Borrowman, McLean reach last
16 of Argentina championship

Scotland has two representatives in the last 16 of the Argentina men's amateur match-play golf championship at Nordelta Golf Club, near Buenos Aires.
Leading qualifier Scott Borrowman (Dollar) was a one-hole winner over Italy's Niccolo Quintarelli in the second round.
Philip McLean (Peterhead) won his morning tie by by 5 and 3 against Moises Cobo (Spain).
The eight third-round ties were due to be played later in the day.
Title-holder Pablo Lozada (Argentina) lost by 2 and 1 to countryman Andres Berlaffa.

SELECTED SECOND-ROUND RESULTS
Seeding position in brackets; players from Argentina unless stated.
Andrew Berlaffa (32) bt Pablo Lozada (1) 2 and 1.
Flores De Vries (Hol) (13) bt Juan de la Cruz (45) 5 and 4.
Reionier Saxton (Hol) (5) bt Leonard di Marino (28) 4 and 2.
Scott Borrowman (Sco) (2) bt Niccolo Qintarelli (Ita) (34) 1 hole.
Matthew Haines (Eng) (18) bt Kalle Samooja (Fin) (50) 3 and 2.
Luke Goddard Eng) (14) bt Franco Grillo (19) 3 and 1.
Philip McLean (Sco) (22) bt Moises Cobo (Spa) (11) 5 and 3.

Russell Knox's grandstand finish

earns him $5,449 in Florida

Inverness exile Russell Knox won $5,449 for a joint second finish in his debut this week on the NGA Hooters Tour Winter Series in Florida.
Knox had taken a break since the end of the tour's regular season in September after winning $64,074 with five top-10 finishes.
A former student at Jacksonville University, Florida, Knox played the American college circuit for four years and stayed on at Jacksonville Beach after his graduation last year.
In this week's 54-hole event at Timacuan Golf Club, Lake Mary, Florida, he shot rounds of 71, 67 and 67 for an 11-under-par total of 205, finishing one shot behind American Joe Affrunti who earned $12,132 with scores of 70, 66 and 68.
In this highly-competitive satellite tour, Knox did very well to recover from a double bogey 6 at the second hole of his first round. He finished up with a bag of 16 birdies, including six over the last 15 holes.

HOW THEY FINISHED

Par 216 (3 x 72)

204 Joe Affrunti (Illinois) 70 66 68 ($12,132)

205 Jerrett Hamilton (Texas) 71 68 68, Russell Knox (Jacksonville Beach, Florida) 71 67 67 ($5,449 each).

HOW RUSSELL KNOX SHOT 11 UNDER PAR FOR 54 HOLES

Round 1: Double bogey 6 at the second. Bogey at the 11th and four birdies.

Round 2: Six birdies, one bogey at the 17th.

Round 3 One bogey at the second and then birdies at the third, fifth, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th.

Total:

16 birdies

1 double bogey

3 bogeys

Bad weather halts play in Nedbank Challenge
as Stenson increases overnight lead to six

A lightning storm caused a suspension of play that lasted for the rest of the second day of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, Johannesburg in South Africa.
None of the select field had completed their second round when they were brought in off the course.
Ryder Cup Swede Henrik Stenson who started the second day with a five-shot lead thanks to a brilliant 63, had increased his lead to six shots after 10 holes when the siren sounded to suspend play immediately.
"I am scrambling a little bit compared to yesterday," Stenson said. "It is always hard to follow up such a good round with another one just as good, but I am happy where I am at."
Playing partner Rory Sabbatini was standing over a birdie putt to cut the lead to five shots when the siren sounded.

