Craig Lawrie finishes joint fifth but earns joint third prizemoney on Algarve

Craig Lawrie, the only Scot in the field of 78, finished joint fifth today (Monday) in the Algarve Pro Tour's Morgado Classic at the Morgado Golf and Country Club, north of Portimao.

Lawrie had rounds of 71 and 72 over a par-73 course for a three-under total of 143.

He had an eagle 3 in both rounds but also a double bogey 5 at the short eighth in his second circuit. Craig also bogeyed the second and 16th.

Lawrie finished three strokes behind the winner, England's David Dixon who had a pair of 70s for a six-under total of 140, one ahead of Portugal's Tiago Cruz (73-68 for 141).

Jessica Hall (England) and Dong Hoon Jung (South Korea), the two amateurs who shared the first-round lead, finished joint third on 142, both with scores of 68 and 74.

As the amateurs could not win cash prizes it meant that Lawrie and the four other pros who shared fifth place, had their cheques boosted to £640 each.

ALGARVE PRO TOUR MORGADO CLASSIC

Morgado Golf and Country Club, Portugal

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

par 146 (2x73)

140 David Dixon (Eng) 70 70

141 Tiago Cruz (Por) 73 68.

142 Jessica Hall (Eng) (am) 68 74, Dong Hoon Jung (SKor) 68 74.

SELECTED TOTAL

143 Craig Lawrie (Sco) 71 72 (T5).

To view all scores -- CLICK HERE

CASTLE STUART TO HOST THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY

The internationally-renowned Castle Stuart Golf Links will play host to some of the world’s best young amateur golfers when it stages The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy later this year.

The 54-hole stroke play event for young men and women has featured in the past some notable players, including Rory McIlroy, Matteo Manassero, Pablo Martin, Oliver Fisher and Anna Nordqvist. Five former players also took part in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The 60-strong field at the four-time Scottish Open venue near Inverness from 17-20 September will be made up of golfers who are the current holders of their under 18 national Championship, or the winner of a separate but recognised major golfing event in the preceding year.

 The competition is supported and overseen by officials of the R&A, golf’s governing body, and counts towards the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

 The Duke of York, who is also The Earl of Inverness, founded the event in 2001 with the aim of promoting the development of junior golf, encouraging competitiveness and friendship between individual champions, whilst providing them with an opportunity to play on leading championship courses against their peers.
Dominic Hampshire, the Tournament Director, said: “Castle Stuart is a world class links course and we are delighted it will be the setting for this year’s Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, particularly as His Royal Highness has such a strong affinity with Inverness." “I have no doubt that for those junior champions invited to play this year it will be a huge privilege to have the opportunity to play this wonderful course.”

 It is the first time the event has been staged in the Highlands, having previously been held at other Scottish venues, Royal Aberdeen and Royal Troon, as well as Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal St George's and the Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.
 It is another milestone in the short history of Castle Stuart Golf Links, which was opened in 2009. The course was ranked at Number 53 in Golf Digest’s World’s Best 100 Golf Courses this month. 

Stuart McColm, Castle Stuart’s general manager, said: “This is a huge honour for Castle Stuart and the Highlands." “The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy is an event highly regarded around the world for promoting and supporting young golfers." “It is an exciting prospect to be involved in such a distinguished tournament and to see potentially the stars of tomorrow from around the world playing in the north of Scotland.”

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2018 JUNIOR FLAG CHALLENGE

Entries are now open for the 2018 Junior Flag Challenge!

 This year we are introducing a Glasgow North and Ayrshire Tour to go alongside our Glasgow South Tour that we have run for the last couple of years.

 Check out the dates and information at http://juniorflagchallenge.co.uk 

Louise Duncan and Lothians stars Darling and Crawford on Scotland duty in Morocco

By Martin Dempster

Talented Lothians duo Hannah Darling (pictured left) and Grace Crawford are starting their 2018 season by representing Scotland in a new mixed event in Morocco.

The pair will be looking to get the year off to a flying start as part of a six-strong side taking part in the International Moroccan Girls & Boys Championship.

Starting tomorrow at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech, it involves eight nations with a different format for each of the three days.Broomieknowe star Darling is the Scottish Girls’ champion, having become the youngest player to claim that title last year with her triumph at Scotcraig when she was still 13.

An equally exciting prospect, 11-year-old Crawford comes from North Berwick, is a member at Gullane and attends Loretto School in Musselburgh.

“Grace’s selection for this event is a remarkable achievement and reflects her determination, dedication and skill,” said the director of communications at Loretto, Jonathan Hewat.

