Gaunt holds off pack to win EuroPro opener

Australian fires on back nine to win The Motocaddy Masters!

Daniel Gaunt survived a tricky start and a raft of final round challengers to win The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley Hotel Golf and Country Club by five shots at ten under par.

Gaunt began the day three shots clear at seven under par but he bogeyed three of his first six holes to add pressure to his run down the back nine, with Michael Collins shooting 68 earlier in the day to lead in the clubhouse at four under.

After his second round the Australian said there were plenty of chances on the back nine and that proved vital as he picked up four birdies from the 12th and finished in the grand manner with an eagle at the last to card a final round 69, finishing ten under for the tournament – six under for his last seven holes – and five shots clear of Dale Marmion and Andrew Johnston who tied for second place.

“Winning the first event is very big,” said Gaunt, who pockets a cheque for £10,000 for the win. “Topping the Order of Merit at any stage is good and it gives me momentum for the rest of the Tour.”

While other players lost their cool down the back nine and their challenges fell away, the 31 year-old claimed the title by taking his chances on the final stretch – something he put down to a new patient attitude.

“I’ve been working on keeping calm on the course as I’ve lost my temper in the past – that win was all down to patience,” said Gaunt. “I didn’t play badly on the front nine but I missed a few little putts and that caused me to drop shots. Perhaps in the past that might have affected me, but I kept patient because I knew a strong back nine would see me home.

“In 2005, Andrew Marshall chipped in at 18 here to pip me to the title so today is a little bit of revenge for that too!”

Marmion (Eaton GC) led the tournament after the first round but had to settle for a share of second spot. The 2008 Order of Merit runner-up appeared in trouble when four bogeys and a solitary birdie to the tenth saw him drop to level par for the tournament, but five birdies down the rest of the back nine was the strong finish his opening round of 65 deserved.

Johnston (North Middlesex) enjoyed a similar flourish on the back nine as he shot a final round 69 to share the spoils of second spot with Marmion. He moved to two under after the fifth but cancelled those shots out by the tenth. Birdies at 14 and 16 moved him to four under for the round before a vital birdie at the last pulled him up to five under.

By the time Gaunt teed off, a number of players had moved into contention and it was Michael Collins who held the most hope in the clubhouse. Collins (foreireland.com) began the day at level par and was one under through 15 before a grandstand finish of three birdies saw him set the bar at four under. John Spagnuolo was another player who sped up the field thanks to a back nine flourish, carding a three under 69 after sitting at one over through the 12th before picking up four birdies to join Collins in a three-way tie for fourth. Paul O’Hanlon (Curragh) completed that trio, left to rue a double bogey at the sixth on his way to a final round of 71.

Kieran Staunton succumbed to a similar fate as he was forced to take a drop on the 16th, leading to a double bogey. Staunton (Woodcote Park) was two under par to that point – four under for the tournament – but that blemish cost him in the final count, although a birdie at 17 did see him shoot 71 to finish in a tie for seventh. James Hepworth (Ilkley GC) and Jeremy Kavanagh (Stoke Park) join Staunton in seventh, with Hepworth matching Staunton’s 71 and Kavanagh going one better with a 70.

Paul Maddy was in the ninth pair to go out and his 68 turned into a significant marker for the final day. Maddy (Gog Magog) kicked off at two over and dropped a shot on the first but he was sitting pretty in the clubhouse at two under as the leading groups dropped early shots – Maddy birdying the seventh, 12th and 13th before finishing birdie-birdie to sit at two under.

Maddy was joined in a four-way tie for tenth spot by Gary King (Tyrrells Wood) and Matthew Mills (Wentworth) who both shot rounds of 70, and a disappointed Matt Allen, who bogeyed the last two holes to finish level for the day and two under for the tournament.

The second event on the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour takes place at Burhill GC in Surrey from May 26-28.

The full final round scores from The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley are available at www.europrotour.com.

FINAL SCORES
1 Daniel Gaunt 206 69, 68, 69 -10 £10,000.00
=2 Andrew Johnston 211 72, 70, 69 -5 £3,750.00
=2 Dale Marmion 211 65, 76, 70 -5 £3,750.00
=4 Michael Collins 212 70, 74, 68 -4 £1,433.33
=4 John Spagnuolo 212 74, 69, 69 -4 £1,433.33
=4 Paul O'Hanlon 212 71, 70, 71 -4 £1,433.33
=7 Jeremy Kavanagh 213 71, 72, 70 -3 £916.67
=7 James Hepworth 213 68, 74, 71 -3 £916.67
=7 Kieran Staunton 213 72, 70, 71 -3 £916.67

Lee Charges Ahead in Gtour 2010 Order of Merit

Andrew Lee (9) won the 3rd event of the 2010 Gtour season with an impressive 2 point victory at Moor Allerton which also saw him push ahead with his challenge on the 2010 Order of Merit series.

Adam Smith (6) set the early leader board pace with an impressive 36 points under testing conditions at the superb Moor Allerton course near Leeds. Earlier in the day the resident Pro James Whittaker had said to record a good score 'positioning is the key'.

After the round Lee commented on the course set-up, 'it's not a long course but with the landscape and tricky greens, every shot you are thinking about the consequences. There are a lot of things on your mind when you are about to take your swing which meant it took a bit of thinking out there today.'

Smith's lead was short lived with Neil Harvey (3), playing in his first event, carding a gross 73 for 37 points. In what was a long hot day in the Sun for many, Harvey held the top spot until the final few groups when Lee came back with an exceptional nett 68 for 39 points.

Harvey's impressive 2nd place debut, in the 3rd full field of 2010, saw him gain some high valuable Order of Merit points and starts at 22nd place from just one event.

Consistency was the key on the day and with 6th, 4th and now 1st place finishes for Lee, he sets the early pace on the 2010 Order of Merit.

Lee added, 'there is still a long way to go and there will be some good scores as the season gets under way. I've been pretty consistent in the first 3 events and pleased with where I am right now'.

Top 10 results; Andrew Lee (9) 39 points, Neil Harvey (3) 37 points, Adam Smith (6) & Kevin Kind (14) 36 points, Shane Davies (4) 35 points, D. Parker (15) 34 points, Nicholas Hopkinson (11) Andrew Cooper (9) and Bruce Evans (17) 33 points, John Kelford (15) 32 points

The players now await the 1st Gtour Major of the Season at the Gtour Srixon Masters at De Vere Slaley Hall which will take place on Saturday 29th May at a venue many describe as the Augusta of the North.

Current Order of Merit standings: 1, Andrew Lee (16125) 2, Shane Davies (13613) 3, Adam Smith (10637) 4, David Roth (10621) 5, Andrew Cooper (10560)

2010 Opens at Hunley Hall Golf Club

Today, we would like to highlight some cracking open events to be played at the impressive Hunley Hall Golf Club in North Yorkshire. There are six fabulous competitions to choose from with the first tournament only a couple of weeks away.

First up is the Rabbits Pairs Open which will be played on Saturday 15th May. This event is for golfers with minimum handicaps of 16 and has an entry-fee of £20 per pair. Full details and an entry-form here.

A Senior Pairs Open will take place on Thursday 10th June . This is a 4BBB Stableford with a maximum handicap limit of 24. Full details and an entry-form here.

A very popular Gents Team Open will be held on Saturday 26th June and at £40 per team of 4 represents good value for money. The format is a Medal with the best 2 scores to count. Full details and an entry-form here.

A Ladies Team Open is scheduled for Friday 13th August and early booking is recommended. The competition is a Tri-Am Stableford and has an entry-fee of just £24 per team of 3. The maximum handicap allowed is 30. Full details and an entry-form here.

Another Gents Team Open will be held on Saturday 28th August and is expected to fill up very quickly. This time it is a Texas Scramble with an entry-fee of £40 per team. Golfers must be over the age of 18 with a handicap no higher than 24. Full details and an entry-form here.

Finally a Mixed Pairs Open takes place on Saturday 18th September. This is a Greensomes competition for couples with handicaps no higher than 18 (men) and 30 (ladies) - the entry-fee is £20 per couple. Full details and an entry-form here.

