Friday, May 08, 2009

Alex Cejka goes four shots clear

with second-round 67

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Germany's Alex Cejka held a commanding clubhouse lead at TPC Sawgrass in Florida today as the second round of The Players Championship took shape and some big names flirted with the cut.
Cejka, still searching for his maiden PGA Tour victory after playing full time in the United States since 2003, began the day at six under par, a shot behind overnight leader Ben Crane.
The 39-year-old quickly moved past his American rival on the par-72, 7,215yard Players Stadium course with three birdies in a row between the second and fourth holes and went on to shoot a 67, 11 under for the tournament and four shots clear of the field, despite needing an epidural injection to ease the pain in a long-troubled neck.
Americans Kevin Na and Jason Dufner were in the clubhouse on seven under after a 66 and 70 respectively, with Masters champion Angel Cabrera also done for the day after a 65 that took him to four shots behind Cejka.
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PGA Tour's official website
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The Argentinian had returned to action last week following his Augusta National play-off success over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell but missed the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship and bounced back from an opening 72.
Crane briefly stayed in touch with fellow early starter Cejka but a double bogey at the par-four 18th left him with a 73, taking him back to six under, alongside Australia's Robert Allenby, who shot a 66.
Camilo Villegas of Colombia had got to seven under before a double bogey 7 at the par-5 16th led to a level-par 73, five under at the halfway stage.
Sweden's Robert S Johnson and American John Mallinger were among the late starters, each beginning at six under with England's Ian Poulter, Retief Goosen of South Africa and Americans David Toms, Scott Verplank and Jonathan Byrd starting at five under.
Johnson and Byrd had both moved to seven under after 10 holes while Poulter birdied his second on the 11th hole to reach six under.
Byrd got to eight under after 12 holes and Poulter improved another stroke to seven under with a birdie at the 16th. England's Paul Casey will start the third round at five under following a 69 that consisted of five birdies and two bogeys.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
Players from US unless stated
133 Alex Cejka (Ger) 66 67.
137 Kevin Na 71 66, Jason Dufner 67 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 72 65, John Mallinger 66 71
138 Ben Crane 65 73
139 Michael Letzig 71 68, Paul Casey (Eng) 70 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 73 66, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 72, Ryan Moore 71 68
140 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 69, Kevin Sutherland 73 67
141 Michael Allen 71 70, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 68 73, Tim Clark (Rsa) 72 69, Stephen Ames (Can) 70 71, Mark Wilson 69 72
142 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68 74, Steve Stricker 71 71, John Merrick 70 72, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 72, Bubba Watson 67 75, Chez Reavie 70 72, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 71, Jim Furyk 68 74, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 72 70
143 Jeff Klauk 71 72, Brad Adamonis 67 76, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 73, Nathan Green (Aus) 74 69, Jeff Quinney 73 70, Martin Laird (Sco) 71 72, Scott Piercy 71 72
144 Pat Perez 72 72, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 73, Matt Kuchar 72 72, Heath Slocum 75 69, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 74 70, Hunter Mahan 73 71, Kenny Perry 73 71, Dustin Johnson 72 72, Phil Mickelson 73 71, Steve Marino 72 72, Cameron Beckman 72 72, Rocco Mediate 73 71, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 72 72
PROJECTED CUT AT LEVEL PAR 144
145 Will MacKenzie 73 72, Jerry Kelly 73 72, Bart Bryant 74 71, Adam Scott (Aus) 71 74, Troy Matteson 73 72
146 Chad Campbell 75 71, Scott McCarron 74 72, Todd Hamilton 74 72
147 Bill Haas 74 73, Eric Axley 72 75, Greg Kraft 74 73, D.J. Trahan 74 73
148 Vaughn Taylor 72 76, Sean O'Hair 73 75, Brett Quigley 72 76, Ross Fisher (Eng) 74 74, Lucas Glover 73 75, Briny Baird 72 76, Kevin Streelman 74 74
149 J J Henry 73 76, Dean Wilson 77 72, Parker McLachlin 75 74
150 Tim Herron 75 75, Ryan Palmer 75 75
151 Fred Couples 80 71
153 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 81 72, Tom Pernice Jnr. 74 79, Webb Simpson 76 77
154 Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 77 77
155 Anthony Kim 73 82, Matt Bettencourt 76 79
158 Michael Bradley 80 78

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Aberdeen Trades Foursomes Scoreboard
HAZLEHEAD No 1 Course
Results:
WEDNESDAY
First round
Tulloch beat Press 1 hole.
Lawyers bt Baker Hughes 16 holes.
PSN bt Agricola 16 holes.
ACCNS bt Greenkeepers 2 11 holes.
Teachers bt Bakers 6 holes.
Sparrow Offshore bt Meat Trade 5 holes.

