The Golf Empire Blog

PGA EuroPro Tour release early venues for 2010

2009-11-06T09:09:00.000Z

Five dates confirmed for next year’s Tour with further events and Q School to follow

The PGA EuroPro Tour is pleased to announce the first five of events on the 2010 Tour calendar.

The season kicks-off at Wensum Valley Golf and Country Club in Norwich on April 27-29 which is three weeks after the proposed date for the final stage of Qualifying School.

Burhill Golf Club staged their first EuroPro Tour event in July this year and welcomes the Tour back to Surrey on May 26-28. Stoke by Nayland hosts their regular tournament on June 29-July 1 in Essex with Wychwood Park in Crewe on the agenda for August 10-12 and Five Lakes Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Colchester welcoming the players on September 8-10.

“The 2009 Tour was a great success and with a strong platform already in place for 2010 I feel next year will be even better,” said Danny Nickless, the Tour’s operations manager.

Further dates will be announced shortly along with full details on Qualifying School for the 2010 Tour.

Parry on a roll after curing swing flaw

2009-11-03T13:47:00.002Z

STEVE Parry cashed in on a late season burst of form when he won the opening Mansell Finishes Winter Series pro-am at St Annes Old Links with a four-under-par 68.

It took his earnings to more than £4,000 in the space of five days following his fourth place in the EuroPro Tour Championship at Northumberland club Slaley Hall.

But the 31-year-old Bolton professional, who last month expanded his teaching academy at Hart Common, revealed he had to seek help himself from his coach Mark Pearson after struggling for most of the season.

“I’d been playing well but then I’d suddenly hit the ball to the right and it would ruin my round. I called it my ‘bad shot’ which would suddenly creep in,” he explained.

“It happened four times in the European Tour School qualifier when I had four double bogeys and a quadruple and missed out by three strokes.”

Pearson, who is based at De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds, clearly ironed out the flaw as Parry rolled in six birdies, including three in a row from the 10th, to make a perfect start to the first of six Mansell events in which he prevailed by one from Davenport assistant Graham Cox and Houghwood’s double Lancashire champion Barry Taylor.

And he added: “These results have given me the incentive to enter the Cambodian Open later this month. I’ve played in it before but I’d have to win to win an Asian Tour card.”

“That’s been a long-time goal but realistically I’ll been committing myself to developing the academy.”

LEADING SCORES (Par = 72): 68 Steve Parry (SP Golf School); 69 Graham Cox (Davenport), Barry Taylor (Houghwood); 70 Andy Baguley (Leigh), Nick Ludwell (Selby), Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorks), Paul Bradshaw (Boothferry), Simon Townend (Wilpshire); 71 Simon Edwards (Windermere), Freddy Valenti (Pryors Hayes), David Shacklady (Mossock Hall). Adam Powell (Hartford).

Lilly storms to Tour Championship victory

2009-10-30T09:35:00.000Z

Stunning final round of 65 seals win – Jamieson wins Order of Merit

Simon Lilly carded a fantastic final round of 65 to win the Tour Championship on the PGA EuroPro Tour at De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland by seven shots at eight under par – securing his Challenge Tour card in the process.

Lilly (Wellingborough) played with the duo he shared the overnight lead with – Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) and Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) – but as they struggled to build on the platform they had set, Lilly stormed out of the blocks with four birdies in the first six holes to seize the initiative.

He then matched that birdie salvo on the back nine by picking up a shot at the tenth then three straight birdies from the 13th moved him to nine under for the tournament before a minor blemish in the shape of a bogey at the last saw him finish at eight under par, seven shots ahead of Steve Surry.

“Obviously with three of us tied for the lead I had winning in my mind and I thought that if I shot somewhere in the 60s I would be hard to beat, but to do that today was just unreal,” said Lilly, who moves into fifth on the final Order of Merit standings with the £15,000 winner’s cheque to take the final Challenge Tour card.

“I always like being in contention and I was really looking forward to getting out there,” said the 32 year-old, who won the Tour Championship and Order of Merit on the 2004 EuroPro Tour. “I was happy with my game all week, really liked the layout of the course and there wasn’t a tee-shot I hit that I didn’t like.”

Hanson’s bid for the title was all over after dropping four shots in his first four holes, eventually finishing eight over for the day and in a tie for 18th spot, while Doherty went round in 75 to finish two over for the tournament and in a three-way tie for sixth with Colin Roope (wstore.co.uk) and Paul Maddy (Gog Magog), who shot a three under par 69 in his final round.

The respective slips from Hanson and Doherty opened the door for Surry (Cumberwell Park) to move through the field to take second spot with a two under par final round. Following rounds of 74 and 71, Surry made his move on the front nine with three birdies and just one bogey – consolidating his position with a level par back nine.

Brian McElhinney (Team Ireland) carded a final round of 69 to finish level for the tournament and move into a tie for third spot with Steven Parry (Bolton), with Matthew Ford’s (Marriot Tudor Park) four under par 68 enough to see him claim fifth place at one over par – one stroke clear of Paul Maddy in sixth.

Scott Jamieson secured the Order of Merit title as the top three on the money list prior to the event remained the same, with Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) finishing second and Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) taking third spot. The performances of Surry and Lilly saw them claim fourth and fifth spots respectively to form the quintet achieving their Challenge Tour cards for 2010 through the EuroPro Tour. The top 15 on the money list will travel to Morocco in December to take part in the Samanah Masters 2009 Satellite Tours Grand Finale at the Samanah Country Club in Marrakesh.

FINAL SCORES FROM DE VERE SLALEY HALL
1 Simon Lilly 208 -8 73, 70, 65 £15,000
2 Steve Surry 215 -1 74, 71, 70 £7,500
=3 Brian McElhinney 216 Lvl 75, 72, 69 £2,650
=3 Steven Parry 216 Lvl 73, 73, 70 £2,650
5 Matthew Ford 217 +1 76, 73, 68 £1,500
6 Paul Maddy 218 +2 73, 76, 69 £1,300
=7 James Gill 219 +3 79, 69, 71 £1,000
=7 Colin Roope 219 +3 73, 72, 74 £1,000
=7 Paul Doherty 219 +3 71, 72, 76 £1,000

TOP 15 ORDER OF MERIT
1 Scott Jamieson £23,492.25
2 Tom Haylock £22,972.41
3 Daniel Brooks £22,274.17
4 Steve Surry £20,922.50
5 Simon Lilly £20,407.02
6 Jack Doherty £17,218.79
7 Paul Dwyer £16,455.00
8 James Busby £15,935.00
9 Elliot Saltman £14,383.57
10 Paul Maddy £14,374.49
11 Graeme Clark £14,245.00
12 Sandeep Grewal £12,031.00
13 Nicky Harris £10,341.83
14 James Ruebotham £9,714.99
15 Matthew Ford £9,662.30

Will’s perfect set of figures

2009-10-28T09:26:00.002Z

WILL Barnes stormed to an eight-under-par 64 to win the opening pro—am in the myProGolfer Winter Series at Fairhaven.

The PGA Cup player attached to Garstang eagled the first hole and accumulated six birdies as he handed in a flawless card to finish a shot ahead of Andrew Murray and Adrian Ambler.

Murray, who plays out of Cheshire club Portal, reproduced the form that helped him to a career best on the European Senior Tour earlier this month when he tied fourth with Irishman Des Smyth in the Benahavis Masters in Marbella.

He also reeled of an eagle to add to his five birdies while Ambler, from Walton Golf Centre in Wakefield, picked up six shots on the inward half. Barnes, meanwhile, made it a double by bringing home the winning team.

LEADING SCORES: 64 Will Barnes (Garstang); 65 Adrian Ambler (Walton Golf Centre), Andrew Murray (Portal); 66 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall); 67 Adam Powell (Hartford); 68 Matthew Tottey (North Wales), Alan Crompton (Haigh Hall).

Hanson grabs Tour Championship lead after opening round

2009-10-28T09:24:00.001Z

Patience is the key for Yorkshireman Hanson who leads by one at Slaley Hall.

