Deane Pappas had a putt to come home

in 27 - and he missed it at Gary Player CC

Deane Pappas had a putt to shoot nine-under 27 on the homeward nine of the Gary Player Country Club in the opening round of the Dimension Data Pro-Am on Thursday. But he missed it!
His birdie putt took a little bobble to the left and he finished at seven-under 65 to share the early lead with Martin Maritz and Dawie van der Walt. Van der Walt played his first round on the Lost City course.
Later another South African, Ryan Thompson, took the lead with a 64.
The professionals compete in a 72-hole stroke-play competiton with the two opening rounds played on each of the Sun City course alternately, while the teams made up of a pro and an amateur compete in a betterball competition with the best net score counting.
The best early better-ball score came from Maritz and Patrick Quarmby with a nine-under 63. Jacques Blaauw and amateur Grant Stephen, with a seven-under total of 65 were second. That was matched by Jaco van Zyl together with Selwyn Nathan.
Leading professional scores (RSA unless specified):
Par 72
64 Ryan Thompson.
65 Dawie Van der Walt, Deane Pappas, Martin Maritz
66 Kevin Stone, Tyrone van Aswegen.
67 Garth Mulroy, Albert Pistorius, Darren Fichardt.
68 Bobby Lincoln, Alan McLean (Sco).
69 Peter Karmis, Jaco Ahlers, Neil Schietekat
70 Theunis Spangenberg, Callie Swart, Divan van den Heever, Jbe Kruger
71 Mark Murless, Charl Coetzee, P H McIntyre, Clinton Whitelaw, Neil Cheetham (Eng).
Tyrone van Aswegen

Bad news for Colin Montgomerie

Now Olazabal says he DOES want to

be Ryder Cup captain in 2010!

FROM THE TIMESONLINE WEBSITE
By John Hopkins, Golf Correspondent
Jose Maria Olazabal has, after all, decided that he would like to have a crack at captaining Europe in the Ryder Cup to be held at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales, in September 2010.
This will mean that Colin Montgomerie, who was expected to be confirmed as the next captain by the Tournament Committee at a meeting in Dubai on January 28, will have a rival for that job and that the Tournament Committee will have to decide that night between the Scot and the Spaniard.
Olazabal's decision to throw his hat into the ring is slightly surprising, considering that he had said he would like to try and play his way into the team.
"He is available," Sergio Gomez, Olazabal's manager, said. "If he is offered the job he will say 'Yes'. We know it is a matter of two and there are factors favouring Jose Maria and factors favouring Monty."
Olazabal pulled out of this week's event in Qatar because of rheumatism but does plan to play in the Dubai Desert Classic, starting next Thursday, the day after the Tournament Committee meeting.
"He had a small problem with his wrists and forearms and it was painful when gripping the club, but not too severe and he told me yesterday to confirm the flights," Gomez said. "But the chances of him making the team are not what he wanted or expected, so he made up his mind that he would accept the captaincy if it was offered."
Either Montgomerie or Olazabal would be an excellent captain for Europe at the first Ryder Cup to be held in Wales. In September 2010 Montgomerie will be 47 and Olazabal 44, so both are comfortably within the correct age range and both would be in touch with current players, which was felt to be a weakness of Nick Faldo, the last captain of Europe, at Valhalla, Louisville, last September.
Montgomerie and Olazabal are astute men, unlikely to allow anything to pass them by. In fact, the only concern about Olazabal's decision to stand for the captaincy in 2010 is that he is risking upsetting the logical order of captains of Europe.
At a Tournament Committee meeting in Abu Dhabi on January 13 it was agreed that as Montgomerie would be too old at Gleneagles in 2014, when he will be 51, and when he was expected to lead his continent, he was persuaded to stand for the job next year.
Judging by the jovial mood he was in during the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship last week, he clearly felt he had as good as got the job.
At this meeting and later it was thought, if not decided, that Olazabal would be a more suitable captain for Europe in the US in 2012. That still remains the case. While both Olazabal and Montgomerie would do a good job in Wales in 2010, only Olazabal could be considered for the more hostile environment of Medinah, outside Chicago, in 2012.
If next Wednesday's meeting turns sticky, it might be necessary to remind Olazabal that his continent needs him - but not until 2012.

