ANOTHER UPDATE FROM PAST JUNIOR MEMBERS

Our success at bringing Juniors through the ranks has again been recognised at National level. Katy Alexander and Cormac Sharpe who both began at Strathmore are now in Tier 1 of the Scottish Academy programme. Alexei Butchart is now an Internationalist having represented Russia in matches against Spain in Madrid and Alicante. He won events in Rostov and Moscow which included a course record 69 in the later. Won the Russian Junior Tour under 15s and Junior Tour Order of Merit which gave him a grant towards clubs of 75,000 rubles (equivalent to just under £1,000) He lost in a play off for the Russian Golf Association Presidents Cup, but both he and the winner secured a free tip to Malaga for 2 weeks in February for their efforts.
I am so proud of what we have achieved over the years and with all these youngsters still developing the future of Strathmore juniors past and present is unprecedented and can't wait to see what 2017 brings.

This is how it all started for Alexei.



          
     

SOREN KJELDSEN HELPS DENMARK BECOME WORLD CHAMPIONS

So happy for Soren who today became a World Champion. Many of you might not know this but when he was coached by Colin Smith (one of our previous PGA coaches) he was coached and practiced up at our range. He is a really nice guy who deserves this and it's another thing that keeps Strathmore's name associated with success. I first met him when he was up hitting balls and every time I have met him since he always has the time for a quick chat, even once mid round in the Dunhill ! I sent him a congratulatory message and just like the true Gentleman he is here is his reply.

Denmark won the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf for the first time as Søren Kjeldsen and Thorbjørn Olesen claimed a thrilling four-shot victory at Kingston Heath Golf Club, Melbourne, Australia.

The Danes had been a dominant force all week, with a stunning round of 60 in the four-balls on Friday helping them carry a four-shot lead into a final day where they played the same format.
They did not have it all their own way, however, and the lead was cut to one shot on the back nine as the United States and China both kept applying pressure, whilst France and Sweden made late surges.
But a run of five birdies in six holes from the tenth reasserted the Danes’ dominance, and Kjeldsen and Olesen ultimately ran out comfortable victors after finishing on 20 under par with a closing better-ball round of 66.
The French pair of Victor Dubuisson and Romian Langasque shared second place alongside China – represented by Wu Ashun and Li Haotong – and the United States duo of Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.
Alex Noren and David Lingmerth combined for a brilliant closing 62 to finish shots five back for Sweden in fifth place.
The win completes excellent seasons for Kjeldsen and Olesen, with both finishing in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex and the latter extending his streak of winning seasons on the European Tour to three with victory at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Denmark’s previous best finish at the World Cup of Golf had been in 2001, when Thomas Bjørn and Soren Hansen finished in a tie for second after losing in a play-off.

For Kjeldsen it was a first victory in his sixth outing, while Olesen was making his third appearance.

Ireland (277) finished best of the four home countries with England (279) next and Scotland (282) tied for 19th place. Wales finished on 283 after a very good last better-ball round.

Key quotes
Soren Kjeldsen: “To win this beautiful trophy is amazing, and I think what’s so special about it is that we don’t get to lift a trophy with another player very often. So to experience that team feeling makes it even more special than an individual event.

"We have both had good years and we finish them off like this, so obviously that builds the confidence hugely and is an incredible end to the season.”
Thorbjorn Olesen: “I had the feeling every time on the green that I really wanted to hole the putt, not just for me but for my partner too.  Then all of a sudden on the back nine, they just started rolling in. It was not just for me, it was for Soren and me and our caddies and our country.

"That’s very special. When you hole a putt and you can fist pump with your partner and your caddies, it makes it a lot more fun. It was a real four-man team this week. I thought both of our caddies did a tremendous job this week keeping us calm, and allowing us to play our game.”

WINTER COACHING

This is how you improve. Practice in any weather. Scottish PGA coach Karyn Dallas quoted "flipping freezing today -3 with freezing fog! Does not stand in the way of progress #scotgolfacademy  @wearescottishgolf with winning mentality from East players 👌"

Well done Amy - impressed. 

SCOTTISH SQUADS ANNOUNCED

Kirsty has been named in 2016-17 squad. Congratulations and well deserved. 

Under-18 Girls 

• Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore)
• Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)
• Jillian Farrell (Cardross)
• Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies)
• Jasmine MacKintosh (Hazlehead)
• Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle)
• Molly Richmond (Strathaven)

AMY'S REPORT FROM THE WEEKEND

Tulliallan was the accommodation and Kingsfield was the practice facility Amy said - 

It was fun but very tiring!! We learnt all the different ways to make practice affective and all the aspects of short game. Karyn and I worked on swing and David and I worked on my putting path.

Scottish Golf is using this photo on their Facebook page - Strathmore juniors making the news again.

MEGAN'S HARD WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS ARE RECOGNISED

That was quick, one day in and the pre season has got off to a flier !!! Just had a message from  a very excited Megan -

Hi Iain, just to let you know I was at Gleneagles for a lesson the other day and received confirmation that I have been accepted into the Gleneagles foundation! So so happy considering my wrist at the end of the year☺
 

I am so pleased as her attitude both on and off the course is absolutely first class. The results she had last year were superb and anyone who reduces their handicap from 10 to 5 in a year deserves to be rewarded.



Well done Megan.

ALL STARTS AGAIN NOW FOR NEXT SEASON

This weekend Amy is away to Scottish Golf Academy camp. 

LATEST NEWS FROM THE STATES

Michael Brodie, Brad Bawden top Brits in McDonagh Cup at Orlando 
Michael Brodie from Alyth, Perthshire, a second-year student at Lander University, South Carolina, and Brad Bawden from Hockley, Essex, a second-year man at Eastern Florida State, were jointly the highest finishers of the seven Brits competing in this week's McDonough Cup college tournament at Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando, Florida.

Michael shot rounds of 73, 76 and 69 for a two-over-par total of 218 and joint 10th placing alongside Brad Bawden who had ever-improving rounds of 77, 73 and 68 for 218 over a 6,955yd course. Brodie and Bawden finished eight strokes behind the winner, Jakob Van de Flierdt (Rollins College) who had steady scores of 68, 71 and 71 for six-under 210 and a one-stroke victory.
Bawden's team-mate, Fraser Davren, a freshman from Glasgow, finished T42 with improving rounds of 77, 75 and 74 for 226.
Nicholas Ward (Georgia Southwestern), a final-year student from Eastbourne, tied for 48th place on 228 with rounds of 77, 78 and 73.
Callum Mackay (Eckerd College), a senior student from Guildford, finished T54 on 229 (75-75-79). 
Aberdeen's Fintan McKenna, a freshman at Carson-Newman University, finished T61 on 231 with scores of 77, 79 and 75.
Fraser Johnston (Georgia Southwestern), a final-year student from Port Seton on the Firth of Forth coastline in East Lothian, finished T74 on 235 (81-77-77).
Rollins College (861) won the team title from Flagler College (870) with Brodie's effort helping Lander tie for third place with  Georgia College (875). It was Lander University's third top-three finish in a row and they have improved to be 14th in the National Division 2 rankings.
Eastern Florida State (891) finished seventh, Carson-Newman (897) T10, Georgia Southwestern (901) 12th and Eckerd College (943) last in the field of 18 teams.