Faldo Series

A Record Number of Young Golfers Enter the 2010 Faldo Series Europe

Almost 2,000 of Europe’s leading young golfers will follow in the footsteps of Rory McElroy, Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren, Oliver Fisher and Melissa Reid when they tee up in the 2010 Faldo Series Europe which began with the opening event at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire, on March 31–April 1.

McIlroy, Dougherty, Warren, Fisher, and Reid all won at least one event on previous Faldo Series’ before using their experiences to help them to forge successful professional careers.

McIlroy, a Faldo Series champion in both 2004 and 2006, is currently the Touring Professional at the Lough Erne Resort in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, which recently became the European Home of the Faldo Series and which will stage both a Faldo Series Ireland Championship on May 24-25 and the 2010 Faldo Series Grand Final on September 21-23.

The Faldo Series was created by six-time Major champion, Sir Nick Faldo, back in 1996 to help to identify and nurture the next generations of young champions and with his support and with the help of the likes of The R&A, the European Tour, and Lough Erne Resort it has developed into one of the most prestigious events on the youth golfing calendar.

This year’s Faldo Series Europe comprises a record 16 events in England, Greece, Northern Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, The Netherlands and Wales and comes hard on the heels of the successful 2009 Faldo Series Asia which comprised 15 tournaments in 12 countries across Asia and the Middle East and culminated in March when Japan’s Masamichi Ito won the Grand Final over the Faldo Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Ito, 2010 Faldo Series Asia Girls’ champion Thidapa Suwannapura from Thailand, and the other age group champions at Mission Hills, have all been invited to the 2010 Faldo Series Europe Grand Final at The Lough Erne Resort where they will come face to face with the winners from all 16 tournaments that lead into this year’s Grand Final. 

“I am delighted to announce this year’s Faldo Series Europe has been extended to include new events in Greece, Slovakia and The Netherlands and will see more players participating than ever before,” said Faldo.

“It is very encouraging and it’s particularly pleasing to see a significant increase in the number of girls entering the Series,” he added. “It all bodes well for what I am sure will be an excellent Series and a tremendous Grand Final at the new home of the Faldo Series Europe at Lough Erne Resort.”

The Race to Lough Erne starts with the opening event at
Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire, on March 31-April 1
and then takes in further Championships at
Moortown Golf Club, Yorkshire (April 7-8),
West Lancs Golf Club, Lancashire (April 22-23),
Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey (May 5-6),
Royal Ashdown Forest, East Sussex (May 18-19),
Lough Erne Resort, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (May 24-25),
Le Meridien Moscow Country Club, Russia (June 8-10),
Notts Golf Club, Nottinghamshire (June 9-10),
The Roxburghe Golf and Country Club, Kelso, Scotland (June 23-24),
Goyer Golf and Country Club, near Amsterdam, The Netherlands (July 21-21),
Costa Navarino Resort, Messinia, Greece (July 26-28),
The Vale Resort, near Cardiff, Wales (August 17-18),
Black Stork Golf Resort, Velka Lomnica, Slovakia (August 24-26),
Trentham Park Golf Club, Staffordshire (August 25-26)
and a Faldo Series South America Championship (tbc) .

All age group winners (Boys’ Under-21, Boys’ Under-18, Boys’ Under-16, Girls’ Under-21 and Girls’ Under-16) then progress to the 2010 Faldo Series Europe Grand Final at the Lough Erne Resort, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (September 21-23), where they will come face to face with the winners from the 2010 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills.

Sir Nick Faldo created the Faldo Series (charity number 1102719) back in 1996 and it now comprises over 30 tournaments in more than 25 countries in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Each year over 5,000 talented young boys and girls aged between 12 and 21 benefit from a unique combination of tournament experience and expert advice, including support and advice from Sir Nick Faldo himself. The Faldo Series also aims to create access to the sport for a younger audience through a number of grass-roots initiatives. 
For more information about the Faldo Series Europe call+44 (0)1753 829711 or visit www.nickfaldo.com.

R&A Junior Open runner-up Jordan Spieth

(16) to make debut on US PGA Tour

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Two years ago this summer, in the R&A Junior Open for Under-16 year olds, I was at Hesketh, Lancashire to report on America's Jordan Spieth from Texas finishing as the leading boy, beaten by one shot by the first girl ever to take the overall championship: Moriya Jutanugarn (Thailand), playing for the first time in a tournament over a links course.

Moriya underlined that performance by returning to Britain last September to win The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy over the Dundonald Links, Ayrshire.

And what of Jordan Spieth? It was obvious as a 14 going on 15-year-old that he was an exceptional talent. He has gone from strength to strength, winning last year's US boys' amateur championship.

Now Jordan, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has accepted an exemption to play in the US PGA Tour's HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Spieth, a 16-year-old junior at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, is the event's first amateur exemption since 1995. He also finished second in the US Junior PGA Championship last year and was named the Rolex Junior Player of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association.
He currently is ranked No. 1 in the Polo Golf Junior Rankings in the States.
"We are delighted that Jordan will make his first US PGA Tour start at our championship here in his hometown," event chairman George Conant said. "We try to provide opportunities to young players that we believe will be future stars, and there's no doubt that Jordan Spieth fits that mold."
The only previous amateur exemptions granted by the tournament were to Trip Kuehne (1995), Justin Leonard (1993) and Tiger Woods (1993).
The HP Byron Nelson Championship will be held at the TPC Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas in Irving, Texas from May 19-23.

Jordan Spieth: Remember the name. You're going to hear it a lot more often over the next decade.

East Lothian Juniors County Cup

Craigielaw win East Lothian Juniors County Cup

By DAVID WARREN
East Lothian Junior League secretary

Haddington Captain Andrew Douglas presenting the Junior County Cup

to Greg Smail flanked by Team mates (L-R) Grant Forrest, Gabrielle MacDonald and Jack Dow.

This knock-out alternate shot event was played on Thursday and Friday at a Haddington course in fine condition. The format consisted of two foursomes matches, the winners being decided by aggregate holes up. The first match was a scratch game and the second was a handicap game. Gullane were seeking a “treble” having won the County League and Strokeplay events already.
Tantallon, one of the favourites, were defeated 1 up in the first round by the Musselburgh Old Team, but they in turn were beaten 1 up by Gullane. Gullane therefore reached the final where they faced Craigielaw, recent victors in the Scottish Junior Team Championship. Craigielaw had convincingly beaten Kilspindie and North Berwick on their way to this final.
In superb weather, the two Teams proceeded to do battle. In the handicap game, Duncan McLean and Greg Houlston of Gullane, receiving 1 stroke, struggled to find their form and were soon well behind, mainly due to some fine putting by Gabrielle MacDonald and Jack Dow of Craigielaw.
The real fireworks happened in the scratch game which was between four fine players, some of whom are Scottish Internationals and all of whom have a scratch or near scratch handicap. Greg Smail and Grant Forrest represented Craigielaw whilst Gullane were represented by Lesley Atkins and Rachael Watton. This was a real battle between boys and girls, and the only advantage the girls had was that they played off the Ladies’ tees. However, they were frequently still ahead of the boys after the drives. There was considerable good natured “banter” between these two sides and the match was played swiftly and in fine spirit.
The scoring in this game was excellent, the boys gaining an early lead by having birdies at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes. When the overall aggregate match was decided on the 16th green, Greg and Grant were 5 under par, but were only 2 up on Lesley and Rachael! Despite the spectators wanting this exhibition of golf to continue, the match had to end there with Craigielaw having won by 6 & 5 overall.
Haddington Captain Andrew Douglas presented the trophy to the winners. Haddington have always been great supporters of Junior Golf in the County, and Jim Simpson, their Junior Convenor, hopes that their own Team will soon be challenging for trophies again.

Above photo (L-R) Greg Smail and Grant Forrest representing Craigielaw, 

Lesley Atkins and Rachael Watton representing Gullane.

Donald Ross Juniors (Royal Dornoch)

The winners at the presentation

Back Row L to R - Kieran Rorison (Loch Ness), Corey McAlpine (Invergordon), David Norris (HiltonPark) 

Dennis Bethune (Honorary Vice President RDGC), Christine Ecberg (Donald Ross winner), 

Mike Thomas (Tournament Controller), Axel Woxholt (Oslo). 

Front L to R - Stina Resen (Oslo), Permile Ecberg (Denmark) and Shannen McGuire (Canmore) 
[Click on the image to enlarge in a new window] 

Scandanavian Superstars

By Robin Wilson

Two sixteen year old Scandinavian girls were the superstars of the Donald Ross Junior International golf tournament at Royal Dornoch with finished today when they became the winners of the main scratch and handicap trophies.

After the complexity of balancing the 23 girls' scores against those of the 67 boys', the girls receiving a downward adjusted in relation to the differing pars of each course played, overnight scratch leader from the Struie course where her two under par 70 (35/35), is a new women's course record by six shots bettering Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald's 76 in the same tournament two years ago, three handicapper Stina Resen (Oslo GC) [pictured right] added a gross 79 (38/41) on the championship course to finish on 149, and after adjustment 141, to win the scratch Royal Dornoch Trophy.

