NEW TEAM CAPTAIN FOR RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION

                                      

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

                                 turnberry.db@gmail.com

Ronnie Clark, the current captain of the Renfrewshire team, has announced that he will be standing down after a long and successful stewardship.  

 Having just been named as the winner of the Scottish Senior Golfing Society Order of Merit following wins at the North of Scotland, Central and South of Scotland Seniors events, Ronnie has decided to concentrate his efforts on senior golf with an international cap in 2016 his very achievable goal.  His achievements as captain will be recognised at the annual prizegiving evening in November.

The new captain is Andrew Farmer who is a well established team member and plays at Kilmacolm Golf Club where he set a course record of 61 in 1999.  Andrew’s golfing record dates back to 1992 when he was granted a golf scholarship at Lyn University.  He gained six international caps for Scotland from 1997 to 1999, was British Mid Amateur Champion in 2000 and Scottish Mid Amateur Champion in 2009.  The Renfrewshire team remains in good hands.

Paul Lawrie 'shattered' - decides not to play

 in his own Invitational at Deeside this week

By COLIN FARQUHARSON 

Paul Lawrie has decided he will not play in his own 54-hole invitational which tees off at Deeside Golf Club tomorrow.
"I came home from the KLM Open on Sunday night, played in the pro-am here at Deeside today and I just feel shattered," said Lawrie.
He has decided not to play because it would mean six weeks' tournament golf  in a row if he played at Deeside and following on from last week he feels a start in his own event has to be sacrificed in order to allow him to focus on European Tour business and Race to Dubai points.

Lawrie will still play the host over the next three days at Deeside Golf Club where he is an honorary member and which is less than a mile from his house in Bieldside, a leafy suburb to the west of Aberdeen.
Both Paul Lawrie Invitationals start tomorrow but the £45,000 men's tournament, in which the first prize of £8,000 is one of the biggest on the Tartan Tour, is over three rounds and ends on Thursday while the £5,000 women's competition is over 36 holes and ends on Wednesday.

Without Lawrie in the field, the leading contenders for the top prize should include Greig Hutcheon and Greg McBain, both playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre stable.

Hutcheon has a great record in events played in his own neck of the woods and much the same applies to Aberdonian McBain who won the Paul Lawrie Invitational with a seven-under-par 203 total in 2012 and scored again last year with a birdie at the second hole of a play-off against Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) after they had tied on 10-under 200.
No clear favourite for the women's first prize of £2,250 and the Stewart Spence Trophy as the Tartan Tour Ladies' Champion but Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) has added consistency to her long-hitting prowess while Kylie Walker (Mar Hall) and Sally Watson (Castle Stuart) also have experience at the top level.
The pros' scores in the curtain-raising pro-am were not recorded but the fact that they were associated with the first three teams suggests that Kenny Hutton (Downfield), Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) and Scott Henderson (Kings Links) are in good nick.
Hutton piloted the Simmons and Co No 3 team of Jeff Corray (handicap 16), Jamie Mock (14) and Gary Millar (18) to victory with a net two-ball total of 17-under-par 123.
Greig Hutcheon and the Saltire Energy No 1 team of Mike Loggie (12), Michael Loggie (5) and Jack Loggie (2) finished second on 127 on a better inward half than Scott Henderson's Simmons and Co No 1 team of Nick Dalgarno (11), Chris Lloyd (7) and Ian Jack (8) who also totalled 127.
 
SPECTATORS MORE THAN WELCOME AT
DEESIDE INVITATIONALS

There is no charge for admission or car parking at Deeside Golf Club for the Paul Lawrie Men's and Women's Invitational tournaments over the next three days.

Spectators will be made very welcome

TUESDAY'S TOP TEE TIMES AT DEESIDE

MEN

8.44 David Law, Ross Kellett

8.55 Paul Broadhurst, Paul McKechnie, Greg McBain

9.06 Greig Hutcheon, Craig Lawrie, Sam Binning.

9.17 Craig Ronald, Kenny Hutton, Cameron Marr.

9.28 Chris Kelly, Paul O'Hara, Robert Arnott

9.57 Scott Henderson, Kenny Ferrie, Gavin Hay.

10.08 Andrew Oldcorn, Craig Ross (a), Alastair Forsyth

10.52 Stephen Gray, Jason McCreadie, Fraser Mann.

WOMEN

11.45 Laura Murray, Jane Turner, Michele Thomson

11.56 Maria Tulley, Alyson McKechin.

12.07 Heather MacRae, Nastja Banovec (am), Emilee Taylor

12.18 Gemma Dryburgh, Rachael McQueen

12.19 Kirstin Scott, Nichola Ferguson, Gillian Paton (am).

12.40 Sophie Powell, Chloe Rogers, Sally Watson

12.51 Kylie Walker, Gemma Webster

FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION

2015 BOYS' ORDER OF MERIT

presented by

www.mygolfranking.net

Positions after 23 events:

