Aussie McKenzie sets pace with bogey-

free 65 at PGA Seniors Championship

David McKenzie leads at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship after an emotional day at London Golf Club, following the passing of Ryder Cup winner Gordon Brand Jnr.

The Australian recorded a bogey-free round of 65, seven under par, to lead by a stroke ahead of Chris Williams. However, thoughts during the day were with the family of Brand Jnr after his passing.

The Ryder Cup team winner, who also won twice on the Staysure Tour, passed away during the night, and an emotional minute’s silence was held in his honour on the tenth tee at 12:35, when he would have teed off at London Golf Club for the opening round of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.

McKenzie, who finished tied fifth at the weather-affected Senior Open Presented by Rolex last week, qualified for the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship via Monday’s Qualifying event, and carried his form into the opening round, where he made seven birdies without dropping a shot on the International Course.

“I drove down Sunday night and got in at two o’clock Monday morning and then came through Monday qualifying, which was really windy,” he said. “So, the fact there was no wind today made the course a lot easier.

“I haven’t been at the top of a leaderboard for a while now. I’ve been playing okay at the last couple of tournaments on the Champions Tour in America and I had a nice week last week, so I’ve brought that form along with me.

“I would say my shot of the day which I’m most pleased about was my tee shot on the eighth – my 17 – across the water and I hit a six iron into four feet. I played well. I kept it in play and didn’t get in any trouble.”

South African Williams has two runner-up finished already this season but is in prime position to strike, having signed for an opening round of 66, to sit a shot behind McKenzie.

 Welsh pair Stephen Dodd and Phillip Price shot five under par rounds of 67 to occupy third place alongside Magnus P Atlevi of Sweden and Australian Peter Fowler.

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Scores after round one:

 par 72

 65 D McKenzie (Australia) 

 66 C Williams (SAf)

 67 P Fowler (Australia) , P Price (Wales), S Dodd (Wales) , M Atlevi (Swe)

 68 P O'Malley (Australia) , D Shacklady (Eng) , M Campbell (NZ) , J Cheetham (Eng)

 69 M Martin (Spn) , B May (USA) , P McGinley (Irl) , A Bossert (Switz) , S Brown (Eng) , S Little (Eng) , P Lonard (Australia)

 70 J Coceres (Arg) , R Chapman (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , M Stimson (Wales) , C Montgomerie  (Sco) , C Dennis (USA) , P Baker (Eng) , P Eales (Eng) , P Streeter (Eng) , J Kingston (SAf)  

 71 A Oldcorn (Sco) , T Milford (Eng) , R Gomez (Arg) , M McNulty (Irl) , S Micheel (USA) , N Cheetham (Eng) , J Remesy (Fra) , G Turner (NZ) , J Carriles (Spn) , S Tinning (Den) , M Molina (Arg) , M Wharton (Eng) , V Guest (Eng) , S Luna (Spn) , P Wilson (Eng) , D Prosser (Eng) , B Longmuir (Sco)  

 72 N Mitchell (Eng) , G Marks (Eng) , G Emerson (Eng) , J King (Eng) , M Ridley (Eng) , A Miller (Eng) , C Gomez (Spn) , B Lane (Eng) , M Brier (Austria), D Gilford (Eng) 

 73 G Manson (Austria) , J Lomas (Eng) , M Farry (Fra) , J Harrison (Eng) , B McGovern (Irl) , J Romero Carrasco (Spn) , T Levet (Fra) , G Evans (Eng) , P Walton (Irl)

 74 T Wiratchant (Thai) , G Orr (Sco) , G Brown (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , M Reynard  (Eng) , G Stubbington (Eng)

 75 M Mouland (Wales) , D Smyth (Irl) , T Thelen (USA) , P Golding (Eng) , S Richardson (Eng) , J Sandelin (Swe) , D Olsen (USA) , R Drummond (Sco) , C Mason (Eng) , S Bennett (Eng)

 76 A Lovelace (Eng) , D Morland (Canada)

 77 P Wesselingh (Eng) , M Mackenzie (Eng) , J Hall (Eng) T Spence (Eng) , M Pyatt (Eng)

 78 L Fickling (Eng)

 79 B Smith (Eng) , M Macara (Wales) , A Rosa (Spn) 

 

SCOTTISH MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT CRAIL

Jeff Wright from Forres reaches last 16
  
FROM CAMERON McLAY

Sixty-four qualifiers from the stroke-play rounds were whittled down to 16 today as the match-play stages of the 2019 Scottish men’s amateur championship got underway on the Craighead Course at Crail.

