European Tour Q-School – 2016 Second Stage Results

Posted on 07/11/2016 by Golf Bible

7th November 2016

The European Tour’s Second Qualifying Stage came to an exciting conclusion earlier today in Spain.

From the 322 players competing at the four qualifying courses just 71 secured spots at the Final Qualifying Stage.

No amateur entrants have made it through to the Final Qualifying Stage. David BOOTE (WAL) coming closest – he missed out in a play-off at Las Colinas.

The bad news for today’s qualifiers is they will now be joined by 85 ‘stronger’ players who are all exempt into the Final Stage.

The marathon continues next Saturday 12th November at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona, Spain. There are still 108 holes of nerve wracking golf to be played at the Stadium and Tour Courses. After all that golf the top 25 and ties will be awarded a well deserved 2017 European Tour card.

Meanwhile here is my report on the Second Stage results: –

CAMPO DE GOLF EL SALER – 7,057 yards, Par 72 – 81 entries
Click here for the – El Saler Results

The medalist at El Saler was Fabian MARTY (FRA) with a -14 72-hole score.

Just three Great British and Irish (GB&I) players qualified from El Saler where 17 spots were allocated. These were Daniel GAVINS (ENG) -12 3rd, Curtis GRIFFITHS (ENG) -9 6th and Ashley CHESTERS (ENG) -8 T7 (67, 73, 73, 67).

Chesters who turned Pro following the 2015 Walker Cup impressively shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to come through the field and secure his place at the Final Qualifying Stage.

German Christopher CARSTENSEN, who turned Pro ahead of this Second Stage event, performed admirably too. His -6 total saw him finish T10 and assured he would be on the bus to PGA Catalunya.

Notable players to miss out were Chester’s Walker Cup teammates Cormac SHARVIN (IRE) -3 T18 (68, 73, 73, 71), Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) -2 T24 (74, 69, 74, 69) and Jack MCDONALD (SCO) +8 T64 (78, 75, 75, 68).

Scottish amateur Liam JOHNSTON also fell short after rounds of 70, 78, 70 and 76 saw him finish T57 on +6. The only other amateur competing at El Saler, Nicholas SMITS (NED), finished T68 on +12.

Looking at some of the new Pros from across Europe, Robin SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) qualified alongside Chesters in T7 place but highly rated pair Marcus KINHULT (SWE) and Adrian MERONK (PLD) both missed out with -1 T30 finishes. Kinhult earned a European Tour card last year alongside fellow amateur Paul DUNNE (IRE). Whilst Dunne retained his card the younger Kinhult has generally struggled, perhaps lacking the experience and maturity to cope with the demands of Pro life. He is of course too good not to make it back to the big time soon.

As El Saler provided just 17 qualifiers, whereas the other three venues had 18 spots, the alternates will come from this site.

LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – 6,974 yards, Par 71 – 80 entries
Click here for the – Las Colinas Results

The medalist at Las Colinas was Oscar LENGDEN (SWE) with a -15 total.

Las Colinas proved to be a successful hunting ground for GB&I players. Stuart MANLEY (WAL) -13 2nd, Grant FORREST (SCO) -8 5th, Gary HURLEY (IRE) -6 7th, Bradley NEIL (SCO) -5 T9, Kevin PHELAN (IRE) -5 T9, Peter WHITEFORD (SCO) T13 and James ALLAN (ENG) -2 T17 were all amongst the successful 18 qualifiers.

Grant Forrest (67, 68, 74, 67) and Gary Hurley (69, 64, 75, 70), 2015 Walker Cup players, as well as 2014 Amateur Champion Bradley Neil were the obvious standouts for me here.

Amateur David BOOTE (WAL) and Matthew NIXON (ENG) will feel hard done by. Both finished on -2 T17 but missed out in the 5-man play-off which saw Allan progress with Italy’s Andrea MAESTRONI.

2015 English Amateur champion Joe DEAN (ENG) was left rueing a poor Sunday round 3. His +4 score, after rounds of 68, 69, 79 and 72, saw him finish T39.

There was no joy for the amateurs in the Las Colinas field. Gregoire SCHOEB (FRA) paid for two poor weekend rounds finishing on +2 T34. Matias CALDERON (Chile) +8 T50, Cameron SHAW (ENG) +18 67th and Mauro ANDERI (GER) +21 69th were unfortunately well off the pace.

European Tour QS

LUMINE GOLF & BEACH CLUB – 6,909 yards, Par 71 – 81 entries
Click here for the – Lumine Results

The medalist at Lumine was David LAW (SCO) with a -12 score at the Tarragona course.

Lumine proved to be another good qualifying venue for GB&I players. Joining Law were Robert COLES (ENG) -11 2nd, Ross KELLETT (SCO) -10 T3, Billy HEMSTOCK (ENG) -10 T3, Mark FOSTER (ENG) -7 T9, Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) -7 T9, Steve SURRY (ENG) -6 T15 and Charlie BULL (ENG) -6 T15.

Steve Surry and Charlie Bull both negotiated an 8 man play off for the final 4 Lumine spots. Unfortunately Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) and new Spanish pro Ivan CANTERO GUTIERREZ were unable to join them. French pair Jérôme LANDO CASANOVA and Olivier ROZNER picked up the two other available places. 18 players progressed from Lumine in total.

Daniel YOUNG (SCO) (72, 72, 72, 69) +1 T48 and Ashton TURNER (ENG) (68, 71, 72, 77) +4 T59 were amongst the notable GB&I players to fall at the second qualifying hurdle.

Amateur’s Max SCHMITT (GER) finished on +1 T48 after rounds of 70, 70, 74 and 71 whilst England’s Ben AMOR was only able to deliver his best golf in the third round as he finished on +6 64th (74, 77, 66, 73).

Paul HOWARD (ENG) (71, 72, 73) and Jamie SAVAGE (SCO) (73, 69, 70) both retired after the third round with injuries.

PANORAMICA GOLF & SPORT RESORT – 7,030 yards, Par 72 – 80 entries
Click here for the – Panoramica Results

Medalist at Panoramica was Paul MADDY (ENG) with a -19 total. Despite this being the easiest of the four courses Paul’s rounds of 68, 69, 67 and 65 were hugely impressive and saw him sprinting through the finish line.

The other GB&I players to join him, amongst the 18 qualifiers here, were Laurie CANTER (ENG) -17 2nd, Charlie FORD (ENG) -15 3rd, Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) -12 T4 and finally Jack HARRISON (ENG) -8 T17.

Harrison came through a 4 for 2 play-off which unfortunately saw William HAROLD (ENG) -8 T17 miss out.

English trio Thomas SHADBOLT (67, 70, 72, 72), Stiggy HODGSON (67, 70, 71, 73) and Jamie DICK (71, 67, 71, 72) who all finished on -7 T21 will all be wishing they could play their final rounds again.

Welshman Richard JAMES will also be wondering what happened. He couldn’t have made a much better start with rounds of 69 and 66 but sadly fell away with a finishing 76 and 78.

English amateur Adam CHAPMAN (+3) finished T51. Two 76’s in rounds 2 and 4 effectively killing off any chances he had after an opening 69.

Will ENEFER (ENG), who turned pro before the event, finished on +12 68th after rounds of 74, 73, 77 and 76. The Shropshire youngster will now have to continue his golfing education on the development tours.

Irish 2015 Walker Cup player Jack HUME (IRE) withdrew with a neck injury after opening rounds of 75 and 77.

Two Europeans who turned pro before competing at Panoramica, Thomas PERROT (FRA) and Lars VAN MEIJEL (NED), both just missed out finishing together on -6 T28 alongside England’s Billy SPOONER.

For further background information on the 2016 European Tour Q-School please take a look at my previous posts: –
European Tour Q-School – 2016 Second Stage Preview (14/10/16 & 03/11/16)
European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Results (07/10/16)
European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Preview (11/09/16)

ME.

