Spence Trophy leading prizewinners (left to right): Matthew McWilliam, Fraser Clarke, Paul Girvan of sponsors Kings Links Golf Centre, and Donald McAndrew (image by courtesy of Derek Johnstone).

Fraser Clarke wins Spence Trophy with ease

By DEREK JOHNSTONE
Leading qualifier Fraser Clarke (Westhill) strolled to victory in the Spence Trophy boys' tournament, sponsored by Kings Links Golf Centre, at the Kings’ Links today.
In the morning semi-final, he accounted for Newburgh’s Steven Sharp 4 and 3 and followed that with a convincing 5 and 4 victory in the final against Donald McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen).
Par figures at the first three holes in the afternoon final saw Fraser three up on the fourth tee. Donald reduced the deficit with a birdie at the fourth, but pars at the seventh and ninth saw Fraser four up at the turn.
A winning par for Fraser on the 10th was negated by a Donald birdie on the 11th. However, an impressive day’s golf was completed when Fraser birdied the difficult 14th for a deserved victory.
The third/fourth play-off was won by Matthew McWilliam who was never behind in beating Steven Sharp 3 and 1. The highlights of Matthew’s round were birdies at the fourth, eighth and 12th.
Details:
Semi-finals
Fraser Clarke (Westhill) bt Steven Sharp (Newburgh) 4 and 3.
Donald McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) bt Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon) 2 and 1.
Final
Clarke bt McAndrew 5 and 4.
Third/Fourth place play-off
McWilliam bt Sharp 3 and 1.

Andrew McLachlan in action on his way to victory over England captain Chris Lloyd (image by courtesy of Tom Ward).

Scots Under-16s beaten 8-2 by England

England inflicted an 8-2 defeat on Scotland in today's rain-hit Under-16 boys' international match at South Staffordshire Golf Club, Wolverhampton.
Heavy rain washed out the morning foursomes but the 10 singles matches were able to be played, using a shotgun start from 10 different tees.
Bonnyton’s Andrew McLachlan and Downfield’s Ross Storrier were best for Scotland, both winning 4 and 3.

McLachlan won the top singles tie against England captain and Junior Ryder Cup player, Chris Lloyd.

Results (England names first):

Chris Lloyd lost to Andrew McLachlan 4 and 3.

Adam Carson bt Paul McPhee 1 hole.

Oscar Sharpe bt Jack Scott 1 hole.

Billy Downing bt Conor O'Neil 3 and 1.

Liam Harper bt Liam Johnston 3 and 1.

James Carney bt Scott Gibson 4 and 3.

Sebastian Crookall-Nixon bt Shaun Connor 4 and 3.

Harry Casey lost to Ross Storrier 4 and 3.

Jack Heasman bt Calum Stewart 3 and 1.

James Burnett bt Rodger Clarke 5 and 4.

Rain washes out Under-16s
foursomes at South Staffs

Persistent rain has washed out the morning foursomes in today's Under-16 boys' international match between Scotland and England at South Staffs Golf Cub.
If the rain does stop, the intention is to have a shotgun start for the singles but it's not looking good at the moment (11am).
Information from photographer Tom Ward at the course.
Thanks, Tom!

Scotland's Under-16 boys ready for match against England

Ready for Sunday's Under-16 boys' international against England at South Staffs Golf Club. Tom Ward's image of the Scotland squad with coaches Neil Marr (left) and Spencer Henderson (right). Picture by courtesy of Tom Ward.

PAUL CAPTAINS SCOTLAND UNDER-16S
AT SOUTH STAFFS ON SUNDAY

Perth teenager Paul McPhee (King James VI) will captain the Scotland team in Sunday's Under-16 boys' golf international against England at South Staffordshire Golf Club, Wolverhampton.
The young Scots secured their first victory over England at this level in 2006 with an 8-7 victory at Hartlepool and will be looking to emulate that feat, having lost 12 months ago at Prestwick St Nicholas.

Scotland team is;
Paul McPhee (King James VI) - Captain
Jack Scott (Deeside)
Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton)
Shaun Connor (Ralston)
Calum Stewart (Brora)
Scott Gibson (Southerness)
Liam Johnston (Pines)
Conor O’Neil (Pollock)
Roger Clarke (Moray)
Ross Storrier (Downfield)

