Thurso's Alan Swanson (69) best over Royal

Dornoch winter course in North Alliance

By ROBIN WILSON
The attraction of the Royal Dornoch venue enticed the North Golf Alliance's biggest entry of the season to Sutherland's premier course on Sunday when the field of 66, playing from the winter tees, was headed by Thurso's Alan Swanson with a scratch card of one-under-par 69.
Swanson closed off his round with two birdies to add a one under par inward half count of 34 to his flawless outward 35 and win by a stroke from Brora's Liam MacDonald-Macleod.
The latter was credited with the first scratch place when Swanson's score of 67 elevated him to a better prize in Category 1 handicap.
Making his season's debut was Wick +1 handicapper Ron Taylor who made an immediate entry onto the scratch leader board with a card of 71 but with a second nine holes he might not want to be reminded off.
On his return after lay-off he enjoyed an outstanding first nine holes that tore the shortened course to ribbons, his outward card featuring seven 3ss, one 4 and one 5, the 5 a par at the ninth hole for an amazing 30!
Returning luck maybe?, but still a warning of what can come from the player who has won more fixtures than any other member. Then the half to forget. With an unexplained "Devon Loch" type collapse from the 10th tee Taylor finished his round with two double bogeys for an inward 41.
Double winner already this season, Tain's Munro Ferries, out in front for the Quaich, was squeezed out at Dornoch. His gross 73 (36-37) was matched by Thurso's course record-holder Jim Sangster who also fell away over the inward half with 39 for 73 and a share of fourth place.
But Caithness members did have a good presence in the Class 1 Handicap and turned the tables on the Ross-shire members who dominated at Invergordon.
With Swanson placed first, only Tarbat's Hamish Skinner prevented a clean sweep from Reay's Fred Groves, Thurso's A Bell and Wick's John Harper.
In the Class 2 section, where there was a good entry of 27, it was a West Coast romp. Billy McBain, former Fishery Officer at Ullapool and Scrabster and now in post at Kinlochbervie, where he joined the Durness club, led the Durness charge into three of the five winning places.
McBain netted first place with a “best catch of the day” net 65, off 19, to be followed by three 71s, the order coming on card count backs - Durness's Francis Keith (12), repeating his second place at Invergordon, then Angus MacDonald (16) (Ullapool) and fourth placed John Mackenzie (16) (Durness).
As he did at Invergordon, Reay's Gavin Gunn scraped into fifth place with net 73, off 10.
However Ross shire members should start favourites next time out on November 29 at Tain and now is the time to begin organising teams of three for the three-ball, better-ball at Brora on December 13.
Results:
LEADING SCRATCH
69 A Swanson (Thurso).
70 L MacDonald-Macleod (Brora).
71 R W Taylor (Wick).
73 M Ferries (Tain), B Ferries (Tain), J Sangster (Thurso).
74 A J Gill (Brora), J Harper (Wick).
75 F Groves (Reay).
76 D Mackay (Reay).
LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1 - A Swanson (Thurso) (2) 67; H Skinner (Tarbat) (9), F Groves (Reay) (6) 69; A Bell (Thurso) (7), J Harper (Wick) (4) 70.
Class 2 – W McBain (Durness (19) 65; F R M Keith (Durness) (12) 71; A MacDonald (Ullapool) (16), J Mackenzie (Durness) (16) 71; G Gunn (Reay) (10) 73.

Alps Tour Final Qualifying School:

Scots prosper on first day at Bari

By AGATHE SERON
The first round of the Alps Tour Final Qualifying School took place under sunshine at Bari in southern Italy.
The field of 144 players are chasing 35 spots on the 2010 circuit, split into two groups, one at Riva de Tessali, the other at Metaponto golf course.
As last week, the scores were really better at Metaponto whose fairways are wider. A group of three men are leading on seven-under-par 65 -Italian amateur Giorgio Del Boca, Scottish rookie pro Gavin Dear and South of England amateur champion Jason Palmer.
One stroke behind come Jann Schmid from Switzerland and another Englishman, Mark Davies. Gavin Dear apart, the Scots in general are doing well.
S C O R E B O A R D
FIRST ROUND at MESAPONTO
Par 72
65
Giorgio DEL BOCA Italy (am)
Jason PALMER England
Gavin DEAR Scotland
66
Jann SCHMID Switzerland
Mark DAVIES England
67
Xavier RUIZ-FONHOF Netherlands
Carlos AGUILAR Spain
Mathieu DELAY-TERMOZ France (am)
Jose Miguel ROSILLO Spain
68
Sergio GONZALEZ GARCIA Spain
David ANTONELLI France (am)
Romain SCHNEIDER France (am)
Zack SALTMAN Scotland
Marc PEREZ GELMA Spain
Juan Antonio BRAGULAT Spain
Jamie HOWARTH England
George LERICHE France
Niccolo GIUSTI Italy
69
Ignacio SANCHEZ PALENCIA Spain
Pablo HERRERIA Spain
Sebastian GARCIA Spain
Adrian CARRETERO Spain
Ruben HOLGADO GUERRERO Spain
Kim JOON Italy (am)
John GALLAGHER Scotland
Thomas TANTOT France
Matthew MARSH England
Lawrence DODD England
Borja GUERRERO GARCIA Spain (am)
70
Jason KELLY Norway
Olivier SERRES France (am)
Roman HAMON France (am)
Juan Carlos OSORIO Spain
Pierrick PERACINO France
Nicolo RAVANO Italy (am)
Luca GALLIANO Italy (am)
71
Alfonso CASTINEIRA MARCOS Spain
Nicholas MURTAGH England
Juan PARRON Spain
Alberto CAMPANILE Italy
Mark HOOPER England
Simon FERNOUX France (am)
72
Yossi BENCHETRIT France
Mattia RATTI Italy
Matthias MONTGAILLARD France
Alain RUIZ-FONHOF Netherlands
Daniel OSORIO Spain
Matthias EGGENBERGER Switzerland (am)
Jeremy BELLIARD France
Franz PFOSTL Italy (am)
Ismael CASTILLO Spain
Antonio SARAGNESE Italy
Pietro RICCI Italy
Jean Francois ROMEO France
Alessandro NAPOLEONI Italy
73
Laurent PONCELET France
Samir WALLANI Tunisia
Sean KING United States
Remi DUPUIS France (am)
74
Simone BARONI Italy
Jorge GARCIA FERNANDEZ Spain
Dominic ANGKAWIDJAJA Austria
75
Jean RELECOM Belgium
76
Steven UZZELL England
Maximilian BOSSE Spain
Jae Kuk LEE Spain
Lewis PATTULLO England
Kurt MAYR Austria
77
Yvan ABBELOOS Spain (am)
78
Mariano SAIZ Spain
Steven WALTHER Switzerland (am)
Federico MALOSSINI Italy

FIRST ROUND AT RIVA
Par 71
66
Giacomo TONELLI Italy
68
Miguel PUJALTE SASTRE Spain
Jean-Vincent DAUDIGNON France
Jordan SMITH England
Andrea ROTA Italy
Agus DOMINGO HOSPITAL Spain
Farren KEENAN England
69
Jason BARNES England
Ricki NEIL-JONES England
Mathieu BOZIO France (am)
Steven HUME Scotland
70
Max BRACKLEY England
Matthieu BEY France (am)
Jose Manuel MANCEBO Spain
Andy SMITH England
Philipp GENEV Germany
71
Panagiotis KARANTZIAS Greece
David GIAOUI France (am)
Alexander MUNRO Australia
Neil O'BRIAIN Ireland (am)
Luca BENEDUCE Italy
Wolfgang RIEDER Austria
72
Juan BUENESTADO GALLEGO Spain
Edouard PENIN France
Miguel CUESTA Spain
Gerald GRESSE Belgium
Ivan IRAZUSTA Spain
Jordan FINDLAY Scotland (am)
Richard KILPATRICK Northern Ireland
Nicholas PATEMAN England
Marco BORRI Italy
73
Stephen GRANT Ireland
Vincent CACHERA France (am)
Stefano BONARDI Italy
Jeremy MAURIO France
Santiago TARRIO Spain
Vittorio VACCARO Italy (am)
Bernhard REITER Austria
Damaso CARRERA Spain
74
Quentin DE VALENSART Belgium
Nunzio LOMBARDI Italy (am)
Carlos PEREZ BARBERAN Spain
Gregori BAUMANN Switzerland (am)
Pol BECH Spain
Peter JAMES England
Thomas PECOUT France
Georg SCHULTES Austria
Alessandro GRAMMATICA Italy (am)
Jean-Luc BURNIER Switzerland
75
Gerold BERCHTOLD Switzerland
Ion GARCIA Spain
Patrice VALMARY France (am)
Pedro ERICE Spain
Miguel CANTERO Spain
Florian POGATSCHNIGG Austria
Alexis WEIZMAN France
76
Leonardo MOTTA Italy (am)
Nicolas PORTEBOEUF France
Kamal BENSOUDA Morocco (am)
Marvin FANTINI Italy
Guillaume AFGOUN France (am)
Gabriel LE CHEVALLIER ACETO Italy
Antonio ARJONA Spain
Clement GALLOIS France
77
Rory KIRWAN England
78
Alexandre RENCK France
Rafael GALLARDO MORENO Spain
David BOBROWSKI France (am)
Jose Luis ADARRAGA Spain
Adam WAINWRIGHT England
80
Tommaso ORZALESI Italy
83
Marco BENEDUCE Italy
+The players switch courses for Tuesday's second round.

