Golf news digest – 24/08/07

LUPTON WINS POWERADE ASSISTANTS? CHAMPIONSHIP

Jonathan Lupton (pictured) was victorious at the Powerade Assistants? Championship in association with FootJoy after a fantastic 68 at The London Club.

The 28-year-old?s four-under-par final round took him to three under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Barrie Trainor and Paul Hendriksen.

Lupton, representing Middlesborough, shot 73 and 72 in the first two rounds to keep him in contention going into the final day, and birdies on 2, 4 and 5 were the ideal start.

After another birdie on 12 he recovered well after a bogey at 13 to birdie the 14th, before making par on the final four holes to seal victory.

SECOND VICTORY FOR MILLS

Australia?s Joanne Mills clinched her second Ladies European Tour title at the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe, scooping £52,500.

Mills fought strong winds and rain to finish six under par, one stroke ahead of Germany?s Bettina Hauert and England?s Georgina Simpson.

The 37-year-old from Sydney had been in contention a number of times this season before winning in Wales ? it was her first victory for 10 years.

Mills? victory came as Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Welsh Assembly Government Heritage Minister, visited the Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club in order to promote Wales as an international golfing destination.

Thomas said, ?The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to making golf accessible for people of all ages and to using our wonderful courses to raise Wales? international profile as a business destination with specific initiatives designed to attract inward investment to Wales?.

GB&I ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY

Jeff Toye, chairman of the R&A Boys Selection Committee, has announced the nine-strong GB&I team to play against the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Notts Golf Club on August 31 and September 1.

Included in the team is Scottish boy international Fraser Fotheringham, who has been rewarded for reaching the final of the Boys Amateur Championship.

Fotheringham, 18, exceeded even his own expectations to come up against in-form 16-year-old Emilio Cuartero of Spain and was unlucky to lose by one hole.

Fellow Scots James Byrne and Michael Stewart join Paul Cutler of Portstewart and five of England?s team that finished runner-up to Denmark in the European Boys Team Championship.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD MAGUIRE TO TAKE ON VAGLIANO TROPHY PLAYERS

The Ladies? Golf Union has named 12-year-old Irish girl Lisa Maguire as part of a squad of eight juniors to compete against a selection of players who took part in the recent Vagliano trophy match at St Andrews.

Maguire joins a squad that includes Henrietta Brockway and Kelly Tidy, the two finalists in the Girls? British Open Championship, and 18-year-old Ellie Givens from Country Durham, the winner of the English Girls? title at Old Ford Manor.

Scotland are represented by Carly Booth, Pamela Pretswell, Megan Briggs and Sally Watson, 16, who recently played all four rounds of the Ricoh Womens? Open.

The Vagliano squad includes first reserve Florentyna Parker and fourth reserve Michelle Thomson after two of the original squad were unavailable for selection.

The teams will go head-to-head at North Berwick from the October 12-14.

WORLD HICKORY OPEN SET FOR STRONG PROFESSIONAL FIELD

The second PGA-supported World Hickory Open Championship is expected to draw as many as 70 professionals at the Craigielaw links in East Lothian on September 27 and 28.

The prize fund of £17,500 will ensure a strong professional attendance, alongside amateur teams from across Europe.

Last year?s winner, Zach Saltman, will return after achieving an outstanding four-under-par 67 with just five hickory-shafted clubs in 2006. Competitors this year will be permitted to use six hickory clubs.

Saltman is likely to be joined by brothers Elliot, who turned pro earlier this year, and Lloyd, who has just competed in his second Walker Cup.

IGTM PREPARES FOR 10TH SHOW

International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), the networking and business forum for golf tourism, is celebrating its 10th anniversary by returning to the Americas in 2007.

The first exhibition took place in Fort Lauderdale in 1998, hosting 131 exhibitors from 16 countries. This year?s show is expected to draw over 400 exhibitors from 35 countries to Mexico, the host nation of IGTM 2007.

CAROLINA SHIELD CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY

The Carolina Shield, a Ryder Cup-style event between two clubs on opposing sides of the Atlantic, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

The 12-a-side mixed team event contested between Dartmouth Golf Club of West Bromwich and Chester Golf Club of South Carolina has been regularly contested since 1987.

What started out as a one-round event is now contested over several days and was held for many years over the Brabazon course at The Belfry. It has also been held at a number of spectacular venues in the Blue Ridge Mountains across the pond.

In September this year a team of American golfers will battle it out against their British counterparts on the 6,733-yard Rolls of Monmouth course in Wales. Sandwiches and champagne will be awaiting players alongside the 18th green in homage to Sam Ryder who provided the same at the inaugural Ryder Cup match.