Set amidst the unrivalled beauty of Yorkshire’s heritage coast, Hunley is a hotel and golf club with a difference. The first impression is of its breathtaking position, set in 265 acres of rolling countryside and rugged hills with the dramatic backdrop of the North Sea coast.

However, along with the natural beauty of the location, what strikes the new visitor to Hunley is the warmth of welcome on offer.

Daniel throws down the gaunt-let in Norwich

Gaunt’s 68 too hot for Marmion at Motocaddy Masters!

Daniel Gaunt leads The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley Hotel Golf and Country Club at seven under par – four shots clear of a group of four players ahead of the final round.

Gaunt began the day four strokes behind leader Dale Marmion at three under par but piled on the pressure by posting a round of 68 before Marmion (Eaton GC) went out in the afternoon. The Australian dropped a shot on the third to fall further behind but his fortunes began to turn with a birdie at the eighth. He then made a move on the back nine with birdies at 11, 12 and 14, finding a fifth birdie of the day at the last for a 68 to put him on seven under.

Marmion stepped onto the first tee in the afternoon as the wind began to stiffen and the 2008 Order of Merit runner-up found the going tough. He began his round with two bogeys and picked up a third at the fifth – dropping further shots at 10 and 15 with just a solitary birdie at the 14th seeing him join a group of four in second spot chasing Gaunt.

“Three shots is a substantial lead out there and I know if I can go three or four under again it’ll take something special to beat me,” said Gaunt. “It’ll be won on the last six or seven holes where there are some chances but if the wind is like it is today it’ll be really tough.

“It was a bit of a grind out there and I got a bit lucky but you have to take advantage and I did just that,” added the 31 year-old.

Barry Hume (Haggs Castle) matched Gaunt’s four under par 68 to move to three under for the tournament after an opening round of 73 – recovering from a bogey at the second by bagging pairs of birdies at three and four and 11 and 12 before picking up another one at the last. Paul O’Hanlon (Curragh) and Nicky Harris (Whitefield GC) complete the quartet in second, both carding rounds of 70 to sit at three under for the tournament.

Kieran Staunton (Woodcote Park) and Matt Allen both picked up three birdies on the front nine to card rounds of 70 and sit at two under for the tournament, alongside James Webber (Three Rivers GC), who carded a 71. James Hepworth (Ilkley GC) joins the group of five tied for sixth spot at two under, following a round of 68 with four bogeys in his first ten holes before ending with two birdies for a two over par 74 in his second round. The group was completed by Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) in the final three-ball after he shot 70.

Andrew Marshall’s challenge fell away in the afternoon as the wind picked up on the course. Marshall began the day at two under par, but four bogeys in his first eight holes put pay to any thoughts of winning the tournament. He stopped the rot with a birdie at the ninth but he cancelled that out with another bogey at the tenth, going down the rest of the back nine level to finish with a 76 and sit two over ahead of the final round.

“I played average, putted poorly and only got one birdie,” said Marshall of his effort. “There was a stiff breeze out there in the afternoon and some tricky flags but I’ve just got to go out all guns blazing now tomorrow.”

Current Norfolk number one Neil Lythgoe (Royal Norwich) played with Marshall over the two rounds, but was unable to make up ground after a six over par 78 – a 74 in his second round ending his involvement a day early.

Live scoring from the final round of The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley Hotel Golf and Country Club is available at www.europrotour.com on Thursday morning (April 29), with 55 players making the cut at three over. The first player tees off at 8.30am, with Daniel Gaunt beginning his charge for the opening title of the year at 12.51pm, alongside Barry Hume.

Extended availability in GM Junior Opens

The 2010 Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour has announced extended allocations to events next month at both The Grove (Herts) and Wildwood (Surrey).

The event at The Grove on the 9th May sold out very early but the popular Junior Tour has managed to secure some more places. These are limited and will be allocated on a 'first-come, first-served' basis - payment must be received by the 2nd May.

There are also still a few places available for the UK Championships at Wilwood Golf & Country Club on the weekend of the 15th and 16th May. Payment again must be made before 2nd May to secure a place.

More Info...
Further details about these competitions and a link to the official entry-forms can be found on our GM Junior Tour page (disregard the closing dates).

Alternatively for more details about this tournament or information on joining the tour you can email Graham on gmigs@gmintgolfschools.co.uk or call 07860 669432.

Glossop & District Golf Club Open Tournaments

Today we bring you more information about some excellent events at Glossop & District Golf Club.

The first competition is only a couple of weeks away and is a Senior Pairs Open that will take place on Thursday 13th May for over 55's. It is a Betterball Stableford for men with a handicap of 24 or less and has an entry-fee of just £20 per pair. Full details and an entry-form here.

The next event is on the weekend of the 12th & 13th of June. This is the famous Glossop Open Weekend costing £20 per pair. Handicap limits are 24 (men) and 30 (ladies) for this Greensome Strokeplay tournament. Full details and an entry-form here.

The Keroc Mixed Pairs Open will be held on Sunday 12th September 2010 and costs just £16 per couple. Very early booking is advised for this competition which is a Greensome Stableford with maximum handicaps of 28 (men) and 36 (ladies). Full details and an entry-form here.

A Seniors Am-Am is scheduled for Thursday 16th September and again early booking is recommended. At just £40 per team it represents very good value for anyone over the age of 55. Open to men and women this event will be played off 3/4 handicap. Full details and an entry-form here.

A Seniors Turkey Shoot (£20 per pair) is planned for Thursday 14th October and entries are already being taken. This is a 13 hole Betterball Stableford fo r over 55's. Full details and an entry-form here.

A Ladies Turkey Shoot (£12 per pair) will also be held on Wednesday 3rd November for ladies with a handicap of 36 or less. A Turkey Muffin is included in this 13 hole Greensome Stableford. Full details and an entry-form here.

Glossop and District was founded in October 1894. Woodcock Farm on which the Club stands is a most attractive site for a Golf Club, with idyllic views all around and the hills of the Peak District providing a dramatic and constantly changing backdrop.

Marmion back with a bang to lead EuroPro Tour opener

2008 money list runner-up shoots 65 to lead The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley!

Dale Marmion opened the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour in style, recording eight birdies in the first round of The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley Hotel Golf and Country Club to lead by two shots at seven under.

Marmion (Eaton GC) stormed down the front nine with five birdies – including chipping in at the ninth – and moved to six under at the 13th. His one and only blemish of the day occurred at 15 but that bogey was snuffed out with a birdie-birdie finish for the 2008 Order of Merit runner-up to sit in a great position on the opening day of the Tour.

“I played nicely today, being three under through five gave me some nice momentum to build on,” said Marmion. “After the turn I thought there were some chances out there but I missed a short putt at 12 and hit some bad drives down the back which foiled my chances to go lower. Wensum Valley was the only cut I missed back in 2008 so I've obviously learned how to cope here and leading from the front is nothing new to me so I'll just be looking to keep things the same tomorrow.”

The 25 year-old was a revelation on the EuroPro Tour in 2008, winning two of the ten events he played, and although he admitted the step up was tough, he has vowed to show that he is ready to fight to get his card back on the Challenge Tour.

“I loved the travel on the Challenge Tour and it was a great experience, but at the end of the day you play to win and beat the field and I was unable to do so,” said Marmion. “I didn’t make enough cuts but I learnt a lot and I’m fully committing to the EuroPro Tour this year to get my confidence back and get back on the Challenge Tour in 2011.”

Rhys Black (Sherwood Forest GC) is Marmion’s closest challenger thanks to a burst of three birdies and an eagle from the 11th seeing Black card 67 to sit two behind Marmion.

Black’s breathing space is tighter than that of the leader, with James Hepworth finding the back nine to his liking in a four under par 68. Hepworth (Ilkley GC) opened with a birdie but was level at the turn after a bogey at the fifth. He soon stepped on the gas though with four straight birdies from the tenth seeing him race to four under. A bogey at 16 threatened to spoil his day but the sixth birdie of his opening round saw him claim outright control of third spot.

Scott Henry and Daniel Gaunt are one stroke behind Hepworth in fourth spot at three under. Henry was one over at the turn but four birdies from the twelfth on the back nine saw him shoot 69, while Gaunt would have been a stroke clear of Henry but a bogey at the last saw him match his score.