1 Sam Nicholson (Ladybank) 853 points,

2 Jack Lockhart (Pitreavie) 390,

3 Greg Cessford (Balbirnie Park) 360,

4 John Paterson (The New Club) 335,

5 Ryan Brown (Dunfermline) 310,

6 Hamish Gorn (Aberdour) 300

7 Keith Bowman (New Club) 280

8 Steven Paterson (Lundin) 223,

9 Stewart Philp (Lundin) 220,

T10 Ben McKay (Crail), Niall McMullen (Lundin) 210.

Midland Alliance report and leading scores

Amateurs Norman and Fraser lead way at 

Edzell with one-under-par 70s

Two amateurs - Norman Dyce, a two-handicapper at Strathmore Golf Centre, and Fraser Campbell, who plays off one at Monifieth - tied for first scratch in this week's Midland Golfers' Alliance competition at Edzell Golf Club.

Both had scores of one-under-par 70.

Tony Lumsden (Monifieth) ( 9) returned a net 70 to win the handicap section. 

Tony also helped Dunnikier Park professional Alastair McDonald and Steve Hills (Monifieth) (8) gain first place in the Anglers' Inn, Guildtown, team competition with a score of 61, winning on better inward half.

 LEADING SCRATCH SCORES

70 Norman Dyce (Strathmore), Fraser Campbell (Monifieth).

72 Tom McLevy (Blairgowrie), Gary Tough (Edzell).
73 Joe Smith (Lundin), Steve Craig (Archerfield Links) p.
74 Jim Watt (Edzell).

75 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) p

76 David Snodgrass (Crail GS) ap, Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld and Birnam), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) ap, Alastair McDonald (Dunnikier Park) p.

 LEADING HANDICAP SCORES

68 Norman Dyce  (Strathmore) (2)

69 Fraser Campbell (Monifieth) (1)

70 Tony Lumsden (Monifieth) (9)

72 Tom McLevy (Blairgowrie) (scr), Ron Brownhill (Edzell) (7), Joe Smith (Lundin) (1), Jack Cree, jun (Scotscraig) (12), Jim Watt (Edzell) (2).

73 Steve Hills (Monifieth) (8), Sandy Mitchell (St Andrews New) (12)

          

LEADING TEAM SCORES

61 Alastair McDonald (Dunnikier Park) p, Tony Lumsden (Monifieth) (9), Steve Hills (Monifieth) (8) (bih); Sandy Mitchell (St Andrews New) (12), Ron Brownhill (Edzell) (7), Robert White (Burntisland) (9). 

63  Andy McLeod (Alloa) (7), Alan Goodwillie (Alloa) (8), Brent Cunningham (Gleneagles) (8)

Qualifiers for the Perla Shower Panels Alliance Championship in March at Scotscraig

Fraser Campbell (Monifieth)

Joe Smith (Lundin)

Steve Craig (Archerfield Links)

Qualifiers for the Perla Shower Panels McQueen Shield in March at Scotscraig

Norman Dyce (Strathmore)

Next Meeting

Thursday 17th September

Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry, Team Competition

Venue: Pitlochry GC

Tee reserved: 8.30-12.30

 

 

Lee Sutherland

 

 Junior Flag Challenge a big hit with in West

By CLARE-MARIE MACAULAY

This summer has seen four golfing facilities in the West of Scotland come together to create the Junior Flag Challenge. The events were held at Broadlees Golf, Mearns Castle Golf Academy, Playsport Golf and Paisley Golf Club.

The tour was open to boys and girls between the ages of  7-12 years who do not have a CONGU handicap.  Each player had 36 shots; once they hit all their shots they placed a flag in the ground, with the winner being the player  who got farthest round the course. 

The players were split into three categories: 7-9 years, 10-12 years and a girls' category. 

Each player was awarded order of merit points for each event they played.