European Tour Q-School – 2016 Second Stage Preview

Posted on 14/10/2016 by Golf Bible

14th October 2016 (Updated 3rd November 2016)

The European Tour’s Second Qualifying Stage starts tomorrow at four venues in Spain and will be completed on Monday 7th November 2016.

The total Second Stage entry has now been settled at 322 players, with each of them allocated to one of the four courses.

The field includes all of the players that qualified from the eight First Stage events. Here’s my summary of the Amateur and GB&I qualifiers – European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Results

They are now joined by those players exempt from the First Stage. These include: –

The leading 5 entrants as at 31st August 2016 to a limit of 15th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking provided that they had applied to enter the First Stage by 31st August 2016.
European Tour Members in Categories 1-21 as at 31st August 2016.
2016 Challenge Tour Members in Ranking positions 1-90 as at 31st August 2016.
2016 Challenge Tour Members in positions 46-90 in the Final 2016 Rankings.
Winners of the Qualifying School in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Winners of the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Winners of a PGA European Tour Order of Merit event prior to 1st January 2007.
European Tour Members in positions 76-100 in the ET Career Money List on 31st August 2016.
The No. 1 ranked player on The PGA EuroPro Tour, Pro Golf Tour, The Nordic League and ALPS Tour in their final Orders of Merit, unless already exempt under 11. below.
The leading 4th-10th placed entrants as at 31st August to a limit of 25th place in the Order of Merits of The Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, The Japan Golf Tour and The Sunshine Tour, provided that they had applied to enter the First Stage by 31st August 2016.
The leading 6 entrants as at 31st August 2016 to a limit of 10th place in the Order of Merits of The PGA EuroPro Tour, Pro Golf Tour, The Nordic League and ALPS Tour, provided that they had applied to enter the First Stage by 31st August 2016.

17 players from each venue will progress to the Final Stage, which will be played at the PGA Catalunya Resort between 12th-17th November. Play-offs will take place to ensure that just 17 players progress from each site.

European Tour QS

A complete list of the amateur entries (AM), some new professionals (NP) as well as all the other GB&I players competing at Q-School’s Second Stage is provided below, along with links to the European Tour’s draw and leaderboard pages: –

CAMPO DE GOLF EL SALER – 7,057 yards, Par 72
Click here for the – El Saler Start Sheet
Click here for the – El Saler Live Scores

Included within the 81 entries at El Saler are 28 from GB&I (35%).

James ABLETT (ENG)
Niklas ADANK AM (GER)
Alex BELT (ENG)
Wallace BOOTH (SCO)
Christian BRAEUNIG NP (GER) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Chris CARSTENSEN NP (GER) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Ashley CHESTERS (ENG)
Lee CLARKE (ENG)
Luke CORNFORD (ENG)
Dave COUPLAND (ENG)
Mark DAWE (ENG)
Ewen FERGUSON NP (SCO)
Daniel GAVINS (ENG)
Curtis GRIFFITHS (ENG)
Sam HUTSBY (ENG)
Liam JOHNSTON AM (SCO)
Niall KEARNEY (IRE)
Marcus KINHULT (SWE)
Josh LOUGHREY (ENG)
Nick MARSH (ENG)
James MAW (ENG)
Jack MCDONALD NP (ENG)
Adrian MERONK NP (PLD)
Paul NEWMAN (ENG)
Greg PAYNE (ENG)
Chris ROBB (SCO)
James ROBINSON (ENG)
Robin SCIOT-SIEGRIST NP (FRA)
Zane SCOTLAND (ENG)
Chris SELFRIDGE (IRE)
Cormac SHARVIN NP (IRE)
Nicholas SMITS AM (NED)
Joshua WHITE (ENG)
James WILKINSON (ENG)
Martin WOODBRIDGE (ENG)

LAS COLINAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – 6,974 yards, Par 71
Click here for the full – Las Colinas Start Sheet
Click here for the – Las Colinas Live Scores

Included within the 80 entries at Las Colinas are 27 from GB&I (34%).

James ALLAN (ENG)
Mauro ANDERI AM (GER)
David BOOTE AM (WAL)
Matias CALDERON AM (Chile)
Jonathan CALDWELL (IRE)
Jack COLEGATE (ENG)
Lee CORFIELD (ENG)
Ali DALGLIESH (ENG)
Joe DEAN NP (ENG)
Scott DRUMMOND (SCO)
Craig FARRELLY (ENG)
Paul FERRIER (SCO)
Grant FORREST NP (SCO)
Stephen GRANT (IRE)
Paul HENDRIKSEN (ENG)
Gary HURLEY NP (IRE)
Daniel KAY (SCO)
Chris LLOYD (ENG)
Stuart MANLEY (WAL)
Bradley NEIL (SCO)
Matthew NIXON (ENG)
Kevin PHELAN (IRE)
Adam RUNCIE (WAL)
Gregoire SCHOEB AM (FRA)
Cameron SHAW AM (ENG)
Peter TARVER-JONES (ENG)
Peter WHITEFORD (SCO)
Dale WHITNELL (ENG)
Charlie WILSON (ENG)
Guy WOODMAN (ENG)

LUMINE GOLF & BEACH CLUB(Lakes Course) – 6,909 yards, Par 71
Click here for the full – Lumine Start Sheet
Click here for the – Lumine Live Scores

Included within the 81 entries at Lumine are 28 from GB&I (35%).

Ben AMOR AM (ENG)
Matthew BALDWIN (ENG)
Jason BARNES (ENG)
Steven BROWN (ENG)
Charlie BULL (ENG)
Ivan CANTERO (ESP) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Robert COLES (ENG)
Sam CONNOR (ENG)
Rhys ENOCH (WAL)
Henry FEATHERSTONE (ENG)
Mark FOSTER (ENG)
Jordan GIBB (ENG)
Billy HEMSTOCK (ENG)
Paul HOWARD (ENG)
David R JAMES (ENG)
Ross KELLETT (SCO)
Sam KILOH (SCO)
Nathan KIMSEY (ENG)
Gudmundur KRISJANSSON AM (ILD)
David LAW (SCO)
Declan LOFTUS (IRE)
Nicolas MAHEUT NP (FRA) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE)
Van PHILLIPS (ENG)
Tim RICE (IRE)
Jamie SAVAGE NP (SCO)
Max SCHMITT AM (GER)
Henry SMART (ENG)
Steve SURRY (ENG)
Ashton TURNER NP (ENG)
Nicolai VON DELLINGSHATUSEN NP (GER) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Matt WALLACE (ENG)
Daniel YOUNG NP (SCO)

PANORAMICA GOLF & SPORT RESORT – 7,030 yards, Par 72
Click here for the full – Panoramica Start Sheet
Click here for the – Panoramica Live Scores

Included within the 80 entries at Panoramica are 28 from GB&I (35%).

Laurie CANTER (ENG)
Brian CASEY (IRE)
Adam CHAPMAN AM (ENG)
Jamie DICK (ENG)
Chris DOAK (SCO)
Jack DOHERTY (SCO)
Will ENEFER NP (ENG) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Chris EVANS (ENG)
Charlie FORD (ENG)
Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG)
Jack HARRISON (ENG)
William HARROLD (ENG)
Thomas HIGSON (SCO)
Stiggy HODGSON (ENG)
Jack HUME NP (IRE)
Marco ITEN NP (SUI) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Richard JAMES (WAL)
Luke JOY (ENG)
Mark LASKEY (WAL)
Oliver LINDELL NP (FIN)
Paul MADDY (ENG)
Andrew MCARTHUR (SCO)
Nick MCCARTHY (ENG)
George MULLINS (ENG)
Tom MURRAY (ENG)
Thomas PERROT NP (FRA) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG)
Thomas SHADBOLT (ENG)
Paul SHIELDS (SCO)
Billy SPOONER (ENG)
Lars VAN MEIJEL NP (NED) – TURNED PRO AHEAD OF 2ND STAGE
Matthew WEBB (ENG)

ME.