 Hilton Park’s Lachlan Reynolds will tee it up on Friday morning after knocking out the top seed, Bruntsfield’s Stuart McLaren.  Reynolds had earlier progressed to the last-32 with a one-hole victory over Rob MacGregor. 
Crail member, George Burns is also safely through to the last 16 following two impressive victories: 6 and 5 over Gary Wright (Bonnybridge) in the morning and then a stunning 7 and 6 win in the afternoon against Dan Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle).
Speaking to Scottish Golf after his last-32 victory, Burns said:
 “Playing at my home course has been fun, I know the course well and I had some success here earlier in the year when I played in the Battle Trophy tournament and I think both of those factors have allowed me to be confident with my lines off the tee.  
“I haven’t felt too much extra pressure to be honest, I am just planning on sticking to my game and seeing what happens one round at a time.”  
One of the biggest winners of the afternoon was Australia-based Joshua Greer, who cruised to a 6 and 5 victory against Gullane’s Tom Simmonds after beating Liam Duncan (Dunnikier Park) 2 and 1 in the morning.
Greer said later: “I played two really tough games today but managed to come through. I wasn’t playing particularly well in the stroke-play competition earlier in the week but was able to go away and work a few things out which helped.
 “I have lived in Australia for the last eight years but always tend to come back home at this time of year to compete in a few competitions both in the UK and in the USA. It has been nice to be back home and being able to play in nice weather up at Crail. It is not always fun when the weather is poor.”  

Joining Greer in Friday’s last 16 is Kilmacolm’s Matt Clark who chalked up a 5 and 3 victory in the morning against Longniddry’s David Rudd, who had earlier in the week shot a course record 60 on the Balcomie course.
Clark followed that up with a 3 and 2 win in the afternoon against Carnoustie’s former Scottish boys' champion, Will Porter.  
However, Euan McIntosh’s defence of his Scottish men’s amateur title ended at the last-64 stage when the Turnhouse member was beaten on the last green by John Paterson (St Andrews New).  Paterson is still in the hunt to win the title himself after winning his last-32 tie against Millport’s Craig Pirie 4 and 3.  
One former winner who is still in with a chance of picking up a second title is Ralston’s Calum MacAulay.  The 2008 champion put in a solid performance today with a narrow win down the last in the morning, followed by a more comfortable 4 and 3 victory in the afternoon.
Jeff Wright (pictured) from Forres is through to the third round with good prospects of making even more progress.

THURSDAY RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

S McLaren (Bruntsfield) bt C O'Toole (Craigmillar Park) 3 and 2.
L Reynolds (Hilton Park) bt R Macgregor (Tehidy Park) 1 hole.
T Simmonds (Gullane) bt M Naysmith (Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.
J Greer (Joondalup) bt L Duncan (Dunnikier Park) 2 and 1.

J Wright (Forres) bt F Milne (Banchory) 4 and 2.

S Blair (Royal Musselburgh) bt J Roberts (Muckhart) 2 and 1

L Irvine (Kirkhill) bt C Scott (Nairn) 2 and 1.

R Copland (Moray) bt A McNaughton (Caldwell) at 19th.

A Carrick (Craigielaw) bt R Dallas (Forfar) 4 and 2.

A Davidson (Charleton) bt W Walker (Glenbervie) 3 and 2

C Leith (Royal Aberdeen) bt A Thurlow (Murrayfield) 1 hole.

C MacAulay (Ralston) bt A Gibson (St Andrews New) 2 holes.

W Porter (Carnoustie) bt E Mair (Buckpool) 2 holes.

M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt D Rudd (Longniddry) 5 and 3.

S Marc (Broomieknowe) bt K Cantley (Liberton) 1 hol.

G Graham (Blairgowrie) bt D Smith (Portlethen) 2 and 1.

J Paterson (St Andrews New) bt Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse)

 1 hole.

C Pirie (Millport) bt M Napier (Turnhouse) 1 hole.

C Wilson (Castle Park) bt H George (Downfield) 2 and 1.

J Broun (Ayr Belleisle) bt G Brown (Cathkin Braes) 7 and 6

S Thurlow (Murrayfield) bt M Brodie (Alyth) 2 and 1.

L Dobbelaar (Brookwater) bt A Hall (Kilspindie) 2 holes.

