eagle at the par five 11th.
He said: “We definitely had the bad side of the draw today as it got pretty windy this afternoon. But it was great – I hit the ball really well. I missed so many putts out there though, so I could’ve gone even lower than 67.
“I’m happy with that start though, especially as this week is the first time I’ve played the course. It’s an awesome course, in great condition and the greens are very good. I knew I had to play it a certain way in this wind as it’s really tough out there, and fortunately it worked.
“There are a lot of shorter holes which you can get a lot of birdies out of, but there are also a lot of tricky holes which you just need to take the par and keep on going.
“Sweden is awesome. I’m staying in the city, in Malmö, and it’s fantastic. It’s my second time in Sweden and it’s one of my favourite places in the world. Everything is great here.”
Dubois, who enjoyed the sunny, warm morning conditions before the weather turned cold and windy in the afternoon, is flying high after his recent successes on the Challenge Tour.
“I putted very well today,” said the 22 year old, who teed off from the tenth. “I made two mistakes, at the 17th when I went in the water and on the 18th, but apart from that it was very good. I played the front nine perfectly.
“I think this afternoon will be tougher because the wind is getting up. We had 12 or 13 holes without any wind which helped a lot.
“I am feeling so confident at the moment after two wins in three weeks. It’s amazing. I’m enjoying my golf so much and feel like I can win every time.”
The Princess by Schüco is a tournament created by six-time European Tour champion Henrik Stenson, winner of the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2000, who named it after his daughter, Lisa (whom he calls his "Little Princess). Stenson wanted to ensure there remained a Challenge Tour event in Sweden, giving up and coming players the chances he had.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 A Tadini (Ita)
67 B Grace (RSA)
68 F Calmels (Fra), J Hepworth (Eng) , J Legarrea (Esp) , O Whiteley (Eng) , E Dubois (Fra) ,
69 E Algulin (Swe), D Vancsik (Arg) , A Marshall (Eng) , P Edberg (Swe) , B Barham (Eng) , A Forsyth (Sco) , N McCarthy (Eng) , D Denison (Eng) , C Moriarty (Irl) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , J Campillo (Esp) , N Lemke (Swe) , A Butterfield (Eng)
70 C Carranza (Arg) , T Edlund (Swe) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , C Russo (Fra) , J Garcia (Esp) , F Valera (Esp) , T Ferreira (RSA) , J Doherty (Sco) , J Estevez (Arg) , E Kofstad (Nor) , J Palmer (Eng) , D Brooks (Eng) , J Bäckström (Swe)
71 N Meitinger (Ger) , J Clément (Sui) , A Hartø (Den) , H Norlander (Swe) , M Cryer (Eng) , R De Sousa (Sui) , G Dear (Sco) , F Fihn (Swe) , M Lundberg (Swe) , F Henge (Swe) , C Suneson (Esp) , J Quesne (Fra) , S Little (Eng) , A Högberg (Swe) , J Lagergren (Swe) , G Houston (Wal) , C Brazillier (Fra) , N Bertasio (Ita) , J Heath (Eng)
72 C Lloyd (Eng) , M Larsson (Swe) , R Steiner (Aut) , K Sullivan (Wal) , R Wingardh (Swe) , J Lima (Por) , A Pavan (Ita) , A Bruschi (Ita) , G Jackson (Eng) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , K Eriksson (Swe) , M Eliasson (Swe) , C Doak (Sco) , A Jacobsson (Swe) , C Lee (Sco)
73 A Björk (Swe) , F Praegant (Aut) , B Hafthorsson (Isl) , J Bragulat (Esp) , A Hansen (Den) , M Ford (Eng) , C Ford (Eng) , M Johansson (Swe) , T Whitehouse (Eng) , B Evans (Eng) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , C Macaulay (Sco) , A Ahokas (Fin) , J Van Der Vaart (Ned) , J Billing (Swe) , M Erlandsson (Swe) , A Bernadet (Fra) , N Johansson (Swe) , J Rask (Swe) , S Piaget (Mon) , R Santos (Por) 
74 P Kaensche (Nor) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , C Gane (Eng) , P Erofejeff (Fin) , A McArthur (Sco) , G Adell (Swe) , H Bacher (Aut) , J Billot (Fra) , D Wuensche (Ger) , M Laskey (Wal) , L Jensen (Den) , M Kieffer (Ger) , F Colombo (Ita) , B Miarka (Ger) , K Borsheim (Nor) , S Bebb (Wal) , M Southgate (Eng) , P Dwyer (Eng) , A Sjöstrand (Swe) , W Besseling (Ned) 
75 M Baldwin (Eng) , I Keenan (Eng) , T Cerjan (USA) , A Snobeck (Fra) , S Hutsby (Eng) , M Both (Aus) , L Westerberg (Swe) , R Hjelm (Den) , N Kearney (Irl) , V Almstrom (Swe) , R Kind (Ned) , T Feyrsinger (Aut)
76 A Bossert (Sui) , L Canter (Eng) , A Tampion (Aus) , L Claverie (Esp) , B Etchart (Esp) , P Archer (Eng) , G Lockerbie (Eng) , T Fleetwood (Eng) , B Pettersson (Swe) , J Hedin (Swe) , G Molteni (Ita) , M Kramer (Ger) , F Sundberg (Swe) , A Canete (Arg) , M Vibe-Hastrup (Den)

