Challenge Tour report and scores

Eagle sends Coles soaring to the Swiss summit
An eagle and five birdies helped Robert Coles open up a three stroke lead at the half-way mark of the Trophée du Golf de Genève as the Englishman moved into pole position for his third European Challenge Tour win of the season.
After a scintillating opening round 64, Coles fired another flawless seven under par round of 65 at Golf Club de Genève, saving par on the last with a fine 20ft putt to maintain his bogey-free record for the opening 36 holes.
That came after an eagle on the fifth hole, his 14th of the day, which had moved him to 15 under par for the tournament, three shots clear of Frenchman Julien Quesne, the overnight leader who added a 69 to his opening round 63.
Coles needs one more Challenge Tour victory to gain automatic exemption on The European Tour for the rest of this season and next, having already won twice this year, at the MOROCCAN CLASSIC by BANQUE POPULAIRE and the Challenge of Ireland presented by Moyvalley.
Despite his half-way advantage, the 36 year old remains cautious going into the weekend.
“So far it has been so good,” said Coles, who tied for fifth last week at the SK Golf Challenge in Finland. “I’m really pleased with the way I have scored so far. To be 15 under after 36 holes is a great score and seven under today was another good round but I realised there are another 36 holes to go so I am not getting carried away.
“This year is the most consistent I’ve ever played – no question. It gives you confidence when you are doing it every week. Some weeks I’ve not played well but I’ve got it round and scored well and others I’ve played really well.
“My eagle was a three wood then four iron to 15ft and the putt hit the lip of the hole and went in so I was a bit fortunate there really. I probably hit the ball closer to the hole yesterday but I played well again today.”
Coles admitted to being a little surprised at shooting two very low scores as he has previously struggled on the Swiss course.
“I played here two years ago and about 14 years ago and missed the cut both times,” he said. “I’d say the difference this week is I’m playing a lot better than I was then and have been all year. I’ve also had two morning times when I’ve had the course at its best. It will obviously firm up in the afternoon when I’m out tomorrow but I’m playing well. I’m hitting it really close and giving myself a lot of opportunities.”
Germany’s Florian Fritsch is four strokes behind leader Coles in third place after a 68, while England’s James Morrison is a further shot back following a 67.
Fellow Englishman Peter Baker provided one of the highlights of the second round, notching a hole in one at the 170-yard par three 11th, his second hole of the day, en route to an impressive five under par round of 67 to lie six shots off the pace.

Scores after round two

129 R Coles (Eng) 64 65
132 J Quesne (Fra) 63 69
133 F Fritsch (Ger) 65 68
134 J Morrison (Eng) 67 67
135 P Baker (Eng) 68 67
136 J Parry (Eng) 68 68
137 S Bebb (Wal) 66 71, J Clément (Sui) 69 68, N Colsaerts (BEl) 66, 71
138 L Gagli (Ita) 68 70, AS Hansen (Den) 73 65, A Kaleka (Ger) 69 69, E Molinari (Ita) 70 68, L James (Eng) 69 69, G Boyd (Eng) 72 66
139 R Davies (Wal) 71 68, M Zions (Aus) 66 73, S Walker (Eng) 72 67, J McLeary (Sco) 70 60, R McEvoy (Eng) 69 70, J Gurrier (Fra) 71 68
141 A Tampion (Aus) 73 68, C Gunther (Ger) 72 69, JF Lima (Por) 71 70
142 A Butterfield (Eng) 70 72, R Steiner (Aut) 73 69, M Tullo (Chi) 74 68, A McArthur (Sco) 69 73, L Kennedy (Eng) 70 72, M Tullo (Chi) 74 68, A Wagner (Arg) 71 71
143 F Praegant (Aut) 71 72, J Colomo (Esp) 70 73;
145 C Rodiles 74 71, A Nilsson(Swe) 69 76, F Calmels (Fra) 71 74
147 P Whiteford (Sco) 74 73

Ian Brotherston v Ian Renne in Carnegie Cup semi-final

By ROBIN WILSON
Former Scottish international Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & County) will meet last year's beaten finalist, Ian Rennie (Royal Dornoch) in Saturday morning's first semi-final of the Carnegie Shield competition at Royal Dornoch.
In the other half of the draw, defending champion Andrew Biggadike (California) was ousted by local Chris Mailley in their quarter final and now Mailley meets US college based student Peter Latimer, the third seed, from the New Club, St. Andrews.
Leading qualifier, Brora's Calum Stewart (16) one of the youngest to win the Silver Medal as leading local qualifier won his opening two match-play games but then in his Carnegie debut had his first big test when he came up against Brotherston in the last eight.
Playing a miserable wet afternoon the experienced Brotherston held the upper hand over the opening holes and established a three hole lead after seven holes. The teenager had his best spell round the turn cutting Brotherston back to one hole but a missed opportunity at the 11th gave the visitor back a two hole advantage which he held to the 17th green where he got down in two from the back of the green to win 2&1.

