Ralph Wardlaw is Angus Golfer of the Week

mygolfranking.net ANGUS MEN GOLFER of Week 18/32 is RALPH WARDLAW (Carnoustie GC) who retains his NUMBER ONE spot on Angus Men MGRanking.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

ANGUS MEN

1 Ralph Wardlaw (Carnoustie GC) 1178 points

2 Neil Robertson (Caird Park) 1106

3 Scott Graham (Carnoustie GC) 1067

4 Scot Donaldson (Forfar) 1057                                

5 Gary Anderson (Caird Park) 1054

6 David Walsh (Broughty) 1053

7 Craig Watson (New Taymouth) 1048

8 Duncan Menzies (Arbroath Artisan) 1040

9 Darren Walker (Downfield) 1036

10 Peter Bole (Grange GC) 1035

 

ANGUS MEN - CLUBS

1 Edzell 883

2 Carnoustie GC 868

3 Downfield 852

4 Kingennie 838

5 Montrose Mercantile 837

 

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Defending champion Jack Harling beats Inverness winner David Joel in Carnegie Shield

 

By ROBIN WILSON

There were no shocks in the first round of the Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch but some big impressive scores, the biggest a 9 and 7 win for Norwegian Jorge Paulus who is also a member at Dornoch.

The unfortunate visitor at the end of Paulus's sub-par golf was Ian Pether from Dale Hill, East Sussex.

Defending champion Banchory's Jack Harling (that's him pictured after his Carnegie Shield triumph 12 months ago) has played little since wintering in New Zealand after completion of his studies in the Dornoch UHI but he was soon into his stride with a third place seeding and ending the progress of Inverness's Four Day winner, David Joel, on the 17^th green. 
Out also went Joel's clubmate Keiran Mackay, winner last week of the Tain Four Day tournament, losing 3 and 2 to three time former winner Andrew Biggadike (USA).
Leading qualifier with 67 and  70, also from Inverness, John Forbes cruised into the second round, finishing off Jamie Johnstone (Whittington Head) on the 13^th green while the number two qualifier and winner of the Silver Medal, as a Royal Dornoch member, Chris Mailley (70-73) beat Golspie's Billy Melvile after 16 holes.
Irishman Garth McGimpsey, who won the Amateur Championship at Royal Dornoch in 1985, is making his third attempt to win the magnificent shield in this its 105^th year. McGimpsey won his first game 4 and 3and as fifth seed is a danger to all.        

 

 RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

J Forbes (Inverness) bt J Johnston (Whittington Heath) 6 and 5.

R Evans (Langland Bay) bt G Minton (Royal Dornoch) 3 and 2.

R Morrison (USA) bt J Whittle (Appleby) 7 and 6.

A McNaughton (Caldwell) bt M McMurray (Moray) 5 and 4.

W Short (Peterculter) bt C Unsworth (Mellor and Townescliffe) at 19^th.

I Rennie (Hindhead) bt G Bethune (Royal Dornoch) 4 and 3.

G McGimpsey (Royal Portrush) bt R Skelhon (Hindhead) 4 and 3.

F Symon (Tantallon) bt E MacKenzie (Cawder) 1 hole.

 

A Biggadike (USA) bt K MacKay (Inverness) 3 and 2.

N McQueen (Stockport) bt T Yick (Richmond) 1 hole.

M Macleman (Moray) bt H Andrews (USA) 2 and 1.

J Harling (Banchory) bt D Joel (Inverness) 2 and 1.

O Dickson((Pennard) bt M Walker((Rothley Park) 3 and 2.

J Paulus (Sollered) bt I Pether (Dale Hill) 9 and 7.

T Wilkenson (USA) bt B Templeton (Gullane) 4 and 2.

C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) bt W Melvile (Golspie) 3 and 2.       

Lloyd Saltman has an 80 on EuroPro Tour

Matthew Cort leads the field at this week's EuroPro Tour event at East Sussex with a 10-under-par tally of 134 (66-68) through 36 holes but there were also some high scores … by Scots.