Local star and former winner of the event Andrew Marshall finished on two under after the opening round. Marshall (Green 17) was one over at the turn after a bogey at the fifth, but the man currently in sixth spot on the Challenge Tour rankings after an impressive fourth place finish in the Kenya Open strung three birdies together from the 13th to shoot 70.

“I held on a bit on the front nine, I was probably half-asleep with such an early start,” said Marshall, who teed off at 7.46am. “But I saved par on ten which was important as there are a few chances from there, as I showed with the three birdies in a row. A bit disappointed not to go lower towards the end, but two under is not a bad score and you can't win in the opening day.”

Marshall won the Wensum Valley EuroPro Tour event in 2005 and looks certain to be in the mix for Thursday’s final round, and the 37 year-old is keen to keep his form up ahead of a return to action in the Challenge Tour after choosing to play in Norwich rather than travel to Turkey for the Challenge Tour.

“Kenya was a strange one for me really,” said Marshall of his promising Challenge Tour result. “I played nicely and putted OK but never really looked at the scores around me until I got towards the end where I birdied the last to take fourth. It seems like a long time ago as I have had a break and then there have been the flight disruptions of course, but I’m glad to be playing at Wensum Valley – my parents are just down the road, I’ve won here before and it’s nice to come back and see the guys I used to knock about with.”

Michael Collins had an eventful back nine to join Marshall on two under, reaching the 12th at one over par before carding five birdies and two bogeys in his last seven holes for his 70 and Alex Belt joined them late in the day with four birdies in his round.

The second round begins at 6.30am on Wednesday (28 April). Live scoring is available at www.europrotour.com where the full leader board with all the first round scores from The Motocaddy Masters at Wensum Valley can also be found.

Sandbach Golf Club Open Comps

Sandbach Golf Club was founded in 1895 and is a challenging 9-hole parkland course with 16 tees. It is a small but friendly club, welcoming visitors at all times of the week and year.

There is a first class real ale bar and 5-star restaurant facilities awaiting your arrival where a great golf day out is promised. We are delighted to inform you about 4 tournaments that will be played at this testing course later in the year.

The Captain's Charity Pairs Open will be held on Sunday 20th June with an entry-fee of just £25 per pair. The event is in aid of the R.N.L.I and has handicap limits of 24 (men) and 36 (ladies). Any combination is allowed.

On Tuesday 29th June a Senior Ladies Open will take place. The cost of entry for this 4-Ball Betterball Stableford is £40 per team of 4 and has a handicap limit of 36

Moving into July and a Ladies Am-Am will be played on Sunday the 18th, and at £40 per team of 4 it represents very good value. The format is strokeplay with the best 2 scores to count and the event has a handicap limit of 30.

Finally, on Tuesday 7th September another Ladies Team Open will be held. This time it is a 4-Ball Betterball competition and also has a handicap limit of 30 (full handicap allowance).

Bar meals and the restaurant will be available all day with full details and an entry-form for each tournament available by clicking the links below.

Featured 2010 Open Events at Sandbach
20/06/2010 Charity Pairs Open - £25 per pair
29/06/2010 Senior Ladies Open - £40 per team
18/07/2010 Ladies Am-Am Team Open - £40 per team
07/09/2010 Ladies Open - £40 per team

Latest Northern Order of Merit Table

Latest Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit Table after 3 events.

James Robinson, S&A = 310
Ian Winstanley, Formby = 200
Tommy Fleetwood, Formby Hall = 150
Mark Young, Longridge = 135
James Cook, Royal Liverpool = 100
Paul Kinnear, Formby = 100
Tom Graves, West Lancs = 75
Andrew Palmer, Chorley = 75
Richie Blundell, Hillside = 70
James Wilson, Formby = 60
Mark Rabone, S&A = 50
Adam Andrews, Ashton-in-Makerfield = 50
Adam Wills, Sandiway = 45
Henry Tomlinson, Royal Lytham = 45
Sean Towndrow, S&A = 40
Curtis Dean, St Annes Old Links = 40
James Martin, San Roque = 40
Fred Jewsbury, Ladbroke Park = 40
John Carroll, Huyton & Prescot = 30
Paul Lowey, Rowany = 30
Daniel Sefton, Lancaster = 30
Graham Roberts, Eaton = 25
Lian Connelly, West Lancs = 20
Russell Heyhoe, Burgham Park = 20
David Jones, Ramsey = 20
Paul D Williams, Hillside = 15
Jon Hurst, Shaw Hill = 15
Michael Hearn, Chorley = 10
Kevin Kean, Ashton-on-Mersey = 10
Chris Heslop, Chipping Norton = 10

Robinson’s Lytham tonic

JAMES Robinson warmed up for his defence of the Lytham Trophy, the amateur game’s unofficial third major which starts on Friday, with a decisive five shot victory in the Formby Hare.

It also lifted the England player into a 110-points lead in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit after three events.

Robinson, runner-up to fellow international and Lancashire team-mate Tommy Fleetwood the previous day at his club Southport & Ainsdale, made sure this time with an opening round four-under-par 68.

Five birdies helped to put him two ahead of the field and an eagle three at the third hole followed by a birdie extended his lead in the second round as he came home in 72.

The host club’s Paul Kinnear claimed second place on countback from Longridge man Mark Young, the Lancashire County champion and double merit winner.

SCORES (Par = 72): 140 James Robinson (S&A) 68 72; 145 Paul Kinnear (Formby) 75 70, Mark Young (Longridge) 74 71; 147 James Wilson (Formby) 75 72, Adam Andrews (Ashton-in-Makerfield) 74 73, Henry Tomlinson (Royal Lytham) 72 75; 148 Fred Jewsbury (Ladbroke Park) 75 73; 149 Daniel Sefton (Lancaster) 73 76, Richie Blundell (Hillside) 70 79; 150 David Jones (Ramsey) 75 75, James Martin (San Roque) 75 75, Chris Hislop (Chipping Norton) 75 75.

ORDER OF MERIT: 310pts James Robinson (S&A); 200 Ian Winstanley (Formby); 150 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall); 135 Mark Young (Longridge); 100 James Cook (Royal Liverpool), Paul Kinnear (Formby); 75 Tom Graves (West Lancs), Andrew Palmer (Chorley); 70 Richie Blundell (Hillside); 60 James Wilson (Formby); 50 Mark Rabone (S&A), Adam Andrews (Ashton-in-Makerfield).

SFG at Telford Golf Club

We are delighted to announce that Telford Golf Club has been chosen to host a 'Srixon Gold' Single Figure Golfer event.

This new event is open to male golfers with a handicap of 9 or less and will be played on Thursday 29th July 2010. The format is an 18 hole individual medal and has an entry-fee of just £25.

All entrants will receive two FREE sleeves of Srixon Z-Star golf balls and there will be increased points available in the SFG Northern Order of Merit IF you play one of the balls during your round! Full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Open Events at Skipton Golf Club

We are delighted to give you more information about three superb events at Skipton Golf Club.

The first event is only a month away (Sunday 30th May) and is a Gents Team Open. The 4-man Stableford competition has an entry-fee of just £52 per team and promises to be a great competition. Full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Next up is a Gents Pairs Open on Saturday 26th June. This is a 4BBB Stableford costing £26 per pair and has a handicap limit of 24. Full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Finally, on the following day a Mixed Pairs Open will be held. The format is a Greensome Stableford and has handicap limits of 24 (men) and 35 (ladies). Entry is £26 per couple. Full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Skipton Golf Club is set amidst the Yorkshire Dales between Airedale and Wharfedale. Playing the course, you are treated to magnificent views of Sharphaw, Crookrise and Embsay Crag. Eller Beck, a superb feature of the course descends from the surrounding fells and meanders through the back nine holes, providing an interesting water hazard.

Visitors are guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome and will enjoy challenging golf in the natural surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales. Many return on an annual basis to play in the Club's very popular Open Events.

Tommy at the double

TOMMY Fleetwood won the S&A Bowl for the second year running but he was chased all the way by home club hope James Robinson who defends the Lytham Trophy which starts on Friday.

