Sunday, May 03, 2009

Sean O'Hair wins at Quail Hollow,

Tiger Woods only fourth

Sean O'Hair almost let another tournament slip through his fingers before winning the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina yesterday.
O'Hair, who was overhauled by Tiger Woods in the Bay Hill Invitational earlier this season after starting the final round with a five-shot lead, carded a closing 69 to finish 11 under for a one-shot victory over fellow Americans Lucas Glover and Bubba Watson.
O'Hair held a two-shot lead with two to play after superb birdies at the 15th and 16th, but then bogeyed the 17th and 18th, three-putting the latter from 25ft. However, in the group behind, Glover also missed the 17th green in almost the exact same spot as O'Hair had and also failed to get up and down to save par.
That left Glover needing to birdie the last to force a play-off but he overshot the green with his approach and could not produce the dramatic chip-in required.
Tiger Woods finished alone in fourth place on nine under, the world number one never hitting top form and carding nine pars on the back nine, including the 14th after driving the green on the short par-4 only to three-putt.
Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter finished in a large group of players sharing fifth on eight under par after earlier threatening to claim his first US Tour victory.
The 33-year-old, Europe's top scorer at Valhalla last year, was one off the lead after five birdies in six birdies from the seventh, but bogeyed the 14th and 15th before finishing in a style with a long birdie across the 18th green.
Phil Mickelson, needing a win and for Woods to finish worse than fourth to overtake his great rival at the top of the world rankings, had earlier set the clubhouse target on eight under par.
Mickelson slumped to a 75 on Saturday but hit back with a 67 with six birdies and one bogey to join fellow American Jonathan Byrd (66) in the clubhouse.
Ross Fisher drifted to a share of 29th place with a 75 for 284.
And Martin Laird, too, let it slip over the vital last round. A 74 put him back in a tie for 47th place on 288.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 x 72)

277 Sean O'Hair 69 72 67 69
278 Lucas Glover 68 71 68 71, Bubba Watson 71 65 72 70
279 Tiger Woods 65 72 70 72
280 Phil Mickelson 67 71 75 67, Jason Dufner 67 71 71 71, Tim Petrovic 71 70 71 68, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 70 70 69, Ted Purdy 70 69 72 69, Jonathan Byrd 72 72 70 66
281 Zach Johnson 70 67 68 76, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 68 72 73, Jim Furyk 71 66 73 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 71 70 70 70, Boo Weekley 71 70 72 68, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 70 69 71, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 72 71 66 72
282 Charles Warren 69 71 71 71, George McNeill 69 68 70 75, Shaun Micheel 74 69 73 66, David Toms 71 71 67 73
283 Nick Watney 71 71 69 72, Hunter Mahan 68 72 75 68, Bill Haas 69 71 71 72, Davis Love III 70 69 70 74, Camilo Villegas (Col) 71 67 74 71, Rocco Mediate 72 70 72 69, Matt Bettencourt 72 71 71 69
284 Ross Fisher (Eng) 73 67 69 75, Cameron Beckman 73 71 72 68, Bo Van Pelt 69 71 71 73
285 Jeff Klauk 69 71 70 75, Joe Ogilvie 71 72 69 73, John Senden (Aus) 71 72 73 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 71 73 68 73, Ben Curtis 74 70 71 70, Cliff Kresge 69 72 72 72
286 Danny Lee (Nzl) 71 69 70 76, Brian Davis (Eng) 72 71 72 71, Steve Marino 67 72 74 73, Michael Allen 70 73 72 71, Ken Duke 70 72 73 71, Tom Pernice Jnr. 72 69 77 68
287 Brendon De Jonge 72 69 67 79, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 71 71 74 71, John Huston 73 71 69 74
288 Will MacKenzie 70 74 71 73, Anthony Kim 70 69 78 71, Robert Allenby (Aus) 67 74 77 70, Brendon Todd 70 70 72 76, Martin Laird (Sco) 74 70 70 74, Kevin Sutherland 71 72 75 70
289 Kent Jones 72 70 71 76, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70 69 78 72, Jonathan Kaye 70 72 74 73, Chris Stroud 73 69 78 69, Jeff Overton 70 71 73 75, Steve Wheatcroft 70 73 77 69
290 Peter Tomasulo 74 69 73 74, Jeff Maggert 68 70 75 77, Steve Lowery 73 71 73 73
291 Chad Campbell 72 70 73 76, John Rollins 70 74 76 71, David Mathis 70 73 72 76
293 Pat Perez 74 70 76 73, Aron Price (Aus) 71 73 78 71, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 73 70 76 74
294 Brad Faxon 74 69 80 71, Parker McLachlin 73 71 74 76
295 Mark Calcavecchia 69 74 74 78, Bill Lunde 72 72 74 77, Steve Flesch 69 74 78 74
296 Gary Woodland 70 74 76 76
302 Rich Beem 71 73 76 82