Joining forces with Darling and Crawford in North Africa are Louise Duncan (West Kilbride), Aidan O’Hagan (Old Course Ranfurly), Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) and Calum Scott (Nairn).

ESSEX 15-YEAR-OLD LILY MAY STAKES STRONG CLAIM FOR CURTIS CUP TRIP TO USA IN JUNE

Lily May Humphrey is presented with the winners trophy 

Lily May Humphries (2nd from left) and Jerry Ji (right) 
were runaway winners at the 54th Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Tournament

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/golf/article192335349.html#storylink=cpy

Lily May Humphreys, 15-year-old Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club member from Channels, near Chelmsford, Essex, played so well on her first two tournaments in the United States that she has very likely earned another trip to America - in June as a member of the GB and I team to defend the Curtis Cup at Quaker Ride Golf Club, New York State.

Lily May, the English women's amateur and British U18 girls champion, finished joint fourth with a seven-under-par aggregate in the Women's Dixie Amateur tournament in Florida and then, at the weekend, won the girls' title at the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl tournaments at the Biltmore course, Coral Gables, Miami by a resounding nine strokes over an international field with a nine-under-par, four-round total of 275, made up of rounds of 69, 67, 66 and 73.

The other British players in the field of 43, Annabell Fuller from England and Darcey Harry from Wales finished joint 20th and 25th respectively. Full her rounds of 75, 76, 76 and 75 for a total of 302 while Darcey shot 75, 73, 77 and 80 for 305.

Humphreys entered the final round with a 10-stroke lead and carded her only over-par round of the week, a 2-over 73, but despite some early struggles in the round she found her groove during the second half of the round and finished her tournament with a birdie. She was the only player with a sub-par aggregate in the girls' tournament.
Goto Miyu (Japan) was second at level-par 284 over the par-71 course. Cory Lopez (Mexico) finished third on 285 with Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France) fourth on 286.
Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play winner at Troon in 2017, Linn Grant (Sweden), whose Inverness-born grandfather was Scottish boys champion in 1958, started well with a 69 but faded to 14th place on 294 with later rounds of 74, 75 and 76.

Jerry Ji from the Netherlands was almost as dominant in the Junior Orange Bowl boys' compeition as Humphreys was in the girls' category.
He sprinted into the lead with a 7-under 64 in the first round and never looked back on his way to a 16-under finish on 268 and a seven-stroke victory with subsequent scores of 65, 69 and 70.
Pierre Pineau (France) took second place on 275 with Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium) third on 276.

JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL TOURNAMENTS
Biltmore Course, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida

LEADING GIRLS' FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71). Length: 6,089yd
275 Lily May Humphreys (England) 69 67 66 73.
284 Goto Miyu (Japan) 72 68 72 72.
285 Cory Lopez (Mexico) 71 69 73 72
286 Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France) 70 74 71 71.
290 Valeria Pachecho (Puerto Rico) 74 67 73 76, Anne Yu (USA) 73 70 72 75.
291 Agustina Gomez Cisterna (Argentina) 77 71 72 71, Franziska Sliper (Norway) 69 76 75 71, Taylor Roberts (USA) 72 76 71 72.
292 Ela Anacona (Argentina) 73 75 70 74.
293 Alexa Rivas (USA) 76 78 77 72, Celeste Dao (Canada) 71 74 76 72.
294 Sophia Bae (USA) 69 74 75 76.
295 Linn Grant (Sweden 69 78 77 71
296 Rachel Kuehn (USA) 70 74 72 80, Clarisse Louis (Belgium) 73 73 77 73.
297 Latanna Stone (USA) 74 74 76 73, Alexa Pano (USA) 77 73 72 75.
298 Ami Gianchandrni (USA) 74 73 76 75.
302 Annabell Fuller (England) 75 76 76 75, Haylin Harris (USA) 79 76 69 78, Camile Banzet (France) 72 76 74 80.

SELECTED TOTAL
305 Darcey Harry (Wales) 75 73 77 90 (T25).