KNOX WINS HIMSELF A FISTFUL

OF DOLLARS IN FLORIDA

Inverness exile Russell Knox won himself a fistful of dollars by finishing joint 14th in the NGA Hooters Tour's Winter Series event at Deer Island Golf Club, Tavares in Florida today.
Knox improved with every round, following up a disappointing 75 with scores of 70 and 69 for a two-under-par total of 214. He earned $1,754. A par 4 instead of a double bogey 6 at the fifth in his first round would have seen him finish joint fifth and double his take-home pay to his base at Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Knox stayed on in Florida after four successful years on the US college golf circuit as a student at Jacksonville University.
Former European Tour player Paul Curry had rounds of 77, 68 and 71 to finished joint 26th on level par 216 for which he received $1,047. Curry has been a winner already this year on what is a highly competitive satellite tour.
Joshua Wooding from California scooped the $12,132 first prize with scores of 79, 68 and 70 for a total of eight-under-par 208.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
208 Joshua Wooding (California) 70 68 70.
209 Brian Stuard (Michigan) 71 66 72, Jim Troy (Florida) 70 69 70.
211 Chris Wilson (Ohio) 72 69 70.
Selected totals:
214 Russell Knox (Scotland) 75 70 69 (jt 14th).
216 Paul Curry (England) 77 68 71 (jt 26th).

Angus Moir ... "a man with a proven track record in business."

Nike sign up Ellon man Angus Moir to lead

Europe, Middle East & Africa sales strategy

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

What have former Scottish amateur golf champion Angus Moir from Ellon and Tiger Woods got in common?

Answer: They are both going to be paid a lot of dollars by Nike Golf this year and the next ...
Moir, 45, from Ellon has been headhunted by Nike to fill a key post of Sales Director in the multi-million dollar company whose most famous client is Woods.
Moir, who spent 17 very successful years with Wilson Sporting Goods, will head up the Nike Golf Europe, Middle East and Africa sales teams and will be responsible for establishing strategic direction, growing sales in recognising and developing golf regions and implementing the Nike Golf brand strategy.
"We are very excited to add Angus to the team. His experience and industry knowledge will pay immediate dividends to Nike Golf, said Stan Grissinger, Nike Golf's general manager.
"Angus has a proven track record and we are confident in his ability to build on and continue the growth we have seen in all categories."
While with Wilson Sporting Goods, Moir moved to the United States and became global general manager of golf for the company. It was a classic case of a clever young man rising through the ranks on sheer ability. He was outstanding on every rung of the ladder in his climb to the top of his trade. Product management and marketing were his forte.
Moir's expertise was obviously apparent to other forms of industry and he was persuaded - obviously being made an offer he could not refuse -to leave Wilsons and the golf industry in 2006 to take up the role of sales and marketing director for electrotechnical market leader NICEIC.

He was promoted to chief executive officer within a year and was responsible for a staff of more than 300. He increased the company's revenue and profils while re-aligning three divisions.

In short, put Angus Moir in charge of a sausage factory and before very long that factory would not only be running more efficiently and also producing better quality sausages but also selling a lot more of them!
"I am very excited to be taking on this role with such an iconic, global sporting brand," said Moir who now lives in Berkshire . "I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and working with a team of talented individuals that are as passionate and committed to the game as they are to the Nike brand."
Moir, 45, was born and raised in Ellon. He gained a golf scholarship at the University of St Thomas in Houston, Texas and that was the making of him. As a business studies student, he spent four years soaking up the American experience and know-how, which would stand him in very good stead when he joined the staff of Wilson Sporting Goods.
Playing on the American college circuit, also made him a much better golfer and he beat fellow North-east player Kenny Buchan in the final of the Scottish amateur championship at Renfrew Golf Club in 1984. He became an assistant professional at Cruden Bay Golf Club but later changed his career direction by joining Wilson Sporting Goods.

The nicest thing about Angus Moir is that he still wears the same-size of hat as he did back in his "unknown" days as a teenager in Ellon and North-east golf circles.

