Thursday, December 04, 2008


Borrowman and McLean two Scots in

last 32 in Argentina match-play

Leading qualifier Scott Borrowman (Dollar) had an impressive 8 and 7 win in the first round of the match-play stages of the Argentina men's amateur golf championship at Nordelta Golf Club, Buenos Aires today.
His opponent was the 63rd qualifier, Gabriel Ramella (Argentina).
Borrowman will now play Niccolo Quintarelli (Italy), the No 34 qualifier.
In an all-Scottish tie, Philip McLean from Peterhead won by one hole over Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), the Scottish boys' stroke-play title-holder.
McLean's next opponent will be Moises Cobo (Spain), the No 11 qualifier. McLean qualified in 22nd position.
The Scottish challenge was reduced to two players in the last 32 when Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) lost a marathon struggle against Henri Satama (Finland). Paterson lost at the 21st hole.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Selected
(1) Pablo Lozado (Arg) (defending champion) bt (64) Alejandro Cho (Arg) 2 and 1.
(25) Henri Satama (Fin) bt (40) Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) at 21st.
(13) Floris De Vries (Hol) bt (52) Manuel Maglione (Arg) 3 and 1.
(5) Reinier Saxton (Hol) bt (60) Ezequiel Young (Arg) 1 hole.
(2) Scott Borrowman (Sco) bt (63) Gabriel Ramella (Arg) 8 and 7.
(18) Matthew Haines (Eng) bt (47) Julio Merlini (Arg) 5 and 3.
(14) Luke Goddard (Eng) bt (51) Julian Clarke 2 and 1.
(22) Philip McLean (Sco) bt (43) Mark Bookless (Sco) 1 hole.
+Numbers in front of players' names indicates their qualifying position.

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Henrik Stenson surges five shots clear in Nedbank Challenge in South Africa

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Sweden's Henrik Stenson picked up five shots over the back nine at the Gary Player Country Club to surge to an impressive five-stroke lead in the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, Johannesburg, South Africa today.
The big-hitting Swede, pictured left, blended accurate tee shots with precision putting for a nine-under 63 to tie the course record set by Ernie Els in the final round of the 2002 event. He leads by five from South African Rory Sabbatini, who posted a flawless 68, and is seven shots clear of England's Lee Westwood, alone in third with an opening 70.
"It was a great day. I've had some good scores here in the past and it's a course I enjoy," said Stenson. The world No. 12 counts a runner-up finish in 2006 and fourth place in 2007 in his previous appearances in this event.
Stenson, who arrived at Sun City on the back of a Swedish triumph with team-mate Robert Karlsson at the World Cup in China, shot from the blocks with three successive birdies and made immediate amends for a bogey at the par-3 seventh with back-to-back birdies to turn in four-under.
But it was on the back nine that the Ryder Cup player really caught fire.
After a birdie at the 10th, Stenson reeled in a birdie-eagle-birdie set from the 13th to 15th holes before completing the last three holes in par.
"I was a little bit tired coming into the tournament, but the birdies came in bunches and I sank a 12-footer on the 13th which started a nice little run for me. I didn't know about the record, but I wish someone had told me because I would definitely have gone one better.
"I only hit driver once today but I had a strong 3-wood. I kept hitting the fairways and played some great iron shots and putted well.
"My game is obviously on and I just need to keep it going tomorrow. It's a strong field and even though I've opened some ground on them, I need to keep my head down tomorrow and stick to business."
Westwood, one of only three players to finish under-par, started with a bogey but finished strong with two birdies in a flawless back nine.
"I started slowly because I had four weeks off since I had my tonsils out and I've only played four times since the Ryder Cup. I felt a little rusty and I wasn't as competitive and sharp as I would have liked.
"I didn't really make any putts today, but I expect I'll get better with each round. I just need to sharpen up on the greens because I let myself down there today."
After a lengthy lay-off due to injury, Luke Donald looks to be on the path to recovery.
The Englishman signed off with an even-par 72 for a share of fourth with Karlsson, South Africa's James Kingston, KJ Choi of Korea, world number two Sergio Garcia of Spain and defending champion Trevor Immelman.
Karlsson, who combined with Stenson for Sweden’s second World Cup victory last week, briefly shared the lead with his team-mate, but a double bogey at the 11th put the brakes on his charge.
Meanwhile, American Kenny Perry shares 10th place with England's Justin Rose after both players carded 73s, while Miquel Angel Jimenez carded a 75.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
63 Henrik Stenson (Swe)
68 Rory Sabbatini (SAf)
70 Lee Westwood (Eng)
72 Robert Karlsson (Swe), Trevor Immelman, James Kingston, Sergio Garcia (Spa), KJ Choi (Kor), Luke Donald (Eng)
73 Kenny Perry (USA), Justin Rose (Eng)
75 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa)



