Scottish par-3 champion Gaughan misses EuroPro Tour cut

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Winner of the AAM Scottish par-3 title at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ardoe on Tuesday, Louis Gaughan (Bathgate) missed the cut after two rounds of the EuroPro Tour event at Collingtree Golf Club today (Thursday).
Gaughan, pictured, had dashed down from the North-east to the Northampton venue on Tuesday evening, but rounds of 70 and 72 for two-under-par 142 saw him miss the cut, alongwith nine other Scots.
The only two Scots to have a chance of earning money in the third and final round are both on the 140 mark - Daniel Hendry (Blackstar) (69-71) and John Gallagher (Duddingston) (72-68).
They are eight shots behind the leader by two, Welshman James Frazer (Pennard) (66-66 for 12-under 132).

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SCOTS' SCORES
140 D Hendry (Blackstar) 69 71, J Gallagher (Duddingston) 72 68 (T25).

MISSED THE CUT (141 and better qualified)
142 R Campbell (Golf in Scotland 72 70, L Gaughan (Bathgate) 70 72, L Allan (Alva) 71 71.
143 W Booth (Pitlochry) 70 763.
145 C Lawrie (PLGC) 74 71.
146 S Lawrie (PLGC) 72 74, J McColl (Kingsbarns) 72 74.
149 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 79 70.
150 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 76 74.
154 J Mullaney (unatt) 82 72

Craig Lee leading Scot in Czech Masters

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Callum Shinkwin showed no signs of rust after his five-week break as he fired a six under par 66 to hold the first-round lead at the D+D REAL Czech Masters. 

The Englishman, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images (c), had not played since missing the cut at the Open Championship but arrived at Albatross Golf Resort full of confidence, having finished second at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open the week before. 
He recorded eight birdies in morning session and with rain arriving for the second wave, nobody could catch him at the top of the leaderboard. 
South African Dylan Frittelli, Swede Pontus Widegren and Englishman James Heath sit at five under, a shot clear of Felipe Aguilar, Jaco Ahlers, Chris Hanson, Peter Karmis, Scot Craig Lee, Oscar Lengden, James Morrison and last week's Made in Denmark winner Julian Suri. 
SCOREBOARD
par 72

67 D Frittelli (SAf) , J Heath (Eng) , P Widegren (Swe) ,
68 O Lengden (Swe) , C Lee (Sco) , J Suri (USA) , F Aguilar (Chile) , C Hanson (Eng) , J Ahlers (SAf) , J Morrison (Eng) , P Karmis (SAf)
69 S Khan (Eng) , E Pepperell (Eng) , S Lee (SKor) , C Ford (Eng) , N Kimsey (Eng) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , P Peterson (USA) , F Mruzek (Czecho) , E Van Rooyen (SAf) , L Bjerregaard (Denmark) , J Donaldson (Wales) , M Manassero (Ita) , M Wiegele (Austria) , G Bourdy (Fra)
70 G Bhullar (India) , D Burmester (SAf) , R Gonzalez (Arg) , N Bertasio (Ita) , M Foster (Eng) , S Dyson (Eng) , Z Lombard (SAf) , R Echenique (Arg) , J Rutherford (Eng) , H Porteous (SAf) , L Westwood (Eng) , K Horne (SAf) , G Porteous (Eng) , J Dantorp (Swe) , R Evans (Eng) , J Stalter (Fra) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , M Fitzpatrick (Eng)
71 M Kaymer (Ger) , T Pieters (Belgium) , P Angles (Spn) , A Björk (Swe) , R Paratore (Ita) , J Thomson (Eng) , S Henry (Sco) , B Dredge (Wales) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , D Im (USA) , P Tangkamolprasert (Thailand)
72 J Smith (Eng) , S Manley (Wales) , B Rumford (Australia) , R Green (Australia) , J Kruger (SAf) , S Soderberg (Swe) , C Berardo (Fra) , M Wallace (Eng) , W Ormsby (Australia) , J Walters (SAf) , A Rai (Eng) , K Aphibarnrat (Thailand) , L Tintera (Czecho) , T Detry (Belgium) , A Karlsson (Swe) , S Webster (Eng) , P Dedek (Czecho) , N Cullen (Australia) , L Slattery (Eng) , N Fasth (Swe) , B Hebert (Fra) , S Heisele (Ger) , M Fraser (Australia)
73 B Virto (Spn) , M Jonzon (Swe) , P Gal (Czecho) , R Santos (Portugal) , C Pigem (Spn) , M Armitage (Eng) , P Khongwatmai (Thailand) , J Lima (Portugal) , R Kakko (Finland) , G King (Eng) , J Guerrier (Fra) , D Lipsky (USA) , F Fritsch (Ger) , R McCarthy (Australia) , G Hurley (Ire) , J Parry (Eng) , J Sjöholm (Swe) , D Perrier (Fra) , J Van Der Vaart (Netherlands) , M Nixon (Eng) , J Allan (Eng) , J Scrivener (Australia)
74 R McEvoy (Eng) , L Robinson (Eng) , M Lafeber (Netherlands) , S Tiley (Eng) , P Meesawat (Thailand) , N Johansson (Swe) , C Braeunig (Ger) , R Dinwiddie (Eng) , J Daly (USA) , A Connelly (Canada) , D Brooks (Eng) , M Korhonen (Finland) , J Edfors (Swe) , E Dubois (Fra) , D Clarke (NIre) , J Winther (Denmark)
75 B Evans (Eng) , L Canter (Eng) , D Fox (Australia) , T Lewis (Eng) , J Cafourek (Czecho) , S Gallacher (Sco) , A Korinek (Czecho) , P Maddy (Eng) , C Suk (Czecho) , M Orrin (Eng) , O Lieser (Czecho) , P Nic (Czecho) , O Farr (Wales) , C Shih-Chang (Taipei)
76 N Holman (Australia) , R Karlsson (Swe) , A Maestroni (Ita) , R Gruber (Austria) , S Walker (Eng) , D Stewart (Sco) ,
77 A Knappe (Ger) , G Boyd (Eng) , D Boonma (Thailand) , O Wilson (Eng) , M Pospisil (Czecho) , R Langasque (Fra) , P Waring (Eng) , R Johnson (Swe) , D Siwy (am) (Czecho) ,
78 A Chesters (Eng) , M Warren (Sco)
79 D Suchan (Czecho)
80 R Finch (Eng) , J Pokorny (Czecho)
81 P Valasek (Slovak) , R Kumpost (am) (Czecho)
82 B Etchart (Spn) , J Friesz (Slovak)
83 M Zapletal (am) (Czecho)                                

