EDWARD TROPHY CUT TO THREE ROUNDS

AFTER LIGHTNING SUSPENDS GAILES PLAY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON (Colin@scottishgolfview.com)
A thunder and lightning storm which circled round North Ayrshire for the best part of two to three hours, eventually ending in a downpour, resulted in the Edward Trophy 72-hole men’s open tournament – an SGU Order of Merit event – being cut to three rounds, the last two of which will be played on Sunday over the Glasgow Gailes links.
Saturday’s first round had been completed and the players sent out again for round two when play was suspended around 4pm when the early-warning system first detected lightning in the immediate vicinity.
The players were immediately called in off the course or told to take shelter if they were too far away from the clubhouse.
Several times over the next two to three hours, the organisers were on the point on resuming play only to have their hopes dashed when the dark thunder clouds rolled back in over the course, brining with them the danger of lightning.
Eventually, it was decided there was not enough daylight left to complete a second round so it was abandoned.
Two Colville Park Golf Club, Motherwell players, Ross Kellett and Paul O’Hara will head the field going into the final 36 holes and will partner each other.
Kellett post an excellent round of five-under-par 66 with halves of 35 (one under par) and 31 (four under par). He had six birdies in all, two of them 2s at short holes, and one bogey.
Paul O’Hara had a bogey-free 68 with three birdies.
Scottish stroke-play champion Wallace Booth (Comrie) was one of a cluster of player son 72 with an inward half of one-under-par 34, despite a double bogey 5 at the short 15th.
The leading 40 players and ties with scores of 77 or better qualified for Sunday’s play. .
QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL TWO ROUNDS
Par 71. 6903yd
66 Ross Kellett (Colville Park).
68 Paul O’Hara (Colville Park).
69 Andrew Campbell (Dunbarton), Gavin Dear (Murrayshall), Steven McEwan (Caprington).
71 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), Daniel Somerville (St Andrews).
72 Philip McLean (Peterhead), John Miller (Gullane), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), James Ross (Roya Burgess), Liam McGowan (St Andrews New), Wallace Booth (Comrie), Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire).
73 Jamie MacKay (Kilmarnock Barassie), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle), Gordon Yates (Hilton Park), Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle), Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), John Laurie (Cowglen), James White (Lundin).
74 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh), William Bremner (Edzell), Scott Borrowman (Dollar).
75 John Duff (Newmachar), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), Nicky Gold (Bonnyton), Michael Campbell (Renfrew), Ben Sloan (Cathkin Braes), Paul Shields (Kirkhill).
76 George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), Kevin Smyth (Windyhill), David Marshall (Dalmahoy), Paul Betty (Hayston), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Graeme Gorrie (Glasgow), David Law (Hazlehead),
77 Arron Howard (Murrayshall), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton), Scott Stewart-Cation (Ladybank), Kyle Smith (Troon Welbeck), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie).
MISSED THE CUT
78 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), George Brass (Blairgowie), Darren Timms (Mid Kent), Fraser Campbell (Clober), Paul Gault (Westerwood), Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle).

79 Conor O’Neill (Glasgow), Michael Dailly (Erskine).
80 Stephen Rennie (Drumpellier), Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), Colin Mundie (Falkirk)..
81 Graham Turner (West Linton), Colin Carson (Innellan), Andrew Campbell (Deeside), Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Kenneth Anderson (Falkirk Carmuirs).
82 Stephen Clark (US).
83 Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), Shaun McGarvey (Glencorse).
84 Garry Price (Paisley), Graham Bolton (Bute).
86 James Hendrick (Pollok).