HOW THEY STAND OVERALL
+First round scores included
-12 after 10 holes Henrik Stenson.
-6 after 9 holes Rory Sabbatini.
-4 after 12 holes K J Choi & Robert Karlsson.
-3 after 11 holes Lee Westwood.
-2 after 12 holes Sergio Garcia.
-1 after 12 holes Luke Donald.
Level par after 16 holes Kenny Perry.
Level par after 11 holes James Kingston.
+1 after 13 holes Trevor Immelman.
+2 after 13 holes Justin Rose.
+5 after 16 holes Miguel Angel Jimenez

Indian Masters cancelled due to 'economic
uncertainy and security concerns'

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
The Indian Masters, co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and set to be played at the Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi, India, on February 5-8, will not now take place on The 2009 European Tour International Schedule.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of ‘golf in Dubai’, said: “We have done everything possible to ensure that the second edition of the Indian Masters was played in 2009 but with this tournament we considered that the current economic uncertainty coupled to security concerns made it impossible for us to present the tournament in the manner that we would wish to for world class golfers.
“The inaugural edition of the Indian Masters, played earlier this year, created quite a buzz in India with the home-grown talent, S S P Chowrasia, beating a strong field to take the honours. The tournament, the first on The European Tour to be played in India, provided the home players an opportunity to hone their competitive skills in the company of some of the world’s finest players and we are confident that we will achieve this again in 2010.
“We are grateful to the Indian Golf Union, the PGTI and The Asian Tour for extending all their support in putting together the inaugural Indian Masters and we thank them for their patience, support and understanding as we do to the Delhi Golf Club to where we look forward to returning.”
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We share with ‘golf in Dubai’ their disappointment that the Indian Masters will not be played in 2009. We understand, however, the economic challenges they face with title sponsorship and we are optimistic that this event which was such a success when first played in 2008 at the superb Delhi Golf Club will return to the schedule in 2010 co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the PGTI.”
Editor's footnote: The Indian Ladies Masters, due to be played at Bangalore, from December 4 to 7, was cancelled on November 9 because of the worsening economic situation.

Rhys Davies now joint sixth in
Vietnam Masters

Korea’s Pyo Suk-min took charge in the second round at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters after a five-under-par 67 today
Pyo, 23, posted six birdies against a lone bogey for an 11-under-par 133 total and a one stroke lead at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club, Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight leader Kodai Ichihara of Japan shot a 69 and was in lone second place. Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang remained in the hunt after a 70 to lie in a tie for third spot alongside Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Filipino Artemio Murakami who both fired matching 69s three strokes off the pace.
Former Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant improved with a 65 to lie in joint sixth place alongside Korea’s Young Nam and Welshman Rhys Davies who recorded similar 70s in the US$500,000 event.
Competing in his first Asian Tour tournament, Pyo remained composed in the second round by firing a 67 thanks to solid iron game.
“I didn’t expect to be where I am now. I just took each hole as it came to stay calm and focused while playing in my first ever Asian Tour event,” said Pyo, who turned professional last year.
“My short game and putting has been the key and I hope to improve on my fitness when I tee off the weekend rounds,” added the Korean golfer, with 12 amateurs wins on home soil.
Japan’s Ichihara, who had previously posted a top-10 result at the Philippine Open in April, slipped to second place after a 69 at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club.
“I was unable to sustain my momentum. I was putting solid on the front nine but I was struggling on the last nine holes. The eagle on the first hole was a great start but I had a double bogey on the ninth and I was trying to keep it in play from then on,” admitted Ichihara, who was the 1999 World Junior champion.
Filipino Murakami chalked up six birdies against three bogeys for a 69 as he will be eager to improve over the weekend rounds.
“I missed a lot of chances out there and I could have had a better score. I am still satisfied with where I am at the moment and hopefully I will take advantage of the conditions tomorrow,” said Murakami, who won the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open.
Former Asian Tour number one Thaworn produced an impressive 65 and leaped up the ranks to a tie for sixth spot.
“I had eight birdies against one bogey and made a big move today. I am happy with how I played as my putting and iron game was steady out there. I can try to win this but it all depends on how well my driving and putting is in the next two days,” said Thaworn, who won a record 10th Asian Tour title at the Bangkok Airways Open in June.
Korea’s Young Nam, who is ranked 81st on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, kept it steady in the second round firing a 70 in the hopes of a strong finish this week.
“I hit the ball really well today. I’m happy with my two day performance but I will push hard over the next two rounds and make up for some of the misses today,” said the 35-year-old golfer.
Former Walker Cup player, Welshman Rhys Davies, moved up to joint sixth position with a 70 for 137, four strokes off the pace.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
133 Pyo Suk-min (KOR) 66-67
134 Kodai Ichihara (JPN) 65-69
136 Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 66-70, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-69, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 67-69
137 Young Nam (KOR) 67-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-65, Rhys Davies (WAL) 67-70
138 Scott Barr (AUS) 66-72, Park Hyo-won (KOR) 69-69
139 Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 69-70, Gary Simpson (AUS) 69-70, Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 69-70, Jason King (AUS) 71-68, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 72-67
140 Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 68-72, Kim Sang-ki (KOR) 69-71
141 S Siva Chandhran (MAS) 71-70, Shang Lei (CHN) 74-67, Himmat Rai (IND) 68-73, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-70, Chang Tse-peng (TPE) 74-67, Neven Basic (AUS) 72-69, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 70-71, Digvijay Singh (IND) 67-74, Unho Park (AUS) 71-70, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 69-72, Choi Gwang-soo (KOR) 71-70