Lloyd Saltman, a potential world-beater as an amateur but a huge disappointment as a pro, had a second-round 80 (42-38). He had a double bogey 5 at the par-3 eighth and a triple bogey 6 at the par-3 16th.
Craig Lawrie also had double bogeys at two short holes in his second-round 78.
Only one Scot qualified for the final day's play, Danny Young with 69 and 71 for 140 (three inside the limit mark).

LEADERBROAD
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake) 66 68
135 Chris Gane (Silvermere) 68 69
136 Luke Cornford (Cooden Beach) 69 67

SCOTS' SCORES
140 Danny Young 69 71 (T18)

MISSED THE CUT (143 and better qualified)
144 Ryan Campbell 71 73, John Henry 76 68.
145 Conor O'Neil 67 68, Lawrence Allan 72 73, Craig Ross 73 72
147 Paul Shields 74 73
149 Craig Lawrie 71 78
150 Michael Stewart 76 74
152 Lloyd Saltman 72 80, A Sutherland 75 77
154 Sam Kiloh 78 76
156 Sean Lawrie 77 79.






CLICK HERE to view all the scores and scorecards

Welshman Manley shares Northern

 

Ireland Challenge with a 64

 

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

Stuart Manley once again finds himself at the top of the leaderboard on the European Challenge Tour following an opening round of 64 at the Galgorm Resort and Spa Northern Ireland Open

The Welshman, who sits in sixth place on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah, was in imperious form at Galgorm Castle, carding seven birdies to sign for a bogey-free score and claim a share of the first-round lead alongside South Korea’s Minkyu Kim.

Following one victory, two top-five finishes and two further top-ten results this season, Manley knows he is well-placed to regain his European Tour playing rights – something another good result could all but guarantee this week.

“It would be great to get the job done this week,” he said. “It has been a very successful and consistent season so far so it would be a great to get a couple more big finishes and secure my card for next year.

“I putted very well, kept the ball in play and I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to play today so I’m very happy with my start.

“I have been struggling with my neck since Saturday but credit to the European Tour’s physio team as without them I wouldn’t have been able to play for sure.

“Because of that I probably did have less expectations coming into today. It’s a very well set up golf course – very much like a European Tour course because if you’re offline you will be in thick rough and the greens are quick.

“I did have a lot of joy on the par threes today and it does reward you here if you are straight off of the tee – which I was today. I had a couple of good par saves at 16 and 17 and was unlucky not to birdie 18 so all in all it was a very good day’s work.

“I had a really good day on the greens – even though my putter is actually broken at the moment! It’s going to be fixed next week but I am definitely panicking a bit as it has been red hot all year.”

Also impressing in Northern Ireland was Kim. The 17 year old, who became the youngest player to win on the Challenge Tour following his victory in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May, carded one eagle, six birdies and one bogey and was delighted to return to form following a difficult stretch.

“I played very well today,” he said. “I putted very well and I was perfect off of the tee until the last two holes where on 17 and 18 I missed the fairway by a long way, but I still managed to come away with a bogey and a par. It wasn’t a great finish but overall I am very happy with my performance today.

“At the start of day I didn’t expect that I would play so well. After winning in the Czech Republic I have struggled to find form, but this week I am feeling really focused and so far that has shown in my play.  

“The weather was very mixed today – one minute sunshine, then one minute rain – but the course is in excellent condition and I really like it here.

“It’s my first time in Northern Ireland and so far I have really enjoyed it – hopefully I can keep playing so well over the rest of the week.”

One shot off the pace are Englishmen Richard Finch and Marcus Armitage and Denmark's Victor Gebhard Østerby, who all carded six under par rounds of 65, while Cormac Sharvin is leading the home charge after signing for a four under par score of 67.