Chris Hanson drew first blood at the 2009 Tour Championship on the PGA EuroPro Tour at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland, holding a one stroke lead at two under with an opening round of 70.

Hanson (Woodsome Hall) began his round on the back nine and quickly moved to two under par after four holes. Bogeys at the 18th and second holes put him back to level par before birdies at the fourth and eighth holes saw him card one of just four rounds under par in tough conditions in the North East.

“I knew that a score around level would be good – so I’m pleased to have got in under par,” said Hanson. “I was a couple under early on but dropped those shots but getting an easy birdie at the fourth and another one at the eighth was pleasing and I hit a couple of good shots on the ninth to walk off at two under.”

Hanson has missed the cut in his last two events on the Tour but sits in a promising position at Slaley Hall and says he’s aware of what he needs to do to come out on top: “The key for me in the final two rounds will just be to be as patient as I can be,” said the 24 year-old.

Paul Doherty (North Gailes), Sandeep Grewal (ISM) and Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown GC) all carded one under rounds of 71 to sit on Hanson’s shoulder after the opening exchanges. Doherty will feel aggrieved after bogey-bogey finish saw him slip from a leading position after recording five birdies in his round, while Grewal will be full of confidence after winning the PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St. Andrews and he will look at an eagle on the par-five fourth hole as the key to his good start to the event. Matthews can claim the best comeback of the day after starting his round with an eight on the par-four tenth, recovering with five birdies to shoot a fine round of 71.

Adam Frayne (St Mellion) sits alone in fifth spot at level par after cancelling out four birdies, with three in his opening four holes, and he is one stroke ahead of a group of nine players at one over par – Phil Worthington (Donnington Grove), Colin Roope (wstore.co.uk), Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool), Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Graeme Clark (Doncaster), Paul Maddy (Gog Magog), Steven Parry (Bolton), Jack Doherty (North Gailes) and Paul Dwyer (Clitheroe) all carded rounds of 73.

With much of the focus at the Tour Championship is on the top of the Order of Merit, Jack Doherty and Dwyer know that victory and the £15,000 winner’s cheque that goes with it could secure top spot from their respective fourth and fifth positions with money list leader Scott Jamieson perhaps opening the door to his rivals after an opening round 76 left him at four over. Jamieson is playing with closest competitors Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd – second) and Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill – third) but neither managed to capitalise with Brooks matching Jamieson’s score and Haylock going round in 75.

The second round of the Tour Championship from De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland begins at 8.15am on Wednesday (October 28), with live scoring available at www.europrotour.com.

SKY BET ODDS UPDATE:
Hanson’s first round lead has seen him installed as the new 7/1 favourite for the Tour Championship with official bookmakers Sky Bet.

The Yorkshireman’s one stroke lead at two under par is a slender one in the eyes of the oddsmakers, with Grewal (9/1), Paul Doherty (10/1) and Matthews (12/1) hot on his heels at one under par. Dwyer is an 11/1 shot at one over par, while Surry is four strokes behind Hanson but seen as a danger-man at 12/1.

To view the full prices after the opening round and back Hanson for Victory visit Sky Bet

Northern Order of Merit winner Bedford targets England spot

2009-10-27T17:19:00.002Z

MIKE Bedford is hoping that winning the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit will serve as a springboard to a place in the England squad.

The 21-year-old Cheshire county champion denied his Lancashire counterpart Mark Young an unprecedented third successive triumph in the country’s biggest scratch series after a dramatic finale in which they finished level on points.

They had jockeyed for top spot over the closing weeks with Bedford drawing level with his Longridge rival in the penultimate fixture when he successfully defended the Ashton Trophy at St Annes Old Links.

And he was awarded the title because of a superior ratio of victories of four to one which included the Prestbury Open at his home club.

Bedford’s performance will not have gone unnoticed by the England selectors but he intends to keep his name in the frame by entering all the top international competitions next year including the Lytham Trophy.

“I’ll attend the European Tour School at the end of the season but I won’t turn professional unless I win my card. I know it’s expensive but I feel the experience will improve my chances when I try again,” he said as he bids to follow in the spike marks of former Cheshire players David Horsey and Paul Waring.

Yet his career could have taken a different route. He explained: “We lived next to Bramhall Lane Tennis Club and that was my main sport as boy. I played for Cheshire and I thought I had a future in the game but I switched to golf when I was 13 and never looked back.”

But if Bedford, whose first club was Bramall Park before he moved to Prestbury three years ago where he has a plus three ranking, does not make it on Tour he will join the PGA as a coach, having gained a national diploma in sport at Myerscough College.

Jamieson and Surry joint favourites for EUROPRO Tour Championship

2009-10-27T16:48:00.001Z

Official bookmakers Sky Bet offer five markets for Slaley Hall finale!

Order of Merit leader Scott Jamieson tops the markets for the 2009 Tour Championships on the PGA EuroPro Tour at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland beginning on Tuesday October 27.

The Scotsman leads the money list by less than £1,000 as the top 60 players on the Order of Merit battle it out for the £15,000 winner’s cheque and Jamieson is 10/1 joint favourite with Steve Surry (Cumberwell Park) to claim victory in the final event of the 2009 Tour.

Victory in the event would secure top spot on the Order of Merit for Jamieson, and he is 4/9 to top the money list for the 2009 season. Second spot belongs to Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) who is 14/1 to win the event and 4/1 to claim top spot on the money list – he is just ahead of third-placed Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) who is 16/1 for victory at Slaley Hall and 7/1 for the Order of Merit title. Jamieson and Surry and Haylock and Brooks are two of five pairings priced up by Sky Bet for 54-hole match betting, all four players 5/6 in their respective matches.

Sky Bet offer two further markets for the event – first round leader and top five places in the Tour Championship. Again, Jamieson and Surry lead both markets at 14/1 and 13/8 respectively, with James Busby (The Shropshire) behind the duo at 16/1 and 9/4.

To bet on the Tour Championship at De Vere Slaley Hall, click here to visit Sky Bet

Live scoring from the Tour Championship will be available at www.europrotour.com when the event begins on Tuesday morning.

DE VERE SLALEY HALL TO HOST EUROPRO’s TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

2009-10-19T16:35:00.000+01:00

NORTHUMBERLAND VENUE STAGING SEASON FINALE AT END OF OCTOBER

De Vere Slaley Hall’s credentials as a host venue for professional golf events was given a further boost following the success of the PGA Seniors Championship, as the 2009 Tour Championship on the PGA EuroPro Tour have been awarded to the Northumberland resort. The Tour Championship, which is the final event of the 2009 season boasting a prize fund of £50,000, was originally scheduled to take place in Egypt, but for political reasons an alternative venue needed to be found for the three-day event which will be held between 27-29 October 2009.

The Hunting course has a rich history of hosting professional events having held European Tour, Regional PGA and more recently, European Senior Tour events since opening in 1989. The standard of golf course as well as the onsite facilities at De Vere’s luxury resort made Slaley Hall the perfect stand-in venue at such short notice for the EuroPro Tour Championships, which will see the top 60 players from the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit competing for one of five European Challenge Tour cards on offer.

“In 2008 the Tour Championship was held at arguably Europe’s number one course, Les Bordes. At short notice we needed a world class venue for this year’s event that has a track record in staging high profile professional tournaments. We are delighted that De Vere Slaley Hall has agreed to stage our season finale. The Hunting Course proved to be a great test of golf for events on the European Tour and Seniors Tour over the years so I am sure it will be a popular venue with the players and crowds,” commented Danny Nickless Operations Manager, PGA EuroPro Tour.

Daniel Hodson, De Vere’s Director of Golf and Leisure is delighted that Slaley has been able to step in. “In recent year’s De Vere has shown its commitment to supporting young golfers looking to make the grade as a professional, from supporting elite junior and county coaching programmes to hosting satellite tour events. Following the success of the Senior PGA Championships here in June it is great for Slaley Hall and golf in the North East that we are able to bring some of Europe’s best young golfing talent to the region for another high profile event.”