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Adam Carson and Alexandra Peters win

Fairhaven Trophies junior titles

The final day of the Fairhaven Junor Trophies event at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire produced some fabulous golf, which ended in individual victories for England internationals Adam Carson of Long Ashton GC, and Alexandra Peters of Notts Ladies GC.
In the boys' championship, Adam Carson had very impressive rounds of 70, 67, 70 and 74 for a total of 281, 15 under par.
Runner-up was Patrick Spraggs of Stowmarket GC. He only just made the cut with two rounds of 75, but followed these with final-day rounds of 69 and 70, for a total of 289, seven under par.
Third place was secured by James Webber, Three Rivers GC, following rounds of 72, 72, 71 and 74, for a 7 under par total of 289.
Defending champion Tom Boys, Royal Liverpool GC, finished fourth on four-under 292 with scores of 76, 70, 75 and 71.
Alexandra Peters successfully defended the girls' title in fine style with a closing round of 69, which set a new course record. Her total of 288 was 12 under par, following rounds of 71, 75, 73 and 69.
Runner up in the girls championship was Heidi Baek, from Felixstowe Ferry GC. Heidi pressed the defending champion all the way with rounds of 73, 74, 78 and 70 for a total of 295, five under par.
The England Under-18 B team, consisting of Chris Lloyd, Tyrell Hatton and Alexandra Peters, triumphed in the Nations Cup with a total of nine-under-par, closely followed by the England Under-18 A team, consisting of Max Smith Tom Boys and Heidi Baek.

Photographs of the championship are available from Tom Ward on the following link;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/twardpress/sets/72157617460023973/

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
BOYS
Par 296 (4 x 74)
281 Adam Carson (Long Ashton) 70 67 70 74.
289 Patrick Spraggs (Stowmarket) 75 75 69 70, James Webber (Three Rivers) 72 72 71 74.
292 Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool) 76 70 75 71, Christopher Nugent (Fulford Heath) 72 73 74 73.
294 Daniel Byrne (Dartford) 67 74 75 78.
295 Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire) 70 73 73 79.
296 Scott Campbell (Hallowes) 77 70 75 74, Sam Robertshawe (The Army) 72 74 74 76.
297 Jordan Smith (Boward) 74 70 80 73, Ben Stow (Rushmore) 75 70 77 75.
298 Levi Johnson (Canterbury) 77 72 76 73, Joshua White (Chipstead) 78 72 73 75, Jeff Hopkins (Five Lakes) 68 75 76 79, Joshua Bassett (Ripon City) 72 73 74 79.
299 Dean Fallon (Hendon) 76 71 76 76, Antony Ginn (Sudbury) 69 77 77 76, Danny Keddie (Belton Park) 71 71 79 78, Sebastian Crookall-Nixon (Workington) 71 73 75 80.
300 Oliver Carr (Heswell) 75 74 76 75, Freddie Sheridan-Mills (Walsall) 74 72 79 75.

GIRLS
Par 300 (4 x 75)
288 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 71 75 73 69.
295 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 73 74 78 70.
310 Raphaela Dyer (Hayling Island) 78 77 80 75.
311 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 71 77 83 80.
314 Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham & St Annes) 82 73 82 77.