The Junior Flag Challenge was very fortunate to be sponsored by Golphin For Kids, a Scottish business creating golf clubs for children and  who are very passionate about growing the game in Scotland.       

With the help of Golphin For Kids and Club Golf Scotland we had over 45 children participating in the events, giving young children the opportunity to play four different courses in a fun and competitive environment.

Sunday saw the final event at Paisley Golf Club with 42 children playing. Although the children were competing for the order of merit they were also trying to improve on their previous scores.  For example, we had seven-year-old Joseph Kelly from Lanarkshire and 10-year-old Ewan Urquhart, a Paisley member,  complete their 36 shots on the 10^th hole, this being the best for the tour.

ORDER OF MERIT WINNERS

Boys:

7 to 9 years - Sean Smith

10 to 12 years - Cameron Kane 

Girls

 Hannah Kelly

Pictured left (l to r) Hannah Kelly, Cameron Kane, Sean Smith with Calum McPherson, owner of golphin for kids.

The Junior Flag Challenge will be played again next year, with the possibility of an expansion with more events over new courses. If you would like more information about the Junior Flag Challenge or to be informed about future competitions please contact Clare-Marie Macaulay at  cmmacaulay@hotmail.co.uk

 Left to right – Iain Powell – account manager, Angus Munro – account manager, Craig Forsyth – sales director

 

Companies battle it out in the final of
 

DF Communications Golf League

 

NEWS RELEASE

Twelve North-east companies have reached the final of the 2015 DF Communications Business Golf League at St Andrews.

The teams will battle it out for the title over the Castle Course at the Fife town on Thursday, September 17, with money also being raised on the day for MNDScotland, a charity that helps those affected by motor neurone disease.

DF Communications, an award-winning mobile phone and communications specialist to small, medium and large businesses, is the sponsor and organiser of the league for a fourth consecutive year.

Craig Forsyth, sales director at Aberdeen-based DF Communications, said: “We’re now down to the final 12 teams, having started the league with 36. We’ve had to put up with some pretty poor weather over the summer, but there have been some notable highlights including a hole-in-one.

“We’re delighted to be returning to the Castle Course. It’s sure to be a great day out for everyone involved and we’re raising money for a worthy cause in the process.”

The finalists this year are Nu-Style Products, Easthaven Property Management, Glacier Energy, ITB Competence Assurance, Tenaris, RAWC, Stork, Kore Technology Solutions, Coutts Mennie, Craig Group, Westburn Solutions and DF Communications. The final will be played on a combined stableford format.

For further information on the DF Communications Golf League, and how to join in 2016 visit http://www.golf.dfcommunications.com

 

 

SUPER SENIORS' OPEN AT BOAT OF GARTEN

THIS WEEK

SSEPTEMBER 2015EPTEMBER

By GORDON THOMSON

The Scottish Seniors Golfing Society breaks new ground this week with a visit to Boat of Garten for the Scottish Super Seniors Open (for players aged 65 and over),sponsored by McCrea Financial Services, on Thursday and Friday.

Bill Erskine will be defending the Sandy Pirie Trophy in the main event and former Walker Cup player, Scott Macdonald is defending the trophy for the best score by a player over the age of 70. 

The competitors also include Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 

himself, Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie), who was still good 

enough to have won the Senior match-play hampionship at 

Stirling in July and Jim Kinloch (Cardross), winner of the 

over-65 equivalent.

All competitors are looking forward to tackling the 

picturesque Boat of Garten course which is widely regarded 

as one of the hidden gems of Scottish golf.

Another Walker Cup star leaves the amateur ranks

 Gavin Moynihan turns pro, debut this week

 

NEWS RELEASE

Walker Cup star Gavin Moynihan has joined ISM and will play his first event as a professional at this week’s Open D’Italia.

A two-time Irish Amateur champion, winner of the Peter McEvoy Trophy and the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Championship, Irishman Gavin, 20, took part in his second Walker Cup, at Royal Lytham and St Annes at the weekend.

Gavin, a former student of the University of Alabama, contributed two points in Great Britain and Ireland’s dominant 16.5-9.5 win, the same number he posted in the defeat by the United States in 2013. 

After a stellar amateur career, he is now looking forward to taking his game to another level and joining the professional ranks.

Gavin said: “It’s a very exciting time for me and I just can’t wait to get started in Italy. I’ve known for some time that I would turn professional after the Walker Cup. 