Law four under after 7 holes,  then rain stops play in France Press Release  Nico Geyger and David Law (pictured) starred on the first day of the Cordon Golf Open as a thunderstorm and heavy rain prevented Round One of the Challenge Tour event from being completed at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val Andre in France. The Chilean started his round with four straight birdies before two more either side of the turn took him to six under par, one ahead of the clubhouse leader Thomas Perrot, before a play was suspended for the day, initially for lightning and then due to a waterlogged course. Geyger’s best result this season was his unfortunate 11th place in Northern Ireland earlier this month, where he lost in his first stroke play match courtesy of a remarkable albatross on the final hole by Ricardo Santos, but he is hopeful of a good result to improve his Road to Oman Ranking of 91st. “It’s unfortunate to have a delay, especially when you’re in the middle of a good round,” said the 31-year-old. “We had rain early in the round but it was still ok, then it was good, but it’s the same for everyone when a delay happens." Out in the perfect morning conditions, Perrot’s five under par round of 65 featured an eagle and three birdies, while his compatriot Pierre-Yves Rolland – playing at his home course as a qualifier – shot an impressive 69. Of the other morning starters to complete their rounds, Jules Coupade, Oliv Rozner and Marcel Schneider were the most notable, all signing for rounds of 66 to sit two off Geyger’s overnight lead. Aberdeen's David Law started at the 10th holed and was four under par after seven holes when play was stopped. He birdied the 10th, 11th, 12th and 15th. Jack Doherty (69), Ewen Ferguson (74) and Jamie McLeary (78) were able to complete their rounds.  Paul Shields was three over par after five when called in. Full scores are available here

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Yorkshire win England boys’ county crown

Yorkshire powered their way to victory in the English boys’ county championship, beating BB and O - Berks, Bucks and Oxon - 7-2 in the final day’s title decider at Northamptonshire County Golf Club.
In the three-day round robin, also involving Staffordshire and Somerset, the northerners were on impressive form, conceding just 4.5 points in their 27 games.
The classy performance gave them their first title since 2012, their eighth overall – and wiped out the memories of last year when they lost by just half a point.
Team manager Philip Woodcock said: “The boys have done really well and I am absolutely chuffed, thrilled to pieces. It makes up for last year!”
He also had special praise for team coach Steve Robinson, remarking: “He has done an absolutely fantastic job.”
Yorkshire were in determined mood from the outset and, as they did on the previous two days, won all three morning foursomes. The perfect score of nine wins out of nine is a new record for the county boys.
It left BB and O needing to win five of the six singles and they made sure the games were all hard fought. But Yorkshire edged closer to victory when George Heath, 17, completed his sixth win from six games by defeating England boy international Conor Gough, 3 and 2.
It fell to 15-year-old Ben Schmidt to take the team over the winning line when he beat Taylor Paul 3 and 2. Schmidt came in to the team when Alex Fitzpatrick was called up by GB and I and proved his worth, supplying three foursomes wins with James Swash and making a great singles debut this afternoon.
He took command of his game with a sparkling run from the 7th of birdie, eagle, par, par, birdie to go five up. But Paul pulled one back with his own birdie on 14 and won 15 with a par before Schmidt clinched the victory on 16, for himself and his team. “It’s great, I’m lost for words,” he said. “I had some really good holes to give myself a cushion for the match.”
The scoreline was completed when Swash won 2up; Charlie Daughtrey halved with Melan Dhaubhadel and Callum Macfie halved with Fraser Bown. BB and O’s full singles point was won by Harrison Arnold, who beat Michael Hay 2up, signing off with a birdie four on the last.

In the day’s other match Staffordshire and Somerset halved with 4.5 points apiece. Somerset took the early lead, winning two of the three foursomes, but Staffordshire proved stronger in the singles, winning 3.5 of the six points on offer.

