ROBB TAKES THREE-SHOT LEAD INTO SECOND
 

ROUND OF NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

    

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Former Scottish amateur champion Chris Robb (Meldrum House) from Banchory shot an excellent six-under-par 65 at Portlethen Golf Club today (Wed) and will carry over to next Wednesday's second round a three-stroke lead from Paul Lawrie (Gleneagles), who won the title "in the 1980s," and Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre),  champion in 2014.
The 27-year-old Robb escaped the worst of the strong cold wind that hampered the early starters in a field of 90 competitors and made the most of a course "in very good nick, especially the greens" with halves of 33 and 32 (three under par both ways).
"I played well to get seven birdies and only one bogey," said Chris who birdied the second, third, fourth, sixth, 11th, 16th and 18th, dropping only one shot, at the seventh where he was through the green with his approach.
But Robb, pictured above, who won £170 for his sparkling effort, knows better than anyone that it is only halfway in the 36-hole championship which will be concluded at Craibstone Golf Club next Wednesday
Lawrie (33-35) and Hutcheon (34-34) are two dangerous men to have on your tail, even though Robb has a three-shot cushion.
Lawrie, who invariably plays well at Portlethen, hit every green in regulation and birdied the second, 11th and 14th. He had no bogeys.
Hutcheon three-putted the third and also bogeyed the 12th where he missed a short putt. His five birdies came at the second, fourth, fifth, 15th and 16th.

Philip McLean (Peterhead) had a 70 and John Duff (Newmachar), NE Alliance champion in 2013 and again in 2015,returned a 71.
Defending champion Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had a double bogey 7 at the 13th in compiling a three-over 74 (36-38).

Craig Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), NE Alliance title-winner in 2016, looks out of the running this year after a 79 which, curiously enough, included three birdie 2s: at the fifth, eighth and 17th.

Promising young Portlethen amateur Ben Murray, pictured right, was in the last four to finish after 4pm. He signed his scorecard for a 70 but actually his figures added up to 69 (or maybe it was the other way round!)
To cut a long story short, a clerical mistake was made by the player marking Ben's card. Murray failed to spot it and, unfortunately, organiser Michael MacDougall had to disqualify him.
Ben would have figured on the day's prize list and been in the mix as a championship contender over the second round. It's a hard way to learn a lesson but it should drive home to the youngster that it's HIS responsibility to check all the figures on his scorecard before he signs it.

NORTH-EAST GOLFERS' ALLIANCE 36-hole CHAMPIONSHIP
First round
Portlethen Golf Club
par 71 (36-35)
65 C Robb (Meldrum House) 33-32
68 P Lawrie (Gleneagles) 33-35, G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 34-34.
70 P McLean (Peterhead) 35-35, B Nicolson (Newmachar) 37-33
71 J Duff (Newmachar) 35-36.
72  A Smith (Turriff) 37-35, S Finnie (Caledonian) 39-33, C Dempster (Paul Lawrie GC) 37-35.
73 K Zeynalov (Portlethen) 39-34
74 Sean Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 36-38
75 I Taylor (Kemnay) 37-38, P McKenna (Portlethen) 40-35
76 B Harper (Newburgh), A Campbell (Murcar Links), Laura Murray (Kippie Lodge), I Esslemont (Cruden Bay).
77 R Reid (Tarland), D Fleming (Portlethen), S Kiloh (Paul Lawrie GC)
78 J Calder (Newmachar), K Duncan (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), B Henderson (Deeside), J Pirie (Hazlehead)
79 D Craigie (Portlethen), C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC), D Leslie (Bon Accord), W Skene (Deeside)
80 M Herbertson (Newmachar)
81 R Blackmore (Tarland)
82 B Ritchie (Inverallochy), S Shand (Kemnay)
83 R McNeill (Westhill), J Chalmers (Alford), A Gall (Deeside), J Borthwick (Craibstone), I Still (Craibstone)
84 T Boyle (Portlethen), S Kidd (Longside), G Chalmers (Alford), I Birnie (Deeside), K Bedborough (Deeside), G Thom (Murcar Links)
85 D Booth (Tarland), G Burnett (Westhill), D Adam (Kemnay), M Lawrie (Kemnay), J Nicolson (Newmachar), D Townsley (Peterculter)
86 J Scott (Peterculter), M Smith (Newmachar)
87 G Leslie (Newburgh), J Sunley (Newmachar), R Duncan (Deeside), C Duffus (Royal Aberdeen).
88 P Morrison (Newmachar), P Cheyne (Northern), D McLean (Kemnay), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen)
89 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), S Allison (Bon Accord), S Davidson (Kemnay), S Ross (Hazlehead), N Chisholm (Kemnay), D Nelson (Aboyne)
90 J Forrest (Northern), R Coupar (Inverallochy), G Cochrane (Kemnay), G Homer (Aboyne)
91 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay)
92 J Stewart (Banchory), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), R Denning (Inverurie), R Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen)
93 N K Parker (Murcar Links)
94 R Brown (Kemnay), W Beattie (Craibstone), M Rogers (Kemnay)
95 J Hosie (Kemnay), P Low (Craibstone)
97 S Christie (Aboyne), Donald Lawrie (Deeside), L Duncan (Craibstone)
99 M Brown (Kemnay)
Disqualified: B Murray (Portlethen)