The EuroPro Tour Championship’s visit to Slaley Hall will be the second time a De Vere venue has hosted a EuroPro Tour event in the 2009 season, following a successful ABC Solutions UK Championship at De Vere Wychwood Park in August. Oulton Hall near Leeds, De Vere’s luxury resort, has also been involved in the EuroPro Tour having hosted an event in the 2007 schedule.

The 2009 Tour Championship will be televised on Sky Sports television and admittance is free throughout the four days of competition for spectators.

GREWAL CLAIMS FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS WIN IN PLAY-OFF

2009-10-09T21:39:00.000+01:00

LIVERPOOL MAN’S SUPERB 67 SEES HIM BEAT LLOYD SALTMAN AND CLIMB ORDER OF MERIT!

Sandeep Grewal produced a stunning round of 67 to force a play-off with Lloyd Saltman in The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews, beating the Scotsman on the second play-off hole.

After the first two rounds Grewal (ISM) was ten shots off the lead at one over par and never in the frame for victory, but he kicked off with birdies on the first and third holes then really put his foot down on the back nine, with an eagle on the ninth followed by three straight birdies. A double bogey on the 14th checked his progress, but he was in the clubhouse at four under after shooting the only under par round of the day in incredibly high winds.

“It was just one of those days for me,” said the 27 year-old. “On the first I pulled my tee shot, got it back on track then holed a seven iron from 120 yards, and on the ninth I drove well and pitched-in another seven iron for an eagle.”

Grewal began the day in 73rd spot on the Order of Merit before the tournament began and knew the pressure was on to climb that list in order to get into the Tour Championship: “My aim was for top 60 and even after the eagle and the three birdies I was just thinking ‘just stay solid and I could get a top five place,’ said the Wirral man. “I was playing well and just focusing on that rather than thinking that conditions were tough and that I might be in contention with the rest of the guys still having plenty of holes to play. Even after my double bogey, when I saw that I was just one behind, I didn’t get over-excited as I was just in the zone and forgot about everything else.”

Saltman (Aegon) recorded a final round 75 to join Grewal in a play-off, and the Liverpudlian got the better of the Scotsman on the second trip down 18 – reward for his hard work pre-season.

“On the first hole I sunk an eight-footer to keep the thing going and then I had a fifteen-footer first and holed it for par and Lloyd had a ten-footer and lipped out,” said Grewal, who had earned just £1331 before collecting the £10,000 winner’s cheque. “I just approached it as Matchplay and went for it, and I got that bit of luck but I think my round deserved it”

“Last year was terrible for me but I put in a lot of work over the winter and I’ve been playing very nicely, even though my scores this year don’t reflect it,” he said, referring to near misses at Faithlegg and Five Lakes.

Overnight leader Busby’s (The Shropshire) round began in the toughest way with two bogeys in his opening two holes but he steadied the ship somewhat with four pars and a birdie through the seventh. But it was all downhill from there for the man in eighth spot on the Order of Merit before the event began as he picked up three bogeys from the eighth, and although he stopped the rot with a birdie at the 13th he dropped three more shots on the way to a round of 78, with two bogeys in his final two holes ultimately costing him the title.

Busby’s closest challenger going into the final round was Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) and like his playing partner, he was never going to recover from a disastrous start with a triple-bogey seven at the first. Haylock – who remains in second spot in the money list – grabbed one stroke back at the third but dropped three more shots on the back nine to shoot 67 and join Busby in a tie for third spot.

Walker Cup player Wallace Booth finished in fifth place, carding a six over par 78 to finish at one under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of trio Nick McCarthy (Moortown), Nicky Harris (Whitefield GC) and Craig Lee who finished on level par for the tournament.

Ryder Cup star Ronan Rafferty finished in a three-way tie for ninth spot at two over par, starting the final round three under and carding a final round of 77. Paul Dwyer’s (Clitheroe) level final round is worth much more in the conditions and he joins Rafferty and Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range) in ninth spot.

Aside from the title and prize money, places in the top 60 and places on the Tour Championship were up for grabs, with Brendon McCarroll finishing in 60th spot after an =28th finish in Scotland and 61st man Gareth Davies ruing missing the cut at Fairmont St Andrews.

To view the full Leaderboard from The PartyPoker.com International Open and the Order of Merit standings ahead of the Tour Championship, visit www.europrotour.com

FINAL SCORES
*1 Sandeep Grewal 72, 73, 67 212 -4 £10,000
2 Lloyd Saltman 68, 69, 75 212 -4 £5,000
=3 Daniel Brooks 68, 68, 77 213 -3 £2,100
=3 James Busby 66, 69, 78 213 -3 £2,100
5 Wallace Booth 71, 66, 78 215 -1 £1,400
=6 Nick McCarthy 70, 71, 75 216 Lvl £1,033.33
=6 Nicky Harris 70, 70, 76 216 Lvl £1,033.33
=6 Craig Lee 69, 71, 76 216 Lvl £1,033.33
=9 Paul Dwyer 71, 75, 72 218 +2 £800
=9 Ronan Rafferty 71, 70, 77 218 +2 £800
=9 Michael Collins 69, 72, 77 218 +2 £800
*Won on second play-off hole.

Taylor sews up Lancashire double after scare

2009-10-09T11:13:00.002+01:00

BARRY Taylor captured the Lancashire PGA Matchplay Championship for an unprecedented fifth successive time at Royal Lytham and St Annes - but only after surviving an injury scare.

The Houghwood assistant was struck in the throat when his ball ricocheted off a tree in his semi-final clash with Chris Mathews only to walk away without so much as a bruise.

“I mishit my seven iron trying to steer a shot through a gap of about two feet,” he explained. “It was a bit of a shock but I knew I’d had a lucky escape because I could have lost a couple of teeth or suffered and even worse fate.

“I don’t know if I could have carried on if that had happened although I was determined to keep hold on my title,” said Taylor, 31, a member of the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup side beaten by the United States at Loch Lomond resort The Carrick last month.

He proceeded to overcome Mathews, from Samlesbury Golf Centre, 5&3 then eclipsed Brookdale assistant Grant Hamerton 3&2 in the final to complete a county double for the second time since 2007 following his victory in the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore in August.

But the one disappointment in Taylor’s season has been his failure to reach the European Tour School final for the 11th time in a row.

“I’m determined to keep trying. I’ll consult my coach Peter Cowen to see what I have to work on and then keep practising,” he added.

Ironically Hamerton, who beat James Barr from the Chilli Dip Academy at Blackrod 3&2 in the other semi, gave up his European Tour career seven years ago when became so disillusioned with the game and stopped playing for a while.
He got off to a shaky start in the final, losing the first three holes before reducing the margin to one.

“The turning point was at the 11th where I lost my ball then Barry made a cracking birdie two at the next and I could not get back at him,” he said.

BUSBY 5/4 TO CLINCH FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS TITLE

2009-10-08T21:42:00.001+01:00

LEADER ONE STROKE CLEAR IN SCOTLAND – CLOSEST CHALLENGER HAYLOCK 9/4

James Busby is a 5/4 favourite with Sky Bet to win The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews, holding a one shot lead going into the final round of the last event of the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour season before the Tour Championship.

Busby (The Shropshire) followed his opening round of 66 with a faultless 67 to go into Friday’s finale at nine under par. Second place in the Order of Merit belongs to Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) and he will be gunning to overturn the one stroke deficit after his second round of 68 of the tournament – he is a 9/4 shot to win the event and take over from absent money list leader Scott Jamieson.

Scottish duo Lloyd Saltman (Aegon) and Wallace Booth are two strokes behind at seven under par, with Booth carding a six under par 66 in the second round and it’s 9/2 the pair for the win.

Sitting five shots off the lead are Craig Lee and Nicky Harris (Whitefield GC) and they are 50/1 while Ryder Cup hero Ronan Rafferty is three under par and 66/1 to win. He is joined on three under by Jack Doherty (North Gailes – 66/1), Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range – 100/1) and Nick McCarthy (Moortown – 100/1).

