| Sponsors & Partners World Final 2008 |
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| Global News | |||||
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| Duo Hope Pairs Pedigree Leads To World Final Glory |
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DUO HOPE PAIRS PEDIGREE LEADS TO WORLD FINAL GLORY Scottish duo John Maxwell and Stephen Brown are hoping their proven pedigree in the International Pairs will carry them to glory when they take on the rest of the world in the competition’s world final at St Andrews next month. (September) Maxwell and Brown, from Bonnybridge Golf Club, Falkirk, will line up against competitors from 29 other countries as Scottish champions at The Duke’s Course from September 21-23 after winning the national title at Carnoustie last October. The pair, who have handicaps of three and four, produced a breathtaking Stableford round of 45 points, including six birdies, to storm through the field on the second day of the 2007 International Pairs UK Final and qualify for the world final. And, after warming up for next month’s final by winning Bonnybridge’s club qualifier for the second successive year to qualify again for October’s International Pairs UK semi-finals, Maxwell is hoping they‘ve hit form at the right time in the world‘s biggest competition of its kind for club golfers in the world. “We gelled perfectly in the competition last year when we birdied the first three holes and kept our bad holes separate,” said Maxwell, a former course record holder at Bonnybridge. “We were aggressive at the right times, gave ourselves chances of birdies and hopefully we can do the same thing next month as the competition has been very good to us so far, me especially. “It’s a real privilege to be representing your country in a world final and, whatever happens, we won’t be lacking in support. The boys at the club are going to come up with us for the full three days and we’re going to have a wee fan club.” Maxwell and Brown will be joined by six other pairs from the UK as they battle for the chance to succeed Scarborough South Cliff duo Shaun Smith and Simon Deaves as world champions after they beat ex-Scotland’s Richard Oliver and Justin Aitchison in a sudden death play-off. Deen (correct) Graves and Martyn Ashcroft, from Dawlish Warren Golf Club near Exeter, will lead the challenge after winning the 2007 UK Final at Carnoustie last year and they will be joined at The Duke’s by Elliott Briggs and Tom Woods, the English champions from Howley Hall GC, Leeds. Father-and-son Bryan and Aled Williams, who play at Cottrell Park, Cardiff, will be represent Wales as Welsh champions and the UK line-up will be completed by Andrew Richardson and Mike Greener, from Woodham GC, near Durham, Market Rasen duo Roy Knowles and David Steel and Jim Callaghan and Mark Gregory, from Dunscar GC, Bolton. Graves and Ashcroft made history last year when they followed up their success in the International Pairs 2001 UK Finals by winning the title for a second time and they are hopeful their good run in the competition - the largest of its kind for club golfers in the world - can continue. Ashcroft, a property developer in Torquay, said: “We haven’t had the chance to play that much this year because work has been quite difficult but we have set aside the whole of September to practice. “We’re both really excited about it and it would be great to bring the world title back to Torquay.” The 2008 world final, the fifth in International Pairs’ history, promises to be the most spectacular yet with competitors from countries including America, South Africa, Malaysia, Iceland, Ireland and Nigeria taking part. The players will march through the historic streets of St Andrews accompanied by the St Andrews Pipe Band and schoolchildren from across Fife as part of a glittering opening ceremony, before the action switches to The Duke’s for a 36-hole fourball betterball Stableford competition - which will be screened to a worldwide television audience of tens of millions of people. And the event, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2008 and has been backed by Visit Scotland for the last six years, is poised to get even bigger as it is set to expand into 52 countries. Australia, Sweden, Russia and the Caribbean have all joined International Pairs this year while it has also signed agreements with the English Golf Union and International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) in the last 12 months. Ross Honey, founder and chairman of International Pairs, said: “This year is a notable landmark for International Pairs and it seems fitting that the world final will be staged in Scotland at the Home of Golf. “Scotland has played a pivotal role in the development of the competition and I really believe we haven’t scratched the surface of what we can achieve. It’s very exciting. “We have been able to establish fantastic international partners all over the world. And I think with the people and global family we have created we can build an amazing means of moving forward.” To enter the International Pairs and to register a club, please call 01489 878509, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Alternatively, visit the Pairs’ website at www.internationalpairs.com. |
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