US PGA Tour cancel Viking Classic because of rain

US PGA Tour officials today cancelled the Viking Classic without a ball being struck. The Annangale Golf Club course, on which 1.75 inches of rain fell overnight on Friday after heavy rain earlier in the week, was simply going to be unplayable for several days at least.
The final event of the season is the November 12-15 Children's Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, Florida.
Madison has received more than 20 inches of rain in the past six weeks.
"I told them this was closer to a FEMA disaster site than a golf course," tournament director Randy Watkins said. "Somebody asked if you could play somewhere else. I don't think you could play golf within 150 miles of here."
This is the first time a US PGA Tour tournament has been scrapped outright because of weather since the 1996 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which was cancelled due to unplayable conditions. The last rain-out came in Houston in 1991, though that tournament was rescheduled.
The Viking Classic was important for a few dozen players who are chasing tour cards for the 2010 season. The top 125 on the money list get through, and most of the players hovering at that level were in attendance. They now have just one chance to move up.

Bill Britton goes one ahead in US Senior PGA title race

PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida – Bill Britton shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Paul Daniels after the third round of the US Senior PGA Professional National Championship at PGA Golf Club today.
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship in May at Colorado Golf Club near Denver.
Britton, the PGA director of instruction at Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck in New Jersey, followed up back-to-back 69s with a third round highlighted by eight birdies that left him at 13-under 203.
The 54-year-old had only one hiccup, a three-putt bogey on No. 11.
“I really did putt well all day, and made some long ones,” Britton said. “I put my approach on No. 18 to a foot, which was a great way to finish.”
Daniels, from Port St. Lucie, Fla., had a 66 and Perry Arthur of Plano, Texas, shot a 67 to sit another stroke back in third.
Overnight co-leader Jim White shot a 72 and was among a group of six players tied for fourth at 207 that included defending champion Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Mass. Second-round co-leader Kim Thompson was alone in 11th after a 73.
Daniels, the second alternate in the South Florida PGA Section, didn’t know that he had landed a berth in the field until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“I am just relaxed and glad that I have this opportunity,” he said. “I had never made a cut in a national championship. Today, what can you say? No bogeys and six birdies.

Kim favourite to beat Fisher in 36-hole

final of Volvo world match-play

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
England's Ross Fisher, from Ascot, Berkshire, his sights still set on becoming the European Tour's No 1 this year, and American Anthony Kim will contest the final of the Volvo world match play championship over 36 holes tomorrow at the first-time Spanish venue of Finca Cortesin.
Kim will start favourite on a comparison of their form in today's 36-hole semi-finals.
Fisher actually had to play 39 holes to get the better of Masters champion Angel Cabrera from Argentina.
Kim had earlier thrashed Australian Robert Allenby for the second time this month. A 5 and 4 victory for the 24-year-old from Los Angeles came three weeks after he beat Allenby 5 and 3 (over 18 holes) at the Presidents Cup in California.
Fisher, who lost to Paul Casey at the last-four stage of the Accenture world match play in Arizona in February, had gone from two up to one down with five to play.
He then won the 32nd and 33rd, but paid the price for conservatively laying up at the par-5 last with Cabrera making birdie from the rough.
They had to return to the final tee three more times in sudden death before Fisher hit a brilliant fairway wood to 12 feet and Cabrera, bunkered and then over the green, conceded defeat.
At stake is a first prize of almost £676,000 with £405,000 for the runner-up.

LATEST FROM WORLD OF PRO GOLF

Volvo world match-play championship in Spain
Finca Cortesin Golf Club
RESULTS OF SEMI-FINALS (36 holes)
Anthony Kim (US) bt Robert Allenby (Aus) 5 and 4.
Ross Fisher (Eng) bt Angel Cabrera (Arg) at the 39th.