Jim Farmer, a local hero at St Andrews (image by courtesy of Andy Forman).

St Andrews Golf Club honour Jim

Farmer with Life Membership

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA

PGA captain Jim Farmer been made a Life Member of St Andrews Golf Club – the club he joined as a teenager.

The 61-year-old was raised within a driver and pitching wedge of the famous Auld Grey Toon and while at the club achieved huge amateur success including winning the Lytham Trophy and gaining international honours.

Farmer, who still lives in the town, was presented with an inscribed gold medal bar during the club’s annual general meeting last week in recognition of his achievements.

“I have been a member of St Andrews Golf Club since I was 16 and played for them as an amateur before I turned pro,” said Farmer. I won all my amateur events while there – the Lytham Trophy, Leven Gold Medal and earned my Scottish international cap there, so it is special to receive this honour from the club and all the members.”

Club secretary Tom Gallacher added: “It’s a tribute to Jim’s whole career and the members wanted to recognise what he has achieved in the game.”

Farmer, who is also the Honorary Professional of the Royal and Ancient, has enjoyed a successful career as player, coach and administrator. During his playing career he chalked up six Open Championship appearances – the first at St Andrews in 1970 – and had victories in the Lytham Trophy, the 1979 Northern Open at Nairn and the 1983 PGA Club Professional Championship at Heaton Park.

Farmer also represented Great Britain & Ireland in four PGA Cups – appearing on the losing side just once – and returned to captain GB&I to success against America at The K Club in 2005 to end a run of 21 years without a win.

Outside of the playing arena, Farmer established himself as a successful Scottish national coach, chaired the Scottish Regional Committee and has been a member of the PGA executive committee and PGA Board.