Reserve – Ian Redford (King James VI)
ends

England name team to play Scotland
in Sunday's Under-16 international

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
England will field five players new to international team golf for the annual under-16 clash with Scotland at South Staffs Golf Club on Sunday.
The five are James Burnett from Lincolnshire, Jamie Carney from Warwickshire, Harry Casey from Middlesex, Liam Harper from Kent and Essex-based Jack Heasman.
The rest of the team are Adam Carson, Chris Lloyd and Oscar Sharpe from Gloucestershire, Cumbria’s Sebastian Crookall-Nixon and Billy Downing from Cornwall.
Burnett finished runner-up in the Lincolnshire Under-16 championship last year, tied fifth in this year’s McGregor Trophy and was a member of one of England’s two triumphant Nations Cup teams in the event.
Carney finished runner-up to Crookhall-Nixon in the McGregor Trophy at High Post in July, while Casey won the Middlesex boys' championship this year and also carried off the Douglas Johns Trophy.
Harper has been a member of the Kent first and colts teams this year, while Heasman was also a member of a winning team in the McGregor Trophy Nations Cup and tied fifth in the North of England Under 16 Championship.
Carson, Downing and Lloyd played in the corresponding match in Scotland last year while Crookall-Nixon, Lloyd and Sharpe were members of the England Under-16 team beaten by Spain at Heswall in August.
Carson won the English Under-16 championship for the McGregor Trophy last year and lost a play-off for the Douglas Johns Trophy. He also finished runner-up in the Southwest boys' championship.
Crookall-Nixon, 15, won the McGregor Trophy this year, having finished third in the 2006 English Under-14 championship and also winning the Cumbria Under-16 title that year. Downing, the current Cornwall junior champion, has been capped at Under-16 level for the past two years. The 2003 Reid Trophy runner-up finished third in the Southwest boys' championship this year, having won the title in 2007, and was second in the North of England Under-16 championship.
Lloyd is a former Southwest boys Under-16 champion and North of England Under-16 champion. This year, he has won the Ernie Els world junior championship in South Africa and the North of England Under-16 title and reached the third round of the British boys' championship. In 2006, Sharpe simultaneously held the English Under-16, 15 and Under-14 titles, also won the Douglas Johns Trophy and made his international debut in the Under-16 match against Scotland. Last year, he stepped up to boys level before joining the Leadbetter College in America where he has met with some success, recently finishing fifth in the Italian Under-16 championship.
England have generally held the upper hands in these matches but Scotland won for the first time in 2006. However, England won again last year in Scotland. The full England team is: James Burnett (Sleaford)
Jamie Carney (Shirley)
Adam Carson (Long Ashton)
Harry Casey (Enfield)
Sebastian Crookall-Nixon (Workington)
Billy Downing (Truro)
Liam Harper (Lydd)
Jack Heasman (West Essex)
Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire)
Oscar Sharpe (Minchinhampton)

European Tour start for winner of
Faldo Series Final in Brazil

PRESS RELEASE
The Faldo Series today announced that the winner of this year’s Faldo Series Grand Final will be offered an amateur invite to the 2009 Inteco Russian Open Golf Championship on the European Tour.
For the first time, the Faldo Series Grand Final will take place in Brazil this year, at the Costa Do Sauipe Golf Resort on October 25-31. Supported by the European Tour and The R&A, players from more than 15 countries worldwide will take part, including qualifiers from the inaugural Faldo Series Russia Championship, hosted earlier this year by AMS at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.
In a further bid to help develop tomorrow’s champions, the leading male golfer from the Grand Final will now receive the chance to play alongside some of the best golfers on the European Tour at the 2009 Inteco Russian Open, also promoted by AMS.
Nick Faldo commented: “AMS has shown us great support, first by hosting the Faldo Series Russia Championship and now by offering this great opportunity for one of our players to get a taste of competing on the European Tour. This kind of experience is so important for the development of young amateurs with professional ambitions and I’m sure that it will stand them in great stead for the future.”

Spence Trophy semi-finals, final at
Kings Links on Sunday, October 5

Revised draw for the Spence Trophy boys' semi-finals at the Kings Links, Aberdeen on Sunday, October 5 is:
Fraser Clarke (Westhill) v Kevin Sharp (Newburgh).
Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon) v Donald McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen).
The semi-finals are at 9am and 9.10 with the final at 1.30pm.
The Spence Trophy tournament for junior champions of member clubs of the Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant League is sponsored by the Kings Links Golf Centre.

David Law and Jack Scott win Paul
Lawrie's Under-18 & Under-16 Opens

David Law (Hazlehead), who decided to play in the Paul Lawrie Junior Open at Deeside Golf Club on Sunday rather than represent Scotland in Monday's schools international match against England at Royal Lytham & St Annes - he had played in last year's match - won the Under-18 scratch section
David had a round of 73, one shot ahead of Murray Patterson (McDonald Ellon) and Ryan Bain (Strathlene). Murray took second place with a better inward half.
The Paul Lawrie Under-16 Open was won by Deeside's Jack Scott who had a brilliant round of 69 over his home Bieldside course. He won by four shots from Andrew Carroll (Peterculter) and Euan McIntosh (McDonald Ellon). Andrew's better inward half earned him second prize.