*Located at Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. For more information log on to http://www.nikegolfeurope.com/

Seve Ballesteros getting better and better

Seve Ballesteros has revealed he feels better "day after day" as he prepares for a second course of chemotherapy.
Ballesteros underwent four operations to remove a brain tumour after being admitted to hospital last October when he fainted at Madrid Airport.
The five-time Major winner had tests at La Paz Hospital last week to check on the progress of his recovery.
"Fortunately the results were quite good," Ballesteros said in a statement on his personal website.
"This Friday I shall begin my second chemotherapy course, which I hope and wish will be as effective as the first one.
"I am very motivated and working hard, although I am aware that my recovery will be slow and therefore I need to be patient and have a lot of determination.
"For these reasons I am following strictly all the indications that the doctors are giving me.
"Besides, the physiotherapists are doing a great job on me as I feel better day after day."
Ballesteros said he continues to receive hundreds of messages of support from people and added: "I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their support and energy that is coming to me from all over the world and which is proving so good."

Coltart, Stenson, Jimenez share


lead on 66 in Qatar Masters

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Former title-winners of this event, Henrik Stenson and Andrew Coltart and Miguel Angel Jimenez share a one-stroke first round lead at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters Presented by Dolphin Energy.
World No 11 Stenson, runner-up last year to Adam Scott following his 2006 triumph, took advantage of calmer morning conditions to set the pace with a six under par 66.
Inaugural Qatar champion Coltart, pictured right, fresh from winning back his Tour card at Qualifying School, and a bogey-free Jiménez were able to match the Swede as they tamed the windy afternoon conditions at the traditionally testing Doha Golf Club.
The Spanish Ryder Cup star, who was battling a ski-ing thumb injury which restricted his driving, had a chance to claim the outright overnight lead but missed an eight foot birdie putt at the last.
English duo Lee Westwood and Robert Dinwiddie, Joburg Open winner Anders Hansen, Australia’s Brett Rumford and Abu Dhabi runner up Louis Oosthuizen share fourth place at five under.
After missing the cut last week in Abu Dhabi, Dubai resident Stenson picked up four shots in eight holes around the turn to make his move before finishing with back-to-back birdies, showing signs of the form which helped him win the Nedbank Golf Challenge and team up with Robert Karlsson for Omega Mission Hills World Cup success in recent months.
“I maybe didn’t play my best, but I took my chances and I was putting really well. It comes down to the putting and I made some good ten to 15 footers,” said the 32 year old.
“It’s a course I really enjoy playing. I think it’s the ninth time coming to Qatar so I have a fair idea how to play the course.”
After starting on the back nine Coltart reached the turn four under courtesy of an eagle 2 after driving the 307yd 16th.
And despite dropping his only bogey at the sixth where he three-putted, three birdies including one at the last, kept the Scot at the top of the leaderboard.
“I have good memories in Qatar. I have managed to make the odd birdie around this course but I have also had the odd disaster when it has been pretty windy,” said Coltart.
“The eagle at 16 was the highlight as I was able to drive the green to ten feet and hole the putt. I had a good birdie at 12 which was a 25 footer across the green. I was also giving myself the birdie chances - there were four more inside ten feet which was quite pleasing as the wind was getting quite tricky.”
Jiménez said: “Playing very well, especially my iron shots. My driving is not straight, solid, because of my injury. I feel pain in my swing. But I'm hitting my irons very good, and holed some putts, and that's what you need to make the score.”
World No 10 Westwood was delighted with his first competitive round of 2009, and praised the course.
“It's set up just the way I think we'd all like it. If you miss a fairway, you get penalised, which you should do. The greens are true, the putts will go in if they are on line, and the greens don't spike up,” he said.
Another former champion, Retief Goosen, was five under after 13 holes but recorded back-to-back bogeys and was forced to settle for a three-under 69 alongside Oliver Wilson and early pacesetter Peter Hedblom.
Rory McIlroy had a disastrous finish to his round as two double-bogeys in the closing stages saw the Holywood teenager plummet down the field.
After reaching the turn in level par the 19-year-old doubled the 14th before another came at the par five 18th. His opening 76 left him way off the pace on four-over.
Next to the pacemaking Coltart, Colin Montgomerie was the second best Scot with a 71, followed by Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher on 72. Gary Orr had a 78.


SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
BOB HOPE CHRYSLER CLASSIC
PGA West Palmer Course, Bermuda Dunes GC; PGA West Nicklaus Course, SilverRock, Palm Springs.
FIRST ROUND
Par 72 (x) denotes amateurs
At PGA West Nicklaus Course
63 Ben Crane, Richard S Johnson (Swe), David Berganio Jnr.
64 Chris DiMarco, Kevin Sutherland, Rick Price
65 Todd Hamilton, Heath Slocum, Matt
Bettencourt, Tom Pernice Jnr., Tim Wilkinson (Nzl), Peter Lonard (Aus)
66 Scott McCarron, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Woody Austin, Nicholas Thompson, Chez Reavie
67 Brendon De Jonge, Ryuji Imada (Jpn)
68 Brett Quigley, Bill Haas, David Duval, Cliff Kresge, Brian Bateman, Ryan Moore
69 Notah Begay III, Matthew Borchert
70 Bart Bryant, Jonathan Byrd, Johnson Wagner
71 Tim Herron
73 Joe Durant
At Bermuda Dunes GC
63 Vaughn Taylor
65 Steve Stricker, Steve Marino
66 Nick Watney, Jerry Kelly, Bob Estes, Tim Clark (Rsa)
67 Dean Wilson, Kirk Triplett
68 John Merrick, Steve Flesch, Billy Mayfair, David Toms, Fred Couples, Billy Andrade, Michael Allen, Tim Petrovic, Cameron Beckman
69 Colt Knost, Casey Wittenberg, Greg Chalmers (Aus), John Huston, Scott Verplank
70 Kris Blanks, Joe Ogilvie, Bobby Clampett
71 D.A. Points, John Rollins, Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Jeff Quinney
72 Donnie Hammond
73 James Nitties (Aus)
At SilverRock
63 Jason Dufner
65 Chris Stroud, Brian Gay, Glen Day, D.J. Trahan
66 Chad Campbell, Michael Letzig, Rich Beem, David Mathis, Matt Kuchar, John Mallinger
67 Jeff Klauk, Bill Lunde, John Senden (Aus)
68 Charlie Wi (Kor), Mark Calcavecchia, Ken Duke, Webb Simpson
70 Robert Gamez, Kevin Na, Mike Miles, Jason Gore, Tommy Armour III
71 Corey Pavin, James Oh (Kor)
72 Brian Davis (Eng), Charley Hoffman, Justin Leonard, Harrison Frazar, Jesper Parnevik (Swe)
74 Lee Janzen
77 Brad Faxon
PGA West Palmer Course
61 Pat Perez
62 Mike Weir (Can), Bubba Watson
63 Briny Baird
65 Derek Fathauer, Lucas Glover, Steve Elkington (Aus)
66 Jeff Maggert, Bo Van Pelt, Scott Piercy, Olin Browne, Jason Bohn, Mark Wilson
67 Brad Adamonis, Robert Garrigus, Steve Lowery, Martin Laird (Sco), Chris Couch
68 Dustin Johnson, Alex Cejka (Ger)
69 Nathan Green (Aus), Eric Axley, Greg Owen (Eng), Mark Brooks
70 Will MacKenzie, Ryan Palmer
71 Stephen Ames (Can)
72 Daniel Chopra (Swe), Gary Woodland, Wes Short jr.
73 Peter Tomasulo, Troy Kelly

Qatar Masters Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
66 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Andrew Coltart, Henrik Stenson (Swe)
67 Brett Rumford (Aus), Anders Hansen (Den), Robert Dinwiddie, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Lee Westwood
68 Robert Karlsson (Swe), Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Nick Dougherty, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Paul Broadhurst
69 Damien McGrane, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Oliver Wilson, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa)
70 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Rodney Pampling (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), David Lynn, Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Seve Benson, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Anthony Wall, Stephen Dodd, Thomas Bjorn (Den), David Dixon, Ernie Els (Rsa), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Jamie Donaldson, Markus Brier (Aut)
71 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer (Ger), Oliver Fisher, Gregory Havret (Fra), Anton Haig (Rsa), David Howell, Colin Montgomerie, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Gary Murphy, Phillip Archer, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Thomas Levet (Fra), Jyoti Randhawa (Ind)
72 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Soren Hansen (Den), Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Peter Lawrie, Simon Dyson, Johan Edfors (Swe), Graeme Storm, Peter Hanson (Swe), Alexander Noren (Swe), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), Steve Webster, Shiv Kapur (Ind), Marcel Siem (Ger), Scott Strange (Aus), Mark Brown (USA), Rolf Muntz (Ned), Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie, Brandt Snedeker (USA)
73 Hennie Otto (Rsa), Adam Scott (Aus), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Danny Willett, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Darren Clarke, John Bickerton, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa), Richard Finch, Richard Green (Aus), Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Mark Foster, Ross McGowan
74 James Kingston (Rsa), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Justin Rose, Boo Weekley (USA), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Bradley Dredge
75 Scott Drummond, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Kenneth Ferrie, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Lee Slattery, Alastair Forsyth, Pablo Martin (Spa)
76 Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Paul McGinley, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)
77 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Rafael Echenique (Arg), Ariel Canete (Arg), Simon Hurd
78 Gary Orr, Miles Tunnicliff, Simon Wakefield
81 Max Williams
Retired: Michael Campbell (Nzl).