NO RETURNS
D Templeton (Murcar Links)
C Craig (Kintore)
R Wright (Auchmill)
N Stewart (Northern)
K Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)

PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH - 65 C Robb (£170). 68 P Lawrie, G Hutcheon (£125 each). 70 P McLean (£90). 71 J Duff (£70)
HANDICAP
prizes in vouchers
Class 1 - B Nicolson (2) (bih) (£90), A Smith (4) (£80)  68; S Finnie (1) (£70) 71; D Fleming (5) (bih) (£60), I Taylor (3) (£50) 72.
Class 2 - G Thom (12) (bih) (£90), S Ross (17) (£80) 72; I Birnie (11) (£70) 73; D Townsley (11) (bih) (£60) T Boyle (10) (£50) 74.

BEST SCORECARDS:
Portlethen par 71 from yellow tees:
OUT: 4-5-4 5-3-4 4-3-4 (36). IN: 3-4-3 5-4-4 4-3-5 (35)
CHRIS ROBB 65
OUT: 4-4-3 4-3-3 5-3-4 (33). IN: 3-3-3 5-4-4 3-3-4 (32)
PAUL LAWRIE 68
OUT: 4-4-4 5-3-4 4-3-4 (35).  IN: 3-3-3 5-3-4 4-3-5 (33)
GREIG HUTCHEON 68
OUT: 4-4-5 4-2-4 4-3-4 (34).  IN: 3-4-4 4-4-4 3-3-5 (34)
PHILIP McLEAN 70
OUT: 5-4-4 5-3-4 4-3-3 (35).  IN: 3-4-3 5-4-5 4-2-5 (35)
BRIAN NICOLSON 70
OUT: 4-4-5 5-3-5 5-2-4 (37). IN: 3-4-2 4-5-3 5-3-4 (33)
JOHN DUFF 71
OUT: 4-5-4 5-3-3 3-3-5 (35).  IN: 4-4-4 5-4-4 3-4-4 (36)

David Rudd (18) wins Tom Galloway Trophy on 

last 6 holes countback at Falkirk Tryst

REPORT BY ALAN GREENSHIELDS

Some kinder weather allowed play at Falkirk Tryst today when 59 members of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance contested the final outing of the season to get their name on The Tom Galloway Trophy.

Best Scratch Score and Best Net score were the same number on the par 70 (36-34) course.

Longniddry's 18 year old David Rudd carded the best scratch score of 67 (36-31), charging home with six pars and three birdies.

Kingsknowe's Alan Crabbe claimed the best net score on 67 (71 less 4).

The silverware went down to the last 6 holes with David Rudd narrowly claiming The Tom Galloway Trophy from Alan Crabbe by 0.7 (22 v 22.7).