THURSDAY
First round
APORA bt Morrison Construction 2 holes.
Chartered Accountants w.o. Petrofac scr.
Plumbing & Heating Engineers bt NEEI 5 holes.
Bakers bt University 12 holes.
Aberdeen Telephones bt Licensed Trade at 19th.

TONIGHT
First round
GREENKEEPERS 8, GARAGE TRADERS 0

N Saddler & R Paterson 2, P Lawrence & S Feaks 0.
R McRae & D Grant 6, D Mullen & G Bridges 0.

BANCHORY CONTRACTORS 0, LUMSDEN SECURITY 3
N Sangster & B Bell 0, M Wheeler & C McBain 5.
R Barron & C Hay 2, F Lawson & N Forbes 0.

CONCEPT GROUP 0, ELMAR UK 4
G Lawrie & N Anderson 0, P Elmslie & K Coul 1.
S Macintosh & M Reid 0, A Strath & K Selbie 3.

SURVEYORS w.o. INSURANCE scr
G Hendry & M Halliday.
J Bradley & C Kerr.

CORN TRADE 0, POLICE 5
G Davidson Gall & K Cooper 0, B Ritchie & J Calder 4.
S Howie & A Davidson 0, R Yule & D Forsyth 1.

Second Round
PSN 0, ACCNS 2
A Fiddes & W Riley 0, I Morrison & C Strachan 0.
A Sheldrick & C Flint 0, I Pratt & D Morris 2.

MONDAY'S MATCHES
Second Round
4.05 Tulloch Recruitment v Lawyers.
4.19 Teachers v Sparrow Offshore.
4.33 APORA v Chartered Accountants.
4.45 Police v Plumbing & Heating Engineers.
5.01 Bakers v Aberdeen Telephones.
5.15 Greenkeepers 1 v Lumsden Security.
5.29 Elmar UK v Surveyors

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Elliot Saltman picks up £3,066 runner-up prize

Final Scots' scores in the Collingtree Park Masters, the opening event on the PGA EuroPro Tour were:

216 (level par) Elliot Saltman 74 74 68 (£3,066.66) 2nd equal.
222 Jack Doherty 72 72 78 (£290).
224 John Gallagher 72 76 76 (£260)
226 Chris Kelly 71 78 77 (£225).

FULL REPORT by ANTHONY LEAVER
Hanson's collapse hands Surry Collingtree Park victory