“I’ve loved my time learning the game as an amateur but I feel I’m ready to go professional. I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I want to test myself against the best in the sport.

“I think that ISM is the best management company to help me develop and I’m looking forward to working with them.” 

ISM has guided the careers of former world number one Lee Westwood, 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, as well as a host of the sport’s other top players.

Chief Executive Officer Chubby Chandler said: “We’ve followed Gavin’s development for a long time and we’re sure we can help him go on to have a great career.

“ISM has a really good crop of young players full of potential and Gavin will only add to that. I’m looking forward to seeing him progress.”

 

Irish Walker Cup star turning professional EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Two of Ireland’s brightest golfing talents, Walker Cup stars Gary Hurley and Jack Hume, will be teeing up in the Volopa Irish Challenge next month. Hurley has enjoyed a superb final season as an amateur, finishing runner-up in both the Spanish Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship, culminating in Walker Cup selection. Hume has had a similarly eye-catching year, with four top ten finishes on the European amateur circuit earning him a spot in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team along with Hurley and three other compatriots. After a memorable weekend on the links of Royal Lytham and St Annes, Hurley is excited to be leaving the amateur ranks behind on a high as he ventures into the professional game. “I cannot wait to play on home soil so soon after turning professional,” said the 22 year old. “I know we’re going to have a great week at Mount Wolseley. “It’s been a great year for us Irish players, with five of us getting selected for the Walker Cup, so it feels fitting to be coming to the Volopa Irish Challenge so soon after that. “The Irish public are always so passionate in their support of Irish golf and Irish events so it is great that the Challenge Tour is returning to Ireland. Hopefully I can have a memorable week.” Hurley and Hume played in all four sessions of the Walker Cup, and Hume, also 22 years old, is eagerly anticipating competing on home soil from October 8-11. He said: “I thought the most exciting week of my year would be the Walker Cup but now I have the Volopa Irish Challenge to look forward to I’m not so sure – there’s equal excitement. “The support systems for young players in Ireland are fantastic and this is hopefully an opportunity to show what all the years of hard work has been for and to inspire more youngsters to get involved in our sport. “Irish golf fans must be the most passionate in the world so hopefully I and some of the other Irish lads can put on a bit of a show and give them something to cheer about.” Along with a healthy sprinkling of native talent, headed by Ruaidrhi McGee, currently just outside the top 15 in the Road to Oman Rankings who earn graduation to The European Tour for next season, a strong field is expected at Mount Wolseley, with just two events on the Challenge Tour calendar after the Volopa Irish Challenge. All eyes inevitably fall on the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat, Oman at the start of November, so the Volopa Irish Challenge is one of the last chances for valuable Rankings points and as such none of the leading players will want to miss it. It also marks the return of the Challenge Tour to the Republic of Ireland after a six year absence and will be the only men’s professional golf tournament taking place in Ireland this year. The Challenge Tour will be visiting Mount Wolseley Hotel, Golf and Spa for the first time and it promises to be a venue offering both world class hospitality and a genuine top class challenge for all the players. The course, designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr, who is also a tournament ambassador, will provide a stern but enjoyable test for both the Challenge Tour’s finest and the fine array of Irish golfers hoping to join them in the near future. - Ends -

Martin McNae still leads South Order of Merit

David Brodie (Wigtown and Bladnoch) has closed the gap on leader Martin McNae (Lochmaben) in the James Erskine PGA Professional-sponsored South of Scotland Order of Merit.
His joint third place finish in the Lennox Trophy at Lochmaben allowed him to close the gap to 102 points, but with only one event remaining Martin is still in pole position to claim the honours.

2015 South of Scotland Order of Merit   
Sponsored by James Erskine PGA Professional    
Pro@thecounty.co.uk              www.dumfriesgolfshop.co.uk   
Positions after Lennox Trophy   
       