PLATINUM CLASSIC in South Africa#
(scroll down for a report)
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
201 Darren Fichardt 70 65 66
202 Titch Moore 65 68 69
203 Grant Muller 66 70 67, Alan McLean (Sco) 65 66 72
204 Steve Basson 71 67 66, Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 67 70 67, Ryan Cairns (Zim) 67 70 67, Teboho Sefatsa 68 67 69, Branden Grace 66 67 71
205 Trevor Fisher Jnr 67 70 68, Warren Abery 65 72 68, Jbe' Kruger 63 73 69, Thomas Aiken 67 69 69, Doug Mcguigan 66 69 70
206 Shaun Norris 68 73 65, Danie Van Niekerk Jnr 69 69 68, Oliver Bekker 65 72 69, Jean Hugo 66 69 71
207 Mark Murless 74 67 66, Nic Henning 65 72 70, Michiel Bothma 68 67 72
208 Neil Schietekat 70 70 68, Andre Cruse 71 66 71, Vaughn Groenewald 70 67 71
209 Josh Cunliffe 69 71 69, Bradford Vaughan 70 70 69
210 David Hewan 69 72 69, Louis De Jager 70 71 69, Alex Haindl 76 64 70, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 71 69 70, Albert Pistorius 69 71 70, Brett Liddle 68 71 71, Divan Van Den Heever 72 67 71, Merrick Bremner 72 65 73
211 Dean Lambert 69 72 70
212 Chris Swanepoel 70 69 73, Garry Hill 68 71 73
214 Neil Cheetham (Eng) 71 70 73, Ryan Tipping 69 72 73
215 Keenan Davidse 74 67 74
217 Christiaan Basson 69 70 78

Fichardt's last-hole birdie wins Platinum Classic

Darren Fichardt birdied the 18th hole on the 6,250-metre par 72 Mooinooi Golf Club course (which is really a nine-hole circuit played twice) on today to snatch the R550,000 Platinum Classic from under the nose of Titch Moore.
Fichardt finished on 15-under 201 after his closing 66 to defeat Moore by one shot.
Moore had opened out a three-stroke lead going into the 16th, but got a flyer with his punched nine-iron from 147 yards out and landed behind some trees over the green. He took two more shots to get onto the green his two putts saw Fichardt draw level after the latter birdied 17.
Fichardt then hit his approach on 18 to within 12 feet, just off the green, and sank his putt to make life very tough for Moore unless he was able to birdie 17.
He wasn’t, and his miracle 25-footer for birdie on 18 to force the playoff just missed.
That gave Fichardt his third title on the 2009 Sunshine Tour – he won the Nashua Masters and the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Selborne – and he joined Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Pieters as members of the three-time club.
“I’ve been hitting the ball unbelievably this whole week, and it was just a question of making putts,” he said.
“In the end, though, I was lucky, with Titch making double there on 16 and a par on 17 where I would have expected him to make a birdie, and that left the door open for me on the 18th,” he said.
“There was a little bit of mud on my ball ahead of that putt on 18, so I didn’t quite know what was going to happen. But it went in, and that was awesome,” he added.
Fichardt said he would take confidence into the summer swing of the Sunshine Tour, which now only weeks away, but more importantly for him, into the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in late November.
“I’m feeling as good as I’ve ever felt, so I’m keen to get my career back to where it was,” he said. He won twice on the European Tour in 2001 and 2003, in addition to his nine titles on the Sunshine Tour.
Overnight leader Glasgow-bown Alan McLean battled his was to an even-par 72 to finish in a share of third place with Grant Muller, who closed with a five-under 67.
There was a group of five players on 12-under, including Branden Grace, who overcame an opening nine of three-over to finish one-under for his final round.
Defending champion Thomas Aiken was in a group of five players who finished on 11-under for a share of 10th.

SCOT WINS CHALLENGE TOUR GRAND FINAL

Peter Whiteford wins 51,500 Euros

prize and he's in Race to Dubai

FROM PAUL SYMES, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Scotland’s Peter Whiteford claimed the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final title and with it a place in the top five of the Challenge Tour Rankings after seeing off Andrew Tampion of Australia in a sudden death play-off today.
On a dramatic day at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, where gusting winds again caused havoc and heartache in equal measure, Whiteford, pictured above, prevailed over Tampion, courtesy of a birdie at the first extra hole after both men had finished on five under par 279.
The €51,500 winner’s cheque was the biggest payday of his career, and the Fifer, whose parents own the Wellsgreen golf range, can now look forward to joining The 2010 Race to Dubai after finishing fifth in the Rankings, which were won by Italy’s Edoardo Molinari with record earnings of €242,979.
Tampion, who started the week in 39th place in the Rankings, could at least console himself with a cheque for €34,200 which moved the man from Melbourne up 14 places to 15th and secured a return to The European Tour at the expense of Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson, who finished in the unenviable position of 21st.
There was also despair for Germany’s Christoph Günther, whose place in the all-important top 20 was taken by Whiteford’s fellow Scot Andrew McArthur, who finished in a tie for fourth place on two under par to erase the pain of his near-misses in the past two seasons.
But the day belonged to Whiteford and also Molinari, whose total earnings saw him finish the season some €108,357 ahead of Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima in second place. The top five was completed by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Welshman Rhys Davies, who had to settle for third place on four under par 280 after his birdie putt on the 18th green just shaved the hole.
In contrast, Whiteford followed up a nerveless 10ft par putt on the 72nd hole with an 8ft birdie putt in the play-off to capture his third Challenge Tour title.
The Scot, whose round of 67 included five birdies, said: “I’m obviously absolutely delighted – it’s the biggest win of my career. My aim at the start of the week was just to consolidate my place in the top 15 of the Rankings, so to finish in the top five is fantastic.