LEADING BOYS' FINAL TOTALS
par 284 (4x71) Length 6,742yds
268 Jerry Ji (Netherlands) 64 65 69 70.
275 Pierre Pineau (France) 65 70 68 72
276 Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium) 69 64 72 71
277 Rasmus Hojgaard (Denmark) 67 71 68 71, Hiroshi Tai (Singapore) 68 69 73 67.
278 Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark) 67 66 74 71.
279 Hirata Kensei (Japan) 69 71 66 73, Karl Vilips (Australia) 71 70 69 69, Leopoldo Herrrera (USA) 74 66 65 74, Rasmus Neergaard (Denmark) 69 68 75 67, Jake Beber-Frankel (USA) 67 71 69 72.
280 Andrea Romano (Italy) 65 70 70 75, Frederico Shin (Argentina) 73 68 70 69.
282 Fred Biondi (Brazil) 68 71 74 69, Bryan Wiyang Tech (USA) 72 69 72 69, Lucas Park (Brazil) 71 70 70 71, Oscar Teiffel (Sweden) 69 72 67 74.
283 Johnny Travale (Canada) 74 71 68 70, Pedro Lencart (Portugal) 74 71 67 71.
285 Aaron Du (China) 71 73 71 70.

SELECTED TOTAL
290 Benjamin Jones (England) 70 73 72 75 (T28).

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT FROM THE ENGLAND GOLF WEBSITE

LINK TO JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL FINAL SCORES

 

December 27-30, 2017

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BOYS SCORES

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GIRLS SCORES

Lily May Humphreys goes four clear at Junior Orange Bowl championship

Lily May Humphreys opened a four-shot gap at the top of the girls’ division of the Junior Orange Bowl International girls competition , carding a bogey-free 67 on Thursday to pull away from a crowd of pursuers.
“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable now,” the English 15-year-old women's champion said after just her sixth competitive round on U.S. soil (she finished joint fourth in last week's Dizie Women's Amateur).
 “The thing I’ve just been struggling with is the different kind of grass you have here. … I think I’m getting the hang of it now.”

Humphreys’ second round was a stark contrast to her first, when she countered four bogeys with four birdies and an eagle. Thursday saw no bogeys, completing 36 holes at 6-under 136.
“I kind of found my way around on what I had to do to help myself,” said the English teen, who owns five wins in Europe this year and made her U.S. debut by placing joint fourth at the Dixie Women’s Amateur.

She broke a long string of pars when she striped a 7-iron within 4 feet for birdie at No.13. She followed with a 15-foot birdie at No.14 and added one from similar length at the 15th.

Mexico’s Cory Lopez (69) and Japan’s Goto Miyu (68) stood tied for second at 2-under 140, with Puerto Rico’s Valeria Pacheco (67) another shot back.
Like Humphreys, Lopez spent her front nine spinning her wheels before the birdie putts started to fall after the turn.
“They were well-struck; they just didn’t go in,” she said. “Then they just started going in.”
A short birdie at No.11 broke the drought, adding birdies on both back-nine par-5s to move into contention.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS

For full report go to Scottish Golf View Website 

LILY MAY HUMPHREYS IN THE USA MIX AGAIN AT JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL

CORAL GABLES, Florida – Sophia Bae figured her lead would be rather short-lived as she left the Biltmore Golf Course after handing in the first scorecard of the 54th Junior Orange Bowl International.

Jerry Ji had no such worries – he moved to the top of the boys’ division with a 7-under-par 64.

“It wasn’t really necessary to push for extra birdies for a solid first round,” said the Dutch golfer, whose closing birdie at the Biltmore’s par-5 18th hole left him one stroke clear of Italy’s Andrea Romano and France’s Pierre Pineau.

Bae wound up as part of a four-way logjam atop the girls’ leaderboard, finding her opening 69 matched by a trio of rivals but bettered by none. English women's amateur champion Lily May Humphreys(15), pictured right,  – playing just her second event on U.S. soil – joined the pack along with Norway’s Franziska Sliper and Sweden’s Linn Grant, winner of the Helen Holm Trophy tournament at Troon this year and whose Inverness-born grandfather won the Scottish boys championship in 1958.

Linn Grant is pictured below on left.

“I thought someone would definitely shoot 3 or 4-under,” said Bae, who earned her entry via qualifying for a second straight December. She didn’t realise she still had a share of the lead until an afternoon voicemail from a tournament official.

Four other girls were within two shots of the top spot, with four more three shots back.

In all, 32 competitors shot par or better at the venerable Biltmore lay-out, as competitors were greeted by bright sunshine and temperatures that reached the mid-80s. Even though breezes freshened at midday, players were largely up to the challenge.

“The course played not very difficult,” said Pineau, whose early 65 was punctuated by a long-distance putt at No.18 that he estimated at just short of 100 feet. “Not too much wind today and the greens are perfect.”

The Junior Orange Bowl International has been a proving ground for some two dozen champions who later made it to the US PGA Tour, European Tour or LPGA circuit. It’s a list that includes Tiger Woods and LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park, as well as such names as Camilo Villegas, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson.

This year’s field brings together entrants from such far-ranging origins as Argentina, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, China, Portugal, Malaysia, Switzerland, Nigeria, Norway, Croatia and Qatar.