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Bookless and McLean clash in first
round of Argentina match-play

Scottish boys' stroke-play champion Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) is not having the best of luck in South America as a member of the four-strong squad sent by the Scottish Golf Union.
Last week he was forced to withdraw from the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup tournament at Los Lagartos.
This week, Bookless came through the 36-hole stroke-play test to be among the 64 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Argentina men's amateur championship ... only to discover that the luck of the draw had paired him with fellow-traveller Philip McLean from Peterhead in the first round.
Bookles qualified in 43rd position, McLean in 22nd.
Top qualifier Scott Borrowman (Dollar), who had rounds of 71 and 70, is actually placed No 2 in the draw as the traditions of the tournament mean the defending champion, in this case Pablo Lozada (Argentina), does not play in the two qualifying rounds and goes straight into the draw as top seed.
Borrowman, who had birdies at the first, sixth, 13th, 16th and 18th as well as a double bogey 7 at the eighth and a bogey at the 15th in his second round, two-under-par 70, meeds the 63rd qualifier Gabrielle Ramella in the first round of the match-play.
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), the 40th qualifier, meets No 25 qualifier, Henri Satama (Finland).

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Golf job opportunity at Deeside Golf Club


Frank Coutts looking for a
new assistant pro to take
Nick Reid's place

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Deeside Golf Club's Director of Golf, Frank Coutts, is looking for a successor to his long-serving assistant Nick Reid who is leaving at the end of January.
"The person I'm looking for can be male or female, a qualified assistant or a trainee or someone who wants to undergo PGA training with me, preferrably a competent golfer with a low handicap," says Frank who was himself a member of the private club on the western outskirts of Aberdeen before he turned professional, having been capped for Scotland and getting to the verge of Walker Cup status.
"I would be looking for him or her to start work with me in early February or by arrangement."
Nick Reid (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) has been Frank's assistant for nine years and became fully PGA qualified in November 2007.
"Nick wants to try playing full-time on the Tartan Tour and he has a sponsor, the John Lawrie Group. He will be hoping to compete in all the SPGA Order of Merit events in 2009 and I am sure he will become a better player with the challenge of playing full time," says Coutts.
"He joined me as a junior member of Newmachar Golf Club in 1999 and was a member of their Junior Pennant League-winning team."
Nick Reid was a winner on the North-east Golfers' Alliance winter circuit last year.
Anyone interested in working with Frank Coutts and would like more details can contact him at Deeside Golf Club (01224 861041).

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Rhys Davies joint fifth after
first day in Vietnam Masters
at Ho Chi Minh City

