PAUL LAWRIE'S NEPHEW T5 ON US COLLEGE GOLF DEBUT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colinh@scottishgolfview.com

Paul Lawrie's nephew Sean has made an encouraging start on the United States college golf circuit. Earlier this week, in his debut appearance for the Midland College, Texas team, Sean, a member of Portlethen Golf Club, finished joint fifth with an eight-under-par total of 208 in the High Country Shootout at New Mexico Country Club.

Young Lawrie, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had rounds of 69, 72 and 67 as he finished six shots behind the winner, Midland team-mate Richard Farmer from Brighton. He scored 67, 69 and 66 for 14-under-par 202.

Sean says that he's been to watch fellow-Scot Russell Knox in action in a US Nationwide tour event at Midland Country Club.
Inverallochy-born Steven Young, who went on to play for GB and I in the Walker Cup after winning the British boys' championship at Dunbar in the mid-1990s and  Scottish boys match-play title three years in a row from 1993 to 1995, is on the pro staff at Midland Country Club.
So too is Lee Rhind, the Scottish boys open stroke-play champion in 1997. Think I am right in saying that both Steven and Lee are former students at Midland College.
There had been three Scots in the field at the High Country Shootout, as I reported earlier in the week - when it escaped my attention that Sean Lawrie was also in the field - that Chris Bell (Odessa CC) from Carnoustie finished joint ninth 0n 210 (68-72-70) and Stuart McKechnive (also Odessa CC) from Greenburn GC, Faldhouse, W Lothian, finished T20 on 215 (73-70-72).
Strangely enough, despite have two finishers in the top five or six, Midland College - where ex-President George Bush, junior - was a student - did not win the team title. That went to Western Texas (830) ahead of South Mountain (837) and New Mexico (839).
Midland and Odessa tied for fourth place on 844 in a field of eight teams.
Obvously, Midland need more Scots students to back up Sean Lawrie and Richard Farmer!
FOOTNOTE FROM SEAN LAWRIE
I met Steve Young when I first came out here. His parents were on the same flight into Midland when we first got here, so it was nice meeting him. Yes that was my first tournament, so i was very happy with tied 5th. The High Country Shoutout was in the mountains, so the weather was a bit cooler. But i have been struggling to adapt to the weather conditions.
Every day seems to be over 100 F. The grass is different as well, so it takes a bit of getting used to but i'm getting there slowly.
We have a tournament at Andrews Country Club Saturdy and Sunday, so i'm looking forward to that.

AYRSHIRE STUDENT JOINT FIFTH AT JALC INVITATIONAL

Colin Robinson from Ayrshire, a freshman student at John A Logan College, Illinois - finished joint fifth in a field of 43 players at the 27-hole JALC Invitational at Kekopelli Golf Club, Marion in Illinois.
Colin had scores of 36 for the nine holes and 74 for the 18 to produce a 110 total for the par 106 competition (par 35 for nine holes, par 71 for the 18).
Winner was Ben Ludlam (Indian Hills) with scores of 34 and 69 for three-under 103 which gave him a two-shot victory.
John A Logan CC won the team title with a total of 432 - five ahead of Indian Hills in a field of seven teams.