Ji quickly put himself in contention with three birdies in his first four holes – a performance exceeded by an even faster finish. He birdied four of his last five, tarnished only by a three-putt bogey at the difficult par-4 17th.

“I missed some short putts on a few holes, but I played really solid,” said Ji, who tied for eighth in his JOBI debut a year ago.

A birdie at the par-3 14th hole began his closing flourish, following with a birdie at No.15 in which he belted his driver some 330 yards to set up a hybrid that reached the green. Another birdie at No.16 moved him in front before briefly giving it back.

“I just want to play my own game,” said Ji, who won the Dutch under-21 championship earlier this year with a blistering final-round 66. “I’m pretty sure if I can get my own game going, I’ll get a chance to have a good result.”

Romano’s 6-under performance matched his lifetime best, making a 14-foot downhill putt at No.17 for his sixth birdie of the day. A wayward approach at No.18 denied him the chance to go better.

“I might have missed five birdies, so I could have done better,” he said. “But I don’t do rounds like this every day.”

Defending champion Karl Vilips, seeking to become the first multiple winner on the boys’ side, found himself seven shots off the pace following a 71.

Lily May Humphreys, who finished joint fourth in her American debut in last week's Dixie Women's Amateur, had an up-and-down day in the girls’ draw, marking her card with four birdies, four bogeys and an eagle when she chipped in from just off the No.1 green.

“That was quite nice, especially after I didn’t birdie 18,” said Humphreys. “That made me feel a lot better about (things).”

Humphreys got to 4-under with six holes to play, but two bogeys in a three-hole span dropped her back into the pack.

Bae’s round was at the other end of the spectrum, with three birdies interspersed with a lone bogey at No.5. One of her birdies came at the end of a 60-foot putt from the fringe at No.13.

“It was a pretty easygoing day,” said Bae, who recently relocated from her native New Jersey to Orlando, Florida.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

par 71

BOYS

64 Jerry Ji (Netherlands).

65 Andrea Romano (Italy), Pierre Pineau (France).

SELECTED SCORE

70 Benjamin Jones (England).

GIRLS

69 Lily May Humpreys (England), Linn Grant (Sweden), Franziska Sliper (Norway), Sophia Bae (USA).

70 Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France), Rachel Kuehn (USA).

SELECTED SCORES

75 Darcey Harry (Wales), Annabell Fuller (England) (T21)

LEADERBOARD

New partnership grows the game with a fun message

England Golf Insight Manager Tom Allen (left)
and Paradise Island’s Crag Nichol shake on the new partnership.

England Golf is highlighting the fun side of the sport by partnering with Paradise Island Adventure Golf to grow the game.

The two organisations have agreed to work together to get more people playing golf, to improve the image of the game and to make golf more welcoming to all.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf has six indoor centres across the UK, with four in England, offering fun for all - children, family, friends and workmates. Each venue has two 18-hole courses with very special tropical and exotic challenges, including shipwrecks, pirates and temple ruins.

It’s a formula which attracts huge numbers of people – with thousands taking part in the annual Open Championship challenge – and for many it’s their first taste of golf.

Abbie Lench, England Golf’s Head of Club Support, commented: “This is a very exciting partnership and we are delighted to be working with Paradise Island Adventure Golf who are introducing so many people to the game.

“They are focussing on providing what their customers want and their popularity shows that there are many different ways to enjoy golf. Adventure golf is a great way to start playing and having fun and hopefully it will encourage many people to move outdoors and on to the traditional golf course. They’ll find plenty of adventure there too!”

Paradise Island Adventure Golf has centres in Cheshire, Derby, Manchester and Sheffield and two in Scotland, in Glasgow and Livingston.

Marketing Manager Craig Nichol said: “We are very excited to be working with England Golf. At Paradise Island we strive to create a friendly atmosphere where the focus is on the fun side of golf. Our customer demographics cover a wide range of golfer and non golfer participants, but is mostly families with young children.

“Football across our sites has seen steady growth over the last few years and we’ve been able to utilise market research by England Golf on youth segmentation to help us understand age demographics, participation rates and help engage a broader audience.

Blairgowrie boy has hole in one finish at Faldo Series Grand Final

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Blairgowrie's Campbell Gibson had a hole in one at the par-3 17th (172yd) in a final round of two-over-par 72 for a total of 218 and a joint 24th place finish at the 21st Faldo Series Grand Final at Al Ain Golf and Equestrian Centre, Abu Dhabi today (Wed).
Gibson's earlier scores were 74 and 72. He had a double bogey 6 at the 11th hole in his third and final round but the ace made up for that.