77 C Monasterio (Arg) , J Grillon (Fra) , P Telliard (USA) , P Gustafsson (Swe) , W Schauman (Swe) , W Ormsby (Aus) , S Walker (Eng) , P Del Grosso (Arg) , M Palm (Swe) , F Ohlsson (Swe)
78 F Hammarberg (Swe) , D Lokke (Den) , M Bothma (RSA) , B Åkesson (Swe) , S Nilsson (Swe) , J Kennegard (Swe) 
79 G Hutcheon (Sco)
80 M Evans (Eng)
81 F Svanberg (Sui)
82 M Pilo (Swe)
84 D Jennevret (am) (Swe)

PAUL O'HARA FINISHES JOINT 13TH IN GERMANY

Paul O'Hara is still searching for the knack of finishing a tournament with a low round.
He came joint 13th today in this week's EPD (German PGA) Tour event, the Haus Bey Classic.
The Motherwell man had rounds of 73 and 70 under his belt. He needed to keep on improving to break into the top 10 and clear his costs for the week.
But O'Hara could produce only a one-over-par 72 with the pressure on.
A total of two-over-par 215 earned him 565 Euros.
Winner of the event was former British amateur champion Reinier Saxton from the Netherlands with scores of 66, 68 and 71 for eight-under-par 205. He won the 5,000 Euros top prize by a shot from Germany's Marcel Haremza who scored 70, 71 and 65 for 206.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND THE PRIZEMONEY ON THE EPD TOUR WEBSITE

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COETZEE'S LATE STUMBLE COSTS HIM ALSTOM OPEN LEAD

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Richard Green and Graeme Storm ended day one of the Alstom Open de France at the top of the leaderboard after a late stumble from in-form South African George Coetzee.Green and Storm each compiled impressive six under par rounds of 65 at Le Golf National, but looked set to be overhauled when Coetzee, who finished third at last week’s BMW International Open, reached seven under with four holes remaining.
However, the 24 year old found the water at the difficult par four 15th and, after making bogey there, dropped another shot at 17 to drop back into a tie for third with Thorbjørn Olesen and James Morrison.
Left-hander Green, who has yet to register a top ten finish this season, picked up shots at the third and fourth before carding five birdies in six holes from the ninth to move to seven under.
A bogey at the par four 17th took a little gloss off the left-handed Australian’s round, but he remained understandably satisfied with his performance.
“I’ve been working hard on my driving lately and putting especially, and it all seems to be coming to nicely,” said Green.
“I played pretty solid golf last week in Germany and it's come through this week here, as well.
“I like the layout of the golf course very much, I like the way it plays bouncy. I tend to sort of mentally like difficult golf holes, and I think I focus a little bit harder for that very reason.
“Six under par for me today is a great score, and I'm very happy with the position I'm in. It's given me a lot of confidence to go into the rest of the week.”
Storm, who won this tournament in 2007, reached the turn in 34 courtesy of birdies at the third and fifth and made up a further four shots on the back nine.
He said: “There’s always added pressure when you come back because people say, ‘You won on one of the toughest courses in Europe and you obviously like it around that course.’
“I do, without a doubt, but you’ve still got to put the work in and do all the preparation.
“It’s just another week, it’s another tournament and you’ve got to treat it like that, but don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic to always come back and know that you’ve won around here.”
Coetzee was pleased to continue where he left off in Munich.
“I think last week's third place kind of took a lot of pressure off me,” he explained. “I finally secured my card and for everybody who comes out of Q School, that's their first goal.
“Focusing on that goal kind of took away a couple of events from me and made me make a couple more mistakes. But now that's out of the way, I can start focusing on other goals and try and win some tournaments.”
Olesen birdied his final two holes, the eighth and ninth, to get within a shot of the leaders and the Dane was soon joined by Morrison, who recorded six birdies and a solitary bogey in his 66.
“It's been a struggle the last few weeks but I've been playing well but not really holing the putts,” said Morrison.
“Today, there was nothing different, just a few more putts went in and I went from there really.”
A host of players, including Matteo Manassero, Jeppe Huldahl, Thongchai Jaidee and English rookie Matthew Nixon, carded 68s to lie three shots off the lead.
Last year’s Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie - runner-up three years ago and looking for a top five finish to secure a place in The Open Championship - was going well at two under, but then bogeyed two of his last three for a 71.
World Number Four Martin Kaymer, another former winner at Le Golf National, also went round in level par, while American Ryder Cup player Bubba Watson double bogeyed the last to slip to three over on his first appearance in a regular European Tour event.
Damien McGrane, Rikard Karlberg, Jaco Van Zyl and James Ruebotham were all disqualified due to a serious breach of the water hazard rules on hole 18, taking a drop from the wrong place.

SCOTS' SCORES
Par 71
68 Peter Whiteford (T6).
69 Richie Ramsay (T17).
71 Colin Montgomerie, Lloyd Saltman (T33).
73 David Drysdale, Gary Orr, George Murray (T71).
74 Stephen Gallacher (T90).
76 Scott Jamieson, Steven O'Hara (T125).

TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

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FORMER SHINTY ACE JOHN FRASER LEADS SENIORS AFTER A 71

By COLIN FARQUHARSONColin@scottishgolfview.com
Former shinty ace and North-east District player John Fraser (Royal Burgess), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, shot to the front with a par-matching 71 - the lowest of the tournament so far - to lead the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship after 36 holes at Irvine Bogside GC, Ayrshire.
Defending champion Scott MacDonald, the former Walker Cup player from Dunfermline, missed the cut.
MacDonald did improve on his opening round of 83 but an 80 for 163 left him four shots adrift of the qualifying limit of 159.
He was not alone among the big names of over-55s’ golf among the ranks of non-qualifiers.
Stephen Ellis (Inellan) missed out on 161 (80-81). So too did David Lane (Goring and Streatley) with scores of 80 and 82 for 162.
European Tour player Scott Jamieson’s father Peter, a Cathkin Braes, was eliminated on 162 (76-86) alongwith Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier) on 163 (80-83).
A second former Walker Cup player to miss the cut was Hazlehead’s Sandy Pirie on 166 (82-84).
At the sharp end of the tournament, overnight leader Robbie Fulker, a former Ayrshire county player and past Kilmarnock Barassie club captain and champion, dropped down from pole position with a 78 for 148.
John Fraser, who was an Aberdeen-based schoolteacher who travelled back North every weekend to play shinty for Newtonmore, moved into the picture with the low round of the tournament – a par-matching 71 – for 146 which gives him a one-stroke lead from local member Gordon Mair (75-72) and England’s Charles Banks (Stanton on the Wolds).(73-74)


LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
146 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 75 71.
147 Gordon Mair (Irvine Bogside) 75 72, Charles Banks (Stanton on the Wolds) 73 74.
148 Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 78.
149 Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 75 74.
150 Fraser McClusky (Royal Burgess) 74 76, David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74 76, James Gardner (Broomieknowe) 76 74.
151 Adrian Donkersley (Gerrards Cross) 75 76, Rich Tolly (US) 77 74, Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 74 77.
152 John Baldwin (Sunningdale) 76 76, Robbie Stewart (Tulliallan) 79 73, Roy Smethurst (Crewe) 76 76.
153 David Smith (Stirlig) 75 78, Douglas Cameron (Moor Park) 73 80, Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 74 79.
154 Richard Gray (Cowglen) 77 77, Dave Jessup (Rochester and Cobham) 77 77, Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer Spa) 76 78. Alan Harrington (Western Gailes) 74 80.
155 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 81 74, Gerry Boobis (Ravelston) 78 77, Stephen Whymark (Woodbridge) 77 78, Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 75 80, Michael Wigley (Royal North Devon) 74 81.
156 David Millar (St Andrews New) 79 77, Keith Morris (Camberley Heath) 78 78, Billy Mitchell (Hankley Common) 75 81, Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 74 82, Derek Murphy (Kinross) 73 83.
157 David Brown (Irvine Ravenspark) 74 83, Albert Smith (Turriff) 83 74. John Willis (Carlistle) 80 77, Bob Humble (Kilspindie) 74 83.
158 Iain MacDonald (Bruntsfield Links) 84 75, Dave Millar (Goswick ) 81 78, Mike Wilde (Camberley Heath) 77 82, Nick O’Byrne (Moor Park) 81 78,Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 79 80, Jim Watt (Edzell) 78 81, John Ashton (Prestwick St Nicholas) 80 79.


MISSED THE CUT (159 or better qualified)
Selected scores
160 Tony Stafford (Gleneagles) 78 82.
161 Stephen Ellis (Innellan) 80 81.
162 David Lane (Goring and Streatley) 80 82, Peter Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) 76 86.
163 Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier0 80 83, Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) 83 80.
166 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 82 84.
Retired Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) 77 ret.
NRs Alistar Fiddes (Murcar Lins) 74 NR, Keith Bruce (Edzell) 78 NR.

FROM THE AYRSHIRE GOLF WEBSITE


One of the most notable qualifiers after Thursday's second round must be Rich Tolly from the United States Of America.
Opening with a 77 on Wednesday, Tolly was hampered by an injury to his big toe which resulted in medical treatment and the on-course first-aiders being required to dress his toe prior to his second round.
The dressing meant that Tolly could not get his golf shoe on so he completed an impressive round of 74 on Thursday, for a championship total of 151, wearing a golf shoe on one foot and an open-toed sandal on his injured foot. It remains to be seen if he will set a new trend in golfing footwear if he has a similarly good score with his unconventional attire on Friday.

ANOTHER TALKING POINT
One player apparently ran up a 22 at a shortish par-4 hole. Great credit to the man for not picking up after 10 or even 20 shots (as I would have done, comments The Editor)!

ALASDAIR MALCOLM REPORTS:

Spoke to the greenkeeper. Don't know the name of the player but apparently it was at the seventhth hole when he got into a bunker short of the green in 2 and I believe took 18 to get out..........a real Hamlet cigar moment !!!



 

CAMERON STILL LEADS AS McALLISTER IMPROVES IN N IRELAND

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Ellon's Ross Cameron is still leading chase for the £10,000 prize in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open at Ballymena, Northern Ireland. He did not have so many birdies as in his brilliant opening round of nine-under-par 63, but three more helped to steady the ship and he returned a second-round 71 for 10-under-par 134. Cameron leads by two shots from Graeme Clark (Doncaster) (67-70). In joint third place is young Craigielaw player, Shaun McAllister who has had scores of 69 and 68 for 137. McAllister birdied the third, eighth, 15th, 16th and 18th with a solitary bogey at the 10th. McAllister, like Cameron, is chasing his biggest ever cash prize in Friday's final round. Leading second-round totals Par 144 (2x72) 134 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 63 71. 136 Graeme Clark (Doncaster) 66 70. 137 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 69 68, Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) 66 71, James Busby (The Shropshire) 66 71. OTHER SCOTS' SCORES 140 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 72 68, John Gallagher (Swanston) 72 69 (T13). 141 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 74 67, Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 71 70 (T17). 142 Lee Harper (Archerfield) 72 70 (T27). 143 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 74 v69 (T36). MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified) 148 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 73 74, Zack Saltman (Archerfield) 72 76. 149 Ian Redford (St Andrews New) 75 74 159 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 80 79.s