"It means I won’t have to be re-ranked next year, so I can just relax a bit more. I didn’t play well on The European Tour last year, but I’ve bounced back pretty well. I’ve been consistent all season without really looking like winning, but I suppose I’ve saved my best until last.
“I hit two great putts on the 18th in regulation play and the play-off, which has usually been my downfall in the past. So it’s nice to know I can hold it together under pressure. There were some nerves out there today, but that’s what you play the game for – to get in the hunt.

"The adrenaline was really flowing – my chip on the last in regulation was a bit heavy, and then in the play-off I hit my drive miles. If only I could hit it that far all the time! My professional play-off record before today was played two, lost two, so it was nice to get that monkey off my back.
“It’ll give me a lot of confidence to take into next season. I’ve got experience of playing on the main Tour before so I know what to expect, and hopefully I’ve learned my lessons from last time. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are, so hopefully I can make the most of my strengths and iron out the flaws in my game. I can’t wait to get out there again now.”
Those sentiments were echoed by three-time winner Molinari, who finished seventh to secure his 12th top ten finish of a phenomenal season. The Italian’s next visit is to China, where he will hope to partner his brother Francesco to glory at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, before beginning his quest for a maiden European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
He said: “Obviously I would’ve liked to keep my 100 per cent record in Italy on the Challenge Tour this season, but I’m not too disappointed. It’s still been a great season, and now I can’t wait for the next one to start.”
Davies will also be a force to be reckoned with next season, having won twice and finished in the top ten a further three times in just 13 appearances on the Challenge Tour.
The former British boys' champion and Walker Cup player, who was a star on the US college circuit as an East Tennessee State University student, said:

“Right now I feel a bit disappointed, because I had a great chance of winning, or at least getting into the play-off. But it wasn’t to be, and I’ve still got to be pretty pleased with two third place finishes in the last two weeks. It was a nice way to round off the season. The main goal at the start of the year was to get my European Tour card, and I’ve achieved that so it’s mission accomplished.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
279 P Whiteford (Sco) 70 73 69 67, A Tampion (Aus) 70 66 75 68 (Whiteford won sudden-death play-off at first hole)
280 R Davies (Wal) 71 69 69 71,
282 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 73 68 69, A McArthur (Sco) 70 70 70 72,
283 A Kaleka (Fra) 70 69 73 71,
285 E Molinari (Ita) 74 71 69 71,
286 A Wagner (Arg) 74 72 69 71, G Boyd (Eng) 72 73 69 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 71 71 72,
288 O Floren (Swe) 72 71 72 73, C Gane (Eng) 70 75 72 71, R Steiner (Aut) 75 72 73 68, F Calmels (Fra) 71 74 72 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 75 73,
289 S Walker (Eng) 76 71 74 68,
290 J Morrison (Eng) 76 70 74 70, J Parry (Eng) 76 73 75 66,
291 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 73 72 69, M Wiegele (Aut) 72 70 76 73, M Zions (Aus) 75 72 75 69, J Guerrier (Fra) 70 75 72 74, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 72 70 73,
292 A Butterfield (Eng) 70 74 73 75, R Coles (Eng) 76 67 75 74,
293 A Hansen (Den) 72 72 75 74, S Bebb (Wal) 68 73 78 74, C Günther (Ger) 77 66 75 75,
294 L James (Eng) 73 76 74 71, Å Nilsson (Swe) 75 71 69 79,
295 S Manley (Wal) 71 80 74 70, J Colomo (Esp) 74 71 74 76,
296 J McLeary (Sco) 75 78 72 71, A Marshall (Eng) 71 78 77 70,
297 C Rodiles (Esp) 76 72 77 72, F Fritsch (Ger) 77 79 70 71, L Gagli (Ita) 76 74 78 69,
298 J Lima (Por) 72 80 72 74,
299 M Tullo (Chi) 73 81 77 68, R McEvoy (Eng) 78 72 76 73,
300 J Quesne (Fra) 73 76 77 74,
301 P Baker (Eng) 76 76 75 74,
302 G Paddison (Nzl) 80 72 78 72,
305 F Praegant (Aut) 77 74 80 74,
307 A Gee (Eng) 77 78 75 77