Steve Surry has won the Michael Ward UK Open at Collingtree Park after Chris Hanson let a five shot lead slip in the 2009 PGA EuroPro opener.
Surry (Cumberwell Park) heaped real pressure on Hanson from the start and was four under par after the 11th after starting the final round on level par. Surry’s first blemish came on the 12th before back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17 looked to have undone his earlier good work and he finished level for the day, one under for the tournament (215) following steady opening rounds of 70 and 73.
Ultimately though, his early work was enough to wrestle the advantage from Hanson and secure the opening event of 2009.
“I’m chuffed to bits,” said Surry, who scoops £10,000 for the win. “I knew that if I played well today I would at least put pressure on and that paid off.”
“I was annoyed that I dropped a couple of shots at the end but I had a great front nine and that's what has won me the tournament,” said the 27 year-old, who topped the first stage of qualifying school at his home club.
“I was only going to be playing six tournaments but my schedule has changed and I will play most of them now, so this win is a fantastic start.”
“No-one likes to see a player go through that but Chris is a quality player and I know he’ll come back stronger.”
Hanson’s difficulties started immediately with a bogey on the first and although he cancelled that out with a birdie at the third, a bogey at five and a double at eight saw him in real trouble. A third bogey came at the 11th but the Huddersfield man strung together six pars to stay three under until he bogeyed 17 leaving him one shot ahead down the last.
Disaster struck straight away when he drove out of bounds. His provisional found the fairway but his approach to the green landed in the water. A drop and a chip later and he was at the back of the green where his chip ran past the hole for a tricky return putt which was missed, finally tapping home for a 9 to follow rounds of 70 and 67 with a final round 81, leaving him joint eighth at two over.
“I’m obviously disappointed but I was 100 per cent committed today and it just wasn’t there for me,” said Hanson. “I can still take a lot from the tournament – from leading and being in contention to my first two rounds where I played really well.”
“I felt fine on the last but my tee shot just caught the wind. I thought my pitch had made it over as it looked good and I can’t believe it didn’t make it. It was the toughest day of the three with the wind but it was the same for all the players.”
The round of the day belonged to Paul Dwyer (Clitheroe), who was in the third group out at five over but finished the tournament on level par with six birdies in his 67. A bogey at the last denied Elliot Saltman (Aegon) a 67 of his own and ultimately a play-off for first place, with his four under round seeing him join Dwyer at level par. The local charge was led by Wellingborough’s Simon Lilly but he was left to rue a double bogey on the fifth hole and had to settle for a one under round 71 to finish level.
It was the first event for the new official bookmakers of the Tour – Sky Bet – who were delighted with Surry’s win after facing a big pay-out on Lilly should he had prevailed. One punter placed £100 each-way on Surry at 40-1 before the tournament though and collected £5,000.
“Despite both Surry and Lilly being well backed and us losing on the event, the turnover and the general interest that Sky Bet have achieved over this sponsorship has been phenomenal, and we are looking forward to Faithlegg already,” said Sky Bet’s John Rhodes, who will release prices for next week’s Green 17 Faithlegg Championship in Waterford, Ireland at the weekend.
For the full Collingtree Park results, visit http://www.europrotour.com/ and click on the Score Updates link.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216
1 Steve Surry 70, 73, 72 – 215: £10,000
=2 Paul Dwyer 77, 72, 67 – 216: £3,066.66
=2 Elliot Saltman 74, 74, 68 – 216: £3,066.66
=2 Simon Lilly 70, 75, 71 – 216: £3,066.66
=5 Mark Ramsdale 71, 72, 74 – 217: £1,200
=5 Paul Streeter 71, 71, 75 – 217: £1,200
=5 George Woolgar 72, 70, 75 – 217: £1,200
=8 Daniel Gaunt 73, 75, 70 – 218: £875
=8 Chris Hanson 70, 67, 81 – 218: £875

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Monty and Lawrie fail to beat cut in Italian Open

Argentine big-hitter Daniel shows he

can putt with the best of them

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Argentina's Daniel Vancsik moved into a one-stroke lead at the BMW Italian Open in Turin after an impressive second round display.
Vancsik added a 65 to his opening 68 for a nine-under-par aggregate while Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin, three clear after his opening course record 64, slipped to second place with a 70.
Vancsik has not had a top 20 finish on the European Tour for almost a year, but that does not mean he will not win - he went eight months without one before capturing the Madeira Islands Open in 2007.
The 32-year-old is known for his big hitting, but it was his putter that was his most impressive weapon when he returned to Royal Park I Roveri four behind Maybin.
In grabbing five birdies in six holes around the turn he holed twice from 20 feet and also converted a 25 foot chance.
"When I feel good about my putting I am more relaxed," he said. "But you need to play well for four rounds - if it is only for three then it won't happen.
"I'm working on hitting the driver straighter. Hitting it long is okay, but you need to put it on the fairway."
While compatriot Angel Cabrera has now won two Majors, Vancsik has yet to play in one.
The closest he came was at Walton Heath last June when he lost a play-off for a US Open Championship spot to amateur Gary Wolstenholme.
Maybin said after his two birdie, one bogey round: "That was hard work - too hard.
"Tee to green I was not very good, but usually anybody who finishes well is going to have one of those days and hopefully that's mine out of the way."
England's Anthony Wall, Icelander Birgir Hafthorsson and Finn Roope Kakko are in joint third place on seven under.
Wall, trying for only his second win in more than 300 European Tour events, shot 67, Hafthorsson a 65 and Kakko, who received a late call-up to the event, a 64.
That was a European Tour best for the 27 year old, but will not join Maybin's opening round as a course record because placing was allowed on the fairways.
That also applies, of course, to South African Andrew McLardy, who improved from three over to four under with the help of a hole in one at the 208 yard fourth.
On the same mark is American star John Daly after a second successive 69 - in fact, a third in a row as he finished last week's Open de España with one.
"Yesterday could have been really low and today could have been really high," said the 43 year old.
Big name Scots Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie failed to survive the cut, which was hard lines on Lawrie after an excellent second-round 67. Pity about the first-day 76.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ITALIAN OPEN TOTALS AFTER TWO ROUNDS