Fleetwood, beaten by Walker Cup and England team-mate Matt Haines in the Spanish Amateur Championship final last month, made the running with and opening three-under-par 68 containing four birdies.

He appeared to have pulled away from the pack after holing his second shot at the 444-yards 11th for an eagle in the second round but gave three back late on.

Fellow England international Robinson pulled up a stroke short with a best-of-the-day 67.

Chorley’s Andrew Palmer was third, three off the pace.

SCORES (Par = 71): 139 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 68 71; 140 James Robinson (S&A) 73 67; 142 Andrew Palmer (Chorley) 70 72; 144 Mark Young (Longridge) 72 72; 145 Ian Winstanley (Formby) 73 72, Adam Wills (Sandiway) 71 74; 146 Curtis Dean (St Annes Old Links) 69 77; 147 Paul Lowey (Rowany) 74 73; 148 James Martin (San Roque) 76 72, Russell Heyhoe (Burgham Park) 75 73; 149 Jon Hurst (Shaw Hill) 78 71; 150 Kevin Keen (Ashton-on-Mersey) 77 73.

NB: Update Order of Merit will be released after Sunday’s Formby Hare.

Andy plays a stormer

ANDREW Paisley battled against gale-force conditions to lead the east qualifier for the Spirotech Manchester Open at De Vere Slaley Hall.

The Hexham professional, out first in the worst of the weather, compiled a one-under-par 71 which included four birdies to win by a shot from his assistant Chris McDonnell.

The qualifying score of 80 summed up how testing the Hunting course was with 18 players progressing to the 36-hole tournament at Marriott Worsley Park on August 3-5.

LEADING SCORES (Par= 72): 71 Andrew Paisley (Hexham); 73 Chris McDonnell (Hexham); 74 Mike Jones (Carden Park); 75 Steve Fawcitt (Morpeth), Gary Brown (Ganton), Alex Evans (Bromborough); 76 Daniel Sturgeon (Hallowes), Mike Ramsden (Bondhay). Qualifying score: 80.

GM Junior Tour at Wildwood

The 2010 Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour is coming to Surrey!

The event...
On the weekend of the 15th & 16th of May a GM Junior Tour event, the UK Championships, will take place at Wildwood Golf Club.

The event has an entry-fee from £69 for Tour members or from £89 for non-members. The tournament is also a Junior Golf Scoreboard ranked tournament

The course...
Wildwood Golf and Country Club boasts 27 holes of fantastic championship golf and is located in the heart of breathtaking Surrey countryside only 50 minutes from central London and close to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

More Info...
Further details about this competition and a link to the official entry-form can be found on our GM Junior Tour page.

Alternatively for more details about this tournament or information on joining the tour you can email Graham on gmigs@gmintgolfschools.co.uk or call 07860 669432.

E & L Golf Insurance

Golf is becoming an increasingly popular sport in the UK. It is estimated there are 1.7 million regular golfers in Great Britain.* 1998 saw a High Court ruling resulting in golfers being potentially 'liable for golf shots that cause injury'.

E&L golf insurance offers up to £2.5million public liability cover making sure you are covered should you cause damage to third party property or injure an individual with a stray golf ball.

Some people wrongly believe that their household contents insurance will cover their golfing equipment. In many instances this is not the case. A large proportion of household insurance policies exclude sports equipment and sports injury cover meaning if anything should happen either on or off the course you would be held financially responsible.

E&L Golf Insurance offers comprehensive golfing equipment insurance at unbeatable value, with premiums starting from as little as £20 per year. That's just under 6p per day and means you can relax knowing that should anything go wrong you and your golf equipment are protected.

- Three levels of cover available offering up to £6,500 to cover your golfing equipment
- New for old and worldwide cover included as standard
- E&L will cover your bar bill should you get a 'hole-in-one'
- No excess on any sections except unattended vehicle theft and public liability claims
- 10% online discount
- Discounted premiums for juniors and over 60s
- 20% discount for spouse/partner and family applications (excluding junior) where all parties live at the same address

* The English Golf Union 'Get into Golf'

Search for an Irish Champion – The Trilby Tour comes to Ireland

The crowds. The cameras. The pressure. The action. Have you got what it takes to be the Trilby Tour Champion of Ireland?

Taking place at Druids Glen, County Wicklow on 31 May – the same course that has seen the likes of Colin Montgomerie, David Carter and Sergio Garcie emerge victorious.

Could you be joining this prestigious line-up and emerge as the Trilby Tour Champion of Ireland?

You’re going to need every ounce of determination and concentration to get through the day as the Sky Sports crew will be hot on your heels, capturing your every move. Dressed top-to-toe in a William Hunt outfit and with your caddy by your side you’ll look and feel every inch the pro in this spectacular one day event.

You’ll battle it out in front of the crowds for the chance to be crowned Champion of Ireland. If you make it through to the top, you and eleven runners-up will go through to the International Final at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club on 11 August.

And it doesn’t stop there. The ultimate Amateur Champion and the two runners-up then go through to the next day’s event – taking on the pros in the grand Professional Final on 12 August

No it’s not a game for the faint-hearted. But we at the Trilby Tour don’t believe in doing things by halves. It’s a Winner Takes All.

Drive. Determination. Guts. Style. Balls. Think you have what it takes? Enter online now at www.williamhunttrilbytour.com.

Amateur Prize
It’s a Winner Takes All Tournament where the crowned champion will receive

A trip to the Research and Development Centre of Callaway, to assist with the development of a personalized golf clubs (which will of course be on 'permanent loan')

A one-to-one personal lesson with David Leadbetter
The opportunity to play against one of Callaway's top European Tour Players

Founder William Hunt says “I am very excited to be bringing the Trilby Tour to Ireland and to be appointing Druids Glen as host to the inaugural Ireland Championship.

It will be a fantastic opportunity for amateurs coming from across the UK to play at Druids Glen - one of the most stunning courses in Europe.

Ireland itself has a great pool of home-grown talent and I hope to be bring some of Ireland’s finest players back with me to the International Finals.”

Director of Druids Glen, Denis Kane says

“As we have hosted the Irish Open for four years and the Seve Trophy, we are confident that this will be a great challenge for all the amateurs who will have a chance to play like a pro – in the pro conditions at Druids Glen.”

How to Enter
Entries are still being taken now for the event taking place on 31st May. Players can enter by paying a £250 entry fee online at www.williamhunttrilbytour.com. Everyone who enters will receive a complete William Hunt outfit, a Callaway Bag and Caddy Suit together worth over £450.

Amateurs will play under the Stableford rules with a maximum handicap of 18 with a 3/4 (three-quarter) allowance.

To enter online or for more information please visit www.williamhunttrilbytour.com

Lincolnshire to welcome 2010 Single Figure Golfer Tour

The schedule for 2010’s Single Figure Golfer Challenge Tour has now been finalised, with the county of Lincolnshire hosting no fewer than 7 events in what will surely be a hotly contested race to this year’s grand final at Trevose in Cornwall.

As a series of events across the UK, the SFG Challenge Tour is growing in popularity year on year. Following its inception in 2008 (where the grand final was played on the Hotchkin at Woodhall Spa) and an extremely successful 2009 event (which witnessed a thrilling final on the 2010 Course at Celtic Manor, the venue for this year’s Ryder Cup), the series continues to attract increasing numbers of participants with eyes fixed firmly on the prize of qualification for Peter McEvoy’s 12-man team to play against former Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Solheim Cup stars.

Differing in format for 2010, there are now three routes to qualify for the finale:

Order of Merit – players holding an SFG Tour Card (see website for details) will accrue points based on finishing position. The top 21 Order of Merit points scorers will enter a play-off at the end of the season qualifying school – to be held at Hollins Hall in West Yorkshire – with the winner going forwards to represent the SFG team at Trevose.

Matchplay – All SFG Tour Card holders as of 31st May 2010 will automatically be entered into a matchplay tournament draw which will conclude at this year’s qualifying school. The winner of this event will also qualify for the SFG team at Trevose.

Major Open – available to Tour Card holders and allcomers alike, this event will see the outright winner making it straight onto the SFG team at Trevose.

