Sunday, December 14, 2008

Hoch and Perry earn themselves a pre-Christmas
bonus of $365,000 in Merrill Lynch Shoot-out

Americans Scott Hoch and Kenny Perry won themselves a "useful" pre-Christmas bonus of $365,000 for the phenomenal final total of 31-under-par 185 in the Merrill Lynch Shoot-out tournament, played over the par-72 Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort course at Naples, Florida.
The first round was alternate shot foursomes, the second round better ball and the third round scramble (Ed note: Not quite sure how two players can play a scramble)
Serious money was up for grabs in this "fun" tournament.
Britons Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter divided $75,000 for finishing ninth in a field of 12 pairings. And Woody Austin and Fred Funk collected $70,000 without even playing the last round. They withdrew after 36 holes. Nice work if you can get it!

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY
Par 216 (3 x 72)
185 Scott Hoch & Kenny Perry 65 60 60 ($365,000 to the pairing).
189 J B Holmes & Boo Weekley 67 62 60 ($230,000).
191 Greg Norman & Camilo Villegas 69 65 57 ($132,500).
192 Nick Price & Jeff Sluman 64 66 62 ($105,000).
194 Jerry Kelly & Steve Stricker 70 64 60, Zach Johnson & Scott Verplank 68 64 62 ($87,500 to both pairings).
195 Stewart Cink & Fred Couples 68 66 61 ($80,000).
198 Paul Azinger & Rocco Mediate 73 62 63 ($77,500).
200 Graeme McDowell & Ian Poulter 70 67 63 ($75,000).
202 Brad Faxon & Scott McCarron 69 69 64 ($72,500).
206 Woody Austin & Mark Calcavecchia 73 71 62 ($70,000).
Withdrew: Chris DiMarco & Fred Funk 74 65 - ($67,500).

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Paul Lawrie answering questions with Murray Carnie, organiser of the Paul Lawrie Junior Foundation, sharing the fun at the Stonehaven Golf Club junior prizegiving today.

Paul Lawrie in good form at Stonehaven
question-and-answer session

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie was in good form at today's Stonehaven Golf Club junior prizegiving in the clubhouse, in which he hosted a question-and-answer session from the adults as well as the youngsters.

Some highlights:

Question: How important is a caddie to a tour pro?

Paul Lawrie: Very, very important when the weather is bad. He needs to have five pairs of hands , specially my one, when it is raining to keep things dry. But probably not as important as caddies think they are, but that's the nature of their profession. I've had my present caddie for five years - and that's a long time for me. I would probably take my caddie's advice if I was in doubt about the next shot, because he knows it's his neck on the line if he gets it wrong!

Question: Your own golfing heroes?

Paul Lawrie: Seve Ballesteros who was a terrific golfer at his peak. If you asked me to widen it to sporting heroes, I would put Sir Alex Ferguson up there at the top for all he has achieved in football.

Question: How good a golfer would a youngster have to be to have serious thoughts about wanting to play on the European Tour.

Paul Lawrie: Well, I had five of a handicap when I turned professional (as an assistant to the late Douglas Smart at Banchory) but even in my time on the European Tour the standards have risen tremendously. I can remember when two or even three over par would be good enough to survive the halfway cut. Nowadays it can be one or two under par. Unless an amateur has a handicap of about +4, I don't think a career on the European Tour is achievable.

Question: What goals have you set yourself in 2009?

Paul Lawrie: I've never been one for giving myself targets. I try to concentrate on the next shot and play it to the best of my ability. But it's been a while since my last win on the European Tour and I would very much like to achieve that next year. I have not got myself into many possible winning positions over the past few years but I should have won the Portugal Masters in October, instead of finishing second. I had a triple bogey and two double bogeys that week and that's not my style of golf. My game did go through a rough patch a year or two back but I have got over that and it's nice to be chosen for the Europe team to play Asia in Bangkok next month. Would love to play Ryder Cup again - and, of course, win a second major.

Question: What's the worst bit about being a tour golfer?

Paul Lawrie: Being away from home and not seeing Marian and our boys for an extended period. For instance, although it's great to be named for the match in Thailand, it means I will be away from home for five weeks, playing in some other tournaments when I am out there. It's a bit better in the summer school holidays when the family can come with me. But, all things considered, it's a great life playing the European Tour.

Question: What's your favourite golf hole?

Paul Lawrie: The last holes at Muirfield and Carnoustie are pretty high up on my list of favourites but I would have to say that the one I like best is the short 12th on the Hopeman course. It's certainly the best par-3 I've ever played with the green over 150 feet below the level of the tee. A great hole. Worth going to Hopeman just to play it.