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LYTHAM TROPHY

Wallace Booth joint 3rd behind

surprise winner James

Robinson from Southport

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COMWEBSITE
By ALISTAIR TAIT

Senior Writer
Lytham Trophy tournaments normally don’t produce surprise winners. This one did.
England’s James Robinson, pictured right with the trophy by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography, stunned the Royal Lytham galleries with a closing round of even-par 70 for a seven-over 287 total to take the title by a stroke from Ben Westgate of Wales.
Scottish stroke-play champion and former Augusta State player Wallace Booth from Comrie, Perthshire tied for third along with second-round leader Dale Whitnell, England’s Jack Senior and first-round pace setter Shane Lowry of Ireland.
The last five winners of this tournament – Matt Haines, Lloyd Saltman, Jamie Moul, Gary Lockerbie and James Heath – have all been players with high expectations attached to their names.
Robinson’s name looks conspicuous in such company. His only claim to fame before this victory was making it to the semi-finals of the English amateur championship two years ago when he lost to Danny Willett. Willett went on to make the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team that year while Robinson returned home to work on his game.
The 20-year-old Robinson is not even a member of the English Golf Union’s elite squad. He is currently a member of the A-squad, and hasn’t represented his country at full international level. Neither is he a member of the GB&I Walker Cup squad. Robinson will be considered for both squads now.
“I’m over the moon,” Robinson said. “This is the biggest win of my career. My goal has always been to play in the Walker Cup so to win this tournament in a Walker Cup year is huge. It would be an honour to play in the Walker Cup.”
Robinson began the final two rounds four shots off Whitnell’s lead. However, while scores ballooned in the extremely windy conditions, Robinson got himself into contention with a third-round 73.
As a member of Southport & Ainsdale, a links lay-out, Robinson is used to seaside golf. “I’m used to these conditions. My goal today was just to play solid and not make too many mistakes. I managed to do that pretty well.”
The +4 handicapper was one of only four players to shoot level-par 70 in the final round. In fact, those were the only level-par scores of the final two rounds. Robinson birdied the 13th and 16th holes to offset bogeys at 15 and 17.
He then made a clutch up-and-down at 18 where he missed the green left, but holed a seven-foot par putt that proved to be the winning stroke.
Whitnell was even with Robinson at seven-over-par with three holes to play, but bogeyed two of the last three holes. He found a greenside bunker at 16 and failed to get up and down, and then drove into a fairway bunker at 18.
Welshman Westgate did his best to honour the memory of countryman Ben Enoch, who died in a car accident on the eve of the tournament. No Welsh player has ever won the Lytham Trophy. This would have been a fitting year to eradicate that record.
Robinson had other ideas. Now he has even bigger plans, such as a trip to Merion as one of the 10 GB&I players to take on Buddy Marucci’s U.S. Walker Cup side in September. He’ll certainly make the trip if he has more performances like the display he showed at Lytham this week.