Second Scratch went to Colin Fraser (Peebles) on 69 with Third Scratch going to Kieran Cantley (Liberton) on 70.

Second Handicap went to Phil Leggate (Musselburgh) on net 69 (75 less 6). Third handicap on 70 went three ways to Stuart McMehen (Glenbervie) (72 less 2), James Silvestro (Dalmahoy) (76 less 6) and Jordan Whyte (Royal Burgess) (78 less 8).

Top Trainee on 72 was Scott Gillies (North Berwick).

Senior Prizes on net 72 was shared three ways by Walter Forsyth (Peebles) (77 less 5), Donald MacKay (Royal Musselburgh) (85 less 13) and Jim Scott (Minto) (80 less 8).

The Handicap Order of Merit was concluded today with Alan Loughran holding on to top spot even although he earned no points today. Graeme Johnston dropped out of top three, replaced by brother Richard Johnston.

Handicap Final Order of Merit

1. Alan Loughran (Murrayfield) - 151.0

2. Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) - 108.0

3. Robin Cockburn (Harburn) - 106.0

Top Senior in the Handicap Order of Merit and Winner of The Harvey Butterworth Trophy on 92.5 is George Wither (Liberton).

The Scratch Order of Merit will be concluded at the 36 Hole Championship at Gullane next week when double points will be awarded.

For the moment Kieran Cantley takes control of the top after swapping places with Lloyd Saltman who did not play today. Ross Munro remains in 3rd spot.

Scratch Order of Merit Latest

1. Kieran Cantley (Liberton) - 550.0

2. Lloyd Saltman (Royal Musselburgh) - 508.5

3. Ross Munro (Duddingston) - 495.0

TODAY'S SCRATCH SCORES AT FALKIRK TRYST

1 Rudd David Longniddry Amateur 67
2 Fraser Colin Peebles Amateur 69
3 Cantley Kieran Liberton Amateur 70
4 Crabbe Alan Kingsknowe Amateur 71
5 Johnston Richard Glenbervie Amateur 71
6 Lockhart Simon Bathgate Amateur 71
7 Gillies Scott North Berwick Trainee 72
8 Marshall Andrew Houston G.R. Professional 72
9 McMehen Stuart Glenbervie Amateur 72
10 Owenson Marc Gullane Trainee 73
11 Rothney Andrew Deer Park Amateur 73
12 Flannery Daniel Renaissance Club Trainee 74
13 Dunsmore Steven Falkirk Tryst Professional 75
14 Ellison Andy Falkirk Tryst Amateur 75
15 Leggate Philip Musselburgh Senior 75
16 McAdam Marc Liberton Amateur 75
17 Imlah Craig Craigielaw Professional 76
18 Munro Ross Duddingston Professional 76
19 Noon Ross Renaissance Club Amateur 76
20 Silvestro James Dalmahoy Amateur 76
21 Crolla Daniel Kingsknowe Amateur 77
22 Forsyth Walter Peebles Senior 77
23 Greenhill Callum Renaissance Club Trainee 77
24 Surgeon Craig Craigielaw Amateur 77
25 Girvan Scott Baberton Amateur 78
26 Whyte Jordan Royal Burgess Amateur 78
27 Louden Michael Glencorse Senior 79
28 Airens Danny Falkirk Tryst Amateur 80
29 Brian Richard Bruntsfield Links Professional 80
30 Cockburn Robin Harburn Amateur 80
31 Davies Mark Newbattle Amateur 80
32 Dick James Duddingston Trainee 80
33 Scott Jim Minto Senior 80
34 Thomson Brian Broomieknowe Senior 81
35 Loughran Alan Murrayfield Amateur 82
36 Munro Donny Kingsknowe Amateur 82
37 Rowe Andy Kingsknowe Amateur 82
38 MacDonald Euan Musselburgh Trainee 83
39 McMillan Alexander Royal Dornoch Amateur 83
40 Wyse Ian Falkirk Tryst Amateur 83
41 Kay Michael Dalmahoy Amateur 85
42 MacKay Donald Royal Musselburgh Senior 85
43 Pickens Derek West Lothian Senior 85
44 Laing William Prestonfield Senior 86
45 McLean William Falkirk Tryst Amateur 86
46 Doyle Steven Dunbar Amateur 89
47 Masterton John Mortonhall Senior 90
48 Sinton JIm Royal Musselburgh Senior 90
49 Cowen Pete West Lothian Amateur 92
50 Watson David Peebles Senior 92
51 Stronach Alan Falkirk Tryst Amateur 93
52 Ahmed Wasim Duddingston Amateur NR
53 Bell Gordon Gullane Senior NR
54 Erskine Andrew Ratho Park Professional NR
55 Fraser Scott Liberton Amateur NR
56 Gilbert Danny Bathgate Trainee NR
57 Louden Peter Glencorse Amateur NR
58 Poyser Tim Ladybank Professional NR
59 Rankeillor James Baberton Senior NR

