The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Aces abound at Aboyne
A flurry of aces have been recorded at Aboyne Golf Club.
Martyn Paterson holed out on the 139yard eighth hole using a six iron. His playing partners were Nigel and Dominic Bradburn and Richie Batho. Dominic Bradburn scored his first ace when he holed his nine iron at the 153yd fourth hole. His playing partner was Iain Wallace.
Graham White had his sixth ace when he holed his five wood at the 154yd 14th hole. His playing partners were Roddy McLean, Brian Wood and Chris Thomas. Glasgow’s Scott Henry is determined to fulfil the promise of his teenage years as he prepares for the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley.
There were high hopes for Henry when he won the Scottish boys’ championship in 2004 and 2005, as well as the Scottish stroke play championship in 2006.
The 30-year-old goes into this weekend’s tournament fresh from halting a dire run of 14 missed cuts last weekend by finishing tied in 12th at the European Tour’s BMW international Open in Munich.
Henry credits work with coach Alan McCloskey for getting his game together again as he targets just his second Challenge Tour success at Aviemore.
Henry said: “It’s not been just this season – it has been a long time – where I’ve wondered what I’ve been doing. I have the game and the ability but I’m underperforming so
“In my eyes, I would only put the majors ahead of it”
much. Since I’ve been with Alan and working with Paul McCarthy, the psychologist, both of them speak in the same language. I enjoy going to see them and feel it instantly had an impact.
“From starting with Alan and working on a few things I had to get out of my system, I now feel like my game is the best it has been.
“Although I had not been showing it in maybe the last three, four or five weeks, in practice my game was unbelievable. I just didn’t take it on to the course.
“The game is there. Although last week’s result isn’t ultimately what I’m aspiring to, it’s a massive step.”
Henry is anxious to not miss out on next month’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links and added: “I have asked for an invitation to the Scottish Open and I’m hoping the last week goes in my favour. I need this invitation more than I ever have.
“To miss three tournaments in a row on the main tour would really be a smack in the face, especially with this one being in Scotland.
“It’s at Dundonald, I’m in and around there a lot during the years, I go and practice a bit. It’s near Glasgow. It’s ideal. If I could play there and get into contention it would be huge. In my eyes, I would only put the majors ahead of it.”
IN ASSOCIATION WITH