Easy win in Duke of York Trophy for Stiggy Hodgson

Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) won The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy by a runaway margin at Dundonald Links today.
Read the report and all the scores by switching over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Stiggy leads by three at Dundonald Links

Rising English teenage star Stiggy Hodgson from Sunningdale leads The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy tournament field by three shots with one round to go at Dundonald Links.
Read the full story and all the scores by switching over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Junior Ryder Cup blow-out:
United States 22, Europe 2

United States again outclassed Europe on the second and final day of the Junior Ryder Cup match at Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The home team took the singles by an 11 1/2-1/2 margin for an overall 22-2 victory of blow-out proportions.
Find out all the results, including who got the singles' half-point for Europe, by switching over to our sister website, http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/

Sponsors' area director Iain Sutherland holds the UBC Team Trophy won by the North-east District boys on either side of him at Loch Ness golf course, Inverness on Sunday. Picture by courtesy of Bill McIntosh.

Coverage of The Duke of York Young Champions
Trophy tournament on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

For news of a very wet first day at The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy tournament at Dundonald Links, please switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

US 10 1/2, Europe 1 1/2 Junior Ryder Cup
Day 1 scoreline from Kentucky

United States have built up a commanding lead over Europe on the first day of the Junior Ryder Cup match in Kentucky.
Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read the story and the lopsided results

UNDER-16 SCOTS BOYS BEAT

NORTH OF ENGLAND

AT MONKTONHALL

Scotland, captained by Paul McPhee (King James VI), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, beat North of England 10-5 in an Under-16 boys' representative golf match at Monktonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh on Sunday.
The Scots took the morning foursomes 3 1/2-1 1/2 and the singles by 6 1/2 to 3 1/2.
Rodger Clarke (Moray) had seven birdies in his 4 and 2 singles win for Scotland over Brad Hannah.

Clarke and another North of Scotland lad, Calum Stewart (Brora) won their foursomes and singles ties.
Results:
SCOTLAND 10, NORTH OF ENGLAND 5
Foursomes:
Paul McPhee & Scott Gibson halved with Andrew Scrimshaw & Lewis Fairbairn; Rodger Clarke & Ross Storrier bt Brad Hannah & Daniel Park 2 holes; Calum Stewart & Jordyn Rhind bt Thomas Rowland & James Morrison 3 and 2; Grant Forrest & Liam Johnston bt Oliver Carr & Chris Thursby 3 and 2; Robbie Gauld & Ewan Scott bt Steven King & James Simpson 1 hole (3 1/2-1 1/2).
Singles: McPhee bt Scrimshaw 4 and 3, Gibson lost to Fairbairn 5 and 4, Clarke bt Hannah 4 and 2, Rhind lost to Park 3 and 2; Storrier bt Rowland 5 and 4, Stewart bt Morrison 4 and 3, Johnson halved with Thursby, Gauld bt Carr 5 and 4, Forrest lost to King 1 hole, Scott bt Simpson 3 and 2 (6 1/2-3 1/2).

England send four boys to Canada

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Jake Shepherd (The Wisley), who helped Surrey retain the English boys county championship earlier this month, is one of four youngsters who will represent the English Golf Union in the Canadian International Junior Challenge at OslerBrook Golf and Country Club, Ontario on from September 15 to 19.
He is accompanied by Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool), Adam Myers (Northants County) and Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse), all four having made their England debuts in the recent boys' home internationals.
The Canadian International Junior Challenge is a nations cup-style event, the best three scores from four each day to count. There are also prizes for the leading medallists.

Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), on left, and Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), who both equalled the Loch Ness course record with 68s in the morning round (Cal Carson Golf Agency images).

NORTH-EAST DOMINATE FIRST UBC
BOYS' GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

North-east District competitors dominated the inaugural UBC inter-area boys' golf championship over the Loch Ness course, Inverness today.
Adam Dunton, who, alongwith Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) equalled the course record of 68 in the morning round, won the scratch medal with McDonald Ellon clubmate Murray Paterson finishing second.
North-east (1485) won the UBC Team Trophy ahead of North (1513) and Angus (1551).

TEAM SCORES (best 10 to count each round)

1485 NORTH-EAST: A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 68 73, T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 76 72, C Trahan (Royal Abedeen) 71 75, N McAndrew (Hazlehead) 75 79, R Manson (Braemar) 785 79, G Kennedy (Hazlehead) 83 75, M Patterson (McDonald Ellon) 70 72, R Bain (Strathlene) 85 73, S Strachan (Inverallochy) 75 79, S Smith (Deeside) 75 73, J Lees (Kintore) 76 81, R Gordon (Peterhead) 77 76.