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Loch Ness Seniors Open tee times on May 14

Late entries will be accepted on 01463 713334 for the Seniors Open to be played on Loch Ness Golf Course, Castle Heather, Inverness on Thursday 14th May.
Competitors will tee of in threes at 7-minute intervals and are from the host club unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviations: FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie; I, Inverness; ND, Nairn Dunbar; T, Torvean.
9.0 A. Findlay (T), T. Smith, Partner; W. Greig, H. Clunas (ND), P. Simon; J. MacKenzie, S. Renfrew, I. Matheson; R. Gourlay, A. Cook, R. Hunt; J. Dow, R. Russell, I. Blake.
10.0 R. Maxwell (T), N. Black, Partner; J. Buchan (T), K. Stott, Partner.
11.0 R. Duff, C. MacDonald (I), Partner.
12.0 H. MacCulloch (FR), F. Stampfer (I), Partner.

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Booth, Betty joint top Scots

with 76 in windy start to
Irish open stroke-play

Comrie's Wallace Booth, last year's Scottish men's amateur stroke-play champion, and Paul Betty (Hayston) were the best placed Scots at windswept Royal Dublin in the first round of the Irish men's open amateur stroke-play championship.
High winds delayed play from 9am until nearly 10.30 as Irish Golf Union officials adjudged that the conditions were so bad the course was unplayable.

Late starters finished almost in darkness but Paul Betty, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, could see well enough to return a two-over-par 76 to match the score returned much earlier in the day by Booth.
Sunningdale's Farren Keenan posted a two-over-par 74 comparatively early in the day but many hours later it was still standing out on its own at the top of the leaderboard, despite the calibre of the international field.
Wind is a great leveller.
Booth's and Betty's hard-earned 76s put them in joint fifth place and they will have been happy with that on a day when disaster limitation was the name of the game.
Four other Scots - Gavin Dear (Murrayshall), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw) and Mark Bookless - were able to break 70, Dear with a 77 and McNicoll with a 79, which were commendable efforts in the conditions.
The 17-year-old defending champion from Portugal, Pedro Figueiredo, was blown away to an 85, the same score as recent Edward Trophy winner at Glasgow Gailes, Paul O'Hara (Colville Park).
Figueiredo was four under par for the first 36 holes last year and won by seven strokes with a 10-under-par total of 278. A repeat is not now on the cards with the young Portuguese in danger of not making the top 40 and ties after Saturday's second round, who will go on to Sunday's final 36 holes.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72

74: F Keenan (England)
75: J Fox (Portmarnock), N Kearney (The Royal Dublin), M Veijalainen (Finland)
76: W Booth (Scotland), P Betty (Scotland)
77: R McCarthy (The Island), R Leonard (Banbridge), T Hakula (Finland), G Dear (Scotland)
78: B Anderson (Co. Sligo), S Moloney (Castletroy), D Whitnell (England), P Westermann (Germany), D Lernihan (Castle), P Cutler (Portstewart), J Monaghan (The Island), N Grant (Knock), R Laino (England), A Runcie (Wales), S Hutsby (England)
79: L Brady (The Royal Dublin), D Ruddy (Thurles), K McNicoll (Scotland), S Lowry (Esker Hills), M Cunningham (Scotland), T Pulkkanen (Finland), P Purdy (Shandon Park), M Thistleton (England), M Bookless (Scotland), R Durnin (Laytown & Bettystown), R Prophet (England), B Walton (The Island), R McNamara (Headfort)
80: R Kellett (Scotland), H Satama (Finland), A Dunbar (Rathmore), G Paterson (Scotland), S Borrowman (Scotland), T Beaumont (England), R Cannon (Laytown & Bettystown), J McGinn (Laytown & Bettystown), M Durcan (Co. Sligo), J Ross (Scotland), G Dillon (The Heath), S Hodgson (England), A Hogan (Newlands)
81: S McEwan (Scotland), P Croonquist (USA), M Rivard (Canada), E Arthurs (Forrest Little), M Buggy (Castlecomer), T O' Flynn (Fota Island), C Curley (Newlands), C Doran (Banbridge), L Goddard (England)
82: C Drumm (Rosslare), J Carlota (Portugal), S Einhaus (Germany), G McDermott (Co. Sligo), C Wilson (USA), P Shields (Scotland), I Brennan (Greenore), C Durnian (England), T Dogil (Germany), M Hammond (Moyola Park), G McGrane (The Royal Dublin), J Morris (Rosslare), L Lennox (Moyola Park), D Morgan (Mullingar), P McLean (Scotland), M Glauert (Germany), S Brown (England), G McGee (Malone), D Murphy (Portarlington), B Reiter (Austria), G Lawlor (Newbridge)
83: C O'Malley (Westport), C Thomson (Scotland), D O'Donovan (Muskerry), R Bridges (Stackstown), A Kirstein (Germany), C Robb (Scotland), D Coyle (Co. Louth), J Haglund (Finland), O Mikkola (Finland)
84: P Dunne (Greystones), P Murray (Limerick), T McGowan (Strandhill), S Binning (Scotland), G Yates (Scotland), H Bacher (Austria), K McDonagh (Athlone), T Fay (Rush)
85: M Brett (Portmarnock), M Violas (Portugal), P Figueiredo (Portugal), M Downes (England), P O'Hara (Scotland), E Kennedy (England)
86: R McGee (Ireland), O Sharpe (England), B Campbell (Malone), S Wolters (Germany), T Rodrigues (Portugal), M Reardon (USA), G O'Connor-Brooks (USA)
87: J Jóia (Portugal), K Samooja (Finland)
88: J Hendrick (Scotland), A Llorente (Colombia), G Dunne (Seapoint), R Cronheim (USA), A Dooley (Glasson)
89: K Nicol (Scotland), M Aurnhammer (Germany), F Illouz (France).
90: G Perne (Slovenia), C Schroder (Germany)
91: N Woods (East Clare)