Fraser Mann gets best start of six Scots looking

for key of door to over-50s treasure trail

Carnoustie-born Fraser Mann fared best of the six Scots in action today (Monday) in the opening round of the European Senior Tour Final Qualifying School over the Pestana Resort’s Vale da Pinta course on Portugal’s Algarve region.
Musselburgh Golf Club’s professional, Mann, who pulled off the double whammy of winning the Northern Open and the Gleneagles Scottish professional championship in the same year, 2002, celebrates his 50th birthday on February 21 next year.
He is looking for the key of the door to a senior circuit where lie the opportunities to more than double and in a much shorter time, the £250,000 he has won on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1979.
But only the top six at the end of four rounds this week will gain Category 6 membership to the European over-50s circuit. Those who finish seventh to 14th will gain Category 9b membership which means fewer playing opportunities.
With a field of 81 chasing so few places, a good start was essential this week and Mann got it with a two-under-par round of 69 to be joint 10th going into round 2
Mann birdied the first and eighth on his way to a two-under-par 32 for the first nine. He was to birdie all three par-5s after the turn and the first one, at the 10th, put him three under par for the day. But a double bogey 6 at the 11th undid almost all that good work and he had to work hard in balmy temperatures round the 72 degrees mark to birdie the 12th and the 16th, dropping a shot at the short 15th in matching the inward par of 37.
Kirkhill pro Duncan Williamson matched the par of 71 with halves of 33 and 38. He birdied the long second, short third, the sixth and long 11th but bogeyed the short fifth, seventh, 11th and 14th.
Glasgow’s Mike Miller had only one birdie, at the short third, in his 74 (35-39). Bogeys at the eighth, short ninth, short 15th and 18th leave him needing a very good second round get him into contention.
The same applies to Anglo-Scot Bill McColl, who had a 75 (38-37), and Dundee’s Steve Martin (38-38) and Aberdeen’s Peter Smith (35-41) who both had 76s
McColl had one birdie, at the long 12th, and five bogeys, four of them on the “easier” outward half.
Martin had dreadful start with a bogey at the short third and a double bogey at the next par-3 hole, the fifth. More shots went by the board at the short ninth and 11th before he pulled himself together to birdie the long 12th and short 15th, only to bogey the long 16th and 18th in a disappointing finish to a disappointing day.
Peter Smith, the top Scot among the qualifiers from last week’s Stage 1 eliminator on the Algarve, wasn’t going too badly when he turned in 35 with a birdie at the short third but shots dropped at the short fifth and short ninth.
Smith lost his way early on the inward half. He boged the long 10th, ran up a double bogey 6 at the 11th – slipped in abirdie 4 at the long 12th – but then sagged again with a bogey at the short 13th and another one at the 14th.
Germany’s Torsten Giedeon, who partnered Bernhard Langer to World Cup glory in 1990, fired a four under par 67 for a share of the first round lead with England’s Ricky Willison, a former Walker Cup player who had played on the European Tour.
Willison spent five years on the European Tour and European Challenge Tour in the early 1990s before quitting to concentrate of course design. He has spent the past four years as club professional at Ealing Golf Club and has not played competitively for over 10 years.
ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 71
67 R Willison (Eng), T Giedeon (Ger)
68 A Sowa (Arg), J Stuart (US), J Sallat (Fra), M Williams (Zim), G Davies (Wal), J Harrison (Eng), M Aparicio (Esp)
69 P Dahlberg (Swe), A Johnsson (Swe), T Burgoyne (Swe) , G Towne (US) , D Johnson (US), F Mann (Sco), M Donald (US), P Oakley (US)
70 G Ryall (Eng), J King (Eng), P Allan (Eng) ,
71 J Gould (Eng), R Morris (Eng), M Söderberg (Swe), S Cipa (Eng), D Williamson (Sco), G Gunn (Can), M Lord (Eng), G Banister (Aus)
72 C Grenier (Aut), M Gallagher (Eng) , J Seifert (Cze) , D Young (Eng), M Briggs (Eng), B Hardwick (Can), J Davila (Esp) ,
73 A Fernandez (Chi), R Masters (Eng) , R Uhlir (US), M Moreno (Esp), V Garcia (Esp), J Hall (Eng) , M Belsham (Eng) , C Acutis (Ita), J Mills (Eng) (am)
74 M Miller (Sco), F Dhondt (Bel), M Kierstenson (Eng) , D Rios (Arg) , S Stull (US), N Clarke (SAf), J Stansberry (US) , S Shields (Eng) (am), K Worm (Den) (am)
75 B Stevens (Eng) , I Mosey (Eng), V Bueno (Chi) , T Jones (USA), J Ackerman (SAf) , D Hammett (US), F Regard (Fra), P Dugeny (Fra) , B McColl (Sco), D Narveson (US) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , J Hoskison (Eng)
76 P Smith (Sco) , S Martin (Sco), E Alessandrini (Ita), T Planchin (Fra), T Price (Wal), G Krause (Eng) , F Kiddie (Eng), M Deeley (Eng), S East (Eng) (am)
77 M Thomas (US), D Regan (Eng)
78 J Laforce (Can), S Bennett (Eng), S Bonham (Eng)
79 L Cooper (US)
80 C Linstead (Eng)

+Any comments? E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.wom

Woosnam wins in Wales, Torrance jt 14th, Lyle jt 18th

Ian Woosnam has rounded off another successful season by winning the PGA Handa Cup Philanthropy Senior Tournament at Skyway Country Club in Japan.
The 2006 Ryder Cup captain posted a final round of 71 to finish on four under par 284, three strokes clear of runner up Gohei Sato. It was the Welshman's fourth victory as a Senior golfer, following his three wins on the European Senior Tour, and comes a week after he finished second behind Sam Torrance in the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Torrance closed with a final round 74 to finish in a share of 14th place in Japan while Sandy Lyle’s final round 72 moved him into a share of 18th place.
Last month, The European Senior Tour and WSM Sponsorship announced an exciting new initiative with ISPS in Japan to strengthen the Senior Tour’s ties with the Far East.
The initial one-year partnership between the Senior Tour, WSM Sponsorship and ISPS, founded by Dr Handa, a leading global philanthropist, will help to deliver a new Senior Tour event in Thailand, the details of which will be announced shortly, while consolidating other established tournaments such as the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters and the Benahavis Senior Masters Presented by ISPS.Dr Handa is committed to a number of charitable causes, one of which is the support of blind golf around the world.
This new collaboration with the Senior Tour will provide a high-profile vehicle to support this very worthwhile cause. Asia-based Dr Handa already has a close affiliation with the Japanese Senior Tour through his promotion of this week’s PGA Handa Cup Philanthropy Senior Tournament in his native Japan.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE SWITCHED FROM NEWMACHAR TO PETERHEAD Peterhead Golf Club will host Wednesday's North-east Golfers Alliance competition instead of Newmachar, the scheduled venue. The Newmachar Hawkshill course is considered too wet at the moment to take as many as 100 golfers on one day, which is the anticipated figure. The tee times reserved for Newmachar have been advanced by 15min which means that the first players will tee off at 8am and the last at 12.05. Players who are not members will not be able to play in the competition at Newmachar. There will be no vacancies for new members before January.