Position    Player/Club    Points Total
1    Martin McNae (Lochmaben)    637.5
2    David Brodie (Wigtown adnd Bladnoch)    535.8
3    Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway)    360
4    Michael Grunwell (Powfoot)    270
5    Ross Murray (Southerness)    260
6    Liam Carruthers (Powfoot)    246.7
7    Alan Birdsall (Dumfries and County)    235
8    Danny McConnachie (Dumfries and County)    220
9    Ian Reid (Dumfries and Galloway)    175
10    Clark Riddick (Southerness)    171.7
11    Andrew Kerr (Crichton)    152.5
12    Craig Scobie (Lochmaben)    150
13    Craig Smith (Dalbeattie)    135
14    Rory Brunton (Dumfries and County)    130
15    Kevin Adams (Dalbeattie)    125
16    George Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway)    120
17    Iain Thomson (Powfoot)    115
18    Stuart Fisher (Portpatrick)    113.3
19    Leslie Irvine (Lochmaben)    110
20=    Connor Bennewith (Newton Stewart)    105
20=    Jimmy Lennox (Lochmaben)    105
22    Colin Hamilton (Stranraer)    100
23    Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire County)    83.3
24    Jay McWilliam (Portpatrick)    80
25    Sean McCulloch (Stranraer)    77.5
26=    Stevie Thompson (Gatehouse)    75
26=    Garry Marshall (Stranraer)    75
28=    Wes Blayney (Southerness)    70
28=    Ian Johnstone (Wigtownshire County)    70
28=    James Caldwell (Portpatrick)    70
28=    Ainsley Bagnall (Dumfries and Galloway)    70
28=    Neil Hamilton (Powfoot)    70
33    Malcolm Kirkwood (Kirkcudbright)    65
34    Steven Foote (Powfoot)    60
35=    Scott Henderson (Lochmaben)    55
35=    Jamie Parker (Southerness)    55
35=    William Squires (Kirkcudbright)    55
38=    Roy Kerr (Southerness)    50
38=    Alan White (Newton Stewart)    50
38=    Steven Hislop (Lochmaben)    50
41=    Jim Graham (Lochmaben)    40
41=    Jamie Telfer (Wigtown and Bladnoch)    40
41=    Graeme Hoodless (Newton Stewart)    40
41=    Graham Finlay (Castle Douglas)    40
45=    Dean Armstrong (Lochmaben)    31.7
45=    Lee McMichael (Thornhill)    31.7
47=    Davie King (Southerness)    30
47=    David Willacy (Powfoot)    30
49=    David McCreadie (Newton Stewart)    20
49=    Keith Munn (Kirkcudbright)    20
51=    William Sloan (Stranraer)    15
51=    Callan Harkness (Lochmaben)    15
51=    Les Harkness (Dumfries and County)    15
51=    Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright)    15
51=    Duncan Samson (Lochmaben)    15
56=    Derek Douglas (Southerness)    11.7
56=    Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas)    11.7
58=    John McCulloch (Stranraer)    10
58=    Connor Harkness (Southerness)    10
60=    Eddie Adamson (Portpatrick)    7.5
60=    Robin Shaw (Wigtownshire County)    7.5
62=    Stuart Gourlay (Kirkcudbright)    5
62=    Craig Rudd (Kirkcudbright)    5
       
Final Event: Shamash Trophy (Brighouse Bay)   
Points Available:   
1st:     150   
2nd:    125   
3rd:    100   
4th:    80   
5th:    60   
6th:    50   
7th:    40   
8th:    30   
9th:    20   
10th:    10   
       
To view the table on line go to: http://www.sosga.uk/orderofmerit   

 Ryan MacKie from nowhere to No 1 on Fife 

Men's Rankings

The MyGolfRanking Fife Golfers of the Week are Ryan MacKie of Balbirnie Park GC, whose remarkable year of good golf has hoisted him from nowhere to No 1 on the Fife Men's MyGolfRanking, and Ruth McConkey of Pitreavie GC, who re-enters the Top Ten of the MGR Fife Ladies Ranking at No 7.

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Men, Week 2015/36

1 *Ryan MacKie (Balbirnie Park) 1206 pts                                                                                       

2 *Raymond Johnston (Dunnikier Park) 1075                                                                           

3 Graham Brown (Lundin) 1069

4 Colin Palmer Jnr (Kinghorn) 1050

5 Steven McLelland (Leven GS) 1048

6 Ryan Walsh (Kirkcaldy) 1045

7 K M Findlay (Ladybank) 1033,

8 D Smart (Dunnikier Park) 1029,

9 *Graham Ballantyne (Dunnikier Park) 1018,                                                                                          

10 George Lorimer (Cupar) 1014.

www.mygolfranking.net, Fife Clubs Men, Week 2015/36

1 Ladybank 738 points,

2 Dunnikier Park 730,

3 Kirkcaldy 689,

4 Cupar 664,

T5 Leven Thistle, Scoonie 654,

                            

*Entry this week

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.

The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net