IRISH EYES ARE SMILING AT END OF 

CORONATION FOURSOMES G/FINAL 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

An Irish partnership, Siobhan Behan (on left of picture) and Lorraine Walsh (on right of picture), members of Killeen Golf Club, Co Kildare, were narrow winners  of the Coronation Foursomes Grand Final over the Eden Course, St Andrews today.
                                         Picture by courtesy of the R and A
Siobhan (handicap 8) and Lorraine (handicap 23) scored 41 Stableford net points. They gained 19pt before the turn and 22pt in a sparkling inward half. They had a gross score of 84 strokes.
That second nine holes won it for Behan and Walsh as they were trailing Hayston's Susan Thom (handicap 18) and Joyce
Woollon (19), and Moor Hall's Julie Burton (6)  and Claire Howells (6) after nine holes, both pairs having 20pts to their credit at the turn.
Scots Thom and Woollon finished second with 40pt (20-20) and Burton and Howells third with 39pt (20-19).
The winners receive a place in next year's Ricoh Women's British Open pro-am at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club.
The 16 pairs who contested the grand final had come through local and regional finals to play over a par-73 Eden Course of 5,450yd.
They had a two-day stay at the Old Course Hotel and Golf Resort at the expense of the organisers.

FINAL STABLEFORD TOTALS
41 Siobhan Behan (8) and Lorraine Walsh (23) (Killeen GC)
40 Susan Thom (18) and Joyce Woollon (19) (Hayston GC).
39 Julia Burton (6) and Claire Howells (6) (Moor Hall GC).
38 Lynne Maher (18) and Nicola Moffitt (28) (Lee Park GC); Denise Dobson (22) and Linda Savage (12) (Knareborough GC); Jennifer Holt (20) and Katie-Jane Stanley (scr) (Manchester GC)
36 Heather Knox (18) and Carolyn Lines (24) (Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands GC).
35 Linda Spence (26) and Alison Turnbull (26) (Elie and Earlsferry GC).
34  Victoria Brooks (24) and Caroline Tremlett (13) (Coed Y Mwstwr GC); Paula Bayliss (26) and Ellena Slater (16) (Tudor Park GC).
33 Barbara Beedham (16) and Maria Venn (36) (Wenvoe Castle GC); Anne Allan (26) and Lindsay Gray (23) (Auchterarder GC).
31 Helen Durrant (28) and Dianne Kingsbury (18) (Parkstone GC).
29 Sharon Symons (20) and Rosie Williams (24) (Brookmans Park GC).
26 Sara Bland (25) and Jacqueline Parker (12) (Wensum Valley GC).
21 Roisin Corry (18) and Ann McKenna (12) (Aughnacloy GC).

Britovseks from East Kilbride win Ping 

Scottish better-ball mixed pairs at Gleneagles

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The East Kilbride Golf Club pairing of Martin and May Britovsek won the inaugural Ping Scottish better-ball mixed pairs tournament in the tightest of finishes at the Queen's Course, Gleneagles today (Monday)
Martin (handicap 4.7) and May (handicap 22.9) achieved an excellent Stableford points total of 47 ... but it gave them victory by only one stroke from Ladybank's Mark Johnston (5.3) and Marion Campbell (13.4).
And only one point further back came the third-placed Hayston couple, Brian O'Connor (4.9) and Sarah-Jane Shovlin (16.8).
A total of 40 couples took part.
FINAL POINTS TOTALS
47 East Kilbride: Martin Britovsek (4.7) and May Britovsek (22.9).
46 Ladybank: M Johnston (5.3) and Marion Campbell (13.4)
45 Hayston: B O'Connor (4.9) and S-J Shovlin (16.8).
43 Falkirk Tryst: S Cuthbert (8.9) and S Cochrane (36).
42 Wigtownshire.
41 Douglas Park, Saline, Elmwood GS, Grangemouth, Sanquhar.
40 Balfron GS, Crail GS, Turnhouse.
39 Balbirnie Park.
38 Lockerbie, Stranraer.
37 Liberton, Dunning.
36 Milngavie, Longside.
35 Ravelston, Strathmore, Stirling, Duns, Broomieknowe.
34 Merchants of Edinburgh, Grange, Auchenblae.
33 Muir of Ord, Duddingston.
32 Carnoustie, Airdrie, Troon Welbeck, Baberton.
31 Kinghorn.
29 Thornton, Wigtown and Bladnoch, Milnathort.
28 Peebles.
24 Buckpool.







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McIlroy, Garcia, Westwood sign up for next 

week's British Masters at Close House

Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will join tournament host Lee Westwood and Masters champion Sergio Garcia in the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Close House in the North-east of England next week.

The four-time Major champion has added the European Tour tournament to his schedule and will tee it up at the Northumberland venue before playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland a week later. 

Golf fans can book their tickets to watch McIlroy, Garcia and Westwood in action at Close House by clicking here with hospitality packages also available. 

 

Alfie Plant makes pro debut in

 

Portugal Masters

 

The 146^th Open Championship Silver Medal winner Alfie Plant is looking forward to his first tournament as a professional when he tees it up at the Portugal Masters at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course this week.