Question: What should youngsters concentrate on in practice?

Paul Lawrie: Their short game. Tiger Woods is not only the best player in the world, he has the best short game in the world. You should devote at least 60 per cent of your practice time to your short game. Among the top players in the world, there is a variety of swings and techniques but they all have one thing in common - they have great short games.

Question: Nick Faldo and yourself lead the way in Britain in running events for junior golfers. But there is an important difference, isn't there?

Paul Lawrie: Yes. The Nick Faldo Series is designed to uncover players who are going to develop into European Tour-class golfers. My junior series is all about introducing boys and girls to golf, getting as many of them to start the game as we can and giving them their first taste of competitive play through Flag competitions. I have no doubt that eventually some players will come through the Paul Lawrie Series to be play on the European Tour but that is not what we are all about. Next year I am hoping to get a national Paul Lawrie Junior Open off the ground. We tried this year but didn't get the support from national organisers so we are going to organise it ourselves in 2009.

Question: What's been the best shot you ever hit?

Paul Lawrie: That four-iron on to the green in the 1999 Open play-off at Carnoustie. I didn't know that Justin Leonard had bunkered his shot or else I would have laid up with my second. But I struck that four-iron as best as I could, under great pressure as you could imagine, and it was a perfect shot. Great feeling.

(In the 1999 Open play-off over Carnoustie's last four holes, Lawrie scored 5-4-3-3, Leonard 5-4-4-5, Jean Van de Velde 6-4-3-5).

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Paul Lawrie after presenting the season's trophies to the Stonehaven Golf Club junior prizewinners. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Enlarge it by clicking on it.

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Top table at the Stonehaven Golf Club junior prizegiving in the clubhouse today. Left to right: club captain Harry Roulston, Morag Duncan, club manager/secretary, Murray Carnie, organiser of the Paul Lawrie Junior Foundation, and Paul Lawrie. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency (you can enlarge it by clicking on it).

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Sterne steps in to win when Aiken
and Mattiace blow it in 'Dunhill'