1512 NORTH: J Treasurer (Inverness) 73 70, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 71 73, L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 77 77, M Manson (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 75 77, D Wright (Alness) 85 79, L McAlpine (Invergordon) 77 73, R Proctor (Forres) 78 73, T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 89 80, K Godsman (Hopeman) 68 77, D Edwards (Elgin) 85 79, P Ramsay (Elgin) 82 78, D Ramsay (Elgin) 76 74.

1551 ANGUS: M Reid (Downfield) 78 71, C Bremner (Edzell) 84 82, A Simpson (Montrose) 77 78, R Mitchell (Downfield) 767 71, S Nicol (Carnoustie) 84 82, N Conroy (Caird Park) 82 85, S MacGregor (Forfar) 79 81, R Munro (Monifieth) 76 74, M McKenzie (Forfar) 76 75, R Pert (Montrose) 78 84, A Todd (Grange) 89 80, D Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) 70 82.

LEADING INDIVIDUALS (CSS 70 70)
141 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 68 73.
142 M Paterson (McDonald Ellon) 70 72.
143 J Treasurer (Inverness) 73 70.
144 C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 71 73.
145 K Godsman (Hopeman) 68 77.
146 C Trahan (Royal Aberdeen) 71 75.

Switch over to our sister website, http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ for a report and pictures of the inaugural UBC girls' championship, also over the Loch Ness golf course today.

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

Clackmannan boys' team. Front row (left to right): Gary Chalmers, Kevin Ross, Laurence Allan, John McPherson. Back row: Scott Baird, Grant Dowie, Steven Macpherson, David Devlin (image by Hugh Hunter).

GARY HARVEY TROPHY 2008
With outstanding performances over the two day event, the Clackmannan county boys' team came very close to lifting the 2008 title. Only a countback on matches won allowed Perth and Kinross to take the trophy.

Said Peter Paterson, the Clackmannan vice-president: “It was a top-class performance and I am over the moon with the result. The boys took on much more experienced players and came out on top.”

Transport provider Willie Hatley agreed: “After the win in the first match, the boys showed great self belief in their golf.”

Stars of the two-day event were Gary Chalmers, Grant Dowie and Lawrence Allan who were all undefeated, Allan winning three out of three matches.

The three rookies, Baird, Ross, and Devlin also gave a good account of themselves with a special mention for Tillicoultry’s Kevin Ross who strode out confidently on Day 2, recording two vital wins.
Well done boys—their message is clear: Watch out Callum and Scott, we are on our way!

CLACKMANNAN 4 ½ FIFE 3 ½
1. Steven McPherson (Dollar) lost to Josh Anderson (Glenrothes) 3/1
2. Scott Baird (Tillicoultry) lost to Jamie Penman (Thornton) 2/1
3. Gary Chalmers (Dollar) halved with Jack Thorburn (Dunfermline)
4. Grant Dowie (Alloa) beat Ian Watson (St Andrews) 1 hole
5. John McPherson (Braehead) beat John Douglas (Cowdenbeath) 3/2
6. Lawrence Allan (Alva) beat Allan Tulloch (St Andrews) 2/1
7. David Devlin (Dollar) beat Callum Spence (Kirkcaldy) 3/1
8. Kevin Ross (Tillicoultry) lost to Andrew Pillan (Kirkcaldy) 3/2

CLACKMANNAN 4 PERTH & KINROSS 4
1. S McPherson lost to Sam McLaren (King James VI) 4/3
2. Baird lost to Paul McPhee (King James VI) 1 hole
3. Chalmers beat Danny Young (Craigiehill) 3/2
4. Dowie beat Roddy Forgie (Muckhart) 1 hole
5. J McPherson lost to Ian Redford (King James VI) 2/1
6. Allan beat Greig Stewart (Crieff) 2/1
7. Devlin lost to Angus Tester (Crieff) 2/1
8. Ross beat Callum Graham (Milnathort) 2/1

CLACKMANNAN 5 ANGUS 3
1. S McPherson lost to Matthew Reid (Downfield) 7/6
2. Baird lost to Mark Thomson (Grange) 1 hole
3. Chalmers beat Andy Simpson (Montrose) 1 hole
4. Dowie halved with Michael McNally( Grange)
5. J McPherson beat Ross Pert (Montrose) 3/2
6. Allan beat Scott Nicol (Carnoustie) 3/2
7. Devlin halved with Ross Storrier (Downfield)
8. Ross beat Chris Bremner (Edzell) 8/7

FINAL TEAM PLACINGS
1 = Perth & Kinross , Clackmannan.

