Alan McLean finishes jt 25th in Namibia PGA championship

Glasgow-born Alan McLean drifted out of contention over the final two rounds of the 72-hole Namibia PGA championship at Rossmund Golf Club at the weekend.
McLean had rounds of 68, 71, 74 and 75 for a level par aggregate of 288 which was good enough only to fill joint 25th place and earn him 10,606 Rand.
Hennie Otto beat fellow South Africa Titch Moore in a sudden death play-off for the title and 158,500 Rand first prize after they had tied on eight-under-par 280.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Players from South Africa unless stated
Par 288 (4x72)
280 Hennie Otto 72 70 72 66, Titch Moore 75 66 70 69 (Otto won play-off to earn R158,500; Moore received R115,000).
282 Branden Pieters 70 76 68 68, Adilson da Silva (Brazil) 70 70 71 71, Tjaart va der Walt 70 71 70 71.
Selected score:
288 Alan McLean (Sco) 68 71 74 75 (R10,606) (jt 25th).

DOLPHIN ENERGY SIGNS THREE-YEAR DEAL

WITH COMMERCIALBANK QATAR MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PRESS OFFICER ALAN EWENS
Doha (QATAR): Following its successful joint sponsorship of the tournament for the past two years, Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy Limited has signed a new three-year deal with the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, one of four European Tour events staged in the Middle East.
The agreement underlines the standing of the tournament as one of the flagship occasions on the European Tour, while emphasising sponsor satisfaction with an event that will be staged for the 13th year in succession at Doha Golf Club from January 28-31, 2010.
“Dolphin Energy is proud and delighted to renew our sponsorship of this magnificent tournament,” said Dolphin Energy CEO Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh.
“When we first became involved as presenting sponsor back in 2008, we wanted to demonstrate our company’s commitment to Qatar. Today we are happy to emphasise that commitment by signing for another three years.”
Supporting the Commercialbank Qatar Masters was the first major sporting sponsorship in Qatar by the regional energy company less than a year after commencing gas production offshore Qatar and the subsequent supply by pipeline to the UAE in July 2007.
Hassan Al Nuami, Chairman of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), which stages the event in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), said the agreement was the perfect way to launch the countdown to what promises to be yet another golfing milestone in the region.
“In these difficult economic times, we are well aware that any decision to renew sponsorship agreements is not taken lightly,” he said.
“For Dolphin Energy to commit to a further three years as the tournament’s presenting sponsor is testimony to the success of the event and the return on investment they receive through their association with what we believe to be one of the Middle East’s greatest sporting occasions.”
Since its inaugural event in 1998, the tournament has seen eleven different winners with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros taking the title in 2009 to join a roll of honour that includes champions Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen.
Under the title sponsorship of Commercialbank, the event has grown to become a world-class tournament boasting some of the biggest names in the game and Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens was quick to recognise the role played by the tournament’s family of sponsors.
“This new agreement means Dolphin Energy will have been our presenting sponsor for five years,” he said. “It is that type of commitment that ensures stability for the tournament and helps us maintain the standards players, officials, media and spectators have come to expect when the European Tour reaches Qatar. We are delighted to renew our relationship with Dolphin Energy who will help Commercialbank, the QGA and the QOC stage yet another star-studded event over the next three years.”
Dolphin Energy’s strategic gas supply initiative involves the production and processing of natural gas from Qatar’s North Field, and transportation of the refined gas by subsea pipeline to the UAE. The overall investment in constructing the entire Dolphin Gas Project – wells, sealines, processing plant, export pipeline and receiving facilities – has made it one of the largest energy-related ventures ever undertaken in the Middle East. Dolphin Energy is a development company that was established in Abu Dhabi to implement the Dolphin Gas Project, and to undertake other important energy-related developments such as the Al Ain - Fujairah Gas Pipeline, commissioned in January 2004.
Picture above: Defending champion Spain’s Alvaro Quiros after receiving the trophy in 2009 from (left to right) Ajlan El Enazi, Deputy Vice-President Public Relations Dolphin Energy, Ibrahim Al Kuwari, Deputy General Manager Dolphin Energy, Hassan Al Nuami, Qatar Golf Association Chairman, and Andrew Stevens, Group CEO Commercialbank.