Click here for full scores

Image copyright Leaderboard Photography

‎ Lyndsey Hewison
‎ Press Officer
‎ England Golf
‎ pr@englandgolf.org
‎ 07590 878349

Robert MacIntyre joins Bounce Sport Stable

NEWS RELEASE
Robert MacIntyre, who will tee up for GB and I in next month’s Walker Cup match at Los Angeles, has joined Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson in the Bounce Sport stable – as he takes the same path as his former Scotland team-mates to lay down the foundations for a professional career. 
MacIntyre, pictured, the world amateur-ranked No 14, is delighted to have signed up with the Edinburgh-based management company on an am-to-pro agreement after watching Forrest and Ferguson benefit enormously since they made the same decision last year. 
As they did with Forrest and Ferguson, Bounce Sport will help MacIntyre, a 21-year-old left-hander from the Oban club Glencruitten, make a smooth switch to the paid ranks after he brings down the curtain on his amateur career. 
MacIntyre has been selected along with compatriot Connor Syme for the 46th Walker Cup, which is being held at Los Angeles Country Club on September 9-10. Forrest and Ferguson were both on the winning Great Britain and  Ireland side against the Americans at Royal Lytham two years ago. 
"I'm delighted to be joining Bounce Sport for the next stage of my golfing career," said MacIntyre, winner of the 2015 Scottish Amateur Championship at Muirfield. "It's been something I’ve been thinking about over the past year and to finally get things going is great. 
"Bounce Sport have done a great job with Grant and Ewen at the end of their amateur careers and the start of a new chapter for them in the professional ranks as both guys look like they are finding their feet well." 

North-east Alliance AGM and first competition, both at Craibstone next week

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The North-east Alliance 2017-18 season tees off at Craibstone Golf Club next Wednesday (September 6).
The annual general meeting is at the same venue on Monday evening (7.30pm) (September 4).
Tee times for the first competition can be booked by those attending the AGM. New members welcome.
Michael MacDougall, pictured, Paul Lawrie's right hand man, is the new NE Alliance secretary.
Michael organised and ran the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Par-3 championship at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ardoe earlier this week.
Now there's an idea for a future NE Alliance fixture - a competition at the par-3 venue, which, as the professionals who played there this week will testify, is certainly not a pitch-and-putt course, more a stiff examination of a player's iron-play skills.

Fixtures for the new NE Alliance season:

SEPTEMBER
6 Craibstone
13 Kemnay
20 Newmachar
27 Kintore

OCTOBER
4  Alford
10-11-12 Scottish Alliance Championship (Monifieth)
18 Banchory
25 Peterculter

NOVEMBER
1  Oldmeldrum
8  Strathlene
15 Fraserburgh
22 Montrose
29 Buckpool

DECEMBER
6  Portlethen

JANUARY 2018
10 Inverallochy
17 Peterhead
24 Royal Tarlair
31 Buckpool

FEBRUARY
7   Newmachar
14 Spey Bay
21 Montrose
28 Fraserburgh

MARCH
7   Duff house Royal
14 Portlethen (Championship Round 1)
21 Craibstone (Championship Round 2)
22 Craibstone (foursomes)
28 McDonald Ellon

The Scottish Par-3 Championship shows the promise a unique venue and format can bring to stroke-play competition

By 

John Huggan
FROM GOLF DIGEST.COM

Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Bathgate's Louis Gaughan beat a field of more than 100 pros, including two major winners and two Ryder Cuppers, to take the title at the Scottish Par-3 Championship this week.

Ask your average golfer to name his or her favorite holes—whether par 3s, 4s or 5s—and the responses invariably include the word “short.”
Hardly anyone loves long holes. Short is where it’s at for most players. Think of the diminutive but deadly Postage Stamp at Royal Troon. Or the drivable 10th at Riviera. Or the 13th at Augusta National, the ultimate “risk and reward” par 5 because of its slightness.
All are prime examples of holes beloved by all—and all are a long way from long. Indeed, the Postage Stamp is so short Dustin Johnson might just about be able to reach it in zero.

Multiplying that widely held preference for brevity by nine, former Open champion Paul Lawrie this week hosted the Scottish Par-3 Championship at his eponymous golf centre on the outskirts of his home city of Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland.
Over two days, four rounds and 36 holes, an eclectic mix of amateurs and professionals teed-up with EuroPro Tour (Europe’s third division) player Louis Gaughan picking up his first win as a professional.
A birdie at the first extra hole saw the 23-year-old Scot edge out former European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth after the pair tied on four-under-par 104. Gaughan earned £3,250 for his trouble.

The 108-strong field contained two major champions, two Ryder Cuppers and cardholders from the European Tour, the Challenge Tour, the EuroPro Tour, the German Pro Golf Tour, the Alps Tour, the Ladies European Tour, the Tartan Tour and the European Senior Tour, as well as a member of the Scottish Ladies amateur team.
Connor Syme, a recent quarte-finalist at the U.S. Amateur and a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side that next month will take on the United States at the Los Angeles Country Club, was also in attendance.

