Golf course designing keeps Greg Norman busy worldwide

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Despite what he achieved at the Open last year - third place at the age of 53 - Greg Norman is much busier as a golf designer than a golf player right now.
Recent shoulder surgery is keeping the former world No 1 out of action but that has not stopped him travelling to the United Arab Emirates this week, with the inaugural Dubai World Championship being played on Norman's Earth course - making it 14 of his lay-outs that have now staged tournaments. Another, he hopes, will be the Olympics in Brazil in 2016, when golf makes its first appearance on the medal programme since 1904.
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Westwood capitalises on duo's errors
Ochoa takes early lead
Smith surges into lead
Kuboya shares lead
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"Fortunately for me I have a couple of projects going down there and one of the developers is very much involved with the Olympic movement. Fate fell in our lap, but whether we get the nod to be the golf course for it, I don't know," said Norman. "We will see how it plays out. There is a scramble. Whether it's (Jack) Nicklaus or Ernie Els or (Nick) Faldo, everybody would like to be that golf course, that's for sure."
He added: "Everybody has just got to sit back and wait and see what happens. We are in the design phase right now and I would say we will probably know in the next couple of years.
"We'll start construction in the next year.
"For golf to get in the Olympics was the best thing that could ever happen to international golf. It's a huge shot in the arm for countries like China, South America, India, the Asian countries.
"Just talk about China. Three million golfers by 2020 and there will be more there than in the United States if it keeps growing the way it's going to grow."

US Tour School Stage 2

KNOX HAS MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IN LAST ROUND Florida-based Inverness exile Russell Knox faces the mammoth task of leapfrogging over at least 22 players in the final round if he is to qualify for the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School in early December. Knox is level par and in joint 42nd place after three rounds of the Stage 2 event at Hombre Golf Club, Panama City Beach, Florida, having shot a par-matching 72 for 216 today after opening with scores of 70 and 74. Only the leading 20 and ties at this venue after Saturday's fourth and final round will go on to the six-round eliminator at Bear Lakes, West Palm Beach Florida from December 2 to 7. Knox, one of the top money-winners on the Hooters Tour, has not carried over his form on that circuit. In the third round, he birdied the second and fifth - so far, so good. Then, uncharacteristically, he covered the last 10 holes in three over par with bogeys at the par-4 ninth, short 11th and short 13th holes. Not like Russell at all! Ayrshire man Robert McKnight has no chance of making the leading 19 and ties in the Stage 2 event at Deerwood Golf Club, Kingwood, Texas after rounds of 73, 80 and 77 for 14-over-par 230. He is lying 73rd of the 75 players still in the field (the 76th withdrew).

ROSS KELLETT, plays Tomas Cocha (Argentina) later today.

ROSS KELLETT LONE SCOT IN LAST 16 OF ARGENTINA CHAMPIONSHIP Ross Kellett was Scotland's sole survivor in the last 16 of the Argentina men's open amateur golf championship today following the second-round defeats of James Byrne (Banchory) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) who had both made the trip to South America from their universities in the United States, Byrne at Arizona State and Stewart at East Tennessee State. Byrne, 17th of the 64 match-play qualifiers, lost by 2 and 1 to Germany's former Junior Ryder Cup player Sean Einhaus, who qualified 16th. Stewart's epic last-green victory over Scottish men's and boys' amateur champion David Law - a tie which included one eagle and eight birdies - was followed by defeat at the 19th by Australian Ryan McCarthy. Stewart was the 11th qualifier, McCarthy the 22nd. Colville Park's Kellett, the No 4 seed, won a thriller at the 19th against teenager Toni Hakula (Finland), the No 29 qualifier. Kellett now plays one of Argentina's leading hopes for the title, Tomas Cocha, the No 13 qualifier. England's Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) won by 3 and 2 over Sergia Sosa (Argentina) and now plays the No 3 seed, Ignacio Elvira from Spain. Pepperell qualified in 19th place. SCROLL DOWN TO READ A REPORT OF THE MICHAEL STEWART-DAVID LAW FIRST-ROUND TIE.

It's a Gross way to start European Tour School Stage 2!