LEADING THIRD-ROUND TEE TIMES ON SUNDAY

10.00 Steven McEwan & Gavin Dear.

10.08 Paul O'Hara and Ross Kellett.

Derksen leads by two from Pablo Martin

in weather-delayed Ballantine's event

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR
Jeju Island, Korea.: Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands remained within touching distance of winning the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship title after taking the third-round lead today.
Derksen battled through the swirling winds and cold at the Pinx Golf Club to post a three-over-par 75 for a three-day total of six-under-par 210 to take a two shot lead over Spain’s Pablo Martin who recorded a 212 total.
Korea’s Kang Kyung-nam and Kang Wook-soon together with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee are tied for third on 214, two shots behind Martin while three-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa was among the mix tied for sixth on 215.
Play was suspended for three hours in the morning due to heavy fog and when it finally resumed, Derksen quickly got his game going with a birdie on the par-4 fifth.
However, difficult wind conditions saw him drop shots on the sixth and ninth before he made amends with an eagle on the 10th straight after the turn.
Derksen bogeyed the 11th and mixed his card with another birdie on the 13th and four other bogeys recorded in his closing four holes.
“It was very tough. I think it was unfair and unplayable. I think there was definitely a lot of luck involved today,” said Derksen.
“It was unplayable and the only thing you can do is to just do your best. I did that on every shot I played today, and I'm still two in front. So I guess that's the best part of the day,” added the Dutch.
Thongchai chasing his 12th win on the Asian Tour, started off convincingly with two birdies in his opening four holes.
The Thai ace temporary took a share of the lead when Derksen dropped a shot on the par four sixth to go to nine-under.
However, a disastrous double bogey on the seventh followed by further bogeys on the eighth and ninth saw him slip back to second as gusty winds and chilly temperatures continued to lash across the course.
An eagle 3 on the 543yd par-5 10th at the start of his inward-nine temporary brought the smiles back for the 11-time Asian Tour winner.
But what followed after that were a double bogey and bogey on the 11th and 12th before birdies on the 14th and 15th appeared to have saved his game.
However, another double bogey on the 16th and two successive bogeys on the 17th and 18th meant that he would end the day with a 77 for a share of third place.
“It’s really crazy out there today. This just isn’t a day for playing golf. The winds made it so difficult to control your shots,” said Thongchai of the day where only Francois Delamontagne of France broke par.
“It was just was a very solid, long game, and I had a good putting on the short one, so that's the secret to making the putts in these conditions. But you know, I'm from the Brittany in France, and there's a lot of wind, as well,” said Delamontagne who finished in tied-six on 71.
Tournament marquee name Lee Westwood of England post a 76 to take a share of 27th place at the Ballantine’s Championship which is the first Asian Tour event in Korea this season to be sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korean PGA.
THIRD ROUND LEADERS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 66-69-75
212 Pablo Martin (ESP) 69-69-74
214 Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 66-73-75, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 66-71-77,Kang Wook-soon (KOR) 68-69-77
215 Ernie Els (RSA) 68-74-73,Choi Gwang-soo (KOR) 71-70-74, Francois Delamontagne (FRA) 72-72-71, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 68-73-74,Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 65-74-76
216 Jason Knutzon (USA) 67-74-75, Rafael Cabrera B (ESP) 68-72-76, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 72-68-76, Kang Sung-Hoon (KOR) 69-71-76,Scott Barr (AUS) 68-72-76
Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-70-77, Mark Brown (NZL) 65-73-78
217 Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 75-68-74, Brett Rumford (AUS) 68-73-76, Choi Ho-sung (KOR) 69-72-76, Seve Benson (ENG) 69-70-78

Selected scores
220 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-73-76
226 – Fred Couples (USA) 69-76-81