And here’s the thing: A good time was had by all. In a world where “takes too long and costs too much,” is golf’s most common complaint, many rounds were completed in less than three hours at a facility where an adult membership costs £300 per year (less than $400). Even more farsightedly, juniors yet to reach their teenage years can play for 12 months for one tenth of that amount.

“We were members here when my two sons were small,” said Lawrie, who purchased the picturesque 1,352-yard course that sits hard by the River Dee in 2012.
“We came a lot to play a few holes and hit balls. It was ideal for them. They learned how to play on a proper lay-out that wasn’t too long for them. This is not a pitch-and-putt course though. You could put any of these holes on an 18-holer.
Nothing is compromised. The bunkers are just as you would see anywhere and the holes ask for a nice variety of shots with anything from a 5-iron down.

“The great thing is that families can come here and enjoy themselves. Most people get around in 90 minutes or so. That’s perfect for kids. They have a good time and don’t get bored by being out there too long.”
 

Certainly, none of the competitors were complaining about any feelings of ennui at an event with a bright future. Already there is talk of moving to U.S. Open week in 2018 in the hope that majority of European Tour players not playing in the major would be able to compete.

“This is such a fantastic event and represents the future in many ways,” said 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell.

 “The dynamics of golf have changed over the last few years, and this sort of event is going to be more common. People just don’t have the five hours it takes to play most courses these days. So places like this are ideal. You can stroll round in an hour-and-a-half.

“I enjoyed it so much. I loved the variation in distances. The shortest hole is less than 110 yards and the longest is about 215. I hit everything from a 3-iron to a lob wedge. Brilliant.”

Whether this inventive but not unique format—the British Par-3 Championship has been played at Nailcote Hall in the English Midlands since 2001—has a future as part of an official tour remains to be seen, but anything that interrupts the almost constant flow of 72-hole stroke-play on courses stretched to their physical limits and beyond is surely worth considering.

 In the U.S., the PGA Tour (Senior) Champions current plays a portion of its Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf event on the par-3 course at Big Cedar Lodge.

“Our executive director, Keith Pelley, is experimenting with a lot of different ideas, so anything is possible,” pointed out European Tour player Scott Jamieson.

 “This could be something he might look at. I love the shorter format. It was still 18 holes, but it was so nice to play quickly. And the golf was fun, interesting and challenging. I certainly had to call on a slightly different skill set.”

That sentiment was almost universally echoed elsewhere. Challenge Tour player Peter Whiteford, who finished T-8, was just one who celebrated the event’s “shortness.”

“There aren’t any 230-yarders out there [on the Lawrie course], holes where all you are trying to do is pump the ball into the middle of the green,” he said. “That’s boring. Here almost anything is possible. You can be as aggressive as you like really.”

All of which is great, but perhaps more important is that nine-hole facilities like the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre (one of two owned by the two-time Ryder Cup player) fill a void for those reluctant or unable to find the time and money to join a more traditional club.

Unlike so many locked within that increasingly outmoded business model, the PLGC provides a welcoming environment for young people - and older citizens looking to get into the game.

All those potentially intimidating rules - “Don’t do this. Don’t wear that. Don’t walk there.” - are absent. Anyone lacking experience and/or confidence is made welcome.

Fun for everyone. What a concept. With a bit of luck, it might even catch on.

 

Yorkshire and  BB and O will battle for English

boys' county championship

Yorkshire and BB and O – Berks, Bucks and Oxon – will go head to head tomorrow in the battle for glory in the English boys’ county championship.

 

They set up the grand finale at Northamptonshire County Golf Club when they both won their matches today, Yorkshire beating Staffordshire 7.5-1.5 and BB and O finishing bravely for their 5-4 win over Somerset. 

 

If Yorkshire win tomorrow it will be their eighth victory, with the most recent in 2012. For BB and O it would be their first win since their sole success in 1999. 

 

It promises to be a great battle. On paper BB and O are the favourites, with the lowest handicap aggregate in the field; on the evidence of the play so far, Yorkshire are very dangerous having swept aside their two opponents, conceding just 2.5 points in two days. 

 

“BB and O are the team to beat,” said Yorkshire coach Steve Robinson. “We will just have to prepare and do our best.” 

 

“Yorkshire are very strong,” said BB and O manager Marc Grimsey. “But we have a lot of quality in our team and I have no doubt that if they play to their best it will be a really great match.” 

 

Yorkshire dominated their match from the word go, winning all three foursomes despite spirited play from Staffordshire. It gave them the platform to forge ahead and they quickly secured the match with wins from Michael Hay (3 and 2) and Charlie Daughtrey (5 and 4), both of whom barely put a foot wrong. 

 

George Heath (pictured top left) added his point when he got the better of a low-scoring game against Staffordshire’s James Wickes. Between them, the pair had eight birdies in 13 holes, but it was Heath who always had the edge and won 2 and 1.
Callum Macfie won by the same margin, but James Swash had to settle for a half after James Bailey came back from two down on the 13th tee. The Staffordshire player began his fightback with a shot to the par three 12th which finished on the edge of the hole. 

 

Staffordshire’s point was scored by Ollie Read who was two down after 13 but played the remaining holes in two-under par to win by two holes.