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John Chillas (70) leading Scot in

Mallorca Senior Open

From Steve Todd, European Senior Tour Press Officer
stodd@europeantour.com
Delroy Cambridge is setting the pace in the Son Gual Mallorca Senior Open after carding a five under par round of 67 to lead by one stroke from Roger Chapman, who made a dream start to his European Senior Tour career.
Jamaican Cambridge fired six birdies and just the single bogey, taking advantage of the fine playing conditions at Son Gual Golf.
The 59 year old, a four time Senior Tour winner, finished tied 11th in the DGM Barbados Open in March and the Florida based player feels the heat in Mallorca, as well a new set of irons, helped him seize the early advantage on the Spanish island.
“I’d looked forward to this event because of the weather here and I got lucky with the draw as the morning was perfect for playing,” he said.
“Over in Florida I’ve been able to practice every day and I’m swinging well. I’ve got a new set of Cleveland irons which I’ve been using for the past three weeks and my game is getting there.
“I’ve been working on my swing and trying to slow everything down and I seem to be timing the ball better. I’m probably at 90 per cent at the moment.
“I holed one 25ft putt on the 13th hole but everything else was pretty close today. I was very happy with that start.”
Like Cambridge, former European Tour winner Chapman opened his round with back-to-back birdies as he settled straight into life on the Senior Tour after spending the past two seasons as a Rules Official.
Chapman, who celebrated his 50th birthday on May 1, admitted he was nervous standing on the first tee but he showed few signs of tension as he carded six birdies to finish on four under par 68.
“I was apprehensive of the first tee and I did go through everything I had worked on over the winter so it was nice to see it go straight down the middle of the fairway!” he said.
“I then played a perfect nine iron and holed a nice 10ft putt so it was great to get off to such a good start.
“I just wanted to get going today and to try to play well. I’ve been out of the limelight for a while. I’ve not felt like I did on the first tee for a long time. It was a real buzz.
“I’m still finding my feet and the adrenalin will be pumping again tomorrow. I’m really enjoying it.”
American Jerry Bruner is a shot further back after signing for a 69 while former Ryder Cup Captain Mark James of England is in a group of players on two under par, along with Scotland’s John Chillas, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who was five under par after six holes but slipped back after the turn.
Former Ryder Cup Captains Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance opened with rounds of 73 and 74 respectively.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72

67 D Cambridge (Jam).
68 R Chapman (Eng).
69 J Bruner (USA).
70 K Spurgeon (Eng), B Lincoln (RSA), T Allen (Eng), J Chillas (Sco), M James (Eng).
71 C Mason (Eng), E Darcy (Irl), A Franco (Par), T Giedeon (Ger), H Carbonetti (Arg), E Polland (NIr), R Drummond (Sco).
72 A Fernandez (Chi), P Mitchell (Eng) , J Cañizares (Esp) , G Encina (Chi), M Harwood (Aus), B Cameron (Eng), G Brand (Eng).
73 G Ralph (Eng), K Tomori (Jpn), I Woosnam (Wal), J Heggarty (NIr), T Johnstone (Zim), A Tapie (US), D Smyth (Ire) , J Rhodes (Eng), P Oakley (US), M Cunning (US).