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Lytham Trophy Scoreboard
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lancashire
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70)., CSS 73 75 77 76
287 James Robinson (Southport and Ainsdale) 72 72 73 70
288 Ben Westgate (Trevose) 73 73 72 70.
290 Jack Senior (Heysham) 74 71 75 70, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 70 75 74 71, Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) 66 76 75 73, Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 68 72 75 75.
291 Alexandre Kaleka (France) 74 74 73 70, Farren Keenan (Sunningdale) 76 70 74 71, Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale 73 70 74 74, Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 74 70 72 75.
292 Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 74 71 72 75.
293 Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham) 72 72 75 74.
294 Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) 72 72 74 76.
295 Sam Hutsby (Liphook) 71 72 77 75, Max Glauert (Germany) 74 69 77 75, Charles Ford (Kirby Muxloe) 72 72 75 76, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 75 70 72 78.
296 Martin Keskari (Germany) 75 73 77 71, Miles Mackman (Broome Manor) 72 74 78 72, James Watts (East Herts) 72 73 78 73, Adam Wills (Sandiway) 77 70 73 76, Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 71 70 78 77, Mark Thistleton (Hayling) 74 68 77 77, Luke Goddard (Hendon) 72 70 77 77, Edward Parker (Crewe) 71 72 75 78.
297 Steven Uzzell (Hornsea) 73 75 76 73.
298 Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth) 74 69 77 78.
300 Lucas Bjerregaard (Frederikshaven) 70 78 79 73, Todd Adcock (Nevill) 76 71 77 76, Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) 69 74 80 77.
301 Matthew Nixon (Ashton Under Lyne) 72 75 80 74, Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton) 78 69 79 75, Jonathan Gidney (Church Stretton) 76 70 79 76, Dara Lernihan (Castle4) 76 71 77 77.
302 Jason Barnes (Chart Hills) 77 71 80 74, Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 76 72 78 76, Elias Bertheussen (Trondheim) 73 74 74 81.
303 Francois Rouilleaux (France) 73 73 81 76, Miro Veijalainen (Finland) 72 75 79 78.
305 Rhys Black (Sherwood Forest) 71 77 78 79.
306 Mayel Oueld Es Cheikh (France) 71 76 81 78, Sebastian Schwind (Germany) 73 73 82 78.
307 Frederic Abadie (Ormesson) 73 75 77 82.
309 Jake Shepherd (The Wisley) 73 73 81 81.

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Blennerhassett, Young and Stewart

tie for victory on SGU Junior Tour

First-round leader Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) let victory in the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour Event 3 slip through his fingers over the closing holes of the 36-hole event at the blustery Monifieth links today.
After a morning one-over-par 72, Tom bogeyed the 14th and 16th and then double-bogeyed the 17th for a 75 and a five-over-par total of 147.
That left the door open for Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) and Calum Stewart (Brora) to figure in a triple tie for victory – no play-off – with Daniel having rounds of 74 and 73 for 147 and Calum 73 and 74 for the same total.
After bogeying the 17th in his second round, Young had to birdie the last to get a share of the spoils.
For Stewart, it was like Blennerhassett a case of “might have been.” The Brora boy was looking good when he bogeyed the 12th in his second round but he then dropped two shots, at the 13th and 17th.
Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest finish fourth on his own, a shot off the pace, with a pair of 74s for 148.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71) CSS 72 72
147 Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 74 73, Calum Stewart (Brora) 73 74, Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 72 75.
148 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 74 74.
149 Mark Thomson (Grange) 77 72, Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) 76 73, Jack Scott (Deeside0 75 74, Conor O’Neil (Glasgow) 74 75.
150 Steven Smith (Deeside) 76 74, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 74 76.
151 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 80 71, Matthew Reid (Downfield) 75 76, Chris Low (Tantallon) 75 76.
152 Simon Taylor (Germany) 74 77, Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 75 77.
153 Calum McLean (Cowglen) 77 76, Gary Meechan (Dullatur) 74 79.
154 Jamie Lynch (Falkirki) 79 75, Stuart Boyle (Harburn) 78 76, Scott Gibson (Southerness) 74 80.
155 Liam Johnston (Dumfries & Co) 79 76, Ryan Campbell (Grangeouth) 78 77.
156 Fraser Thain (West Linton) 78 78.
157 Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 79 78, Danny Kay (Dunbar) 78 79, John Drummond (Strathlene) 76 81.
158 Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 82 76, Paul McPhee (King James VI) 80 78, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 80 78, Callum McNeill (Lauder) 77 81, Danny Edwards (Elgin) 76 82.
159 Greg Smail (Craigielaw) 78 81, Philip Gordon (Paisley) 76 83.
162 Josh Bogle (Ranfurly Castle) 81 81, Simon Fairburn (Gala) 78 84, Ross Munro (Monifieth) 76 86.
163 Josh Jamieson (St Andrews New) 80 83.
167 David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) 81 86.
NR Connor Neil (Blairgowrie) 84 NR.