Scores after Round One:
par 71

64 M Kim (SKor) , S Manley (Wales) 
65 R Finch (Eng) , M Armitage (Eng) , V Østerby (Denmark)
66 J Senior (Eng) , C Hill (Sco) , M Haastrup (Denmark) 
67 B Stow (Eng) , C Sharvin (NIre) , E España (Fra) , S Henry (Sco) , M Carlsson (Swe) , E Di Nitto (Ita) , R Kellett (Sco) 
68 J Huldahl (Denmark) , D Stewart (Sco) , R McGee (Ire) , J Brun (Fra) , S Locke (Sco) , S Hutsby (Eng) , R McGowan (Eng) , M Gaspar (Portugal) , L Van Meijel (Netherlands) , M Orrin (Eng) , J Caldwell (NIre) , C Braeunig (Ger) , D Huizing (Netherlands) , V Perez (Fra) 
69 R Saxton (Netherlands) , J Vecchi Fossa (Ita) , R Langasque (Fra) , E Ferguson (Sco) , D Perrier (Fra) , N Johansson (Swe) , A Knappe (Ger) , C Tarren (Eng) , J Carlota (Por) , S Grehan (Ire) , W Besseling (Netherlands) , J White (Eng) , M Schneider (Ger) , J Singh Brar (Eng) ,
70 J McDonald (Sco) , M Ovesen (Denmark) , M Lampert (Ger) , R Santos (Portugal) , I Cantero Gutierrez (Spn) , B Easton (SAf) , M Galiano Aguilar (Spn) , R Enoch (Wales) , H Joannes (Bel) , J McLeary (Sco) , M Hoey (NIre) , F Laporta (Ita) , C Del Moral (Spn) 
71 L Nemecz (Austria) , C Feldborg Nielsen (Swe) , N Geyger (Chile) , R Roussel (Fra) , L Ruuska (Finland) , N Møller (Denmark) , D Berna Manzanares (Spn) , M Schmitt (Ger) , J Allan (Eng) , N O'Briain (Ire) , M McGeady (Ire) , C O'Rourke (Irl) , J Doherty (Sco) , E Johansen (Nor) , F Maccario (Ita) , T Tree (Eng) , S Einhaus (Ger) , B Parker (Eng) , B Ritthammer (Ger) , D McElroy (NIre) , S Gregory (Eng) , G Migliozzi (Ita) , B Evans (Eng) , R Van West (Netherlands)
72 K Phelan (Ire) , K Hesbois (Bel) , B McCarroll (Irl) , D Brown (Eng) , A Tadini (Ita) , C Selfridge (NIre) , R Fitzgerald (Eng) , J Rutherford (Eng) , S Grant (Irl) , S Dyson (Eng) , N Kearney (Irl) , J Munro (Australia) , J Girrbach (Switz) , N Kimsey (Eng) , T Murray (Eng) , D Law (Sco) , M Iten (Switz)
73 A Velasco (Spn) , R Kilpatrick (NIre) , D Løkke (Denmark) , F Palson (Swe) , P Mejow (Ger) , P Maddy (Eng) , R De Sousa (Switz) , J Galbraith (NIre) , J Brooks (Eng) , L Johnston (Sco) , H Leon (Chile) , J Van Der Vaart (Netherlands) , S Matus (Czech) , B Hellgren (Swe) , J Adams (Eng) , J Sainz (Spn) , P McBride (Ire) , G Moynihan (Ire) , R Mullarney (Ire) (am) , L Acikalin (Turkey) (am)
74 C Doak (Sco) , O Wilson (Eng) , J Erkenbeck (USA) , M Fenasse (Fra) , G Wright (Wales) , J Kunzenbacher (Ger) ,
75 A Chapman (Eng) , M Madsen (Denmark) , N Grau Tomas (Spn) , M Trappel (Austria) , A Bernadet (Fra) , X Puig (Spn) , D Papadatos (Australia) , R Sciot-Siegrist (Fra) , L Buijs (Belgium) , D Carey (Irl) , N Marsh (Eng) , F Bergamaschi (Ita) , D Foos (Ger) , H Casey (Eng) 
76 B Eccles (Australia) , A Hodkinson (Eng) , J Sharp (Eng) , K Ventura (Nor)way , R MacIntyre (Sco) , S Towndrow (Eng) 
77 B Casey (Ire) , G Hurley (Ire) , P Kelly (Eng) , U Coussaud (Fra) , C Sahlstrom (Swe) , A Singh Brar (Eng) (am)  
78 A Boasson (Iceland)
79 A Ahokas (Fin) , P Howard (Eng) 
81 Z Felder (Switz) , G Forrest (Sco) 
82 M Dallat (NIre)  
84 J Dillon (Ire)

Scott Jamieson two off lead in Nordea Masters with six-under 64

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Clément Sordet recorded the lowest round of his European Tour career and matched the lowest opening round of the season with a stunning 62 to take the lead after round one of the Nordea Masters in Gothenburg.