PRESS RELEASED BY ASIAN TOUR
Japan’s Kodai Ichihara nailed a steady seven-under-par 65 for a narrow one stroke lead in the opening round at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters on Thursday.
Ichihara, who was the 1999 World Junior champion, blasted nine birdies against two bogeys for the sole lead at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club, Ho Chi Minh City.
Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang shot a hole-in-one on the way to a 66 to lie in a tie for second place alongside Australia’s Scott Barr and Korea’s Pyo Suk-min in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee posted a 67 and was in the mix in fifth place together with American Anthony Kang, Young Nam of Korea, India's Digvijay Singh, Filipino Artemio Murakami and Welshman Rhys Davies.
Ichihara, with 12 wins on the mini local circuit, shot his best round on the Asian Tour as a 67 placed him ahead of the field in Ho Chi Minh.
“This is my best score on the Asian Tour. I am really pleased. The last time I led the opening round was at the Philippine Open so this time around, I hope to lead all the way,” said Ichihara, who is ranked 67th on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
“I need to get inside the top-65 to secure my card for next season so with that in mind, it has motivated me to push hard this week. My putting was good and I hope to play equally well tomorrow,” said the 26-year-old Tokyo-based player.
With an accurate shot using an eight iron, Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang recorded a hole-in-one at the par three 13th hole on the way to a 66 in tied second place.
“I told myself that I must at least make the cut. Once I’ve done that, I can focus on a strong result but with a good opening day, I am looking forward to finish well here,” said Wang, with four Asian Tour titles under his belt.
Australia’s Barr regained his confidence this week having posted a solid 66 at the par-72 course.
“I had a poor spell in the last few months so it’s nice to get back on track. I’m feeling confident and hope to keep it steady off the tee which is the key here,” said Barr.
The 23-year-old Pyo will adopt a safe approach after firing a similar score today.
“This is my first Asian Tour event and it’s great. The course condition is good and the standard of the game is very high. I’m surprised to be in such a good position,” admitted Pyo, who turned professional in 2007.
Thongchai was pleased with his opening round performance by firing five birdies on the front nine before a dropped shot and a birdie on the back nine.
"My iron game was really steady today. This is the change I am looking for in my game and it is coming together. I hope to achieve my goal of a win in my next three events so this is a good start.
"I was five under in the first nine holes but the pin positions were quite tricky on the back nine. I kept it in play and I am very pleased," said Thongchai.
Korea’s Young Nam joined Thongchai after a 67 as he is among the players battling to stay in the top-65 on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit for full playing rights next season.
“My score could have been better but I’ll take a 67. I am very pleased with how I played today. I got the momentum going so I hope for a strong finish this week to rise up the ranks,” said Young Nam, who is ranked 81st on the Order of Merit.
Defending champion Chapchai Nirat endured a slow start after a 75 and was in a tie in 90th spot.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72
65 Kodai Ichihara (JPN)
66 Pyo Suk-min (KOR), Wang Ter-chang (TPE), Scott Barr (AUS)
67 Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Artemio Murakami (PHI), Rhys Davies (WAL), Digvijay Singh (IND), Anthony Kang (USA), Young Nam (KOR)
68 Himmat Rai (IND), Taichiro Kiyota (JPN)
69 Pijit Petchkasem (THA), Park Hyo-Won (KOR), Frankie Minoza (PHI), Sattaya Supupramai (THA), Kim Sang-ki (KOR), Gary Simpson (AUS)
70 Andrew Dodt (AUS), J. B. Park (KOR), Jung Ji-ho (KOR), Stephen Scahill (NZL)
71 Chou Hung-nan (TPE), Choi Gwang-soo (KOR), Kim Nam-kang (KOR), Jason King (AUS), Unho Park (AUS), S. Siva Chandhran (MAS), Mark Mouland (WAL), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Scott Taylor (USA), Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Dinesh Chand (FIJ), Chawalit Plaphol (THA), Mars Pucay (PHI), Amandeep Johl (IND)

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Australian PGA Championship Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
Play suspended due to lightning strikes and will be resumed on Friday morning

66 Tim Wilkinson (Nzl)
67 Richard Lee (Nzl), Geoff Ogilvy
68 Peter Nolan
69 Brett Rumford, Mahal Pearce (Nzl), John Senden, Steve Collins, Martin Dive
70 Michael Sim, Aron Price, Scott Strange, Steven Bowditch, Terry Pilkadaris, Peter Lonard
71 Chris Gaunt, Michael Brennan, Michael Lambert, Michael McGrath, Mark Brown (USA), John Daly (USA), Aaron Black, Craig Parry, Steven Conran
72 Rudi Bezuidenhout, Chris Downes, Anthony Summers, Doug Holloway (Nzl), David McKenzie, Nathan Main, Marc Leishman, Adam Le Vesconte, Richard Green, Ashley Hall
73 Scott Laycock, Shiv Kapur (Ind), Darren Beck, Rowan Beste, Nigel Stivala, Ryan Haywood, David Diaz, Brad Lamb, Scott Hend, Ben Bloomfield, Josh Lane
74 Leigh McKechnie, Adam Porker, Tony Carolan, Ben Wharton, Stephen Dartnell, Kurt Barnes, Terry Price, Kim Felton, Andrew Searle
75 Matthew Guyatt, Aaron Pike, Peter Cooke, Adam Wilcox, Matthew Griffin
76 Graydon Woolridge, Julian Reynolds, Michael Hendry (Nzl), Andrew Tschudin, Brenton Fowler, Mark Bryant, Craig Spence, Andre Stolz, John Wade, Jens Nilsson (Swe)
77 Ben Bunny
78 Gavin Beck, Richie Gallichan, Mathew Holten (Nzl)
79 Shane Baxter
80 Josh Carmichael
83 Kris Barkaway
86 Pat Giles, Robin Hodgetts (Rsa)