All square in both Volvo world match-play

ties after morning 18 holes

It was all square at lunchtime in both of the 36-hole semi-finals of the Volvo world match-play championship in southern Spain today.
England's Ross Fisher won three of the last five morning holes to end the first 18 holes on level pegging with and Argentina's Angel Cabrera.
Anthony Kim (United States) went round in approximately three-under-par 69 to his Australian opponent Robert Allenby's 70 for their all square after 18 holes position.
Kim had been two down by the seventh.
Cabrera turned one-up and tripled his advantage when Fisher bogeyed the short 12th and he pitched to six feet at the 13th.
Fisher made a 12-footer on the 14th and the Argentinian paid for following his opponent into a bunker at the 15th as Fisher was the one to get up and down.
Then Fisher took the par 5 last with a birdie and although he was round in 72 to Cabrera's 70 they were all square.
The quartet were playing for high stakes. Reaching the final guarantees the beaten finalist €450,000, with the winner taking home €750,000, while third place is worth €250,000 and fourth €200,000.
Cabrera was runner-up to Ernie Els the last time the event was played two years ago - like all previous editions that was at Wentworth - and owed his place in this week's event to Els opting for the Singapore Open instead.
Allenby got in only because Geoff Ogilvy and Vijay Singh declined spots, while seven Americans turned it down to give Kim his chance.
If the truth be know, most tour pros don't like to expose themselves to the vagaries of match-play.

Korean pair lead by

two shots on Day 3

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A Shenzhen, China – A determined Han Chang-won of Korea returned a one-under par 71 on day three of the Asian Amateur Championship today to take a two-shot lead into Sunday's final round at the inaugural event being played at Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup Course in southern China.
Han, the 21-year-old winner of the individual title at last month’s Nomura Cup (Asia Pacific Teams Championship), finished on a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under 206 and leads compatriot Eric Chun, who shot 66, with just one day remaining in the race to be the first winner in championship history.
Joint 36-hole leader Jordan Sherratt of Australia slipped back in the standings after posting a 74 to be in outright third at seven-under 209. New Zealand’s Peter Spearman-Burn is one shot further back in fourth after a one-over 73 today. Three players – China’s Han Ren, who led the event after 18 holes, Kim Meen-Whee of Korea and Filipino Mhark Fernando – share fifth at 211.
The tournament offers an invitation to the 2010 Masters Tournament as a reward for the champion, with both the winner and the runner(s)-up earning places in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship being played next year at St Andrews.
In an indication of the competitiveness of the field, 11 different APGC member nations are represented in the top 10 places and ties going into the final round (total 17 players).
Han, who shared the overnight lead with Sherratt, posted birdies at the second and third holes in an early battle with Spearman-Burn and Sherratt. Although the Korean could post only two more birdies against three bogeys from hole five onwards, it was enough to still build a valuable buffer going into the final day.
Said Han: “I will try to play tomorrow in the way that I have been playing in the past two days. I know it is going to be very tight. I don’t know Eric in person and I have never played with him, but it is great that we get to play together tomorrow.
“I didn’t really understand how big winning this tournament would be and that the field would be so competitive before I came. I knew the winner would receive an invitation to play in the Masters though. There is no doubt that it would be the highlight of my golf career if I win this tournament,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chun, the Korean who spent much of his younger days in Malaysia and Australia, roared into contention with the equal low round of the day – a six-under 66. Three front-nine birdies were joined by an eagle at the par-five sixth and just a single bogey in an outward nine of four-under 32.
Said Chun: “I have played better and better as the week has gone on and that has shown in my scores. There are plenty of birdies available on this course if you are playing well and I am going to be aggressive out there tomorrow.”
Sherratt, whose round included four bogeys and just two birdies, was left to rue a tough day on the greens. Said the 21-year-old: “I played OK, but I just did not putt very well. Hopefully, tomorrow I can putt a bit better and shoot under par and I will be right back into it.”
Spearman-Burn raced out of the blocks in four-under 32 and had a share of the lead in the middle of the back nine, before running into trouble on the par-five 16th. A snap hook from the tee saw him forced to take an unplayable, before things got worse when his third shot found water. The resulting triple-bogey 8 meant he ended the day alone in fourth.
For more information on the Asian Amateur Championship, including the latest news from Mission Hills, live scoring and a selection of video features, please visit http://www.asianamateurchampionship.com/.