E Wheat (Royal Montrose) bt J Wilson (Balmore) 2 holes.

D Howie (Peebles) bt A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly) 1 hole.

G Ingram (Hazlehead) bt M Cowie (Dumfries ad Co) 3 and 2.

M Rickard (Cupar) bt R Mallon (Kingsfield) 2 and 1.

A Saleem (St Andrews New) bt S Graham (Blairgowrie) 3 and 2.

M S S Smyth (Royal Troon) bt M Miller (Lundin) 3 and 2.

G Burns (Crail) bt G Wright (Bonnybridge) 6 and 5.

D Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) bt F McKenna (Royal Aberdeen) 7 and 6.

C Daun (Nairn) bt A L Fernie (Bruntsfield Links) 4 and 2.

Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links) bt L Waldron (Royal Aberdeen) 2 holes.

SECOND ROUND

Reynolds bt McLaren 3 and 1.

Greer bt Simmonds 6 and 5.

Wright bt Blair 1 hole.

Irvine bt Copland 4 and 3.

Carrick bt Davidson 2 and 1

MacAulay bt Leith 4 and 3.

Clark bt Porter 3 and 2

Marc bt Graham 3 and 2

Paterson bt Pirie 4 and 3.

Wilson bt Broun 4 and 2.

Dobbelaar bt Thurlow 4 and 2.

Howie bt Wheat 1 hole

Rickard bt Ingram 4 and 3.

Smyth bt Saleem 4 and 2.

Burns bt Lawrence 7 and 6

Eric McIntosh bt Daun 5 and 4

FRIDAY

THIRD-ROUND TIES

8.30 Reynolds v Greer

8.40 Wright v Irvine

8.50 Carrick v MacAulay

9.0   Clark v Marc

9.10 Paterson v Wilson

9.20 Dobbelaar v Howie

9.30 Rickard v Smyth

9.40 Burns v Eric McIntosh

QUARTER-FINALS

1.30 Reynolds or Greer v Wright or Irvine

1.40 Carrick or MacAulay v Clark or Marc

1.50 Paterson or Wilson v Dobbelaar or Howie

2.00 Rickard or Smyth v Burns or McIntosh

SATURDAY

8.30  FIRST SEMI-FINAL

8.45  SECOND SEMI-FINAL

1.30 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL (18 holes)