 

The day’s other match began with Somerset in the lead after the foursomes. They won two of the three games with grandstand finishes, courtesy of the pairings of Huxley Howell and Louis Archer; and Adam Jolly and Ollie Brimfield. 

 

But BB and O wasted no time in redressing the balance when the singles got underway. England boy international Conor Gough won 7 and 6, Harrison Arnold (pictured right) soon followed him with a 6 and 5 win, and before long Melan Dhaubhadel provided the fourth point of the day with his 3 and 2 win. 

 

BB and O needed one point from the remaining three games – and Somerset made them work for it in an exciting finish. First, Louis Archer won his point for the South West side, then BB and O’s Seb Tannum Donaldson was pulled back to all square after 16 while his team mate Taylor Paul went two down after 16. 

 

Tannum Donaldson eased the BB and O nerves when he holed out from about 5ft on 17 to go one up and he confirmed the team’s win on 18, after his opponent tangled with a bunker and then deep rough. 

 

Behind them, Ollie Brimfield won the final game for Somerset. 

 

Click here for full scores 

 

Images copyright Leaderboard Photography

-ENDS- 

For further information contact:

‎ Lyndsey Hewison
‎ Press Officer
‎ England Golf
‎ pr@englandgolf.org
‎ 07590 878349

Daniel Hendry leading Scot with a 69 at PGA EuroPro Tour event

 

NEWS RELEASE

Robert Burlison and James Willis shot superb seven-under par (65) first rounds at the  PGA EuroPro Tour event at Collingtree Park Golf Club, Northampton to hold a one-shot lead over their nearest competitors.

 

Burlison (Enville Golf Club), who started on the 10^th, kicked things off poorly after bogeying his first hole. However, he responded instantly with a brilliant birdie, and went on to collect eight of them in total to finish the day as the joint tournament leader.

 

“I hit the ball really well tee to green, but putting was key for me today.”: said the 22-year old, who is searching for his first EuroPro Tour win in his first year.

 

He added: “I holed a few nice birdie putts on my front 9, including two important par saved from 10 feet on the 3^rd and 5^th holes which kept my momentum going. A few more birdies to finish after that really helped me out.

 

“I’ll try to keep a similar approach tomorrow as I did today, there are some tough tee shots out there so trying to get it into good positions off the tee is key.”

 

Willis (Penn Golf Club) went out in 32, collecting four birdies in the process before coming in with a less than steady back 9 of 33, which consisted of a superb eagle on 14 before a double bogey on 16.

 

Elsewhere, James Frazer (Pennard Golf Club) was nine-under par heading into his last three holes, but a disastrous triple bogey on the 16^th hole meant he finished tied for second with five other golfers.

 
Bathgate's Louis Gaughan, winner of the AAM Scottish par-3 championship over 36 holes at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ardoe yesterday was one of several Scots who made the dash down the M1 from Scotland to the Northampton venue.
Gaughan had a 70 to tie with Wallace Booth  (Pitlochry Golf), who also played in the par-3 championship, for 34th place. Leading Scot is Daniel Hendry in T20 position with a 69.

LEADERBOARD

Par 72

65 R Burlison (Enville), J Willis (Penn).

 

SCOTS' SCORES

69 D Hendry (T20)

70 L Gaughan, W Booth (T34)

71 L Allan (T51)

72 J Gallagher, Sean Lawrie, R Campbell, J McColl (T72)

74 C Lawrie (T110)

76 M Stewart (T129)

79 J Henry (T146)

81 J Mullaney (T150)

Retired: C O'Neil after 13 holes.

 

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

 

CLICK HERE

 

Seven-man play-off for last 4 places in qualifiers for M and H Scottish PGA Championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
A seven-man play-off for the last four places among the 13 qualifiers for the M and H Scottish PGA Championship had to be held today to conclude the second qualifying competition at Crieff Golf Club.
Those who advanced from the two-over-par 73 mark were Craig Armstrong (Burntisland), Murray Urquhart (Nairn), Kamran Zeynalov (Portlethen) and Iain Colquhoun (Loch Lomond),
Those who lost out in the play-off and are now listed as the first three alternates (reserves) are Jackson Bell (Lanark), Ross Neill (Drumpellier) and James Erskine (Dumfries and County).
Mark O'Donnell (Linlithgow) won the £100 prize as the leading qualifier by two strokes with a fine, five-under-par 66. He had an eagle 3 at the sixth and birdies at the eighth, ninth, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th, offset by bogeys at the second, 12th and 13th.
The Scottish PGA Championship will be played over the Kings Course at Gleneagles from October 16 to 19.