74 S Torrance (Sco), J Sallat (Fra), A Barrera (Arg), J Hoskison (Eng), A Murray (Eng), J Bland (RSA) , N Job (Eng), G Brand jun (Sco), M Piñero (Esp), J Hall (Eng), P Brostedt (Swe) , B Longmuir (Sco).
75 D Good (Aus), S Ginn (Aus), T Charnley (Eng), B Boyd (US), E Rodriguez (Esp), D Merriman (Aus), M Williams (Zim), D Russell (Eng), J Quiros (Esp).
76 S Bennett (Eng), G Watine (Fra).
77 B Smit (RSA), G Cali (Ita).
78 L Carbonetti (Arg), I Mosey (Eng), A Garrido (Esp).
79 D Hospital (Esp), D Johnson (US), M Miller (Sco), J Rivero (Esp).
80 F Fuentes (Esp).
81 V Garcia (Esp), D Durnian (Eng), M Poxon (Eng), F Chaves (Esp).
82 M Bembridge (Eng).
85 B Stevens (Eng).
Retired: D O'Sullivan (Ire).

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European Tour Scoreboard
BMW ITALIAN OPEN
Royal Park, I Roveri,Torino
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
133 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 68 65
134 Gareth Maybin 64 70
135 Anthony Wall 68 67, Roope Kakko (Fin) 71 64, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 70 65
137 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 69, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 70 67, Richie Ramsay 67 70, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 72 65, Ake Nilsson (Rsa) 68 69, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 69, Robert Rock 72 65, Marcus Higley 67 70, Julien Clement (Swi) 70 67
138 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 68 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 73 65, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 74 64, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 69, John Daly (US) 69 69, Gary Lockerbie 69 69, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 67, Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 69, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 68 70
139 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 73 66, Jonathan Caldwell 71 68, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 67 72, Michael Mcgeady 71 68, Robert Dinwiddie 72 67, Branden Grace (Rsa) 69 70, David Lynn 71 68, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 70 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 70 69, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 70 69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 70
140 Gary Orr 72 68, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 69 71, Alan McLean 71 69, Benn Barham 73 67, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 71 69, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 71 69, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 72 68, Matteo Delpodio (Ita) 68 72, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 73 67
141 Chris Gane 71 70, Garry Houston 68 73, Marco Soffietti (Ita) 72 69, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 73, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 67, Sion Bebb 73 68, Metteo Manassero (Ita) 71 70, Wil Besseling (Ned) 72 69, Lee Slattery 72 69, Marc Warren 74 67, Stephen Dodd 70 71, Phillip Archer 71 70, Alastair Forsyth 73 68, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 70 71, Mark Foster 70 71
142 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 68 74, John Mellor 69 73, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 70 72, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 74 68, David Frost (Rsa) 76 66, Gary Clark 72 70, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 73 69, Gareth Paddison (Nzl) 70 72, Gary Murphy 70 72, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 70, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 68
MISSED THE CUT
143 Richard Bland 72 71, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 71 72, Niccolo Quintarelli (Ita) 72 71, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 71, Scott Barr (Aus) 71 72, Taco Remkes (Ned) 72 71, Paul Lawrie 76 67, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71, Bradley Dredge 70 73
144 Simon Robinson 72 72, Colin Montgomerie 72 72, Andrew Coltart 75 69, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 73 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 71 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 75 69, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 69 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 74 70, Anthony Kang (US) 73 71, David Drysdale 69 75, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 74 70, Marco Bernardini (Ita) 74 70, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 74 70, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 74 70
145 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 72 73, Stuart Davis 74 71, Peter Whiteford 79 66, Tino Schuster (Ger) 77 68, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 76 69, Kenneth Ferrie 75 70, Steven O'Hara 72 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 72, Michael Curtain (Aus) 70 75, Thomas Levet (Fra) 73 72
146 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 73, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 73 73, Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 73 73, Paul Broadhurst 73 73, Gregory Molteni (Ita) 69 77, John E Morgan 72 74, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 71, Sam Little 77 69, Barry Lane 72 74
147 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 74 73, Richard McEvoy 73 74, Stuart Manley 73 74, Simon Khan 70 77, Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 75 72, Iain Pyman 76 71, Sam Walker 73 74, Mark Haastrup (Den) 72 75, Stephen Gallacher 72 75, Alexander Noren (Swe) 75 72, Antti Ahokas (Fin) 75 72, Michele Reale (Ita) 78 69
148 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 76 72, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 76 72, Andrea Zanini (Ita) 75 73, Seve Benson 73 75, Callum Macaulay 76 72, Miles Tunnicliff 72 76, Nino Bertasio (Ita) 76 72, Chris Doak 76 72
149 Sven Struver (Ger) 76 73, Nunzio Lombardi (Ita) 77 72, Andrea Signor (Ita) 75 74, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 73 76, Darren Clarke 74 75, Kane Webber (US) 74 75
150 Federico Colombo (Ita) 77 73, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 73 77
151 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 77 74, Peter Baker 78 73, Markus Brier (Aut) 77 74, Mattia Miloro (Ita) 75 76, Simon Wakefield 73 78
152 Raphael De Sousa (Swi) 79 73, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 78 74, Alan Wagner (US) 74 78, Oliver Fisher 73 79
153 Santiago Luna (Spa) 78 75
155 Andrea Zani (Ita) 76 79, Leonardo Motta (Ita) 75 80, Pablo Martin (Spa) 73 82
156 Emmanuele Lattanzi (Ita) 79 77