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
South African Richard Sterne stepped in to provide a home winner in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Golf Club, Mpumalangeur after Thomas Aiken and American Len Mattiace threw away their overnight advantages.
Sterne, 27, carded a final round three-under-par 69 today for a total of of 17-under-par 271, making the most of constant lapses from overnight leader Aiken and Mattiace, who ended day four with scores of 75 and 77 respectively.
Englishman Robert Rock finished tied-second with Johan Edfors - the Swede carding a 66 for the best final round score alongside Glasgow-born, Canada-based Alan McLean and 2007 South Open winner James Kingston.
Aiken, who powered his way to a course-record 61 on Saturday and held a one-stroke lead heading into the final day, finished in fourth place with Rafael Cabrera Bello on 15 under par 273, while Scotland's McLean and another home favourite Keith Horne ended a further stroke back.
But the day belonged to Sterne, whose last win on the European Tour came at the Joburg Open at the start of 2008.
The world number 113, who clinched his fifth European title in the process, would have been surprised by the manner at which the leading overnight pair fell away.
Aiken started out well enough with two birdies in his opening four holes and was four shots ahead at one point.
But bogeys on the par-4 ninth, 10th and 18th holes, added to a double bogey on the 11th saw him end his round on three over par, while Mattiace finished on five over par with two bogeys and a pair of triple bogeys.
"I actually only saw the leaderboard on 16 and thought the leaders will probably be on 17 or 18 under," said Sterne. "So I got a bit of a surprise when I was leading by one. I made a good two putt there and I knew that 17 under was probably going to be good enough. But I'm quite happy. "The back nine I gave away two very weak bogeys on 10 and 12, but I came back strong and that's what counts on those last six holes on a Sunday."
COLIN FARQUHARSON'S SCOTSWATCH: Glasgow-born, Canada-based Alan McLean earned the top Scot honours and a cheque for Euros 32,450 for a joint sixth place finish. A second-round 74 cost him at least a play-off for he finished only three shots behind winner Sterne in joint sixth place on 274.
Andrew Coltart has begun his second "life" on the European Tour - he regained his playing privileges at the recent Tour School - with four rounds that could not have been much steadier: 70, 70, 69 and 70 for a share of 27th place on 279. That earned the Thornhill man Euros 9,450 but, almost as important, must have given him a lot of confidence for the months to come.
David Drysdale shot into the title picture with a third-round 66 but he lost his momentum with a final round of 72 for 280 and a share of 29th place. That earned him Euros 8,212.
European Tour debutant Callum Macaulay, the Scottish amateur champion, picked up a cheque for Euros 6,900 for rounds of 72, 69, 71 and 69 which added up to seven-under-par 281. That gave him an idea - if he did not know it already - that you have to play really well to get into the big money on the European Tour.
But the Tulliallan topper is off an running as a European Tour player.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
271 Richard Sterne (Rsa) 68 66 68 69
272 Robert Rock 66 67 69 70, Johan Edfors (Swe) 66 69 71 66
273 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 72 65 61 75, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 66 71 68 68
274 Alan McLean 68 74 66 66, Keith Horne (Rsa) 70 69 65 70
275 Tyrone Mordt (Rsa) 68 67 68 72, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 68 69 67 71, Robert Dinwiddie 69 70 68 68, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 65 72 70 68, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 69 64 69 73, David Lynn 68 68 66 73276 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 67 71 70, Len Mattiace (USA) 65 68 66 77
277 John E Morgan 67 68 68 74, Chris Wood 69 70 70 68, David Dixon 70 70 67 70, Lee Westwood 66 70 70 71, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 68 67 72 70
278 Garry Houston 72 69 67 70, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 68 69 68 73, David Horsey 72 70 68 68, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 73 69 68 68, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 68 70 73 67, Tc Charamba (Zim) 70 68 70 70
279 Gareth Maybin 72 69 66 72, Andrew Coltart 70 70 69 70
280 Gary Lockerbie 68 71 67 74, Damien McGrane 71 66 70 73, David Drysdale 71 71 66 72, Sam Walker 71 68 69 72, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 69 69 73 69, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 67 70 71 72, Mark Murless (Rsa) 70 70 68 72, Simon Dyson 71 71 70 68
281 Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 69 71 68 73, Callum Macaulay 72 69 71 69, James Kingston (Rsa) 73 69 73 66, Danny Willett 72 70 66 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 69 70 71
282 Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 70 67 69 76, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 69 69 73, Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa) 72 70 66 74
283 Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 70 67 70 76, George Coetzee (Rsa) 70 70 68 75, Albert Pistorius (Rsa) 71 71 74 67, Deane Pappas (Rsa) 75 66 70 72
284 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 69 69 73 73, Taco Remkes (Ned) 72 70 72 70, Bradford Vaughan (Rsa) 71 71 72 70, Ross McGowan 70 72 69 73
285 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 69 68 71 77, Jacques Blaauw (Rsa) 73 67 69 76, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 71 69 74, Branden Grace (Rsa) 70 69 74 72
286 Jonathan Caldwell 70 67 72 77, Neil Cheetham 68 69 73 76, Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 70 68 73 75, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 70 68 75 73, Justin Walters (Rsa) 72 70 76 68
287 Marcus Higley 71 70 73 73, Warren Abery (Rsa) 68 68 77 74, Jake Roos (Rsa) 72 69 76 70
288 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 71 71 76 70, Iain Pyman 71 69 73 75, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 68 74 71 75, Seve Benson 68 74 76 70
290 Jamie Little 72 69 75 74
292 Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 70 68 78 76

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Rhys Davies finishes joint fourth in
Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open