Meanwhile her travelling companion from Himmelberg GC (Denmark), Christine Ecberg [left in the picture above], became the third girl to win the prestiges Donald Ross Trophy without any adjustment necessary to her scores after returning an actual nett aggregate of 133, off 12, nett cards of 65 (Struie) and 68 (championship) will certainly reduce her handicap on her return home.

Will Rennie (Hazelhead) returned the boy's leading gross aggregate of 145, 72 and 73, his 73 on the championship course a one under outward nine of 34 but a double bogey six on the closing hole for inward 39. In a tie for second place were Inverness pair Greg Forsyth 75/72, and Martin Laing 73/74. Two off the pace after his first round Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon), who is also the Royal Dornoch junior champion, drifted back to joint third with a 76 and joining Axel Woxholt (Oslo) on 148. Woxholt 75/73.

Forsyth also led the boy's nett returns 135 (69/66), off 6, to win the Dornoch Quaich and from neighbouring Loch Ness Golf Club, Kieran Rorison handicap 13, was runner up losing to Forsyth on the poorer second round 67/68.

15-year-old Shannon McGuire (Canmore, Dunfermline) (hdc 10) led the girl's nett returns on 139 and eight ahead of Fiona Brown (Dunblane New) (19) 147 (69/78).

Prizewinners; (First scores Struie course)

Donald Ross Trophy: Christine Ecberg (Denmark) (12) 133

Royal Dornoch Trophy Stina Resen (Norway) 141 (After Adjustment)

Handicap (Dornoch Quaich) – Greg Forsyth (Inverness) (6) 135 (69/66). Kieran Rorison (Loch Ness) (13) 135 (67/68). Martin Laing (Inverness) (5) 137. (Girls ) - Shannen McGuire (Canmore) (10) 139. Fiona Brown (Dunblane New) (19) 147. Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) (9) 150.

Individual Scoring(Outwith main prizewinners) - Round 1 (Struie Course) - (Provost's Trophy) Corey McAlpine (Invergordon) (15) 63. Will Rennie (Hazelhead) (5) 67. Permile Ecberg (Denmark) (14) 68.

Round 2 (Championship Course) – Dornoch Firth Trophy – David Norris (Hilton Park) (18) 67. Ryan Webster (Moray) (5) 68. Axel Woxholt (Norway) 915) 69.

Donald Ross Junior International Royal Dornoch

By Robin Wilson

Swedish teenager Stina Resen is in line to become the first girl to win the Donald Ross Junior International at Royal Dornoch after the three handicapper from Oslo broke the par of 72 by two shots over the Struie course yesterday with two halves of 35 for 70.

She carries her two shot lead, which will increase to five for course adjustment against the boys, into today's (Wednesday) final round played over the championship course. Leading the challenge from the boys with 72's are Will Rennie (Hazelhead) (34/38) and North of Scotland Boy's Champion Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon) 37/35. They in turn are one ahead of Martin Laing (Inverness) (36/37) and Ross Proctor (Forres) who came home in 33 for his 73.

Leading Scores - Donald Ross International at Royal Dornoch Struie Course.
70 S. Resen (Oslo)*.
72 W. Rennie (Hazelhead), L. McAlpine (Invergordon).
73 M. Laing (Inverness), R. Proctor (Forres). F. Brown (Nairn Dunbar),
75  A. Woxholf (Oslo), G. Forsyth (Inverness), P. Sangster (Thurso).
76 R. Webster (Moray).
77 J. Echberg (Denmark), M. Dingwall (Forres), R. Black (Alness), S. McGuire (Canmore)*, C. Echberg (Denmark)*  ( * denotes girls).

Euro Junior Cup at three Fife courses,

Charleton, Crail, Ladybank July 29-31

Perhaps the most notable international event the International Junior Golf Tour competes in each year is the Euro Junior Golf Cup, formerly known as the World Junior Golf Cup.
Players will travel to Fife and compete on three challenging links and parkland style courses, ultimately providing the opportunity to make some history of their own at the home of golf. Developed in 1998, juniors from three countries - the IJGT's Team USA, Canadian Junior Golf Association's Team Canada, and the Fife Golf Union's Team Scotland - play in a Triangular Cup match-play format for the John Clark Trophy
The competition courses are:
Charleton Golf Club. Set in stunning parkland with spectacular panoramic views over the Firth of Forth, is acclaimed to be the most attractive golf course in Fife. Proving to be a challenge to ones short game Charleton is most known for its difficult greens.
Crail Golf Club (Craighead Links). One of the world's oldest golf clubs, Crail Golfing Society was founded in February 1786 and initially comprised membership of 11 local golfers. Craighead Links has panoramic seascape and stunning country views. Crail poses a testing but fair challenge, however be warned - there are hungry bunkers aplenty. No two consecutive holes face the same direction and with constantly changing conditions, there is enough of a variety of shots to test any golfer’s ability.
Ladybank Golf Club. A course of championship status (Par 71) set among heather, pine trees and silver birch. The course definition may have changed dramatically in the intervening one hundred years but its character remains intact. If you stray off line expect to be punished for your sins. Ladybank is also well acclaimed due to their involvement with many prestigious events.
The event will run from July 29 to 31.

Tom Lehman tournaments

Here are the entry forms for the Tom Lehman tournaments in Troon.

JUNIOR GOLF PRE-HANDICAP OPEN
Monday 3rd August 2009 • Fullarton Golf Course

JUNIOR OPEN FOR THE TOM LEHMAN TROPHIES
Tuesday 4th August • Lochgreen, Darley and Fullarton Golf Courses

2009 Elie Sports Club Tournament for Boys & Girls

Front row Heather Munro, Sophie Maguire, Rory Giddins,
Back row James White, Andrew Whyte, Bradley Neil and Annabel Niven.

The 57th Tournament for Boys and Girls under 18 was held at Elie on April 14th, 15th and 16th The course was in excellent condition and despite a bitterly cold wind, the standard of golf was extremely high. James White (New Club) and Annabel Niven (Crieff) retained their under 18 titles but the holder of the Under 16 title, Iain Watson (St Andrews) lost to Ross Munro (Monifieth) by one hole in the semi- finals.
We are very grateful to Members of the Golf House Club and Elie & Earlsferry Ladies Club for their help in acting as referees, marshals and also for acting as scorers for the younger competitors.

Winners:
Andrew Burns Cup (Boys Under 18) James White (New Club) beat Matthew Reid (Downfield) 1 up.

Marine Rose Bowl (Boys under 16 Andrew Whyte (New Club) beat Ross Munro (Monifieth) 4/3.

Sports Club Cup (Boys under 14) Bradley Neil (Rosemount) beat David Paterson (Leven) 5/3

Malta Cup (Boys under 12) 1st Rory Giddins (Elie Sports Club) 2nd George Geddes (Elie Sports Club) 3rd Conor MacCallum (Elie Sports Club)

Todd Cup (Girls Under 18) 1st Annabel Niven (Crieff) 2nd Gillian Simpson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 3rd Katie Reid (Monifieth).

Lochburn Quaich (Girls Under 14) 1st Heather Munro (Monifieth ) 2nd Rachel Lorimer (Monifieth) 3rd Jessica McCleary (Monifieth).

Crummey Cup (Girls Under 12) 1st Sophie Maguire (St Leonards) 2nd Kirsty Graham (St Leonards) 3rd Emily Thain (Elie Sports Club.)

RANFURLY CASTLE WIN JUNIOR CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD

Ranfurly Castle were crowned the winners of the Junior Club of the Year Award announced at last Friday’s Scottish Golf Dinner in Glasgow after a tight title race with five other short listed clubs.

Launched last year the award is designed to reward clubs for their efforts in promoting junior golf and encouraging more juniors into the game. Alford Golf Club claimed the inaugural title setting a high benchmark for this year’s hopefuls.

Ranfurly Castle proved they were the cream of the crop from a starting field of 29 clubs from across Scotland, finally whittled down to a short list of six clubs. Representatives from Powfoot, Duns, Kirkintilloch, Palacerigg and Stranraer golf clubs were among the audience as the announcement was made at the dinner - held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel - and as runners-up received £300 to help continue their fantastic work developing their junior golf programmes.

The Renfrewshire club was rewarded with a cheque for £1,000 from the Scottish Golf Union and clubgolf, the national junior golf programme, to be invested in their junior programme. The winner’s prize also includes two spots in a European Tour pro-am, playing alongside a leading professional golfer.

The club’s pro-active approach was highlighted through their efforts to increase accessibility for juniors coming into the game. A £25,000 Lottery grant was invested in improvements to their 9 hole Clevans course, and as part of the project the club made that facility available to the local community, earning accolades from Renfrewshire District Council and local MSPs and MPs.