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Matthew Richardson in top 10 after
first round at US Final Q School

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Major Manning and Craig Kanada ran off birdie strings on different PGA West courses on their way to 7-under 65s and shares of the lead in the first of six rounds at the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School at La Quinta, California yesterday.
Editor's note: England's Matthew Richardson, the only UK player in the field of 163, started well with a round of 67 to be joint 10th at the end of the first day.
Manning, who made it through two stages of Q-School to reach the finals, had five straight birdies in the middle of his round on the TPC Stadium Course, while Kanada started his round with six straight birdies on the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Joey Lamielle, who also began his quest for a card in the first stage, had a 65 on the Nicklaus course.
The 108-hole tournament, one of the most grueling in golf, will end on Monday with the top 25 players and ties earning cards.
The biggest name atop the leaderboard was former PGA champion Mark Brooks, who is at Q-school for the first time in 21 years. Winless since his capturing the 1996 PGA Championship, Brooks opened with a 66 on the Stadium Course.
The group at 67 included Jay Williamson, who reached the third round of the PGA Tour Play-offs for the FedExCup but failed to keep his card. Joe Durant, whose four PGA Tour victories include the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in the desert seven years ago, was among those at 68.
Among former TOUR winners who struggled was Jason Gore, who had two bogeys on his opening three holes and took a 7 on the par-3 eighth on his way to a 75.
Former U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes already earned his card by finishing 25th on the Nationwide Tour money list, but he entered the final stage with hopes of improving his status for the 2009 season. He opened with a 72 and was tied for 104th in the 163-man field.
Manning made eight birdies, including five in a row on holes 9-13, on the Stadium Course.
Kanada began his round on the Nicklaus course with a par at the first hole before reeling off six consecutive birdies on holes 2-7, shooting 5-under 31 on the front nine. Lamielle's round, also on the Nicklaus Course, included six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 11th.
Six players are tied for fourth at 6-under 66. Bryan DeCorso, a Nationwide Tour winner earlier this year, Mark Brooks, the only Major Champion in the field, and Troy Kelly, the only La Quinta resident playing this week, all played the Stadium Course. Jeff Gallagher, Steve LeBrun and Jason Dufner shot 66 on the Nicklaus Course.
Nine players are tied for 10th at 5-under 67, while 17 players are tied for 19th at 4-under 68, making a total of 35 players at 4-under or better. Players tied for 79th or better, at 1-under-par, make up the number nearest to 50 who would earn exempt status on the Nationwide Tour.
The purse for the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament is $1,057,500 with the winner receiving $50,000. Players earning a PGA TOUR card by tying for 25th or better after 108 holes will earn a minimum of $25,000. Players who gain exempt status on the Nationwide Tour by finishing in the next 50 (or number nearest to 50) will earn $5,000.
The final stage saw 163 players (including one amateur -- Scott Fawcett from Dallas, Texas) tee it up after 1,288 players entered the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Six pre-qualifying sites, 12 first-stage sites and six second-stage sites were used to determine the 163 players for the final-stage.
Only six players made it through pre-qualifying, first-stage and second-stage to reach the finals. They are Scott Fawcett, Brad Golden, Patton Kizzire, Martin Piller, Joseph Sykora and Steven Taylor. In 2007, six players also advanced through the pre-qualifying and both stages. In 2006, when pre-qualifying was introduced, only one player advanced to the final stage from the pre-qualifying.
When these venues were used in 2006, George McNeill won with a score of 23 under. Forty players qualified for the PGA TOUR that year (35 and ties were accepted) with a score of 8-under or better. Forty-nine players (the next nearest number to 50) shot 1-over-par or better to earn exempt status on the Nationwide Tour. All remaining players earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.
Superintendent Greg Hrycyk and his staff have removed approximately 20 acres of scrub from the Stadium course during the year. The scrub removal program was instigated to make the Stadium course more playable and assist with the pace of play.
The field this year includes one former Major Champion (Mark Brooks -- 1996 PGA Championship), one former Ryder Cup representative (Chris Riley - 2004), three former Presidents Cup representatives (Carlos Franco -- 1998, 2000, Notah Begay III - 2000, Mark Brooks - 1996) and 20 former PGA TOUR winners, led by Brooks and John Huston with seven victories. Three players who finished in the top 25 on the 2008 Nationwide Tour money list and graduated to the 2009 PGA TOUR are also here this week trying to improve their current status. They are Spencer Levin (22nd), Bryce Molder (23rd) and Ricky Barnes (25th).
It is a truly International field this week. While the majority of the field is composed of Americans, Australia (12), Canada (four), Sweden (two) and South Korea (two) have multiple representatives. The United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Colombia and Norway each have a single representative.
US PGA Tour star Anthony Kim was spotted on site. Kim is a friend of Seung 'Su Han, a fellow Californian and Korean, who has Kim's caddie Eric Larson on the bag for the week. Han contested last year's final stage of PGA TOUR Qualifying School as an amateur but finished well down the list. He turned professional on Wednesday before he teed off in the first round of this year's final stage, shot 73 (1 over) on the Stadium Course and is tied for 125th.
Scoring average for Wednesday's opening round was 70.427 on the Nicklaus Course and 70.926 on the Stadium Course. There were 103 players under par after the first round -- 53 players on the Nicklaus Course and 50 players on the Stadium Course.
Nineteen bogey-free rounds were recorded during the first round -- five on the Stadium Course and 14 on the Nicklaus Course. Only four of the top nine players shot bogey-free rounds (Bryan DeCorso, Jeff Gallagher, Troy Kelly and Steve LeBrun).
Sang-Moon Bae (73), from South Korea, eagled both par 5s on the front nine of the Nicklaus Course. Erick Justesen (67), from Sacramento, Calif., made six consecutive birdies on holes 5-9 on the Nicklaus Course. Troy Kelly, from La Quinta, Calif., holed out from the fairway for an eagle at the par-4 seventh on the Stadium Course. It was the only eagle on a par-4 or par-3 hole during the first round.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72

