The 2015 Bill Marriott Club Championships was played on Saturday over both the East and West Courses.

Danny Smith was clubhouse leader after the morning round with a level par score 71 one shot ahead of an in form Liam Burns. The pair battled it out in the afternoon and was joined in the hunt for the title by Tom Beaumont who carded an impressive second score of -2 (67).

Liam however secured the title of Club Champion and his place at this years Trophy Dinner Presentation with his own two under par round 67 finishing one under for the tournament and 3 shots ahead of second place. Tom Beaumont's second round saw him take second place from Danny Smith on countback.

Euan Butler saw off first round leader (nett) John Reeves to take the Lightfoot (Handicap) Trophy with a total nett score of 137 (69 - 68). 



On Sunday it was the turn of the ladies to battle it out for their club championship. 

Ainee O'Connor started strong with a gross 76 (+4) around the East Course just one shot clear of Sophie Bargeron and Rachel Martin on 77 (+5). After the second round on the West Course, Sophie came out on top, taking the title of Lady Club Champion with her second round 74 (+3) giving her a total of 151 (+8) 2 shots clear of second place Rachel Martin 153 (+10).

After the morning 18 holes, Sophie, Rachel, Ingrid & Lady Captain Bassey were in a 4 way tie for the Todd Salver (Handicap) with nett scores of 73 (+1).

Sophie and Bassey both carded a second round nett 70 (-1) putting them tied for the title on a total nett 143 (level). Sophie's score proved the better giving her a second title of Handicap Club Champion. 

The Silver Handicap prize, for the best 18 holes in the Silver Division, went to Chris Frost, winning on countback with a nett score of 74 (+2) and in the Bronze Cowie/Speed Trophy the winning prize went to Julia Wright with a Nett 75 (+3).



The Poulter Trophy (Seniors) was contended for by the over 60's, Christine Edgar won with a nett score of 72.



Alfie Plant has been making the headlines nationally while playing at the Amatuer Championship at Panmure. In the first round the 22-year-old got off to a great start birdieing his first two holes before watching his seven iron approach to the 405 yard par four 3rd hole, find the bottom of the cup. Remarkably, Plant repeated the feat on the 436 yard, par four 10th where his six iron approach also found the hole.

The Sundridge Park and England national squad golfer also birdied the 7th and 9th holes with his only dropped shot coming at the 6th to shave two shots off the previous course record of 65 held by several players.

"It was a bit mental at the start. I birdied the first two and holed out on three for eagle, had a couple of birdies after that and then holed out on ten for eagle again," he said. "To see them drop was a good feeling. One went in and it was nice but to see the second one go in was a bit bizarre but I will take it.

"I'm really pleased. It's my first course record and my personal best round as well so it's been a really good day. Obviously you see it a lot out here, people go low in the first round and find it hard to back it up in the second round. Hopefully I can do the same again tomorrow or, if not, just be nice and steady and get into the match play round." 

Well he did and qualified in 20th place for the Matchplay stages starting today (Wednesday). Follow his progress by clicking here. 



The best players in the world are in Washington State this week for the year's second Major Championship. Martin Kaymer will defend the US Open at Chambers Bay Golf Club. 

This looks set to be one of the most challenging US Opens in the long history of the great event. Under the tenure of Executive Director Mike Davis, the USGA has been progressive in its approach to their flagship tournament, with a clear aim of challenging the world's top professionals to their limits. 

There may be those who have grumbled, and will continue to grumble about the severity of the course at Chambers Bay but it will present the same examination to all 156 players in the field and, by the close of the tournament, the track will identify the most resilient and imaginative golfer in the field.

The Robert Trent Jones Jnr layout can be stretched to beyond 7,900 yards and, although it's unlikely to be extended to its full length, the USGA has significant scope for altering the playing characteristics of certain holes during the course of the event by moving tees. Perhaps the most obvious example of this comes with the opening and closing holes. Both the 1st and the 18th can be played as either par-4s or par-5s. They're set to alternate both to keep the overall par at 70.

The players will have to display a mixture of power, ball-striking, scrambling and strategy to successfully negotiate this eight-year-old, links-style course. So, basically, it should be a fine all-round test, and that's what you would expect from the year's most demanding tournament.

Martin Kaymer won this tournament last year at the Pinehurst Resort. The German claimed his second Major title with a dominant display. He led from the first round and finished eight shots clear of Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler. Only those three men managed to break par. This time out, anyone who breaks par for the week is likely to be lofting the trophy.

Kaymer will be looking to become the first player to defend the title since Curtis Strange in 1989. But the German doesn't come into this year's event on the best recent form, having missed the cut in the Irish Open. Another past champion who missed the cut in that tournament is 2011 US Open winner Rory McIlroy. He missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth then again in Ireland. But the World Number 1 isn't overly concerned in the dip in his form.

"Personally, I didn't really look much into what happened in those last two events," McIlroy said. "I'm just concentrating on what I really need to do well. I think I can put the last two tournaments down to a little bit of fatigue."

Masters champion Jordan Spieth carries more form into this event. The FedEx Cup leader was tied second at Colonial then tied third in the Memorial Tournament. He is in confident mood ahead of the tournament.

"I have a chance to make history," he said. "You can't win a Grand Slam unless you win the first, so I'm the only person with a chance to do that this year."

Looking to complete the career Grand Slam, Phil Mickelson will hope to draw on an excellent final round at last week's FedEx St. Jude Classic. The five-time Major champion has been runner-up in the US Open on six occasions and desires nothing more in his pro career to go one better this time out.

Three-time US Open champion and current World Number 195 Tiger Woods will not start among the favourites. He's struggled with his game this year and, although he showed a glimmer of form at The Masters, things have gone downhill once again. In his last start at the Memorial Tournament, he fired a third round 85 - his worst ever score as a professional. Europe and the British Isles will be well represented at Chambers Bay. In fact, there are 22 players from the UK and Ireland competing this week. 

The weather in the Pacific Northwest should be relatively kind this week. Rain looks unlikely and temperatures look set to be mild but not hot. The course looks like being dry which will add to the linksy feel, and to the challenge.

Venue: Chambers Bay GC, Chambers Bay, Washington, USA 
Date: Jun 18-21 
Course stats: par 70, 7,906 yards 
Purse: $9,000,000 - Winner: $1,620,000 
Defending Champion: Martin Kaymer (-9)
TV Coverage: 
Thursday, 18 June - Sky Sports 4 from 5pm 
Friday, 19 June - Sky Sports 4 from 5pm 
Saturday, 20 June - Sky Sports 4 from 7pm 
Sunday, 21 June - Sky Sports 4 from 7pm 

Player watch: 

Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth will start as favourites. Who might challenge them this week? 

Hideki Matsuyama - The Japanese player is one of the best ball-strikers on tour and this course will reward that aspect of the game. He's showed he can mix it at the very top level and could well become the first Japanese player to win a Major. 

Bubba Watson - Hasn't played much recently, but he's a man for the big occasion. This is a course that demands creativity and Bubba has that in spades. 

Brooks Koepka - The powerful youngster was tied third in the St. Jude Classic and has the type of game that could thrive at Chambers Bay. 

Billy Horschel - On a great run of form with four straight top-20 finishes. He was tied 8th last week and will look to build on that. 

Tommy Fleetwood - Very much an outsider, but with odds of 150-1 the Englishman could be worth an each way bet. 

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