Dawson & Sanderson Classic

09-Jun - 11-Jun-2010

Longhirst Hall Golf Club - Lakes Course

Brian McElhinney is in a tie for 27th as he prepares for the final round of his latest venture in the Europro Tour held at the Longhirst Hall Golf Club.

Brian followed up his opening round of 75 with a second round of 74 to put him in with a good chance of another high finish in the highly competitive Europro Tour. Nick McCarthy of Moortown leads on -1. 

The Europro Tour moves back across the water this week after a successful Tournament at Castle Dargan in Co.Sligo. It was a boost for the North West's two Touring Professional's, Brian McElhinney & Michael McGeady who finished T7 & T39 respectively. Brendan McCarroll can take a lot of positives out his week also, finishing in T21.

This Weeks Tournament is at Longhirst Hall G.C,Lakes,Northumberland Jun 9 - Jun 11  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian & Michael pictured on the 11th green at Lisfannon, May 2010

The Motocaddy Masters 2010

27-Apr - 29-Apr-2010

Wensum Valley Hotel Golf & Country Club - Wensum Course

 

 

Brian McElhinney carded a final round 73 to add to his earlier rounds of 74 & 71 to finish on 218 (+2) and in a tie for 27th on his first outing on the Europro Tour for 2010. Clubmate, Michael McGeady failed to make the cut while Brendan McCarroll finished in 55th. 

Brian McElhinney competed as an Amateur in the U.S Masters in 2006 joining a select few who have had the privilege of doing so. 

Here he speaks about that occasion and his memories of the event.

.........................................................................

Brian & his caddie for the week, James O'Donnell. Standing at the bottom of Magnolia Lane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  .......................................................................................

•  What was your first Masters memory?...

Brian.In 1996 where Nick Faldo came from six behind Greg Norman going into the last round to win.

  

•  When you qualified to play in the 2006 Masters you were the reigning British & European Amateur champion, Did holding these prestigious titles inspire a little confidence in you as you made the drive up Magnolia Lane for the first time?..

Brian. To be honest I think driving up Magnolia Lane added both nerves and excitement to what I was about to experience. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get the opportunity to play at Augusta in The Masters. So I suppose you had to take a lot of confidence from it.

 

• Did you practice any specific type of shot before you went there?..

Brian. Not particularly, I was told playing out of green side bunkers would be very demanding and did a lot of work on that.

 

•  A host of famous names have stayed in the Crow's Nest (Any Amateur who makes the field can stay in the Crow's Nest, a 30 X 40 ft room at the top of the clubhouse) Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Tiger Woods to name a few. Did you stay there during Masters week and if so, what memories do you have of it?..
•  

  Brian.Yes I stayed there for one night. The crows nest can sleep up to five with partitions and dividers that create four cubicles, three with one bed and one with two beds. It had one bathroom. The sitting area had a games table sofa and chairs, telephone and television. To get to the crows nest you had to climb a narrow set of steps.

 

•  You played with quite a few established names during practice and the actual tournament itself (Montgomerie, Harrington, McGinley, and Mediate,) did you get any pointers or advice from them?..
• Brian. 

  Yes they were all quite helpful, the one thing they all said was that is was Important to try and enjoy the experience as much as possible.

• ...........................................

  Brian & James pictured with Jim Furyk & Rocco Mediate.

• 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

............................................................................

 

•  What is your favourite hole on the course? And your least favourite?..

 

Brian.Favourite would have been the 16^th, there always seemed to be a great atmosphere around it, and the fact I had a birdie and a par helped.

Toughest hole on the course I felt was the 11^th, The tee shot was tough with a narrow fairway, and the 2^nd shot was so difficult because of water left a bunker on the right and trying to get the wind direction was never easy. Most players end up short right and take their chances getting up and down.

•  
  •  Were you surprised at how hilly the course really is compared to what we see on T.V?

 

Brian. Yes a little, I had learned a lot from people that I was speaking to that had already been there, that it would be much hillier than I was probably going to expect.

 

• Have you kept the invite from the Board of Governors of the Augusta National Golf Club, inviting you to participate in that years tournament?..
• Brian.Yes I have. Its put away somewhere safe
• ..........................................

Brian & James pictured with Padraig Harrington & Paul McGinley

 

 

• .....................................
• You defeated Edoardo Molinari by 3&2 in the Georgia Cup held at the nearby Golf Club of Georgia the week before the Masters, is it true that you were given your own locker there at the club?..

Brian. Yes that is true, As British and US amateur champions we got lifetime honorary membership and our own locker for using when we come back to play there.

 

• Your favourite memory from Masters week 2006?

Brian. When Gary Player approached me on the putting green and introduced himself and congratulated me on winning the British amateur.

 

 

•  You were once quoted as saying that you "admire Ernie Els for his swing and Tiger Woods for his mentality". how do you rate their chances of winning this year?

Brian. Well Ernie is playing great at the minute with two wins already this year so you would think he is in with a great chance if he keeps up this sort of form. But I think this will be very difficult to do.

        With Tiger only back its hard to predict how he will do, but you get the feeling that his game wont be too far away, and if he putts as well as he can will still be the man to beat.

 

 

•  If you could advise anyone on playing the Augusta course for the first time, what would that advice be?..

Brian. Patience and good course management are very Important, keeping the ball below the pin when possible and when in trouble take your punishment and move on.

 

 

• What was your thoughts playing the holes at Amen Corner the first time (holes 11,12 & 13)?..

Brian.Amen corner was always a part of the course where so much could happen, with water close to the greens and where the wind always seemed to swirl more so than the rest of the course, this made clubbing and decision making very difficult.

.........................................................................

Brian pictured with Tom Watson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Who will be wearing the Green Jacket this year?..

Brian. I think Harrington has been showing a little bit of form without doing too much so I will go for him.

 

• After your great start to the year (Brian has already two top 6 finishes on the EPD Tour), do you feel stronger in any area of your game?..

Brian. I feel that my all round game has improved a little, mainly driving and I feel Im getting more out of my round even when I am not playing at my best.

 

 

•  Finally, where would you rate Augusta amongst the other famous courses you've played over the years?..

Brian. Its definitely one of the best, It's a great test of golf, with probably the best and most difficult greens you could putt on

.......................................................

Brian escapes from the famous 12th bunker in practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*All photographs used with this article are used with kind permission of James O'Donnell and Vincent Grant Jnr