THREE SHARE AIRDRIE PRO-AM WIN

Duddingston's James McGhee, David Orr (East Renfrewshire) and Stephen Gray (Hayston) shared first place with four-under-par 65s in the £4,500 Airdrie Golf Club pro-am today. The trio finished a shot ahead of Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) with Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Colin Gillies both on the 67 mark. Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Simon McLean (unatt) and Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) rounded off the top nine. Leading pro scores Par 69 65 James McGhee (Duddingston), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Stephen Gray (Hayston). 66 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills). 67 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Colin Gillies (Kingsfield). 68 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Simon McLean (unatt), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs). 70 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) ends

LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED FOR SUNDAY'S CADZOW CUP

There are a few spaces left in the field for the Cadzow Cup 36-hole men's open at Hamilton Golf Club on Sunday.
Late entries can be phoned to the Hamilton GC pro at 01698 282872.
Entry fee is !5.
Usual scratch and handicap prizes.
Handicap limit up to 12 to ensure a full field.

SUNDAY'S FIRST-ROUND DRAW
7.30 Gordon Black Fereneze 1
John Ralston Shotts 1
Euan Moir Hamilton 0
7.38 Michael Moir Hamilton 0
Julian Perera Auchterarder 2


7.46 Stewart Henderson Hamilton 0
Matt Sempi Kirkhill 2


7.54 Ross Mclean Hamilton 3
Grant Nisbet Strathaven 1
David Laing Carluke 2
8.02 Lindsay Wood Haggs Castle 2
Calum Maclean Hamilton 2
Ronnie Maclean Hamilton 2
8.10 D. Loudon Hamilton 0
Bert Scott Strathaven 0
Scott Gillespie Cambuslang 0
8.18 James Whitelaw West Linton 0
John Fowler Hayston 0
Graham Bodys Cathkin Braes 2
8.26 Scott Douglas Drumpellier 1
Des Fearon Colville Park 0
Mark O'Donnell Hamilton 2
8.34 Ross Corcoran Hamilton 6
Graham Cross Kirkhill 2
David Nichol Carluke 1
8.42 Scott Costello Kirkhill 1


8.50


8.58 S. Wills Lanark 2
P. Dempsey Tulliallan 3
Kevin Scott Hayston 3
9.06 James Paterson Hayston 2
Andy Fairbairn Kirkhill 0
Mark Robertson Western Gailes 0
9.14 Declan Dooey Colville Park 4
Angus Weir Crief 2
David Cleland Hamilton
9.22 Greg Haddow Colville Park 4
Daniel Muir Hayston 3
Barry Strain Cathkin Braes
9.30 Marcello Russo Drumpellier 0
David Davidson Colville Park 0
Paul O'Neil East Kilbride 4
9.38 Martin Scott Hamilton 2
Jordan Gallagher Crow Wood 2
Chris Bell Greenburn
9.46 Harry Milligan Hamilton 3
Jim Hamilton Hamilton 5


9.54 S Kelly Bathgate 0
Chris Hanton Dullatur 2
David Curtis Dullatur 2
10.02 Simon Reilly Wishaw 4
Stuart Couples Bonnyton 5
Graham Bodys Cathkin 3
10.10 W.S.O Sharpe Hamilton 5
Chris Kelly Bonnyton 0
Grant Beaton Bonnyton 0
10.18 Craig Chalmers Lenzie 3
Blair Scott Hamilton 4
Colin McLeod Hamilton 8
10.24


10.32 Brian Scott Hamilton 2
Craig Borland Hamilton 5

INAUGURAL GOSWICK GOLF CLUB 36-HOLE SCRATCH OPEN

E-mail from Allan Rodger
Secretary of Hirself Golf Club


My home club, Berwick upon Tweed (Goswick) Golf Club, is holding its inaugural Scratch Open on September 10 with an entry fee of £30 for the 36 hole open which carries a bumper prize fund of £1,300 in vouchers with £500 of them going to the winner along with the Rodger Bowl.

We are hoping that over time this open will become one of the major Scratch opens in Scottish/Northern Golf.

September will find the course in tip top condition so all serious golfers really should be making sure they enter!!

All details can be found here :

http://www.golfempire.co.uk/Entry-Forms/Berwick-Tweed-Gents-Individual-Open2.htm

and here :

http://opengolfcompetitions.blogspot.com/2011/01/goswick-scratch-open-for-rodger-bowl.html


Allan Rodger
Club Secretary
Hirsel Golf Club
Kelso Road
Coldstream
Berwickshire
TD12 4NJ


www.hirselgc.co.uk

CULTS HOTEL ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE TABLE

LEAGUE A
                       P-W-D-L Diff  Pts
Portlethen         4-3-0-1-- +9  6
Nigg Bay           3-3-0-0-- +5  6
Murcar Links      3-2-0-1-- +5  4
Newmachar       2-2-0-0-- +4  4  
Hazlehead        4-1-0-3--  -4  2  
Caledonian       4-1-0-3--  -8  2
Peterculter       3-0-0-3--  -8  0 

