Turkey to stage world amateur team
championships in September 2012

It was apparently announced in Adelaide on October 18 but it has taken a little time for the news to filter back to Scotland:
Antalya, Turkey has been selected as the site of the 2012 World Amateur Team Championships, The 25th women's championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy and the 28th men's championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be played in September of 2012.
"It is like a dream," Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu said. "I could not dream of this four years ago. Golf is the fastest growing sport in Turkey and we were very keen to get these championships. This will help promote and grow golf in our country and as the number of golf courses will continue to increase year by year, the number of young players will as well."

Champions of the world! Henrik Stenson (left) and Robert Karlsson of Sweden

Sweden (foursomes round

of 63) catch Spain to win

World Cup - Scots jt 19th

PRESS RELEASE
Dongguan, China: Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson produced a magnificent three-stroke victory for Sweden at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup after shooting a nine-under-par 63 in the final round foursomes today.
Four shots off the lead at the start of the day, the Swedes charged up the leaderboard with a stunning front nine of 31 in the alternate shot format to draw level with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal before racing home for Sweden’s second World Cup triumph, with four more birdies giving them a winning total of 27 under par 261.
The Spaniards settled for second place after a 70 while joint overnight leaders Australia, represented by Brendan Jones and Richard Green, finished equal third with Japan after slipping back with a disastrous 76, 13 shots more than Sweden over the final 18 holes.
Ryuji Imada and Toru Taniguchi were Asia’s best finishers for Japan, a 68 putting them alongside Australia at the conclusion of the US$5.5 million Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Sweden’s only victory in the World Cup was recorded in 1991 through Per-Ulrik Johansson and Anders Forsbrand but Karlsson, ranked sixth in the world, and the 12th ranked Stenson lived up to their top billing at Mission Hills by saving their best for last.
“It means a great deal win for the country,” said Karlsson. “This has always been an event in Sweden that's been big. It’s quite a new country for golf, and to play for your country is great. I just hope this tournament can keep getting better by the years.
“If you look on the trophy, there's many impressive pairings on there. I hope we can look back on it in the future and say the same about us playing here.”
Stenson added: “It’s a great honour to play for your country, and obviously even better when you win. So we have had a fantastic week. Sweden only won it once before in 1991. So it was about time that we changed that and got our name up there again, and I hope we can continue.”
The victory continues an incredible year for Swedish golf and for Karlsson in particular, who a few weeks ago became the first Swede to finish European Tour Number One. He said they knew that a low round in the more challenging foursomes format was always on the cards after Spain produced a 63 on Friday.
“We thought it might be our turn today. We knew we needed to play better than yesterday. It was important for us to pick up a few shots early which we did,” said Karlsson, who was making his third World Cup appearance but partnering Stenson for the first time.
Unlike Friday’s session where Spain produced the day’s best, Jimenez and Larrazabal failed to fire on all cylinders in the final round, turning in 35 before shooting two more birdies against a lone bogey at the closing hole.
Jimenez said: “We didn't hole the putts today, and I missed the fairway on the par-5s where
we needed to make birdies. That's the game. We just didn't make under par and didn't win.”
Larrazabal, the 2008 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in Europe, said: “We didn't play like the first and second rounds, but still it was a good performance and a great tournament for us. But you know, I wanted so badly to go home with the trophy, and I'm a little bit sad now.”
The Australians stayed in the title hunt after making the turn in even par with two birdies against as many bogeys but another dropped shot on the 12th hole left them with an uphill task. Three closing bogeys saw them drop into a share of third place with Japan.
“Just didn't happen for us today,” said Green. “We went out there with all of the right intentions and give it as good of a shot and tried our best and things didn't happen. We didn't have too many opportunities, unfortunately. It was just a bit of a struggle most of the day.”
Imada, who won once on the US PGA Tour this year, holed out from the bunker for an eagle on the 15th hole as Japan enjoyed a strong finish.

“He (Taniguchi) made a birdie putt on 14, and I got a little bit lucky and holed out a bunker shot on 15. We made a good save on 17 and a solid par on 18. It was a great finish. We played really well for foursomes, but I think we let a few get away in the four‑ball,” he said.
Defending champions Scotland finished a very disappointing joint 19th. Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth signed off with a 72 - the second time in four rounds they failed to break par, which is not a high enough standard of play on the World Cup stage.
HOW THEY FINISHED