Americans set pace at Senior Amateur at   North Berwick

They are a stroke ahead of two three-time former winners, fellow Americans Chip Lutz and Paul Simson with Ian Brotherston from Dumfries carrying home hopes on 69 alongside two more Americans Randy Haag and Craig Davis.
Royak makes great start
Royak from Alpharetta near Atlanta in Georgia, who has finished in a share of ninth in his two previous appearances in the Senior Amateur, got off to his best ever start at the championship.
"I've practised for the last couple of days in the same wind as today, so it definitely helped," said the 57-year-old IT consultant.
He birdied the second, holing from 10ft and the long third with a drive and a 6-iron to 15ft, dropped a stroke at the 360 yard fifth when he three putted from 15ft, but bagged birdie fours at both the par fives, eighth and nine to be out in 34.
He put a 7-iron to six feet for a birdie at the short tenth, then dropped a shot at the short 15th when he failed to get up and down from off the green, but finished with an eagle two at the final hole, holing from 12ft after driving the green.
Sughrue, the 59-year-old sports performance coach from Arlington, West Virginia, birdied the long third when he got up and down from just off the green, then chipped in for a birdie two at the sixth.
He dropped a stroke at the seventh when he found a fairway bunker off the tee and could only wedge out sideways, but got it back at the next when he got up and down from a bunker short of the green.
"I let a stroke slip at the ninth when I three putted, but was good coming home," said Sughrue.
He holed a 40-footer for a birdie at the 425 yard 12th, from 15ft at the 14th then chipped to 3ft for another birdie at the 18th having put his drive over the back of the green.
Three time champion in the mix
Lutz, 64, from Reading, Pensylvania, winner in 2011, 12 and 16 bagged five birdies and dropped just one shot.
"I didn't play particularly well but my putter saved me," he said.
After dropping a stroke at the second he birdied the long third, holed from 10ft for a birdie at the fifth then took two putts from 40ft at the long eighth to be out in 35.
A drive and a seven iron had him on the green for a two putt birdied at the par five 11th, then he drove the 277 yard final green and two putted from 35ft to be home in 33.
"My putting saved me a couple of times on the back nine. On the 14th I drove it onto the beach, found the green with a 7-iron and took two putts from 60ft, then I raced my first putt 12ft by at the short 15th and holed the 12-footer coming back," said Lutz.
68-year-old shoots his age
Simson, winner in 06, 08 and 10, shot his age. The real estate professional from Raleigh in North Carolina, birdied the third and the eighth on the way out and dropped a shot on the seventh when he duffed a chip.
He was back at level par when he missed the green with his second at the 12th and failed to get up and down, but then sank six footers for birdies at the 13th and 16th before finishing in style with a 33ft putt for eagle at the final hole to record a round of 68.
Retired baker on a front nine roll
Sixty-three-year-old retired baker Brotherston was out in three-under par 34 with birdies at five, eight and nine, getting up and down from just off the green at the ninth.
He dropped a shot at the short tenth when he failed to get up and down but got it straight back at the 11th when he holed from 10ft. He missed from two feet to drop another shot at the 14th, then birdied the last when he again got up and down from just off the green.
Fast start for Davis
Davis began like a house on fire with birdies at the first four holes. He sank a 20-footer on the first, holed from 10ft on the second, pitched to four feet at the third and then popped in another 20-footer on the fourth.
He dropped a shot at the fifth when he missed from four feet and another at the long 11th when he got in a pot bunker and left it 45 yards short. He putted up to 10ft but missed.
"That first putt was the longest I've ever had," said the 57-year-old from Chula Vista in California, playing his first competition over here.
He birdied the 12th with a 15-footer then parred home for his 69.
Plenty of players in the mix
Haag got to five under at the turn with birdies at three, four, five and nine and an eagle at the eighth but couldn't sustain it coming home dropping shots at the tenth and the 17th.
Five Americans, Gene Elliott, third last year, Roger Hoit, Mike McCoy, Ken Bakst and Joe Palmer, one Scot, former shinty player John Fraser from Royal Burgess, and three Englishmen Alan Mew from Stoneham in Southampton, Martin Galway from Brighton and Sunningdale's Rupert Kellock share eighth on 70.
Last year's runaway champion Trevor Foster from Accrington pronounced his performance as 'rubbish' after posting a two over 74.

LIVE SCORING FROM AIG WOMEN'S
BRITISH OPEN AT WOBURN

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SCOTTISH MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP @ Crail GS

FIRST ROUND

S McLaren (Bruntsfield) bt C O'Toole (Craigmillar Park) 3 and 2.
L Reynolds (Hilton Park) bt R Macgregor (Tehidy Park) 1 hole.
T Simmonds (Gullane) bt M Naysmith (Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.
J Greer (Joondalup) bt L Duncan (Dunnikier Park) 2 and 1.

J Wright (Forres) bt F Milne (Banchory) 4 and 2.
S Blair (Royal Musselburgh) bt J Roberts (Muckhart) 2 and 1
L Irvine (Kirkhill) bt C Scott (Nairn) 2 and 1.
R Copland (Moray) bt A McNaughton (Caldwell) at 19th.

A Carrick (Craigielaw) bt R Dallas (Forfar) 4 and 2.
A Davidson (Charleton) bt W Walker (Glenbervie) 3 and 2
C Leith (Royal Aberdeen) bt A Thurlow (Murrayfield) 1 hole.
C MacAulay (Ralston) bt A Gibson (St Andrews New) 2 holes.

W Porter (Carnoustie) bt E Mair (Buckpool) 2 holes.
M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt D Rudd (Longniddry) 5 and 3.
S Marc (Broomieknowe) bt K Cantley (Liberton) 1 hol.
G Graham (Blairgowrie) bt D Smith (Portlethen) 2 and 1.

J Paterson (St Andrews New) bt Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse)
 1 hole.
C Pirie (Millport) bt M Napier (Turnhouse) 1 hole.
C Wilson (Castle Park) bt H George (Downfield) 2 and 1.
J Broun (Ayr Belleisle) bt G Brown (Cathkin Braes) 7 and 6

S Thurlow (Murrayfield) bt M Brodie (Alyth) 2 and 1.
L Dobbelaar (Brookwater) bt A Hall (Kilspindie) 2 holes.
E Wheat (Royal Montrose) bt J Wilson (Balmore) 2 holes.
D Howie (Peebles) bt A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly) 1 hole.