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Germany’s Stephan Gross Jnr, the 2008 European Amateur Champion who finished second in a Challenge Tour event while still in the unpaid ranks, shot an opening eight under par 64 to lead the Qualifying School – Second Stage at Hacienda Del Alamo.
A total of 304 players are competing over four venues in Spain – Hacienda Del Alamo, Costa Bellana Club de Golf, Arcos Gardens and Sherry Golf Jerez – with 74 spots up for grabs to secure a place in the Final Qualifying Stage.
Gross, who played in The 2009 Open at Turnberry as a result of his European Amateur victory at the Esbjerg Golf Club in Denmark the previous year, opened a three stroke lead over Spain’s Pedro Orial, who shot a 67, and four players on 68.
The Arizona State University sophomore (second year) student from Leimen, Germany, won the European Amateur during a glorious three-week spell as he won the German International Amateur title and finished second in the Vodafone Challenge, where he was bidding to become only the third amateur in history to win a Challenge Tour event.
The four Scots in the field of 76 tackling the Dave Thomas-designed course at Hacienda del Alamo had contrasting fortunes. Former Scottish boys match-play champoon Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) matched the par of 72 and is sharing 32nd place. Paul O'Hara had a 74 to be joint 53rd, Stephen Gray (Hayston) had a 75 for a shared of 62nd place and, most disappointing of all at this Murcia venue, Lothians amateur Mark Hillson, the only Scot to make the last eight of this year's British amateur championship, ran up a 79 to be joint 72nd.
The leading 19 players after the four rounds of the Second Stage at Hacienda Del Alamo will progress through to the Final Stage, which takes place over six rounds at PGA Golf de Catalunya from November 28 – December 3.
At Costa Ballena Club de Golf, Spain’s Jesus Maria Arruti, competing in a record 21st consecutive Qualifying School since his first attempt in 1989, shares the lead with German Dennis Kupper and England’s Ben Evans. Former European Tour champion Paul Eales is also competing at Costa Bellena and opened with a solid five under par 67 to lie in joint fifth place.
Chris Kelly (Cawder) had a creditable 69 to be joint 16th and Craig Lee is joint 31st after a 71. Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) had a 73 for a share of 53rd place at this venue.
The leading 18 players on Monday from the Costa Ballena field of 76 will progress to the Final Stage.
Argentina’s Paulo Pinto, who hails from Cordoba, the home town of Masters Champion Angel Cabrera and fellow Argentine legend Eduardo Romero, fared best at Sherry Golf after an eight under par 64 gave him a two shot lead over Swede Johan Axgren.
Raymond Russell was the top Scot at this venue after a Day 1 round of 69. He is in joint 13th place. Rookie pro Wallace Booth and Scott Jamieson had 71s to be joint 29th.
Sharing 43rd place on 72 were Chris Doak, Mark Kerr and Kevin McAlpine. Elliot Saltman had a 73.
The top 18 players from the Sherry Golf field of 75 will qualify for the Final Stage.
England’s Oliver Whiteley, who played on The European Tour in 2006 after successfully progressing through the Qualifying School four years ago, leads the way at Arcos Gardens after a seven under par 65.
Whiteley leads Spain’s Santiago Luna, a veteran of The European Tour who has played over 500 events with one victory, with Jamie Moul, a former GB&Ireland Walker Cup player, in third place after a 67.
US-based Elgin exile and twice former Scottish youths champion Joel Hendry and George Murray from Anstruther are bracketed with some English players in joint 12th place on 70.
On 72 - joint 37th - are the Doherty brothers from the EuroPro Tour, Paul and Jack and the North-east pair of Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) and Scott Henderson (Kings Links).
Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll has left himself with some ground to make up by starting with a 76 to be sharing 65th place.
There are 19 spots available at Arcos Gardens from the field of 77.
SCOREBOARD
All par 72s
ARCOS GARDENS
65 O Whiteley (Eng).
66 S Luna (Spa).
67 J Moul (Eng).
68 W Besseling (Net), M Bothma (SAf), R Sjoberg (Swe).
69 S Doherty Eng), R Hie, N Meitinger (Ger).
Selected scores:
70 J Hendry (Sco), G Murray (Sco), I Keenan (Eng), L Kennedy (Eng), J Watts (Eng) (am) (jt 12th).
72 P Doherty (Sco), J Doherty (Sco), S Henderson (Sco), G Hutcheon (Sco) (jt 37th).
76 K McNicoll (Sco) (jt 65th).