Poulter loses five-shot lead over


opening holes of third round

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR.
Ian Poulter provided a Halloween treat for the crowds at the US$5 million Barclays Singapore
Open on Saturday morning local time to open up a five-stroke lead but failed to repeat the trick in the afternoon’s weather-hit third round.
The Englishman’s misfortunes allowed unheralded Kodai Ichihara of Japan and Thomas Levet of France to draw level atop the leaderboard on eight-under-par at the Sentosa Golf Club, with the field bracing for a marathon Sunday.
Poulter returned in the morning to complete a brilliant second round of seven-under-par 64 where he added five birdies to his remaining 15 holes but he gave up his lead by dropping four shots over six holes of the third round before play was suspended at 5.36pm local time.
His uncharacteristic lapse also saw China ’s Liang Wen-chong and Andrew Dodt of Australia throw their names into the potential winner’s hat as they are one shot off the pace.
No one completed the third round which will resume at 7.30am on Sunday. The final round will begin at 9.40am with the same pairings.
Poulter, a seven-time winner in Europe but not since 2006, was disappointed that he failed to carry through his form. “It wasn’t the best of starts to the third round. I three-putted the first and then went for the green in two on the fourth from a bad lie and hit it in the water,” said the Ryder Cup star.
Ichihara sank two birdies in his seven holes to give himself a chance of winning Asia’s richest national Open , which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
“I hit my shots well, tee shots and second shots were solid. My putting was pretty average though. This morning, I came back to play 11 holes and the weather interruptions have made me a little tired,” said Ichihara , searching for his maiden win.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the golf. I finished top-five in Malaysia last week which locked up my Tour card for next season. I’ve got no pressure and my confidence is also up. I’m going to try and play for a win as I’m in a good position.”
Levet, who has five wins in Europe including this year’s Spanish Open, is thrilled to be in contention in Singapore. “I was in the fight at the Irish Open and then at the BMW PGA at Wentworth as well when I finished in the top-10. I like to be in the fight, it’s a lot better than fighting for 55th!,” said the 41-year-old Frenchman.
“I have been playing very well on practice day for the last two months and really ugly in the tournaments for some reason. I just kept telling myself to wait for it to come and wait for it to hap pen and it looks like it’s happening.”
Liang is shooting for a second major title in the island-state after winning the Singapore Masters in 2007 en route to becoming China ’s first Asian number one. He eagled the par five seventh hole from 15 feet for an outward 34 before play was halted.
“I have a good chance now and I hit it good again. I missed some makeable birdie putts on four and six and I’ve got to remain patient tomorrow if I want to try to win the tournament,” said the Chinese.
Unlike the other leaders who returned in the morning for the resumption of their second rounds, Liang enjoyed a lie-in as he had finished up on Friday. “I’m feeling fresh. I’ve got to keep my focus which has worked well this week,” he said.
Ernie Els of South Africa was lurking three shots back on five-under for the championship after playing eight holes of his third round in one-over while American world number two Phil Mickelson was two under after negotiating 15 holes in level par.
Singapore ’s Lam Chih Bing is also in the reckoning in his bid to make history as the first local winner. He is four shots off the pace and was on the 11th hole, even par for the round, when the bad weather rolled in.
“I’m playing nicely, so it’s a bit disappointing to have to stop. I made one birdie and one bogey so I was just treading water. Not many players were making a move so I am lying in a good position. It is all very similar to last year and I think I should know how to handle it better this time,” said Lam, who is hoping to become the first local winner of the O pen .
LEADING THIRD ROUND POSITIONS

(no players has completed 54 holes yet)
1 Thomas LEVET (Fra) -8 after 8 holes.
1 Kodai ICHIHARA (Jap) -8 after 7 holes.
1 Ian POULTER (Eng) -8 after 6 holes.
4 Andrew DODT (Aus) -7 after 9 holes.
4 LIANG Wen-chong (China) -7 after 9 holes.
6 LIN Wen-tang (Taipei) -6 after 12 holes.
6 Richard FINCH (Eng) -6 after 11 holes.
6 Niclas FASTH (Swe) -6 after 8 holes.
9 Anders HANSEN (Den) -5 after 12 holes.
9 Ross McGOWAN (Eng) -5 after 10 holes.
9 Ernie ELS (SAfr) -5 after 8 holes.
9 Graeme MCDOWELL (NIr) -5 after 7 holes.
13 BAE Sang-moon (Korea) -4 after 14 holes.
13 Kenichi KUBOYA (Jap) -4 after 14 holes.
13 Charl SCHWARTZEL (SAf) -4 after 12 holes.
13 LAM Chih Bing (Singapore) -4 after 11 holes.
13 Scott HEND (Australia) -4 after 10 holes.
13 Peter LAWRIE (Ire) -4 after 9 holes.
13 Daniel CHOPRA (Swe) -4 after 6 holes.