The Frenchman's bogey-free eight under par round was two shots better than the 64 he fired en route to his only European Tour top ten at the season-opening UBS Hong Kong Open, and beat the 63 he shot as an amateur at the 2014 Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour. It was also four shots better than the course record at Hills Golf Club, but with preferred lies in force this week he won’t take his place in the history books.

The four-time winner on the Challenge Tour holds a two-shot lead over Scotland's Scott Jamieson (pictured) and Englishman Lee Slattery, who both signed for six under par rounds of 64.

Sordet, who is in his rookie season on the European Tour, got off to the perfect start with four birdies in his first four holes, and he added further gains at the 11th, 12th and 13th holes to get to seven under and hold a two-shot lead.
Jamieson briefly joined him at the top of the leaderboard but fell back and when Sordet got up and down on the 18th hole, his two-shot cushion was restored.
Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen and Stewart Hunter of the United States also recorded bogey free rounds to sit at five under par alongside the highest placed Swede Christofer Blomstrand and Australian Richard Green.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry, Dane Søren Kjeldsen and Englishman Paul Waring are amongst a group of eight players one shot further back at four under par.
Two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer of Germany and European Ryder Cup Vice-Captain and home favourite Robert Karlsson are two of 13 players at three under par.
Despite a one over par round of 71, it was a memorable day for five-time European Tour winner David Howell of England, who made his 600^th European Tour appearance.
Player quotes
Clément Sordet: “I played really well. I've not been playing great the past few weeks so it feels really good to start with an eight under this week. The game feels really nice and I'm really looking forward to this week.
“I hit some really good shots. I birdied the first and then I hit it close on the next three holes, so that helps. I wasn't really focusing on the score, I was just enjoying it.
“It wasn't easy out there, there was a lot of wind and I'm glad I shot eight under. You've just got to keep the ball in play, you've got some spots where you don't want to go and it's tough to read the greens. You've just got to hit the fairway, the green and make the putt.”
Scott Jamieson: “It was great, 64 sounds better than six under so I like the sound of that.
“On seven I never thought it was going in the water. Five was the one I got lucky on, I caught a gust and came up a little short but it held the bank, it didn't go in the water. Seven has been playing really tough so a five on that hole is not too bad today. 
“It could have been a lot better to be honest. I missed a couple of six footers and made a bogey with a wedge in my hand on 11, so my front nine could have been a lot better, but on my back nine I had a chip in and a couple of errant shots that I got away with.”
Lee Slattery: “I missed a six-foot eagle putt on the last there, but to be honest today could have been anything. I missed a three-footer on the ninth and I holed a few putts too but I seriously thought I could have gone really low today. I'm still very happy with 64.
“When I look back at my round today I think I just hit it in all the right spots and when I needed a break I got the break. It was really nice golf and I really enjoyed it. It felt kind of effortless.”
Round one scores
par 70

