Haggs Castle honours stars who lifted Tour titles at Glasgow venue
Three players who recorded European Tour victories at Haggs Castle have received honorary membership of the Glasgow club.
Bernhardlanger,kenbrown and Howard Clark were all presented with the accolade during the Senior Open at Carnoustie, where they were either playing or commentating. Langer’s win at Haggs Castle came in the 1983 Glasgow Golf Classic before Brown and Clark claimed the Glasgow Open title in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
David Feherty, who triumphed there in the 1986 Scottish Open, will have the same honour conferred upon him when the opportunity arises.
“As this is the 30th anniversary of the Scottish Open at Haggs Castle, the club’s council agreed to the proposal in April,” said general manager Jim Callaghan, who handed over framed membership certificates to Langer, Brown and Clark at Carnoustie.
“Bernhard joked about how long it had taken us before asking me to pass his thanks on to the members, as did both Ken and Howard.”
Monifieth Links also used the Senior Open’s second visit to Carnoustie to mark Tom Watson’s first game in the UK there in 1975 by placing a new plaque on the first tee and also presenting him with honorary membership.
“I haven’t been back to Monifieth much, but the golf courses are part of the community here, the people love their golf courses and they play golf,” said the five-time Open winner of his return to the Angus club. “They have a passion for it and even the people who don’t play have an understanding of the passion of those who do.” 0 Bernhard Langer, left, and general manager Jim Callaghan Currently sitting well below the cut-off line on the official entry list, Andrew Mcarthur and Jamie Mcleary have been handed an alternative avenue into next week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play at Archerfield Links.
The two European Tour card holders will join a field of other home hopefuls battling it out for one spot in an 18-hole qualifier being held at the same venue next Monday.
Among the others taking part in that shootout is Jack Doherty, who will be hoping to emulate his success in a similar qualifier, albeit over two rounds at Lossiemouth, earlier this month for the Scottish Open.
Alastair Forsyth, Kris Nicol and Gareth Wright also passed that particular test to secure spots at Castle Stuart and they, too, will be trying to earn another chance to get into a European Tour event.
Others taking part in the qualifier on the Fidra Links include Tartan Tour No 1 Chris Kelly, recent PGA Europro Tour runner-up Paul Mckechnie, 2014 Amateur champion Bradley Neil, Dubai-based Clarke Lutton and Craig Lawrie, the tournament host’s oldest son.
The winner will join a strong field that is set to be headed by two Ryder Cup contenders, Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood, as well as six others who have played in the biennial event, namely Lawrie, Thomas Bjorn, Stephen Gallacher, Edoardo Molinari, David Howell and Oliver Wilson.
Meanwhile, Jane Turner came up agonisingly short in her bid to join three fellow Scots – Catriona Matthew, Pamela Pretswell and Kylie Walker – in this week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn. Playing in then final qualifier at John O’gaunt Golf Club, the West Linton player missed out on claiming one up of 16 spots up for grabs after carding a twounder-par 72. Indian teenager Aditi Ashok, last year’s St Rule Trophy winner in St Andrews, finished three clear of the field on 66.