Record Breaking Pickard Wins Scottish Faldo Series

Richard Pickard won the sixth Faldo Series UK Championship of 2011 with a record-breaking total at The Roxburghe Golf and Country Club in Scotland.  The 20-year-old was inspired by a putting tip picked up over the television from Sir Nick Faldo.
 
England’s Pickard (The Mere) posted two rounds of 68 for a total of 136, a Faldo Series record since the 36-hole format was introduced in 2009.  Pickard had to come from one shot back on the final day after Adam Dunton (McDonald) equalled his own course record of 67 in round one, a record which he had held since a Series event in 2007.
 
“I’m in complete shock, this is just incredible,” said an ecstatic Pickard, who qualifies for the 15th Faldo Series Europe Grand Final, hosted by six-time Major Champion Nick Faldo at Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland on September 12-14.  “Over every putt this week, all I was thinking was ‘right hand back, left hand forward’.  I heard Sir Nick talk about this during his commentary of the 2011 Masters and it is a thought that has really helped improve my putting stroke.”
 
In the Boys’ Under-18 division, Patrick Horsting from Royal St George’s booked his place in the final after he birdied the first extra hole in a three-way play off with Jordan Milne (Elgin) and Craig Howie (Peebles).
 
Three other age-group winners heading to the World Amateur Golf Ranking event at Lough Erne are Euan Walker from Kilmarnock Barassie (Boys’ Under-16); Jordana Graham from Southerness (Girls’ Under-21); and, for the second year in a row, Lesley Atkins from Gullane Ladies (Girls’ Under-16).
 
Established in 1996, 35 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 25 countries worldwide with over 5,000 golfers participating each year.  Former winners include Rory McIlroy, Nick Dougherty, Marc Warren, John Parry, Melissa Reid, Florentyna Parker and Yani Tseng, all winners on Tour.
 
Supported by The R&A, the European Tour and Lough Erne Resort, the 2011 Faldo Series Europe schedule features a record 18 tournaments in 11 different countries including seven in England plus others in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Czech Republic, Russia, Greece, The Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and Slovakia.
 
Leading final scores:
Boys’ Under-21: 136 – Richard Pickard (The Mere) 68-68; 137 – Adam Dunton (McDonald) 67-70; 143 – Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire County) 70-73.  Boys’ Under-18: 142 – Patrick Horsting (Royal St Georges) 70-72, Jordan Milne (Elgin) 70-72, Craig Howie (Peebles) 71-71.  Boys’ Under-16: 144 – Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71-73; 149 – Ben Craggs (Glenbervie) 72-77; 151 – Callum Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) 75-76.  Girls’ Under-21: 149 – Jordana Graham (Southerness) 74-75; 151 – Rachael McQueen (Troon Ladies) 73-78; 152 – Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 74-78.  Girls’ Under-16: 149 – Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) 73-76; 152 – Clara Young (North Berwick) 78-74; 155 – Nicola Robertson (Dunblane New) 80-75.