Note: Third round to resume at 7.30am Sunday.

For further information, please visit http://www.asiantour.com/ for live scoring.

Ian Poulter surges five strokes clear in

weather-hit Singapore Open

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Ian Poulter established a mammoth five-shot lead at the halfway point of the weather- interrupted Barclays Singapore Open after blitzing a flawless seven under par 64 second round for a 12-under-par 36-hole tally of 130 at Sentosa Golf Cub today.
Daniel Chopra had set the clubhouse lead on Friday night at seven-under-par following a bogey free six under 65, but was eclipsed by the brilliant Poulter and the Swede was forced to settle for a share of second on 135 with qualifier Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei, who was also bogey free for his 68.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell completed his final four holes in five-under-par courtesy of an eagle at the last to card a six-under 65 to join a group including Ernie Els and Soren Kjeldsen tied for fourth six shots off the pace on 136.
"It feels good. I went out and played a couple of holes and started off with two birdies after hitting two shots within 12 inches which was a nice start. Then I was back out there (on Saturday) and birdied the par five, birdied the sixth and started to roll some putts in so it was nice," said Poulter.
"I feel good, I am seeing the putts pretty early. I'm standing over it and seeing my line which is nice and the good thing is I am hitting my lines which is good."
Returning after completing three holes of his second round on Friday night in two-under-par, Poulter took advantage of soft receptive greens at the usually demanding Serapong course to reach the turn in five-under 31.
He missed several chances on the way home, including a three-foot birdie chance at the last, but was still able to add two further birdies as he continued to show no ill-affect of a six-week break following the end of a solid season on the US PGA Tour.
"It's a little bit surprising to be playing this well after six week break," he added.
"After six week off you never know how you are going to play. As much practice as I have put in during the six weeks before coming here, I barley played a round of golf.
"I enjoy practising on the range and then resting after that and that's what I have done and I have been pretty good for it over the last couple of days."
Australia's Andrew Dodt (68), China's former Asian Number One Liang Wen-chong (68) and Peter Lawrie (66) round out the top ten at five under, with Madrid Master champion Ross McGowan tied at four under after a second consecutive 69.
Padraig Harrington beat the cut, which fell at one over par, after a late surge on Friday rescued a 69, although Australian Geoff Ogilvy, currently fifth on the Race to Dubai, and Spain's Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, who is currently 13th, failed to make the third round.
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
130 Ian Poulter 66 64
135 Yin-shin Chan (Tpe) 67 68, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 70 65
136 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 69 67, Graeme McDowell 71 65, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 67, Ernie Els (Rsa) 67 69, Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 68 68, Thomas Levet (Fra) 68 68
137 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 69 68, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 69 68, Peter Lawrie 71 66
138 Scott Hend (Aus) 72 66, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 71 67, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 69 69, Ross McGowan 69 69
139 Sam Hutsby 69 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 69, Richard Finch 71 68, Wen-Tang Lin (Tai) 69 70
140 Phil Mickelson (USA) 69 71, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 72 68, James Kingston (Rsa) 74 66, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 73 67, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 73 67, Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn) 70 70, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 67