Renfrewshire remains the only authority in Scotland that is not rolling out the introductory game “firstclubgolf” in schools, however Ranfurly Castle has embraced the clubgolf programme by putting no fewer than 11 volunteers through the Stage 1 coaching course. That has allowed the club to open up golf coaching to non-members, and positions them well to link to local primary schools should they join up with the national junior golf programme in the future.

For existing junior club members it was recognised that there were insufficient competitions and, as part of an overall strategy of integrating them in the club to give juniors a greater sense of belonging, those with single figure handicaps were allowed to play in the vast majority of senior men’s competitions.

The reward for encouraging that increased competitiveness came when, after a 14 year absence, the club beat the previous year’s winners Greenock in the final of The Junior Newton Shield, the area team championship for the Renfrewshire Golf Union. Of a total of 31 junior boys selected for the Renfrewshire Golf Union coaching squads, six are from Ranfurly Castle, while it also provided five of the nine Renfrewshire junior golfers selected for the SGU Coaching Academy.

clubgolf Project Manager Torquil McInroy said, “Ranfurly Golf Club demonstrated real drive, as well as their ability and desire to promote golf to youngsters in their community.

“They are a great example to other clubs and this award is recognition of the hard work carried out by their volunteers. In establishing the infrastructure which will underpin their continued success in the years ahead, they worked as a team to show what can be achieved.”

McInroy who was on the judging panel added, “The response to the awards in its second year was again very encouraging and I would like to thank all of those who entered this year. Those who were short listed demonstrated just a sample of some of the great work which is being undertaken by clubs across the country. That work is vital for the health and future of the game and long may it continue.”

Ranfurly Castle’s Junior Convenor Michael McCabe and Club Captain Douglas Martin, who received the cheque for £1,000 to contribute to their junior programmes said after the presentation, “We are absolutely delighted to win this award which is great recognition of our activity here and will enable us to continue to deliver great coaching and improved facilities and boost participation numbers among juniors in the game.”

Land of Burns Community Youth Golf Festival

Monday 25th May 2009

Land of Burns Community Youth Golf Festival

Ballochmyle Golf Club, Mauchline, East Ayrshire

Ballochmyle Golf Club with support from East Ayrshire Council, clubgolf, and East Ayrshire’s Active Schools Department, will host and welcome all young people in the region to use this fantastic opportunity to discover if they have the drive to play golf during a special festival at Ballochmyle Golf Club, Mauchline, East Ayrshire on Monday 25th May 2009.

Ballochmyle Golf Club is clubbing together with East Ayrshire’s Leisure Development services, and Active Schools Partnership to support The Inaugural Land of Burns Youth Golf Festival and encourage children to take up the game.

The all day festival is free of charge to visitors and activities on the agenda include: PGA professional tuition, competitions, pitch and putt as well as advice about equipment and where to play.

The festival is part of an Initiative to encourage Youth Golf, Healthy Living, and East Ayrshire Region golf club’s junior development programme.

It is exactly the type of initiative supported by the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, and a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.

Developed as a direct result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to golf, clubgolf created the opportunity for 33,600 children to experience golf in 2008

Speaking about the event Ian Cardle, of The Land of Burns community youth golf festival organiser said: “We’re really looking forward to the golf festival, which will be the culmination of months of planning.

“The region’s clubs have organised golf days in the past but never anything on this scale before. We’re hoping to get around 300 young people through Active Schools and the regions clubs to come along and learn about the sport and have fun while they learn.

“Golf is sometimes thought of as a sport for the older generation but the successes of famous young players such as Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Michelle Wie show that is not the case. Hopefully, The Land of Burns Community Youth Golf Festival will spark the interest of the region’s very own scratch players of the future. At the very least, it will demonstrate that golf is a great sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Active Schools Manager, Cheryl Brady, said: “East Ayrshire Active Schools Team are delighted to support this golfing event in partnership with Ballochmyle Golf Club. The event is an excellent opportunity to introduce children and young people to the sport of golf.”

Councillor Jim Roberts, spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: “I am very pleased to have been involved with this festival from the outset. The Council has also been eager to lend support to such a worthwhile community project and I am sure that the day will be a great success with everyone working together to encourage our young people to try their hand at a new sport."

Representatives from all of the region’s golf clubs have been invited to attend; and golf practice areas have been set up to accommodate them, as well as golf, the children will learn about healthy living, through the East Ayrshire Councils Neighbourhood Healthy Living Partnership and other exhibitors during the event.

Secretary of Ballochmyle Golf Club, Jim Davidson, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this event. The young people participating in this will hopefully go on and become junior members of the local golf clubs.”

There has also been a further event added to the festival with the Land of Burns Youth Trophy match, which will be staged on the day at Ballochmyle Golf Club for keen young golfers with a club handicap invited to play in the trophy game and those with less experience can watch them tackle the course, adding this dimension to the festival allows for the beginners to really get a taste of what they can look forward to in their future golf experience.

Meet the original Milky Bar

Kid as he is today ... living

at Hacienda del Alamo

Golf Resort in Spain

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Here's your starter for 10. What is the link between the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival and The Milky Bar Kid?
Answer: The original boy actor who played The Milky Bar Kid in the television commercial in the 1960s was Terry Brooks ... and he has a villa at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.
I was introduced to Terry during the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival by Director of Golf Billy Sim in the palatial resort golf clubhouse.
And this is the picture I took of The Milky Bar Kid as he looks today. Pity I can't display Terry as he was in the 1960s. But those of you of my vintage will remember him.
Apparently, he went into the building business once he grew too old to be The Milky Bar Kid.
FROM WIKEPAEDIA
The Milkybar Kid has been used in television advertising promoting Nestlé Milkybar in the countries where it is sold. The Milkybar Kid is a blonde, spectacle-wearing young boy, usually dressed as a cowboy, whose catch phrase is "The Milkybars are on me!". The advertisements usually take place in a Wild West setting. Both live-action and animated ads have been produced. In the UK and Australia the advertisements were originally accompanied by a jingle extolling "the goodness that's in Milky Bar."
In more recent revivals of the campaign, probably due to tighter advertising regulations, the jingle has been revised to refer to "the good taste that's in Milkybar". The pronunciation of the company's name has also changed from "nessul" to the more correct "ness-lay".
The Milkybar Kid made his debut in 1961 and has been played by a number of actors down through the years. Sam Dolan is the incumbent.

Florida-based Irish teenager Kevin
Phelan is a name to remember

FROM THE IRISH TIMES WEBSITE
Kevin Phelan's first golfing memories involved taking the ferry across the Suir estuary to play golf at Waterford Castle, where his playing partners were his father, John - who'd been one of Ireland's top squash players in his day - and younger brother, Brian. The golfing excursions started when the young Kevin was just seven years of age.
These days, Phelan's environs are far removed from those fondly-remembered days of playing in wind and rain on the course built on an island in the estuary.
Nowadays, Phelan - who celebrated his 18th birthday last Saturday - is surrounded by history at the World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida, where his family live . . . and his golfing future is one of great expectations after a season which saw him claim a number of prestige junior titles in his ever-increasing CV.
Playing off a plus-two handicap, Phelan has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and the highlight of his career (so far) came back in March when he won the prestigious American Junior Golf Association Mizuno tournament at the Innisbrook resort in Palm Harbor. Appropriately, the trophy he received for that terrific win was a piece of Waterford Crystal.
In fact, Phelan has amassed no fewer than 22 junior tournament titles since his family - father John, mother Josephine and younger brother Brian - moved to Florida five years ago and, with a number of colleges offering full scholarships for 2009, the teenager (who has dual Irish and American citizenship) has opted not to venture too far from home, taking up a placement next year at the University of North Florida.
"I was really lucky to be offered scholarships to a lot of really good colleges but I prefer to stay in Florida where I can play all year round. I've found a really good swing coach in Mike Blackburn, who is based in Jacksonville, and I wanted to stay close to him. Also, UNF have really good practice facilities . . . and their home course is TPC Sawgrass," said Phelan.
For the past few years, Kevin and brother Brian have acted as score bearers during the Players Championship at the famed course but his biggest junior win came on another tournament course at Innisbrook.
Back in March, Phelan produced rounds of 71-70-70 to win by five shots on the same course as Sean O'Hair had won the previous week's PODS Championship. Two weeks previously, Phelan had won the Florida Junior Tour's Amelia Island Plantation event.
Originally born in New York, where his father had played professional squash, the Phelan family returned home to Waterford when Kevin was three. He first started to play golf as a seven-year-old and, by 12, had a handicap of 19. On moving to Florida in the summer of 2003, Kevin quickly realised he would have to improve if he was to make any mark in the sport.
"There was just so much strong competition, so I practised practically every day . . . and now I'm a plus-two, although competitions are played off scratch."
Phelan's progress has been impressive, earning him a place on the Cannon Cup this year where the top boys' and girls' from east of the Mississippi play team golf against the top players from west of the river. It was, says Phelan, "a great honour" to play in that event which so often proves to be the forerunner to Walker Cup and Curtis Cup representative honours for many amateurs.
Indeed, Phelan - whom his mother describes as "a typical Irish teenager, very slow to boast about himself" - has proven himself to be a real team player, leading his school to the Florida State High School championships last year with a season's record of 62-0 that led to them being named "best team in state history".
During his high-school career, he made the All County, All Conference, All District, All Region and All State teams and was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) on the team.
"My goal now is to keep improving, and to play (against) the strongest fields I can get into - and to get really fit. I'm actually taking a few months off from playing tournaments (over the winter) to concentrate on my fitness and to work on my game so that I am ready for college golf next year. I suffered some injuries at the end of the summer from playing too many tournaments and from not having the level of fitness I need."
While Kevin has developed into the player he is today since moving Stateside - reaching 18th in the US national junior rankings this year - there is every likelihood he will attempt to return to Ireland to hone his games on links course. At one of the junior tournaments in Sawgrass this season, he got acquainted with Irish boys' international Michael Durcan who encouraged him to take in the West of Ireland at Rosses Point.
"I'd love to play the West next Easter, or if I can get into some of the other great events. It'd be a really good and different experience," he said. For sure, he had better pack the waterproofs.
+This article also appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