Par 288 (4 x 72)
261 SWEDEN (Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson) 65-67-66-63 US$1.7 million
264: SPAIN (Miguel Angel Jimenez, Pablo Larrazabal) 64-63-67-70 US$900,000
270: JAPAN (Ryuji Imada, Toru Taniguchi) 66-68-68-68, AUSTRALIA (Richard Green, Brendan Jones) 63-68-63-76 US$429,000
272: GERMANY (Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka) 62-69-68-73 US$230,000
273: ENGLAND (Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher) 69-74-63-67 US$200,000
274: SOUTH AFRICA (Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne) 70-70-67-67, THAILAND (Ayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee) 69-73-64-68 US$155,000
275: UNITED STATES (Ben Curtis, Brandt Snedeker) 64-69-69-73 US$125,000
276: CHILE (Felipe Aguilar, Mark Tullo) 67-76-66-67, FRANCE (Gregory Havret, Gregory Bourdy) 68-75-62-71, PHILIPPINES (Angelo Que, Marciano Pucay) 67-72-65-72 US$96,667
277: PORTUGAL (Tiago Cruz, Ricardo Santos) 67-73-67-70, CANADA (Graham Delaet, Wes Heffernan) 64-71-69-73, DENMARK (Soren Hansen, Anders Hansen) 65-75-64-73 US$70,333
278: IRELAND (Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley) 65-68-68-77 US$64,000
280: INDIA (Jeev Mikha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa) 67-72-70-71, CHINA (Liang Wen-chong, Zhang Lian-wei) 69-75-64-72 US$61,000
281: SCOTLAND (Alastair Forsyth, Colin Montgomerie) 68-73-68-72, ITALY (Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari) 70-73-64-74 US$57,000
282: FINLAND (Roope Kakko, Mikko Korhonen) 69-70-68-75 US$54,000
283: GUATEMALA (Pablo Acuna, Alejandro Villavicencio) 69-76-66-72, NEW ZEALAND (Mark Brown, David Smail) 65-75-68-75 US$51,000
284: CHINESE TAIPEI (Lin Wen-tang, Lu Wen-teh) 68-75-69-72 US$48,000
285: WALES (Bradley Dredge, Richard Johnson) 69-77-68-71 US$46,000
287: SOUTH KOREA (Bae Sang-moon, Kim Hyung-tae) 68-70-71-78 US$44,000
288: MEXICO (Daniel De Leon, Osca Serna) 66-77-71-74 US$42,000
294: VENEZUELA (Miguel Martinez, Raul Sanz) 71-74-75-74 US$40,000

Note: Better-ball format used in first and third rounds, Foursomes in second and final rounds.

Michael Sim fades with a 77 in final Melbourne round

Pampling beats Fraser in play-off
for Australian Masters title

Rod Pampling has won the Australian Masters after edging out Marcus Fraser at the third play-off hole at Huntingdale Golf Club, Melbourne after the two Australians finished locked at the top of the final round leaderboard on 12 under par 276
Victorian Fraser carded a brilliant final round seven under par 65, which included just one bogey, while Pampling signed for a fourth round 65 despite having birdie chances at his last three holes which would have sealed the win.
With Fraser, 30, sat on the practice range, Queensland's Pampling had three opportunities to claim the victory in regulation but after missing a chance at the 16th, pushed a six foot birdie putt right of the hole at the 17th.
At the last 39 year old Pampling took his time to line up a 25 foot Championship putt, but again missed his chance as the ball drifted left of the hole. Both players missed long birdie chances on the first trip down the 18th, which saw just one fourth round birdie in regulation, before Fraser found rough off the tee and sand with his second on the return trip down the 18th.
Pampling found the middle of the fairway but his approach failed to clear a bank at the front of the green and rolled back onto the fringes.
After Fraser chipped to the back of the green, Pampling put the pressure on his opponent after getting to within a foot, but Fraser converted from ten feet to ensure a third play-off hole.
Fraser again missed the green into the 18th and after putting past the hole up a steep hill at the back of the green, missed a par putt and was forced to settle for a bogey to open the door for Pampling.
And he did not turn down the opportunity as he claimed his first Australian Masters green jacket with a simple three foot par putt to claim his first victory on The European Tour.
Joint overnight leader Robert Allenby, a two time champion, was in contention heading into the final holes at 11 under, but was forced to rescue a double bogey 5 at the 15th as he holed a 20 foot putt after chipping out of a greenside bunker and finished alone in third at nine under 279 after a 73.
South Africa’s Tim Clark (67), Australia’s Nathan Green (70) and Sweden’s Alexander Noren (68) finished tied for fourth at eight under 280.
Australia’s David McKenzie (68) finished seventh at seven under, while joint overnight leader Aberdeen-born Michael Sim, joint leader with 18 holes to go, finished seven shots off the pace following a 77, a total of 283 earning him 14,486 Euros, compared with the winner's 140,193.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
Players from Australia unless stated
276 R Pampling 71 68 70 67, M Fraser 73 67 71 65 (Pampling won sudden death play-off at third extra hole).
279 R Allenby 73 66 67 73.
280 T Clark (SAf) 67 70 76 67, N Green 72 68 70 70, A Noren (Swe) 73 71 66 68.
281 D McKenzie 72 70 71 68.
Selected score:
283 M Sim (Sco) 72 66 68 77 (jt 11th).