Tonight's matches
Peterculter v Newmachar
Portlethen v Murcar Links

LEAGUE B
                         W                Pts
Royal Aberdeen 5-4-0-1-- +10  8
Banchory          3-3-0-0-- +11  6
Deeside           3-1-1-1--  +2   3
Auchmill           2-1-0-1--  +0   2
Stonehaven      4-1-0-2--  - 9   2
Bon Accord       2-0-1-1--  - 3   1
Northern          3-0-0-3--  -11  0

Tonight's match
Auchmill v Bon Accord

COLIN GILLIES TO PLAY LESS AS CAREER ENTERS NEW PHASE

       COLIN GILLIES in action. Image by courtesy of Andy Forman.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Earlier this month - in the Douglas Park pro-am to be precise - Colin Gillies became the first man to reach Tartan Tour career earnings of £500,000.
Colin has long been the holder of the record and he keeps raising the bar just that bit higher for the next generation and maybe the one after that to try to reach it.
But the 1983 Scottish boys champion, who will be 45 on August 1, is not thinking of adding considerably more to his record figure, as he explains:
"I moved back to Kingsfield in March and am involved in a great set-up there - excellent facilities for tuition - and I'm starting a new venture involving golf/ executive travel," said Gillies who has scored 125 victories on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1984.
"I plan to slow down on the playing side and pursue the opportunities I have with Kingsfieldgolf.com
"I will honour my playing commitments this season but plan to greatly reduce my schedule. Old Injuries are now beginning to catch up with me, a situation which has encouraged me to look at different areas of the golf industry to further my career.
"I have excellent opportunities at Kingsfieldgolf.com which has first-class facilities for coaching, including a nine-hole course, short game, putting greens, Gasp Lab and Trackman Launch Monitor.
"We are currently also setting up a golf travel side to the facility for which i have recently purchased a new vehicle."
Colin won the Scottish PGA Order of Merit title in 2001, having been Scottish professional champion in 1995 and 1998.

SGU NAME SQUAD FOR EUROPEAN BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Current SGU Boys Order of Merit leader Greig Marchbank has been rewarded for his fine form this season with a place in the Scotland team for next week’s European boys' team championship in Prague, Czechoslovakia next week (July 5 to 9).
Marchbank, from Dumfries and County GC, won the recent Junior Tour event at Cardrona with an impressive six-under par aggregate of 282 and has built up a significant lead in the boys’ standings after a string of fine performances throughout 2011, including a share of second place in the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths Championship.
Liberton’s Anthony Blaney, second behind Marchbank in the rankings, also earns his first taste of European team action. The 17-year-old played a key role in the Lothians team’s defence of the Scottish Boys Area Championship earlier this month and also finished runner-up to Marchbank in the Junior Tour event at Cardrona.
Joining him will be Lothians team-mate Grant Forrest, the former Scottish Boys Champion and current Boys Order of Merit number three, while (Kilmarnock) Barassie’s Jack McDonald will be the most experienced player in the six-man team having competed in the previous two European Championships and Boys’ Home Internationals.
Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen), fourth in the boys’ rankings and who finished seventh in the East of Scotland Open Championship at the weekend, is another debutant in the team, with St Andrews rising star Ewan Scott, winner of the opening Junior Tour event of the season, completing the line-up. Scott, the former English Boys U14s champion, will be the youngest member of the team, having recently turned 16.
The Championship begins on Tuesday at the Prague City Golf Club, with two rounds of stroke play qualifying before the top eight teams compete for the title in the first flight of match play.
Defending champions Denmark have dominated the tournament in recent years and will be aiming for their fourth win out of the last five years, while the Scots are looking for their first win in the event since 2000, when Martin Laird featured in the winning side and will be hoping to improve on last season’s tenth place finish.

The full Scotland team, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, is:

Anthony Blaney (Liberton)
Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen)
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw)
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County)
Ewan Scott (St Andrews)

O'HARA JUST OUTSIDE TOP TEN IN GERMANY

Motherwell's Paul O'Hara is lying joint 12th after two rounds of this week's EPD (German PGA) Tour event, the Haus Bey Classic. O'Hara has had rounds of 73 and 70 for a one-over-par tally of 143 - nine shots behind the leader, former British amateur champion Reinier Saxton from the Netherlands. He has scored 66 and 68 for eight-under 134 and leads by two from Germany's Allen John (65-71). A total of 53 players made the cut with two-round totals of 151 or better

ROSS CAMERON SPREADEAGLES EUROPRO TOUR FIELD WITH 63

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  McDonald Ellon Golf Club tour pro Ross Cameron shot the round of his life - a nine-under-par 63 - to spreadeagle the field and lead by thee shots at the end of this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Ballymena, Northern Ireland - the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open. It's a three-round event with a £10,000 first prize and Cameron, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, put himself in the pole position with a flawless round of one eagle (at the ninth) and seven birdies (the second, long third, fourth, 10th, 16th, 17th and 18th in halves of 31 (five under) and 32 (four under). He leads by three shots from James Busby (The Shropshire), Chris Hanson from Huddersfield and Graeme Clark of Doncaster. Second best Scot in joint 14th place is Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) on 69 with Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) tied 27th on 71, a shot ahead of Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), John Gallagher (Swanston) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), joint 41st on 72.   LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES Par 72 63 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon). 66 James Busby (The Shropshire), Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall), Graeme Clark (Donaster). 67 Ian Ridgeway (England). 68 David Hughes (Ireland), Ben Jones (Betchworth Park), Liam O'Neill (Keighley), John Kelly (Ireland), Stuart Archibald (England), David R Jones (England), Brendon McCarroll (Ireland), Noel Fox (Ireland). Other Scots scores: 69 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) (T14). 71 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) (T27). 72 Zack Saltman (Archerfield), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), John Gallagher (Swanston), Lee Harper (Archerfield) (T41). 73 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) (T63). 74 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Chris Kelly (Cawder) (T78). 75 Ian Redford (St Andrews New). 80 Keir McNicolll (Carnoustie) (T118). 90 Eric Walker (Burntisland) (128th)