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Winning Dollar Golf Club team (left to right) Charlie Murray, Gary Smith, Darren Hulston (team captain holding trophy), Gary Chalmers, Steven McPherson, Vic Allan and (extreme right) Sam Kinnaird, Clackmannan county president (image by courtesy of Hugh Hunter; click to enlarge).
Glory week for Dollar in Clackmannan fours

By HUGH HUNTER
Once again the Clackmannan county foursomes championship produced drama and tense finishes. This year it was the turn of Dollar Golf Club to come out on top - after a wait of 31 years from their last win!
Over the Alva lay-out, Darren Hulston’s team produced performances that eliminated home team Alva in the semi-final and snatched victory from Alloa in the final, both by the narrowest of margins.
Darren judged his pairings perfectly and it was over the closing holes that they showed some golfing class.
Semi-final heroes for the Dollar team had to be youngsters Gary Chalmers and Steven McPherson who secured enough holes up to give Darren and Gary the chance to take the match at the 18th hole.
They duly did this with a brilliant approach shot to 3ft at the 18th from Darren followed by Gary’s putt for a birdie 3.
In the final Dollar held a slight advantage after the first nine holes, then the Alloa team came strongly back. Over the last two holes it was the Dollar couples who held on to snatch a one-hole victory. Once again the youngsters finished ahead but the heroes this time were the (more senior) pairing of Vic Allan and Charlie Murray (Vic’N Chic!) who finished three holes ahead, thanks to a fine birdie on the last hole.
Over the two weeks of the event, the competitors and officials enjoyed the hospitality of Alva Golf Club - particularly Lorraine Laverty and her catering team who dished up steak pies and stovies after the golf - much appreciated on the cold evenings.
Results of closing stages
SEMI-FINAL
DOLLAR bt ALVA by one hole.
(Dollar names first)
Gary Chalmers & Steven McPherson bt Kevin McFarlane & Michael Robertson 3 holes
Vic Allan & Charlie Murray lost to Gregor Kennedy & Lawrence Allan 1 hole
Darren Hulston & Gary Smith lost to Steve McIvor & Allan Aitken 1 hole
FINAL
DOLLAR bt ALLOA by one hole
(Dollar names first)
Hulston & Smith lost to David Milloy and Scott Moffat 3 holes
Allan & Murray bt Scott Kerr & Craig White 3 holes
Chalmers & McPherson beat Jamie Aitken & Ian Ross 1 hole

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Loch Ness make winning start to Moray Firth League

Loch Ness Golf Club beat Strathpeffer Spa GC 4-2 on a very blustery Loch Ness Golf Course in the sides' inaugural match in the new Moray Firth League.
Both sides acquitted themselves well in the testing conditions with all games played in friendly and sporting manner. Home advantage was always going to be important and LNGC's top three players all took the points to guarantee them at least a draw.
Strathpeffer fought back, however, with convincing wins in games 4 and 5 but Neil Hampton beat Strathpeffer club captain Kevin Manson in the final game to secure the win for Loch Ness. Assessing the match overall it was Michael Henderson's win over Matthew Sloggie in game 2 that was pivotal with the win only secured on the last green.
All players commented well on the format of the event and looked forward to their next matches against the other competing clubs."