62 C Sordet (Fra)
64 L Slattery (Eng), S Jamieson (Sco)
65 C Blomstrand (Swe), R Green (Austria), H Stewart (USA), T Pulkkanen (Finland).
66 S Kjeldsen (Denmark), P Waring (Eng), M Pavon (Fra), D Brooks (Eng), S Heisele (Ger), T Detry (Belgium), L Herbert (Australia), T Aiken (SAf).
67 T Lewis (Eng), R Karlsson (Swe), B Hebert (Fra), O Lindell (Finland), B Hafthorsson (Iceland), A Bland (Australia), M Kaymer (Ger), M Tullo (Chile), B Neil (Sco), M Southgate (Eng), K Koivu (Finland), J Janewattananond (Thailand), L Aberg (am) (Swe),
68 Å Nilsson (Swe), A Cañizares (Spn), S Webster (Eng), N Colsaerts (Belgium), M Kieffer (Ger), C Bezuidenhout (SAf), R Gouveia (Portugal), T Olesen (Denmark), C Hanson (Eng), J Choi (SKor)
69 M Nixon (Eng), L Canter (Eng), B Fritsch (Can), A Rai (Eng), P Angles (Spn), J Lagergren (Swe), A Chesters (Eng), C Koepka (USA), J Sandelin (Swe), A Pavan (Ita), P Peterson (USA), C Syme (Sco), J Kruyswijk (SAf), P Nyholm (am) (Swe)
70 T Bjørn (Den), J Dantorp (Swe), L Bjerregaard (Den), E Molinari (Ita), P Khongwatmai (Tha), M Kinhult (Swe), N Bertasio (Ita), A Wu (Chn), J Edfors (Swe), A Johnston (Eng), S Fernandez (Spn), R Jacquelin (Fra), L Lilliedahl (Swe), R Bland (Eng), B Dredge (Wal), N Elvira (Spn), M Warren (Sco), P Oriol (Esp), J Carlsson (Swe), M Millar (Australia), S Khan (Eng), J Morrison (Eng), C Ford (Eng), J Walters (RSA), R Rock (Eng), R Lumsden (am) (Sco)
71 F Aguilar (Chile), P Karmis (Gre), D Howell (Eng), A Hansen (Den), D Drysdale (Sco), R Cho (SKor), J Scrivener (Australia), J Wang (SKor), R Ramsay (Sco), D Love (USA), L Jensen (Denmark), C Pigem (Spn), S Gros (Fra), A Wennstam (Swe), O Floren (Swe), A Sandhu (India), M Baldwin (Eng), J Thomson (Eng)
72 F Jacobson (Swe), R McEvoy (Eng), G Bourdy (Fra), O Stark (Swe), M Kokocinski (Swe), A Saddier (Fra), H Sturehed (Swe), P Widegren (Swe), D Im (USA), S Lee (SKor), G Stal (Fra), J Geary (NZ), J Arnoy (Norway, R Evans (Eng), J Winther (Denmark), H Porteous (SAf)
73 N Lemke (Swe), A Plant (Eng), S Vincent (Zimbabwe), M Schwab (Austria), S Soderberg (Swe), H Rönneblad (Swe),
74 A Paolucci (USA), M Manassero (Ita), G Havret (Fra), J Sjöholm (Swe), M Jonzon (Swe), A Connelly (Can), Ó Serna (Mex), M Siem (Ger), F Nilehn (am) (Swe),
75 R Gonzalez (Arg), S Gallacher (Sco), M Calderon (Chile), A Björk (Swe), H Tanihara (Jpn), O Farr (Wales), J Guerrier (Fra), N Fasth (Swe), T Widing (am) (Swe), A Blomme (am) (Swe)
76 B Rumford (Australia), J Gumberg (USA), S Brown (Eng)
77 P Langfors (Swe), P Hanson (Swe)
78 D List (Australia), G Adell (Swe), R Kakko (Finland).
79 R Paratore (Ita), F Fritsch (Ger)
80 O Franck (Swe)
83 W McClain (USA)

STRATHTYRUM TOURNAMENT (women)

Cara Thompson through to semi-finals of Strathtyrum tournament at St Andrews

Royal Dornoch's Cara Thompson won twice today (Thursday) to reach the semi-finals of the Strathtyrum tournament for women at St Andrews.
Cara beat first Wad (WAD IS CORRECT) Grayson (Ringway) by 3 and 2 and then accounted for Swedish player Helen Platt by 4 and 3.
Thompson now plays the defending champion, Lucy Jamieson (Heswall) for a place in the final.
The other semi-final will feature Marieke Helgers (Netherlands) who beat top seed Martine Pow (Selkirk) by 3 and 1 and Wendy Nicholson (Baberton), winner by 7 and 6 against Emily Baxter (Houghton-le-Spring).

Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) was beaten at the 19th by Sarah Shepherd (Prestatyn) in her bid to advance from the quarter-finals of the Strathtyrum Salver handicap competition.Lynne plays off 10 and Sarah 13.