SCOTT MACDONALD 13 SHOTS OFF THE PACE IN TITLE DEFENCE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Former Walker Cup player Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) has left himself with a lot of ground to make up if he is to retain the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Irvine Bogside Golf Club, Ayrshire this week. Scott, pictured, returned a 12-over-par score of 83 in the first round of the 54-hole championship for over-55s today (Wed) He trails leader Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 13 strokes. Fulker surged three shots clear of the field with a three-birdie, two-bogey round of one-under-par 70. He bogeyed the long second but got under par with birdies at the seventh and ninth to turn in one-under 35. A bogey at the 17th knocked him down to par but he finished on a high by birdieing the 18th. So who is Robbie Fulker? I am told that is a past captain (2009) of Kilmarnock Barassie ... a former Ayrshire country player and a retired schoolteacher. He has won the Barassie club championship several times, the last in 2010. Two England-based players are among the trio  sharing second place on 73 - Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Charles Banks (Stanon on the Wolds) and Derek Murphy from Kinross. Former champions Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) made solid starts with 74 apiece. LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES Par 71 70 Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie). 73 Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Chalres Banks (Stanton on the Wolds), Derek Murphy (Kinross). 74 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse), Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links), David Brown (Irvine Ravenspark), Bob Humble (Kilspindie), Michael Wigley (Royal North Devon), Fraser McClusky (Royal Burgess), David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), Alan Harrington (Western Gailes), Gordon MacDonald (Callander). 75 Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal), Glyn Rees (Fleetwood), Adrian Donkersley (Gerrards Cross), John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Gordon Mair (Birvine Bogside), Billy Mitchell (Hankley Common), David Smith (Stirling). 76 Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer Spa), John Johnston (Lanark), John Baldwin (Sunningale), Roy Smethurst (Crewe), James Gardner (Broomieknowe), Peter Jamieson (Cathkin Braes). 77 Richard Gray (Cowglen), Mike Wilde (Camberley Heath), Stephen Whymark (Woodbridge), Dave Jessup (Rochester and Cobham Park), Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co), Rich Tolly (US), George Rodaks (Moffat). 78 Jim Watt (Edzell), Keith Morris (Camberley Heath), Tony Stafford (Gleneagles), Keith Bruce (Edzell), Gerry Boobis (Ravelston). 79 Jalil Aman (Grangemouth), David Gillespie (Turnhouse), David Millar (St Andrews New), Steve Rhorer (US), Robert Fox (Royal Lytham), Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), Hugh Kinniburgh (Lanark), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan). 80 Williams Brown (Strathaven), Paul Gault (Westerwood), Denis Martin (Newbiggin), Glyn Hughes (Church Stretton), John Ashton (Prestwck St Nicholas), Alan McEwan (Western Gailes), David Lane (Goring and Streatley), Stephen Ellis (Innellan), Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier), John Willis (Carlisle), Kenneth Thomson (Bramall Park). Selected scores: 82 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead). 83 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline).

DAVID PATRICK WINS HILTON PARK YOUNG PROS' COMPETITION

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Leven-based former Walker Cup player David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) scores his first win of the Tartan Tour season in the Hilton Park Young Pros' tournament over the Allander course today. Patrick earned the £400 first prize - boosting his tournament earnings this year to close on £5,000 - with a one-under-par round of 68 which included birdies at the long third, sixth, 14th and 16th. The only blemishes on his card were a double bogey 5 at the short 17th, when he had looked set to finish three or four under par, and a bogey at the second in halves of 34 (one under par) and 34 (par). Patrick won by a shot from two players on the 69 mark, Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) and Graeme Brown (Montrose). A card countback decided any ties within the top six and the runner-up prize of £325 went to Mackay and third placed £275 to Brown.  Both players had come home in 34. Mackay's fourth birdie of the day, at the 18th, robbed Brown of outright second place. The cash prize list covered the top 21 and there were other golf equipment prizes. Scores from 73 down were out of the money. Clare-Marie Carlton (Playsport Golf) finished highest - joint 28th - of the female trainees with a 75, one shot ahead of Heather MacRae, who recently joined the Gleneagles staff, former Curtis Cup player Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Emma Fairnie (Gullane). LEADING SCORES Par 69 68 David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) £400. 69 Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) £325, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £275. 70 Gregor Wright (Ladybank) £225, Ewan MacPherson (Auchterarder) £200, Ross MacLeod (Eastwood) £175, Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) £150. 71 Sean Thompson (Renaissance Club), Craig Knowles (Panmure) £135 each. 72 Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs), Cameron Tortolano (Stirling), Matthew Burtt (Helensburgh), Craig Armstrong (Burntisland), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway) £100 each. 73 Brian Gibson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Graham Forbes (Gourock), Lewis Burnett (Adam Hunter Golf), Ian Anderson (Colville Park), Malcolm Murray (Bearsden Golf Range), Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) £18 each. Selected scores: 75 Clare-Marie Carlton (Playsport Golf) (T28). 76 Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Emma Fairnie (Gullane) (T31). 78 Nicola Melville (Nicola Melville Golf) (T43).