The final round begins at 8.30am on Friday morning, with live scoring available at www.europrotour.com via the Score Updates link.

Busby preserves slender lead at Fairmont St Andrews

2009-10-08T21:41:00.000+01:00

Shropshire PRO one shot clear before final round in Scotland showdown.

James Busby maintained his one stroke lead with a round of 67 to move to nine under par ahead of the final round of The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews on the PGA EuroPro Tour – the last event for players to claim top 60 places for the Tour Championship.

Busby (The Shropshire) held the overnight lead after opening the tournament with a round of 66 on Wednesday and turned in a faultless round with two birdies on the front nine followed by another on the 15th for his 67. He will tee off just before lunchtime with Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) who began on the back nine and was level through the turn, before picking up four birdies in his last five holes to record his second 68 of the event to sit pretty on eight under par.

Wallace Booth jumped into contention thanks to a fantastic start with four birdies in his first four holes after starting the day one under. He dropped a shot at the sixth but further birdies at the seventh, 11th and 12th to see the Scottish Walker Cup player card a brilliant 66 to move to seven under for the tournament. A birdie at 18 sees Lloyd Saltman (Aegon) join fellow Scotsman on seven under, the sixth birdie of his round of 69 following an opening round of 68.

There’s a three shot gap from the duo tied in third to the pair in fifth at four under, with Craig Lee and Nicky Harris (Whitefield GC) the duo five shots behind Busby. Lee had to battle hard for his one under round of 71, starting with two bogeys and kicking off his back nine double bogey-bogey, but he managed six birdies in all with two in his last two holes to be in the mix on the final day. Harris started with a double bogey but he rallied with four birdies and an eagle to record back-to-back rounds of 70.

Jack Doherty (North Gailes) matched Booth’s round of 66 thanks to six unanswered birdies to lead a group of four players on three under. Former Ryder Cup winner Ronan Rafferty began the day at one under but started on the back nine and went through the turn two over for the day – but rolled back the years with four birdies in five holes to card a round of 70. Nick McCarthy (Moortown) and Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range) are the other two players who join Doherty and Rafferty thanks to rounds of 71 and 72 respectively.

Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) sits in second place on the Order of Merit but was unable to build on his four under par opening round, carding a 74 to drop to two under – with Daniel Gaunt (Burhill GC) matching him round-for-round and joining him in joint 11th place.

Fifty players made the cut at three over and the final round of The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews gets underway at 8.30am with the final pairing of Busby and Brooks teeing-off at 11.50am. The full Leaderboard and live scoring from the final round is available at www.europrotour.com via the Score Updates link.

Busby takes route 66 to first round lead at St Andrews

2009-10-08T10:54:00.000+01:00

James leads by two shots after opening round of The PartyPoker.com International Open

James Busby shot an opening round 66 to lead by two strokes at six under par in The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews in the final event on the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour before the Tour Championship.

Busby (The Shropshire) sits in eighth spot on the Order of Merit and seven birdies in a devastating burst over eight holes saw him shoot a six under round in Scotland. Busby has been in hot form in the second part of 2009, winning The Pandora Open on the EuroPro Tour in August at Burhill GC and more recently winning Stage One of European Tour Qualifying School at Chart Hills. He began on the back nine with four pars but picked up four birdies in the last five holes before picking up three more birdies from the first hole – his tenth – to move to seven under, dropping his only shot at the fifth hole to finish with a 66.

Five players sit two strokes behind Busby including second placed Order of Merit man Tom Haylock and Daniel Gaunt – with the latter stringing together a fantastic late run to rescue his round. Gaunt (Burhill GC) was level at the turn after starting on the back nine, but a double bogey and a bogey at the first and second holes left him three over par with seven holes to play. The Australian rallied brilliantly though, with an eagle at the third followed by five consecutive birdies to see him finish with a round of 68. Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) was also level at the turn after starting on the back nine and picked up back-to-back birdies at three and four then eight and nine in his round of 68.

Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) is in third spot on the money list and like Haylock had a pair of birdies in his closing two holes to thank for his 68, while Lloyd Saltman (Aegon) and Stephen Grant (Grant Engineering) picked up six and seven birdies respectively to sit at four under after the opening day.

Craig Lee, Michael Collins (Mallow Golf Range), James Gill (New Zealand) and former world number one amateur Scott Arnold are one stroke further behind after three under rounds of 69 – themselves one shot ahead of a quartet on two under par.

Former Ryder Cup star Ronan Rafferty enjoyed a solid opening round with a solitary birdie enough to see him finish with a round of 71. David Clark (Morpeth GC) would have liked some of Rafferty’s experience to have rubbed off on him, going through the turn at five under par but taking eight on the par four tenth then picking up four more bogeys in a round of 75.

The second round of The PartyPoker.com International Open from Fairmont St Andrews begins at 7.50am on Thursday morning, with live scoring available at www.europrotour.com via the Score Updates link, where you can also find the full Leaderboard from the opening round.

SURRY 10/1 FAVOURITE FOR SCOTLAND SHOWDOWN

2009-10-07T09:39:00.000+01:00

ORDER OF MERIT LEADER JAMIESON MISSES OUT – RYDER CUP STAR RONAN RAFFERTY 200/1

Sky Bet have made Steve Surry 10/1 favourite to win The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews, beginning on Wednesday October 7 – the final event on the 2009 PGA EuroPro tour calendar before the Tour Championship.

Surry (Cumberwell Park) won the opening event of the year at Collingtree Park in May and played three other events after that before featuring in a number of Challenge Tour events. The Wiltshire pro heads the betting with Order of Merit leader Scott Jamieson not in the field for the event on his home soil.

Jamieson tops the money list by just over £1,000 from Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd – 18/1) ahead of the Scottish finale, with places in the top 60 to reach the Tour Championship up for grabs. The money list leader’s fellow countrymen Jack Doherty (North Gailes) and Elliot Saltman (Aegon) and they are 25/1 and 18/1 to register a win on home soil.

“Steve Surry tops the betting at 10/1 for The PartyPoker.com International Open at Fairmont St Andrews,” said Sky Bet’s John Rhodes. “Tom Haylock is also a two-time winner on Tour this year, and being in second place behind Jamieson on the Order of Merit, he will be looking for that one final burst to see him catapult to the top of the rankings and is a 18/1 shot to do so. The ever-consistent is the same price to land the St Andrews title, while James Busby is in hot form after winning the Pandora Open and most recently in Stage One of European Tour Qualifying School at Chart Hills, and is a 22/1 shot to cap a fine season.”

Former Ryder Cup player Ronan Rafferty joins the field and is a 200/1 shot for victory, while fellow ex-European Tour man Paul Eales is 150/1. To follow the progress of The PartyPoker.com International Open, visit www.europrotour.com for live scoring from Scotland. To view the full market with Sky Bet, click here

Rafferty and Eales included in St Andrews EuroPro Tour finale

2009-10-03T13:17:00.000+01:00

Ryder Cup winner joins field for the last chance saloon ahead of the Tour Championship

The final event of the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour takes place at Fairmont St Andrews at the beginning of October, offering players the last chance to make it into the top 60 and the Tour Championship.

The PartyPoker.com International Open begins on Wednesday October 7 and the line-up for the climax to the 2009 Tour will be set after Friday’s final round. It seems fitting that the final event of the year takes place at the home of golf given the strong showing that Scottish golfers have made on the Tour this year.

Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson leads the Order of Merit and is joined in the top six by two fellow countrymen – fourth placed Jack Doherty (North Gailes) and Elliot Saltman in sixth spot (Aegon). Jamieson beat Saltman in a play-off at The PartyPoker.com European Championship at Prince’s GC in June and his second win on the Tour came in August at The ABC Solutions UK Championship at Wychwood Park. Doherty scooped the second event of the year back in May, winning the Green 17 Faithlegg Championship at Faithlegg GC in Ireland and two third place finishes in August in The Pandora Open at Burhill GC and The Formby Hall Classic (tied) saw him secure a top five spot and exemption to the second phase of European Tour Qualifying School.