Martin Laird beats cut in New Orleans but Justin Rose fails

Anybody here seen Kelly? Yes, Jerry's

at top of Zurich Classic leaderboard


American Jerry Kelly, who walked off the course last week after taking 10 on one hole, led the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at the halfway stage.
The 42-year-old added a 66 to his opening 68 to reach 10 under par at the TPC Louisiana course, one in front of compatriots Troy Matteson and Charley Hoffman.
England's Ian Poulter also shot 66 to leap into contention on seven under, but for the second day running Kenny Perry, the only world top-10 player in the field, faltered late on just as he had when on track for Masters glory two weeks ago.
A 70 left him with five strokes to make up, while overnight leader Charlie Wi returned the same score to slip to joint fourth.
Poulter, joint 20th at The Masters, went to the turn in 32 with birdies at the first, second, fifth and seventh, then sank putts of 20 and 16 feet at the 11th and 15th to move further through the field.
After starting the day down in 56th place he was right in the thick of the things, but Matteson was the one to make the biggest charge by equalling the course record with a 64.
Perry, who bogeyed two of his last four holes in his first-round 69, climbed to eight under on his return, but three-putted the eighth and then went in the water for a closing double bogey at the short ninth.
England's Greg Owen and Scot Martin Laird are six under and Brian Davis two further back, but Justin Rose followed up his 68 with a 77 and crashed out.
The professional debut of 18-year-old New Zealander Danny Lee, youngest-ever winner on the European Tour two months ago, ended two days earlier than he wanted as well. Lee could not recover from an opening 76 and finished near the rear of the field.
Martin Laird from Glasgow stepped up on his recent form to make his first cut of the season with rounds of 68 and 70 for 138 but Justin Rose missed out by two shots with a total of 145 after a second-round 77
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 Jerry Kelly 68 66
135 Charley Hoffman 69 66, Troy Matteson 71 64
136 Charlie Wi (Kor) 66 70, John Rollins 69 67, John Merrick 67 69, David Toms 68 68, Parker McLachlin 67 69
137 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 70 67, Kevin Stadler 70 67, David Mathis 72 65, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 66, Charles Howell III 68 69
138 Steve Marino 70 68, Aaron Watkins 70 68, Eric Axley 67 71, Roland Thatcher 68 70, K J Choi (Kor) 72 66, Martin Laird (Sco) 68 70, Greg Owen (Eng) 70 68
139 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 68 71, Joe Ogilvie 70 69, Woody Austin 71 68, Kenny Perry 69 70, Nathan Green (Aus) 67 72, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 69 70, Paul Goydos 69 70, Tim Petrovic 70 69, Ryan Moore 68 71, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 69 70
140 Brian Davis (Eng) 70 70, Charles Warren 67 73, Jeff Overton 68 72, Darron Stiles 73 67, Scott Piercy 71 69, Matt Bettencourt 70 70, Jason Day (Aus) 69 71, D.A. Points 69 71, Boo Weekley 72 68, Jay Williamson 67 73, Nicholas Thompson 70 70
141 Steve Stricker 68 73, Dudley Hart 70 71, Jason Dufner 68 73, Brett Quigley 72 69, Lee Janzen 70 71, Matthew Jones (Aus) 72 69, Webb Simpson 70 71
142 Bob Estes 73 69, John Senden (Aus) 70 72, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 69 73, Harrison Frazar 72 70, Rick Price 71 71, Kevin Streelman 73 69
143 Michael Letzig 72 71, Chris Riley 73 70, Aron Price (Aus) 73 70, Wil Collins 72 71, Todd Hamilton 73 70, John Mallinger 70 73, Jeff Klauk 71 72, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 71 72, Ryan Palmer 70 73, Jimmy Walker 70 73, James Oh (Kor) 71 72, Lucas Glover 72 71, Chris DiMarco 73 70, Ted Purdy 70 73, Steve Allan (Aus) 76 67, George McNeill 69 74, Scott Sterling 70 73, Scott Verplank 70 73
MISSED THE CUT
144 Spencer Levin 70 74, Nick Watney 74 70, Michael Bradley 69 75, Brendon De Jonge 70 74, Scott McCarron 74 70, Bill Lunde 71 73, Mark Calcavecchia 73 71, Shaun Micheel 72 72, John Huston 72 72, Rich Beem 70 74, Tyler Aldridge 75 69
145 Patrick Sheehan 72 73, Peter Tomasulo 74 71, Chris Stroud 72 73, Bubba Watson 75 70, Cliff Kresge 71 74, James Nitties (Aus) 71 74, Billy Andrade 73 72, Ben Crane 72 73, Justin Rose (Eng) 68 77, Mike Weir (Can) 76 69, Marc Turnesa 74 71, Carlos Franco (Par) 73 72, Bob Heintz 71 74, Jason Bohn 71 74
146 Russ Cochran 71 75, Tag Ridings 73 73, Colt Knost 72 74, Casey Wittenberg 72 74, Chris Couch 71 75, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 72 74, Tom Pernice Jnr. 72 74, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 75 71, Will MacKenzie 76 70, J.B. Holmes 71 75, Derek Fathauer 75 71, Dean Wilson 72 74, Glen Day 72 74, Frank Lickliter II 73 73
147 Robert Garrigus 76 71, Jeff Quinney 75 72, David Berganio Jnr. 70 77, Gary Woodland 76 71, David Duval 74 73, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 71 76, Troy Kelly 74 73, Jason Buha 72 75, Stephen Ames (Can) 76 71, Jason Gore 73 74, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 74 73, Matt Kuchar 75 72, Matthew Borchert 70 77, Steve Elkington (Aus) 73 74, Brian Bateman 73 74, Brad Faxon 69 78, Brian Vranesh 76 71, J J Henry 73 74, Scott Gutschewski 73 74
148 Brad Adamonis 74 74, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 73 75, Marc Leishman (Aus) 73 75, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 75 73, Scott Hebert 75 73, Bob Tway 71 77
149 Kent Jones 75 74, Jeff Maggert 78 71, Leif Olson 78 71, Ken Duke 74 75, Phil Schmitt 71 78, Matt Weibring 74 75
150 James Driscoll 73 77
151 Danny Lee (Nzl) 76 75, Kirk Triplett 73 78, Kris Blanks 76 75, Bryce Molder 80 71
152 Alex Cejka (Ger) 76 76
153 Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 81 72
154 Joe Durant 76 78
155 Peter Lonard (Aus) 76 79
156 Brendon Todd 82 74, Jose Coceres (Arg) 81 75
158 Ricky Barnes 78 80, Rodney Butcher 77 81
DQ: 148 Andres Romero (Arg) 73 75

US Champions (Seniors) Tour Scoreboard
LIBERTY MUTUAL LEGENDS
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
61 Lehman & Langer, Zoeller & Jacobs
62 Woosnam & Lyle
63 Sindelar & Cook, Stadler & Sluman, Price & O'meara
64 Weibring & Goodes, Wiebe & Roberts
65 Jenkins & Fleisher, Hoch & Funk
66 Mcnulty & Eger, Purtzer & Forsman, Stockton & Sigel, Watson D & Romero, North & Watson T, Gilder & Eaks, Thompson & Green H, Pate & Bean, Mize & Mccallister, Norman & Fergus
67 Crenshaw & Haas, Quigley & Doyle, Thorpe & Nelson, Reid & Green K
68 James & Smyth, Morgan & Kite
69 Wadkins & Wadkins, Snead & Gilbert
70 Vaughan & Simpson, Pooley & Hatalsky, Nielsen & Bryant