M and H SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER No. 2
Crieff Golf Club.
Par 71
13 qualifiers
66 Mark O'Donnell (Linlithgow)
68 Paul Robinson (Largs)
69 Rory Tinker (Piperdam), M Patterson (Kilmacolm)
71 F Malcolm (Glen), A Pillans (Banchory).
72 N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh, A Forrow (Whitecraigs), O Robertson (Panmure)
73 (after play-off) C Armstrong (Burntisland), M Urquhart (Nairn), K Zeynalov (Portlethen), I Colquhoun (Loch Lomond)

5 alternates
73 J Bell (Lanark), R Neill (Drumpellier), J Erskine (Dumfries and Co).
74 F Rummins (Canmore), N Huguet (Musselburgh

DID NOT QUALIFY
74 N Cameron (Blairgowrie), I Stoddart (Deer Park), S Savage (Dalmuir), C Haugh (Fereneze), G Niven (Ping)
75 C Smith (Royal Musselburgh, S Rose (Kingbarns), C West (Scotscraig).
76 A Hutcheson (Douglas Park), S Craigon (Balbirnie Park), S Gillies (North Berwick).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

Peter Lloyd (76) will be 'sorely missed'

Peter Lloyd (right) with Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden at the opening of the Scottish Regional offices at Gleneagles.

Tributes have been paid to Peter Lloyd, who served the Professional Golfers' Association admirably for 30 years, notably as secretary of the Scottish Region, after he passed away peacefully on Sunday at the age of 76.
"Very sad indeed," said 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie of Lloyd's death. "Peter was brilliant to my wife, Marian, and myself when I first started playing Scottish Region events. A great guy who will be sorely missed.”
Born in Airdrie and brought up in Gartcosh, Lloyd started with The PGA in 1986 after the closure of the local British Steel plant, having followed his father into the steel industry after leaving school.
Appointed by his good friend Sandy Jones, Lloyd was tournament director for the Scottish Region for eight years before serving as the senior tournament director at The Belfry for two years.
He returned to Scotland in January 1997 as regional secretary, succeeding Neil Simpson, and held that post until December 2006. During that time he managed the Region's move from Glenbervie to its current headquarters at Gleneagles.
At Tartan Tour events, Lloyd was supported by his wife, Anne, as she worked as a recorder. Her death in November 2010 left a huge void in Lloyd's life but he continued to serve The PGA in a pastoral role.
In fact, he served as welfare and benevolent officer for 10 years, just stopping last year.
"Peter will be missed by the many who knew him but fondly remembered by us all," said Jones, The PGA executive president. "He was a great ambassador for golf and The PGA and I have lost a lifelong friend.”
PGA in Scotland secretary Shona Malcolm added: "Peter was a true character and they are few and far between in golf in Scotland today. He was always ready with advice and willing to help but never let anyone away with actions he thought reflected badly on his beloved PGA.
"I’ll miss lifting the phone and asking, 'Peter, can you remember the background to such and such a tournament?' Invariably, he could.”
Lawrie was joined in paying tribute to Lloyd by former PGA in Scotland captains Andrew Crerar and David Scott.
"Peter was a true gentleman and a dedicated man in many ways," said Panmure PGA Professional Crerar. "He was a giant for The PGA in Scotland and will be greatly missed and very fondly remembered.”
Scott, director of operations at the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews, added: "Peter was a huge support to so many people during his time at The PGA. He will be sadly missed.”
Lloyd, a vice president of Mount Ellen Golf Club, is survived by his three children: Alison, Lesley and Leonard and his grandchildren Daniel, James, Callum, Fraser and Megan.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Service at Donald McLaren Ltd, 45 Sunnyside Road, Coatbridge, ML5 3DG on Friday 1st September 2017 at 2.45 pm, then to Daldowie Crematorium, Glasgow G71 7RU for 3.45 pm. Family flowers only. 

Walker Cup captain Craig Watson stands

down from next week's match in USA

R and A NEWS RELEASE

Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Captain Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) is standing down from next week’s match at Los Angeles Country Club in the USA due to a serious illness in his immediate family.

In his absence Andrew Ingram, Chairman of the GB and I men’s selectors, will take over as Acting Captain.

Ingram, 57, represented Wales at junior and youth level before going on to captain the Welsh men’s Home Internationals team on five occasions, including their victory in 2002. He became Chairman of the R and A Men’s Selection Committee in 2014 and has been Chairman of the Teams and Performance Committee at the Golf Union of Wales for more than ten years.

Ingram captained the winning European Junior Ryder Cup Team in the USA in 2004 and also at Celtic Manor in 2006 where Europe retained the trophy. He currently plays to a handicap of two and is a member at Royal Porthcawl.

 

Yorkshire, BB and O boys take first-day honours

Yorkshire and BB and O – Berks, Bucks and Oxon – took the honours on the first day of the English boys' county championship at Northamptonshire County Golf Club. 

Yorkshire were on top form, beating Somerset 8-1, while BB and O had the upper hand all day as they played their way to a 5.5-3.5 win over Staffordshire. 

The northerners announced their intentions when they won all three morning foursomes before surging out with a confident singles performance. 

Only Somerset’s Huxley Howell was able to defy them, breaking clear of James Swash by winning the 11th 12th, 14th and 16th to take his point 4 and 2. 

For the rest though, Yorkshire was definitely in charge. Michael Hay led the way in the top match, winning three holes in a row to finish 3 and 2. The others followed rapidly with big wins from George Heath (7 and 5) and Charlie Daughtry, pictured top (6 and 4) and solid results from Jack Leversidge and Callum Macfie (both 4 and 3). 

Their play pleased coach Steve Robinson but he quickly said: “We are aware that one win doesn’t win the tournament, so we’ve just got to keep everyone on task and make sure that our standards and behaviour are the same every day.”