Saltman achieved the same status thanks to Jamieson’s position of in the Challenge Tour rankings, and the powerful 27 year-old has recorded some of the most impressive individual rounds this year, with a course record 65 at Formby Hall. However, victory has eluded Saltman so far, with his runners-up berth to Jamieson in Kent following his tie for second in the opening event at Collingtree Park.

Jamieson’s lead at the top of the money list is a slender one, with just over £1,000 between him and Tom Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) in second place. Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) is in third spot while Paul Dwyer (Clitheroe) sits between Doherty and Saltman in fifth position.

Aside from the current crop of EuroPro players striving for a top 50 spot, interest comes from an impressive list of invited players. Top of the pile is 1989 Ryder Cup winner Ronan Rafferty who won the Order of Merit in that year and has seven European Tour wins to his name, and he is joined by ex-European Tour pro Paul Eales. Paul McKechnie returns to the Tour after winning the 2002 Tour Championship and Order of Merit, and European and Asian Tour man Craig Lee recently topped the European Tour Qualifying School at Dundonald Links.

Three Scotsmen in Great Britain and Ireland’s 2009 Walker Cup also take part on home turf, with team members Gavin Dear and Wallis Booth joined by squad man Keir McNicholl.

Live scoring of The PartyPoker.com International Open begins on Wednesday morning at www.europrotour.com, where you can also find the full list of entries for the event and the current Order of Merit standings.

Sunshine all the way for champ Cheetham

2009-10-01T09:01:00.002+01:00

NEIL Cheetham won the Thompson Davis PGA North Region Championship at Marriott Hollins Hall then headed back to his Sheffield home to pack his bags for a Friday flight to Johannesburg.

The 42-year-old professional, who has just completed his summer coaching stint at Dore and Totley, is returning to South Africa to resume his playing career on the Sunshine Tour.

But he will be back in Britain in three weeks to compete in the Srixon PGA Play-offs at Little Aston after qualifying for topping the region’s Order of Merit for the second time since in nine years.

“It’s all a bit hectic because I’ve two tournaments over there but I’m used to travelling. I finished in the leading 60 last winter to keep my card and that will get me into a few European Tour events as well,” said Cheetham who signed off with a 67 at the Shipley club, five-under-par in total, to win by four shots from Woodsome Hall’s David Astin.

Westerhope professional George Cowan, who led by two shots overnight, stayed in the box seat until half-way through the final round but three bogeys in four holes from the 11th cost him dearly as Cheetham claimed pole position.

He produced three birdies and one bogey on each loop and knew it was going to be his day when he rolled in a monster putt at the 15th.

“I drained it from at least 60 feet and it had a four-foot break,” he said. “I did not know until I walked off the green that I had a bit of a cushion.”

Cheetham has been region’s most consistent player all season, tying second in the Manchester Open and third in the Leeds Cup, attributing his success to his coach Haydn Selby Green, who won the title in 1991.

Cowan closed with 74 to share third place with PGA Cup player Will Barnes, from Garstang, who returned 69. But the round off the day was a 66 from former Ryder Cup man and European Seniors’ Tour winner Gordon Brand, attached to Hollins Hall, who only just survived the cut.

Meanwhile, Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady and John Wells, from Cherry Burton, finished second and third respectively in the Order of Merit and also earned their place in the Little Aston field.

LEADING SCORES: 137 Neil Cheetham (Dore & Totley) 70 67; 141 David Astin (Woodsome Hall) 70 71; 142 Will Barnes (Garstang) 73 69, George Cowan (Westerhope) 68 74; 143 Gordon Brand (Marriott Hollins Hall) 77 66, John Wells (Cherry Burton) 75 68, Graham Cox (Davenport) 74 69, David Smith (Swinton Park) 72 71, Fraser Kelley (Malton & Norton) 72 71, Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire) 70 73.

MERIT LEADERS: 687 Neil Cheetham (Dore & Totley); 464 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall); 431 John Wells (Cherry Burton); 386 Steve Parry (unatt); 376 George Cowan (Westerhope); 375 Fraser Kelley (Malton & Norton); 355 Chris Clarke (Waterfront Golf); 353 David Smith (Swinton Park); 328 Paul Eales (Garstang); 325 Adrian Ambler (Walton Golf Centre).

Wind cheater Cowan storms ahead

2009-09-30T09:17:00.000+01:00

GEORGE Cowan mastered a testing wind and slick greens to post an opening round of three-under-par 68 for a two shot lead in the Thompson Davis PGA North Region Championship at Marriott Hollins Hall.

The 29-year-old Westerhope professional would have put even more space between himself and the chasing pack of five players but for a couple of lapses on the home stretch. “I missed the green with my approach to the 16th then drove into the thistles on the next hole,” he explained.

But Cowan, whose one other bogey came at the second, more than compensated for his mistakes with four birdies on the outward half and an eagle at the 365-yard 12th which he drove comfortably before draining a five-foot putt. “I’m glad I got that on the card because the back nine was tough,” he added.

The same stretch clearly did not present a problem for David Shacklady, the most prolific player on the regional circuit despite his failure to win an Order of Merit title in 20 years of trying.

The Mossock Hall man started his round at the 10th and was four-under-par for seven holes before erring on the 18th. He then dropped four more strokes, offset by a brace of birdies in his 70.

On the same mark was past champion Robert Wragg, from Hallowes, who was on course for the outright lead until he ran up a treble bogey on the ninth, his last hole, after his four iron tee-shot plunged into a rocky outcrop. "I had to take the punishment,” he said ruefully.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS: 68 George Cowan (Westerhope); 70 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall), Aran Wainwright (Mid-Yorks), Robert Wragg (Hallowes), David Astin (Woodsome Hall), Neil Cheetham (Dore & Totley); 71 David Thwaites (Brookdale), Sean Doherty (Bury), Chris Sands (SkyCaddie), Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool); 72 Fraser Kelley (Malton & Norton), Vincent Guest (Teesside), Alex Boyton (Skidby Lakes), David Smith (Swinton Park).

Sargent calls the shots again

2009-09-29T08:10:00.000+01:00

NICK Sargent won his eighth pro-am in three months when he top scored in the curtain-raiser for the Thompson Davis PGA North Region Championship at Marriott Hollins Hall.

The Eastham Lodge professional grabbed five birdies in a three-under-par 68 to prevail by a shot from Close House's Jonathan Lupton and fellow North Easterner George Cowan, from Westerhope.

Bridlington Links assistant Alex Belt defends his title in the 36-hole tournament which starts today (Tuesday).

PGA Cup player Andrew Barnett, from North Wales, guided his team to success with a 14-under-par total to deny Sargent a double by one stroke.

THOMPSON DAVIS PGA NORTH REGION CH'SHIP PRO-AM(Marriott Hollins Hall): 68 Nick Sargent (Eastham Lodge); 69 Jonathan Lupton (Close House) 70 George Cowan (Westerhope); 72 Mark Bradley (Chorley).

East Midlands player takes top spot in first Golfshake.com Open

2009-09-28T09:55:00.001+01:00

Lionel Roberts of Nottinghamshire took the top spot in the first Golfshake.com Open representing the high handicap category from the East Midlands region.

Playing off a 19 handicap and receiving 14 strokes on the day he shot an impressive 33 points at De Vere Wychwood Park at the final event on Saturday 19th September 2009. Lionel, said: 'The whole event was fantastic and Wychwood Park was a fitting venue for the final, I'm just pleased I managed to hold it together on such a testing course.'

The inaugural year of the Golfshake.com Open, saw 8 regional events organised by members taking place across 8 courses around the country representing 7 regions with over 300 people it total taking part. The tournaments entrants were split in 2 handicap categories with 30 finalists of the regional events making it through to the final event at Wychwood Park.