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Spanish Open winner Levet dedicates

his win to Seve Ballesteros

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
France's Thomas Levet won the the Spanish Open in Girona today - and dedicated his victory to Seve Ballesteros.
Levet, overtaken early in the final round, came back to shoot a 68 for a two-stroke victory over Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti, with Ireland's defending champion Peter Lawrie and Dane Thomas Bjorn joint third.
Levet dedicated victory to Seve Ballesteros after lifting the Spanish Open trophy.
Ballesteros underwent four operations late last year after the discovery of a brain tumour and is still having chemotherapy.
"I always think about Seve. He is having a hard time at the moment," said 40-year-old Levet, who took the first prize of just under £300,000 with a closing 68 and 18-under-par total of 270.
Then, looking into a television camera, he added: "Seve, I dedicate this win to you."
Asked what he most admired about the former world No 1, whose record 50 victories on the circuit included three Spanish Opens, Levet replied: "His fight, and that's what I did today."
He needed to. Two ahead overnight, he found himself two behind after four holes with playing partner Stuart Davis bursting out of the traps - appropriately enough for a man sponsored by the Nottingham greyhound track - with three successive birdies.
Davis, a Tour rookie despite being 35, fell away to 15th place with a 78, but Zanotti, Peter Lawrie and Bjorn then came on strongly.
Zanotti, a 25-year-old South American, had never previously posted a top-10 finish on the circuit, but he had nine birdies in a best-of-the-day 65. It was not enough, though. From one in front with four to play Levet sank an eight-foot putt at the long 15th and then birdied the 460-yard 17th as well.
COLIN FARQUHARSON'S SCOTSWATCH:
Steven O'Hara finished as the top Scot in joint 31st position (the same as John Daly). O'Hara, after three steady rounds of 72, 72 and 73, got into a higher gear for a final-round 68 and a total of 285 which earned him Euros 14,709.
Gary Orr scored 68, 72, 74 and 72 to finish joint 42nd on 286 and a payslip for Euros 11,800.
Give Paul Lawrie his due for really getting the head down in the final round, obviously to finish as high as he could after a disastrous third-round 80. The Aberdonian, who had started the tournament with a 68, had a Sunday best of 67 for a shared of 45th place on 287 and a take-home pay of Euros 10,600.
Steven Gallacher came in joint 60th with scores of 71, 70, 78 and 72 for 291 and a cheque for Euros 5,400.
Rookie Callum Macaulay will be disappointed to finish "only" joint 68th after starting the Spanish Open with a 65. Three successive rounds of 76 gave him a total of 293 and a pay-out of Euros 4,100. Better that than nothing at all for the Kincardine man.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
270 T Levet (Fra) 64 67 71 68 (Euros 333,330).
272 2 F Zanotti (Par) 71 70 66 65 (Euros 222,220).
274 T Bjorn (Den) 70 67 71 66, Peter Lawrie (Ire) 68 66 71 69 (Euros 112,600 each).
278 C Schwartzel (SAf) 67 73 69 69 (Euros 84,800).
279 R Cabrera-Bello (Spa) 70 67 74 68, M Siem (Ger) 67 70 72 70 (Euros 65,000 each).
280 G Bourdy (Fra) 71 71 72 66, D Horsey (Eng) 72 70 72 66, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 65 73 71 71 (Euros 44,933 each).
281 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 69 70 70 72, Stephen Dodd 69 69 69 74, Soren Hansen (Den) 63 70 76 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 66 75 69 71
282 Stuart Davis 72 65 67 78, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 70 73 72 67
283 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 73 71 70 69, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 72 70 74 67, Matthew Millar (Aus) 69 75 71 68, David Lynn 69 73 70 71, Paul Broadhurst 70 69 70 74, Ross McGowan 71 71 73 68, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 68 76 67
284 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 69 72 74 69, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 74 68 72, Chris Wood 66 70 79 69, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 69 65 75, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 67 69 74 74, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 74 69 72 69, Mark Foster 69 72 70 73
285 Steve Webster 74 68 72 71, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 75 69 67 74, Steven O'Hara 72 72 73 68, John Daly (USA) 70 72 74 69, Robert Rock 73 70 71 71, Marcus Higley 71 69 73 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 74 68 74, Raul Quiros (Spa) 68 75 70 72, Santiago Luna (Spa) 69 71 73 72, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 68 71 73 73, Paul McGinley 70 67 73 75 (Euros 14,709) (jt 31st)
286 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 68 75 75 68, Gary Orr 68 72 74 72, Sion Bebb 69 71 73 73 (Euros 11,800 each) 9(jt 42nd).
287 Pedro Linhart (Spa) 71 69 72 75, Paul Lawrie 68 72 80 67, Pablo Martin (Spa) 68 72 71 76
288 Juan francisco Sarasti (Spa) 73 69 68 78, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 71 71 77 69, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 72 69 73 74, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 71 76 70 (Euros 10,000 each) (jt 45th).
289 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 72 67 78 72, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 69 74 75, Jordi Garcia pinto (Spa) 73 71 68 77, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 73 71 71 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 74 72 74
290 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 68 74 70 78, James Kamte (Rsa) 73 71 72 74, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70 74 74
291 Iain Pyman 68 76 69 78, Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 67 76 73 75, Stephen Gallacher 71 70 78 72, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 71 70 74 76, Graeme Storm 69 71 77 74 (Euros 5,400) (jt 60th).
292 Gary Murphy 70 74 77 71, Bradley Dredge 72 71 73 76, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 69 74 80 69
293 Callum Macaulay 65 76 76 76, Phillip Price 73 71 72 77 (Euros 4,100) (jt 68th).
294 Ake Nilsson (Rsa) 70 73 73 78, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 72 72 78 72