Welsh rookie Rhys Davies finished joint fourth in the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee made it two straight wins in a row and immediately dedicated these victories to his new-born son.
Thongchai, who welcomed the arrival of his second child just nine days ago, produced another superb round of six-under-par 66 for a 24-under-par 264 total to end his Cambodian campaign six shots ahead of closest rival, Lam Chih Bing of Singapore.
Lam produced his best finish of his career so far, when he signed off with a 65 for a 270 total to take second place ahead of Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol who was two shots back on 272.
Rhys Davies and Anthony Kang of the United States took a share of the fourth place when they returned with matching 274s.
It was a second-round 75 that killed the maiden pro victory hopes of Davies who led with a first-round 64 after being beaten in a play-off the previous weekend.
Seven days earlier in Ho Chi Minh city, Thongchai ended his two-year title drought with a win at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters.
The Thai has now gone on to claim back-to-back titles in IndoChina with another classic display of golf at the Phokeethra Country Club.
“My son was born on a very good day and I believe he has given me all the luck. It was definitely a sign of good things to come, starting with my win in Vietnam last week,” said Thongchai who has affectionately named his son, Kittituch.
Starting the day five shots clear of Kang who was in tied-second place then, Thongchai started off nervously with an opening bogey but quickly made up for that with three birdies on the third, fourth and ninth holes to reach the turn in 34.
With three successive birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th straight after the turn and two more on the 14th and 16th, the crowd that had gathered at the Phokeethra Country for this full-field Asian Tour event, were soon beginning to ask how many shots the Thai was going to win the tournament by.
“I played really well all week. I only had four bogeys throughout the four rounds and I know that my game is all coming back now,” said Thongchai. “I’m really happy and this win goes out to my son.”
Victory was worth US$47,550 and it also meant that Thongchai has now matched his fellow compatriot, Thaworn Wiratchant’s Asian Tour record of 10 victories.
After Thongchai had surged into an unassailable lead, all eyes were soon turned to the battle for second place.
Lam knew that it was always going to be an uphill task to close in on Thongchai.
However, the Singaporean, who started the day tied for fourth, continued to put up a strong challenge when he fired four birdies against two bogeys in his opening front-nine to make the turn in 34.
After reeling in two more birdies on the 13th and 14th, Lam overtook Kang and moved up to second place.
Lam parred his 15th and 16th holes but followed that up strongly with two closing birdies on the 17th and 18th to seal the runner-up spot.
“This is definitely the best finish of my career. I really felt very good when I birdied both 17th and 18th as I knew Chawalit was trailing very closely behind,” said Lam.
“I came out this year trying to get my card but I think I’ve achieved a little more than that and I’m just very happy with the way things are going for me now,” added the Singaporean.
With the battle to finish in the top-65 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit also taking center stage this week, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar was a visibly relieved and happy man when he finished in tied-11th, to also take the prized 65th place on the ranking.
After Australia’s Neven Basic, who was 65th on the ranking at the start of the week, missed the weekend cut, it was down to the wire between Bhullar and Australia’s Adam Groom who were in 67th and 66th place respectively.
Trailing three shots behind Groom at the start of the day, Bhullar knew that he had to play the game of his life in order to overtake Groom and avoid going back to qualifying school again next month.
“Before coming over, I was really very tense. There was just so much mental pressure, especially having missed the cut in Vietnam last week. I did a lot of yoga and that has really helped me a lot,” said Bhullar who went on to produce one of his best performances by carding the day’s best score of 64.
“The motivation of making into the top-65 really kept me alive and I’m just so happy,” added the Indian who has now retained his full playing rights for the 2009 Asian Tour season.
Bhullar will also be heading to Bangkok next week where an elite field of the top 65 players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit will be battling it out for the US$750,000 tournament that will bring the year to a thrilling conclusion on the Asian Tour.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
264 Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-66-64-66
270 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 73-65-67-65
272 Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 67-66-72-67
274 Rhys Davies (WAL) 64-75-67-68, Anthony Kang (USA) 65-69-69-71
275 Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 70-69-68-68, Park Jae-bum (KOR) 68-67-71-69
276 Iain Steel (MAS) 74-65-68-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-70-69-69, Steven Tiley (ENG) 70-66-69-71
277 Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 71-72-70-64, Jason King (AUS) 69-71-70-67, Guido Van Der Valk (NED) 71-67-68-71
278 Gavin Flint (AUS) 68-71-72-67, Baaz Mann (IND) 72-65-72-69, Unho Park (AUS) 72-67-69-70, Corey Harris (USA) 69-65-69-75

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Perry and Hoch lead Shoot-out by four

Kenny Perry and partner Scott Hoch finished with a 12-under-par score of 60 in the better-ball format for the second round of the Merrill Lynch Shoot-out at the Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida on Saturday. Perry had eight birdies and an eagle.
They lead by four strokes from J B Holmes and Boo Weekley with a 36-hole tally of 19-under-par 125.
The two teams were tied until Perry and Hoch birdied the 16th, Perry got an eagle at the 17th and a birdie at the last hole.
Paul Azinger and Rocco Mediate, the U.S. Open had a 62 for 135.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
125 Hoch & Perry.
129 Holmes & Weekley.
130 Price & Sluman.
132 Johnson & Verplank.
134 Norman & Villegas, Kelly & Stricker, Cink & Couples.
135 Azinger & Mediate.
137 McDowell & Poulter
138 Faxon & McCarron
139 DiMarco & Funk.
144 Austin & Calcavecchia.

Sunday's winners will divide $730,000 from the $2.9 million purse.