Tomorrow they’ll play Staffordshire and Robinson went on: “No doubt they’ll come out with a point to prove and want to beat Yorkshire and we have to make sure we are up to that challenge.” 

In the day’s other match, BB and O gave themselves an all-important advantage with their 2-1 lead after the foursomes. They lost the top singles when Staffordshire’s Jack Smith struck a blow for his team’s morale with his 4 and 2 win over England U16 international Conor Gough. 

But behind them the BB and O players were taking charge of their games, notably Harrison Arnold who romped to an 8 and 6 win. Fraser Bown (4 and 3) and Melan Dhaubhadel (5 and 4) secured the team’s win – but Staffordshire went on fighting in the other two games. 

Harry Fearn was two down after nine but went on to win his game 4 and 2, while James Wilkes staged a great fight back to take BB&O’s Taylor Paul to the 18th. Wilkes had been four down after seven but eventually stood on the 18th tee all square – however Paul refused to give way and they halved the last in par. 

BB and O team manager Marc Grimsey had much praise for his young team, which includes a 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds. 

Despite their youth however, they calculate they have the lowest handicap aggregate of all the teams at plus-1.8. “That’s testament to how good the boys are,” said Grimsey. 

“Our middle order did very well today, they were very solid and I’m very happy with a win against Staffordshire. Now we’re looking forward to tomorrow.” 

BB&O will meet Somerset tomorrow. 

Click here for full scores

Images copyright leaderboard Photography

‎ Lyndsey Hewison
‎ Press Officer

Louis Gaughan wins 
AAM Scottish Par-3

championship with play-off birdie

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Louis Gaughan, the 23-year-old Bathgate tour pro, pipped long time leader Alastair Forsyth (Mearns Castle), 41,  for the inaugural Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Par-3 championship.
He ended the regulation 36 holes (four circuits of Oldmeldrum man Graeme Webster's excellent nine-hole design) level at four under par with Forsyth and then beat Alastair with a birdie at the first extra hole (the 160yd ninth)  of a sudden death play-off.
Gaughan holed the title-winning putt from 4ft after  wind-assisted eight-iron tee shot.
It was Gaughan's first outright victory in a Tartan Tour event. He has shared pro-am wins as he has come steadily to the forefront.
It earned him £3,250. Forsyth's cash prize was £2,250.
The Bathgate player had surged into contention with birdies at the 10th, 11th and 12th on his final circuit and closed the gap when Forsyth bogeyed the 13th and 16th.
 Paul Lawrie (thanks to an excellent last round of 49),  Paul O'Hara, Gareth Wright, David Law and Greig Hutcheon  figured in a five-way tie third place on three under par 105. They earned £1,000 each.
SCROLL DOWN PAST THE PICTURE TO VIEW THE TOTALS FOR THE PROS AND THE PRO-AM

FINAL PRO TOTALS
Par 108 (2x54)
104 L Gaughan (Bathgate) 53 51, A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 49 55 (Gaughan, £3,250, won sudden death play-off with birdie at first extra hole, Forsyth £2,250).
105 P Lawrie (Carnegie Club) 56 49, P O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 50 55, G Wright (West Linton) 51 54, G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo) 53 52, D Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 54 51 (£1,000 each).
106 R Campbell (Golf in Scotland) 56 50, P Whiteford (Kirkcaldy) 53 53, G Hay (Grantown on Spey) 54 52
107 J McCreadie (Largs) 52 55, G Forbes (Aboyne) 53 54, G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 53 54
108 Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 55 53, P Robinson (Largs) 57 51, S O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) 55 53, M Patterson (Kilmacolm) 55 53, S Binning (Mearns Castle) 53 55, J Doherty (Gailes Golf Centre) 53 55, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 54 54, G Brown (Montrose Links) 54 54
109 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 55 54, G McBain (Newmachar) 58 51.
110 S Gray (Lanark) 55 55, P McLean (Peterhead) 57 53, R Kellett (Paul Lawrie GC) 57 53, M Campbell (New Zealand) 54 56, J McGhee (Swanston New) 55 55
111 M A Martin (Spain) 55 56, S Henderson (Kings Links) 58 53, N Fenwick (Dunbar) 59 52
112 B Neil (Blairgowrie) 57 55, J Duff (Newmachar) 57 55, R Cameron (Saltire Energy) 57 55, Z Culverwell (Dunbar) 58 54, K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC) 58 54, W Booth (Pitlochry) 59 53, C Currie (Caldwell) 60 52, S Jamieson 51 61.
113 K Zeynalov (Portlethen) 57 56, J McLeary 57 56
114 C Robb (Meldrum House) 58 56
115 J Savage 57 58, P Shields 59 56, D Kay 61 54.
116 S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 64 52
117 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist), K Nicol, Kelsey MacDonald
118 R Anderson 59 59
127 A Stuart 63 64
130 S Hanson 68 62


PRO-AM TEAM TOTALS
Par 108 (2x54)