Matthew Richardson's hopes nosedive
at US PGA Tour Final Q School

Matthew Richardson from England, the only British/Irish player in the big field, plummeted from joint 10th at the start of the day to joint 87th at the end of it with a second-round, two-over-par 74 for a 36-hole tally of three-under 141 in the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School over six rounds at PGA West, La Quinta, California.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
132 James Nitties 69 63.
133 Robert Garrigus 69 64, Harrison Frazar 69 64.
134 Tyler Aldridge 68 66, Diego Vanegas 70 64, Troy Kelly 66 68, Gary Woodland 70 64, Bryan DeCorso 66 68, Geoffrey Sisk 69 65, James Oh 71 63, Mark Brooks 66 69.
135 Major Manning 65 70, Ted Purdy 68 67, Bryce Molder 68 67, Jay Williamson 67 68.
136 Chris Tidland 72 64, Matt Every 68 68, Brian Stuard 67 69, Steve Wheatcroft 72 64, Guy Boros 70 66, Kent Jones 67 69, Jeff Gallagher 66 70.
137 Glen Day 70 67, Webb Simpson 69 68, Roger Tambellini 68 69, John Riegger 68 69, Marco Dawson 70 67, Y E Yang 69 68, Bob Heintz 67 70, Patrick Sheehan 69 68, Jason Dufner 66 71, Ryan Hietala 67 70, Brian Smock 69 68, Jimmy Walker 69 68, Drew Laning 70 67.
138 Oskar Bergman 67 71, Martin Piller 73 65, Jeff Gove 71 67, Steven Taylor 71 67, Gavin Coles 69 68, David Berganio jun 72 66, Erick Justesen 67 71, Chris Riley 71 67, Chris Stroud 69 69, Scott Gardiner 69 69, Todd Demsey 68 70, Robert Gamez 69 69, Alex Aragon 71 67, Daniel Summerhays 68 70 (jt 36th).
Selected scores:
141 Matthew Richardson (Eng) 67 74 (jt 87th).
143 Craig Kanada 65 78.

Here's the day's report from the US PGA Tour website:

Aussie Nitties leads the final in California

Tying the low round of the day in the second round, 28 year-old Australian James Nitties fired a 9-under 63 to claim a one-stroke lead at 12 under over Robert Garrigus and Harrison Frazar who each posted 8-under 64s in the second round.
Nitties has competed in the US PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament each year since 2005, having never made it beyond the second stage.
In October, Nitties claimed the Aspen Group WA (Western Australian) Open Championship by two shots. Prior to that win, he had spent most of the 2008 season competing on the Hooters Tour.
Nitties, who was featured on GOLF CHANNEL's show "Big Break," was stricken six months into his professional career in 2005 with reactive arthritis. It took him two years to learn to adjust to it, having not yet recovered from it.
Robert Garrigus, who competed in 29 events on the PGA TOUR in 2008, with a season-best tie for third at the Turning Stone Resort Championship, birdied five of his last six holes en route to his 8-under 64 in the second round. Garrigus finished in the 138th spot on the 2008 US PGA TOUR money list.
Lakewood, California resident James Oh tied Nitties' low-round of the day with a 9-under 63, thanks to nine birdies and no bogeys. Oh is the winner of the 2003 Mark Christopher Charity Classic on the Nationwide Tour. He played in just two events on the Nationwide Tour in 2008, making one cut.
Harrison Frazar, who made 13 of 23 cuts on the US PGA TOUR in 2008, returns to the final stage of q-school after having finished 163rd on the money list. In the second round, Frazar posted four birdies on each nine of the Stadium Course with no bogeys to post his 8-under 64.
Frazar
Frazar has competed on the US PGA TOUR every year since 1998, with a best money list finish of 48th in 2004. This is his first trip to q-school as he finished 13th on the 1997 Nationwide Tour money list to graduate to the US PGA TOUR in 1998.
Troy Kelly, who is the only competitor from La Quinta competing in the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying tournament, made five consecutive birdies on holes 7 through 11 to post a 4-under 68 to finish the second round just two shots off Nitties' 12-under lead. This is Kelly's second successful attempt at reaching the final stage. In 2006, he made it to the finals when it was last held at PGA West (he finished tied for 131st).
A former home re-modeler, Kelly was a rookie on the Nationwide Tour in 2007, having played in six events with a best finish of a tie for 25th at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open. In 2008, Kelly spent time between the Golden State and Canadian Tours.
Troy Kelly once held the skills to compete in Division 1 basketball but chose to pursue a career in professional golf.
The biggest rally of the day belonged to Jonathan Fricke, who rebounded from a first-round 4-over 76 with a 9-under 63, a difference of 13 strokes. He's currently tied for 50th after two rounds. First-round co-leader, Craig Kanada, however, went 13 strokes in the opposite direction. Following his opening-round 65, he fired a 6-over 78 in the second round.
On Thursday, the toughest hole on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course was the 453-yard, par-4 18th. It claimed 21 bogeys while surrendering only 18 birdies. The toughest hole on the Stadium Course was the 255-yard, par-3 sixth, having claimed 21 bogeys to just six birdies.
After two rounds, the cumulative scoring average on the Stadium Course was 70.822. The scoring average following the second round on the Nicklaus Course was 69.871. There were 66 below-par rounds posted on the Nicklaus Course and 55 sub-par rounds posted on the Stadium Course.
There were a total of 20 bogey-free rounds posted in the second round, nine of which came from the Stadium Course, 11 from the Nicklaus Course.
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 tying 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 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.

Jarrod Lyle (63) equals course record
to share lead in Aussie PGA event

A course record-equalling 63 from Jarrod Lyle earned him a share of the lead with Tasmanian Mathew Goggin on the second day of the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.
Lyle and Goggin (68) capitalised on some benign conditions caused by overnight rain to share top spot on a packed leaderboard at nine under 135.
Only one stroke back in outright third place though is equal first-round leader Paul Sheehan, who followed the six-under 66 he completed on Friday morning with a 70 to stay in contention.
Wayne Perske carded a 66 to move within two shots of the lead along with Sportsbet Masters champion Rod Pampling, two-time winner Peter Senior, Michael Curtain and David Lutterus, who all added 67s, and Peter Wilson (69) who had led at eight under.
Sheehan's fellow first-round leader Tim Wilkinson was also at minus eight late in his front nine before dropping back to seven under and level with 2006 Australian Open champion John Senden, who is also still on the course.
Nathan Green had a mixed round which featured the shot of the tournament so far, a hole-in-one at the par-three 11th, as well as three bogeys, as he moved to minus six and level with Matthew Ballard, who also shot 68.
Another handful of players share 14th place on five under, including American Paul Goydos (67), Peter O'Malley (67) and Michael Long (72), as well as New Zealander Richard Lee and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, who has regained two earlier dropped shots.
John Daly missed the cut by four shots with a 36-hole tally of 148 (71-77).