........................................................."Mr Hickory" Lionel Freedman

International Hickory Challenge repeat at

Musselburgh Old Course in 2010

NEWS RELEASE
Alan Hay, Vice Chairman of the Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council, says that, following on from the official launch of their new sculptures, it is their intention to further promote the game of golf on the Old Links Course at Musselburgh.
This has created an exciting initiative made possible by the staging of the Musselburgh International Hickory Challenge 2009 held over the Old Course in September. This tournament, which was the first professional event to be held here since 1906, attracted over 20 international and Tartan Tour professionals as well as top amateurs. With accolades from the PGA and entrants from all over Europe, it was decided that another international tournament should be scheduled.
Together, with Councillor John Caldwell and the Board of The World Hickory Open, Alan will be working with them towards setting up a golf competition with a hickory division on the Old Course to celebrate the anniversary of Musselburgh golfer Willie Park Senior winning the first open golf competition at Prestwick Golf Course 150 years ago.
The competition will be held next year, involving both professional and amateur golfers. All proceeds from the entry fees, which will be kept to a minimum, and aimed affordably to local golfers, will be ploughed back into prizes. The format of the competition and further details will be published at a later date.
Following on from the competition, a Gala Dinner will be held to present the prizes to the winners. Special Guest speakers will be in attendance to mark the occasion, finishing up with an auction. Any surplus funds will be used by the Community Council for local Projects and Initiatives. "

AMENDMENTS MADE TO ENTRY

CRITERIA AHEAD OF

2010 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
November 16, 2009, St Andrews: The R&A has announced changes to the entry criteria ahead of The Open Championship’s 150th Anniversary, to be played at St Andrews from July 11-18, 2010.
A new exemption category has been introduced for the 2010 Open. Condition F(4) exempts from qualifying any past Open Champions who finished in the top 10 and ties in any of the previous five Open Championships, thus effectively providing them with a five year exemption into the Championship.
“We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open Champions, both in their fifties, challenging to win our championship these last two years,” explained Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
“We rightly reduced the age of exemption for past champions from 65 to 60 two years ago and our intention was never to remove players still at the top of their game from competing in The Open.”
Competitors at The Open Championship; International Final Qualifying - Australasia, Asia, America and Europe; and at Local Final Qualifying will be subject to the new clubface groove regulations as per Decision 4-1/1 of Decisions on the Rules of Golf.

Watson and Norman have influenced R&A's rethink

FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
Tom Watson, who was 59 at last year's Open, came within a shot of being the oldest winner of a major by 11 years.
Now, thanks to the R&A changing their championship criteria, Watson will be able to go on playing in the Open beyond next year's championship at St Andrews.
The American was one putt away from lifting a record-equalling sixth Claret Jug at Turnberry in July – and at 59 would have been the oldest major winner of all time by a staggering 11 years.
Now 60, Watson would have lost his past champions' exemption next summer under the old rules, but the Royal & Ancient Club has responded not just to his performance, but also that of 54-year-old Greg Norman, who at Birkdale last year led with nine holes to play before eventually finishing third.
A new entry category has been introduced for the 2010 Open which exempts from qualifying any past champion who finished in the top 10 and ties in any of the previous five Opens, thus effectively providing them with a five-year exemption.
"We have introduced this as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions, both in their fifties, challenging to win our championship these last two years," explained Peter Dawson, the R&A chief executive.
"We rightly reduced the age of exemption for past champions from 65 to 60 in 2007 and our intention was never to remove players still at the top of their game from competing in the Open."
Watson needed to par the last hole in July, but went just over the green, putted nine feet past and missed the return.
The bogey sent him into a four-hole play-off with his compatriot Stewart Cink, who won it comfortably by six strokes.
The drama came on the same course where Watson beat Jack Nicklaus for the second of his five titles in 1977.

