8am Round-Up: Ross Kellett hires Davy Kenny for Q School final

Davy Kenny, pictured with boss Paul Lawrie, will be on Ross Kellett's bag at the European Tour Qualifying School in Girona. Picture:; Jane Barlow

Davy Kenny, who has been Lawrie’s trusty bag man for the past few years, will be on the Motherwell man’s bag at PGA Catalunya for the second year in a row.

“Davy will be caddying again for me this year,” said Kellett, one of five Scots to come through the second stage in Spain earlier this week.

“I can draw on his experience of many years caddying at the top level.”

Since finishing 113th last year, Kellett, who is attached to the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, has enjoyed his best season on the Challenge Tour, just missing out on a place in last week’s Grand Final in Oman.

“I’m looking forward to Catalunya and can hopefully draw on my experiences from last year,” he added.

Craig Lee and Scott Henry have been confirmed in the line-up, taking the Scottish contingent up to seven.

***

Scottish No 1 Russell Knox is hoping to make lots of birdies in this week’s OHL Classic in Mexico as each one will raise money for Jacksonville’s Child Cancer Fund.

The Florida-based player is donating $250 for each birdie he makes in the event, as well as $500 for each eagle and $1,000 for a hole in one.

Knox, who finished runner-up to Graeme McDowell in the PGA Tour event last year, said:

“I was introduced to the Child Cancer Fund two years ago while playing in a charity event to support their cause.

“I have since fallen in love with their mission, and, frankly, the kids I have met through being involved.

“These kids and their families are heroes, and I know that every nickel counts for them. I am just one of many people doing my part to support them.”

***

David Drysdale, one of the last players into the field, will be in the first group out in the opening round of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City tomorrow.

Drysdale, who secured his berth in the line-up by finishing joint-13th in the Turkish Airlines Open in Belek, gets the second Final Series event underway in the company of Marcel Siem and Ricardo Gouevia.

Richie Ramsay, sitting 69th in the Race to Dubai, is out with Matteo Manassero and Chris Paisley while 65th-placed Marc Warren has Robert Rock and Adrian Otaegui in his group.

***

The PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans will switch to a two-man team format in 2017, according to the Golf Channel.

Set to US circuit’s first team event in nearly 40 years, it will feature 80 teams of two, with both members of the winning team will receive the two-year Tour exemption.

The top 80 qualifiers will be allowed to choose their own team-mates, with the caveat that their partner must have at least some US PGA Tour status this season. If not, the selection will require the use of a sponsor’s invitation.

***

Defending champion and Olympic bronze medallist Shanshan Feng returns to one of her happiest hunting grounds when she tees it up at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club early next month.

The Chinese player won the title for a record third time last year when a final-round six-under par 66 gave her a tournament tally of 21-under par 267, matching her own record of lowest 72-hole total set in 2012.

Her 12-shot winning margin was exactly double of the previous record set by the legendary Annika Sorenstam in the inaugural edition in 2006.

Gullane’s 27-match unbeaten run in the East Lothian Winter League has been ended by North Berwick.

Making home advantage count, North Berwick beat the defending champions 3-2 to sit alongside Royal Musselburgh at the top of Division 1.

It was the first time since November 2014 that Gullane had tasted defeat.