The Glenalmond College student, pictured, finished joint sixth in the Under-18 boys' category.
Cameron Adam (Royal Burgess) finished the top Scot in joint 17th place overall on 216 with rounds of 71, 73 and 72. He had a double bogey 5 at the short 17th in his final round. Adam was placed joint fifth in the U16 boys' section.

Swiss-based Scot's daughter Cameron Neilson, a member of Alvaneu Bad Golf Club, had scores of 71, 72 and 74 for a joint 19th place finish on 217. Miss Neilson won the Under-16 girls' category.

Former Scottish schoolgirls champion Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) had a nightmare finish of double bogeys at the 16th and 18th in her closing round of 77 (36-41) for a total of 222 and a joint 35th place finish. Her earlier scores were 72 and 73.
Jennifer finished joint sixth in the U21 girls' section.

The Grand Final was won by Brazil's Herik Machado with scores of 70, 67 and 61 for a 12-under total of 198, one shot ahead of Australia's Daniel Gale (66-65-68).
Machado had an eagle 2 and seven birdies in his nine-under-par final round of 61.
England's Arron Edwards-Hill (67 for 205) and Harry Butler (70 for 206) finished third and fourth respectively.

21st FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL
Al Ain Golf and Equestrian Centre, Abu Dhabi
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
198 H Machado (Braz) 70 67 61
199 D Gale (Australia) 66 65 68
205 A Edwards-Hill (Eng) 68 70 67
206 H Butler (Eng) 67 69 70

SCOTS' FINAL TOTALS
216 C Adam (Royal Burgess) 71 73 72 (T17)
217 C Neilson (Switzerland) 71 72 74 (T19)
218 C Gibson (Blairgowrie) 74 72 72 (T24)
222 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) 72 73 77 (T35)

SCOTS SHARE 16TH PLACE IN FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL

Cameron Adam (Royal Burgess) and Germany-based Scot's daughter Cameron Neilson shared 16th place overall on one-over-par 71 at the end of the first round of the 21st Faldo Series Grand Final tournament in Abu Dhabi.
In the various categories, Adam is third in the Under-16 boys and Neilson third in the U16 girls.

Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle), the 2016 Scottish schoolgirls champion, shot a 72 to be joint 23rd overall in the mixed field of 57 competitors. She is joint second in the U21 girls' section.

Campbell Gibson (Blairgowrie) shared 28th place overall and ninth in the U18 boys after a 74.
Charlie Salter (England) and Daniel Gale (Australia) were joint leaders overall with four-under-par 66s, one stroke ahead of England's Harry Butler and Nathan Longley.

FALDO SERIES GRAND FINAL
Dubai.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS OVERALL
Par 70. CSS 70
66 C Salter (Eng), D Gale (Australia).
67 H Butler (Eng), N Longley (Eng).

SCOTS' SCORES
71 C Adam (Royal Burgess), C Neilson (Germany) (T16)
72 J Rankine (Haggs Castle) (T23)
74 C Gibson (Blairgowrie) (T28).

Field of 57 boys and girls --   LIVE SCORING

GIRL BEATS BOYS BUT IS DENIED TROPHY BECAUSE SHE IS A GIRL!

Lunenburg High School's Emily Nash tees off during the Central Massachusetts Division 3 boys' golf tournament at Blissful Meadows in Uxbridge, Mass.

GOLFWEEK
By BILL SPEROS
Outrage grows as high school golfer Emily Nash gets no relief from Massachusetts rules committee

Nash, who had the best score at a boys' golf tournament in Massachusetts, has been denied the trophy because she's a girl. The tournament director tells The Telegram & Gazette he made Nash aware of the rule before the tournament began. This claim has not been substantiated.

The story of Emily Nash, who won the Central Massachusetts Division 3 boys’ golf tournament but was denied a trophy because she was a girl, has gained serious traction in the golfing community..