3 Fife.

4 Angus
Pand K win the Gary Harvey Trophy on matches won
P and K 15, Clackmannan 13 ½

TOP MARKS FOR CALLUM AT MUIRFIELD

After Callum’s outstanding results in the recent match against Europe, he continued in the same vein at the Home Internationals at Muirfield. Playing in the number one slot for Scotland, he lost only one foursomes out of the six matches, and his undefeated record in the singles showed why he is near the top of the Amateur rankings.

Over the three day match he demonstrated his complete range of golfing skills over the tricky Muirfield course where the rough could swallow golf clubs as well as golf balls . His three singles matches all went to the last couple of holes, coming back strongly against Welshman Craig Evans.
CALLUM’S RESULTS
V Ireland with Wallace Booth, halved against Paul O’Hanlon, Eoin Arthur
Beat Paul O’Hanlon 2/1
V England with Scott Henry beat Dale Whitnell, Steve Uzell 4/2
Beat Sam Hutsby 1 hole
V Wales with Scott Henry lost to Nigel Edwards, Rhys Enoch 5/3
Halved with Craig Evans.

Following on from a week of concentrated golf, Callum decided not to defend his Newlands Trophy title at Lanark, preferring a rest in the build up to his try for a European Tour card starting at the Oxfordshire Golf Club next week.

NEAR MISS FOR BOB.
Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart came very close to taking the Seniors Order of merit title in a shoot out at Blairgowrie last week, losing narrowly to the experienced Gordon MacDonald from Callander. Bob has really had a great season in senior golf--- winning the stroke play title and runner up in both the Match Play and Order of Merit.

It has just been confirmed that he is in the Scottish team to play in the Senior Home Internationals at Tenby in South Wales in early October. Well done Bob!!

NEWLANDS TROPHY
With Callum Macaulay not defending his title, it was left to locals Scott Borrowman ( Dollar) and Phil Dempsey (Alloa) to fly the County flag, and they finished in the middle of the field after making the cut--- Scott with rounds of 73,80,71,75, (299) and Phil with 78,75,75,75 (303) over the par 70 Lanark layout. Wallace Booth (Comrie won with an aggregate of 285.

PERTH AND KINROSS BOYS RETAIN
GARY HARVEY TROPHY

HUGH HUNTER REPORTS
Perth & Kinross retained the Gary Harvey Trophy at the end of the quadrangular inter-county boys' two-day competition over the Balwearie course, Kirkcaldy on a countback after they and Clackmannan had tied with 3pt each.
It came down to a comparison of matches won and Perth & Kinross had the edge in this respect by 15 to 13 1/2.
Fife finished third and Angus fourth.
Results:
SATURDAY
PERTH & KINROSS 5 ½, ANGUS 2 ½
S McLaren (King James VI) halved with M Reid (Downfield), A Tester (Crieff) lost to M Thomson (Grange) 4 and 3, I Redford (King James VI) bt A Simpson (Montrose) 2 holes, D Young (Craigie Hill) bt M McInally (Grange) 5 and 4, P McPhee (King James VI) bt R Pert (Montrose) 2 and 1, R Forgie (Muckhart) bt S Nicol (Carnoustie) 3 and 2, J Arthur (Milnathort) lost to R Storrar (Downfield) 3 and 2, C Graham (Milnathort) bt C Bremner (Edzell) 4 and 3.
CLACKMANNAN 4 1/2, FIFE 3 1/2
S McPherson (Dollar) lost to J Anderson (Glenrothes) 3 and 1, S Baird (Tillicoultry) lost to J Penman (Thornton) 2 and 1, G Chalmers (Dollar) halved with J Thorburn (Dunfermline), G Dowie (Alloa) bt I Watson (St Andrews) 1 hole, J McPherson (Braehead) bt J Douglas (Cowdenbeath) 3 and 2, L Allan (Alva) bt A Tulloch (St Andrews) 2 and 1, D Devlin (Dollar) bt C Spence (Kirkcaldy) 3 and 1, K Ross (Tillicoultry) lost to A Pillan (Kirkcaldy) 3 and 2.
SUNDAY
FIFE 5 1/2, ANGUS 2 1/2
Anderson lost to Reid 1 hole, Penman bt Thomson 2 and 1, Thorburn bt Simpson 4 and 3, Watson bt McNally 2 and 1, Tulloch bt Pert 6 and 4, Spence halved with Nicol, Pillan bt Storrier 3 and 1, Douglas lost to Bremner 1 hole.
CLACKMANNAN 4, PERTH & KINROSS 4
S McPherson lost to McLaren 4 and 3, Baird lost to McPhee 1 hole, Chalmers bt Young 3 and 2, Dowie bt Forgie 1 hole, J McPherson lost to Redford 2 and 1, Allan bt Stewart 2 and 1, Devlin lost to Tester 2 and 1, Ross bt Graham 2 and 1.
FIFE 2 1/2, PERTH & KINROSS 5 1/2
Anderson lost to McLaren 2 and 1, Penman lost to McPhee 1 hole, Thorburn bt Young 4 and 3, Watson halved with Forgie, Tulleth bt Redford 2 and 1, Spence lost to G Stewart (Crieff) 3 and 2, Pillan lost to Arthur 4 and 3, Douglas lost to Graham 1 hole.
CLACKMANNAN 5, ANGUS 3
S McPherson lost to Reid 7 and 6, Baird lost to Thomson 1 hole, Chalmers bt Simpson 1 hole, Dowie halved with McNally, J McPherson bt Pert 3 and 2, Allan bt Nicol 3 and 2, Devlin halved with Storrier, Ross bt Bremner 8 and 7.