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McArthur finishes sixth behind

Coles in Moroccan Classic

From Steve Todd, European Challenge Tour Press Officer
stodd@europeantour.com
England’s Robert Coles cruised to his second European Challenge Tour victory after carding a final round 68 to finish four strokes clear of Australian Matthew Zions in the Moroccan Classic today.
Coles, who began the day at Pullman El Jadida Royal Golf and Spa with a three-stroke lead, made the perfect start to his final round with a hat-trick of birdies before dropping a shot on the fourth hole.
He holed a crucial five foot par putt on the next hole to steady the ship and the victory then never looked in doubt when he added further birdies on the seventh and 13th holes to finish on 13 under par 275.
The 36 year old’s comfortable win was his first in six years since his maiden triumph in the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria in 2003.
“I’m delighted with this,” said Coles, who finished tied eighth in the Tusker Kenya Open. “I got off to a great start and just kept my head down from there.
“I had a good putt on the first and two lovely approach shots on the second and third. On the fourth I thought I hit another but I got the wind wrong and it flew through the back of the green and I bogeyed it but the par putt on the next hole got rid of any negative thoughts and I played as well as I had done all week.
“I was really pleased with my discipline in that I did not get involved with what was going on around me. That was one of the best things I did all week – just concentrate on what I was doing and played it as it happened.
“I was anxious going out there – the bit before going out is the worst – but that start really helped.”
Coles, who has bounced between the Challenge and European Tour in recent years, admitted that the victory would help remove some of his mild self doubts about his playing future, as well as moving him to second in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
“Everyone questions themselves when they don’t win for six years like I haven’t,” he said. “Obviously I am one of the oldest on the Challenge Tour and you do sometimes wonder why you are here.
“Everyone has doubts but this win is sweet. It’s different to my win in Austria as I can from behind then whereas here I’ve been pretty much leading all the way through.
“It’s been a great start to the season for me with a top ten and a win and hopefully I can keep that going.”
Zions fired a superb final round 66 to finish runner up on nine under par – his best Challenge Tour finish – with France’s Julien Quesne third on seven under par.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
275 R Coles (Eng) 69 67 71 68.
279 M Zions (Aus) 71 68 74 66.
281 J Quesne (Fra) 69 71 71 70.
282 B Evans (Eng) 71 70 70 71, A Willey (Eng) 70 75 69 68.
283 A McArthur (Sco) 73 68 69 73.
284 O David (Fra) 72 70 71 71, S Reale (Ita) 74 68 71 71,