Among the notables not happy with the decision:

Follow
Brittany Lincicome ?@Brittany1golf
This is infuriating ????. If everyone plays the same tees it doesn’t matter if your a girl or boy. Lowest score wins ???? period https://twitter.com/jseubanks/status/923338194577428481 …
12:06 PM - Oct 26, 2017
38 38 Replies 25 25 Retweets 305 305 likes
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Curtis Strange ?@golf_strange
High school golfer not awarded first-place trophy -- because she's a girl via the @FoxNews App. 2017. Really ? http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/10/25/high-school-golfer-not-awarded-first-place-trophy-because-shes-girl.html …
5:41 PM - Oct 25, 2017

High school golfer not awarded first-place trophy -- because she's a girl
A Massachusetts high school golfer, who won a tournament by four shots, won’t go home with the first-place trophy -- because she’s a girl.
foxnews.com
25 25 Replies 32 32 Retweets 48 48 likes
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Annika Sorenstam ?@ANNIKA59
Unacceptable #emilywon https://twitter.com/golfchannel/status/923356041194168321 …
4:39 PM - Oct 26, 2017
15 15 Replies 46 46 Retweets 169 169 likes
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Steve Elkington ?@elkpga
There's no rule that I know of that stops low score winning...
That would be a local rule or a made up bullshit rule https://twitter.com/golf_strange/status/923227912857378816 …
1:16 AM - Oct 26, 2017 · Houston, TX
16 16 Replies 17 17 Retweets 61 61 likes

Thursday, two days after her victory, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) released the following statement reaffirming its rule that denied Nash her rightful prize:

The MIAA and its member schools congratulate all golfers on their performance at the recent fall sectional team golf tournament. In particular, the skill of the female golfer from Lunenburg was on display as she represented her personal ability and effort on behalf of the Lunenburg High School Boys Golf Team. The MIAA is proud to have her and her teammates participate and represent the 230,000+ student-athletes in our schools.

The MIAA Golf Committee, with a membership of school representatives from each district in the state, has worked over the years to establish and manage both a boys and girls golf tournament. In the case of golf, these tournaments exist in two different seasons. The boys team and individual tournament has taken place in the fall and the girls team and individual tournament has taken place in the spring. During a sectional tournament round of golf, a golfer’s score is submitted for both an individual and team competition at each location.

To offer an opportunity for team play to all MIAA member school students, female golfers have been welcomed to participate on a boys team in the fall if their school did not sponsor a girls golf team in the spring. Approximately 26 female golfers participated in 2017 fall boys golf tournaments. This opportunity has been met positively by many student-athletes and school programs. Given this team opportunity during the fall tournament season, it has been clear to participants that female golfers playing in the fall boys team tournament are not participating in an individual capacity. The individual tournament opportunity for female golfers takes place during the spring season. As stated in the official MIAA 2017 Fall Golf format, “Girls playing on a fall boys team cannot be entered in the boys fall individual tournament. They can only play in the boys team tournament. If qualified, they can play in the spring Girls Sectional and State Championships.”

We congratulate Lunenburg’s female golfer on her performance and wish her continued success as she participates once again in the MIAA Girls Individual Golf Tournament in the spring of 2018.

Well, that clears it up.

Not so much.

For one, her name is “Emily Nash” and not “Lunenburg’s female golfer.”

But this sort of thing is typical for the MIAA, which carries a notorious reputation in the Bay State for an lacking common sense on multiple occasions.

Nash shot a 75 and beat Nico Ciolino by 4 strokes. She played from the same tees. She did not receive a first-place trophy because of an MIAA rule prohibiting girls from entering the boys’ individual competition. Even worse, she will not be invited to the state championship next week.

The tournament director says Nash and her coach were aware of the rule ahead of time. Nash and her father say she was not.

Her school, Lunenburg High School, does not have a girls golf team in the fall and the Lunenburg ‘boys’ team did not make the state tournament. Ciolino, meanwhile, offered his trophy to Nash, but she declined.

She’s far too good for anything with the MIAA’s name on it.

Perthshire golf owes huge debt to the Butcharts for promotion and encouragement of Juniors

By BILL HOGG
Who played for GB and Ireland boys team
against Continent of Europe many moons ago
The efforts of Iain Butchart and his wife Dawn in all that they have done to promote and encourage junior golf in Perthshire from Iain’s position as Junior Convener at Strathmore Golf Club for the past 10 years or so stems from the well documented membership decline of most golf clubs in Scotland.