Holly Clyburn leads girls’

scoring against the boys

Junior international Holly Clyburn (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) led the England Under-18 girls’ scoring in their annual match against the England Under-16 boys at Woodhall Spa.
Holly, 17, was playing on her home course and was unbeaten, contributing 1½ points to the scoreline. But her efforts were unable to prevent a comprehensive boys’ victory of 10-5.
However, Linda Bayman, performance director of the English Women’s Golf Association, was undismayed. “This was a very useful training match for a new, young team and it has provided us with plenty of information,” she said.

The girls made a slow start in the morning foursomes when they struggled around the greens. They managed only a half-point from five matches, courtesy of Holly and fellow girl international Heidi Baek.
However, they provided the boys with a much stronger challenge in the afternoon with some good, attacking play.
Holly, who was playing top, secured her singles point when she defeated Matthew Chapman on the final green. English schools’ champion Jamie-Leigh Voss beat James Carney – despite his albatross 2 on the sixth hole.

Other points for the girls were scored by Rachael Goodall, the Northern girls’ champion, and Hayley Davis, the South-west ladies’ scratch champion. Helen Searle, who played impressively for Yorkshire during the County Finals, halved her game.
RESULTS
Foursomes (1/2-4 1/2)

Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) halved with E Peters and M Chapman.

Rachael Goodall (Heswall) and Ellie Robinson (Middlesborough) lost to L Johnson and J Carney 2 holes.

Sian Evans (Faversham) and Helen Searle (West End) lost to L Harper and T Tree 2 holes.

Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison) and Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) lost to O Carr and S Nixon 2 and 1.

Hayley Davis (Ferndown) and Lauren Taylor (Woburn) lost to W Chambers and C Walsh 4 and 3.
Singles (4 1/2-5 1/2)

Clyburn bt Chapman 1 hole.

Robinson lost to Peters 2 and 1.

Goodall bt Johnson 1 hole.

Baek lost to Harper 3 and 1.

Voss bt Carney 3 and 1.

Davis bt Chambers 3 and 2.

Taylor lost to Tree 4 and 3.

Turland lost to Walsh 4 and 3.

Searle halved with Carr.

Evans lost to Nixon 3 and 2.
Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer

English Women's Golf Association

Footnote from Colin Farquharson, Tournament Controller, 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival:

Holly Clyburn is one of the early entries for the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star resort in Murcia, Spain - four tournaments over six days from February 12 to 17. Take your pick .. or play in them all.

The Hacienda Winter Golf Festival is on the list of recommended tournaments for players to bring themselves to the notice of the GB&I Selection Committee for the 2009 Vagliano Trophy match.

FULL LIST OF NICK FALDO SERIES GRAND FINALISTS

For the full list of competitors in the Nick Faldo Series Grand Final, to be held in Brazil from October 25 to 31, switch over to www.scottishgolfview.com

Brazil stages Nick Faldo Series
Grand Final this weekend

PRESS RELEASE
English woman’s champion Hannah Barwood and EWGA squad player Abbey Gittings are heading for Brazil this weekend to play in the grand final of the Faldo Series.
They’re among 80 finalists from over 30 Faldo Series tournaments in the UK, Europe and South America who have been invited to the Costa do Sauipe Golf Resort on the northern coast of Brazil.
Hannah, 18, plays at Knowle in Gloucestershire. She’s an England international and is a member of the English Women’s Golf Association’s Performance squad.
Abbey, 18, is the Warwickshire ladies’ and girls’ champion and plays at Walmley. She is a member of EWGA’s Select Midlands squad.
Other girls who qualified through the UK regional finals are: Jenna Birch (Royal Lytham), Miranda Brain (Gog Magog), Megan Burgess (Cavendish), Raffi Dyer (Hayling), Tiffany Hewetson (East Brighton), Gillian Monteith (Dunskey).
Nick Faldo will host the grand final and the six-times Major winner commented: “This is our biggest grand final to date, with more competitors from more countries throughout the world than ever before and I’m thrilled to be offering these young golfers a tournament of truly global proportions.”
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

England names strong girls’ team to take on the boys

Press Release from EWGA

The English Women’s Golf Association has selected a strong girls’ team for the annual match against the England boys, which takes place at Woodhall Spa on Sunday, October 26.

The side includes three members of the winning England team from the girls’ Home Internationals: Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) and Helen Searle (West End).

They are joined by Hayley Davis (Ferndown), the South-West ladies’ scratch champion; Sian Evans (Faversham) the Kent schools’ champion; Rachael Goodall (Heswall), the Northern girls’ champion; Ellie Robinson (Middlesborough) who helped Yorkshire win the English counties’ championship; Lauren Taylor (Woburn) the English U15 champion; Hannah Turland (Tidworth Garrison), a past winner of the English U13 title; Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe), the English schools’ champion.

The team will be accompanied by EWGA performance director Linda Bayman and national junior coach Pat Smillie.

Fairhaven stages 72-hole junior open
BEFORE Girls' Internationals

Fairhaven Golf Club at Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire will be hosting two major National Junior Championships in 2009, namely the Fairhaven Trophies & Nations Cup, between May 1 and 3, and the Girls' Home Internationals, between August 4 and 6.
The Fairhaven Trophies is a 72-hole international scratch championship for boys and girls (aged under 18 on January 1, 2009).
Previous winners include English internationals Gary King (Tyrells Wood) in 2007 and Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) and Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) in 2008, when the championship was extended to include a girls' category.
The championship includes a Nations Cup played over the first 36 holes, won in 2008 by England ‘U16A'
Club Secretary Bob Thompson commented:
“The 2008 championships attracted international players from a number of countries and produced some excellent golf. The addition of girls into the championships was without doubt a great success, with Alexandra Peters winning the championship whilst setting a new course record of 70 during the final round.
“A great deal of interest has been shown since by numerous international teams. It has been wonderful to see many players who competed in the 2008 champions earn a place in their national teams.”
The championship is both a category ‘B’ event in the PING / EGU Boys Order of Merit and a counting event in the 2009 R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
As Fairhaven Golf Club are hosting the Girls Home Internationals between the 4th and 6th August 2009, the 2009 Fairhaven Trophies provides an ideal opportunity for the home nations to send players to compete over this famous championship course, under championship conditions, thereby gaining invaluable experience in readiness for the Home International matches.
Entry forms are available on the club’s website www.fairhavengolfclub.co.uk

Boys (left to right): David Millar, Adam Dunton, Ryan Bain, Ryan Gordon. Girls (left to right): Louise McGillivray, Megan Clyne, Sophie Alexander, Mhairi Johnstone (Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency). You can enlarge it by clicking on the image.

Ryan Bain & Megan Clyne are
Paul Lawrie junior champions

Ryan Bain, a 16-year-old member of the Strathlene club, Buckie, and 15-year-old Deeside member Megan Clyne won the individual titles at today's Paul Lawrie Foundation junior match-play semi-finals and finals at Banchory Golf Club.
Bain, an apprentice electrician, set the sparks flying by beating the favourite, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), recent winner of the UBC boys' championship at Inverness, 2 and 1 in the final.
Ryan jumped into an early two-hole lead and was still two up at the turn. Dunton fought back well but couldn't make up the ground he had lost and a good match finished on the 17th green.
In an all-Deeside final, Megan Clyne beat Sophie Alexander by one hole. Sophie had won the first three holes but Megan got back on level terms at the 10th.
Clyne won the 12th and 13th to lead for the first time but Sophie won the 14th and 15th to square the tie. Clyne got her nose in front again by winning the 16th and the last two holes were halved.
Alexander's 20ft putt at the 18th to take final into extra holes lipped out.
Paul Lawrie was unable to make the presentations because he made it through to the last day of the British Masters at The Belfry.
Today's details at Banchory:
BOYS
Semi-finals - Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) bt David Millar (Oldmeldrum) 3 and 2, Ryan Bain (Strathlane) bt Ryan Gordon (Alford) 3 and 2.
Final - Bain bt Dunton 2 and 1.
Third place play-off - Millar bt Gordon 6 and 5.
GIRLS
Semi-finals - Megan Clyne (Deeside) bt Mhairi Johnstone (Northern) 4 and 3, Sophie Alexander (Deeside) bt Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 2 and 1.
Final - Clyne bt Alexander 1 hole.
Third place play-off - McGillivray bt Johnstone 1 hole.