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Stephen Ames was munching on sliders and drinking a few beers at his coach's house Saturday night when he realized that he needed all the help he could get to make his final round of the year a special one.
So at the place where the entrance gates declare "Where Dreams Come True," Ames figured he should give it a shot.
"I wished for 64," Ames said, "and I got that 64."
Ames won his second title in three years at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Sunday, edging George McNeill and Justin Leonard in a play-off to become the oldest winner in the tournament's history.
The 45-year-old Ames was calm and cool on greens that were too slick for most of the field on a sun-baked day at Disney World. The Canadian finished with an 8-under 64 for the clubhouse lead, watching as McNeill (67) and Leonard (67) failed to pass him.
It was the first win of the year and fourth career victory for Ames, including The Players Championship in 2006. This time, he had a few extra people in the gallery.
Among those who followed him on the back nine was his 10-year-old son, Ryan, who provided a little extra motivation walking up to the 18th tee needing a birdie.
"He said, 'Dad, you need to hole this,"' Ames recalled. "I said, 'All right, I'll try my best.' It was a very casual round. It's Mickey Mouse, come on."
Ames got some help.
Leonard rimmed out a 16ft putt for the win in regulation, even beginning to pump his fist in celebration only to watch the ball spin away. He twice left putts short when he was eliminated on the first play-off hole - also the 18th.
"To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing," Leonard said. "Obviously, I thought I made it by my reaction. I was surprised it didn't go in."
Ames also caught another break.
After McNeill saved par on the first play-off hole despite landing his tee shot between the trees, he had a 6ft putt on the 15th to force a third play-off hole. McNeill struck the ball right on the line, but it trickled around the edge and popped off to give Ames the win and the $828,000 first-place prize.
"It made a full 360," McNeill said. "It went down in the hole, and then it spit back out."
There were other rallies that didn't end up on the leaderboard.
Sunday was the last day for players to secure a US Tour card for next year. Only those who finished the year in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments.
For as much back and forth as there was throughout the week, in the end, there wasn't a lot of movement.
Former world No. 1 David Duval already had lost his full status by missing the cut. Robert Garrigus also missed the cut and was knocked out of full status for next year.
Jimmy Walker and Nicholas Thompson were the only two players to move inside the top 125 after beginning the week outside. Walker finished at No. 125.
"It's tough. You can't do anything," Walker said. "You just have to sit back and relax. Not relax, you can't relax. But I did all I could do."
There were plenty others who cut it close.
Rich Beem shot a 68 to finish at 10 under for the tournament. The 2002 PGA Championship winner finished at No. 122 for the season.
He admitted the pressure to perform this weekend got to him in the first two rounds. He talked to his coach Friday night and said that helped him find his swing.
"I must say it was about as odd as I've ever felt thinking about it. I never expected myself to feel the way that I did," Beem said. "When somebody tells you that you can't do your job next year when you know you're so close, that's not such a good feeling."
After turning in his scorecard, Beem stood behind the 18th green watching a monitor with the projected money list. His name flip-flopped twice, and he had to walk away. He later walked into the media center to check the minute-by-minute standings.
"I'm sweating," he said. "But things look good."
Ames is going to have to rework his schedule now, too.
He wasn't planning to try to play at the next year's first event in Maui. That just happens to be the place the Ames family vacations every winter, and they were planning to leave a few days before the tournament.
Looks like they'll need a new itinerary.
"I always tell Gary Player golf always gets in the way," Ames said. "I don't want to play golf. I want to sit on the beach and relax."
Now he'll get to do both.
England's Justin Rose, first-round leader, tied for fifth place with a 17-under-par total of 271. Another Englishman Brian Davis was two shots behind him on 273 after closing with a 64. Just outside the top 20 was a third Englishman, Greg Owen on 277.
FINAL TOTALS
Magnolia Golf Club, Buena Vista, Florida.
Par 288 (4x72)
270 Stephen Ames (Can) 69 70 67 64, Justin Leonard 68 64 71 67, George McNeill 68 66 69 67 (Ames won three-way sudden-death play-off with a par at second extra hole).
271 Justin Rose (Eng) 65 69 69 68, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 68 70 66 67
272 Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 68 69 66 69
273 D A Points 71 70 67 65, Brian Davis (Eng) 72 69 68 64
274 Zach Johnson 67 70 69 68, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 66 67 70
275 Bill Haas 68 69 69 69, Jeff Overton 70 68 68 69, Jonathan Byrd 70 68 69 68, Nicholas Thompson 72 69 68 66
276 Will MacKenzie 67 72 66 71, Joe Ogilvie 70 69 67 70, Chris DiMarco 68 68 71 69, Jimmy Walker 69 70 68 69, Tom Lehman 71 67 69 69, Matt Weibring 68 68 70 70
277 Kent Jones 70 68 71 68, Greg Owen (Eng) 66 71 70 70, Johnson Wagner 70 68 72 67
278 Ben Crane 71 70 67 70, John Rollins 70 71 67 70, Jeff Maggert 71 69 68 70, Rich Beem 69 73 68 68
279 Todd Hamilton 74 68 70 67
280 Michael Bradley 70 71 72 67, Patrick Sheehan 70 70 69 71, Spencer Levin 71 68 71 70, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 71 74 67, David Toms 73 67 69 71, Charles Howell III 70 70 71 69, Chez Reavie 68 69 71 72
281 Brian Gay 68 71 73 69, Jeff Quinney 70 71 71 69, Cameron Beckman 70 68 73 70, Jay Williamson 70 71 70 70
282 Chris Riley 70 71 73 68, Dean Wilson 75 65 72 70, Tim Herron 70 66 74 72, Ryan Palmer 71 71 70 70, Bo Van Pelt 70 72 69 71, Rickie Fowler 66 75 69 72, Jason Bohn 72 70 71 69
283 Brendon De Jonge 70 72 72 69, Ricky Barnes 73 69 71 70, Brett Quigley 71 68 70 74, Harrison Frazar 71 70 69 73, Kevin Streelman 70 71 73 69
284 Rod Perry 69 70 73 72, Charles Warren 70 70 72 72, Casey Wittenberg 66 71 77 70, Darron Stiles 71 69 71 73, Tom Pernice Jnr. 69 67 74 74, Jeff Klauk 69 72 74 69, James Oh 71 71 70 72, D J Trahan 70 71 74 69
285 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 72 71 73, Kris Blanks 67 70 72 76, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 72 69 69 75, Brandt Snedeker 70 70 72 73
286 Aron Price (Aus) 71 70 71 74, Corey Pavin 69 71 73 73, Marc Turnesa 72 70 71 73, Rick Price 67 73 73 73
287 Briny Baird 71 71 69 76
289 Peter Lonard (Aus) 69 70 77 73
290 Ken Duke 71 71 75 73, Ted Purdy 69 73 74 74