141 Nicholas Redfern 71 70, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 75 66, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 72 69, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74 67, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 69, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 68 73, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 70 71, Tony Carolan (Aus) 74 67, Sang-moon Bae (Kor) 73 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 74 67, Richard Green (Aus) 68 73, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 72 69, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 69 72
142 Wei Chih Lu (Tha) 70 72, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 71, Darren Clarke 73 69, Martin Rominger (Swi) 74 68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 75 67, Scott Barr (Aus) 71 71, Justin Rose 72 70, Marc Warren 73 69, Keith Horne (Rsa) 74 68, Tano Goya (Arg) 74 68, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 69 73
143 Zaw Moe (Kor) 71 72, Kenneth Ferrie 71 72, Graeme Storm 74 69, Danny Lee (Nzl) 71 72, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 74 69, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 73 70, Ted Oh (Kor) 70 73, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 72, Steve Webster 71 72, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 71, Mitchell Brown (Aus) 75 68, Andrew Coltart 70 73, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 71 72, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 70, Marcus Both (Aus) 72 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 72, Guido Van Der Valk (Ned) 72 71, Padraig Harrington 74 69
MISSED THE CUT
144 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 74 70, Sung Lee (Pkr) 78 66, Tetsuya Haraguchi (Jpn) 75 69, Airil Rizman (Mal) 72 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 75 69, Scott Drummond 72 72, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 74, Mars Pucay (Phi) 72 72, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 70, Gary Murphy 73 71, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn) 74 70, K J Choi (Kor) 74 70, Paul McGinley 73 71, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 72 72
145 Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 70, Damien McGrane 73 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 75 70, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 73 72, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 73 72, Shane Lowry 74 71, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 75 70, Gregory Havret (Fra) 75 70, Darren Beck (Aus) 70 75, David Gleeson (Aus) 77 68, Panupol Pittayarat (Tha) 75 70, David Howell 70 75, Steven Tiley 74 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 73 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 73, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 70 75, Danny Chia (Mal) 72 73, James Kamte (Rsa) 75 70
146 Inn-choon Hwang (Kor) 71 75, Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 72 74, Rafael Ponce (Ecu) 75 71, Antonio Lascuna (Phi) 74 72, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 76 70, Adam Blyth (Aus) 72 74, Lee Slattery 73 73, Michael Hoey 77 69
147 Anthony Kang (USA) 75 72, Nick Dougherty 72 75, David Bransdon (Aus) 73 74, Gavin Flint (Aus) 73 74, Johan Edfors (Swe) 73 74, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 76 71
148 Ben Leong (Mal) 73 75, Iain Steel (Mal) 73 75, Angelo Que (Phi) 73 75, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 76 72, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 76 72, Kane Webber (Aus) 74 74
149 Ter-Chang Wang (Tpe) 80 69, Unho Park (Aus) 75 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 78 71, Chris Rodgers 78 71, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 76 73, Hendrik Buhrmann (Rsa) 75 74, Artemio-hiromasa Murakami (Phi) 75 74, C Muniyappa (Ind) 76 73, Digvijay Singh (Ind) 72 77
150 Bryan Saltus (USA) 76 74, Jason King (Aus) 70 80, Joong Kyung Mo (Kor) 75 75
151 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 76 75, Stephen Dodd 76 75
152 Borworn Chaisri (Tha) 79 73, Jonathan Leong (Sin) 75 77, Yew ghee Poh (Sin) 76 76
155 Johnson Poh (Sin) 81 74, Luis Dacudao (Phi) 79 76
156 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 74 82, Mark Brown (Nzl) 78 78
157 Koh Deng Shan (Sin) 77 80
163 Kenji Cheung (Sin) 77 86, Eng-Wah Poh (Sin) 81 82
Retired: 68 Pablo Martin (Spa), 71 Gaurav Ghei (Ind), 74 Anton Haig (Rsa), 72 Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), 75 Goh Kun Yang (Sin)
Withdrew: 79 Markus Brier (Aut), 76 Simon Griffiths
Disqualified: 76 Chien Soon Lu (Tpe)