Perth & Kinross and Clackmannan win
on first day of Gary Harvey Trophy

HUGH HUNTER REPORTS
Gary Harvey Trophy holders Perth & Kinross had to stage a late rally to beat Angus 5 1/2-2 1/2 on the first day of the quadrangular inter-county boys' golf tournament over the Balwearie course, Kirkcaldy today.
In the other match, Clackmannan, the underdogs, beat the host county, Fife, 4 1/2-3 1/2.
Details:

PERTH & KINROSS 5 1/2, ANGUS 2 1/2
Sam McLaren (King James VI) halved with Matthew Reid (Downfield), Angus Tester (Crieff) lost to Mark Thomson (Grange) 4 and 3, Ian Redford (King James VI) bt Andy Simpson (Montrose) 2 holes, Danny Young (Craigie Hill) bt Michael McInally (Grange) 5 and 4, Paul McPhee (King James VI) bt Ross Pert (Montrose) 2 and 1, Roddy Gorgie (Muckhart) bt Scott Nicol (Carnoustie) 3 and 2, Jamie Arthur (Milnathort) lost to Ross Storrar (Downfield) 3 and 2, Callum Graham (Milnathort) bt Chris Bremner (Edzell) 3 and 2.
CLACKMANNAN 4 1/2, FIFE 3 1/2
Steven McPherson (Dollar) lost to Josh Anderson (Glenrothes) 3 and 1, Scott Baird (Tillicoultry) lost to Jamie Penman (Thornton) 2 and 1, Gary Chalmers (Dollar) halved with Jack Thorburn (Dunfermline), Grant Dowie (Alloa) bt Ian Watson (St Andrews) 1 hole, John McPherson (Braehead) bt John Douglas (Cowdenbeath) 3 and 2, Lawrence Allan (Alva) bt Allan Tulloch (St Andrews) 2 and 1, David Devlin (Dollar) bt Callum Spence (Kirkcaldy) 3 and 1, Kevin Ross (Tillicoultry) lost to Andrew Pillan (Kirkcaldy) 3 and 2.

UCB Group take over junior tournament sponsorship

Neil Hampton (left), golf & marketing director of Loch Ness golf course, Inverness, Jimmy Fraser (centre), president of the North District SGU, and Iain Sutherland, area director of the UCB Group, new sponsors of a long-running junior golf tournament. For all the details, log on to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk.