To a large extent, the drop in numbers can be attributed to the lack of youngsters taking up the game which, in turn, has caused the average age of some club memberships to have risen considerably, in some cases to the late 60s which is clearly unsustainable if club golf is going to survive as we have always known it.
We are all aware of the competing interests of youngsters these days and that to many  golf can be seen as too time- consuming and even still a bit elitist which is a barrier to getting new blood into the game if it is going to prosper at it has done in all my near 60 years' involvement in golf.  
While the R and A and other like organisations can do their best to stimulate interest, at the end of the day it is with the efforts at ground level of individual clubs through their junior sections that effective action can be taken to promote the game we all love.    
This is where I feel the likes of Iain Butchart deserve wider recognition of all that he and his wife Dawn have achieved at Strathmore, particularly with it being a relatively new club (the course there was only opened in 1996) and without being unfair, could be described as an unfashionable club compared with the many more established and wealthier clubs elsewhere.
The hire of golf clubs scheme was Iain’s brainchild as a first-class practical measure to introduce youngsters to the game .
The dedicated and enthusiastic work carried out by Iain and Dawn, with the help of others, over the last decade, has arrested the decline of interest in the game by youngsters
Thanks to Butcharts' efforts, top quality talent has already been produced in the likes of Alex Simpson, Kirsty Brodie, Megan Ashley and others.
There have been a number of talented young golfers produced by Strathmore GC in recent years who have gone on to receive national recognition and according to their long standing Junior Convenor, Iain Butchart, the reason is a simple one.
Strathmore has and continues to be very supportive of junior golf as they see it as their future and even pay for an external PGA professional in Gareth Couzens to give free lessons to their juniors.
They also have a certificate system set up on their nine-hole course and fun handicaps before Iain decides when they are ready for the 18 hole course and a CONGU handicap.
This has already produced two assistant professionals in Rory Tinker (Piperdam) and Hannah Robb (Elie), and Emily Aird and Michael Brodie are on college golf scholarships in America.   Megan Aird is looking to work in golf hospitality and Tod Bannerman has started a greenkeepers' course at Gleneagles, having first attended Elmwood College in Fife.
Currently, Strathmore have Kirsty Brodie, Amy Mitchell and Alex Simpson all in the Scottish Academy programme – the only club in Scotland to have three.
Butchart reckons that this success will continue and Strathmore will keep on producing good young players because of the structured set-up he has put in place.   He sees his role as convener is to give all juniors the opportunity to reach their potential and encourages them with much help as possible to achieve their goals.
Iain is expecting big things from the likes of Alex, Kirsty, Amy and also Megan Ashley. Strathmore continues to buck the trend in attracting new members this year, six of whom are girls, bringing their total number of girls to 15.

CRAIGMILLAR PARK WIN THE SCOTTISH JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Junior Convenors  Susan Corrie, Mary Richardson and Ian Howarth, Past President of the SGU, with some of the winning team

The inaugural event was generously hosted by Glenbervie Golf Club on Sunday the 24th August 2017, and General Manager/Secretary David Brodie, together with the rest of his Staff, made everyone welcome.
Despite persistent showers, the course held up very well under the conditions and play was completed with no delays.
The winning Teams from Junior Leagues all over Scotland, plus several Teams from areas currently without Junior Leagues, entered the event. Each Team had 6 Players and there was some excellent scoring under the singles Stableford format, with the best 5 out of 6 scores to count.

 A very strong Team from Craigmillar Park, recent winners of the Edinburgh Junior League, and all with single figure handicaps, emerged victorious with some very consistent scoring.
Sam Hall led the way with 38, followed by Cameron Ledingham with 36, by Alessio Margiotta and Mark Brooks both with 35, and by Conor O’Toole with 34. These 5 scores totalled 178 and were so good that the score by late substitute Lucy Morrison was able to be discarded.
This was a great Team performance! The winning Team, together with their Junior Convenors Mary Richardson and Susan Corrie, were awarded a Trophy kindly donated by Ian Howarth, Past President of the SGU, and each player received a commemorative medal. The R&A kindly donated prizes of golf shirts, flags, and balls from the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and the leading 4 Teams all received prizes.


Mary Richardson said "This was a great tournament (and not just because we won!).
Great atmosphere and organisation. Superb to get juniors from all over the county together and be able to represent their clubs in a national event.:

"Good to promote team events - it teaches them so much. And the format was good, wth stableford allowing everyone to compete and also keep moving etc Hope they get the support and sponsorship it deserves"
"Unfortunately as we were out first and had to wait around all day to find out we had won, three of our players had to leave. So the team photo does not have the trophy."

To read the full report go to Scottish GolfView Website

Hannah Darling and Calum Scott win Junior Champion of Champions' titles at The Duke 's

Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), the 13-year-old Scottish girls champion, and Nairn's Calum Scott, the Scottish U16 boys' title-holder, won the respective categories in today's (SAT) Scottish Junior Champion of Champions' one-round tournament over The Duke's Course, St Andrews.
Hannah Darling's two-under-par 69 gave her a two-stroke victory from Jasmine Mackintosh (Hazlehead) with the joint third placed Lorna McClymont (Milngavie) and Evanna Hynd (Elmwood) finished four shots behind Jasmine on the 75 mark.
Darling, pictured with the Scottish girls U18 trophy, birdied the short second, long sixth and short eighth to be out in three-under-par 33 and she was still three under when she got her only bogey, a 4 at the short 16th in 36 home.
Mackintosh had three birdies (short third, 14th and short 16th)and three bogeys (fifth, seventh and 15th) in halves of 37 and 34. McClymont had a double bogey 6 at the 18th while Hynd had a double bogey 6 at the 17th.