Terry had won through at the 19th in the previous round.
The last tie to finish this evening (Thursday) was the longest so far in the tournament. Elizabeth Goodwin (Glenbervie), playing off 11, beat Carole Greenup (Hilton Puckrup Hall) (handicap 21) at the fifth extra hole, the 23rd.

SECOND ROUND
M Pow (Selkirk) bt L Wilson (Kelso) at 21st
M Helgers (Netherlands) bt M McAuliffe (Ballybunion) 3 and 1.
W Nicholson (Baberton) bt K Marshall (Baberton) 1 hole.
E Baxter (Houghton-le-Spring) bt J Nordgen (Sweden) at 19th.
L Jamieson (Heswall) bt J Mackie (Ladybank) 4 and 2
B Jamieson (Heswall) bt L Church (Henbury) 6 and 4.
C Thompson (Royal Dornoch) bt W Grayson (Ringway) 3 and 2,
H Platt (Sweden) bt Z Ridgway (Crail GS) 4 and 2.
QUARTER-FINALS
Helgers  bt Pow 3 and 1
Nicholson bt Baxter 7 and 6.
L Jamieson bt B Jamieson 2 and 1
Thompson bt Platt 4 and 3

STRATHTYRUM SALVER (Handicap)
FIRST ROUND
W Mitchell (Royal Lytham) (11) bt E Marshall (Baberton) (14) 2 holes.
C Corrigan (Ballybunion) (11) bt V Rogers (Bromsgrove) (11) 6 and 5.
L Terry (Cruden Bay) (10) bt G Roscoe (Penwortham) (12) at 19th.
S Shepherd (Prestatyn (13) bt M Pinheiro (Portugal) (10) 4 and 2.
J Scanlan (Newcastle West) (9) bt C Gallagher (Reigate Heath) (12) 2 and 1.
J Sheargold (Shropshire) (10) bt A Boland (Thurles) (11) 4 and 3.
C Greenup (Hilton Puckrup Hall) (8)  bt J Alexander (Tewkesbury Park) (15) at 19th.
E Goodwin (Glenbervie) (11) bt C McWilliams (Corrstown) (17) 3 and 2.
QUARTER-FINALS
Corrigan bt Mitchell 2 and 1.
Shepherd bt Terry at 19th.
Scanlan bt Sheargold 1 hole.
Goodwin bt Greenup at 23rd

Two Scots in Eden Tournament semi-finals

The opportunity is there for it to be an all-Scottish final at the Eden Tournament, St Andrews.
Douglas Waugh (Baberton) and Derek Paton (Dunnikier Park) have reached the semi-finals and are in opposite halves of the draw.
Leading qualifier Jack Hawksby (Millbrook) is still there, however, and after beating the 2016 tournament winner, Geoff Nixon (Ullesthorpe), he will play scratch man Waugh in the first semi-final.
Paton's opponent is Sean Foster (Houghton-le-Spring).

EDEN TOURNAMENT
Eden course, St Andrews
THIRD ROUND
J Hawksby (Millbrook) bt R Baird (Vicars Cross) 3 and 2.
G Nixon (Carlisle) bt D Evrall (Ullesthorpe) 3 and 2
D Waugh (Baberton) bt F Lawrence (Garon Park) 3 and 1.
A Johnston (Bonnyton) bt R Hotchkiss (Kington) 1 hole.
C Ferguson (Vicars Cross) bt S Lane (Worcestershire) 2 and 1.
D Paton (Dunnikier Park) bt R McLeod (Elderslie) 1 hole.
W Bates (Heacham Manor) bt S Harriman (Nuneaton) 5 and 4.
S Foster (Houghton-le-Spring) bt P Dempsey (Tulliallan) 3 and 2.
QUARTER-FINALS
Hawksby bt Nixon 2 and 1
Waugh bt Johnston 1 hole
Paton bt Ferguson 3 and 1
Foster bt Bates at 19th