Aussie Masters on the move from Huntingdale

Pampling’s win brought down the curtain on 30 years of fine golf at Huntingdale. The Australian Masters, first played in 1979 and won by New Zealander Barry Vivian, will be moved to a new venue next year. It was a sad day for Eric Parton, captain of the club in 1979, and the hundreds of volunteers who helped stage it.
“We are disappointed,” Parton said. “It was the idea of David Ingles (the tournament’s founder who died in 2003) to copy the US Masters and leave it here at Huntingdale. When he first came up with the idea, I said to the committee that if this works, we can probably see the best golfers in the world play here. It costs the members nothing and the club makes some money out of it.”
Organisers have said they plan to rotate the Australian Masters around the Sand Belt courses in Melbourne and have not ruled out a return to Huntingdale at a later date. According to rumour, the 2009 Aussie Masters will be at Kingston Heath, the venue of seven Australian Opens since 1948. It was also the venue of this year’s Women’Australian Open.
Kingston Heath celebrates its centenary in 2009 and construction of the new clubhouse is scheduled for completion in October.

Scots lose ground as rain

reduces Argentina

tournament to 54 holes

Peterhead's Philip McLean was the best placed Scot in joint 31st place in a field of over 100 after the rain-delayed second round of the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup international men's amateur golf tournament was completed on Saturday at Los Lagartos Golf Club in Argentina.
No play was possible on Friday due to flooding of the course. The tournament has been cut from 72 holes to three rounds.
McLean. pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has had rounds of 76 and 73 for a seven-over-par tally of 149 over the par-71 course near Buenos Aires.
One under par 35 to the turn in his second round after a birdie at the short seventh, McLean bogeyed the 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th and had only one birdie to compensate on the inward half, at the 13th.
Scott Borrowman (Dollar) lost his top-five position by slumping from a 71 to a 79 for 150 and a share of 37th place.
Borrowman began with a double bogey 6 and also bogeyed the second, fourth, eighth and ninth in taking 42 shots (six over par) to the turn. After the turn, the former Scottish youth champion birdied the 15th but bogeyed the 14th, 16th and 17th.
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) is sharing 48th place on 153 with scores of 74 and 79. Paterson did not have birdie in halves of 39 (three over par) and 40 (five over). His inward half included back-to-back double bogey 6s at the 13th and 14th.
Scottish boys' stroke-play champion Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), the fourth Scot sent by the Scottish Golf Union on a two-tournament trip to South America, withdrew before the first round.
Armando Zarlenga (Argentina) leads the field on three-under-par 139 (72-67) from England's Matthew Haines (70-71), the Lytham Trophy winner from Kent.
England's other representative, Luke Goddard from Middlesex, has scorted 74 and 73 for 147.
Scotland, with Paterson and Borrowman's scores counting, plummeted from joint third at the end of 18 holes to 13th of 14 in the international team event after two rounds with a total of 303 - 17 shots behind pacemakers Argentina, leaders by two from England.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
139 A Zarlenga (Arg) 72 67.
141 M Haines (Eng) 70 71.
142 J Fernandez (Arg) 71 71.
143 F Grillo 71 72 (Arg), B Smith (Aus) 74 69.
144 A Rodriguez (Arg) 77 67, T Cocha (Arg) 74 74, A Arizabaleta (Arg) 71 73, D Bertasio (Arg) 75 69, F De Vries (Hol) 72 72, S Prado (Arg) 73 71.
Selected scores:
146 M Arrayas (Spa) 72 74, C Hickman (US) 72 74.
147 L Goddard (Eng) 74 73, R Saxton (Hol) 73 74, J Sarasti (Spa) 72 75.
149 P McLean (Sco) 76 73, M Gauert (Ger) 76 73 (jt 31st).
150 S Borrowman (Sco) 71 79 (jt 37th).
151 A Knappe (Ger) 76 75.
153 N Quintarelli (Ita) 78 75, G Paterson (Sco) 74 79 (jt 48th).
155 H Satama (Fin) 74 81.
156 A McCabe (US) 77 79.
Team event
286 Argentina. 288 England. 289 Australia. 291 Holland, South Africa. 293 Spain. 297 Italy, 298 Colombia. 300 Germany. 301 Uruguay, Finland. 302 United States. 303 Scotland. 307 Peru.