Rodney Foster

Posted on 12/10/2016 by Golf Bible

13th October 2016

Rodney Foster is one of England’s and for that matter Great Britain’s best ever amateur golfers. After years of international representation this career amateur became a much respected and well liked ambassador for the game of golf.

Here is ‘an everything you need to know ‘list to record his more notable achievements in the amateur game.

1. He was born in Shipley on 13th October 1941. A lifelong Yorkshireman he was educated at Bradford Grammar School, before embarking on a career in insurance locally and living in the area to this day. He plays most of his golf at Ilkley nowadays.

2. His mother and father were both members of The Bradford Golf Club, his father being Captain in 1956. It was therefore inevitable that Rodney and his brother George would take up the game and quickly become proficient at it – both became scratch players, representing The Bradford club during their careers. It was at Bradford that Rodney developed his upright swing for which he was known.

3. He won the Yorkshire Amateur Championship five times, in 1963, ’64, ’65, ’67 and ’70. Locally he is also known for his dominance of the Bradford Open, which he won a record 10 times between 1960 and 1982.

4. He was capped for both England Boys (1958) and Youths (1959).

5. Rodney became a full Men’s International in 1963 and played for England annually in the Home Internationals between 1963 and 1971 (save for 1965). His elite playing career coming to end slightly prematurely in 1973 after he was involved in a serious car accident.

6. Rodney represented England in the European Amateur Team Championship in 1963, ’65, ’67, ’69, ’71 and ’73. England won this event three times with him in their team, in 1963, ’69 and ’71.

7. He won many other major amateur titles, most notably the Berkshire Trophy (1964) and the Lytham Trophy (1967 and 1968).

8. In 1964, probably his best playing year, he lost the final of the English Amateur Championship to Dr. David Marsh by 1 hole at Hollinwell.

9. He reached the semi-finals of The Amateur Championship in both 1962 (Hoylake) and 1965 (Porthcawl), losing firstly to Richard Davies from the USA by 3&2 and then to Michael Bonallack by 1 hole on his way to the title. He played in 20 Amateurs between 1962-82, winning 37 and losing 20 of his 57 matches.

Rodney Foster (Photo: R&A / 1979 Walker Cup Programme)

10. He tied with Michael Bonallack for the English Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship (Brabazon Trophy) in 1969 at Walton Heath (no play-off in those days) before successfully defending the title in 1970 at Little Aston.

11. He was a member of the winning GB&I Eisenhower Trophy team in 1964. He played with Michael Bonallack, Michael Lunt and Ronnie Shade in Olgiata, near Rome. He also represented Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) in 1970 in this competition.

12. He played in five consecutive Walker Cup‘s for GB&I, 1965, ’67, ’69, ’71 and ’73. However, as was the case with most golfers of this era, his playing record was disappointing – he played 17 games winning 2, losing 13 and halving 2.

13. He also represented Great Britain in the St. Andrews Trophy match against Europe in 1964, ’66, ’68 and ’70. GB won all four of these matches.

14. He was non-playing captain of England in 1976, ’77 and ’78, England winning the Home Internationals’ Raymond Trophy in his last two years. He went on to become captain of the GB&I Walker Cup team in 1979 (Muirfield) and 1981 (Cypress Point). Both matches were lost, the former 8.5-15.5 and the latter 15.5-9. In the middle year, 1980, he captained the St. Andrews Trophy Team which beat Europe 19.5-10.5 at Royal St. George’s.

15. Rodney also played for Great Britain in 1967 (Canada) and 1971 (New Zealand) in the now defunct Commonwealth Tournament, competing against teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

16. He set many course records during his career including those at The Bradford (66), Leeds (64), Prestbury (66) and Troon 70.

17. He has honorary membership of many Yorkshire clubs in recognition of his service to the county and international playing achievements. These include The Bradford, East Bierley, Halifax, Ilkley, Keighley, Shipley, West Bowling and Woodsome Hall.

18. Finally, as one would expect he is also a member of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

19. In December 2025 a biography, ‘Golf’s Golden Era – The Story of Rodney Foster’ by Robin Snook & Trevor Wilson was published. A copy can be acquired from the authors here.

ME.

Ronnie Shade MBE

Posted on 10/10/2016 by Golf Bible

15th October 2016

Ronnie Shade is one of Great Britain & Ireland’s best amateur golfers of all-time and probably Scotland’s very best. Indeed for a while in the mid-1960’s he was considered the best amateur in the world.

Ronald David Bell Mitchell Shade MBE was born on 15th October 1938 in Edinburgh.

He grew up playing golf at Duddingston Golf Club on the east side of the city where is father John was the club pro. He attended the nearby Portobello Secondary School.

Coached exclusively by his father he developed a somewhat mechanical swing but one that he could repeat and rely upon. He was known for keeping his head down well through impact.

“Before each shot, Ronnie goes through a series of seemingly odd contortions. These are his father’s idea. He believes that the muscles have to be ‘reminded’ of their role before each shot. Young Shade can be observed standing away from the ball posing in the top of the backswing position and flicking his hips. This is to ‘remind’ his hips to move first. His most unusual pose is the follow through which he performs and holds three three times before each stroke” – World Sports Magazine, 1962.

He quickly showed promise on the links winning the Edinburgh Boy’s Championship in 1954-55-56.

He represented Scotland in the Boys’ International Match in 1954-55-56, captaining the side in his final year.

He took his junior victories onto the national stage in 1954 firstly winning the British Youth’s Under 18 Open Championship by 3-shots at Dumfries and County GC. In 1956 he secured the Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship beating AJ Hanley at North Berwick 7&6 in the final.

His best finish in the Boys’ Amateur Championship came in 1956 when he reached the semi-finals before losing 4&3 to CW Cole.

He was first selected for Scotland’s Men’s team in 1957, playing one match in The Amateur Internationals (now the Home internationals) against Ireland. He played in the Internationals in 1960-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68 competing against all the home nations.

He is best known north of the border for winning five consecutive Scottish Amateur Championships between 1963-1967.

1963 – beat N Henderson 4&2 at Troon.
1964 – beat J McBeath 8&7 at Nairn.
1965 – beat GB Cosh 4&2 St. Andrews.
1966 – beat CJL Strachan 9&8 at Western Gailes.
1967 – beat AB Murphy 5&4 at Carnoustie.

When he lost in the fourth round of the 1968 Championship it brought to an end a staggering run of 43 successive match wins, 35 of them coming over 18 holes. His record could have been even better too as he also lost the 1962 final to SWT Murray 2&1 at Muirfield.

Ronnie Shade (Photo: The Golfer’s Handbook 1964)

In 1968 Shade won the second Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, held at Prestwick, with a 282 total score.

He won the the English Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship (for the Brabazon Trophy) three times, in 1961-63-67.

In 1966 he lost the final of The Amateur Championship to South African Bobby Cole. Shade played in 8 Amateur’s between 1961 and 1968 winning 26 of his 34 games Whilst his 76.5% win percentage is nothing to be ashamed of Shade must have been disappointed that he couldn’t have performed better in our most prestigious event.

1961 Turnberry – 5th rd loss to J Walker 2&1
1962 Royal Liverpool – 2nd rd loss to GJ Butler 20th hole
1963 St Andrews – 5th rd loss to Dr. ER Updegraff 3&2
1964 Ganton – 2nd rd loss to PF Brady 1 hole
1965 Royal Porthcawl – 4th rd loss to W Hyndman III 2&1
1966 Carnoustie – Runner up losing to RE Cole 3&2
1967 Formby – 5th rd loss to RB Dickson 2&1
1968 Troon – 6th rd loss to RL Glading 1 hole.