For more details about the tournament, long on to: http://www.qatar-masters.com/

INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT IN BUENOS AIRES

Leaders England disqualfied in Juan Carlos

Tailhade tournament in Argentina

Leaders England have been sensationally disqualified from the Juan Carlos Tailhade international pairs team tournament on the third day at Los Lagartos Country Club, Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) and Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) - both 18-year-olds - were ruled out for misinterpretation of the local rule about lifting, cleaning and replacing golf balls in the muddy conditions which prevailed. The course was flooded for several hours on Friday.
The Argentine Golf Federation said: "Both players applied wrongly the local rule that permitted lifting, cleaning and replacing their golf balls."
The two countries to benefit the most from England's disqualification were the hosts, Argentina, and South Africa. They are now tied for the No 1 position on 425 - six shots ahead of third place Norway.
Scotland's David Law (Hazlehead) and Ross Kellett (Motherwell) have never figured as a force in the tournament.
They are near the bottom on 446 with Kellett having had rounds of 73, 73 and 75 for five-over-par 221 and Law 77, 73 and 75 for 225.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216
425 South Africa 144 139 142 (J G Claasen 74 67 71- 212, Ryan Dereyer 70 72 71 - 213); Argentina 138 141 146 (Armando Zarlenga 68 71 72 - 211, Tomas Cocha 70 70 74 - 214).
431 Norway 141 142 148.
433 Peru 140 145 148.
434 Portugal 139 147 148.
435 Austria 145 146 144, Germany 145 144 146.
436 France 143 140 153.
437 Spain 137 147 153.
442 New Zealand 148 149 145.
443 Venezuela 142 151 150.
445 Holland 150 145 150.
446 Colombia 147 149 150, Scotland 150 146 150 (Ross Kellett 73 73 75 - 221, David Law 77 73 75 - 225).
450 Italy 147 147 156.
461 Finland 157 156 148.
464 Uruguay 149 159 156.
Disqualified: England 135 141 dq (Eddie Pepperell 68 73 dq, Tommy Fleetwood 67 68 dq).