PICTURES OF THE PRIZEWINNERS WILL BE DISPLAYED LATER THIS EVENING.

Four Scots bound for Abu Dhabi Grand
Final of Daily Telegraph junior event

Four Scots - Carly Booth, Kelsey MacDonald, Rachael McQueen and Oliver Huish - are in the field of 12 boys and nine girls for the Grand Final of the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship.
The 54-hole climax to the season-long qualifying will be held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates from November 21 to 23.
The party will depart these shores on November 17 and return on November 24 after a week they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Carly qualifies as defending girls champion and Hannah Barwood, the English women's champion, received a sponsors' invite.

The full girls field is:
Alexandra Peters (England).
Heidi Baek (England).
Gina Brown (England)
Rachael McQueen (Scotland)
Kelsey McDonald (Scotland)
Nikki Dunn (England)
Katherine O'Connor (England).
Carly Booth (Scotland)
Hannah Barwood (England).

Oliver Huish, son of the North Berwick professional, qualified through the Lothians Golf association.
Stiggy Hodgson from Sunningdale, runaway winner of last week's The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy at Dundonald Links, is the defending champion.
England international Tommy Fleetwood is competing as a sponsors' invite.
The boys' field is:
Tom Boys (England).
Steven Jones (England).
Robert Bardsley (England).
Michael Saunders (England).
Oliver Huish (Scotland)
Steven O'Connor (England)
David Hind (England)
Brad Hannah (England)
Mark Geddes (England)
Sam Benton (England)
Stiggy Hodgson (England)
Tommy Fleetwood (England).

Stiggy Hodgson with The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy after his runaway win at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire today (Image by Paul Severin).

STIGGY OUTCLASSES DUKE OF YORK
YOUNG CHAMPIONS' FIELD

BY LUKE NORMAN, Tournament Press Officer
No one could live with wire-to-wire champion Stiggy Hodgson as he proved a class apart at the final round of the 2008 Duke of York Young Champions Trophy at Dundonald Links. The 18-year-old Englishman from Sunningdale ended this most prestigious international tournament a staggering 11 shots clear of his nearest challenger, Arnaud Abbas of France.
Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald continued to find the going tough after shooting the second lowest score of the tournament on the opening day.
The reigning Scottish Under-21 girls' champion struggled as the wind got up and the rain increased and she closed with an 82 to tie for 13th place overall at 16-over-par for 54 holes.
“It’s been a great week and such fun but I am really disappointed,” said MacDonald. “I got a little tense and a little nervous but I’ll bounce back!”
Aberdeen's David Law kept battling after a disappointing opening round of 84, as he finished in a creditable 20th position.
Fellow Scot Mark Bookless, who won the Scottish boys' open stroke-play at Blairgowrie a few weeks ago, never quite got going and ended up tied 27th.
However, it was Hodgson who was undoubtedly the star of the tournament as he finished with a 54-hole total of 212, four-under par. The reigning Carris Trophy and McEvoy Trophy winner took the tournament by the scruff of its neck in the opening round with a three-under-par 69 and despite the increasingly difficult conditions, he rarely looked in any difficulty. A measure of the hampion’s quality was that he was the only person to keep a double-bogey off his card.over the three rounds.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win a tournament as big as this, this is incredibly special, it’s one of the four biggest junior tournaments in the world” smiled Hodgson.

“It may not have looked like it but there was lots of nerves and tension about today but I knew if I didn’t loose concentration I would win.”
With 51 competitors from 28 countries it was stories like that of Vasin Sripattranusorn that captured the essence of junior golf’s biggest international tournament. The Thailand’s Boys Champion battled the utterly foreign conditions, climate and language to finish in a tie for fourth. “It was so cool, I met the Duke of York and learnt to play in the wind and rain!” Exactly Vasin.

The Duke of York Young Champions'
Trophy Scoreboard
Dundonald Links.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
212 Stiggy Hodgson (Eng) 69 71 72.
223 Arnaud Abbas (Fra) 77 70 76.
226 Carlos Pigem (Spa) 71 75 80.
227 Elias Bertheussen (Nor) 80 72 75, Marieke Nivard (Net) 78 72 77, Vasin Sripattranusorn (Thai) 73 72 82.
228 Gary King (Eng) 80 76 72, Hannah Barwood (Eng) 74 79 75, Paul Dunne (Ire) 73 70 85.
229 Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 76 76 77, Laetitia Beck (Israel) 76 73 80.
230 Giulia Molinaro (Ita) 78 72 80.
232 Eric Biorn (Swe) 80 77 75, Miki Sakai (Jap) 80 73 79, Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 70 80 82.
233 Signy Arnorsdottir (Ice) 80 72 81.
236 Victor Honauer (Swi) 79 76 81, Mitch Sutton (Can) 77 77 82.
237 Tonje Daffinrud (Nor) 81 76 80.
238 Max Kraemer (Ger) 82 79 77, David Law (Sco) 84 76 78, Teemu Bakker (Net) 80 78 80, David Prochazka (Cze) 80 74 84.
239 Caroline Karsten (Net) 82 78 79, Krista Puisite (Latvia) 84 73 82, Tapio Pulkannen (Fin) 80 76 83.
240 Sebastian Schwind (Ger) 83 81 76, Mark Bookless (Sco) 83 76 81, Conway Kunneke (SAfr) 83 75 82, Christoph Weninger (Aut) 81 74 85.
241 Haraldur Magnus (Ice) 79 81 81, Sco Bin Kim (Can) 86 73 82.
242 Carlis Broders (Latvia) 77 83 82.
244 Moriva Jutanugarn (Thi) 84 77 83, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 80 80 84.
245 Anais Maggetti (Swi) 84 82 79, Amy Boulden (Wal) 82 80 83.
246 Ross McLister (Wal) 79 80 87.
248 Julia Finne-Ipsen (Den) 86 81 81, Shingo Ito (Jap) 80 78 90.
249 Noora Tamminen (Fin) 80 85 84.
251 Robin Kokocinski (Swe) 92 79 80.
253 Guray Yazici (Tur) 86 82 85, Clemence Abrahamian (Fra) 85 81 87.
255 Daniel Kovari (Hun) 87 83 85, Max Melby (Den) 87 79 89.
256 Violetta Siozou (Gre) 86 85 85.
259 Cedric Van Wassenhove (Bel) 86 86 87.
262 Michelle Leigh (SAf) 92 83 87.
284 Anna Verchenova (Rus) 110 90 84.

The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy Round 2

TOO CALM, JOKES KELSEY'
AS SHE SLIPS FROM 70 to 80
AT DUNDONALD LINKS

By LUKE NORMAN, Tournament Press Officer
Scottish Under-21 girls title-holder Kelsey MacDonald from the Nairn Dunbar club endured a difficult day at The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament as she slipped from second to seventh with second-round 80 at the Dundonald Links.
The benign conditions were in stark contrast to Tuesday's relentless rain and current English boys champion Stiggy Hodgson from Sunningdale took full advantage to move 10 shots clear of Kelsey, his playing partner.
MacDonald, pictured above in action today, was at a slight loss to explain her sudden dip in form, which saw her add 10 shots to her first round score. “Perhaps the conditions were just too perfect and it was too calm for me!” laughed Kelsey, now a Stirling University student.
“I had a terrible start with a double-bogey at the first and my putting was horrendous as I reached the turn in seven-over-par.”
Hodgson was once again a class apart with three birdies in his one-under-par 71. He sits three shots clear of Ireland’s Paul Dunne, who at 15-years-old is one of the youngest competitors in the field. A shot further back and one of the stories of the tournament, is Thailand’s Vasin Sripattranusorn who had never seen a links course or been to Europe before this event.
“I find the greens very difficult for my putting especially as they get drier but I am hitting it a long way,” laughed Vasin, who has shot 73-72 for current third place on 145.
The attending Duke of York was delighted by the quality of golf on display and in particular by the progress the tournament has made in the last eight years. “A lot of these young people are going to become something big in the game, they are heading for the pinnacle,” confirmed Prince Andrew.
“I am so impressed with what we have achieved in the last eight years and it’s difficult to improve on it right now. One thing is for sure; this is a not a week I would miss!”