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Noel Ratcliffe wins Aussie Seniors title

Noel Ratcliffe has been crowned Australian PGA Seniors Champion, finishing with a six-stroke victory at Byron Bay Golf Club.
Ratcliffe pulled away from the field and finished the 54-hole tournament at four under-par 212.
Under tough conditions Ratcliffe’s even-par round was the equal best of the day as the Byron Bay course firmed under the strong westerly winds.
Ratcliffe played controlled golf in the trying conditions with rounds of 70, 70 and 72 to be the only player in the field to finish under par.When Ratcliffe pitched to within inches of the cup on the 16th, the lead stretched to five strokes and all but ended John Clifford’s race to catch the leader.
Ratcliffe ended the tournament with two regulation pars claiming his second Australian PGA Seniors title (first win 2001).
Defending champion David Merriman equalled Ratcliffe’s final-round 72 to finish tied second with John Clifford (78), Terry Gale (75) and Stuart Reese (75).
Ratcliffe earned $14,400 of the $80,000 purse.

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Tim Clark beats Mathew Goggin in
play-off for Australian Open title

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
South Africa's Tim Clark claimed the 2008 Australian Open title by defeating Mathew Goggin at the first hole of a dramatic sudden death play-off at Royal Sydney Golf Club today.
Having sizzled around the windswept lay-out in 67 to force a play-off, European Tour member Clark claimed the Stonehaven Cup with a miraculous sand save on the first extra hole, forcing Goggin to make a testing 3f putt to stay alive.
Goggin's par-saving effort was unsuccessful, leaving the Tasmanian to settle for runner-up honours for the second-straight week.
Earlier, overnight leader David Smail appeared in cruise control, leading by three shots late in the day before consecutive double bogeys derailed his campaign and opened the door for Goggin and Clark.
Clark bagged seven birdies in his opening 13 holes today but his campaign appeared over when he dropped three shots in consecutive holes, starting with a double bogey from the greenside bunker at the 13th.
But the 32 year old steadied, posting two closing birdies to set a competitive nine under total of 279.
Robert Allenby finished his round in style with a birdie at the 18th but it wasn't enough to force his way into the sudden death action.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72) Players from Australia unless stated
279 Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 73 69 67, Mathew Goggin 65 70 75 69
(Clark won at first hole of sudden-death play-off)
280 David Smail (Nzl) 67 68 70 75, Robert Allenby 71 67 71 71, Stephen Dartnell 65 68 75 72
281 Chris Gaunt 70 65 74 72, Andre Stolz 69 71 66 75, Geoff Ogilvy 72 71 70 68, Steven Conran 70 66 75 70
282 Richard Green 71 72 71 68
283 Adam Bland 71 69 71 72, Ewan Porter 65 71 72 75, Tim Wood 70 74 66 73, Brendan Jones 70 71 70 72, Stuart Bouvier 70 69 73 71
284 Rodney Pampling 67 71 74 72, Paul Goydos (USA) 71 71 70 72
285 Gareth Paddison (Nzl) 70 72 71 72, Andrew Bonhomme 69 72 69 75, John Senden 69 72 73 71
286 Michael Sim 72 67 74 73, Mark Brown (USA) 67 72 72 75, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 71 68 73 74
287 Danny Lee (Nzl) 68 75 69 75, Steven Bowditch 72 71 66 78, Kurt Barnes 71 70 72 74, Rohan Blizard 70 69 70 78, Matthew Jones 71 67 74 75, Ashley Hall 72 71 71 73, Josh Geary (Nzl) 73 70 72 72
288 Matthew Millar 74 69 76 69, Brent McCullough 70 70 76 72, Terry Pilkadaris 70 70 73 75, Stephen Allan 72 70 74 72
289 Richard Lee (Nzl) 74 69 72 74, Scott Hend 71 73 73 72, Anthony Summers 69 74 71 75
290 Leigh McKechnie 72 69 72 77, Craig Scott 69 72 72 77, Bronson LaCassie 77 66 71 76, Cameron Percy 72 67 75 76, Brad Kennedy 73 70 72 75, Brad Lamb 72 71 70 77
291 Brett Rumford 75 68 74 74, Alistair Presnell 72 70 71 78
292 Rick Kulacz 70 69 79 74, Andrew McKenzie 73 71 75 73, Peter Lonard 69 70 77 76, Adam Blyth 73 70 76 73
293 Jason Norris 72 65 73 83, Bradley Hughes 72 70 73 78, Ryan Hammond 75 67 76 75, Anthony Brown 70 70 79 74
294 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 73 71 76 74, Jarrod Moseley 71 72 78 73, Ryan Haller 72 70 73 79
295 Ben Burge 72 71 76 76, Eddie Barr 74 69 76 76, Jamie Arnold 72 72 77 74
296 Troy Kennedy 68 76 76 76, Darron Stiles (USA) 73 71 75 77
298 Chris Campbell 75 69 76 78

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