+NET SCORES WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THURSDAY EVENING.

Alan Greenshields

Secretary/ Treasurer

Edinburgh and  East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance

18 Woodfield Park

Edinburgh

EH13 0RB

Mobile: 07730 007100

E-mail: secretary.eesga@talktalk.net

Sergio names baby daughter Azalea - after 13th hole at Augusta

Sergio Garcia has named his new-born daughter after the hole at Augusta National which provided one of the most pivotal moments of his victory in last year's Masters.

Garcia's wife, Angela, gave birth to the couple's first child in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Texas, and the Spaniard proudly announced the arrival of Azalea Adele Garcia - Azalea being the name of the 13th hole at Augusta
He married Golf Channel journalist Angela Akins in July, and the couple are now celebrating the birth of their daughter just three weeks before Garcia returns to Augusta to defend his Masters title.

Jack McDonald wins with a 67 at Western Gailes

REPORT FROM JOHN HENRY

 A wonderful day was had by all at Western Gailes Golf Club today for our third event on The Golf Finance Winter Series. It was fairly calm for the first nine holes or so. Then a stiff wind picked up on the back and things got a little bit chilly!

Another great field assembled, including our first amateur invite - Greg Dalziel, 2017 Scottish boys champion , two-time European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth and Scottish PGA Number 1 Paul O'Hara.

Today's winner with a bogey-free, four-under-par 67 was Jack McDonald, pictured, making it  Jack's third win in three appearances on The Big Johnson's Tour. The only other player to achieve that feat was 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie. 

Jack was followed closely by Paul O'Hara who returned a  68.

As always at Western Gailes, the hospitality before and after the round was great and the course was in fantastic condition, a must-play for all. 

Thanks to all the players for participating, Western Gailes for hosting us and, as always Golf Finance, for sponsoring.

Golf Finance Winter Series OOM

Western Gailes GC. March 14

Nexus Data Systems birdie ball - five birdies each by Alastair Forsyth and  John Henry 

Place/Order of merit points/ score 
par 71

1st 100pt Jack McDonald 67 

2nd 80pt Paul O'Hara 68

3rd 70pt Alastair Forsyth 69

T4th 55pt  Zander Culverwell  70

T4th 55pt Danny Young 70

6th 40pt John Henry  72 

T7 20pt Michael Patterson 73 

T7 20pt Stewart Savage 73

T7 20pt Paul Reilly  73

T10th 2.5pt Scott Borrowman 74

T10 2.5pt Gavin Hay 74

T12th Ryan Campbell 75 

T12th Jamie Savage 75

T12th Chris Kelly 75

T15 Vincent Brown 76 

T15 Sam Binning  76

T15 Mark Hillson 76

18th Greg Dalziel 78 

19th Chris Maclean 80  

Withdrew: Mark Loftus and Louis Gaughan 

West of Scotland Alliance Championship scores at West Kilbride

FIRST ROUND

SCRATCH
69 John Henry (Clydebank and District), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir)
72 Jamie Savage (Cawder)
72 Anthony O'Donnell (Largs)
74 Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes), Ken Campbell (Machrihanish).