Competition at Nairn Dunbar

Cameron, McWilliam and Campbell tie

on 66 in North Scottish Alliance

By ALAN COWIE
There was a three-way tie for the principal scratch award in Saturday's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance at Nairn Dunbar.
Allan Cameron (Inverness), Neil McWilliam (Garmouth & Kingston) and Chris Campbell (Nairn Dunbar) all carded six-under-par 66s. Despite a bad weather forecast the fixture was played in excellent overhead conditions apart from a mere shower in the afternoon.
Cameron had no bogeys in his round. However, Campbell, professional at the host course, opened with three birdies then carded successive 6s at the fourth and fifth. Eight birdies and a closing eagle was his final tally.
Kevin Williamson from Torvean, playing off 5 and partnering off Campbell, also had a 6 at the fourth, which had him at one over before he joined his partner in the sub par spree, finishing one behind the the trio but having the consolation of winning the low handicap section with a net 62.
LEADING SCRATCH
66 C Campbell (Nairn Dunbar) p, N Mcwilliam (Garmouth & Kingston), A Cameron (Inverness).
67 K Williamson (Torvean).
68 J A Grant (Grantown).
69 K Thomson (Moray), J C Milne (Moray).
70 D Hector (Elgin), B Fotheringham (Forres), I Findlay (Grantown), G Hay (Grantown), M. Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
71 S. Johnston (Elgin), M.L. Macleman (Moray), B.A. Watson (Nairn Dunbar), S. Wilson (Inverness).
72 S.G. Milne (Elgin), G. Murray (Spey Bay), D. Hexley (Inverness).
73 A.W. Mair (Moray), F. Brown (Nairn Dunbar), J. Simpson (Forres), S. Chisholm (Nairn), R. Harrower (Boat of Garten) p, A. Henry (Inverness).
74 J. Weatherall (Muir of Ord), W.H. Spencer (Boat of Garten).
75 S. Mitchell (Moray), R. Stewart (Nairn Dunbar), J.R. Souter (Moray), J. Treasurer (Inverness).
76 B. Murray (Boat of Garten), H. Davies (Nairn Dunbar).
77 R.G. Macpherson (Moray), W.B. Johnston (Moray), D. Johnston (Moray), J. Murdoch (Elgin), J.R. Mackay (Muir of Ord), A. Tait (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
78 S. Thomas (Boat of Garten), M. Mcdonald (Grantown), D. Joel (Loch Ness), N.D. Hampton (Loch Ness), W. Hutchison (Inverness), W. Donnelly (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), V. Tilman (Muir of Ord).
79 B. Syms (Muir of Ord), T. Dingwall (Kinloss), I. Hamilton (Elgin), R.R. Adams (Moray).