Surrey boys keep title at
English county finals

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Surrey retained the title with a comprehensive victory over Warwickshire while Cornwall were left with the wooden spoon as the Boys County Finals concluded on yet another day of ravaging winds at Royal North Devon.
Having already overcome Lancashire and Cornwall in the annual round-robin tournament, Surrey kept the title firmly in their grasp by crushing Warwickshire 9-0. With four internationals in their seven-man squad, Surrey possessed too much fire power for their rivals, a fact underlined by just a half point dropped from nine foursomes and four more surrendered in the singles.
“It was all about seven good players and a good coach,” said Surrey captain Terry Casey. “We knew we had the players to do it but it is all about performing on the day. In the end the standard of golf was exemplary. Today was the toughest conditions and they all went out and performed as we know they can.
“The conditions suited us because only the best players could cope as it was a case of controlling the ball. I don’t want to single out anybody because this is a great team.”
With the three morning foursomes already in their pockets, Surrey only needed two wins from the six singles but they were behind in virtually every one in the early stages. The general consensus was that it was extremely tough to play golf with the balls frequently oscillating on the greens.
But Surrey’s demise was premature and they slowly turned every match round with amazing skill and regularity. Tom Berry battled back from one down through six holes to win 4 and 2 over Phil Wastell while Josh White completed a 4 and 3 win over Tom Ibbertson, again after trailing early on.
Gary King played superbly, coming back from two down through four holes to beat Michael McCormack 6 and 5 while Jake Shepherd was one down with four to play but won the 15th and 17th to get home by one hole.
Max Williams also came up trumps by 3 and 2 over Jamie Carney and the final word was left to Stiggy Hodgson in his final match as a Surrey junior. He was two down to Will Bailey after seven but finished the contest a 4 and 2 winner on the 16th green.
Lancashire, champions in 2006, had the edge over Cornwall after the foursomes and they extended their lead when James Wilson wrapped up a 3 and 2 win over Billy Downing having never been down.
Cornwall hit back through Conor Wilson, who was always in front against Paul Howard before winning 3 and 2 but Scott Fitzgerald and Jack Brooks then sealed Lancashire’s victory. Fitzgerald was behind early on to Alex Glover but won three holes in four from the 10th to clinch a 2 and 1 success while Brooks was five up after seven holes against Tom Fox but the Cornish lad bounced back, winning four successive holes, then got back on terms at the 16th.
But Brooks birdied the 17th and held on for a narrow win. Aaron Stephens added to Cornwall’s tally by beating Anthony Stirling 2 and 1 but Lancashire had the final say when Tom Stuart edged a close encounter with Alan Lieske on the final green.
More information, news and results can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org.

Scots in Duke of York Young Champions' Field

Find out the names of the Scots in the select field for The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament at Dundonald Links from September 16 to 18 by switching over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Spence Trophy qualifiers

Spence Trophy boys' championship qualifying scores at Westhill Golf Club on Sunday:

QUALIFIERS
132 Fraser Clarke (Westhill) 62 70.
144 Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon) 70 74.
145 Donald McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) 76 69.
151 Greg Kennedy (H) 75 76 (better second round).
NON-QUALIFIERS
151 Kyle Nelson (Murcar Links) 74 77, Steven Sharp (Newburgh) 74 77.
152 Craig Chalmers (Oldmeldrum) 78 74.
153 Steven Smith (Deeside) 72 81.
155 Ryan Penny (Portlethen) 76 79.
157 Ross Yule (Peterculter) 77 80.
164 Matthew Beattie (Caledonian) 90 74.
167 William McPherson (Banchory) 80 87.

The semi-finals will be played at the Kings Links on Sunday, October 5 at 9am and the final at 1.30pm.

Draw:
Fraser Clarke (Westhill) v Greg Kennedy (Hazlehead).
Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon) v Donald McAndrew (Royal Aberdeen).

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

CALLUM CONQUERS EUROPE
In last week’s two-day international match for the St Andrews Trophy, Scottish champion Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) made a sizeable contribution to the Great Britain and Ireland’s team win over the Continent of Europe at the Kingsbarns Links.
Over the two days, Callum was undefeated with three wins and a halved match. Playing with Jonathan Caldwell in both foursomes matches, the GB and I pairing recorded a 3 and 1 win against the Netherlands golfers on day one, and in a repeat match on day two they snatched a half, winning the last three holes, helped by an eagle at the par 5 16th hole.
However it was in his singles matches that Callum recorded outstanding wins, first by 2 and 1 against Reinier Saxton, the British amateur champion, and then, on day two, against the European champion from Germany, Stephan Gross, by 3 and 1.
In his first match, he looked to have a comfortable three-hole lead after 10 holes, but the Dutchman took the next two. This could have unsettled Callum, but he answered with a birdie 2 at the 13th and another birdie at 17 sealed the match.
The next singles match was just as tight, but Callum forged ahead on the inward nine, and a repeat birdie at the 17th gave him an unbeaten record, and also clinched the match for the GB and I team who won by 13 ½ to 10 ½ over the two days.

UNLUCKY FOR BOB
Scottish senior champion Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) came so close to doing the double at Drumpellier last week when he lost narrowly in the seniors' match-Play final to Ronald Maclean (Hamilton) by 3 and 1.
Bob held a two hole advantage after 10 holes, but saw this slip away when his opponent found his putting touch. After qualifying for the 32 places with stroke play rounds of 82 and 75,Bob defeated four opponents to reach the final, including a tight match against former international Gordon Macdonald Callander. Bob won at the 20th.
This fine performance must ensure that Bob is selected for the Scottish team to play in the Senior Home Internationals in South Wales in October.