65 Major Manning, Craig Kanada, Joey Lamielle.
66 Bryan DeCorso, Mark Brooks, Jeff Gallagher, Troy Kelly, Steve LeBru7n, Jason Dufner.
67 Oskar Bergman, Matthew Richardson, Brian Stuard, Ted Oh, Jay Williamson, Ryan Hietala, Erick Justeson, Kent Jones, Bob Heintz.
Field of 163 players.

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Menie House being refurbished
to become Trump Family Home
in Scotland

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF DONALD J TRUMP
The Trump Organization has announced the commencement of the complete refurbishment of the 14th Century Menie House and Menie Park Lodge.
Both properties, which are in need of renovation and redecoration, are now being brought back to their original grandeur and beauty by several local Aberdeenshire firms.
McLaren and Company Ltd are the appointed painting and decorating firm, with Fraser’s of Ellon supplying all carpets and flooring.
Interiors Unlimited of Inverurie has been appointed as the Interior Decorators for the restoration process which has already begun.
Menie House, pictured above, which will become the Trump family residence in Scotland, is being decorated and refurbished to the highest possible standard, whilst retaining a strong traditional Scottish style, reflective of the age of the property.
Mr Trump is working closely with the design team, ensuring that the property reflects the level of excellence demonstrated throughout his real estate portfolio.
Menie Park Lodge, which currently houses the site offices for Trump International Golf Links Scotland, is also being upgraded and will eventually be used to house executive suites for the Development.
Other firms involved in the refurbishment include Bon Accord Granite, CB Joinery Services and Ecosse Contract Services.
Both buildings are due for completion in the early stages of 2009.

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