EDEN TANKARD (Handicap)
SECOND ROUND
C Robertson (Elderslie) (4) bt I Goldie (Beverley and East Riding) (4) 4 and 2.
M Hayes (Canada) (14) bt K Vamplew (Stanton on the Wolds) (6) 2 holes.
J Banwell (Leighton Buzzard) (5) bt D Banwell (Leighton Buzzard) (4) 1 hole.
I Harbey (Stanton on the Wolds) (10) bt K McQuade (Kirkintilloch) (10) 1 hole.
J Ainsley (Cleeve Cloud (7) bt C Hunt (Ullesthorpe) (5) 3 and 3
N Paul (Nuneaton (6) bt A McKitton (Elsham) (5) 5 and 4.
K Cusack (Dungarvan) (6) bt S Carruthers (Torwoodlee) (6) 1 hole.
N Pomeroy (Ross on Wye) (11) bt A Turton (Ullesthorpe) (5) 5 and 4.
QUARTER-FINALS
Robertson bt Hayes 4 and 2.
J Banwell bt Harbey 2 and 1.
Paul bt Ainslie 2 holes.
Pomeroy bt Cusack 1 hole

ends

Hannah Darling only Scot in last 16 of British girls' championship

Hannah Darling, the youngest ever Scottish girls champion at the age of 14 last year, is the only Scot in the last 16 of the British girls amateur championship at Ardglass Golf Club, Northern Ireland.

She won her opening tie by 2 and 1 against Jess Baker (Gosforth Park) and followed that up with a very good one-hole win over the highly-rated twice former Irish girls champion Annabel Wilson (Lurgan).

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride), the only other Scot to make it to the match-play stages, won her opening tie by 2 and 1 against Nina Lang (Germany) but went down by 2 holes to Sophie Johnson (Enville). 

 

PALTRINIERI BATTLES FOR LAST-16 SPOT

 AT GIRLS AMATEUR

 

R and A NEWS RELEASE
Italy’s Emilie Alba Paltrinieri produced match-play heroics in her quest for another Girls British Amateur Championship title, as home hopes ended in the second round.

Paltrinieri, the 2016 champion at Royal St David’s and one of the top players in the field at 88^th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking^TM (WAGR^TM), was four down after six holes of her first round meeting with Danielle Modder from the Netherlands before storming back for a one-hole win.

The 16-year-old from Milan, also a Junior Ryder Cup player in 2016 at Interlachen, then moved into the last-16 after a dominant 6 and 5 triumph over India’s Anika Varma.

On another windy day on the spectacular Ardglass links, England’s Euphemie Rhodes also achieved an impressive day’s work. Having only just scraped through stroke play qualifying on the cut mark, the 16-year-old saw off the challenge of team-mate and fellow Girls Home Internationals team winner, Caitlin Whitehead, in a tight 2 and 1 victory.

Earlier, Rhodes accounted for a home favourite, Woodstock’s Aine Donegan, as the Irish challenge ended in the last-32.

Scotland's Hannah Darling, the Girls Under 16 Open champion, won three holes from the 10^th as the 15-year-old turned around her tie with Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), prevailing on the 18^th.

The last Irish player standing, local Beth Coulter from Kirkistown Castle, was then ousted in the final match of the day, defeated 4 and 3 by Huddersfield’s Charlotte Heath.

For the leading stroke-play qualifier there was disappointment as Ingrid Lindblad lost an all-Swedish battle with Kajsa Arwefjall at the last in round one but second-placed Mathilde Claisse from France battled to a one-hole success over England’s Martha Lewis to reach the last-16.

South African Caitlyn Macnab was also a notable victor, easing into the last-16, beating Canada’s Celeste Dao 4 and 3.

Last year’s semi-finalist, Elena Moosman from Switzerland, bowed out, defeated by France’s Eleonore Hubert 4 and 2. England’s Amy Taylor also claimed the impressive scalp of the Canadian, Ellie Szeryk.

The highest-ranked player in the field, Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, maintained her title bid with a 4 and 3 win over Marta Garcia Llorca from Spain.

Key quotes:

Emilie Alba Paltrinieri

“The first few holes I wasn’t playing that badly in the morning against Danielle. I was just hitting the greens in the wrong spots and making some bogeys. I continued doing the same things, just being more confident with my game and made some more putts which helped.

“I never gave up, tried to do my best on every shot and it worked. I played really well in the afternoon to beat Anika, kept myself going and was three under par for my 13 holes.”