SECOND ROUND (not complete yet)
Par 144 (2 x 72)
Second round play suspended due to darkness, will be resumed on Saturday morning
135 Jarrod Lyle 72 63, Mathew Goggin 67 68
136 Paul Sheehan 66 70
137 David Lutterus (Rsa) 70 67, Rodney Pampling 70 67, Michael Curtain 70 67, Wayne Perske 71 66, Peter Senior 70 67, Peter Wilson 68 69
138 Richard Lee (Nzl) 67 71, Nathan Green 70 68, Matt Ballard 70 68, Geoff Ogilvy 67 71, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 66 72
139 Steve Alker (Nzl) 71 68, Paul Goydos (USA) 72 67, John Senden 69 70, Michael Long (Nzl) 67 72, Peter O'Malley 72 67
140 Aron Price 70 70, Matthew Millar 69 71, Wade Ormsby 70 70, David Diaz 73 67, Terry Pilkadaris 70 70, Adam Crawford 72 68
141 Brett Rumford 69 72, David McKenzie 72 69, Michael Brennan 71 70, Anthony Brown 69 72, Steven Conran 71 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 68 73, Brad Kennedy 71 70, Stuart Appleby 71 70
142 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 69 73, Robert Allenby 71 71, Craig Parry 71 71, Darron Stiles (USA) 73 69, Bradley Hughes 70 72, Adam Blyth 70 72, Josh Geary (Nzl) 72 70
143 Peter Nolan 68 75, Michael Sim 70 73, Alex Simpson 75 68, Brent McCullough 71 72, Mark Brown (USA) 71 72, Aaron Black 71 72, Craig Jones 70 73, Dae-hyun Kim (Kor) 74 69, Richard Green 72 71, Heath Reed 69 74
144 Luke Hickmott 71 73, Rowan Beste 73 71, Michael Lambert 71 73, Greg Chalmers 72 72, Ryan Haller 73 71, Martin Doyle 71 73, Tim Wood 73 71, Brad Lamb 73 71, Stephen Dartnell 74 70, Craig Spence 76 68, Bronson LaCassie 70 74
MISSED THE CUT
145 Andrew Martin 75 70, Steve Collins 69 76, Andre Stolz 76 69, Doug Holloway (Nzl) 72 73, Peter Lonard 70 75
146 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 73 73, Andrew McKenzie (Eng) 75 71, Cameron Percy 72 74, Craig Scott 76 70, Nathan Main 72 74, Grant Moorhead (Nzl) 73 73, Adam Le Vesconte 72 74, Kurt Barnes 74 72, Terry Price 74 72, Kim Felton 74 72
147 Leigh McKechnie 74 73, Jarrod Moseley 75 72, Ryan Howison (USA) 76 71, Darren Beck 73 74, Hamish Robertson (Nzl) 75 72, Stephen Leaney 72 75, Graeme Stockley 73 74
148 Ki joon Song 74 74, Peter Cooke 75 73, Nigel Stivala 73 75, Brendan Stuart (Nzl) 73 75, Steve Jones (USA) 75 73, John Daly (USA) 71 77, Tony Carolan 74 74, Alistair Presnell 73 75, Lee Hunt 70 78, Simon Furneaux 73 75, Scott Draper (Rsa) 73 75, Peter Fowler 74 74
149 Tim Wise 73 76, Michael Wright 77 72, Ryan Haywood 73 76, Michael McGrath 71 78, Brenton Fowler 76 73, Matthew Griffin 75 74, Justin Smith 76 73
150 Peter Martin 78 72, Ben Wharton 74 76, Adam Wilcox 75 75, Josh Lane 73 77
151 Brad McIntosh 76 75, Jason Norris 80 71, Michael Hendry (Nzl) 76 75, Ben Bunny 77 74
152 Anthony Gilligan 74 78, Tristan Lambert 74 78, Jonathan Lie 77 75, Euan Walters 72 80, Julian Reynolds 76 76, Andrew Tschudin 76 76
153 Richie Gallichan 78 75, Darren Weatherall 79 74, Damon Welsford 83 70
154 Mathew Holten (Nzl) 78 76, Bryan Roach 76 78
155 Chris Downes 72 83, Josh Carmichael 80 75, Matthew Rogers 81 74, Mark Purser (Nzl) 81 74
156 Andrew Tampion 72 84, Jarrad Roxby 77 79, Tim Stewart 77 79
157 Eric Egloff 80 77, Ben Bloomfield 73 84
159 Gavin Beck 78 81
160 Kris Barkaway 83 77
161 Shane Baxter 79 82
163 Glenn Kelly 87 76
165 Pat Giles 86 79, Richard Harris 81 84