He represented Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) four times in the Walker Cup, playing in 1961-63-65-67. Ronnie Shade played 14 games winning 6, losing 6 and halving 2. In this era this represents a very creditable record.

1961 Seattle – USA 11 – 1 GB&I P2 W0 L2 Ho
1963 Turnberry – GB&I 8 – 12 USA P4 W2 L1 H1
1965 Baltimore – USA 11 – 11 GB&I P4 W3 L1 H0
1967 Royal St. George’s – GB&I 7 – 13 USA P4 W1 L2 H1

Shade was selected for the 1962-64-66-68 GB&I teams for the Eisenhower Trophy. During the 1962 event he set a new course record at Kawana in Japan (66), in 1964 GB&I won the Trophy in Mexico (Shade played with Michael Bonallack, Rodney Foster and Michael Lunt) and in 1966 he was the leading individual player (283) with GB&I coming second (this time with Peter Oosterhuis and Gordon Cosh joining up with him and Bonallack).

In 1966 he won the Silver Medal for the low amateur at The Open Championship, finishing tied 16th. His only major championship appearances came in The Open which he played 14 times during his career.

The third Carling World Championship was held at Birkdale in 1966. Shade won the low amateur honours at this mixed pro and amateur event.

Ronnie Shade (Photo: The Golfer’s Handbook 1967)

In recognition of his outstanding 1966 he was awarded The Association of Golf Writers Trophy.

Ronnie was often referred to by his fellow players as “Right Down the Bloody Middle” – based on his initials – due to his consistent driving, which formed the bedrock of his play.

“No one I have ever seen, even to this day, hit the ball as straight as Ronnie did. He was an extraordinary player.” – Bernard Gallacher, The Scotsman, 2009.

He was awarded an MBE in 1967 for services to golf whilst he was still an amateur and aged just 28.

Ronnie turned pro in late 1968 aged 30 and whilst he didn’t quite make it the move was not without some success. He won both the 1969 Carroll’s International and Ben Sayers Tournament in his rookie season. A smooth transition was not unexpected as Shade had a reputation for meticulous preparation in the amateur game which no doubt stood him in good stead. He finished 20th in the 1969 PGA Order of merit with prize money of £2,689. Fellow Lothians man Bernard Gallacher won the Order that year with £6,793. He got to 14th in the rankings in 1970 and finished in the top 60 every year until the mid-1970’s.

His only other pro wins came at the Scottish Professional Championship (1970) and Mufulira Open in Zambia (1975).

He represented Scotland at the World Cup three times, in 1970-71-72, and in the Double Diamond Internationals five times, in 1971-72-73-74-75.

Shade remained a strong match play exponent in the pro ranks, finishing runner-up at the British PGA Matchplay Championship in 1970 as well as reaching the semi-finals on two other occasions.

Ronnie Shade in 1973 (Photo: Fionnbar Callanan)

In 2005 in a Sunday Herald article by Golf Correspondent Nick Rodger Ronnie Shade was ranked 17th in a list of the Greatest Scottish Golfers.

After a long battle with cancer Ronnie Shade sadly died on 10th September 1986, just over 30 years ago, aged only 47. By this time he had been reinstated as an amateur golfer.

I have now written three profiles of Scottish golfers, Barclay Howard and Freddie Tait being the other two, and all of them have died well before their time.

His failure to lift The Amateur Championship leaves him just short of the greats of the GB&I amateur game in my eyes but his record remains one of the best and as such he deserves to be recognised and remembered.

ME.

The PGA European Tour’s December 2015 Accounts

Posted on 05/10/2016 by Golf Bible

5th October 2016

The PGA European Tour (‘the Tour’) have recently submitted their 31st December 2015 Consolidated Audited Accounts to Companies House.

These always make interesting reading, even more so this year, where a lot more non-financial information has been provided.

The Tour’s group of companies primarily looks after the interests of its members; professional golfers competing on the European Tour, the European Challenge Tour and the European Senior Tour which are all run by the business.

Chairman David Williams was appointed on 1st January 2014 so these accounts cover his second year in charge. Keith Pelley replaced George O’Grady CBE as Chief Executive Officer on 3rd August 2015 so these were still early days for the new man at the helm.

The PGA European Tour businesses are dependent upon a continuing global interest in golf, television rights contracts, sponsorship contracts and the successful running of a number of key tournaments.

Flicking through the accounts, covering the 12 month period to 31st December 2015, the following caught my eye: –

1. A well publicised “new and revitalised” strategy has been adopted under Keith Pelley’s leadership. In his Chairman’s Report, written in June 2016, David Williams says “There is significant investment taking place in both upgrading our management capability and in our infrastructure.” Pelley himself says in his CEO Report “we are currently augmenting our commercial operation, have undertaken a complete overhaul and restructuring of our digital operation, have instigated a legal department and established a players relations department which will continue to expand over the coming months to drive our Players’ First Philosophy.

2. The Strategic Report was quick to point out that “the year following a home Ryder Cup is typically financially challenging.” As most people know The Ryder Cup is critical to the ongoing welfare of the European Tour.

Subsidiary company Ryder Cup Europe LLP is responsible for the organisation of the Ryder Cup matches that take place in Europe. It is a partnership between the PGA European Tour (60%), the PGA (20%) and the PGAs of Europe (20%). The match is run in conjunction with the PGA of America and other subsidiaries appear to benefit from away matches to a degree.

3. Due to the massive impact of the Ryder Cup the Tour budgets over a four year cycle, taking in home and away Ryder Cups, with income understandably being much greater when the match is contested in Europe. The Tour makes profits (or occasionally modest losses) in Ryder Cup years and absorbs losses in alternate years when the match isn’t played but additional ongoing costs relating to the match have to be absorbed.

2014 marked the end of the last budgeting cycle with a new one commencing on 1st January 2015. So these accounts cover Year 1 of the current business budget / plan.

The Tour is currently forecasting losses for both 2016 and 2017 due to the additional business infrastructure investments being made. With the Ryder Cup being staged in Paris in 2018 a large profit is expected which it is hoped will offset all of the losses incurred in the first three years of the current plan.

4. The Tour’s Key Performance Indicators have been broadened and now include Profit Before Tax, Prize Funds, Playing Opportunities, Top-Ranked Player Participation, Average Annual Strength of Field Rating and Stakeholder Satisfaction.

5. Five key guiding philosophies are stated in the Strategic Report: –

a) Player First – to ensure that player’s want to compete on the European Tour.

b) Partner First – prize money drives player participation so sponsors need to be shown tangible value from their involvement.

c) A Global Business – the organisation needs to better reflect it’s international reach.

d) Consumer-Focussed – fan engagement is critical to driving sponsor involvement and player participation.

e) Disciplined In Our Business – focus on efficiency to maximise returns to members.

6. Sir Michael Bonallack OBE resigned as a non-executive / shadow director on 31st December 2015.

7. Turnover was £153,633,366 (2014: £231,382,079). This 34% decrease was primarily due to the 2014 numbers benefiting from the Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles.

8. A Net Loss Before Taxation of £7,154,041 was reported (2014: £17,586,362 Profit). This compares poorly with the record 2014 profit but reflects the reduced income and higher costs due to the ongoing strategic investments.

9. Cash balances at the year end were £13,953,368 (2014: £18,580,769. During the year the tour received Interest of £231,431 (2014: £148,443) on its surplus funds.

10. Total Members’ funds (Total Net Worth) decreased to £16,849,596 (2014 Restated: £25,173,188).

11. The Tour’s Intangible Assets include the title rights to the British Masters and the Scottish Open.

12. On average the Tour employed 205 (2014: 201 / 2013: 167) staff and 11 consultants (2014: 12) during the year. Net Staff Costs in 2015 were £14,955,545 (2014: £14,323,167). Net Staff Costs for 2015 include costs of £1,428,642 (2014: £2,642,221) relating to Ryder Cup Europe LLP (see 3) above).