BUT SCOTT IS LUCKIER!!
Following recent good form, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) was up with the leaders in the South East District Championship at the weekend at Duddingston. After rounds of 70 and 67, he found himself two behind, but one round later he held a one-stroke lead from Lothians player John Gallagher.
This was to prove good enough to take the title as the fourth and final round was abandoned because of rain, and Scott was declared the winner. In doing so the title remained in the Wee County as Callum Macaulay took the trophy in 2007. The result will of course move Scott up the golf rankings.

COUNTY BOYS IN ACTION
This weekend, the Clackamannan County boys team have their chance to make headlines when they compete in the Gary Harvey Trophy at Kirkcaldy against teams from Angus, Fife and Perth & Kinross in eight-a-side round-robin matches.
Saturday sees an opening encounter with the Fife boys, the other two matches follow on Sunday.

DOMINANT GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
RETAIN JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A
Great Britain and Ireland have won the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Kingsbarns thanks to a dominating performance on the second day in which they won nine points of a possible 12. The GB&I team turned around a 7-5 overnight deficit to win by four points over the Continent of Europe team.

The winning point was secured by Ireland's Luke Lennox, who kicked his afternoon singles match into life with an eagle on the third to go two up against his French opponent Romain Wattel. Lennox played steady golf from there on in to follow the victories of England's Tommy Fleetwood, Ireland's Alan Dunbar and Scotland's Michael Stewart, the team captain, in the afternoon.

Stewart was thrilled with his side's performance in coming from behind to win the match in such style. "It's a team filled with fantastic players," he said after the match, "and we pulled out a really gutsy performance just when we needed it."

All the winners on the final day were in performed well, but in a tightly-fought contest in the afternoon the half point secured by Eddie Pepperell was vital to the team effort: Pepperell was three down after just six holes in the first match of the afternoon, but chipped away at Kasper Sorensen's lead from then on. Sorensen birdied the 16th to get back to two up, but then finished double bogey-bogey to open the door for Pepperell.

The last two singles matches only mattered for pride, but you could see how much the result mattered to the participants. Frederik Kollevold and Tom Lewis battled all the way to an honourable half, while England's Stiggy Hodgson punched the air and cheered as he holed the putt on the last which gave him a one-up victory over Max Kieffer in the final match.

Yet as impressive as the singles performance was, the foundation for the victory had been laid in the morning foursomes in which Great Britain and Ireland dominated to win three matches out of four and wipe out the Continent of Europe's overnight 7-5 lead.

In the first match of the morning Eddie Pepperell and Gary King made two birdies in the first five holes to take a two-hole lead against Spanish duo Carlos Pigem and Emilio Cuartero, a lead that they would never relinquish. A birdie on the 16th helped them close out the match with a 3&2 win to take the first point.

In the second game of the morning, it looked for a long while as if the Italian pair of Matteo Manassero and Cristiano Terragni would win. They birdied the ninth to go one up, and when they doubled that lead after Michael Stewart and Ben Enoch bogeyed the 12th it seemed that they would hang on to claim a point. But a brave fightback from Scotland's Stewart and Welshman Enoch coupled with a weak finish from the Italian pair changed all that. Manassero and Terragni bogeyed 16 and 17, then hit two shots into the burn on the last to hand the match to the home side.

The third match looked as if it would involve a similar reversal of fortune, with Frederik Kollevold and Daniel Jennevret losing the 16th to the birdie of Tommy Fleetwood and Stiggy Hodgson to cut the deficit to one. But the Scandinavians held firm, and steady pars on the last two holes saw them close out the one-hole victory.

In the morning's final foursomes match, the Irish pairing of Luke Lenox and Alan Dunbar proved as successful today as it had yesterday. Birdies on the 3rd, 6th, 12th and 13th put them into a four-hole lead, and though the Continent came back into it by winning the 14th, Dunbar and Lennox won the next to close out the match 4 and 3.

Teams for double-header at
Kingsbarns Friday-Saturday

Great Britain & Ireland play the Continent of Europe in a "double-header" over the Kingsbarns Links, Fife on Friday and Saturday.
The men's match is for the St Andrews Trophy, the Under-18 boys' match is for the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
Both matches are played under the same format, four morning foursomes, eight afternoon singles both days.

ST ANDREWS TROPHY TEAMS

Great Britain & Ireland
Wallace Booth (Scotland)
Jonathan Caldwell (Ireland)
Matthew Haines (England)
Sam Hutsby (England)
Shane Lowry (Ireland)
Callum Macaulay (Scotland)
Chris Paisley (England)
Steven Uzzell (England)
Dale Whitnell (England)

Continent of Europe
Jorge Campillo (Spain)
Benjamin Hebert (France)
Alexandre Kaleka (France)
Stephan Gross (Germany)
Andrea Pavan (Italy)
Re