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Pepperell v Lewis in all-English British boys' final

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Two of England’s top players have made it through to the 36-hole final of the British boys' amateur championship at Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich in Kent on Saturday.
In the concluding rounds England boys dominated the field with six players in the quarter finals. The semi finals were more evenly matched with Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) facing Andrea Bolognesi of Italy and Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) playing the German, Max Roehrig.
Pepperall was first to finish today, beating the Italian 2&1. The BB&O player has great experience behind him, having made his full England debut in the Men’s Home Internationals in 2008, having also been an under 16 and boy cap and represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
Lewis followed with a win over Roehing of 2 holes. Lewis has already seen success this year winning the English Under 18 Championship for the Carris Trophy and playing a great part in England’s Boy’s Home Internationals victory just last week.
The first 18 holes of the final will tee off at 8.30 am tomorrow followed by the second 18 holes at 1.00pm

David Patrick ties for third place in

PGA Assistants' Championship

FROM RON MARSHALL, PGA PRESS OFFICER
A 30-foot birdie putt on the final green gilded the lily for Jonathan Lupton as he swept to a comprehensive victory yesterday (Fri) in the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship, in association with Footjoy, at The London Club, Kent.
Already eight shots in front, the 30-year-old from Middlesbrough, now based at Close House Hotel near Newcastle, finally celebrated a 10-stroke win when his playing partner and closest challenger, defending champion Guy Woodman, carded a closing bogey.
While the £5,000 winner’s cheque will come in handy clearing off a domestic loan (his school teacher wife Libby, seven months pregnant, accompanied him every stride of the way), Lupton is relishing the prospect of playing in next year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, one of the perks of his victory.
“I can’t wait to have another crack at that. I didn’t do myself justice the last time - I was preparing for PGA exams - because I now know my game can stand up to all the pressures.”
Lupton admitted the championship was his to lose. “I had a great tussle last year with Guy, and I had a feeling at the start of the week that it might be between the two of us again.”
As he teed off yesterday with Woodman, Lupton, winner here in 2007, already enjoyed the considerable advantage of a four-shot lead. After two holes it was a yawning gap of seven, thanks to two opening birdies and a three-putt from his opponent.
Never has the question “who’s gonna be second?” had such relevance as occurred over the blustery undulations of the Heritage course. The East Berks pro did catch the attention with a 20-foot eagle at the long eighth, while the champion-elect carded ‘only’ a birdie, reducing the gap to five. But four Woodman dropped shots on the way in, contrasting with three Lupton birdies, made it a ‘no’contest’ long before the end.
Elie’s David Patrick plugged away after some early mis-clubbing, and after going out in 39, he savoured an inward 33, featuring three birdies and no dropped shots, to tie third with Daniel Seymour from Newbury Golf Centre. That was worth just under £2,000 each.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
206– J Lupton (Close House) 69 68 69
216 - G Woodman (East Berks) 69 72 75
217 - D Patrick (Elie) 72 73 72, D Seymour (Newbury GC) 71 70 76
219 - G Hamerton (Brookdale) 72 74 73, G Cullen (Beaverstown) 77 70 72
220 – T Fleming (Frilford Heath) 78 69 73, G R Berry (Cleeve Hill) 70 72 78
222 - C Gill (Exeter) 73 74 75, B Welch (Remedy Oak) 72 76 74, R Leonard (Mid
Herts) 71 74 77, B Scott (Clitheroe) 71 78 73
223 - G Cowan (Westerhope) 74 72 77, G Fox (E Kilbride) 75 73 75 (jt 13th).
Other Scots score:
224 R Valentine 70 75 79 (jt 15th).