13. The highest paid Director, which I believe would still have been George O’Grady, received remuneration (and bonuses) of £610,717 in 2015 (2014: £681,868, George O’Grady).

14. Some corporate restructuring has taken place as PGA European Tour Properties Ltd and Ryder Cup Europe Official Hospitality 2014 Limited are both no longer trading. The Tour therefore had at the year end four trading subsidiaries and four joint venture investments.

15. The Tour has to manage a number of trading risks. These are primarily: –

a) Foreign currency risks as it trades across many continents and countries. In 2015 a Net Foreign Exchange Gain of £53,555 was charged to the accounts (2014: Loss £127,597). Forward currency contracts are used when natural hedges are not fully available (i.e. when currency receipts broadly match payments)

b) Credit risks where the tour relies on promoters, sponsors and other customers fulfilling contracts that may have been entered into long before events take place. Payment track records and credit references are undertaken. At the end of the 2015 trading year the Group had Trade Debtors of £10,394,322 (2014: £17,596,253) so these are not inconsiderable sums. A bad debt provision of £460,760 (2014: 0) was required during the year.

16. The Tour made charitable donations, mainly to bodies engaged in the development of golf, of £775,513 in 2015 (2014: £710,952).

17. The Tour banks with Barclays and is audited by accountants Grant Thornton.

A disappointing material loss in isolation in 2015 but allowing for the Ryder Cup and the strategic investments being made it is clear that the European Tour remains in overall good financial health. Strong reserves and cash balances support the Tour through the troughs of it’s four year trading cycle.

It will be interesting to see how Keith Pelley executes the new strategy and the extent of the losses that will be reported in 2016 and 2017. Clearly it will be imperative that the 2018 Ryder Cup is a success so that it enables the Tour to fully recover the losses in 2015-17 and gives everyone hope that it can thrive as we move into the 2020’s.

ME.

European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Results

Posted on 26/09/2016 by Golf Bible

7th October 2016

The European Tour’s First Qualifying Stage has finished today with the completion of the two Section D competitions. The six other qualifiers were played over the previous three weeks with a total of 767 players competing.

71 Great British and Irish (GB&I) players have successfully negotiated this first step including five of our amateurs. In total 204 players qualified including 18 amateurs.

Well done to all 18 amateurs but specifically the GB&I ones, namely David BOOTE (WAL), Adam CHAPMAN (ENG), Will ENEFER (ENG), Liam JOHNSTON (SCO) and Cameron SHAW (ENG).

The four Second Qualifying Stage competitions will be played on 4-7 November 2016 in Spain. The courses are once again Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort in Castellan, Lumine Golf & Beach Club in Tarragona, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Alicante and Campo de Golf El Saler in Valencia. The draws for these events are scheduled to be made on 14th October 2016.

Here is a complete list of all the GB&I and Amateur qualifiers from the First Stage: –

Section D Results Update

FRILFORD HEATH, ENGLAND (6-9 October)
Click here for the – Frilford Heath Q-School Results

25 players qualified for the Frilford Heath event including: –

T1. Daniel KAY (SCO) -9
T3. Ashton TURNER (ENG) -8
T3. Luke CORNFORD (ENG) -8
T5. Joe DEAN (ENG) -7
T5. Niall KEARNEY (IRE) -7
T5. Jonathan CALDWELL (IRE) -7
9. Chris EVANS (ENG) -6
T10. Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) -5
T10. David BOOTE AM (WAL) -5
T12. Lee CLARKE (ENG) -4
T12. Dale WHITNELL (ENG) -4
T16. Nick MARSH (ENG) -3
T16. Billy SPOONER (ENG) -3
T18. Zane SCOTLAND (ENG) -2
T21. Adam CHAPMAN AM (ENG) -1
T21. Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) -1
T23. James WILKINSON (ENG) Ev
T23. Gudmundur KRISJANSSON AM (ISL) Ev

BOGOGNO, ITALY (4-7 October)
Click here for the – Bogogno Q-School Results

29 players qualified for the Bogogno event including: –

1.Marco ITEN AM (SUI) -17
2. Lars VAN MEIJEL AM (NED) -14
7. James ALLEN (ENG) -10
T8. Max SCMITT AM (GER) -7
T15. Luke JOY (ENG) -5
T20. Lee CORFIELD (ENG) -2
T25. Chris DOAK (SCO) -1

_____________________________________________

30th September 2016

Section C Results Update

RIBAGOLFE, PORTUGAL (27-30 September)
Click here for the – Ribagolfe Q-School Results

24 players qualified from the Ribagolfe event including: –

1. Henry SMART (ENG) -12
T5. Thomas SHADBOLT (ENG) -6
T8. Henry FEATHERSTONE (ENG) -5
T12. Thomas PERROT AM (FRA) -4
T20. Paul NEWMAN (ENG) -2
T22. Declan LOFTUS (IRE) -1

HARDELOT, FRANCE (27-30 September)

Click here for the – Hardelot Q-School Results

26 players qualified from the Hardelot event including: –

T1. Nicolas MAHEUT AM (FRA)
T6. Nick McCarthy (ENG) -4
T6. Peter TARVER-JONES (ENG) -4
T8. Gregoire SCHOEB AM (FRA) -3
T10. Mauro ANDERI AM (GER) -2
T10. Wallace BOOTH (SCO) -2
T10. Jack HARRISON (ENG) -2
T15. James ABLETT (ENG) -1
T15. James MAW (ENG) -1
T17. Charlie BULL (ENG) Ev
T17. Paul HENDRIKSEN (ENG) Ev
T17. Tim RICE (IRL) Ev

______________________________________________

European Tour QS

23rd September 2016

Section B Results Update

COLLINGTREE PARK, ENGLAND (20-23 September)
Click here for the – Collingtree Park Q-School Results

27 players qualified from the Collingtree Park event including:-

1. Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) -14
2. Dave COUPLAND (ENG) -12
3. Alex BELT (ENG) -11
T4. Brian CASEY (IRE) -10
T4. Martin WOODBRIDGE (ENG) -10
T7. Ali DALGLIESH (ENG) -9
T7. Steve SURRY (ENG) -9
T13. Ashley CHESTERS (ENG) -8
T13. Will ENEFER AM (ENG) -8
T13. George MULLINS (ENG) -8
17. Charlie WILSON (ENG) -7
T18. Ben AMOR (ENG) -6
T18. Mark DAWE (ENG) -6
T21. Jamie DICK (ENG) -5
T21. David R. JAMES (ENG) -5
T21. Nicholas SMITS AM (NED) -5

EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA (20-23 September)
Click here for the – Ebreichsdorf Q-School Results

26 players qualified from the Ebreichsdorf event including: –

1. Bradley NEIL (SCO) -18
T12. Robin SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) -12
T14. Christian BRAEUNIG AM (GER) -11
T21. Jordan GIBB (ENG) -9

_______________________________________________

16th September 2016

Section A Results Update

THE ROXBURGHE, SCOTLAND (13-16 September)
Click here for the – Roxburghe Q-School Results

22 players qualified from the Roxburghe event including: –

1. Chris LLOYD (ENG) -15
3. Jack DOHERTY (SCO) -11
T4. Sam CONNOR (ENG) -9
T4. Liam JOHNSTON AM (SCO) -9
7. Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) -8
8. Matthew WEBB (ENG) -7
T9. Paul FERRIER (SCO) -6
T9. Cormac SHARVIN (IRE) -6
11. Daniel YOUNG (SCO) -5
T12. Sam KILLOH (SCO) -4
T15. Thomas HIGSON (SCO) -3
T15. Jamie SAVAGE (SCO) -3
T15. Cameron SHAW AM (ENG) -3
T18. Jack COLEGATE (ENG) -1
T18. Jack MCDONALD (SCO) -1
T18. Chris ROBB (SCO) -1
T18. Adam RUNCIE (WAL) -1

FLEESENSEE, GERMANY (13-16 September)
Click here for the – Fleesensee Q-School Results

25 players qualified from the Fleesensee event including: –

5. Christopher CARSTENSEN AM (GER) -11
12. Niklas ADANK AM (GER) -6
T13. Craig FARRELLY (ENG) -5
17. Stephen GRANT (IRE) -4
19. Nicolai VON DELLINGSHATUSEN AM (GER) -3

For more information on the European Tour Q-School and it’s amateur entries please take a look at my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Preview

ME.