285 S Jeppesen (Swe) 70 75 69 71, M Reale (Ita) 72 73 69 71, A Hansen (Den) 70 71 75 69, T Cruz (Por) 70 71 71 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 71 73 72,
286 A Högberg (Swe) 73 71 71 71, J Clément (Sui) 68 74 68 76, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 71 74 66 75,
287 J Moul (Eng) 69 71 75 72, D Griffiths (Eng) 77 71 67 72, T Feyrsinger (Aut) 70 74 71 72, G Murray (Sco) 70 74 71 72.
288 K Sullivan (Wal) 69 76 74 69, J Sköld (Swe) 69 71 71 77, B Teilleria (Fra) 73 68 72 75.
289 T Whitehouse (Eng) 70 74 75 70, D Nouailhac (Fra) 72 69 74 74, J Guerrier (Fra) 73 71 76 69, A Haindl (RSA) 72 72 73 72,
290 B Lecuona (Fra) 73 73 68 76, R Steiner (Aut) 74 71 72 73, L James (Eng) 79 68 71 72, L Richard (Bel) 71 72 72 75, P Kaensche (Nor) 73 73 73 71,
292 B Miarka (Ger) 71 72 76 73, G Davies (Eng) 70 73 72 77, G Boyd (Eng) 71 70 78 73, L Westerberg (Swe) 73 71 76 72, Y El Hassani (Mar) 74 74 69 75, A Marshall (Eng) 74 71 71 76, V Riu (Fra) 71 72 76 73, P Gustafsson (Swe) 75 69 73 75, J McLeary (Sco) 73 73 73 73,
293 M Mills (Eng) 74 74 70 75, A Zanini (Ita) 73 73 73 74, R McEvoy (Eng) 75 72 72 74, P Terreni (Ita) 78 70 69 76, E Molinari (Ita) 72 74 72 75, A Wagner (Arg) 75 73 72 73, P Bocian (Swe) 75 72 76 70,
294 M Korhonen (Fin) 72 74 74 74, J Billot (Fra) 74 71 76 73,
295 M Haastrup (Den) 76 70 75 74, M Delpodio (Ita) 71 72 75 77, J Little (Eng) 74 73 78 70,
296 R Kakko (Fin) 73 74 75 74, M McGeady (Irl) 75 73 74 74, L Kennedy (Eng) 76 72 72 76, J Grillon (Fra) 73 73 74 76, J Axgren (Swe) 71 76 73 76,
297 L Brovold (Nor) 75 73 71 78,
298 F Calmels (Fra) 70 76 75 77, T Schuster (Ger) 71 77 76 74,
299 L Bond (Wal) 71 76 73 79, R Harris (Eng) 73 74 74 78,
300 S Juul (Den) 75 71 77 77, C Gane (Eng) 72 76 79 73, P Del Grosso (Arg) 75 73 74 78,
301 S Saavedra (Arg) 73 75 75 78,
302 A Butterfield (Eng) 73 73 75 81,
303 S Delagrange (Fra) 74 72 78 79,
304 R Diab (Mar) 73 74 80 77,

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Lothian boys beat Lanarkshire at Colville Park

Lothians defeated Lanarkshire 5 1/2-4 1/2 in their annual inter-district friendly golf match at Colville Park Golf Club, Motherwell today.
Details (Lanarkshire names first):
UNDER-16
Craig Boyd (Lanark) bt Scott Findlay (Liberton) 5 and 3.
James Steven (Kirkhill) bt Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 4 and 3.
Ross Gillan (Torrance House) lost to Andrew Loch (Pumpherston) 1 hole.
Craig Ross (Kirkhill) lost to Euan Donaldson (Craigielaw) 1 hole.
UNDER-18
Scott Costello (Kirkhill) bt Danny Crolla (Kingsknowe) 6 and 5.
Martin Scott (Hamilton) halved with Andy Rowe (Kingsknowe).
Declan Doey (Colville Park) lost to Euan Paterson (Bruntsfield) 5 and 4.]
Andrew Burns (Wishaw) lost to Scott Young (Turnhouse) 5 and 4.
Ian Anderson (Colville Park) bt Jamie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 3 and 2.
Graham Duncan (Shotts) lost to Blair Pelling (Prestonfield) 5 and 4.