Ewan Scott from St Andrews becomes first Scot

to win English Under-14 boys' title

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The 13th hole can prove unlucky for some but not to Ewan Scott from St Andrews, who eagled the hole which paved the way for his victory in the Reid Trophy at The Kendleshire.
Scott carded a closing 73 for 215, two over par, and a two-stroke winning margin from playing partner Aaron Rai, who closed with 74, and Spain’s Mario Galiano with 71.
Scott, 14, (picture © Tom Ward) from the Home of Golf is the first Scottish player to win the English Boys Under 14 Stroke Play Championship and how he loved it.
“This is unbelievable,” he said. “It is what I wanted at the start of the year. I finished second in the Scottish Under 14 Championship and fourth in the Under 16 back home so this is a highlight. "Hopefully this will have an effect back in Scotland and I’ll be picked for the Under 16 international with England.”
Scott began the final round one stroke ahead but he was soon trailing after dropping shots at three of the first four holes. Although he achieved his lone birdie on the fifth, he gave the shot back on the seventh to reach the turn in 39.
That left him trailing Rai and when he bogeyed the 12th, he fell further behind. But that eagle-three at the 13th not only boosted his hopes but seem to dent his opponents.
“I was three behind Aaron after nine so I had to battle back but the eagle at 13 was the key,” added Scott. “But I didn’t think I’d won until the last putt dropped. I’m over the moon and as the first Scot to win the title I’ve created a bit of history.”
While Scott was celebrating, there was a slight disappointment for Rai, who was pipped at the post for the second successive year. Last year at Coxmoor he lost on countback for the Under 13 prize and this time he lost out on second spot in the main event, again on countback.
He came to the last needing a birdie to catch the flying Scot, but three putts was to prove costly as he signed for 74. The Under 13 prize this time went to Haydn McCullen from the Didsbury Golf Club on 220, seven over par, after a closing 72.
Scores for all matches, championship commentary and news updates are available on the Championships Section of the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org

England send 19 playes to European

individual amateur championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
All seven English members of the Walker Cup to face the United States next month are among a group of 19 players representing the English Golf Union (EGU) in the International European Amateur Championship at Chantilly Golf Club, France, from August 19 to 22.
The seven, Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Goddard, Matt Haines, Stiggy Hodgson, Sam Hutsby, Chris Paisley and Dale Whitnell, will be joined by several other internationals in a powerful line-up that will attempt to bring the title back to England for the first time in five years.
The squad also includes Jamie Abbott, Farren Keenan, Matt Nixon and James Robinson, who will join the magnificent seven to form the England team for the Home Internationals at Hillside the following week.
The full group is:
Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley)
Andrew Cooley (Chobham)
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall)
Jonathan Gidney (Church Stretton)
Luke Goddard (Hendon)
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham)
Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth)
Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale)
Sam Hutsby (Liphook)
Farren Keenan (Sunningdale)
Sam Matton (Bowood G&CC)
Ryan Newman (Brookmans Park)
Matt Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Chris Paisley (Stocksfield)
Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park)
James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale)
Jake Shepherd (The Wisley)
Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes)
Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle)

Scotland seniors beaten in first match

Scotland qualified in fourth place in the European senior men's amateur team championship at Ascona, Switzerland - but they were beaten 3-2 by Sweden in their first match.
Leading qualifiers Geremany also fell at the first match-play hurlde, beaten 3-2 by eighth qualifiers Italy.
STROKE-PLAY TOTALS
733 Germany.
737 Ireland.
743 England.
747 Scotland.
755 Sweden.
768 Spain.
771 France.
774 Italy.
MATCH-PLAY FIRST ROUND
Italy 3, Germany 2.
Sweden 3, Scotland 2.
England 3, Spain 2.
Ireland 3 1/2, France 1 1/2