Former Scottish youths champion wins by two shots

Bourdy holds off McIlroy to win Hong Kong Open

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Grégory Bourdy, the 2002 Scottish youths open champion from France, held off a sustained charge by Rory McIlroy to triumph by two shots at the UBS Hong Kong Open after a final round 67 earned him top spot with a score of 19 under par.
Overnight leader Bourdy, who began the day on 16 under par, produced a nerveless round that continued the superb putting that had been a prominent feature of his play all week in Fanling.
The win, Bourdy’s third on The European Tour, makes him the first Frenchman to win three tournaments in consecutive years and earns him a place at next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by: DP World.
“It is fantastic. It is my mother’s birthday today so I dedicate this to her," he said. "I needed this victory to go to Dubai as well, my girlfriend is here and everything went right.
“I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot and I knew if I was three or four under it would be okay to win the tournament.”
“I knew if I won I would go to Dubai but first was to play well today and win this UBS Hong Kong Open. I have played well, won and I’m going to Dubai so I have everything.”
McIlroy, who rifled a final round 64 to finish on 17 under par, was left to rue a three-putt bogey on the 17th having previously been five under through seven holes on his back nine.
“It was a bit of an anxious putt on the 17th but apart from that it was a really good round of golf,” said the 20 year old.
“I went out with the mindset that if I went lower than 65 then I might have a chance but Gregory obviously played very well.”
The blow is cushioned, however, by the fact he heads into next week’s tournament atop The Race to Dubai standings after current leader Lee Westwood finished down in a tie for 54th following a final round 74.
“I am a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of The Race to Dubai. It is where I wanted to be going into the final tournament.”
McIlroy's fireworks earned him a second-placed finish for the second consecutive year at Hong Kong Golf Club, pushing Robert-Jan Derksen into a tie for third with Francesco Molinari (64) after the Dutchman could only manage a final round 68.
“It wasn't to be,” said Derksen, who also moved to 67th in The Race to Dubai.
“I tried to make birdies coming in and thought if I could make that one on the last I might just make the Dubai World Championship but I just missed out on that as well. But that is the way it is and that's golf.”
Raphaël Jacquelin’s superb round of six under par catapulted him into a a tie for fifth alongside Barclays Singapore Open champion Ian Poulter, who also fired a 64 to join the Frenchman on the 14 under par mark.
Poulter said: “I gave myself chances but think a lot of people gave themselves chances.
“I had a chance to have a run at it but didn't quite do enough.
“It is all good going into the next couple of weeks. It will be exciting next week and there should be some fireworks on the golf course.”
Peter Lawrie ended a shot behind Poulter and Jacquelin in outright seventh on 13 under par, his 67 dropping him three places down the final standings after his overnight tally of ten under par.
Continuing the trend of low scores Simon Dyson earned himself outright eighth thanks to a flawless round of 66 that pushed him to 12 under par, one in front of David Dixon - who secured his card for next year thanks to a 67 - and Scott Strange (66), who both finished tied for ninth.
Elsewhere, Darren Clarke was left agonisingly 61st in The Race to Dubai and one place short of a berth at the Dubai World Championship presented by: DP World after he ended in a tie for 11th on ten under par.
“I've tried my heart out all week,” said Clarke. “I had a lot of chances coming in and burnt the edges but I am proud I went out this week and gave myself every chance.”
Clarke’s fortunes were in stark contrast to Liang Wen-Chong, who earned a place at the Earth Course next week after moving to 57th place in the rankings.
“I would like to thank all my fans in Hong Kong who made the special effort to come here to support me,” he said after finishing, like Clarke, on ten under par.
“It really warmed my heart to see so many supporters following me throughout my four rounds this week.
“It's going to be really exciting and challenging for me to compete in Dubai and as always, I'll try to do my best there.”As the dust settled on the week, when so much was at stake in terms of getting into the top 60 and the Dubai World Championship and the top 120 to secure playing rights for next season, Jamie Donaldson held on to 60th place in the Race to Dubai and Seve Benson, who finished tied 17th in the JBWere Masters, claimed the last card for finishing 120th.
The Race to Dubai leader Lee Westwood finished a difficult week with a four over par 74 to slip to one under overall. His fourth round contained just one birdie against three bogeys and a double bogey.
“This week was just a bit of an off week, nothing really went for me and couldn’t get anything going,” said the World Number Four.
“I couldn’t get anything going on the greens and today was just typical of that. I didn’t quite have the enthusiasm going out there when you know you are struggling to make putts – even the good putts are not going in. It was just one of those weeks.”
Elsewhere, Scott Drummond, the winner of the 2005 Volvo PGA Championship, and 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open champion Simon Khan are both set to lose their cards despite valiant final round efforts.
Drummond needed a top six finish with his five year exemption ending this season and carded a final round 66 to finish at 10 under to provisionally move into a tie for 10th.
A devastated Khan posted a final round 64 to finish at eight under par with a top ten finish a minimum requirement.
“It is the time this season when things have come together and I have played the round I know I can play,” he said. “I gave it everything I had.”
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee lifted an unprecedented third Asian Tour Order of Merit crown to underline his stature as one of Asia’s most accomplished players.
Having won the title in 2001 and 2004, Thongchai was crowned Asia’s number one for a record third time after fending off the challenge of closest rival Liang Wen-chong of China at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
Liang needed at least a second place finish to keep his merit hopes alive but finished in tied-11th place with Thongchai after taking the joint halfway lead.
“Winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit title really means a lot to me. The competition is always getting tougher and tougher each year and to win it again shows that my game is improving each year as well,” said Thongchai, who took his season's earnings to an unassailable US$976,693.80 with two events remaining.
“This win will mean a lot to the Thai people and all my sponsors. I would also like to dedicate this win to my family and my manager who have been supporting me throughout my career,” added the 40-year-old Thai carded rounds of 64, 71, 68 and 67 at the US$2.5 million showpiece this week.
+Gregory Bourdy won the Scottish youths championship in 2002 at Murrayshall, Perth.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
261 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 64 67 63 67
263 Rory McIlroy 66 68 65 64
264 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 63 68 65 68, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 68 66 64
266 Ian Poulter 68 66 68 64, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 68 68 64
267 Peter Lawrie 66 68 66 67
268 Simon Dyson 68 67 67 66
269 David Dixon 64 69 69 67, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 65 70 66
270 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 65 66 71 68, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 66 65 72 67, Scott Drummond 69 67 68 66, Danny Chia (Mal) 67 66 68 69, Darren Clarke 69 67 67 67, Mark Foster 65 69 69 67, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 64 71 68 67
271 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 65 67 71 68, Graeme McDowell 67 68 66 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68 69 63 71, David Howell 69 66 67 69
272 Marcus Both (Aus) 70 67 65 70, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe) 64 69 67 72, Simon Yates 70 68 67 67, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 65 69 73 65, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 69 67 70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 68 67 68 69, Simon Khan 67 70 71 64
273 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 67 67 68, Kiradech Aphibamrat (Tha) 68 67 71 67, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70 68 67, Colin Montgomerie 69 69 67 68, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 66 67 69 71, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 71 67 69 66, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 68 67 70
274 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 67 70 68 69, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 67 70 66, Lian-Wei Zhang (Chn) 67 69 69 69, Rhys Davies 65 69 71 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 68 68 68 70, Jason Knutzon (USA) 68 67 69 70, Tony Carolan (Aus) 65 71 68 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 70 68 67 69, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 69 68 68 69
275 Wei Chih Lu (Tha) 65 69 69 72, Airil-Rizman Zahari (Mal) 68 66 70 71, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 70 68 70
276 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 68 72 68, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 69 68 71 68, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 66 66 75 69
277 Jamie Donaldson 69 69 70 69, Mars Pucay (Phi) 68 67 73 69
278 Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67 70 71 70
279 Iain Steel (Mal) 68 70 68 73, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 65 72 72, Lee Westwood 66 70 69 74, Graeme Storm 68 67 76 68
280 Darren Beck (Aus) 68 70 72 70, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 69 71 71
281 Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 65 73 71 72, Shun yat jason Hak (Hkg) 70 67 72 72, Bradley Dredge 66 71 73 71
283 Anthony Kang (USA) 69 66 74 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 71 67 72 73
284 Udorn Duangdecha (Tha) 62 74 75 73
292 Ter-Chang Wang (Tpe) 66 72 77 77