NOTE: All events are played with full handicap consideration

The events taking place in Lincolnshire are as follows:
-Sunday 13th June, Boston Golf Club
-Sunday 27th June, Burghley Park
-Sunday 4th July, Holme Hall
-Thursday 19th August, Forest Pines
-Sunday 22nd August, Stoke Rochford
-Sunday 12th September, Elsham
-Friday 24th September, Woodhall Spa (Major Open)

Happy golfing and see you on tour!

Charity Golf Day at Kinross Golf Club

A Charity Team Open will take place at Kinross Golf Club on Friday 17th September.

The competition is in aid of Diabetes UK (Scotland) and a superb day of golf and food is on the agenda, with the format taking a Team Stableford where the best two scores count.

Entry is excellent value at £260 per team of 4 with coffee and bacon rolls on arrival, 18 holes of golf and a meal afterwards included in the price. There will also be some wonderful prizes on offer.

Teams can be gents, ladies or mixed and a 3/4 handicap allowance will be in operation. So, don't miss out on the chance to play this excellent golf course - full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Kinross is a mature, well-maintained and excellent example of Scottish parkland golf with the added bonus of magnificent views over Loch Leven to the West Lomond Hills. The owners renovated and improved the venue three years ago and the work has significantly added to the playability and enjoyment.

Calling all Junior SFG's

Single Figure Golfer are delighted to announce the launch of Junior SFG @ Trevose Golf Club on the 16th-17th October.

The Junior SFG Tour will launch in 2011 and to kick start things SFG are putting on a launch event for 42 juniors.

* 2010 SFG JUNIOR SFG Launch event.
* Trevose Golf & Country Club, Cornwall (host to the 2012 McGregor Trophy).
* Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th October 2010.
* Limited to 42 golfers (first come first served no ballot).
* Entry form can be found by clicking here.

If you are under 18 on the 1st January 2010 and have an official handicap of 9 or below (an SFG) then you are invited to play in this 2-day golf event.

Prizes
* The winner of this event will receive sponsorship for themselves and their Golf Club Junior Team (6 players) throughout 2011 including up to £300 in entry fees for any open events in 2011 they enter (winner only).
* Other prizes: - £1000 in stock value.
* Balls will be supplied by Srixon and Clothing by Glenmuir.

Every Competitor receives
* Practice round (sat) & competitive round (sun).
* One dozen Srixon Z-Star balls rrp. £44.99.
* SFG branded Srixon cap rrp. £14.99.
* FREE SFG Tour Card (worth £49) enabling them to play on the 2010 Challenge Tour.

Format & Entry Requirements
* No of Golfers: 42.
* Closing date: Monday 1st October 2010 (or when full).
* Individual Handicap Medal- nett scores.
* 18 holes.
* Handicap Limit: 9 (full allowance).
* Age Limit: Under 18 at 1st January 2010.
* Open to Male and Female golfers (tee allowance).

Costs
* Entry fee: £90 (golf only).
* Accommodation: B&B available onsite @ Trevose call - 01841 520208.
* Additional practice rounds: £35 per person.

How to enter
* Download the entry form.

Ravensworth Golf Club Opens

Three excellent competitions will be held at Ravensworth Golf Club in 2010. Early entry is recommended for each one as spaces are expected to fill up very quickly.

The first of these events will be held on Sunday 20th June which is the prestigious Ravensworth Bowl, a 36 hole Individual Strokeplay for men with a maximum handicap of 5. This tournament features on both the ZFL North East Masters Series and Single Figure Golfer Tour. It has an entry-fee of £20. View the entry-form.

The following month plays host to the Jubilee Centenary Open. This is an Individual Medal for golfers with a handicap no higher than 18 and will be played on Saturday 24th July. The entry-fee is excellent value at just £10 per person. View the entry-form.

Finally on Saturday 14th August the Tom Sellars Memorial Open will take place. This is a Betterball Stableford competition at £20 per pair and a maximum handicap limit of 18. View the entry-form.

At Ravensworth Golf Club there is a fantastic 18 hole golf course that was formed in 1906. The tight fairways and fast-running greens combine to provide a good test of golf for players of all abilities.

They offer a warm welcome to all visitors and pride themselves not only on their course but the facilities and services that the club provides. It is also renowned for its warm northern hospitality. A new clubhouse opened in 2003 where you can step out onto our balcony and enjoy the fabulous views of the Tyne Valley and the Angel of the North.

GM Junior Tour Founder at The Masters

Founder of the GM Junior Golf Tour and FPGA Professional, Graham Moore, was at the 2010 Masters where he witnessed one of the most memorable tournaments in the history of the event.

Moore, who is a regular visitor to Augusta National was impressed with the new state of the art practice facilities, with stadium viewing for the patrons. He said, “This is one of the best I have seen and a complete transformation on the previous facilities. Having had access to the practice facilities, the green speeds and bunker sand texture totally replicates the course being played, the grass played off also is equal to the course texture & strength.”

Moore, who’s popular Junior Golf Tour continues to go from strength to strength noted that Angel Cabrera had a typical Argentinean menu for his Champions Dinner including Grouper Fish with sweet banana grilled slices, Chorizo & spicy sausage!

Moore added about his experience, “The weather for the practice days was unseasonably warm, day time temperatures were a minimum of 85 degrees and a max of 93 degrees with high humidity. The sky was ‘raining’ with pollen, all the ground had been covered with yellow/green, this again has never been seen to this extent!”

Whilst on day one of the Masters the weather totally changed to a maximum of 70 degrees and extreme wind, but Moore commented, “The scores were exceptional, with the veterans leading the way!”

He also noted that tickets were being sold on Washington Road for in excess of $8,000 for the four days of the tournament and practice days for an average of $400 a day. And he also observed that the patrons and public received Tiger with respect.

Moore spent a lot of time with Miguel Angel Jimenez (pictured)and the Spanish entourage during the week saying, “It was great to have all of us together again in one place for that length of time, which nowadays does not happen very often, only a minimum once to a maximum three times a year, as we all are very busy within the golf industry in our different ways.”

Some other observations made by Moore during the week was John Daly along with his RV in parking lot opposite Magnolia Lane signing his books, as well as selling his range of John Daly merchandise. Another was that the Masters staff work nearly 24 hours a day, both on & off the golf course and the Merchandise shop inside the Masters is always 10 deep, with a half mile queue outside…. and they say the USA is in a recession!

Charity Golf Open Fulford Golf Club

We'd like to inform you about a fantastic event that will take place at Fulford Golf Club on Friday 21st May. It is a Charity Team Open in aid of Diabetes UK.

A superb day of golf and food is on the agenda with the format taking a Team Stableford where the best two scores count.

Entry is good value at £260 per team of 4 (£200 if you take a tee-time before 11am) with coffee and bacon rolls on arrival, 18 holes of golf and a meal afterwards included in the price. There will also be some wonderful prizes on offer.

Teams can be gents, ladies or mixed and a 3/4 handicap allowance will be in operation. So, don't miss out on the chance to play this excellent golf course - full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Situated in a heathland and woodland setting just one mile from the centre of the historic city of York, Fulford Golf Club remains one of the best inland golf courses in Britain.

Twenty three consecutive European Tour events in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s firmly put Fulford on the global golfing map, and the list of winners at Fulford includes an array of Ryder Cup Players & Captains and many Major winners.

Fantasy Golf 2010

Register now for Fantasy League Golf and captain a team of 12 real-life golfers through eight months of European and PGA Tour action.

Then it's up to them to do the business in over 50 tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic, with £20,000 of prizes including £5,000 in cash and a fantastic holiday for the overall winner!

Are you the tortoise or the O'Hair? Does your team have both the Lin and the Yang? Willett be your team that tops the leaderboard at the end of the year? There's only one way to find out - sign up now for Fantasy League Golf 2010 and we'll see you on the first tee at Augusta.

Rabbits Open at Kirkbymoorside Golf Club

We are pleased to give you more information about the Rabbits Pairs Open at Kirkbymoorside Golf Club.

The event will take place on Wednesday 19th May and is open to golfers with a handicap between 16 and 28.