NEW TROPHY UNVEILED FOR BARCLAYS SCOTTISH OPEN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR 

A new era in the distinguished history of the Barclays Scottish Open will begin when the championship moves north from Loch Lomond to Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness from July 7-10.

And as a prelude to the tenth edition of the prestigious event with Barclays as title sponsor, a brand new trophy befitting  the world class calibre of the event  –appropriately designed and fashioned exclusively in Scotland by Hamilton and Inches – was unveiled in Edinburgh today by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond. 

The First Minister visited the flagship store of Hamilton and Inches, Scotland’s leading luxury jeweller and silversmith, where he, along with George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, and Ian Stuart, Head of Barclays Corporate UK, were met by Stephen Paterson, Managing Director of Hamilton  Inches. 

The superb new Barclays Scottish Open trophy, which is a traditional Scottish Quaich - or drinking vessel - a historic symbol of Scottish welcome and hospitality, will be presented to the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open champion on Sunday, July 10.

 First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Scotland is known worldwide as the home of golf, and the Barclays Scottish Open is another chance to showcase some of the best of Scotland to the rest of the world. The eyes of millions of golf fans across the globe will be on the tournament's new home at Castle Stuart as some of the game's top names compete on this spectacular course.

 "This beautiful new trophy takes the form of a quaich, a traditional symbol of the warm welcome for which Scotland is renowned. It has been designed and made exclusively here in Scotland, reflecting the very best of our country's artistic inspiration and craftsmanship. It is a world class trophy for a world class event."

 O’Grady commented: “The Barclays Scottish Open has a long and celebrated heritage, and from next month the championship will also have a challenging links venue on the shores of the Moray Firth and an impressive new trophy by Hamilton and Inches, both entirely in keeping with the stature of the event.

“We are delighted that the First Minister is so supportive of what has become a truly world class golf tournament during a decade of Barclays sponsorship, and of the Tour’s exciting first venture to the Highlands of Scotland. The trophy is a symbol of friendship and hospitality and we will extend a very warm welcome to everyone visiting Castle Stuart for the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open next month.”

Ian Stuart, Head of Barclays Corporate UK, said: “We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Scottish public and the First Minister to stage the Barclays Scottish Open in Inverness.  We are now looking forward with great anticipation to the start of the tournament at the beautiful Castle Stuart Golf Links. We have a field boasting some of the world’s finest golfing talents who will be watched by a passionate and knowledgeable crowd. This expertly crafted trophy is a wonderful commemoration of this important event on the golfing calendar.”

Hamilton and Inches' Managing Director, Stephen Paterson said: "We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been given the opportunity to make this trophy which befits such a special event. We are also pleased that the trophy is being made here in Scotland, the ancestral home of golf. The finished product is contemporary yet timeless and we feel will always be well received at any of the future locations of the tournament."

Designed and produced at the Company's workshops above their showroom in Edinburgh, the new trophy is the product of months of hard work and creativity. 

Hamilton and Inches' in-house designer, Nicola Williams produced designs for a traditional Scottish Quaich; lidded and set with the emblem of the Scottish Open and a symbol of welcome and hospitality. Nicola's designs were then brought to life using a team of silversmiths, chasers, engravers and polishers headed up by workshop manager Jon Hunt, who has over 30 years’ experience in the industry.

The bowl has been made from a single sheet of sterling silver that has been handspun, raised and then beaten to create a hammered and more contemporary finish. 

The lid consists of  stylised and inter-twined Scottish thistles  which have been cut out of the silver and "chased" to create a three-dimensional  effect across the top.  The inside of the bowl is gilded with 18ct yellow gold and can be seen through the pierced design of the quaich lid. The entire trophy sits on a large round base of polished Scottish Elm and weighs over seven kilograms.

GEORGE RUTHERFORD TURNS THE CLOCK BACK AT BRORA

James Braid tournament winners. Left to right – Neil Cameron (Kidd Cup), George Rutherford (Royal Marine Hotel Trophy), Shaun Ashe (Braid Trophy) Richard Perry (St. Andrews New GC), Malcolm Campbell (Captain James Braid Society), Ken Lorimer (Captain Brora GC) Chris Mailley (Howey Trophy). Picture by Robin Wilson

By ROBIN WILSON
Brora's Howey Cup almost went back to its first winner of fifty years ago, George Rutherford (Blairgowrie) when the now 68-year-old fired an almost flawless card of 17 pars and just one bogey in the second round of the James Braid Open at Brora last weekend.

But the regular visitor to Brora had the consolation of winning the sponsor's Royal Marine Hotel Trophy as overall best net scorer with a 131 total from his now six handicap.