Paul Casey pulls out of Dubai World Championship

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Paul Casey is out of next week's Dubai World Championship, the event which could have seen him crowned as the European Tour's No 1 this season.
England's world No 5 has taken medical advice not to risk further injury to the shoulder muscle he tore in practice for the Open in July. Casey spent nearly three months on the sidelines before returning at the Volvo world match-play championship a fortnight ago, but then withdrew early in the final round of last week's HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
The 32-year-old, who lies fifth on the "Race to Dubai" money list, flew from China to the United States for an MRI scan in the hope that he would be given the all-clear to compete in the Middle East.
But manager Guy Kinnings said: "Paul will not play sadly. His intercostal muscle is not torn again, but it is inflamed and he cannot risk it in Dubai."
Casey will now seek further opinion before making a decision on when he will be fit enough to return.
Next week's event is for the leading 60 money-winners on the circuit, but the field will now be only 58 as American Anthony Kim, runner-up to England's Ross Fisher at the match-play in Spain, has decided not to play.
Casey is still in line for an Order of Merit bonus that could be in excess of £316,000.
At the 1996 Volvo Masters Australian Robert Allenby, having fractured his sternum in a car crash the previous month, struck an opening drive 30 yards and then quit.
The rules at the time required him to do that so he could collect a bonus of around £60,000 - he then gave it to charity - but things are different now.
A note in the European Tour members' handbook states: "To be eligible for bonus pool prize money a player must participate in the Dubai World Championship unless he has a mitigating circumstance."
It says further on that a player withdrawing "for reasons of injury, serious disability or personal emergency which is deemed acceptable by the Chief Executive (in his absolute determination) will remain eligible to receive any applicable bonus pool payment."