Bid to change SGU area team championship

format likely to meet opposition

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By WILLIAM DUNCAN
A move to change the format of the Scottish Area Team Championship looks set to be met with strong opposition this weekend.
The event, won a record 13 times by the Lothians, will be up for discussion at the Scottish Golf Union's annual meeting at the Scottish Police College,Tulliallan on Sunday.
In a bid to cut the event's running costs, the game's governing body in Scotland has come up with a number of suggestions that have been circulated to the 16 Areas that compete in the tournament.
For the past decade or so, it has been spread out over nearly five months, with every Area guaranteed at least three games. The top teams in four sections have then gone forward to the final stages, played over one weekend.
One of the options being considered is to play the whole event over one weekend, cutting out the round-robin phase. Another is reducing the number of players per team, while grouping Areas by geographical location has also been mooted.
"There has been contact between Areas on this matter and some feel strongly that they don't want to see a change to the format," a source told the Evening News. "Indeed, some have indicated they will not take part if that happens this year."
After discussing the matter last week, the Lothians will ask that the format is not changed at the moment, with the SGU dipping into its reserve funds to meet this year's costs.

SIX SCOTS HEAD FOR SEA ISLAND,

GEORGIA AND JONES CUP

The Scottish Golf Union is sending six players to take part in the biennial Jones Cup Invitational tournament at Ocean Forest Golf Club, Sea Island, Georgia from February 6 to 8.
They are:
Wallace Booth (Comrie)
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie)
Gavin Dear (Murrayshall)
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie)
Paul O'Hara (Colville Park)
Steven McEwan (Caprington).
Booth, Dear and Callum Macaulay, now a professional, won the Eisenhower Trophy world men's amateur team championship for Scotland at Adelaide, Australia last autumn.
Dear has since become the first Scot to win the Dixie Amateur over the Festive period in Florida.
A select field of 84 players, most of the top amateurs from the United States and the home countries, will compete over 54 holes of stroke-play.
The Jones Cup was inaugurated in 2001 as a prelude to the Walker Cup match at Sea Island.

England name eight for Jones Cup

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Eight members of the England Squad will get their first taste of international action for 2009 when they line up in the biennial Jones Cup Invitational in the United States at the start of February.
The group comprises of:
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall)
Luke Goddard (Hendon)
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham)
Sam Hutsby (Liphook)
Chris Paisley (Stocksfield)
Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills)
Steve Uzzell (Hornsea)
Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes).
Fleetwood, 18, became a boy cap in 2007 and last year was boys' team captain while making his full England debut in the Home Internationals in Scotland. Also in 2008, he finished runner-up in the Amateur Championship but won the Lancashire Championship and the English County Champions Tournament, both in play-offs.
Goddard, 20, enjoyed a triumphant 2008, with victories in the South of England Stroke Play and the Argentine Amateur Championship, while he was runner-up in the Selborne and Hampshire Salvers and the Lagonda Trophy. He also made his full England debut in the Home Internationals, was selected for the Eisenhower Trophy team and was a member of the winning side in the Portugal Nations Cup.
Haines, 19, made his full England debut against France last May and played in the European Men’s Team Championships and the Home Internationals. He won the Lytham Trophy and represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy. On his last visit to the US, Haines finished equal fifth in the Thunderbird Junior Championship.
Hutsby, 20, was another member of last year’s Eisenhower Trophy team, having won the Bernard Darwin Salver and finished runner-up in the Welsh Open Stroke Play and fourth in the St Andrews Links Trophy. A former Spanish Amateur Champion, he made his full England debut in the 2007 Home Internationals, played in all of last year’s international team events and the St Andrews Trophy.
Paisley, 22, is in the US at the University of Tennessee where he has claimed several successes. He won the Czech Amateur Championship on this side of the Atlantic last year and finished runner-up in the Tillman Trophy, the South of England Stroke Play and the English Amateur Championship. He also represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy.
Sherreard, 21, is also in America at Georgia State University. A former McEvoy Trophy winner, he reached the semi-finals of the England Amateur in 2008, won the South East Qualifying and made his full England debut in the Home Internationals. He also played in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, finishing 19th.
Uzzell, 25, made his full England debut against France last May but played only one match because of injury. However, he recovered to win the Brabazon Trophy at Trevose while he also won the Russian Amateur, represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy and England in the Home Internationals.
Whitnell, 20, twice North of England Youths Champion, has been a full England International for the past two years and was the third member of the Eisenhower Trophy team. He won the Lagonda and Tillman Trophies in 2008, was runner-up to Haines in the Lytham Trophy and was a semi-finalist in the Australian Amateur Championship. He was also a member of the GB&I St Andrews Trophy team.