However, once again it was Sunningdale-based Hodgson who stole the show with his immaculate ball-striking and unflappable self-belief. “I got to the turn at two-under today and for some reason all I was thinking was course record – I am just feeling so confident right now,” said Hodgson. “My rhythm is good and to be honest I can’t wait for the final day."

THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS' TROPHY
Dundonald Links.
SECOND ROUND
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 Stiggy Hodgson (Eng) 69 71.
143 Paul Dunne (Ire) 73 70.
145 Vasin Sripattranusorn (Thai) 73 72.
146 Carlos Pigem (Spa) 71 75.
147 Arnaud Abbas (Fra) 77 70.
149 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 76 73.
150 Giulia Molinaro (Ita) 78 72, Marieke Nivard (net) 78 72, Kelsey MacDonald (Sco) 70 80.
152 Signy Arnorsdottir (Ice) 80 72, Elias Bertheussen (Nor) 80 72, Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 76 76.
153 Miki Sakai (Jap) 80 73, Hannah Barwood (Eng) 74 79.
154 David Prochazka (Cze) 80 74, Mitch Sutton (Can) 77 77.
155Christoph Weninger (Aut) 81 74, Victor Honauer (Swi) 79 76.
156 Tapio Pulkannen (Fin) 80 76, Gary King (Eng) 80 76.
157 Krista Puisite (Latvia) 84 73, Tonje Daffinrud (Nor) 81 76, Eric Blom (Swe) 80 77.
158 Conway Kunneke (SAf) 83 75, Teemu Bakker (Net) 80 78, Shingo Ito (Jap) 80 78.
159 Soo Bin Kim (Can) 86 73, Mark Bookless (Sco) 83 76, Ross McLister (Wales) 79 80.
160 David Law (Sco) 84 76, Caroline Karsten (Net) 82 78, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 80 80, Emelie Lundstrom (Swe) 80 80, Haraldur Magnus (Ice) 79 81, Karlis Broders (Latvia) 77 83.
161 Moriya Jutanugarn (Thai) 84 77, Max Kraemer (Ger) 82 69.
162 Amy Boulden (Wal) 82 80.
164 Sebastian Schwind (Ger) 83 81.
165 Noora Tamminen (Fin) 80 85.
166 Max Melby (Den) 87 79, Clemence Abrahamian (Fra) 85 81, Anais Maggetti (Swi) 84 82
167 Julia Finne-Ipsen (Den) 86 81.
168 Guray Yazici (Tur) 86 82.
170 Daniel Kovari (Hun) 87 83.
171 Robin Kokocinski (Swe) 92 79, Violetta Siozou (Gre) 86 85.
172 Cedric van Wassenhove (Bel) 86 86.
175 Michelle Leigh (SAf) 92 83.
200 Anna Verchenova (Rus) 110 90.

Carly holes last-green putt to
avert a Junior Ryder Cup
12-0 singles blow-out

If coming events cast long shadows, then watch out Nick Faldo!
United States blew away Europe 22-2 at The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky - the most lop-sided result yet in the Junior Ryder Cup.
The Americans - with an age limit of 17, one year higher than their opponents - lost only one match and halved two others over the two days of competition.
Had Comrie's Carly Booth, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), not holed a downhill 10ft par-saving putt on the 18th green to halve her singles match with Jennifer Johnson, who had won four of the previous six holes, Tuesday’s singles matches would have been a perfect 12-0 for the home team, most of whom celebrated their victory by jumping into the lake on Olde Stone’s 18th hole.
“The Americans just overshined us this week,” said 16-year-old Carly.
The landslide result called into question the selection process used to make up this year’s European side, which is based on the results of just one tournament – the European Young Masters – an event for players 16 and under.
According to European captain Gary Stangl, the European Golf Association altered its selection process before the 2006 matches in response to Europe’s dominance in the event over the last decade.
Europe had won by scores of 9 1/2-2 1/2, 8 1/2-3 1/2 and 10 1/2-1 1/2. The 2006 match at Celtic Manor ended in a 6-6 draw. Singles matches were only added this year.
“When they started, the Europeans were older than the Americans, and then the Europeans always won by far, and then they changed it,” said Stangl.
Things have gone full circle. The Americans' age limit of 17 for their players and a new-found desire to field their strongest possible junior team nationwide contrasts sharply with the European authorities' approach.
The Americans' new system, which places more emphasis on the country’s strongest junior golf events, produced a team this year that included the top three boys in the the Golfweek/Titleist Junior Rankings and four of the top 10 on the girls’ side.
Stangl added:
“Maybe in two years, hopefully we have a stronger team, maybe we have a different qualification system. Then, finally, I hope this can be a real competition between the two continents, good boys, good girls on both sides, and maybe we’ll have a close result.”

Junior Ryder Cup Scoreboard

The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

FINAL RESULT:

UNITED STATES 22, EUROPE 2
Day 1: US 10 1/2, Europe 1 1/2
Day 2: US 11 1/2, Europe 1/2

SINGLES
(US names first)
Tiffany Lua bt Kelly Tidy (Eng) 1 hole.
Cory Whitsett bt Matteo Manassero (Ita) 6 and 5.
Jennifer Johnson halved with Carly Booth (Sco).
Jeffrey Kang bt Moritz Lampert (Ger) 4 and 3.
Erynne Lee bt Daisy Nielsen (Den) 3 and 1.
Jordan Spieth bt Chris Lloyd (Eng) 5 and 4.
Sarah Brown bt Leona Maguire (Ire) 4 and 3.
Anthony Paolucci bt Adrian Otaegui (Spa) 5 and 4.
Alexis Thompson bt Lisa Maguire (Ire) 1 hole.
Cameron Peck bt Stanislas Gautier (Fra) 5 and 4.
Danielle Frasier bt Anna Arrese (Spa) 5 and 3.
Andrew Yun bt Julien Brun (Fra) 3 and 2.

The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy Tournament

Kelsey is Northern Star in

Dundonald Links gloom

By LUKE NORMAN, Tournament Press Officer
Northern star Kelsey MacDonald lit up the first day’s play at The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy with a dazzling two-under-par round of 70 which put her just one off the lead at Dundonald Links.
The reigning Scottish Under-21 stroke-play champion fired an impressive five birdies in a day of incessant rain, as the Home Nation players dominated proceedings
“I play at Nairn Dunbar so I’m not too bothered by the rain to be honest and I have got a great pair of waterproofs!” said Kelsey MacDonald, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved), who will be 18 in early October and has just started as a student at Stirling University.
“I putted really well and drained some long ones.”
Kelsey's birdies demonstrated her length off the tee, coming at the 540yd par-5 third, the 550yd par-5 fifth, the 465yd par 4 10th, the 410yd par-4 13th and the 420ydd par-4 17th.
Fellow Scots David Law (Aberdeen Hazlehead) and Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) had more of a struggle on a desperately difficult day at Dundonald.
Law, the Scottish boys' Junior Tour champion, got to the turn in a highly respectable two over par but a triple bogey 7 at the 10th set the tone for a nightmare back 9. A double bogey at 12 was followed by a triple at 16 for a final score of 84.
Bookless, the Scottish boys' open stroke play champion, also found the going difficult with two lost balls scuppering his challenge en route to an 83
It is the 2008 Carris and McEvoy Trophy winner Stiggy Hodgson who is leading the way. The 18-year-old Englishman, who plays out of Sunningdale, continued his remarkable summer with a stunning three-under-par 69, which would have been a great score in good conditions so to achieve it in non-stop rain represented a something special effort.
Ireland’s Paul Dunne lurks a further three shots back with playing partner and English women's champion Hannah Barwood lying sixth.
However, there was no doubt that the first day’s honours went to 18-year-old Stiggy Hodgson. “I feel very confident at the moment, I am playing so steadily and having had a lot of links golf this summer I know what to expect,” said Hodgson. “It was such a good test in this weather but I hit so many fairways and then rolled a fair few putts in to be in good shape.”
Hodgson also had five birdies in his 18 holes, including two glorious 2s at Dundonald’s notoriously tricky par-3s. One came at the 120-yard par-3 11th, which was witness to another moment of genius earlier in the day, when Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti recorded a hole-in-one. It was the second ace in as many years at the 11th by a female competitor.