SECOND ROUND
Semi-finals
italy 3, Sweden 2.
Ireland 3 1/2, England 1 1/2

Nicklaus hails golf at 2016 Olympic Games news

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus is thrilled his sport has been recommended for inclusion in the Olympic programme for the 2016 Games.
Nicklaus has been acting as a global ambassador for golf's campaign to become an Olympic sport and was in Beijing when he learned that the International Olympic Committee's executive board had recommended golf and rugby sevens to its 121st general session in Copenhagen in October as the two new sports to be voted in for the 2016 summer Olympics.
"We are thrilled with the news," Nicklaus said. "Obviously, the IOC recognises the merit of golf as a global sport, and that golf's traditions and inherent ideals embody the Olympic spirit."
He added: "I am proud of golf's united front and all the players and organisations which have supported this co-ordinated campaign. On behalf of the International Golf Federation and all those who, like me, believe so strongly in our sport, we look forward to the vote in October and hopefully more positive news."
Led by world number one Tiger Woods, players at the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine National in Minnesota also welcomed the IOC's decision.
"I'd love to play for the rugby team, that would be great," Woods joked before adding: "No, I think it's great for golf. We're long overdue to have it in the Olympics. Our sport is a global sport. It's played all around the world. And I think it's a great time and hopefully it will be passed in October or November and hopefully it will be truly in the Olympics."
Rory McIlroy also greeted the news but admitted he had initially been lukewarm about the idea.
"At the start of getting the golf into the Olympics, I was a little sceptical and apprehensive about it," McIlroy said.
"But the more I think about it, the more it will be great for golf just to globalise the game and get countries like Russia and India and China recognised on a global stage.
"At the start I sort of thought it's not fair on the other athletes who train four years for the Olympics as the height of their career, but I can see this being great for golf. So I'm very happy that golf is in the Olympics. Hopefully it will grow the game and get more people to play the game."

Stephen Gallacher to have wrist operation

FROM THE SCOTSMAN. SPORT WEBSTIE
European Tour player Stephen Gallacher is to have surgery on his damaged wrist later this month as he seeks to bring an end to his injury and illness problems.
The 34-year-old from Linlithgow has endured a summer of frustration after being struck down by sarcoidosis – an energy-sapping disease which affects the lungs and joints – together with his wrist injury.
Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard, last played in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in mid-July and is unsure when he will next be back in competitive action.
The Scot, who has asked the European Tour for a medical exemption, said: “I will be mightily relieved when I can get back to the day job of trying to win golf tournaments. I’ve six more weeks of steroid pills and an operation on my damaged wrist looming. It’s been a summer of frustration.”

Tiger pulls the best out of me, says

Padraig Harrington, one off the pace

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Padraig Harrington credited Tiger Woods for taking him to a new level as the two stars looked ahead to jousting once again at the top of the US PGA Championship leaderboard.
Woods held a one-stroke overnight lead over playing partner and defending champion Harrington at Hazeltine National in Minnesota as they headed into Friday night's second round at 7.45pm BST. World number one Woods shot a bogey-free 67 four days after reeling in Harrington's three-shot, 54-hole lead at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational to win for the second week in a row and for the fifth time this year.
"He pushes you a little bit more, and you know, you have to go for your shots if you want to compete," said Harrington.
It is Woods' form and a legacy of 14 major victories that Ireland's Harrington, a three-time major winner himself, said drove him on to excel when paired with the American golfing icon.
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More Golf News: Click on the story you want to read

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Related Links
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"I think it pushes you," Harrington added. "You have to go to a new level. I think it pushes you on and that's what I like.
"There's no point in being cautious or playing safe and I can get caught very much at times in the middle. You either go for it, you either play well or you don't is my attitude and Tiger brings that out."
Both men said playing together in the first round at Hazeltine National on Thursday was a very different experience to the one generated by them in the final round at Ohio's Firestone Country Club last Sunday.
"In fairness, last Sunday, both of us were heavily into our own games," Harrington said. "We were both focused and in the zone and all those sort of things. We were a lot more relaxed and we chatted away today about so many things, lots of different things. Sunday is a business day. Thursday is 'let's get into the tournament'."
Woods agreed, adding: "The situation is not the same. This is just the first round. You're trying to play yourself into that position where we were last Sunday.
"Last Sunday we didn't say much. I think he said 'I have a Titleist (ball)'. And I said 'I have a Nike, good luck today', and that's pretty much it. Today we talked a little bit more because obviously it's the first round and most of the guys usually talk the first two or three days. But you get a little more quiet on the weekend."

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 Tiger Woods.
68 Padraig Harrington.
69 Robert Allenby,Matthew Goggin, Hunter Mahan, Alvaro Quiros, Vijay Singh, David Toms.
70 Paul Goydos, Thongchai Jaidee,Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Michael Bradley, Gonzalo Fernandez0Castano, Soren Kjeldsen, Ben Crane.
71 Hiroyuki Fujita, Rory McIlroy,Bo Van Pelt, Sergio Garcia, Rich Beem, Anders Hansen, Geoff Ogilvy, Brendar Jones, Lucas Glover, Luke Donald.
Selected scores
72 Ian Poulter.
73 Ross Fisher, Jim Furyk.
74 Phil Mickelson.
78 Darren Clarke.