Handicap Section One (8 and under)
62 K Williamson (Torvean) (5).
66 J C Milne (Moray) (3), D Hector (Elgin) (4).
67 I Findlay (Elgin) (3), S Johnston (Elgin) (4).

Handicap Section Two (9 to 14)
65 B Murray (Boat of Garten) (11), B. Spencer (Boat of Garten) (9), H. Davies (Nairn Dunbar)(11).
67 E P Lamsdell (Forres) (14).
68 P McMillan (Kinloss) (14), W B Johnston (Moray) (9), R G Macpherson (Moray) (9), D Ross (Boat of Garten) (13), J. Mcdonald (Nairn Dunbar) (14).

Scotland's Kellett and Law finish 13th

in Argentina team tournament

Scotland, represented by David Law (Hazlehead) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park), finished 13th of the 19 countries competing in the Juan Carlos Tailhade international team amateur golf tournament at Los Lagartos Country Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

South Africa's J G Classen and Ryan Dreyer, pictured, won with a combined 72-hole total of nine-under-par 567, three shots ahead of Argentina's Armando Zarlenga and Tomas Cocha.

Law and Kellett totalled 589 with Ross 73, 73, 75 and 69 for two-over 290 and David 77, 73, 75 and 74 for 11-over 299.

England's Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) and Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park), both 18-year-olds, were leading the tournament when they were disqualified in the third round for not following the correct procedure for cleaning their golf balls during play in the muddy conditions which prevailed after the course was flooded by torrential rain which held up Friday's second round.

Law and Kellett will be joined this week by Banchory's James Byrne, a student at Arizona State University, and Troon's Michael Stewart (East Tennessee State University) for the Argentina international amateur championship at Buenos Aires Golf Club.

COLLATED TOTALS

Par 576 (8x72)

567 South Africa 144 139 142 142 (J G Classen 74 67 71 67 - 279, Ryan deryer 70 72 71 75 - 288).

570 Argentina 138 141 146 145 (Armando Zarlenga 6871 73 74 - 285, Tomas Cocha 70 70 74 71 - 285).

573 Peru 140 145 148 140.

575 Portugal 139 147 148 141.

576 Spain 137 147 153 139.

577 France 143 140 153 141.

578 Norway 141 141 148 147.

581 Germany 145 144 146 146

584 Australia 145 146 144 149, New Zealand 148 149 145 142.

586 Venezuela 142 151 150 143.

587 Holland 150 145 150 142.

589 Scotland 150 146 150 143 (Ross Kellett 73 73 75 69 - 290, David Law 77 73 75 74 - 299).

599 Italy 147 147 156 149.

600 Colombia 147 149 150 154.

607 Finland 157 156 148 146.

617 Uruguay 149 159 156 153.

623 Mexico 154 157 155 157.

Disqualified - England 135 141 (Eddie Pepperell 68 73 dq, Tommy Fleetwood 67 68 dq).

Dear moves from Florida to Italy to chase

a place on next season's Alps Tour

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
Gavin Dear will be hoping a month spent honing his game in the United States can help him succeed at this week's Alps Tour qualifying school final in southern Italy.
The rookie pro from Scone near Perth, who racked up a win and four other top 10 finishes on the Florida-based Minor League Golf Tour, leads a group of five Scots into the 54-hole shoot-out which starts today at the Tessali club, Bari.
Dear, who fell at the first hurdle of the European Tour's qualifying school in September, will be joined in Italy this week by Edinburgh's former Scottish amateur champion John Gallagher, who finished third in stage one of the Q-school last week.
Zack Saltman, Steven Hume and Fraserburgh amateur Jordan Findlay make up the Scots contingent in a 144-man field. The top 35 players after three rounds will gain cards for the 2010 Alps Tour.