GolfShake.com is Europe's leading golf score tracking, handicap and community website; featuring society management, 10000s of course reviews and active forums. Their Managing Director, Darren Ramowski said 'It was great to see members from the site come together to organise the regional events with so many people taking part'

He added, 'Wychwood Park offered a true golf test and challenge for the competitors and was a fantastic venue for the final. Most of the players struggled for consistency especially around Wychwood's Amen corner of 13,14,15 and 16. Lionel's performance was worthy of taking the top spot with a consistency over the front and back 9 which very few other players managed to do.'

Second spot went to Steve Martin from the Yorkshire region who also shot 33 points but missed out on countback. Steve, from Huddersfield commented: 'The course was a great challenge, and I agree with the club pro wholeheartedly in that both good and bad shots got their just rewards. Thanks for a truly wonderful day the organisation was superb, I shall definitely be entering next years competition. '

The 3rd overall prize winner went to Mark Seymour who was the highest placed low handicap qualifier who carded 31 points in 4th place overall and qualifying from the South West region.
The winners all received a golf break from De Vere plus prizes from Golfbreaks.com and clothing from Bunker Mentality.

Top 10 scores: Lionel Roberts (14) 33 pts, Steve Martin (19) 33 pts, Anthony kempsell (16) 32 pts, Mark Seymour (13) 31 pts, Darren Millichip (8) 28 pts, Steve Johnson (19) 27 pts, David Roth (13) 27 pts, Wayne Santorini (11) 26 pts, Stephen Slack (13) 26 pts, Alan Davidson (11) 26 pts.

Further information and full results can be found here.

Leading EuroPro Tour players earn additional Morocco finale

2009-09-25T10:08:00.001+01:00

Top 15 players after Tour Championships heading for Marrakesh in December.

The top 15 players on the final Order of Merit on this year’s PGA EuroPro Tour will battle it out for a €70,000 prize pool in the Samanah Masters 2009 Satellite Tours Grand Finale at the Samanah Country Club in Marrakesh.

With October’s Tour Championship venue to be announced shortly, the Samanah Masters 2009 is an added bonus for this year’s top performers, who will meet their counterparts from the Alps, Nordic and EPD Tours plus the top three from the Royal Moroccan Pro Tour in the 54-hole tournament which will start on December 8 in Morocco.

The first prize of €10,000 will go to the winner of the tournament at the Jack Nicklaus designed course which will finish on December 10 – with an opening pro-am on December 6 and a closing pro-am on December 11.

“I am delighted that we can offer the cream of this year’s crop the chance to test themselves against the best players from the Alps Tour, the Nordic Tour and the EPD Tour,” said Danny Nickless, the Operation Manager of the Tour. “Samanah Country Club is a fantastic setting for such a great event and it’s a tribute to the quality of the PGA EuroPro Tour that our players will be taking part in this exiting climax to the golfing year.”

The final event on the main Tour is The PartyPoker.com International Open 2009 at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland on October 7, followed by the Tour Championship.

Belt bids to tie up PGA North Region Championship double

2009-09-22T17:07:00.002+01:00

ALEX Belt attempts to become the first professional to successfully defend the PGA North Region Championship for nearly 40 years at Marriott Hollins Hall Golf and Country Club next week (Sept 29-30).

And if the Bridlington Links assistant continues the form that has swept him to two titles this season he’s every chance of emulating former Ryder Cup man Lionel Platts, the last player to achieve the double back in 1970-71.

Belt, 23, has already notched the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Welsh Open Young PGA Professional Championship and North Region Assistants’ Tournament for the Harold Lees Trophy to he will take some stopping in the 36-hole tournament, sponsored by International freight forwarders Thomson Davis, which starts on Tuesday, a day after the pro-am.

One of his biggest threats is 31 years his senior - Ilkley-based Gordon Brand who has so far not repeated his 2008 success when he landed the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors’ Championship and the Travis Perkins Masters.

But he has the advantage of regularly practising at Hollins Hall so local knowledge could be a key factor.

Brand, a former Ryder Cup player, maintained his playing privileges on the PGA European Tour from 1977 to 1994 but perhaps his career highlight came when he was runner-up in the 1986 Open Championship at Turnberry, five strokes behind Greg Norman.

Before progressing to senior level, he tried his hand at refereeing, ran a car-washing business and played regularly in North Region events, winning the Leeds Cup in 1988.

Also expected to be in contention is Manchester Open champion Chris Hanson, who recently moved to Woodsome Hall; Leeds Cup winner Chris Clarke, a first year trainee assistant at Wath club Waterfront Golf, and Jonathan Lupton, from Close House near Newcastle, who recently claimed the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship, in association with FootJoy.

Former European Tour professional Neil Cheetham, attached to Dore and Totley, leads the Order of Merit which will be decided at the end of the tournament.

Final Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit Points Table 2009

2009-09-22T12:42:00.000+01:00

The final Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit Points Table 2009 is shown below.