2016 World Amateur Team Championship – Results

Posted on 25/09/2016 by Golf Bible

25th September 2016

AUSTRALIA won the 2016 World Amateur Team Championship by a huge 19-shots.

Equalling the 72 hole scoring record (534 / -38) their team of Cameron DAVIS, Harrison ENDYCOTT and Curtis LUCK took control of the event on Day 2 and never looked back. It was the fourth time Australia had won the Eisenhower Trophy, following victories in 1958, 1966 and 1996.

Australia – Harrison Endycott, Cameron Davis, Curtis Luck, Matt Cutler – with the Eisenhower Trophy (Photo: Golf Australia)

ENGLAND (-19) collected the silver medal with AUSTRIA and IRELAND (-18) sharing bronze. Alfie PLANT holed a 9-foot birdie putt on the last to secure second place for England. The Irish team appeared to have second sown up but a double bogey from Jack HUME (68) and a bogey from Stuart GREHAN (72), in their two counting rounds, ended up costing them dear.

It is the first time that both ENGLAND and IRELAND have medalled since the home nations started competing individually rather than under the Great Britain & Ireland banner.

SCOTLAND (-11) will be disappointed with their 11th place finish, given the team they put out and particularly after their strong start on Day 1 when they finished in the lead on -10.

I would have thought WALES would be pleased with their T16 result. David BOOTE (-9) as expected was the bedrock of the team but Owen EDWARDS and Joshua DAVIES both contributed two rounds to the overall team score.

Team Results
1. AUSTRALIA -38
2. ENGLAND -19
T3. IRELAND -18
11. SCOTLAND -11
T16. WALES -8

T6. USA -15

The full 2016 WATC Eisenhower Trophy team results can be accessed here: –
Eisenhower Trophy Team Results

AUSTRALIA’s Cameron DAVIS (269 / -17) recorded the Championship’s lowest individual score. His compatriot Curtis LUCK (271 / -15) finished second, helped in no small part by a 63 (-9) in Friday’s third round.

Cameron DAVIS, as the winner of the low individual, earnt a start at the US PGA Tour’s OHL Classic which is played at the same El Camaleon Course at Mayakoba upon which Australia won on Saturday.

England’s Alfie PLANT (-12) was GB&I’s leading player at the Championship. David BOOTE (-9), Jack HUME (-7) and Paul MCBRIDE (-5) all played very well too, finishing in the Top 20 Individual standings.

Individual Results
T3. Alfie PLANT (ENG) -12
9. David BOOTE (WAL) -9
T11. Jack HUME (IRE) -7
T20. Paul MCBRIDE (IRE) -5
T27. Robert MCINTYRE (SCO) -3
T38. Connor SYME (SCO) Ev
T38. Grant FORREST (SCO) Ev
T38. Scott GREGORY (ENG) Ev
T48. Stuart GREHAN (IRE) +2
T53. Jamie BOWER (ENG) +3
T71. Owen EDWARDS (WAL) +5
T100. Joshua DAVIES (WAL) +11

The 2016 WATC Eisenhower Trophy individual results can be accessed here: –
Eisenhower Trophy Individual Results

For more information on the World Amateur Team Championship please read my earlier article – 2016 World Amateur Team Championship – Preview

For the record I predicted AUSTRALIA would win, I said the home nations would all do well and that the United States would not finish in the Top 3. I was let down by FRANCE and ITALY though !

ME.

2016 World Amateur Team Championship – Preview

Posted on 18/09/2016 by Golf Bible

18th and 20th September 2016

The draws for rounds 1 and 2 of the 2016 Men’s WATC have been released today – Eisenhower Trophy Pairings

I posed the question on Sunday evening as to whether a home nation team could win the event ? Having now looked through all of the teams I genuinely believe they can.

The WATC’s stroke play format is of course uncompromising. With two scores from three counting on each of the four days there is little room for manoeuvre when the competition is so strong.

On balance AUSTRALIA must start as my favourites. Their team of Cameron DAVIS, Harrison ENDYCOTT and Curtis LUCK is probably the best on paper.

I think SCOTLAND (Grant FORREST, Robert MACINYTRE and Connor SYME) are not far behind them and expect them to finish in the Top 5, as a minimum.

The other two teams that stand out for me are ITALY and FRANCE – in that order. Italy have Luca CIANCHETTI, Stefano MAZZOLI and Guido MIGLIOZZI, all experienced players and winners. France include Ugo COUSSARD, Jeremy GANDON and Antoine ROZNER and should therefore also score well.

ENGLAND (Jamie BOWER, Scott GREGORY and Alfie PLANT) and IRELAND (Stuart GREHAN, Jack HUME, Paul MCBRIDE) should also do well but I am not sure they are quite of the calibre of the four teams mentioned above.

My view on England may be being tarnished by the omission of Sam HORSFIELD though. Whilst I understand this decision it is a disappointment to me that the World’s, and therefore GB&I’s, No.1 amateur is not competing in this prestigious event.

WALES, consisting of David BOOTE, Joshua DAVIES and Owen EDWARDS, could be a surprise package. Boote’s score should be assured but Davies and Edwards are a bit more hit and miss. If they both have good weeks, which they are more than capable of, then I can see a good result for them.

What makes 2016 such a good opportunity for the home nations in my eyes is the fact that the USA team is far from inspiring. The USA have won 15 of the previous 29 WATC and have only finished outside the top 3 on four occasions. Fortunately for the rest of the world there is no Bryson DECHAMBEAU and Beau HOSSLER to worry about this time. I don’t think their team of Brad DALKE, Maverick MCNEALY and Scottie SCHEFFLER will win in 2016 and frankly I think they will do very well to place.

ME.

_______________________________________________

18th September 2016

The 30th Men’s World Amateur Team Championship (WATC) will be played this week, between Wednesday 21st and Saturday 24th September 2016.

The WATC is a biennial international amateur golf competition run by the International Golf Federation (IGF). This year a record equalling 72 teams have entered.

The competition moves in turns between Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe-Africa. In 2018 the WATC will be hosted by the Golf Union of Ireland and held at Carton House, near Dublin.

The first WATC took place in 1958 and was played over the Old Course at St. Andrews. Bobby Jones captained the U.S.A.,famously receiving the Freedom of the Town during the trip, although his team ended up losing a play-off to Australia for the first ever title.

The 2016 WATC
This year’s WATC is being hosted by the Mexican Golf Federation.

The Mayakoba El Camaleón and the Iberostar Playa Paraiso golf courses are to be used in Riviera Maya, near the holiday resort of Cancun. Both courses opened in 2005.

The El Camaleón course was designed by Greg Norman and will play 6,988 yards to a par of 71. Playa Paraiso, designed by P.B. Dye, is shorter at 6,771 yards but has a par of 72. Clearly the emphasis will be on making a score on the latter.

Competition Format
Teams of three players play 72 holes of stroke play over four days. The two lowest rounds recorded on each day count towards the team’s total score. The winning team receive the Eisenhower Trophy.

The U.S.A. are the defending champions. In 2014 their team of Bryson DECHAMBEAU, Beau HOSSLER and Denny MCCARTHY scored 534 (-38) in Karuizawa, Japan to beat Canada by 2-shots.