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REPORT FROM US PGA TOUR

Tiger trips late again and Zach

Johnson leads by two strokes

Tiger Woods faltered with two bogeys on the final holes for the second day in a row at the US PGA Tour's Quail Hollow Championship at Charlotte, North Carolina.
George McNeill did the same and after a lightning suspension with only four players to finish, Zach Johnson, who had birdied the 17th, emerged with a two-shot lead to carry into Sunday's final round.
"I've got a two-shot lead. I'm happy to be there," Johnson said. "At the same time, on this golf course, that's a matter of one hole. Maybe even one shot."
Johnson's par-birdie-par finish -- one day after he went bogey-bogey-bogey -- gave him a 4-under 68 and a two-shot lead over Woods, McNeill and Lucas Glover, all of whom dropped at least one shot over one of the toughest closing stretches - they call in the "Green Mile" - on the US PGA Tour.
Johnson is at 11-under 205 and in position to win for the second time this year. The first prize, by the way, is well over a million dollars. And here's a thought for lady pro golfers to ponder. The total Quail Hollow Champion prize fund of six million dollars is more than they compete for over the whole season on the US Duramed Futures Tour. Something wrong somewhere?
The final two groups, including Johnson and McNeill, had to wait out a 1hr, 12min storm delay before finishing the 18th hole. Officials blew the horn to stop play right after Woods staggered to the finish line with a 70.
Woods birdied all the par 5s, including a two-putt from 12 feet on the 15th hole that put him in the outright lead at 11-under par for the first time in a third round that featured seven players atop the leaderboard at some point.
That he would drop two shots at the end was not terribly shocking, given the difficulty of the holes.
What bothered Woods was that he had a 7-iron in his hand both times -- a poor approach to the 17th that led to a three-putt from 60 feet, and a slight shift in the wind that kept his ball right of the green on the 18th, followed by a poor chip to 6 feet and failure to save par.
"That's not the way you want to finish," Woods said. "But I've got a shot going into tomorrow."
He's not alone.
Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter are in the top-20 or so shake-up.
And nice to see Glasgow's Martin Laird assured of some take-home pay for the second week in a row after his dire start to the season.
Martin has had back-to-back 70s on a course that even trips up the Tiger.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

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Ben Enoch's car death brings back memories

of Finlay Morris's life tragically cut short

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Thanks to an E-mail from "Peter," which pointed me in the right direction, I have started to put together a memory-stirring tribute to Finlay Morris, the rising Scottish golf star of the 1960s whose life was tragically cut short by a car crash ... just like 19-year-old Welsh Walker Cup possible Ben Enoch last week on his way to play in the Lytham Trophy.
"Google" has never heard of Finlay Morris, which is a shame because at the time of his death Morris was being tagged "the next John Panton or Eric Brown," when these two Great Scots figured large in the world of pro golf.
Finlay Morris was a member at Cawder Golf Club, Bishopbriggs.
He won the Scottish boys championship at North Berwick in 1963, beating Iain Clark from Annan by 9 and 8 in the 36-hole final. He also went on to win the British boys' championship.
Morris was capped for Scotland at men's home international level the same year and played in all three matches against England, Ireland and Wales.
I have asked Cawder Golf Club secretary if he can help me put together a fuller, more detailed article.
According to "Peter," Cawder GC have photographs of Finlay on display and their members play for a Finlay Morris Memorial Medal.
+If you can add anything to the Finlay Morris article, however small, E-mail it to me a Colin@Scottishgolfview.com If you do not wish your name revealed, this can be observed.

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