Tiger Woods back on the ball to win Aussie

Masters by two strokes from Chalmers

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Tiger Woods claimed his first ever win in Australia as the World Number One captured the 2009 JBWere Australian Masters title at Kingston Heath today.
Woods, the joint leader after 54 holes with Australians Greg Chalmers and James Nitties, fired a final round 68 at the historic 6455 metre par 72 lay-out in Melbourne's renowned sandbelt to prevail by two shots from Chalmers (70) in outright second.
Francois Delamontagne of France elevated himself from among the also rans with weekend rounds of 68 and 69 for a share of third place on ten under with American Jason Dufner (70) while Nitties (73) rounded out the top five at minus nine.
Clad in his customary Sunday red, Woods constructed a copybook birdie at the first to signal that Saturday's misadventures, when he carded a frustrating and unsatisfactory 72, were well and truly behind him.
In fine, warm conditions, the 14 time major winner made his move with successive birdies at five and six.
First, he offered his huge gallery the thrills they were craving with a long iron to the pin for a gimme at the 351 metre par four fifth for the outright lead, followed by a pitching wedge to inches at the next for a tap in to extend it.
Woods' most telling shot of the day was at the par five 12th when he smashed a fairway wood from 268 metres to within four metres of the flag, setting up another birdie for a three shot break on his rivals.
A furious Woods blamed an overenthusiastic photographer for his wayward approach which was to cost him a shot at 13 - his one blemish for the round - and a 5at the par five 14th was an opportunity lost.
But when he holed a three metre birdie putt at the 142 metre par three 15th, the door was effectively slammed shut on his rivals.
"Saturday was one of those days," said Woods. "I was thankful I was still (in contention) in the tournament, but I kept myself in it and it allowed me to go out today and go for the chance to win.
"It was going to be tough today. I had to make some birdies early and I was able to do that and was able to keep it."
The champion was kept honest by Chalmers who managed a couple of early birdies and remained thereabouts despite a dropped shot at the 173 metre par three eighth.
What really hurt the 36 year old, however, was his failure to convert two gilt edged birdie opportunities when he most needed to on the back nine at 14 and 16.
Adam Bland's 67 was the best of Sunday's rounds while two former Masters champions, Craig Spence, the 1999 winner and Aaron Baddeley (2007) both matched Woods' 68.
Defending titleholder Rod Pampling fired a final round 73 to finish equal-14th at minus four overall.
It was Woods' seventh victory of the year. He justified his $3 million fee by attracting unprecedented 100,000 crowds over the four days and was tracked by huge galleries.
Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim finished joint 14th on 284.
Former Scottish amateur champion Callum Macaulay didn't get the high finish he needed to avoid going back to Tour School. He had a disappointing last round of 75 for 292.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
274 Tiger Woods (USA) 66 68 72 68
276 Greg Chalmers (Aus) 68 69 69 70
278 Jason Dufner (USA) 70 67 71 70, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 70 68 69
279 James Nitties (Aus) 66 71 69 73
280 Adam Scott (Aus) 71 71 69 69, Cameron Percy (Aus) 67 72 69 72
281 Stuart Appleby (Aus) 69 70 71 71
282 Craig Scott (Aus) 71 72 70 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 72 69 68, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 71 73 66 72
283 Alistair Presnell (Aus) 72 73 66 72, Ashley Hall (Aus) 69 69 72 73
284 Michael Sim (Sco) 70 71 69 74, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 70 70 73, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 67 72 73
285 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 73 68 76 68, Leigh McKechnie (Aus) 73 71 69 72, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 71 71 67 76, Seve Benson 71 71 70 73
286 Scott Laycock (Aus) 72 68 70 76, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 68 70 74 74, Steven Bowditch (Aus) 71 68 75 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 73 71 71, Steven Jones (Aus) 72 75 70 69
287 Richard Bland 71 73 73 70, Adam Bland (Aus) 72 75 73 67, Richard Green (Aus) 72 71 72 72, Craig Spence (Aus) 72 75 72 68, Kurt Barnes (Aus) 70 73 75 69, Heath Reed (Aus) 77 68 74 68
288 Manny Villegas (Col) 70 68 76 74, David McKenzie (Aus) 70 72 73 73, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 73 71 72, Matthew Griffin (Aus) 71 75 69 73
289 Gary Murphy 71 73 71 74, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 69 76 69 75, Michael Long (Nzl) 71 75 70 73, Ewan Porter (Aus) 71 76 70 72, Branden Grace (Rsa) 66 75 73 75, Craig Parry (Aus) 70 76 73 70, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 71 69 73 76, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 71 74 71 73
290 Aaron Townsend (Aus) 75 72 74 69, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 75 71 73, Peter Nolan (Aus) 68 72 74 76, John Senden (Aus) 73 69 75 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71 76 72 71, Andre Stolz (Aus) 71 74 70 75, Lee Slattery 69 74 75 72
291 Ryan Haller (Aus) 70 74 76 71, Sam Little 71 71 73 76, Peter Wilson (Aus) 73 73 72 73, Doug Holloway (Nzl) 67 74 77 73, Michael Wright (Aus) 73 73 71 74, Paul Sheehan (Aus) 73 72 74 72
292 Callum Macaulay 75 71 71 75, Marc Leishman (Aus) 72 73 74 73, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 75 72 72 73, Matthew Giles (Aus) 74 69 77 72, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 70 75 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73 76 69
293 Josh Younger (Aus) 72 73 71 77, Andrew Bonhomme (Aus) 73 74 73 73, Anthony Brown (Aus) 72 72 72 77
294 Jason Norris (Aus) 73 74 71 76, Terry Price (Aus) 73 72 80 69, Miles Tunnicliff 74 72 75 73
295 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 71 68 77 79
296 Aaron Pike (Aus) 74 73 72 77
297 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 76 77 75
298 Frank Power (Aus) 74 70 76 78, Andrew Tschudin (Aus) 73 72 74 79
299 Damien Jordon (Aus) 69 78 79 73, Simon Furneaux (Aus) 73 74 77 75
300 Kim Felton (Aus) 76 71 77 76
302 Ryan Hammond (Aus) 75 72 77 78