The 2016 USA Team (Photo: IGF)

Whilst individual results are reported and the player with the lowest score is recognised at the closing ceremony there is no prize awarded for the honour. In 2014 Spain’s Jon RAHM ‘won’ the Individual with a record breaking 263 (-23) total.

The historic WATC results are provided in an Appendix at the end of this article.

GB&I Competitors
Each of the home nations will be represented in 2016 with the following players having been selected: –

ENGLAND
Jamie BOWER (23), Scott GREGORY (21) and Alfie PLANT (24)

IRELAND
Stuart GREHAN (23), Jack HUME (22) and Paul MCBRIDE (20)

SCOTLAND
Grant FORREST (23), Robert MACINTYRE (20) and Connor SYME (21)

WALES
David BOOTE, Joshua DAVIES and Owen EDWARDS

Good luck to all of the home nation teams competing in Mexico this week.

The Eisenhower Trophy (Photo: USGA)

Appendix – Historic Results

Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) have won the Eisenhower Trophy four times but only Scotland have won it in their own right since each of the home nations started to compete separately.

The competion holds a special place in the story of English amateur Peter MCEVOY. He participated in the winning GB&I team in 1988, he also ‘won’ the Individual (284) that year and he went on to captain the GB&I team that won it again in 1998. A hat trick of Eisenhower Trophy achievements that may prove difficult for anyone else to match.

Here is the full list of historic results: –

screen-shot-2016-09-18-at-19-53-18

ME.

European Tour Q-School – 2016 First Stage Preview

Posted on 11/09/2016 by Golf Bible

11th September 2016

The 2016 European Tour Qualifying School starts this week, on Tuesday 13th September.

The First Qualifying Stage consists of eight separate 72-hole events which are split into four Sections, A, B, C and D. Each Section, consisting of two qualifiers, will be played weekly over the next three weeks. The number of players that will progress to the Second Stage will be announced shortly after each event starts. It is normally around 25% of the field. There are 54-hole cuts at each First Stage qualifier; only those players who are within 7 shots of the final allocated qualifying place play the final round.

From an amateur perspective the leading five Q-School entrants as at 31st August 2016, up to a limit of 15th place in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, are exempted into the Second Stage. As such Jack HUME (IRE), Scott GREGORY (ENG) and Grant FORREST (SCO) do not need to contest the First Stage, having been exempted into the Second.

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events that will be played in Spain on 4th-7th November 2016.

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes at PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain. This competition will be played on 12th-17th November 2016.

Each player has to pay an entrance fee of €1,800 to compete.

European Tour QS

As in previous years I will be following the Q-School series, mainly focussing on the amateur and some selected pro entries from Great Britain & Ireland.

Here is a summary, by no means exclusive, of who we have to look forward to following at the First Stage over the coming weeks.

FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE

SECTION A – THE ROXBURGHE, SCOTLAND (13-16 September)
90 ENTRIES

1. Tomasz ANDERSON (ENG)
2. Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)
3. Gary HURLEY (IRE)
4. Liam JOHNSTON AM (SCO)
5. Paul KINNEAR AM (ENG)
6. Jack MCDONALD (SCO)
7. Jimmy MULLEN (ENG)
8. Conor O’ROURKE AM (IRE)
9. Gary REID AM (SCO)
10. Steven ROBINS AM (ENG)
11. Jamie SAVAGE (SCO) – Turned Pro ahead of Q-School
12. Cormac SHARVIN (IRE)
13. Cameron SHAW AM (ENG)
14. Toby TREE (ENG)
15. Daniel YOUNG (SCO)

Click here for the – Roxburghe Q-School Entries

SECTION A – FLEESENSEE, GERMANY (13-16 September)
86 ENTRIES

1. Jeroen KRIETEMEIJER AM (NED)

Click here for the – Fleesensee Q-School Entries

SECTION B – EBREICHSDORF, AUSTRIA (20-23 September)
104 ENTRIES

1. Richard BRIDGES (IRE)
2. Bradley NEIL (SCO)
3. Robin SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA)

Click here for the – Ebreichsdorf Q-School Entries

SECTION B – COLLINGTREE PARK, ENGLAND (20-23 September)
109 ENTRIES

1. Ben AMOR AM (ENG)
2. George BLOOR AM (ENG)
3. Colm CAMPBELL JR AM (IRE)
4. Ashley CHESTERS (ENG)
5. Jamie DICK (ENG)
6. Will ENEFER AM (ENG)
7. Tom DOLAN AM (ENG)
8. Dermot MCELROY (IRE)
9. George MULLINS (ENG)
10. Thomas NEVE AM (ENG)
11. Mitchel SARLING AM (ENG)
12. Jonathan THOMSON (ENG)

Click here for the – Collingtree Park Q-School Entries

SECTION C – RIBAGOLFE, PORTUGAL (27-30 September)
98 ENTRIES

1. Craig KIETSWETTER AM (ENG)
2. Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE)
3. Thomas PERROT AM (FRA)
4. Jack SINGH BRAR AM (ENG)
5. Jonathan THOMSON (ENG)
6. Albert VENTER AM (RSA)

Click here for the – Ribagolfe Q-School Entries

SECTION C – HARDELOT, FRANCE (27-30 September)
110 ENTRIES

1. Matthew ALDEN AM (ENG)
2. Nicholas MAHEUT AM (FRA)
3. Jackson MASSEY AM (ENG)
4. Michael SAUNDERS (ENG)
5. Gregoire SCHOEB AM (FRA)
6. Harrison WOAN AM (ENG)

Click here for the – Hardelot Q-School Entries

SECTION D – BOGOGNO, ITALY (4-7 October)
110 ENTRIES

1. James ALLAN (ENG)
2. Rowan CARON AM (NED)
3. Ugo COUSSARD AM (FRA)
4. Mathias EGGENBERGER AM (SUI)
5. Mario GALIANO AGUILAR AM (ESP)
6. Brain KELLY AM (IRE)

Click here for the – Bogogno Q-School Entries

SECTION D – FRILFORD HEATH, ENGLAND (6-9 October)
111 ENTRIES

1. David BOOTE AM (WAL)
2. Jamie BOWER AM (ENG)
3. Adam CHAPMAN AM (ENG)
4. Joe DEAN (ENG)
5. Owen EDWARDS AM (WAL)
6. Nathan KIMSEY (ENG)
7. Craig LAWRIE (SCO)
8. Nick MARSH (ENG)
9. Haydn MCCULLEN (ENG)
10. Mark MORRISSEY AM (IRE)
11. Robin PETERSSON AM (SWE)
12. Patrick RUFF AM (ENG)
13. Henry SHERIDEN-MILLS AM (ENG)
14. Billy SPOONER (ENG)
15. Ashton TURNER AM (ENG)
16. Ben WHEELER (ENG)

Click here for the – Frilford Heath Q-School Entries

The U.S. Amateur Championship – 2016 Match Play Stage

Posted on 17/08/2016 by Golf Bible

17th – 21st August 2016

U.S. Amateur – Match Play Championship Stage

I believe 2016 will prove to be an historic U.S. Amateur Championship for Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I). I say this because I can’t recall six of our players progressing to the match play stage before and certainly not one from each of the four home nations.

Unfortunately one of our qualifiers couldn’t go on to win it ! David Boote (WAL) was the most successful reaching the quarter-finals of the match play stage.

Here is the story, at least from from a GB&I perspective, of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship played at Oakland Hills CC, near Detroit.

Final – Sunday 21st August 2016

Curtis Luck (AUS) won the 2016 U.S. Amateur champion, beating Brad Dalke (USA) 6&4 in the 36-hole Championship match at Oakland Hills CC, in Detroit.