FULL SCOREBOARD LATER

Burnett topples Law as England provided six

of eight quarter-finalists in British Boys

FROM THE ROYAL & ANCIENT WEBSITE
Six English players have made their way into the last eight of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent.
James Burnett started the trend when he defeated Scotland’s double champion David Law, before Eddie Pepperell, Jack Heasman, Tom Lewis, Ben Stow and Samuel Edwards. Each of Friday's quarter-finals, therefore, will be contested by at least one Englishman.
Burnett’s victory could be described as something of an upset with Law having tapped into a rich vein of form over the last month. But, the 17-year-old from Lincolnshire was too good for the Scottish Boys and Scottish Amateur Match Play champion, winning by one hole.
“It was all pretty steady all the way round. I didn’t really get that far ahead but I kept going along and didn’t make many mistakes,” said the England international who is heading for the Junior Masters at the end of the month.
Following Burnett, Eddie Pepperell was next to secure his passage into the last eight with a victory over compatriot, Ben Taylor. And though Pepperell, 18, did not quite find his round-four form, he scrambled well enough to pip Taylor and ran out a 2&1 winner on the 17th green.
“It was just a case of edging it out really as he’s a really good player,” explained the 18-year-old. I didn’t play as good as I did this morning, but I missed in the right areas and got up and down quite a bit.”
As a player who was in contention for a Walker Cup place, Pepperell is likely to be favourite to lift the Challenge Trophy on Saturday. He is, however, under no illusions about the unpredictable nature of match play.
“All the guys that are in the last eight now are playing well, so anything can happen. I’m confident in myself. I think I’m a good match play player and in the tight situations that’s when I play best.”
The other stand-out performance of the afternoon came from West Essex’s Jack Heasman who birdied four holes in a row to defeat French number-one, Thomas Ellissalde, 4&3.
“I never really expected that I’d be in a position like this to be honest, but now I’m here I feel like I can go all the way,” said the delighted 16-year-old.
Adding a continental element to the quarter-finals are Italy’s Andrea Bolognesi and Max Roehrig of Germany, both of whom won their matches by one hole.
Click here for full round-five results.
David Law had mounted a brilliant back-nine comeback to overcome Clement Sorbet on Thursday morning.
The 18-year-old Aberdonian was two holes behind the Frenchman at the turn but rallied to force his way back to all-square.
“I birdied ten and then on 13 I was about 30 feet away and Clement was four feet away looking to go two-up,” explained Law who last week earned five points from a possible six at the Boys Home Internationals. “I holed, he holed as well, but that saved me. I birdied the next to go back to square. We both halved 16 and seventeen in par and a par was good enough for me on the 18th.”
“I didn’t get off to a great start but after the first four holes I struck it really well and holed a few putts which was nice. I was just happy to win.”
Produing an even more impressive comeback was France's Erwan Vieilledent, who on Wednesday defeated the 2008 champion, Pedro Figueiredo. Vieilledent had a mountain to climb at two-down with two to play but he was up to the challenge, winning three in succession to claim victory at the 19th for the second day in a row with a terrific up-and-down.
Eddie Pepperell, meanwhile, secured passage into round five with a victory against Portugal’s Miguel Gaspar. It was another comfortable victory for the Englishman who required only 24 holes to reach the third round earlier in the week.
“I played pretty good. I made five birdies and my iron play was really good. I’m pretty pleased.”
Pepperell, a member of the initial 28-man Walker Cup squad, now enters the last 16 as one of the favourites, but he is sure not to get complacent.
“I’m going to take one game at a time, respect every opponent and not underestimate anyone. I’m sure the lad I play this afternoon will be playing well so I just have to go out and hit the ball good again.”
In other results, Italy’s Andrea Bolognesi defeated Lewis White of England 2&1; Frenchman, Gary Stal, beat Sebastian Kannler of Germany by the same margin; England Under-18 champion, Tom Lewis eventually prevailed over the USA’s Henry Todd on the 20th hole.

Click here for round-four results and live scored from round five.