The cost of entry for the 4BBB Stableford competition is just £25 per pair. With the tournament just over a month away entries are recommended asap.

Full details and an entry-form can be found here.

Kirkbymoorside Golf Club offers a challenging golf course set in a beautiful, quiet, rural surrounding on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

Whatever the time of year, you will be impressed with the spectacular scenery and the peace and quiet which will surround you during the whole of your round.

GM Junior Event at The Grove

The 2010 Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour is coming to Hertfordshire!

The event...
On Sunday 9th May an 18 hole event will take place at The Grove Golf Club.

The competition is the first event in the new Champion Series and has an entry-fee of £65 for Tour members or £80 for non-members.

The course...
The Grove is one of England’s finest luxury golf courses; they keep their greens in immaculate championship condition all year round. Golfers of all levels can enjoy it thanks to multiple tee options. Rewarding for confident hitters and complete beginners alike it’s hugely satisfying.

More Info...
Further details about this competition and a link to the official entry-form can be found on our GM Junior Tour page.

Alternatively for more details about this tournament or information on joining the tour you can email Graham on gmigs@gmintgolfschools.co.uk or call 07860 669432.

Open Competitions at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club

We are delighted to give you more information about two excellent tournaments at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club in the West Midlands.

The first event will be played on Sunday 4th July and is an Am-Am 4-Ball Alliance for golfers with a maximum handicap of 24. The cost of entry is good value at £100 per team and an entry form can be found here.

The second competition is a Gents Pairs Open and will take place on Thursday 15th July. It is a Betterball event for men with a handicap no higher than 24 and an entry-fee of £40 per pair. An entry form can be found here.

As you can imagine both competitions are expected to fill quickly so entrants are advised to send their forms off asap. Please note that golfers must have an 'active' handicap to enter these events.

Sutton Coldfield is one of the most prestigious private members clubs in the Midlands. It was founded in 1889 and two years later moved to the present course in Sutton Park. The nature of the heathland makes this course one of the best if not the best all year free draining course within a radius of 50 miles.

Amateur James Watts clinches Q School victory

Final round 65 seals one shot win for 22 year-old in Oxford!

Amateur James Watts blasted a brilliant six under par 65 in the final round to win the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour Q School at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire by one stroke at ten under.

Watts (East Herts) opened the day at four under par after recording back-to-back two under par rounds to tackle the final day three shots behind the leader at four under. An early bogey saw him drop further behind but three birdies and an eagle moved him to eight under at the eighth.

A dropped shot at the ninth was a brief setback as he sealed the win down the back nine with birdies at the 12th, 16th and 18th seeing him keep in nose in front of playing partner Lee Clarke, who finished one stroke behind Watts.

“Coming down the back nine was great fun today, everything just clicked,” said Watts. “There were plenty of birdies out there and thankfully I picked up a lot of them.

“I didn’t play well at first stage last week at Stoke by Nayland but the weather affected everyone’s game,” said the 22 year-old. “The weather here has been great though and the course is in fantastic condition – I’m absolutely delighted and it’s a really great start to rest of the year.

“I’ve been in Spain over the winter but it’s mainly been practicing so to get out on the course and have that competition element was great,” said Watts, from Hertford. “Fingers crossed that everything goes well, I’ll be playing The Amateur Championship then turning pro in June – and playing as many EuroPro Tour events as possible.”

Clarke (Everbuild Building Products) was five under at the beginning of the day and improved to eight under by the tenth thanks to four unanswered birdies, but a dropped shot at 13 proved costly as his birdie at the last was matched by Watts. The bright spot for Clarke was claiming the £2,400 prize for first place as a result of Watts’ amateur status.

“I really didn’t put a foot wrong today,” said the 29 year-old runner-up from Stanley Village in Derbyshire. “I hit 18 greens and you can’t do a lot more than that. But James played very, very well so full credit to him – and I’m happy to take the money for him of course!”

Welshman Tim Dykes (Wrexham GC) held the lead after the opening round but finished in third spot three shots behind Clarke at six under, finishing his final round with three birdies down the back nine to shoot a one under par 70. James Heath and Philip Waugh (Hexham) both carded rounds of 68 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth spot with Scott Bubb (WPGC).

Craig Corrigan’s birdie-birdie finish made it seven for the day in his five under par 66, seeing him move from one over par ahead of the final round to a four under finish. James Sheffield and Miguel Cantero both recorded six birdies in rounds of 68 to join Corrigan.

Overnight leader Matthew Swales was unable to make an impression on the day, bogeying the first before a double bogey at the third to drop him to four under – with the Cumberwell Park man recording a four under round of 75 to finish at three under for the tournament. Swales shared tenth spot with Marcus Armitage and Graham Benson (Leighton Buzzard), the former recording a two under final round of 69, the latter one over for the day.

The opening event on the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour takes place at Wensum Valley in Norfolk on April 27-29.

To view the full leader board from the final stage of Q School, visit www.europrotour.com

FINAL SCORES FROM FRILFORD HEATH – B = Blue course (par 71), R = Red course (par 73), final round on Blue course.

1 James Watts (Am) 205 -10 69 B, 71 R, 75
2 Lee Clarke 206 -9 69 R, 70 B, 67
3 Tim Dykes 209 -6 66 B, 73 R, 70
= 4 James Heath 210 -5 69 B, 73 R, 68
= 4 Philip Waugh 210 -5 74 B, 68 R, 68
= 4 Scott Bubb 210 -5 69 B, 69 R, 72
= 7 Craig Corrigan 211 -4 76 B, 69 R, 66
= 7 James Sheffield 211 -4 71 B, 72 R, 68
= 7 Miguel Cantero 211 -4 72 R, 71 B, 68

Swales holds slender lead for Q School finale

Matthew one stroke clear at seven under at Frilford Heath

Matthew Swales holds a one shot lead ahead of the final round at the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour Q School final stage after a four under par second round took him to seven under for the tournament at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

Swales (Cumberwell Park) was two strokes off the lead after a three under opening round on the blue course, and remained there after cancelling three birdies out with three bogeys on the front nine of the red course. But Swales made his move at the start of the back nine with three birdies in his first four holes, and although he dropped a shot at the 16th, Swales will be the man to beat in Friday’s final round thanks to his birdie-birdie finish.

Scott Bubb is Swales’ closest challenger at six under after he matched the leader’s liking for the back nine on the red course. That’s where Bubb (WPGC) began his round at two under par but four birdies saw his race to six under for the tournament at the turn, but he was unable to build further, with two birdies sandwiched between bogeys at the first and ninth holes.

Overnight leader Tim Dykes (Wrexham GC) was unable to build on his five under opening round, with a double bogey at the eighth hole after starting on the back nine seeing the Welshman finish level on the red course with a 73. Lee Clarke (Everbuild Building Products) joins Dykes at five under par after shooting a one under 70 on the blue course thanks to his fourth birdie of his round at 17.

Amateur James Watts recorded his second two under par round of the tournament to sit tied in fifth spot, three strokes behind at four under. Watts began on the back nine of the red course at two under par and moved up the leaderboard quickly with four birdies in the first five holes. A bogey at 17 stunted his progress but he was back on the birdie trail at the second and sixth holes – Watts ultimately had to settle for a round of 71 after a double bogey at the eighth. Graham Benson (Leighton Buzzard) shot a level par 71 on the blue course to join Watts at four under.

Paul Waugh (Hexham) was one of the biggest movers of the day, moving from three over par after a 74 on the opening day with a five under par 68 on the red course. Waugh’s round had an inauspicious start on the back nine with a bogey at the tenth, but that was the only blemish as he picked up two birdies on the back nine and four on the front to race into contention at two under.

Chris Roake also climbed into the mix with a four under 67 on the blue course, splitting four birdies between the front and back nine and failing do drop a stroke – improvement on his opening round 75 to join Waugh on two under. Wallace Booth (Comrie GC) and James Heath complete a quartet five behind the leader – Booth recording his second one under par round in Oxford, while Heath negotiated the red course at level par.

Fifteen players lie at one under par for the tournament, including Alex Belt who matched Waugh’s 68 on the red course and John Spagnuolo, who recorded a four under par 69 on the same course.