90 Paul Robinson and Erik Christoffersen 46 44.
92 Wallace Booth and Nick Chilcott 48 44
96 Neil Fenwick and Ricky Sturrock 51 45, Louis Gaughan and Nicholas Black 50 46, Peter Whiteford and George Allan 49 47.
97 Kamran Zeynalov and Hannah Bycroft 47 50.
98 Paul O'Hara and Jim Stewart 47 51, Michael Patterson and Connor Syme 47 51, Michael Campbell and Stuart Downie 47 51, Jamie Savage and Shannon McWilliam 48 50, Gareth Wright and Paul Young 48 50, Paul McKechnie and John King 49 49, Zander Culverwell and Alan MacPhee 49 49, Miguel Angel Martin and Gary Ross 49 49, Jason McCreadie and Trevor McAllister 50 48, Ryan Campbell and Alan Ross 51 47.
99 Bradley Neil and Stewart Morrison, Greig Hutcheon and Nick Robson, Gary Forbes and Craig Howie, David Law and Kevin Milne, Jack Doherty and Bill Greenhalgh, Stephen Gray and Johnston Mackie, James McGhee and George McLeod, Chris Currie and Fergus Bisset, Gavin Hay and Jim Walton, Greg McBain and Sam Locke, Alastair Forsyth and Callum McCombie 46 53.
100 Sam Binning and Alan Henderson 46 54, Graham Fox and David Nelson 50 50, Scott Henderson and Nick Dalgarno 50 50, Graeme Brown and Pat Sibille  51 49. 
101 Michael Stewart and Ian Robinson 51 50, Paul Lawrie and Eric Herd 52 49, Sean Lawrie and Michael Lawrie 52 49, Philip McLean and Alan Duncan 52 49, Reece Mitchell and Marc Watt 53 48, John Henry and Keith Ingram 55 46
102 Scott Jamieson and Peter Jamieson 48 54, Sam Kiloh and Michael Milne 56 46.
103 Ross Kellett and Billy Neilson 52 51, Jamie McLeary and Gavin Wiseman 53 50.
104 Steven O'Hara and Les Muirison 51 53, Ross Cameron and Gary Craig 53 51, Kevin Duncan and Ron Evett 54 50, Craig Lawrie and Ian Jack 54 50.
105 Chris Robb and Graeme Milne 54 51.
106 Daniel Kay and Steve Mellor 55 51, Paul Shields and Alisdair McKenzie 56 50.
107 Kelsey MacDonald and Audrey Morrison 57 50.
109 Alan Stuart and Hannah McCook 53 56, Ross Anderson and Fraser Ogston 53 56.
110 Kris Nicol and Gavin Chalmers 56 54, John Duff and Gary Winpenny 57 53.
115 Simon Hanson and Steven Lawrie 58 57

Downfield's McMaster leads 17 qualifiers for M and H Scottish PGA Championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Downfield's Christopher McMaster led the 17 qualifiers for the M and H Scottish PGA Championship over the King's Course, Gleneagles from October 16 to 19 with a five-under-par score of 66 at Crieff Golf Club today in the first of two qualifying competitions.
McMaster earned himself a prize of £100 for being top of the class by two strokes from Myles Cunningham (Kings Acre) and Fraser McKenna (Caldwell).
The qualifiers were:
66 C McMaster (Downfield).
68 M Cunningham (Kings Acre), F McKenna (Caldwell).
69 C Sutherland (Cherry Lodge).
70 C Goodwin (Strathlene), G McDougall (Elie Links), R Clarke (Golf Dedication Centre).
71 J Fraser (Renaissance Club), S Grant (Scotscraig), C Farrell (Cardross).
72 K Hutton (Downfield), R Munro (Duddingston), R Leeds (Archerfield Links), R McConnachie (Peterculter).
73 L Vannet (Craibtone), G Hardy (Prestwick St Nicholas), C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst).
ALTERNATES (reserves)
73 M Pottinger (American Golf), A McCandlish (Loch Lomond), A D Wills (Lanark), A McDonald (Dunnikier Park), S McLaren (Blairgowrie).

Among the five players who missed out by one stroke with scores of 74 was Katy McNicoll (Gullane).  The others were: G Paxton (Ralston), I Deacon (Loch Lomond), S McAllister (Bruntsfield), C Porciani (Trump Turnberry)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

Carnoustie tee times in 2018 can be booked NOW

 

With the 147^th Open Championship less than a year away, tee times for the 2018 season can now be booked on any of the three courses at Carnoustie Golf Links.

 

The world’s best golfers will  descend on the historic venue in July next year, and visitors from across the globe can get a taste of the Carnoustie challenge that awaits the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia.

 

Tee times can be booked on the Championship Course, Burnside Course or Buddon Links Course, while a combination ticket is available for those wishing to experience everything that Carnoustie Golf Links has to offer.

 

Carnoustie Golf Links offers great value on combination tickets; £240 for a choice of two courses or £250 to play all three.

 

The Championship course has hosted seven Open Championships and will stage number eight  during the week of July 16-22, 2018.

 

The Burnside Course oozes character and is another true test of links golf, whilst the Buddon Links Course is the newest of the trio and has recently been the subject of a £1m investment to bring the course up to a very testing par 68.

 

Golfers wishing to book a tee time on any of the three courses at Carnoustie can do so via the booking section of the Links’ new look website: www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/booking

 

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