LOCH NESS 4, STRATHPEFFER SPA 2
At Loch Ness.
(Home players first)
D Joel bt G Gordon 4 and 3.
M Henderson bt M Sloggie 2 holes.
S McCallum bt P. Bannerman 3 and 2.
J Gordon lost to N Duff 6 and 4.
J Fraser lost to M McNab 4 and 3.
N D Hampton bt K. Manson 6 and 4.

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Ayrshire name team to start title defence

FROM THE AYRSHIRE GOLF WEBSITE
Team manager Ronnie Potts has announced the Ayrshire team for their first match in the defence of the Scottish Area Team Championship, which takes place against Stirlingshire at Falkirk Tryst on Sunday, May 17.
Three members of the team who secured the title for Ayrshire at Tain in 2008 return to open the defence of the title.
John Shanks (Irvine), George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) and Tommy McInally (Loudoun) will be joined by 2007 Ayrshire match-play champion Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck), as well as the new Ayrshire match-play champion Scott Brown (Turnberry) and former Ayrshire boys championship winner Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie).
After the May 17 match, further qualifying section matches against the North-east and Borders will take place in August and September.

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Turnberry's Scott Brown beats

Tommy McInally in Ayrshire

match-play final

FROM THE AYRSHIRE GOLF WEBSITE
Scott Brown (Turnberry) held off a great fight back by Tommy McInally (Loudoun Gowf) to win the 2009 Ayrshire match-play championship in gale force conditions at Prestwick Golf Club.
In winning the senior title, Scott Brown, pictured with the trophy, became the first player to hold both the senior and junior Ayrshire match-play titles at the same time, having won the junior event over the same course last August.
In a match which produced drama right to the last green, both players deserve great credit for producing an absorbing final in conditions which made quality golf almost impossible.
Brown started the match brightly and forged a two-hole lead by the third after McInally found sand with tee shots at the second and third.
Further bunker trouble for McInally at the fifth and sixth saw Brown’s lead extend to four holes before McInally began to hit back with a solid par to win the seventh.
Brown missed a short putt on the 10th green to see his lead cut to two before producing a superb up-and-down at the short 11th to gain a crucial half after McInally had hit a glorious tee shot through the wind to the heart of the green.
Brown then re-established his three-hole advantage at the difficult 13th before McInally battled back, taking three of the next four holes to square the match going into the final hole.
Sadly, a terrific encounter was settled by a mistake, when McInally three-putted from the edge of the green, leaving Brown to claim the title with a text book par 4.
Ayrshire Golf Association President Alasdair Malcolm (Prestwick St. Nicholas) presented prizes to both players at the conclusion of the match.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
(Qualifying position in brackets)
Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) (16) bt John Shanks (Irvine) (1) 4 and 2.
Stephen Spence (Irvine) (8) bt Gareth Lamb (Irvine) (9) 5 and 4.
Scott Brown (Turnberry) (13) bt Joe Gilligan (Troon Welbeck) (4) at 22nd.
Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) bt John Haggerty (Loudoun) (5) 6 and 5.
Stephen Murray (Troon Welbeck) (2) bt Walter Meiklam (Troon Welbeck) (15).
Ian Walker (Turnberry) (10) bt Craig McLaughlin (Largs) (7) at 19th.
Tommy McInally (Loudoun) (14) bt Ricky Black (Irvine) (3) 5 and 3.
Billy Hunter (Troon Welbeck) (11) bt Graham Rowan (Ballochmyle) (6) 5 and 3.
QUARTER-FINALS
Spence (8) bt Pennycott (16) 2 and 1.
Brown (13) bt Moultrie (12) 5 and 3.
Murray (2) bt Walker (10) 3 and 2.
McInally (14) bt Hunter (11) 5 and 3.
SEMI-FINALS
Brown (13) bt Spence (8) 5 and 3.
McInally (14) bt Murray (2) 3 and 2.
FINAL
Brown (13) bt McInally (14) 1 hole.

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