White, Thompson storm into lead at

US Senior PGA National Championship

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
By Randy Stutzman, PGA of America- PGA.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida -- Veterans Jim White and Kim Thompson know a little something about winning national championships.
White, the 2004 US Senior PGA Professional National Champion, and Thompson, the 1992 US PGA Assistant Champion, have savoured victory and challenged for many more titles in nearly 30 years of PGA of America national competitions.
The pair are deadlocked at 9-under-par 135, and hold a one-stroke lead over first round co-leader Mickey Yokoi of Ahwatukee, Ariz., following Friday's second round of the 21st Senior PGA Professional National Championship at PGA Golf Club.
Jim White fired the low round of the day on Friday with a 6-under 66. (PGA of America)
White, of Lincoln, Neb., fired the day's low round of 6-under-par 66. His play was highlighted by seven birdies, five of which came on the back nine.
"It was one of those days. I hit a lot of great shots, made a few putts when I needed to, and got it close a bunch of times," said White, who has also competed in 23 PGA Professional National Championships.
"We had a good pairing and everyone in the group was playing well. We all shot in the 60s and it really was a great group."
White knows that winning this Championship will take an extremely strong effort against an elite field of PGA Professionals.
"Every year in this tournament you get older and the field gets younger," said White. "The hard part is you see more and more good players every year. You come here and you can't let your guard down. This field is amazing."
Thompson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, has played in nearly 30 PGA of America national championships.
The five-time Senior PGA Professional National Championship participant, who opened up with a 68, came back with a 67.
"I really putted and chipped well today," said Thompson. "During the hard part of the round I chipped it in for eagle on No. 7, when the wind was blowing, and then birdied No. 8. I had it going."
Thompson, who has battled shoulder issues for the past few years, has been able to take advantage of what he believes to be shorter courses.
"I have had some shoulder issues over the past few years and lost about 20 yards of length," said Thompson. "It makes the game harder when they go back to the back tees, but at the length they have it really fits well into my game.
"I have always played pretty well here. The courses are playing short which helps me a lot," said Thompson. "If they were playing longer it would be more difficult."
Yokoi, who shot a second-round 70, has not played a full round of golf since early August.
"I really have not played one round of golf since the end of July or beginning of August," said Yokoi, who made it into the Championship as an alternate out of the Southwest PGA Section. "When I did not qualify from my Section I started working with my players at Arizona State. I didn't really have time to play.
"Then they [PGA of America officials] called me and told me I was in the tournament. So my first round of golf was my practice round on Wednesday."
Yokoi did not know what to expect when he arrived at PGA Golf Club, but is happy with how he has performed through two rounds.
"I really have no expectations and that is probably why I am playing as well as I am, said Yokoi. "I am just playing one hole at a time and having fun."
Cleve Coldwater, the PGA head professional at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, Pa., was alone in fourth at 137.
The 54-year-old, who qualified for the 2009 US Senior PGA Championship, is in great position to earn a berth in the 2010 US Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club.
"My outlook, like I told my kids when I left home, was to make the cut," said Coldwater. "But my overall ambition is to make the top-35 and get back to the Senior PGA Championship."
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, May 24-30.
Defending National Champion Kirk Hanefeld, 53, of Acton, Mass., finished with a bogey-free 69 and was six strokes behind at 141.
"I played pretty well today, with three birdies, but also had a lot of putts roll around the edge of the hole," said Hanefeld. "I was making mental errors today and not happy where I'm at. The greens were slow and grainy, but I do like playing the Dye Course from tee to green. I needed to be more aware of where some of the bunkers were, and I found I had no shot even after what I thought was a perfect tee shot. It was frustrating. If I can put together two good ones [rounds] this weekend, I feel I have a shot."
The field was trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties, with 77 players advancing at one-under-par 143 to play the final two weekend rounds at the Wanamaker Course.
The 264-player field features PGA Professionals that are at least 50 years of age, as of the Championship, who have qualified through one of the 41 PGA Sections.
The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2010 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
In addition, the top five finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Scottsdale, provided they have submitted an entry by the entry deadline

US SENIORS TOUR REPORT

John Cook shoots 62 to take Charles Schwab Cup lead

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) -- John Cook shot a tournament-record 10-under 62 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead over Tom Watson and Phil Blackmar after the second round of the Champions Tour's season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Cook, the Administaff Small Business Classic winner two weeks ago in Texas, had 10 birdies and needed just 23 putts to match his career-best round and reach 14-under 130 for the tournament.
Watson, the surprising runner-up at the British Open, hit every green in regulation and shot a 64. Blackmar, who shared the first-round lead with Jeff Sluman, had five birdies on the back nine for a 67. Blackmar won the AT&T Championship in San Antonio last week for his first senior title.
Sluman (69), Brad Bryant (67) and Russ Cochran (66) were 9 under.
Season points leader Loren Roberts struggled most of the afternoon and had five bogeys en route to a 73 that dropped him into a tie for 25th at 1 under.
Bernhard Langer, who began the tournament in third place behind Roberts, had a 65 to move into a tie for seventh at 7 under. Jay Haas (68) was 5 under, and Fred Funk (69) followed at 4 under. The four are the only players left in contention to win the $1 million annuity.
Cook shot a 68 on Thursday, then opened the second round with three straight birdies to move ahead of Blackmar for the early lead. After two pars, Cook made consecutive birdies on the par-4 sixth hole and the par-3 seventh to move three strokes ahead at 9 under.
But Watson, the 60-year-old Hall of Famer, pulled within range with three straight birdies. Playing two groups ahead of Cook, Watson moved to 10 under with a birdie on the 587-yard, par-5 13th, then hit a soft 7-iron within 12 feet of the pin on the 18th and made the putt for another birdie.
That left Watson temporarily tied with Cook atop the leaderboard but that changed before Watson could finish signing autographs outside the scorer's tent.
Cook, who was just 1 under on the back nine during the first round, birdied the par-5 16th then closed with short birdie putts on 17 and 18.
Before Cook and Watson shot to the top of the leaderboard, Langer was making his push toward the top after opening the tournament with a disappointing 72. Langer stayed at even par early then birdied seven of his final nine holes, including the final four.
With Roberts struggling for the second straight day, Langer was in good shape to become just the second player to overtake the points leader for the title during the season-ending tournament. Langer is 348 points behind Roberts, and Haas is 602 back. The players will receive a point for every $500 earned, making a victory worth 884.
Langer leads the tour with four victories and $2,033,451. Roberts, a three-time winner, is second on the money list with $1,854,613.