Leaving school at age 18, George Rutherford spent his teenage summer days on Aberdeen golf courses. His father Gordon Rutherford, a native of Helmsdale, had become a schoolmaster in Aberdeen. Before heading to the family home in Helmsdale for the August holidays of 1961, young George won the Aberdeen Summer Medal at Balnagask with a score of 68 .
On arrival in Sutherland he made his first mark with a third place in the Golspie tournament before his next outing at Brora where he became the first scratch winner of the Howey Cup.
Previously this Brora trophy had been awarded to the local member with the best net aggregate. Rutherford became the youngest winner of the cup with rounds of 73 and 72. His father was also a competent golfer and when his son was winning at Brora in 1961, he finished in fourth place.
Now residing in Perth, George Rutherford continues to be a well kent and popular face at Brora tournaments and is now also a Brora member in addition to his home club Blairgowrie.
Rutherford's first round 73, net 67 last Saturday sent him out in the second round chasing the leading net total of 135, achieved by local Neil Cameron (6) with Rutherford's aim more on a good second round net score than a challenge for the scratch.
Cameron, a former greenkeeper apprentice at Brora and now employed at next week's Barclay's Scottish Open venue, Castle Stuart, had his sights on a good scratch finish after his first round 75 when, in round two, he stormed to the turn in 31 with birdies at the first, second, sixth and eighth holes.
He remained four under par until running into bunker trouble at the short 13th hole and coming away with a triple bogey 6. Another 6 followed and with a two bogey ending holes to his round he signed off with gross 72, net 66 , but leading the net returns on 135 before overtaken by 68 year old Rutherford's amazing second round gross 70, net 64 for 131.
Royal Dornoch's Chris Mailley retained the Howey Cup, following up his first round three under par 66 with a second round 73 to squeeze home by a shot from local head greenkeeper James MacBeath.
Paired together their second round became an almost match-play shoot out with MacBeath making up four of Mailley's first round lead after 17 holes But the Dornoch visitor was able to match the local's par three on the final hole to scrape home by one. Rutherford's renaissance second round of 70 pulled him up into a remarkable third scratch place.
The winner of the Braid Trophy, confined to James Braid Society members, was the club vice-captain, Shaun Ashe on a better second round net score from Braid member Richard Perry (St Andrews New). Ashe and the the other winners were presented with their prizes by the captain of the James Braid Society, Malcolm Campbell.
RESULTS
Scratch
(CSS home 69/69) Away
Howey Cup
139 C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 66 73
140 J G MacBeath 71 69
143 G M Rutherford (Blairgowrie) 73 70
144 C Nelson (The Nairn) 71 73, R G Mackay (Fortrose) 75 69
145 I S Powell (Murcar Links) 73 72, D Holden (RDGC) 71 74
146 D Joel (Inverness) 77 69, D W R Chalmers (Panmure) 73 73.


Handicap (Kidd Cup)
135 N Cameron (Brora) (6) 69 66
136 R Sutherland (Brora) (9) 66 70
137 D Holden (RDGC) (4) 67 70
139 B Nicholson (RDGC) (4) 72 67
140 D Joel (Inverness) (4) 74 66


Overall net; Royal Marine Hotel Trophy - G Rutherford (Blairgowrie)(6) 131 (67 64).
Braid Trophy - S Ashe (Brora) (13) 147 (79 68).

Mixed Foursomes Tournament prizewinners (left to right): George Sutherland, Angela Sutherland, Sheila Lorimer, Ken Lorimer, Ann Roberson (Lady Captain), Angela Grant, Dawn Powell, Gail Sutherland (Assistant Manager, Royal Marine Hotel), Morag Sutherland and Lesley Beaney. Behind, Liam MacDonald-MacLeod and Michael Maclean. Picture by Robin Wilson.

The Braid weekend at Brora continued on Sunday when in a repeat of their 2007 success mother and son Dawn and Ian Powell won the mixed foursomes competition, heading the entry of forty couples with a nett card of 67.
The family partnership, Dawn a local member and her son, a member at Aberdeen's Murcar Links Golf Club and former winner of the Clynelish Salver and Howey Cup, also had the best scratch score of 76 in a rainy morning but when the weather cleared to give excellent playing conditions only two other couples got below 80.
With a better last nine holes in their 78, father and daughter Dougall and Jemma Chalmers (Panmure), also the scratch winners in 2007, won the scratch Links Trophy for a second time. They relegated locals Angela Grant and Liam MacDonald-MacLeod to second place. With a gross 82 local members George and Morag Sutherland were third scratch.
Runners up to the Powells in the handicap section were another all local pair, Rikki Mackay and Angela Sutherland.

RESULTS
Scratch
J Chalmers and D Chalmers (Panmure) 78 (bih), A Grant and L MacDonald-MacLeod (Brora) 78. M L Sutherland and G F Sutherland (Brora) 78
Handicap
D Powell (Brora) and I S Powell (Murcar Links) (9) 67; A Sutherland and R Mackay (Brora) (19½) 68½; S and K Lorimer (Brora) (20½) 70½; B and B Maitland (Fraserburgh) (19) 72; L Beaney and M MacLean (Brora) (10) 73.

Tain Club Championship


Two non-resident members, Ross Jack (Alness) and Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), hold the first two seeded places in this week's J and I Carpets Tain Club Championship.

Jack, the silver medallist in the recent Ross-shire County Championship, led the way into last Monday night's first round draw with a qualifying score of 142.
Fotheringham is second seed on 148 by virtue of his better second round in the same total with the top local qualifier Munro Ferries. Fourth seed was Kevin Smith on 150.
The first of the the scratch-play rounds was played on Monday without the holder Alan Everett who could not defend his title due to a return to work in Aberdeen.
The results were:
 R Jack bt E Morrison; J Dundas lost to B Mackenzie; B Ferries lost to I Cowper; G Bell bt K Smith; M Ferries bt C Ilett; D Custerson lost to N Dobie; J Innes bt G MacKintosh; M Ross lost to F Fotheringham.
Shock of the first round was the defeat of the number five seed, Billy Ferries. Ferries was on a high after recording an albatross two at the long 13th hole in Saturday's qualifying round holing out with a three iron. But he was at the receiving end of an albatross at the same hole in his match against Ian Cowper when Cowper holed out in two with a three wood!.