Michael Bedford , Prestbury = 850
Mark Young , Longridge = 850
Carl Thompson , Manchester = 530
John Carroll , Huyton & Prescot = 510
Paul McFerran , Childwall = 505
Jack Brooks , Pleasington = 470
Tommy Fleetwood , Formby Hall = 410
Ollie Smith , Ashton-on-Mersey = 395
Ian Kenwright , Haydock Park = 370
Matthew Cox , Royal Birkdale = 300
Craig Fort , Nelson = 300
Mark Rabone , S&A = 285
James Wilson , Formby = 270
Zac Harrison , Preston = 250
Charles Durnian , Fairhaven = 245
Ken Hudson , Hart Common = 235
Alex Hogben , Ringway = 230
Roger Smithies , Manchester = 225
Michael Hearn , Chorley = 224
Mark Ashworth , Clitheroe = 195
Henry Tomlinson , Royal Lytham = 185
Jay McGarvey , Whitefield = 180
Oliver Pantoja , Ashton-on-Mersey = 170
Daniel Nutter , Clitheroe = 170
James Robinson , S&A = 165
Steve Bryan , Bolton Old Links = 165
Richie Blundell , Hillside = 160
Andrew Palmer , Chorley = 155
Charles Ford , Kirby Muxloe = 150
Thomas Winn , Morecambe = 150
David Hurd , Leasowe = 150
David Corsby , Royal Lytham = 150
Martin Thomas , Royal Liverpool = 150
Jamie Plews , Mere = 150
Shaun Field , Nelson = 150
Michael Hunt , Pleasington = 135
Tom Stewart , St Annes Old Links = 130
Ewan Patterson , St Annes Old Links = 125
Chris Rabbich , Crompton & Royton = 125
Chris Kneen , Castletown = 120
Daniel Osbaldeston , Prestbury = 120
Adam Wills , Sandiway = 115
Michael Harrington , Shrigley Hall = 110
James Oliphant , Oliva Nova = 105
Daniel Sefton , Lancaster = 105
Marcus Mohr , Hawarden = 100
Bob Bardsley , Denton = 100
David Holt , Shaw Hill = 100
Andrew Addison , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 100
Mark Duncalf , Formby = 100
Gareth Hastie , Dunscar = 95
David Marshall , The Worcestshire = 90
Mark Geddes , Prenton = 90
Paul Howard , Southport & Ainsdale = 90
Daryl Callister , Mount Murray = 90
Ben Bellfield , Didsbury = 75
Jon Greenough , West Lancs = 75
Sam Connor , Sandiway = 75
Craig Cuthbert , Prestwich = 75
James Newton , Prestbury = 75
Andy Runciman , Bolton = 75
Martin Walsh , Styal = 75
Paul Thornton , St Annes Old Links = 75
Robert Beecham , Nelson = 75
Andy McLoughney , Blackpool North Shore = 70
Sean Nicholls , St Annes Old Links = 65
Russell Hayhoe , Ponteland = 65
Paul Biggins , Accrington = 65
Anthony Stirling , Formby = 65
Lee Chenery , Lancaster = 65
David Simpson , Penrith = 60
Colin Brown , Bromborough = 60
Scott Gowland , Blackpool North Shore = 60
M O'Hara , Formby = 60
Tony Holt , Wilpshire = 60
Kris Sutcliffe , Crompton & Royton = 60
Andy Taylor , Chorley = 60
Joe Bowers , New Mills = 60
Liam Ball , Chorley = 60
Nick Uttley , Nelson = 60
Chris Harrison , Sandiway = 55
Paul Kinnear , Formby Hall = 55
Robert Fawcett , Dukinfield = 55
Jonathan Corke , Rowany = 50
Will Jones , Oswestry = 50
Stephen Jopson , Carlisle = 50
Nick Jackson , Chorley = 50
Craig Connell , Ashton & Lea = 50
David Hannis , Blackpool North Shore = 50
Tom Irwin , Croham Hurst = 50
Andrew Millray , Windermere = 50
Jake Watson , St Annes Old Links = 50
Richard Pickard , Mere = 45
Mark Millhouse , Bolton = 45
Mike Kelly , Ashton-under-Lyne = 45
Ashley Sage , Sandiway = 45
Kyle Hughes , Formby Hall = 45
Sam Roberts , Llanymynech = 45
Mikiel Tchobanian , Blackpool North Shore = 45
David Hughes , West Lancs = 45
Jonathan Hurst , Shaw Hill = 45
Martin France , Lymm = 45
Ciaran Doherty , Bury = 45
Chris Lander , Hesketh = 45
Ian Short , Nelson = 45
Kevin Reilly , S&A = 40
Richard Kilshaw , Hillside = 40
Declan Dixon , Fairhaven = 40
Graham Jackson , Manchester = 40
Luke Hignall , Prenton = 40
Gareth Bradley , Bramhall = 40
Ian Hardman , Accrington = 40
Josh Evans , Mere = 40
Barry Bellfield , Eaton = 40
Gary Lacy , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 40
Terry Eardley , Burslem = 40
Andrew Hill , Hazel Grove = 40
Louie Laviscount , Wilpshire = 40
Adam Andrews , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 40
David Smethurst , Formby = 35
David Peel , Stockport = 30
Paul Lowey , Rowany = 30
Kristian Taylor , Formby = 30
Simon Coumbe , Pontefract = 30
Michael Downs , San Roque = 30
Reece Cranfield , Haigh Hall = 30
Mike Howarth , Penwortham = 30
Chris Cuthbert , Prestwich = 30
Brian McCann , Morecambe = 30
Kyle Evans , Prenton = 30
Lee Collinson , Blackpool Park = 30
Scott Smallman , Newcastle-under-Lyne = 30
Andy Heesom , Clitheroe = 30
Daniel Rowley , Shipley = 30
Ryan Corbett , West Lancs = 30
Henry Featherstone , Ringway = 30
Nick Fallows , North Manchester = 30
Adam Perfect , Ashton-under-Lyne = 30
Ray Tennant , Formby Hall = 30
Lee Ormerod , Nelson = 30
Jonathan Harrison , S&A = 25
Anthony Bolton , Formby = 25
Chris Bracewell , Ashton & Lea = 25
Curtis Dean , St Annes Old Links = 25
Graham Roberts , Eaton = 25
Sam Stuart , St Annes Old Links = 25
Andrew Hardie , Astbury = 25
Liam Hunt , High Legh Park = 25
Anthony Holden , Preston = 25
Kurt Van Flute , Childwall = 25
Tony Flanagan , Clitheroe = 25
Drew Molloy , Hillside = 20
Tim Cooper , Marriott Worsley Park = 20
Matthew Galley , Morecambe = 20
Tom Stewart , St Annes Old Links = 20
Steve Benton , South Staffs = 20
Sean Towndrow , S&A = 20
Adam Smith , Accrington = 20
Neil Jones , Vicars Cross = 20
Sam Townend , Wilpshire = 20
Bradley Clisham , Grange Park = 20
Neil Wain , Trentham = 20
Peter Hadfield , Hazel Grove = 20
Andy Allen , Crompton & Royton = 20
James , Formby = 20
Chris Bainbridge , Bolton Old Links = 20
Ken Sargent , Haydock Park = 20
Gareth Clark , Manchester = 15
Paul Jones , Royal Birkdale = 15
Jamie Guy , Bromborough = 15
Dean Moseley , Blackpool North Shore = 15
Lee Mayers , Fairhaven = 15
Liam Kindon , North Manchester = 15
Ian Winstanley , Formby = 15
Rob Whatham , Grange Park = 15
Andrew Hull , Wakefield = 15
Laim Jeffrey , Haigh Hall = 15
Mark Rogers , Hazel Grove = 10
Kevin Kean , Ashton-on-Mersey = 10
Gavin Nesbit , Boldon = 10
Paul Armstrong , Penwortham = 10
Sean Blinkhorn , Leigh = 10
Paul Knight , Eastham Lodge = 10
Andrew Davis , Manchester = 10
David Simpson , Lytham Green Drive = 10
Michael Bennett , Bury = 10
Greg McIllroy , Southport Old Links = 10
Lee Crombleholme , Leigh = 10
James Hall , Royal Lytham = 10
John Flint , Crompton & Royton = 10
Lee Pargeter , Fulford = 10
Liam Pickard , Nelson = 10

Fort holds firm in battle of Trafalgar

2009-09-21T19:44:00.000+01:00

CRAIG Fort led the home charge in the Trafalgar Trophy at Nelson as seven members finished in the top 12 in the final Mitsushiba Northern Order fixture of the campaign.

Fort eagled the 484-yard third hole in each round of 65 and 66 and picked up nine birdies in a nine-under-par total. And he also won by nine shots from clubmate Shaun Field, despite double bogeying his last hole.

With Prestbury player Mike Bedford having already denied Longridge’s Mark Young a record third successive merit title the previous week, Manchester Hopwood’s Carl Thompson held on to third place without figuring in this event.

DETAILS: 131 Craig Fort (Nelson) 65 66; 140 Shaun Field (Nelson) 67 73; 142 Robert Beecham (Nelson) 71 71, Nick Uttley (Nelson) 70 72; 145 Mark Rabone (S&A) 76 69; 146 Ian Short (Nelson) 71 75, Lee Chenery (Lancaster) 69 77; 147 Niall Ormerod (Nelson) 74 73, Tony Flanagan (Clitheroe) 71 76; 148 Ken Sargent (Haydock Park) 75 73, Liam Jeffrey (Haigh Hall) 74 74, Dean Pickard (Nelson) 74 74.

ORDER OF MERIT FINAL LEADERS: 850pts Mike Bedford (Prestbury), Mark Young (Longridge); 530 Carl Thompson (Manchester); 510 John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot); 505 Paul McFerran (Childwall); 470 Jack Brooks (Pleasington); 410 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall); 395 Ollie Smith (Ashton-on-Mersey); 370 Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park); 300 Matthew Cox (Royal Birkdale), Craig Fort (Nelson); 285 Mark Rabone (S&A); 270 James Wilson (Formby); 250 Zac Harrison (Preston); 245 Charles Durnian (Fairhaven).

Sargent in command

2009-09-17T10:55:00.000+01:00

NICK Sargent led from the front as he battled his way to his seventh win of the season on the PGA North Region circuit.

The Eastham Lodge professional fired rounds of 65 and 66 to finished nine-under-par and five shots clear in the Aberdovey and Royal St David’s Pro-am.

He shrugged off the chasing back, headed by Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady, with by picking up four birdies in the last nine holes at Royal St David’s.

LEADING SCORES: 131 Nick Sargent (Eastham Lodge) 65 66; 136 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) 68 68; 141 Christopher Crowder (Lee Park) 72 69; 142 Gareth Jones (Sandiway) 69 73; 143 Matthew Tottey (North Wales) 72 71, Craig Corrigan (Haigh Hall) 72 71.

Latest 2009 Northern Order of Merit Table

2009-09-17T08:51:00.002+01:00

The latest Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit points table, with just one event to be played, is shown below.

Neither Mike Bedford or Mark Young will be competing in The Trafalgar Trophy at Nelson Golf Club therefore Bedford wins the title due to his four victories this season compared to just one for Young.

