Scottish courses to lose out as Open qualifying made more 'convenient'

A CLUTCH of Scottish golf clubs have been handed a major blow after the R&A announced its latest change to final qualifying for the Open Championship.As from 2014, a new system is to be introduced whereby final qualifying will take place at four venues around Britain, regardless of where the Open is being staged, instead of four courses close to the host venue for the world's oldest major.

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gow Gailes, on the Ayrshire coast, has been chosen as the Scottish venue and it is likely to host final qualifying for a period of four years along with Hillside in Lancashire, Woburn in Bedfordshire and Royal Cinque Ports in Kent.

"This alteration to the qualifying make-up offers a more geographically convenient way for competitors seeking to achieve a starting place in the Open Championship," said Rhodri Price, the R&A's assistant director of championships. "The R&A have maintained a very close relationship with all venues associated with the qualifying stages and this is a natural step towards continuing to offer competitors wishing to enter within Great Britain & Ireland a route into The Open Championship."

At the same time, however, it is sad news for the courses around Scotland that have been involved in the final qualifying process over the past 30 or so years and have played host to some top players as they battled to earn a crack at the Claret Jug.

In 1999, for instance, Paul Lawrie and Jean Van de Velde both qualified at Downfield before finding themselves involved in a play-off along with Justin Leonard less than a week later to become Open champion.

Australian Steve Elkington also came through a final qualifier at Dunbar when he made a play-off won by Ernie Els at Muirfield in 2002, while Lloyd Saltman won the Silver Medal at St Andrews three years later after he'd progressed at Scotscraig.

In 2006, the R&A moved final qualifying from the Sunday and Monday of Open week to the previous week, a change that was partly caused by the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond switching to a Sunday finish. It was then reduced to a 36-hole test over one day and, this year, final qualifying was held at four courses in south-east England a fortnight before The Open at Royal St George's.

Price revealed a decision by two Scottish amateurs, Michael Stewart and Ross Kellett, to forego their spots in Kent had played a part in the latest change.

"When final qualifying used to be held on the Sunday and Monday, it felt part of The Open as it followed nicely because players who qualified stayed on in the area," added Price. "For various reasons, including the Scottish Open starting up at Loch Lomond the week before The Open and not finishing until the Sunday, it became difficult to stage the final qualifying at the same time and it was moved to where we are now.

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Three of the Scots succeeded in qualifying, Berkshire

Teenagers Carly Booth and Gemma Dryburgh, the former a Professional, amateur, and the European tour, the Queen had the Clarc pro only three Scots to survive in the women's British open for the pre to Ricoh-the qualifying 18-hole tournament at the Berkshire Golf Club, Ascot and the best 25 yesterday. ties in the area, much of the final qualification by 120, Panmure Golf Club on Monday, 25 July. From there, leading a field of 16 to get the women's open, Carnoustie is 28-31 July.

Comrie's Booth and Aberdeen born
Dryburgh, Florida, in the IMG Leadbetter Academy student qualified for the par-72 mark. The Queen made it through the 20th century, 74, who led the 30 players in all the border equally to legitimate Panmure.

Scots, which could not be included in the LPGA Tour Player-of-Mhairi McKay, who was 78. Kenny Lynn (Archerfield Links) 75, at the same time, Heather MacRae, recently moved Downfield Gleneagles PGA with personnel failed to miss a shot of one of the 79, better than the former Scottish amateur champion Michele Thomson (McDonald, Sunderland).

Pamela Feggans (Patna, Ayr) and Gemma Webster (Glasgow), missed out on 79 and 80, respectively. Jane Turner, harrasterakentaja international, and Katy McNicoll, the pro tour, Carnoustie preparoitujen 83 and 76. Top pro tour of the Welsh, was qualifer Sahra Hassan under par 68, with four.

Dryburgh, meanwhile, is due this morning the Scottish U18 tee off from a girls ' Championship at Glenisla Alyth Golf Club qualifying in the first round. He happens to secured yesterday, Panmure, he set up the championship this week, seven-event, the 400-mile trip.

Playing off of one handicap, he aims to impress selectors enough to grant them the SLGA to him in his first Scotland cap girls home internationals at Gullane as the beginning of the next month.

Against her and Kilmacolm: n Eilidh Briggs, Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Hannah McCook (Kauhajoki), Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie ladies), Clara Young (North Berwick) and McKechin (Elderslie) with Alyson calibre players.


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Three Scots to survive the qualifying, Berkshire

Teenagers Carly Booth and Gemma Dryburgh, the former a Professional, amateur, and the European tour, the Queen had the Clarc pro only three Scots to survive in the women's British open for the pre to Ricoh-the qualifying 18-hole tournament at the Berkshire Golf Club, Ascot yesterday.

the 25 best and far to a final area of the 120 ties in the qualifying, Panmure Golf Club on Monday, 25 July. From there, leading a field of 16 may in the women's open at Carnoustie on July 28-31.

Comrie's Booth and Dryburgh was born in Aberdeen, Florida, in the IMG Leadbetter Academy student qualified for the par-72 mark. The Queen made it through the 20th century, 74, who led the 30 players in all the border equally to legitimate Panmure.
Scots, which could not be included in the LPGA Tour Player-of-Mhairi McKay, who was 78. Kenny Lynn (Archerfield Links) in the 75 to Heather MacRae recently moved hwile Downfield Gleneagles PGA with personnel failed to miss a shot of one of the 79, better than the former Scottish amateur champion Michele Thomson (McDonald, Sunderland).

Pamela Feggans (Patna, Ayr) and Gemma Webster (Glasgow), missed out on 79 and 80, respectively. Jane Turner, harrasterakentaja international, and Katy McNicoll, the pro tour, Carnoustie preparoitujen 83 and 76. Top pro tour of the Welsh, was qualifer Sahra Hassan under par 68, with four.


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