Gordon Yates, dressed for the Australian summer weather, in action at Belmont Golf Club today.

Gordon Yates tees off with a 70 in Lake

Macquarie International Down Under

Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) made a solid start to the Lake Macquarie International tournament at Belmont Golf Club, New South Wales, Australia today.
Gordon, coming down from China where he was beaten in a play-off for the Asia-Pacific open amateur title at Misson Hills, returned a two-under-par 70.
Fellow traveller Ross Kellett (Colville Park) had a 76, two more than Australia-based Scottish exile Stephen Speirs.

Former British boys championship beaten finalist Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) had 78.
West Australian Matt Jager leads the field of 190 players with a very good five-under-par 67.
FIRST-DAY SCORES
Par 72
67 Matt Jager.
68 Alex Hendrick, Charles Ford, Dimitious Papadatos, Ryan Fox.
69 Brendan Smith, Gavin Fairfax, Geoff Bailey, Rhein Gibson, Robert Payne, Jordan Zunic, Lester Peterson, Craig Boniface, Joshua Boaz.
Selected scores:
70 Gordon Yates, Michael Smyth, Brody Ninyette, Jared Consoll, Apo Tsulakis, Rhys McGovern, Peter Spearman,-Burn, Luke Bleumink, Mitchell Davis, Daniel Pearle, Steven Slappendel, Nick Gillespie.

73 Farren Keenan.

74 Stephen Speirs.
75 Adam Wainwright, Jason Palmer.

76 Ross Kellett.

78 Fraser Fotheringham.

Knox and Curry rally to beat the cut

on Hooters Tour in Florida

Inverness exile Russell Knox shot a second-round, two-under-par 70 to beat the 36-hole cut in the NGA Hooters Tour Winter Series competition at Deer Island Golf Club, Tavares in Florida.
Knox birdied the sixth, seventh, 13th, 16th and 17th - bogeys at the first, ninth and 12th - to maintain his record of having missed very few cuts on this highly competitive US satellite tour.
Former European Tour player, Englishman Paul Curry, a winner alread this year, also survived the cut with a 68 for 145, the same two-round total as Knox and they share 16th place going into the final round over the 7,029yd, par-72 course.
Curry birdied the fourth, fifth, eighth and 15th and had an eagle at the 16th in improving by nine strokes on his first round.
Only the top 40 in the starting field of 129 qualified for the final round. The cut-off mark was 148.
Brian Stuard from Missouri leads the field with scores of 71 and 66 for seven-under 137.

JIMMY GUNN EARNS $1,271 IN ARIZONA
Meanwhile, on other US satellite circuit, the Gateway Tour, former Royal Dornoch amateur Jimmy Gunn earned $1,271 for a joint 28th place finish in the Desert Winter Series event at Trilogy Golf Club, Arizona.
In temperatures alternating between the 70s and 60s, Gunn had rounds of 71, 70 and 70 for a five-under-par total of 211.
Winner of the $24,000 first prize was American Steven Taylor with a 17-under-par total of 199, made up of round so f67, 68 and 64.
He won by a shot from the first-round leader, Kevin Stadler who scored 63, 70 and 67 for 200 and a $13,500 cheque.