Latest Northern Order of Merit Points Table

Michael Bedford , Prestbury = 850
Mark Young , Longridge = 850
Carl Thompson , Manchester = 530
John Carroll , Huyton & Prescot = 510
Paul McFerran , Childwall = 505
Jack Brooks , Pleasington = 470
Tommy Fleetwood , Formby Hall = 410
Ollie Smith , Ashton-on-Mersey = 395
Ian Kenwright , Haydock Park = 370
Matthew Cox , Royal Birkdale = 300
James Wilson , Formby = 270
Zac Harrison , Preston = 250
Charles Durnian , Fairhaven = 245
Ken Hudson , Hart Common = 235
Mark Rabone , S&A = 235
Alex Hogben , Ringway = 230
Roger Smithies , Manchester = 225
Michael Hearn , Chorley = 224
Mark Ashworth , Clitheroe = 195
Henry Tomlinson , Royal Lytham = 185
Jay McGarvey , Whitefield = 180
Oliver Pantoja , Ashton-on-Mersey = 170
Daniel Nutter , Clitheroe = 170
James Robinson , S&A = 165
Steve Bryan , Bolton Old Links = 165
Richie Blundell , Hillside = 160
Andrew Palmer , Chorley = 155
Charles Ford , Kirby Muxloe = 150
Thomas Winn , Morecambe = 150
David Hurd , Leasowe = 150
Craig Fort , Nelson = 150
David Corsby , Royal Lytham = 150
Martin Thomas , Royal Liverpool = 150
Jamie Plews , Mere = 150
Michael Hunt , Pleasington = 135
Tom Stewart , St Annes Old Links = 130
Ewan Patterson , St Annes Old Links = 125
Chris Rabbich , Crompton & Royton = 125
Chris Kneen , Castletown = 120
Daniel Osbaldeston , Prestbury = 120
Adam Wills , Sandiway = 115
Michael Harrington , Shrigley Hall = 110
James Oliphant , Oliva Nova = 105
Daniel Sefton , Lancaster = 105
Marcus Mohr , Hawarden = 100
Bob Bardsley , Denton = 100
David Holt , Shaw Hill = 100
Andrew Addison , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 100
Mark Duncalf , Formby = 100
Gareth Hastie , Dunscar = 95
David Marshall , The Worcestshire = 90
Mark Geddes , Prenton = 90
Paul Howard , Southport & Ainsdale = 90
Daryl Callister , Mount Murray = 90
Ben Bellfield , Didsbury = 75
Jon Greenough , West Lancs = 75
Sam Connor , Sandiway = 75
Craig Cuthbert , Prestwich = 75
James Newton , Prestbury = 75
Andy Runciman , Bolton = 75
Martin Walsh , Styal = 75
Paul Thornton , St Annes Old Links = 75
Andy McLoughney , Blackpool North Shore = 70
Sean Nicholls , St Annes Old Links = 65
Russell Hayhoe , Ponteland = 65
Paul Biggins , Accrington = 65
Anthony Stirling , Formby = 65
David Simpson , Penrith = 60
Colin Brown , Bromborough = 60
Scott Gowland , Blackpool North Shore = 60
M O'Hara , Formby = 60
Tony Holt , Wilpshire = 60
Kris Sutcliffe , Crompton & Royton = 60
Andy Taylor , Chorley = 60
Joe Bowers , New Mills = 60
Liam Ball , Chorley = 60
Chris Harrison , Sandiway = 55
Paul Kinnear , Formby Hall = 55
Robert Fawcett , Dukinfield = 55
Jonathan Corke , Rowany = 50
Will Jones , Oswestry = 50
Stephen Jopson , Carlisle = 50
Nick Jackson , Chorley = 50
Craig Connell , Ashton & Lea = 50
David Hannis , Blackpool North Shore = 50
Tom Irwin , Croham Hurst = 50
Andrew Millray , Windermere = 50
Shawn Field , Nelson = 50
Jake Watson , St Annes Old Links = 50
Richard Pickard , Mere = 45
Mark Millhouse , Bolton = 45
Mike Kelly , Ashton-under-Lyne = 45
Ashley Sage , Sandiway = 45
Kyle Hughes , Formby Hall = 45
Sam Roberts , Llanymynech = 45
Mikiel Tchobanian , Blackpool North Shore = 45
David Hughes , West Lancs = 45
Jonathan Hurst , Shaw Hill = 45
Martin France , Lymm = 45
Ciaran Doherty , Bury = 45
Chris Lander , Hesketh = 45
Kevin Reilly , S&A = 40
Richard Kilshaw , Hillside = 40
Declan Dixon , Fairhaven = 40
Graham Jackson , Manchester = 40
Luke Hignall , Prenton = 40
Gareth Bradley , Bramhall = 40
Ian Hardman , Accrington = 40
Josh Evans , Mere = 40
Barry Bellfield , Eaton = 40
Gary Lacy , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 40
Terry Eardley , Burslem = 40
Andrew Hill , Hazel Grove = 40
Louie Laviscount , Wilpshire = 40
Adam Andrews , Ashton-in-Makerfield = 40
David Smethurst , Formby = 35
David Peel , Stockport = 30
Paul Lowey , Rowany = 30
Kristian Taylor , Formby = 30
Simon Coumbe , Pontefract = 30
Michael Downs , San Roque = 30
Reece Cranfield , Haigh Hall = 30
Mike Howarth , Penwortham = 30
Chris Cuthbert , Prestwich = 30
Brian McCann , Morecambe = 30
Kyle Evans , Prenton = 30
Lee Collinson , Blackpool Park = 30
Scott Smallman , Newcastle-under-Lyne = 30
Andy Heesom , Clitheroe = 30
Daniel Rowley , Shipley = 30
Ryan Corbett , West Lancs = 30
Henry Featherstone , Ringway = 30
Nick Fallows , North Manchester = 30
Adam Perfect , Ashton-under-Lyne = 30
Ray Tennant , Formby Hall = 30
Jonathan Harrison , S&A = 25
Anthony Bolton , Formby = 25
Chris Bracewell , Ashton & Lea = 25
Curtis Dean , St Annes Old Links = 25
Lee Chenery , Lancaster = 25
Graham Roberts , Eaton = 25
Sam Stuart , St Annes Old Links = 25
Andrew Hardie , Astbury = 25
Liam Hunt , High Legh Park = 25
Anthony Holden , Preston = 25
Kurt Van Flute , Childwall = 25
Drew Molloy , Hillside = 20
Tim Cooper , Marriott Worsley Park = 20
Matthew Galley , Morecambe = 20
Tom Stewart , St Annes Old Links = 20
Steve Benton , South Staffs = 20
Sean Towndrow , S&A = 20
Adam Smith , Accrington = 20
Neil Jones , Vicars Cross = 20
Sam Townend , Wilpshire = 20
Bradley Clisham , Grange Park = 20
Neil Wain , Trentham = 20
Peter Hadfield , Hazel Grove = 20
Andy Allen , Crompton & Royton = 20
James , Formby = 20
Chris Bainbridge , Bolton Old Links = 20
Gareth Clark , Manchester = 15
Paul Jones , Royal Birkdale = 15
Jamie Guy , Bromborough = 15
Dean Moseley , Blackpool North Shore = 15
Lee Mayers , Fairhaven = 15
Liam Kindon , North Manchester = 15
Ian Winstanley , Formby = 15
Rob Whatham , Grange Park = 15
Andrew Hull , Wakefield = 15
Mark Rogers , Hazel Grove = 10
Kevin Kean , Ashton-on-Mersey = 10
Gavin Nesbit , Boldon = 10
Paul Armstrong , Penwortham = 10
Sean Blinkhorn , Leigh = 10
Paul Knight , Eastham Lodge = 10
Andrew Davis , Manchester = 10
David Simpson , Lytham Green Drive = 10
Michael Bennett , Bury = 10
Greg McIllroy , Southport Old Links = 10
Lee Crombleholme , Leigh = 10
James Hall , Royal Lytham = 10
John Flint , Crompton & Royton = 10
Lee Pargeter , Fulford = 10