The Duke of York Young Champions
Trophy Scoreboard
DUNDONALD LINKS, AYRSHIRE
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
69 Stiggy Hodgson (Eng).
70 Kelsey MacDonald (Sco).
71 Carlos Pigem (Spa).
73 Vasin Sripattranusorn (Thai), Paul Dunne (Ire).
74 Hannah Barwood (Eng).
76 Laetitia Beck (Isr), Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel).
77 Mitch Sutton (Can), Arnaud Abbas (Fra), Karlis Broders (Lat).
78 Marieke Nivard (Net), Giulia Molinaro (Ita).
79 Victor Honauer (Swi), Ross McLister (Wal), Haraldur Magnus (Ice).
80 Shingo Ito (Jap), Emelie Lundstrom (Swe), Teemu Bakker (Net), Noora Tamminen (Fin), Elias Bertheussen (Nor), David Prochazka (Cze), Miki Sakai (Jap), Eric Blom (Swe), Gary King (Eng), Signy Arnorsdottir (Ice), Tapia Pulkannen (Fin).
81 Tonje Daffinrud (Nor).
82 Amy Boulden (Wal), Caroline Karsten (Net), Max Kraemer (Ger).
83 Mark Bookless (Sco), Conway Kunneke (SFr), Sebastian Schwind (Ger).
84 Krista Puisite (Lat), Moriya Jutanugarn (Thai), Anais Maggetti (Swi), David Law (Sco).
85 Clemence Abrahamian (Fra).
86 Guray Yazici (Tur), Julia Finne-Ipsen (Den), Cedric Van Wassenhove (Bel), Violetta Siozou (Gre), Soo Bin Kim (Can).
87 Max Melby (Den), Daniel Kovari (Hun).
92 Michelle Leigh (SAf), Robin Kokocinski (Swe).
110 Anna Verchenova (Rus).
Withdrawn: Sarah Tyson (Eng).

Americans outclass Europe

on first day of Junior

Ryder Cup Match

Europe were outclassed by the Americans on the first day of the Junior Ryder Cup match at The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The United States lead 10 1/2-1 1/2 at the halfway stage of the transatlantic contest between the Europeans who were all under 16 years on January 1 and the Americans for whom 17 years is the age limit.

Why the European authorities agreed to such a mismatch in years - the difference in strength, ability and maturity between 16 and 17 years can be signficiant - is a mystery. Perhaps such a lopside scoreline, if it is maintained through the second-day singles, will force them to think again, just as the American powers-that-be have done to improve their record.

In previous Junior Ryder Cup matches, the Europeans had more than held their own.
It was a long, hard and disappointing day for Great Britain & Ireland's representatives - Carly Booth from Comrie, England's Kelly Tidy and Chris Lloyd and the Irish 13-year-old idential twins, Lisa and Leona Maguire. All of them were on the losing side morning and afternoon.

The US team got into the driving seat in the Monday morning foursomes, winning five of the six matches and halving the other.
The pattern continued in the after mixed four-ball session.
The Junior Ryder Cup match concludes with 12 singles matches.

"They brushed us away but we tried really hard," said Gary Stangl, captain of the European team. "We will continue to try hard to make some points on Tuesday and see what happens."
The United States team was led in the morning foursomes by Alexis Thompson and Sarah Brown who won their opening match 7 and 6, and Jeffrey Kang and Andrew Yun of Chandler, who won their match 7 and 5.

Thompson and Brown, who fell behind early in the match, birdied six of their last eight holes to defeat Daisy Nielsen of Denmark and Lisa Maguire of Ireland.
"This course is hard and to birdie that many holes, it's really good," said Thompson, winner of the 2007 Junior PGA Championship. "It sure was a fun round."

The strong play of the United States Team continued in the afternoon mixed four-ball matches, as the United States won five of the six matches.

The lone European victory came from Matteo Manassero of Italy and Daisy Nielsen. The Danish girl chipped in at the last to defeat Andrew Yun and Erynne Lee on the final hole.

US captain Ken Lindsay was overwhelmed by the play of his team.

"No one could have expected what happened today to happen. I am blown away by how well my team played," he said. "We can't let up though. There is a lot of golf to be played."

The two teams will play a nine-hole "friendship" match on Wednesday at Valhalla Golf Club, the venue for the adult Ryder Cup contest, which begins on Friday.

The US Junior Ryder Cup team has not won since 1997, mainly due to a selection process that failed to include the country’s top junior golfers. The PGA of America altered that selection process a couple years ago, and this year produced a 10-player team that includes the top three boys in the the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings, not to mention four of the top 10 on the girls’ side.

The European side selects its team based on the results of one tournament – the European Young Masters – which is for players aged 16 and under.

This year’s US roster features five 17-year-olds, though it was American’s youngest who gave Europe the most trouble. Thirteen-year-old Alexis Thompson, the reigning US girls' champion, did not have to go past the 13th hole morning or afternoon.

She teamed with Sarah Brown in morning foursomes for a 7-and-6 victory over Nielsen and Lisa Maguire. Thompson then paired with Jordan Spieth, who at 15 joins Anthony Paolucci as the youngest on the American boys’ side, to dispose of Stanislas Gautier and Lisa Maguire in the afternoon four-ball session.

Thompson and Brown were two down through three holes but ended up winning nine consecutive holes, making birdies between on six of their last eight.

Thompson will also play Lisa Maguire in Tuesday's singles matches.

Cory Whitsett, Golfweek’s top-ranked junior, and Cameron Peck, ranked No. 2, approached the par-5 18th tee one down in their morning foursomes match against Julien Brun and Adrian Otaegui.

Whitsett responded with a booming 320yd drive down the middle, and Peck followed with a 3-iron that hit the front of the green but rolled off. Whitsett chipped up to 4 feet and Peck tapped in for birdie to halve the match.

“No one could have expected to come away with this many points today,” said U.S. captain Ken Lindsay, a past PGA president. “But we know we still have to play hard tomorrow.”

Day 1 results:

UNITED STATES 10 1/2, EUROPE 1 1/2
The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky

FOURSOMES (5 1/2-1/2)
US names first

Cameron Peck & Cory Whitsett halved with Julien Brun (Fra) & Adrian Otaegui (Spa).
Danielle Frasier & Jennifer Johnson bt Kelly Tidy (Eng) & Leona Maguire (Ire) 3 and 2.
Jeffrey Kang & Andrew Yun bt Chris Lloyd (Eng) & Moritz Lampert (Ger) 7 and 5.
Alexis Thompson & Sarah Brown bt Daisy Nielsen (Den) & Lisa Maguire (Ire) 7 and 6.
Anthony Paolucci & Jordan Spieth bt Stanislas Gautier (Fra) & Matteo Manassero (Ita) 2 holes.
Erynne Lee & Tiffany Lua bt Carly Booth (Sco) & Anna Arrese (Spa) 5 and 3.

MIXED FOUR-BALLS (5-1)
Whitsett & Johnson bt Lampert & Tidy 2 and 1.
Peck & Brown bt Lloyd & Leona Maguire 3 and 1.
Yun & Lee lost to Manassero & Nielsen 1 hole.
Spieth & Thompson bt Gautier & Lisa Maguire 6 and 5.
Paolucci & Frasier bt Otaegui & Arrese 5 and 3.
Kang & Lua bt Brun & Booth 5 and 4.

Junior Ryder Cup match starts
in Kentucky today

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
The seventh Junior Ryder Cup gets underway in America today with the European boys and girls benefitting from the expertise and inspiration of Tommy Horton MBE, the first Honorary Captain of the European Team.
The Junior Ryder Cup takes place at The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Monday and Tuesday before the two teams play a Friendship exhibition match at Valhalla on Wednesday, where two days later Nick Faldo’s European Team will launch their bid to win The Ryder Cup for a fourth successive time against Paul Azinger’s US Team.
Since the inaugural Junior Ryder Cup in 1995, Europe have won four matches, the United States one with the last match, in 2006 at The Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales, dramatically halved six points apiece. Sergio Garcia, who this week will compete in his fifth Ryder Cup, played in that first Junior Ryder Cup contest.
This year, European Captain Gary Stangl’s 12-strong Team includes the Irish golfing sensations, 13-year-old identical twins Lisa and Leona Maguire, Spain’s Anna Arrese, Scotland’s Carly Booth, Kelly Tidy of England and Denmark’s Daisy Nielsen.
The boys' half of the team comprises the French duo of Stanislas Gautier and Julien Brun, Germany’s Moritz Lampert, Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, Englishman Chris Lloyd and Italy’s Matteo Manassero.
Horton has made a massive contribution to the game throughout his career as a Ryder Cup player, tournament winner, skilled administrator as a member of the PGA European Tour Board of Directors and Chairman of the Seniors Tour Committee, course designer and renowned coach, and this week his support of the team is proving invaluable in helping the six boys and girls to prepare for the match against the United States.
His contribution was recognised prior to the team’s departure when George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, presented Horton with a Rolex watch, courtesy of the Official Partners to The Ryder Cup, to mark his appointment as Honorary Captain of the European Junior Ryder Cup Team.
Widely recognised as one of the finest short game exponents in golf, Horton’s expertise is sure to help the European Team deal with the challenge of The Club at Olde Stone, a course with challenging greens and run-offs where chipping and putting will be of a premium.
He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for all these young players, something they have never experienced.
“Gary (Stangl), Fredrik (Lindgren) and I have been helping them prepare as I don’t think they have played a golf course like this before. It is a marvellous opportunity and hopefully we can use our collective knowledge to help them out a little.
“Since the team arrived in Kentucky on Friday, they have bonded and are now communicating as a team and that is the whole objective of this. The European Ryder Cup Team has shown us that the way to win is as a team and that is what we are working towards.”
European Junior Ryder Cup Captain Gary Stangl is excited to showcase his European players. "They do not have to prove anything, they have played well and are very motivated,” said Stangl, who was a member of the Austrian National Junior Team from 1993-'95, and was a member of the Austrian National Team from 1995-'99. "I want to make sure they feel comfortable with each other and have a lot of fun."
The Junior Ryder Cup features six foursomes matches followed by mixed four-ball on the first day and 12 singles matches on day two. This is a change of format from previous years and will generate twice as many points to play for and makes the format a mini version of The Ryder Cup.
The Friendship Match is a new addition which will see the juniors playing a nine hole exhibition at Valhalla on Wednesday which will be a phenomenal experience for the juniors competing on The Ryder Cup Course just two days before The 2008 Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe gets underway