G Ingram (Hazlehead) bt M Cowie (Dumfries ad Co) 3 and 2.
M Rickard (Cupar) bt R Mallon (Kingsfield) 2 and 1.
A Saleem (St Andrews New) bt S Graham (Blairgowrie) 3 and 2.
M S S Smyth (Royal Troon) bt M Miller (Lundin) 3 and 2.

G Burns (Crail) bt G Wright (Bonnybridge) 6 and 5.
D Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) bt F McKenna (Royal Aberdeen) 7 and 6.
C Daun (Nairn) bt A L Fernie (Bruntsfield Links) 4 and 2.
Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links) bt L Waldron (Royal Aberdeen) 2 holes.

SECOND ROUND
Reynolds bt McLaren 3 and 1.
Greer bt Simmonds 6 and 5.
Wright bt Blair 1 hole.
Irvine bt Copland 4 and 3.

Carrick bt Davidson 2 and 1
MacAulay bt Leith 4 and 3.
Clark bt Porter 3 and 2
Marc bt Graham 3 and 2

Paterson bt Pirie 4 and 3.
Wilson bt Broun 4 and 2.
Dobbelaar bt Thurlow 4 and 2.
Howie bt Wheat 1 hole

Rickard bt Ingram 4 and 3.
Smyth bt Saleem 4 and 2.
Burns bt Lawrence 7 and 6
Eric McIntosh bt Daun 5 and 4

FRIDAY
THIRD-ROUND TIES
8.30 Reynolds v Greer
8.40 Wright v Irvine
8.50 Carrick v MacAulay
9.0   Clark v Marc

9.10 Paterson v Wilson
9.20 Dobbelaar v Howie
9.30 Rickard v Smyth
9.40 Burns v Eric McIntosh

QUARTER-FINALS
1.30 Reynolds or Greer v Wright or Irvine
1.40 Carrick or MacAulay v Clark or Marc
1.50 Paterson or Wilson v Dobbelaar or Howie
2.00 Rickard or Smyth v Burns or McIntosh

SATURDAY
8.30  FIRST SEMI-FINAL
8.45  SECOND SEMI-FINAL

1.30 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL (18 holes)

Scottish Golf mourns passing of Gordon

Brand junior at age of 60

1, August 2019

Scottish Golf is deeply saddened to report that Gordon Brand junior, pictured, a former Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play champion and two-time Ryder Cup player, has passed away suddenly at the age of 60.
Born in Kirkcaldy, Gordon enjoyed a successful amateur career, representing Scotland in the Eisenhower Trophy and Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup before turning professional. In his maiden European Tour season, Gordon won two events and went on to achieve six more victories on the European Tour as well as finishing in the top 10 of the European Tour’s Order of Merit six times.
Gordon made his Ryder Cup debut during Team Europe’s first ever victory on American soil in 1987 and was again selected to represent Europe two years later at The Belfry in 1989 when Europe retained the trophy.
 

 

TOP USA STUDENT CARTA IS BOUND FOR CAMBRIDGE IN OCTOBER

Aug. 1, 2019

NEWS RELEASE FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Awarded for her on and off-course
accomplishments, Duke women’s golf recent graduate Virginia Elena Carta has been selected one of 21 female student-athletes to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

The recent ACC nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year has distinguished herself in academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. She will receive a $10,000 scholarship to be used for postgraduate study. 

Carta, pictured, will be attending the University of Cambridge in England, starting in October.  She will spend 10 months earning a master’s degree in environmental policy with a focus on sustainable development and small-scale farming.

Earning the 2016 NCAA Women’s Golf Individual title in her freshman campaign, the four-time All-ACC selection capped her Blue Devil legacy with the 2019 NCAA Team championship in May, helping lead the Blue Devils to their seventh NCAA title in school history. She is one of only four Duke golfers to win both an NCAA team and individual title. She finished her Duke career with 43 rounds of even or under par, including 15 rounds in the 60s.

Carta’s success outside of the course are perhaps even more impressive. She spearheaded the creation of the Birdies for Babies program at Duke in her junior season to help raise money for the Duke Children’s Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. After the initial two years of the program, it has raised $36,822.75 to help the children.

A native of Udine, Italy, Carta was recently selected a Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-America and Honorable Mention All-America by both Golfweek and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). A four-time women’s golf All-ACC Academic Team member and 2019 ACC Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Carta also earned four WGCA All-America Scholar accolades over her Duke career.

The scholarships are granted to student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically while also serving as leaders in the community.

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