The cut was set at seven under par with 128 players tackling the blue course in the final round, with the first group teeing off at 8.15am. The winner of the final stage of Q School claims £2,400 of the £16,000 prize purse, and also takes home a car for six months thanks to Mercedes-Benz – the official car of the PGA EuroPro Tour.

To view the leaderboard and the tee-off times for Friday’s final round, visit www.europrotour.com

Play the 2010 GM Junior Golf Tour

The 2010 Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour is recognised nationally & internationally as the first junior golf tour in its own right.

After five years of undisputed success it continues to go from strength-to-strength and enables talented young golfers to maximise their potential.

This year, the 6th anniversary of the tour, it has expanded the range of National & International events to run a CHAMPIONS SERIES and also the first ever WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Florida. It will also continue with its popular EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.

This is not to mention a number of events throughout the UK including the Miguel Angel Jimenez Trophy at Portal and other competitions at Woodhall Spa, The Belfry, The Grove and The London Club!

More About the Tour...
The GM Junior Golf Tour is a series of junior golf tournaments held throughout the World. The tour is designed for talented junior golfers who want to maximise their game to professional standards. All venues are set up by a fully qualified FPGA Golf Professional, with more than 25 years experience inside junior golf, enabling players to achieve gross pars, birdies and eagles.

Unique to the GM Junior Tour is that from arrival to departure players are made to feel like they are part of a professional golf event. Tournaments are played off scratch like a professional tour, no handicaps are involved, but all scores count for handicapping purposes.

2010 Schedule...
You can see the full 2010 schedule for the GM Junior Golf Tour here with details about entry-costs and venues. Direct links are also provided to all the official entry-forms.

More Information...
For more details about the tour you can email Graham on gmigs@gmintgolfschools.co.uk or call 07860 669432.

Parry clinches Mansell Series

STEVE Parry wrapped up the PGA North Region Mansell Finishes Winter Series order of merit despite bogeying the final two holes at West Lancs in the last of six fixtures.

The 31-year-old professional, who runs a golf school at Hart Common, said: “I’d done all the hard work until then but at least I had enough points in the bag to claim the title.”

Parry, winner of the opening event over the same Blundellsands links last November, finished 141 clear of Walton Golf Centre’s Adrian Ambler with Davenport assistant Graham Cox in third spot 232 off the pace.

Ambler, who clinched the Midland Region winter merit series earlier in the week, also tied for the day prize at West Lancs with near neighbour and Wakefield pro David Mansell.

They carded three-under-par 69s, one ahead of Selby’s Nick Ludwell, as Parry signed off with 72 for a five-way share of fifth spot.

LEADING SCORES (Par= 72): 69 David Mansell (Wakefield), Adrian Ambler (Walton Golf Centre); 70 Nick Ludwell (Selby); 71 Freddy Valenti (Pryors Hayes); 72 Simon Edwards (Windermere), Barry Taylor (Houghwood), Gareth Jones (Sandiway), Steve Parry (SPGS), Matthew Parsley (Holywell); 73 Matthew Ellis (Romiley), Stuart Runcie (Abergele), John Twissell (Taylored Golf).

FINAL ORDER OF MERIT: 961pts Steve Parry (SPGS); 820 Adrian Ambler (Walton Golf Centre); 729 Graham Cox (Davenport); 699 Barry Taylor (Houghwood); 693 Andrew Baguley (Leigh); 564 Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorks); 535 Matthew Ellis (Romiley); 508 Nick Ludwell (Selby); 462 David Mansell (Wakefield); 441 Craig Corrigan (Haigh Hall).

Dykes takes route 66 to lead Q School

Welshman cards five under opening round at Frilford Heath!

Tim Dykes blasted seven birdies in his opening round of the final stage of the 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School at Frilford Heath to lead by one shot at five under par.

Dykes (Wrexham GC) bogeyed the second hole at the start of the round but powered down the remaining holes on the front nine of the blue course, firing four birdies from the fourth hole to the turn to sit at three under. Further birdies came at the tenth, 13th and 14th for the Welshman, before he dropped a shot at 15, finishing with three pars to shoot a fine 66. Dykes is no stranger to performing well on the Tour after finishing in a tie for third spot at the Formby Hall in 2009.

Lee Clarke held the lead earlier in the day at four under par thanks to an opening round of 69 on the red course. Clarke (Everbuild Building Products) began his round on the back nine with a bogey at the tenth, but recorded back-to-back birdies from 16 to move through his front-nine at one under. Three further birdies came at the first, third and sixth holes to see Clarke card a four-under round of 69.

Clarke is joined by Graham Benson (Leighton Buzzard) who set off on the red course with four birdies on his first five holes and those shots proved decisive after sandwiching back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 with his only dropped shots of the day at the eighth and 15th.

Three birdies in his last three holes of the red course made the difference for Matthew Maguire as he sits one stroke behind Clarke. Maguire (Dave Gordon Golf) was level after cancelling out birdies at six and 15 with bogeys at seven and 11 before his birdie run to the clubhouse saw him post a first round score of 70. Matthew Swales (Cumberwell Park) eagled the eighth – his 17th – on the blue course to card 68 and also finish three under for the day.

James Heath began with a level par back nine of the blue course, blighting his card with a bogey at the first but then recovering with birdies at the second, sixth and eighth to shoot 69 and sit in a group at two under. Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire), Scott Bubb (WPGC) Rhys Black (Sherwood Forest GC), James Watts (amateur) and Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) also carded rounds of 69 on the blue course to sit at two under, while Mark Thomas (Hillsborough GC) and Steve Mitchell both recorded scores of 71 on the red course to join them.

Players who began on the red course play the blue course on the second day and vice-versa, with the top 120 players plus ties tackling the blue course in Friday’s final round. The final stage of Q School holds a £16,000 prize purse, with the winner also taking home a car for six months thanks to Mercedes-Benz – the official car of the PGA EuroPro Tour.

To view the first round scores, visit www.europrotour.com

RYDER CUP LEGEND RETURNS TO THE BELFRY TO HOLD A SPECIAL GOLF CLINIC

The National Golf Club Challenge Team, Together with Challenge Patron Sam Torrance Host a Battle Back Golf Clinic at The Belfry.

Sam Torrance recently attended a special golf clinic for wounded members of the British Armed Forces. The clinic event, held in association with the Battle Back scheme was hosted by the National Golf Club Challenge team and The Belfry.

Sam, Ryder Cup winner as a player and captain was joined by Match of The Day pundit Alan Hansen, top golf coach and Sky TV commentator Tim Barter and European Tour players Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher. As well as receiving expert hints and tips to improve their golf, the wounded Servicemen participating in the Battle Back scheme also enjoyed Dave Edwards' amazing trick shot show.

The Battle Back scheme - partly funded by Help for Heroes - is run by the British Armed Forces and encourages wounded Servicemen and women to participate in adaptive adventure training and sports, including golf, as part of their rehabilitation.

Mne Aaron Moon, a member of the Battle Back scheme from Bolton in Lancashire commented, "It's been an amazing day, it's an honour to come to The Belfry with the likes of Same Torrance, Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher."

As well as give an insight into how sport plays a significant part in the rehabilitation of injured service personnel, the purpose of the Battle Back Clinic event was to help raise the profile of the National Golf Club Challenge, which will take place on the 24th and 25th of July this year, and aims to raise £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity.

Commenting on his role as a National Golf Club Challenge patron, Sam Torrance said "Joining these brave soldiers for a golf clinic has been a moving and rewarding experience." Sam went on to say, "We may not be able to stop our service personnel from getting injured, but we can try to make sure they receive all they need when they arrive back from active duty. Our passion for golf can make a massive difference to the lives of our injured heroes."

The National Golf Club Challenge is a nationwide charity golf event on a scale never seen before, in aid of the Help for Heroes charity. On 24th and 25th July, golfers throughout the UK will be play against each other for some fantastic prizes, including playing the Challenge Final at The Belfry and a chance to win an all expenses paid golfing holiday to Egypt.

The Challenge is an opportunity for Britain's golfing community to come together on the same weekend to compete, have fun and demonstrate their support and generosity to the wounded Servicemen and women of the British Armed Forces.