Euphemie Rhodes

“It was quite tough in the wind and I was struggling in the end against Caitlin so it was great to hole a 10 footer on 16 to go two up and get the win. We’re quite good friends, so it wasn’t great competing against her. We had a few laughs on the course but it got a bit serious.

“I was quite stressed yesterday, coming through stroke play qualifying only ahead of seven players but I did it and anything can happen in match play.”

Hannah Darling
“The four-foot putt on the last to win was nerve-wracking but I stroked it like I do in practice, went through my routine and it was a great feeling to hole it.

“I wasn’t happy in the morning so came out in the afternoon and played the course rather than my opponent. I focused on making pars. Hopefully I can go all the way now although you never know as it’s match play after all.”

Amy Taylor

“I was two down after three in the morning to Ester Fagersten but managed to win on 18 with a long birdie. It was a good match in the afternoon against Ellie and I managed to get a half down 18 for another close win. Last year, I went out in the first round so it’s pleasing to improve.

“It was tough in the wind. I’m studying at Texas Tech so I’m used to the wind from there. It’s a really beautiful course. You can see the sea from every hole but it’s really difficult and you just have to try and keep it in play.”

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O'Hagan and Wilson through to last 32 of British boys' championship

Two Scots - Aidan O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly) and Connor Wilson (Castle Park) - have reached the last 32 of the British boys amateur championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland. In today's (Thursday) first-round ties, O'Hagan won by two holes against Kief Van Der Weele (Netherlands) while Wilson won by 4 and 3 against Massimiliano Campigli (Italy).
The two other Scots who qualified for the match-play stages were both beaten. Gregor Graham (Blairgowrie) lost by 4 and 3 to Bard Bjornevik (Norway) and Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) lost by two holes against Josh Hill (Jumeirah).

 

    
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LEADING QUALIFIERS WILLIAMS AND POWER PROGRESS TO SECOND MATCH PLAY ROUND

R and A NEWS RELEASE

Leading qualifier Robin Williams is through to the second round of match play at the 92nd Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.

Williams, who was a semi-finalist last year, defeated Wales’ Archie Davies 5 and 4. The pair enjoyed a close tussle until reaching the 12^th where Williams, in a fine display of driving, moved up a gear to open a gap and see out the match at the 14th.

The 16-year-old England boy internationalist will now play Scotland’s Aidan O’Hagan, who recorded a two-hole victory over the Netherlands’ Kiet Van Der Weele. The 14-year-old, playing in his first Boys Amateur Championship, held his resolve to deal with the wind and come through the match in style.

Mark Power, second in the stroke play qualifying, reached Friday’s second round with a 2 and 1 win over countryman Alex Maguire. The two-time Irish Boys Amateur Champion started well with two birdies and an eagle to be three up after five holes. Maguire looked to stage a comeback with birdies on the 12th and 14th but, as the dark clouds rolled in and the heavens opened, Power kept his cool and secured the win at the 17th.
Nicolai Højgaard, who moved into the top ten of the World Amateur Golf Ranking^TM this week and is the highest-ranked player in the field, also secured his spot in the next round following an impressive 4 and 3 victory over his good friend Eduard Rousaud.
The Dane will now play Australian-based Scot Connor McKinney, who defeated Russia’s Artem Yalovenka 4 and 3. The 16-year-old is another making his Boys Amateur debut following his family’s relocation from Dunfermline in Fife to Perth in Western Australia three years ago.

Højgaard’s twin, Rasmus, exited the championship after a close match with Conor Gough that required four extra holes. The 15-year-old England boy internationalist recorded one bogey throughout in a match that was testament to the high quality golf played by both players. He now takes on countryman Matthew Jackman on Friday.

Defending champion Pedro Lencart is still on track to become only the third player to win back-to-back championships, and the first since 1930, thanks to a 2 and 1 victory over England’s James Cooper. The 18-year-old from Portugal, who also won the Junior Open in 2016, is playing in his final Boys Amateur Championship after lifting the trophy last year at Nairn.

Link to EuroPro Tour event scores this week

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Link to Challenge Tour's Northern Ireland Open scores

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