The 25 year old Englishman impressed at Royal Birkdale, with a third-round 69 the highlight as he took the coveted prize awarded to the tournament’s leading amateur. 

Plant, who was part of the GB and I team in the 46^th Walker Cup earlier this month, enjoyed an impressive amateur career. He was a member of the England Elite squad and secured notable wins at the Lytham Trophy in 2016 and the European Amateur Championships in 2017, with the latter victory securing his place at The Open.

Plant has received a professional tournament invitation for the Portugal Masters, as have players including Spanish legend José Maria Olazábal and Alfie's  Walker Cup team- mates Jack Davidson and Connor Syme.

Late duty men Hutcheon and Marr cut O'Hara

lead to one at P and H Championship

                                                          By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul O'Hara, the Tartan Tour's player of the year, leads the £50,000 54-hole P and H Championship by one stroke after a post-tea time five-under-par 66 at the Renaissance Club, North Berwick.
It was O'Hara at his best with a bogey-free round, studded with birdies at the second, sixth, seventh, 11th and 16th in halves of 33.
In the last hour of play after a long day's golf, Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo) and Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) came in with 67s to cut O'Hara's lead to one shot with two rounds to go.
In a crowded leaderboard, Gareth Wright (West Linton), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) and Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey) are sharing fourth place on 68.
Wright birdied all four par-5 holes on the course in a three-under-par 68 in which his only bogey came at the 12th in halves of 34. 
Savage bogeyed the fourth but cancelled that out with a birdie 4 at the long seventh. He got into red figures with further birdies at the 12th, and two par-5 holes, the 15th and 16th, to come home in 32 for a 68.
Hay, another of the late finishers, had a bogey-free 68, coming home in 32 after nine straight pars to the turn.
The leading 40 players and ties after 36 holes will qualify for the third and final round on Wednesday.


P and H CHAMPIONSHIP
Renaissance Club, North Berwick
54 holes tournament. Cut to leading 40
and ties after 36 holes.
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
66 P O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure).
67 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo), C Marr (Mussleburgh)

68 G Wright (West Linton), S Savage (Dalmuir), G Hay (Grantown on Spey).
69 C Goodwin (Strathlene), C Kelly (Stirling), G Paxton (Ralston), R Munro (Duddingston), Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre), A Welsh (Cathkin Braes), F McKenna (Caldwell), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs).
70 C McNeill (Renaissance Club), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), G Fox (Clydeway Golf), R Neill (Drumpellier), P Malone (Braid Hills), K Zeynalov (Portlethen). A D Wills (Lanark), K Nicol (Dunes), S Binning (Mearns Castle).
71 S Speirs (Swanston New), I Graham (Crow Wood), C Doak (Renaissance), C Sutherland (Cherry Lodge), C Nairn (Kilmarnock Barassie), A Forsyth (Meanrs Castle), G Brown (Montrose Links).
72 J Dick (Duddingston), M Owenson (Gullane), F Mann (Carnoustie Links), N Fenwick (Dunbar), G McDougall (Elie Links), I Stoddard (Deer Park), J Lomas (Caprington), A Crerar (Panmure), M Urquhart (Nairn), C Currie (Caldwell).
73 D Orr (Eastwood), R Leeds (Archerfield), R Cameron (Saltire Energy), K Hutton (Downfield), S Henderson (Kings Links), M Hillson (St Andrews for Golf), C McMaster (Downfield), C Ronald (Carluke), A Pillans (Banchory).
74 F Rummins (Canmore), D Wood (Hirsel), K McNicoll (Carnoustie), M Loftus (Caldwell), J McCreadie (Largs), M Paterson (Kilmacolm), P McKenna (Paul Lawrie GC).
75 P Wardell (North Berwick), E Bowden (North Berwick), J Brown (Dumfries and Co), C Armstrong (Burntisland), J Cliff (Murrayfield),  C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), T Higson (Gleneagles), R Tinker (Piperdam), P Jamieson (Dunblane New), G Forbes (Mar Hall), S Gray (Lanark), S McAllister (S McAllister Golf), M O'Donnell (Linlithgow), S O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure), S Gillies (North Berwick), S Maxwell (Eastwood).
76 C Gordon (Braid Hills), J Porteous (Craigielaw), J Lamb (Royal Burgess), O Robertson (Panmure), I Anderson (Colville Park), P Robinson (Largs), J Bell (Lanark), R Black (Inverness).
77 E Lister (unatt), M Cunningham (Gullane), C Smith (Royal Musselburgh), D Stein (Ranfurly Castle), N Cameron (Blairgowrie), J Erskine (Dumfries and Co).
78 D Flannery (Renaissance), J Fraser (Renaissance), C Porciani (Trump Turnberry), M Burt (Williamwood),  J McGhee (Swanston New), C Tierney (unatt), A Fullen (Largs), S Griffiths (Dunes), C Allison (Glenbervie).
79 B Mason (Callaway), J Allan (Peebles), N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), C Curran (Bathgate), G McSporran (Kinross), S Rose (Kingsbarns), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), P Brookes (Pitreavie), R Clarke (Golf Dedication Centre), M Kanev (Bruntsfield Links), G Still (Turriff).
80 V Brown (Logos Golf Ministries), A Burns (Bothwell Castle), C Haugh (Fereneze).
81 S Craig (Craig Golf), M Bradfield (Elie Links).
82 S Ross (Turnhouse), N Gardiner (Cawder), C Morris (Kingsknowe), D Ramsay (Moray).
83 D Parlane (Kilmacolm), C Beveridge (Gailes)
84 C Greenhill (Renaissance), S Wilson (unatt).