For more information on The National Golf Club Challenge, including how to enter your golf club, go to www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk or www.ngcc2010.com.

For more information on the Help for Heroes charity and the work they do please visit their website: www.helpforheroes.org.uk.

Ladies Golf Opens at Green Haworth Golf Club

Situated at the highest point of Green Haworth, in Accrington, Green Haworth Golf Club has some awe-inspiring views of the surrounding area.

Looking outward from their signature hole 'Bedlam' you can see across the borough of Hyndburn, over to Blackburn, the Coppice and Pennines, and on to the surrounding Ribble Valley.

A Ladies Team Open will take place on Sunday 6th June at this popular course. It is a Team of 4 Stableford with the best two scores to count on each hole. There is a handicap limit of 30 with entry very good value at £28 per team. Places are expected to fill quickly for this event but an entry-form can be found here.

The Ladies Open Turkey Shoot is not one to be missed either and although this is not played until Sunday 17th October early entries are advised. The cost is just £5 per person and the event is a 9 hole strokeplay competition with a maximum handicap of 36. An entry-form can be found here.

Calling All Single Figure Golfers

With just over a week to go until the first tournament on the 2010 Single Figure Golfer Challenge Tour now is the perfect time to plan your schedule and sign-up for an SFG Tour Card!


About the Tour...
The Single Figure Golfer Challenge Tour is a series of competitions throughout the UK played on some of best golf courses.

There is a Northern and Southern Order of Merit where tour card holders accumulate points based on their finishing position in each event. Meanwhile there are also some one-off 'Major' opens at venues such as Woodhall Spa, The Oxfordshire and The Carrick.

Exclusively for golfers with a handicap of nine or less, players are competing for the chance to play in a 10-man team captained by Peter McEvoy against former Ryder, Walker and Solheim Cup players in the two-day Challenge Cup Final at Trevose Golf Club in October.


SFG Matchplay...
New for this year, three regional matchplay competitions will be held with the winner of each section earning an automatic place in the SFG Challenge Cup Final.

There is a Northern, Southern and Scottish knockout so if Matchplay if your strength then this could be your route to the Grand Final. What's more, entry is FREE for any SFG Tour Card Holder! Find out more.


Buy Your Tour Card Now...
As well as being able to accumulate points in the order of merits and gaining free entry into the matchplay competition you also get a host of other benefits when you buy your SFG Tour Card . Fantastic value at just £49.

Benefits of an SFG Tour Card include:

-Your chance to represent TEAM SFG against the Ryder Cup stars at the final at the grand final at Trevose.
-Entry to the SFG Order of Merits.
-Entry into the SFG Matchplay tournament.
-20% discount on entrance to the SFG Major Opens.
-3 complimentary issues of Golf International Magazine.
-A FREE Sleeve of Srixon Z-Star golf balls.
-Selected Partner discounts.
-Access to Championship courses throughout the tour.
-Reduced green-fees at participating SFG venues.
-Exclusive discounts and benefits through the SFG Shop.
-An SFG Tour card / bag tag.

Happy golfing and see you on tour!

Open Golf Tournaments Haltwhistle Golf Club

Haltwhistle Golf Club are holding four open events in 2010 and each one offers some of the best value golf in the North of England. Places fill up quickly so don't delay if you want to secure a place.

The first event will be played on Saturday 8th May and is a 4-Man Texas Scramble. The competition has a handicap limit of 28 and an entry-fee of £24 per team of 4.

Next up is The Clint Banks Open Classic, an individual Stableford for men with a handicap no higher then 18. Entry is just £6 per person and this takes place on Saturday 24th July.

The WC Barnes Open on the 22nd August is a Betterball Medal costing £12 per pair whilst the final event is a Gents Individual Autumn Open on Sunday 19th September, entry is again £6 per person with a handicap limit of 18.

Full details and entry forms for each event can be found by clicking the links below:

08/05/2010: Gents Team Open - £24 per team
24/07/2010: Gents Individual Open - £6 per person
22/08/2010: Gents Pairs Open - £12 per pair
19/09/2010: Gents Individual Open - £6 per person

Haltwhistle Golf Club is the only golf club on both Hadrian's Wall footpath and the Pennine Way. This golf course offers excellent views over the Tyne Valley, East to Haltwhistle and beyond. To the North and West lie Gilsland, Brampton and Spadeadam.

GM Junior Golf Tour at Wychwood Park

The 2010 Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour is coming to Cheshire!

The event...
On the weekend of the 17th & 18th of April a 36 hole event will take place at Wychwood Park Golf Club.

The competition is a Callaway Junior World Championship Qualifier and has an entry-fee of £89 for Tour members or £115 for non-members.

The competition is also a Junior Golf Scoreboard ranked tournament with 12 Spots available for the Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championships on the 12th - 16th July 2010 in San Diego, California, USA.

The course...
Wychwood Park's European PGA tour-standard course opened in 2002 and provides the ultimate challenge for golfers. The greens are built to USGA standard and the course has hosted a PGA EuroPro Tour event in both 2005 and 2009.

More Info...
Further details about this competition and a link to the official entry-form can be found on our GM Junior Tour page.

Alternatively for more details about this tournament or information on joining the tour you can email Graham on gmigs@gmintgolfschools.co.uk or call 07860 669432.

South Winchester Golf Club Charity Golf Open

We are delighted to give you more information about a Charity Team Open at South Winchester Golf Club on Thursday 1st July.

This competition is a 4-Ball Team event where the best two scores count. It is open to men and ladies with maximum handicaps of 28 and 36 respectively.

The cost is really excellent value at just £180 per team of 4 as this includes coffee & biscuits on registration, 18 holes of golf with an 11.30am tee-off and dinner afterwards. There is also a trick-shot show demonstration by Jeremy Dale and some fabulous prizes up for grabs.

Entry is limited to the first 20 teams so don't delay if you want to be part of this exciting tournament and help raise money for Epilepsy Action at the same time. An entry-form can be found here.

Set in beautiful Hampshire countryside, South Winchester is a links-style course in two loops of nine that provides all golfers with a fair challenge. The course undulates between grassy slopes and runs beside several lakes offering easy walking and excellent views.

History boy Winstanley

IAN Winstanley announced his return to full-time golf after completing his studies by winning the Crosby Challenge Plate at wind-swept West Lancs.

And he’s hoping history will repeat itself because after his victory over the Blundellsands links five years ago he went on to claim his first Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit title.

“That’s one of my targets again,” said the Formby and Warrington plus two player who left Leeds University with a sports science degree.

“I also want to try to get back into the England set-up after a spell in the U21 squad but it will all depend on how well I do this season. I am entering all the major tournaments, including the Duncan Putter at Southerdown this weekend, and the Lytham Trophy later this month.

“Eventually, I plan to turn professional but not for the foreseeable future.”

The 22-year-old Cheshire County player, who also won the Crosby Challenge Plate in 2006, clearly has a liking for one of the most testing courses in the region – he finished leading amateur in the Players’ Tour fixture earlier in the week.

“I was level par then but the prevailing wind was much stronger this time,” he said after firing five birdies over rounds of 76 and 72 for a four-over total as the merit swung into action for a 23rd campaign.

“It was a case of holding it together,” he added, prevailing by a shot from Royal Liverpool’s James Cook.

SCORES (Par = 72): 148 Ian Winstanley (Formby) 76 72; 149 James Cook (Royal Liverpool) 73 76; 150 Tom Graves (West Lancs) 75 75; 151 James Robinson (S&A) 78 73, Mark Rabone (S&A) 77 74, Richie Blundell (Hillside) 76 75; 152 Sean Towndrow (S&A) 77 75, John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) 73 79; 153 Graham Roberts (Eaton) 79 74, Liam Connelly (West Lancs) 79 74, Paul D Williams (Hillside) 79 74, Michael Hearn (Chorley) 78 75.

ORDER OF MERIT: 150pts Winstanley; 100 Cook; 75 Graves; 60 Robinson; 50 Rabone; 45 Blundell; 40 Towndrow; 30 Carroll; 25 Roberts; 20 Connelly; 15 Williams; 10 Hearn.