Representatives of the North, North-east and Angus districts of the Scottish Golf Union pictured with Neil Hampton (second left), golf & marketing director of Loch Ness golf course, North District president Jimmy Fraser (fourth left) and Iain Sutherland (fourth right), area director of UCB, new sponsors of the junior tournament which will be played at Loch Ness golf course on Sunday, September 14 (Cal Carson Golf Agency image). Click on the image to enlarge it.

UBC Group to sponsor extension of
long-running junior tournament

A junior golf tournament that began in the 1970s but was in danger of disappearing from the golf calendar has been rescued by UBC Group, the Inverness-based building and civil engineering company.
Grampian Television originally started an under-18 boys’ area tournament in the early 1970s and soon opened it up to include girls.
When GTV ceased its sponsorship, Eric Lindsay of the Platform 2 company in Aberdeen stepped into the breach for four years, from 2004 to 2007 inclusive.
Now UBC Group have committed themselves to sponsor the one-day event (36 holes for boys, one round for girls) at Loch Ness golf course, Inverness on Sunday, September 14.
Next year, the North-east District of the Scottish Golf Union will play host at a venue in their area before, in 2010, the tournament will come back to the north and be held at the Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth.
In 2011, Angus District will nominate a venue in their area.
A total of 36 boys – 12 from the North District, 12 from the North-east and 12 from Angus – will make up the field for the first UBC Trophy junior championship at Loch Ness golf course.
The UBC Trophy will go to the boys’ team with the lowest 36-hole aggregate, 10 from 12 scores to count. The boy with the lowest individual two-round total, not necessarily from the winning team, will be awarded a medal.
Between the boys’ two rounds, the one-round UBC girls’ stroke-play championship will be held. A field of 24 girls from Northern Counties, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perth & Kinross
will compete for scratch and handicap individual medals and prizes
North District President Jimmy Fraser said:
"This is an important competition for the boys and the girls, giving them an opportunity to meet and compete against good players outside their own clubs and districts. I and all my colleagues in the North District, and I am sure I speak also for the North-East and Angus, are grateful for the generous sponsorship provided by UBC to keep the competition going.
“We are also indebted to Neil Hampton and Loch Ness for the privilege of playing the event on their fine and testing course."
Iain Sutherland, area director of UBC Group, commented.
“As a company we are delighted to be the main sponsor of this event and to commit to it for the next four years. UBC Group supports many sports-related causes and a number of golf events in particular. The most recent of these was the re-opening of the Old Tom Morris designed course at Askernish, South Uist where we sponsor all eighteen holes.
“I would take this opportunity to wish the organisers of the event, and the competitors in particular, the very best of luck and trust that they have an enjoyable time on the day”.

NEWS OF AN EXCITING NEW JUNIOR GOLF SPONSORSHIP COMING SOON.

WATCH THIS SPACE

A sparkling field for Duke of York
Young Champions' Trophy

PRESS RELEASE
From Junior Open champions to Carris Trophy winners via +3 handicappers, The 2008 Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy field at Dundonald Links has it all.
Stiggy Hodgson, the English boys’ champion and reigning British Junior Open champion Moriya Jutanugarn will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Tour sensation and former champion Oli Fisher, as they head up one of the strongest junior fields ever gathered for the 2008 Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy.
With 55 competitors from 30 different countries worldwide, the eighth staging of junior golf’s pre-eminent international tournament is set to be the most exhilarating so far. The action tees off at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire from September 16-18.
Hodgson, who plays out of Sunningdale, will be looking to cap off a remarkable year in which he’s been compared to the great Tiger Woods, after he defied the pain of a ruptured knee ligament to claim both the Peter McEvoy and Carris trophies.
However, the chances of a first female tournament winner look strong with Thailand’s Jutanugarn joined by 2007 leading lady Giulia Molinaro from Italy, current British and Belgian girls champion Laura Gonzalez-Escallon and Scotland’s very own Under-21 girls' stroke-play champion Kelsey McDonald, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved).
When you add Russia’s Anna Verchenova, whose sister Maria is currently lighting up the Ladies European Tour, to the mix you get an idea of just what the boys are up against.
The 13-year-old Jutanugarn has already broken one barrier this summer by becoming the first girl to win the R&A’s Junior Open. Despite having never seen a links course before, the Thai Girls’ champion took to the gales of Hesketh like a seasoned veteran and is relishing a return to seaside golf.
With Japan, Israel and Thailand all participating for the very first time, the 54-hole stroke play event has once again managed to extend its global appeal. The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, which was created by HRH The Duke of York and former Nick Faldo manager, John Simpson, is a unique, international tournament open to both boys and girls who hold their Under-18 national title or have won another major golfing title in the preceding 12 months.
“I am excited by the prospect of watching such a talented group of junior golfers face up to the challenges presented by a links course of Dundonald’s stature,” comments the Duke of York. “It is a real testament to the tournament’s ever-increasing reputation around the world.”
HRH Prince Andrew will attend the tournament and host the official dinner.
Blue could once again be the colour to watch out for as Italy returns with defending champion Claudio Vigano, leading 2007 lady Giulia Molinaro, who finished just two shots adrift of her compatriot, and the field’s back marker Cristano Terragni, off a handicap of +3.2.
Vigano who played flawless golf for two rounds in 2007, managed to keep his nerve during a windswept final day with a birdie at the last securing his triumph.
Walker Cup hopeful Matt Haines was the highest-placed Briton with a final round 76 placing him ninth.
Kyle Phillips’ devilishly difficult Dundonald Links is the venue for the third year in a row, just a week after it hosts the European Tour Qualifying School First stage. Lyle Anderson Company Inc, owners of Loch Lomond, purchased the course in 2003 and Phillips, designer of Kingsbarns, made a number of alterations in 2003.
With Oli Fisher, Pablo Martin, Carly Booth, Sam Hutsby and Zac Gould among the former winners and combatants The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament has a truly impressive history of highlighting the stars of the future.

For Media enquiries please contact Luke Norman on 0203 1484529 or email luke_norman@ipcmedia.com

For further information on The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy please visit http://www.doy-champions.com/

For more information on Dundonald Links please go to http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/


FIELD OF CHAMPIONS
56 from 28 countries
31 boys & 25 girls

Austria
Christoph Weninger

Ireland
Paul Dunne

Belgium
Cédric van Wassenhove
Laura Gonzalez Escallon

Italy
Claudio Viganò
Cristiano Terragni
Giulia Molinaro

Canada
Mitch Sutton
Soo Bin Kim

Japan
Shingo Ito
Miki Sakai

Czech Rep.
David Prochazka

Latvia
Karlis Broders
Krista Puisite

Denmark
Max Melby
Julie Finne-Ipsen

Norway
Elias Bertheussen
Tonje Daffinrud

England
Stiggy Hodgson
Gary King
Hannah Barwood
Sarah Tyson

Russia
Anna Verchenova

Finland
Tapio Pulkkanen
NooraTamminen

Scotland
Mark Bookless
Kelsey MacDonald

France
Arnaud Abbas
Clémence Abrahamian

South Africa
Conway Kunneke
Michelle Leigh

Germany
Max Kraemer
Sebastian Schwind
Marcel Scheinder - tbc
Nicola Rössler - tbc

Spain
Carlos Pigem Xammar - tbc

Greece
Violetta Siozou

Sweden
Eric Blom
Robin Kokocinski
Emelie Lunström

Holland
Teemu Bakker
Caroline Karsten
Marieke Nivard

Switzerland
Victor Honauer
Anäis Maggetti

Hungary
Daniel Kovare

Thailand
Vasin Sripattranusorn
Moriya Jutanugarn

Iceland
Haraldur Magnus
Signy Arnorsdottir

Turkey
Güray Yazici
Elçin Ulu

Israel
Asaf Cohen
Laetitia Beck

Wales
Ross McLister
Amy Boulden