Calum Scott shot a one-over-par 72 which included birdies at the first and seventh but a bogey at the second and a double bogey 5 at the short eighth.
He parred all the inward holes to hold on for a one-stroke win from joint runners-up Marc Watt (Inverallochy) and Greg Dalziel (Airdrie). Watt birdied the 17th and 18th for a 73 while Dalziel had a double bogey 6 at the long 11th.

LEADING SCORES
GIRLS
Par 71. SSS 71 CSS 72
69 H Darling (Broomieknowe).
71 J Mackintosh (Hazlehead).
75 L McClymont (Milngavie), E Hynd (Elmwood).
76 L Duncan (West Kilbride).
77 R Foster (Turnberry), A McKay (Crail GS).
78 E Henderson (Loretto School), C Griffiths (Aboyne), K Brodie (Strathmore).
81 M Stewart (Murcar Links).
84 M Ashley (Strathmore), G Crawford (Gullane).


BOYS
par 71 SSS 73 CSS 74
72 C Scott (Nairn)
73 M Watt (Inverallochy), G Dalziel (Airdrie).
75 R Callan (Bathgate)
76 L Reynolds (Hilton Park).
77 E Ferguson (Turnberry).
78 B Carberry (Falkirk).
79 I Taggart (Lenzie), L Fleming (Haggs Castle), A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly).
80 C O'Toole (Craigmillar Park), D Rudd (Longniddry), S Thomson (Drumpellier), S Hall (Craigmillar Park).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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HANNAH DARLING THREE SHOTS CLEAR IN UNDER-14 GIRLS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), youngest winner of the Scottish U18 girls' championship a few weeks ago, is leading the girls' field by three strokes while South African Casey Jarvis and Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Lilleshall) are sharing the boys' lead in the Loretto School Under-14 girls and boys' open tournament at Crail Golf Club, Fife.

Hannah, pictured, posted an very good round of 73, one-under-par for the Craighead course. She had four birdies and three bogeys in halves of 39 and 34.

Her nearest rivals on 76 are Anna McKay, playing over her home course and the youngest winner of the Fife women's county championship earlier this season, and Wales' Ffion Tynan (Minchinhampton).

Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) is in fourth place with a 76.

In boys' championship, being staged over the Balcomie Links, Casey Jarvis, winner of the English U14s' title last week, and Rory McDonald-O'Brian are sharing the pole position on two-under 70. 

They are a shot ahead of Aidan O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly) and two Continental players, Riccardo Roberto (Italy) and Theo Boulet (France).

T P F Smith (St Andrews) is tied 6th with a 72.

Outstanding Nairn prospect Calum D Scott is T12 with a 74 and C G Daun T20 on 75.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

GIRLS

Crail GS Craighead course (par 74)

73 H Darling (Broomieknowe).

76 A McKay (Crail GS), F Tynan (Minchinhampton).

77 C Griffiths (Aboyne).

78 D Harry (Vale Resort, Wales).

79 R Fowlie (Edzell), E Henderson (Loretto School).

Other Scots' scores included:

81 R Foster (Turnberry).

85 G Crawford (Gullane)

86 M Docherty (Bishopbriggs).

87 L Morrison (Craigmillar Park)

88 A Gorka (Loretto School), R Mathieson (Hazlehead).

BOYS

Crail GS Balcomie Links (par 70)

70 C Jarvis (SAf), R McDoNald-O'Brien (Lilleshall).

71 R Roberto (Ita), A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly), T Boulet (Fra)

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES:

72 T P F Smith (St Andrews).

74 C Currie (Turnhouse), C D Scott (Nairn).

75 C G Daun (Inverness).

76 G Cannon (Falkirk).

77 C Adam (Royal Burgess).

78 C Sharpe (Blairgowrie), A Saleem (St Andrews New).

79 C Johnstone (Troon Welbeck), G Graham (Blairgowrie).

82 J Vogelpohl (Forrester Park).

83 J Mann (Vilamoura), A Wyatt (Loretto School, F Russell (Royal Troon).

84 L Taylor (Bearsden).

86 C Graham (Blairgowrie), P Brown (Monifieth).

88 V Hundeboll (North Berwick).