Curtis Luck (Photo: USGA)

Curtis Luck (SPWAR 37 / WAGR 7) went into the final as the favourite based on his superior world rankings; Brad Dalke (SPWAR 180 / WAGR 265) sitting well below him.

In many respects both players have already won though; by reaching the Final both Curtis and Brad guaranteed themselves invitations to the 2017 Masters and U.S. Open. By winning Curtis also picked up an invitation to The Open. Of course all of these exemptions are subject to them remaining amateur players.

Match 63 Curtis Luck 28 (AUS) Won 6&4 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

To review all of the U.S. Amateur Championship results click this link – 2016 U.S. Amateur Results

Semi-Finals – Saturday 20th August 2016

Match 61 Nick Carlson 41 (USA) LOST 21st Hole v. Curtis Luck 28 (AUS)

Local player Nick Carlson made a good start to this semi-final taking a 2 Up lead after just 3 holes. Australian Curtis Luck hung around and eventually got the match back to 1 Down with 1 hole to play. Tragically for Carlson he could only manage a double bogey 6 letting Luck square the match on 18 with a bogey 5. Both players parred the 1st and 2nd holes before Luck birdied the par 5 3rd to take the lead for the first time all day and to make it through to the Final.

Match 62 Jonah Texeira 31 (USA) LOST 3&2 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

In the second semi-final Californian Jonah Texeira led 2 Up at the the turn. However, he proceeded to bogey 10 and 11 allowing Brad Dalke to draw level. Two birdies on 13 and 15 and a badly timed bogey on 14 by Texeira allowed Dalke, 19 yesterday, to pull away, the man from Oklahoma securing a 3&2 victory on the 16th green.

Quarter Finals – Friday 19th August 2016

Match 60 David Boote 62 (WAL) LOST 3&2 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

Brad Dalke is well known for two things – ‘signing’ for Oklahoma College when he was 12 and beating Rory McIlroy in an arm wrestling match at the 2015 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. He also has some game which he demonstrated by starting this quarter final with five birdies in his first 6 holes. It was to David Boote‘s credit that despite this onslaught he managed to turn just 2 Down after three birdies of his own. Boote continued to play well on the back nine but further birdies from Dalke on 11 and 16 were good enough to secure a 3&2 win for the American. David Boote played his best round of the week thing to Dalke. It was just one of those match play days for the Welshman (who lives in Surrey, England 😉) where he came up against an unstoppable Dalke A-game.

Interestingly Dylan Meyer, who enjoyed such a good day yesterday, ran out of steam on the back nine of his quarter final losing 3&1 to Nick Carlson after three bogeys and one double bogey.

Round of 16 – Thursday 18th August 2016

Match 49 Dylan Meyer 33 (USA) WON 19th hole v. Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG)
Match 55 David Boote 62 (WAL) WON 2&1 v. Collin Morikawa 14 (USA)

There are no easy matches at this stage of the U.S. Amateur and the two facing our remaining GB&I representatives were certainly no exception to this rule.

Meyer’s amazing short game and putting skills were again on display as he and Sam Horsfield played out a quality match where par golf was largely the order of the day. With no player able to take command of the match it was always likely to come down to a small error. Meyer holed a 15 footer on 18 to take the match back down the 1st and was quickly rewarded when Horsfield missed a short 3 footer for par gifting the Indiana-man the win. It was some day for Western Amateur champion Meyer who knocked out medalist Alex Smalley in the morning before seeing off Sam, the SPWAR No. 1 ranked player in the world, in the afternoon.

Collin Morikawa, a California college golfer, and former Stanford-man David Boote will surely have been well known to each other before their Rd of 16 match teed-off. Birdies on the first two holes by Boote would have sent a clear message to Morikawa and whilst the Californian got the match back to even on the 4th poor bogies on 5, 7 and 8 handed back the initiative to Boote. With a 3 Up lead to defend on the back nine Boote had the mental fortitude and golfing ability to par his way into a 2&1 victory which he secured on the 17th. This was a very impressive win for the Welshman as Morikawa has been in excellent recent form, winning the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur before finishing second at the Air Capital Classic on the professional Web.com Tour.

Round of 32 – Thursday 18th August 2016

Three GB&I players progressed to the Round of 32.

Match 34 Doc Redman 49 (USA) LOST 5&4 v. Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG)
Match 36 Scott Gregory 9 (ENG) LOST 19th Hole v. Nick Carlson 41 (USA)
Match 45 David Boote 62 (WAL) WON 3&1 v. Ben Schlottman 35 (USA)

Sam Horsfield celebrated moving to the top of the SPWAR earlier this week by playing his very best golf to beat Doc Redman this morning. He shot 29 on the front nine before finishing the match 7-under on the 14th. Let’s hope he hasn’t used up all his putts this afternoon as he now has to face his recent nemesis, Dylan Meyer. Meyer beat Horsfield two weeks ago in the final of the Western Amateur Championship.

Scott Gregory played really well – he was 3-under for the 19 holes with just one bogey – but came up against an in form Nick Carlson. Despite fighting back from 3-down with 8 holes to play to take the match into extra time the excitement was short-lived. A 10-foot birdie putt from the local Michigan man saw him progress.

In probably the least spectacular match of the three involving GB&I players David Boote wore down Ben Schlottman to progress to the last 16. Boote had three birdies and two bogies but pulled away as Schlottman appeared to lose his game a little on the back-9.

Round of 64 – Wednesday 17th August 2016

Here are the Round of 64 Match Play results involving GB&I players with their qualifying positions included: –

Match 2 Connor Syme 32 (SCO) LOST 2 Up v. Dylan Meyer 33 (USA)
Match 4 Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG) WON 3&1 v. Hugo Bernard 48 (CAN)
Match 7 Scott Gregory 9 (ENG) WON 7&5 v. Raymond Knoll 56 (USA)
Match 17 Dawson Armstrong 2 (USA) WON 1 Up v. Bradley Moore 63 (ENG)
Match 24 Bryson Nimmer 23 (U SA) WON 1 Up v. Jack Hume 42 (IRE)
Match 25 Gavin Hall 3 (USA) LOST 3&2 v. David Boote 62 (WAL)

Connor Syme and Sam Horsfield both came up against recent amateur championship winners – Dylan Meyer won the Western Amateur whilst Hugo Bernard picked up the Canadian Amateur title just last weekend. In tight matches Syme was beaten 2Up, losing the last two holes to par, whilst Horsfield, who shot -4 for the 17 holes he completed, managed to ease out the competitive Bernard. Sam Horsfield has Terry Mundy, a family friend and the long-time caddie of Ian Poulter, on his bag at Oakland Hills CC this week.

Scott Gregory had a much easier task in his match against Raymond Knoll who simply never got going today. Knoll bogeyed 7 of the 13 holes they completed making life far too easy for the confident Amateur champion.

Afternoon rain and thunderstorms in the Detroit area led to a two hour suspension in play between 3.40pm – 5.40pm local time.

Unfortunately the tough finish on Oakland Hills South Course proved too much for both Bradley Moore and Jack Hume. Moore did very well to fight back to All Square against the highly rated No. 2 qualifier Dawson Armstrong having been 2 Down with 6 holes to play. However, having birdied the 13th and 16th, he bogied the last two holes to let Armstrong progress. Hume was 1 Up with 3 to play before he bogeyed 16 and 17 to give his opponent, Bryson Nimmer a 1 Up lead heading up the 18th. With the hole halved in par Nimmer moved on from another close match.

David Boote appeared to be in control of his match from the start, his consistent play enabling him to build up a 4 Up lead after 11 holes. He finally saw off Gavin Hall, the 3rd seed, 3&2 on the 16th green.

It is clear from today’s first round matches that almost anything can happen on the last 5 holes of Oakland Hill’s South Course.

For my preview of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship and information on the Stroke Play Stage please click here – U.S. Amateur Championship Preview & Stroke Play Stage

ME.

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