Aboyne Golf Club looking to appoint Director of Golf

NEWS RELEASE

Aboyne Golf Club, an Archie Simpson and Martin Hawtree- inspired course, is the oldest on Royal Deeside and is renowned as one of the most beautiful golfing venues in North-east Scotland. 

Widely regarded as one of the best maintained, varied and challenging inland courses in the region, it has a growing reputation hosting various tournaments for Scottish Golf as well as seeing increased international visitor numbers.

As we prepare for the 2018 season, we seek to appoint a PGA Professional to the role of Director of Golf with the vision, values, zeal and drive to make our club a preferred golfing destination of choice. The role offers an exceptional opportunity to be your own boss and establish your own reputation and standing within the industry as you will be the focal point for all golfing activities at the club.

The role would suit an established PGA Pro looking for a new challenge or for an Assistant Pro looking to progress their career in their first stand-alone appointment. We are open-minded as to the level of experience candidates should have: the appointment is more to do with the cultural and strategic fit rather than previous background and length of prior service.

If you can offer us dynamism and entrepreneurial flair, with exceptional sales, marketing, business development and customer experience skills, alongside other important attributes outlined in our candidate brief then we would be keen to meet you.

Click on this link to read the full candidate information pack, job description and person specification. http://www.aboynegolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=44834

AUSSIE LEISHMAN WINS BMW CHAMPIONSHIP, ROSE JT SECOND

Aussie Mark Leishman made back-to-back birdies late in the final round Sunday to put away the final challenge, then closed with a birdie for a four-under 67 to set the tournament record and win by five over Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler in the BMW Championship at its Illinois venue.
It was Leishman's second victory this year, and it sends him to East Lake as the No. 4 seed in the FedEx Cup, giving him a clear shot at the $10 million prize.
Leishman finished at 23-under 261, breaking the 72-hole tournament record that Tiger Woods set at Cog Hill in 2007.
The timing could not have been better for the 33-year-old Australian. In his last event two weeks ago, he lost a two-shot lead on the back nine at the TPC Boston and said that loss stung more than most.
"I had a few scars from a few weeks ago," Leishman said. "I was just really, really determined to not let that happen again. Got it done."
And it was never really close.
Rose is the only player who got within two shots of the lead, only for Leishman to answer with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and a 10-footer for birdie on the 16th. Rose closed with a 65.
Fowler made a late run when he was too far back, and he needed one more birdie on the 18th to grab the No. 5 seed for the FedExCup finale next week at the TOUR Championship.
 He ripped driver off the fairway and over the stream to the back rough. It was a bold play that preceded a pair of meager efforts -- a chip that came up 25 feet short, and a birdie putt that didn't to the hole. He closed with a 67
Leishman earned $1,125,00 first prize and runners-up Rose and Fowler a tidy $675,000 or so apiece.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71) Players from USA unless stated otherwise
261 M Leishman (Australia) 62 64 68 67
266 J Rose (England) 67 68 66 65, R Fowler 65 64 70 67.
268 J Day (Australia) 64 65 70 69
269 M Kuchar 67 68 67 67, J Rahm (Spain) 69 68 65 67
271 T Finau 65 72 70 64, J Spieth 65 70 71 65.

SELECTED TOTALS
273 S Garcia (Spain) 68 68 68 69 (T12)
274 P Mickelson 66 69 69 70 (T20)
276 D Johnson 71 72 69 64, P Casey (England) 69 67 71 69 (T33). 
277 I Poulter (England) 69 69 70 69 (T40)
278 M Laird (Scotland) 73 69 70 66 (T44)

Royal Aberdeen to host 2018 Northern Counties Cup
Sept 21-23

Next September's Northern Counties Cup tournament will be hosted by Royal Aberdeen Golf Club over its Balgownie links.
Something to look forward to, even for those who don't make it into their club teams.
The precise dates for your 2018 diary are September 21 to 23.

It is more than 100 years since the inauguration of the Northern Counties Cup competition.  Royal Aberdeen initiated the contest which was first held at Balgownie in 1900, and this annual inter-club team of four double match-play foursomes competition is still as prestigious and keenly contested now as it was then.

Teams from the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Caithness, Inverness, Kincardine, Moray, Nairn, Orkney and Shetland, Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland, are eligible to compete.  This year's tournament was held at Moray Golf Club's Lossiemouth links and on Sunday, the Moray 1 quartet beat Murcar Links in the final by a combined eight holes.