West Kilbride Handicap Competition Gross H/Cap Net

71 Jim Fraser (Paisley) (4), Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) (5)
72 Frank Drum (Cowglen) (6).
75 Martin McCrory (Cathkin Braes) (2)

West Kilbride Seniors Competition Gross H/Cap Net
71 Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) (5)
80 Robert Orr (Hayston) (14)

The scores for the second round of the championship  will be taken from the fixture at Irvine Golf Club on March 26.

Ross Kellett wins by two shots in Egypt

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Ross Kellett (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) won the Mediterranean Tour's Mirage City Classic at Cairo, Egypt today.

Kellett, pictured, had rounds of 66, 69 and 67 for a 14-under-par aggregate of 202, finishing two strokes ahead of second-round leader Joel Girrbach (Switzerland) (68-65-71).
Three other Scots finished in the top 10.
Grantown on Spey's Duncan Stewart came fifth on 206 with rounds of 68, 68 ad 70. Michael Stewart (74-66-70) and David Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) (71-67-72) finished joint eighth on 210.
Conor O'Neil finished joint 13th with scores of 71, 71 and 69 for 211.
Fraser McKenna finished 34th on 222 with scores of 71-73-78.
Kellett hit the front on the back of birdies at the fourth, fifth and eight in 33 to the turn in his final round. He also birdied the 10th, 15th and 17th, his only bogey coming at the 11th.

MEDITERRANEAN TOUR MIRAGE CITY  CLASSIC
Mirage City Golf Club, Cairo, Egypt.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
202 R Kellett (Sco) 66 69 67.
204 J Girrbach (Swi) 68 65 71
205 M Walz (Ger) 68 71 66, M Ludwig (Austria) 71 67 67
206 D Stewart (Sco) 68 68 80

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
210 M Stewart 74 66 80, D Law 71 67 72 (T8)
211 C O'Neil 71 71 69 (T13)
222 F McKenna 71 73 78 (34th).

MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
155 P Shields (Sco) 75 80.

Perthshire student Michael Brodie finishes T68 

at Kinderlou Forest

Michael Brodie from Perthshire, a student at Lander University, Greenwood, South Carolina, finished T68 in a field of 93  competitors at this week's Southeastern Collegiate 54-hole tournament at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta in the USA state of Georgia.
Brodie had rounds of 70, 83 and 79 for a total of 232 over a long par-72 course of 7,363yd. He had a triple bogey and a double bogey in his final round.
English team-mates Conor Richards, from Hampshire, finished fourth on 214 (66-78-70) and James Bartlett from Brockenhurst finished T68 on 232 (79-75-78).
The individual honours were claimed by Chandler Blanchet (West Florida) (64-72-74) who won a marathon play-off at the eighth extra hole against John VanDerLaan (Florida Southern) (64-72-74) after they had tied on six-under 210.
Lander University (886) finished eighth of 18 behind team title winners Newberry College (868).
West Florida (869) were second and Florida Tech (870) third.

Becky McGeehan finishes down the field in Utah

Becky McGeehan, whose family home is Gutersloh, Germany but she is a student at the University of Texas-San Antonio, finished T61 in a field of 75 at the Brigham Young at Entrada Classic at Snow Canyon, St George, Utah.
She had scores of 79, 78 and 85 for a total of 242 over a par-72 course of 6,098.
Winner was Pimnipa Panthong (Kent State) with scores of 67, 71 and 70 for 208 and a two-shot victory margin.
Brigham Young (864) won the team title ahead of Kent State (866) and texas Tech (878) with UTSA (894) seventh of 14 teams

Ernie Els and Tiger Woods named as Presidents Cup captains

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NEWS RELEASE

              

 Presidents Cup and  US PGA Tour officials have announced Ernie Els and Tiger Woods as captains of the International and US teams, respectively, for the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Victoria, Australia. 

The match will be held December 9-15, 2019