COSTA BALLENA
65 J M Arruti (Spa), B Evans (Eng), D Kupper (Ger).
66 E Dubois (Fra), J Ruth (Eng).
67 P Eales (Eng), O Turnill (Eng).
68 A Bernadet (Fra),A Frayne (Eng), C Garcia (Spa), M F Haastrup (Den), L Moolman (SAf), A Sjostrand (Swe), M Thorp (Nor).
Selected scores:
69 C Kelly (Sco) (jt 16th).
71 C Lee (Sco) (jt 31st).
73 J McCreadie (Sco) (jt 53rd).

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
64 S Gross jun (Ger).
67 P Oriol (Spa).
68 R Blaum (US), C Ford (Eng), T Leon (US), M McQuillan (Can).
69 J Caldwell (NIr), T Dykes (Wal), W Hefferman (Can), A Maestroni (Ita), C Paisley (Eng) (am).
Selected scores:
72 L Harper (Sco) (jt 32nd).
74 P O'Hara (Sco) (jt 53rd).
75 S Gray (Sco) (jt 62nd).
79 M Hillson (Sco) (am) (jt 72nd).

SHERRY GOLF
64 P Pinto (Arg)
66 J Axgren (Swe).
67 A Johnston (Eng), J Knutzon (US), M Rominger (Swi).
68 P Archer (Eng), P Bocian (Swe), A Mellor (Eng), T Stewart (Aus), S Thornton (Ire).
Selected scores:
69 R Russell (Sco) (jt 13th).
71 W Booth (Sco), S Jamieson (Sco) (jt 29th).
72 C Doak (Sco), M Kerr (Sco), K McAlpine (Sco) (jt 43rd).
73 E Saltman (Sco).

ONE EAGLE, EIGHT BIRDIES IN CLASSIC MATCH-PLAY

.................................MICHAEL STEWART (image by Tom Ward Photography)

Michael Stewart beats David Law on 18th green

after match of highest quality in Argentina

Michael Stewart claimed the scalp of Scottish men's and boys' match-play champion David Law in a classic head-to-head first-round tie which was the scoring highlight of the Argentina men's open amateur golf championship at Buenos Aires Golf Club.

Troon Welbeck's Stewart, winner of the Scottish boys' match-play title last year and a second-year student at East Tennessee State University, edged through to the last 32 by a one-hole margin over Hazlehead's Law. Both men produced sub-par performances.

There was one eagle and eight birdies in the match which twisted first one way, then the other.

Law seized the early initiative by winning three early holes, the first with a par, the second with a birdie and the sixth with another birdie to be three holes up on the seventh tee.

Stewart then got into his stride with birdies at the seventh and eighth to cut the Aberdonian's lead to one hole before the Ayrshire young man holed an eagle putt at the 10th to square the great contest.

But Law hit back with a birdie at the 12th to regain the lead only to go one down for the first time in the match when Stewart birdied both the 13th and 14th.

Law came again to square the match at the 15th - again with a birdie.

After a half in pars at the 16th, Law three-putted the 17th for his only bogey of the round. It was to prove a costly one. Stewart won the hole to regain a one-hole lead and closed his opponent out with a half in par at the last.

Stewart will now play Australia Ryan McCarthy, the No 22 qualifier. Stewart was the 11^th qualifier.

Both the other Scots in the international field won their ties.

Ross Kellett ( Colville Park ), the No 4 seed, won by 5 and 3 against Valentino Dall'arche ( Argentina ), the No 61 qualifier. Kellett now plays Toni Hakula ( Finland ), the No 29 qualifier.

James Byrne (Banchory), a student at Arizona State University and the No 17 qualifier, won by 4 and 2 over the No 48 qualifier, Martin Celsi (Argentina). Byrne now plays the top German prospect, Sean Einhaus, the No 16 qualifier.

England's Eddie Pepperell ( Drayton Park ), the No 19 qualifier, beat Mariano Malmierca ( Argentina ), the No 46 qualifier, by 4 and 2 and now plays Sergia Sosa ( Spain ), the No 14 qualifier.

Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall), the No 40 qualifier, lost by 3 and 2 to New Zealand 's Peter Spearman Burn, the No 25 qualifier.

The top seed, Germany 's Benedict Staben lost by 3 and 1 to the last of the 64 qualifiers, Argentina 's Facundo Villaneuva.

SGU proposals to increase per capita fee three

times in three years comes under Lothians fire

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
The Scottish Golf Union has been accused of using golf club members as a "money tap" after revealing proposals that will raise more than £500,000 over the next three years.
At last night's annual general meeting of the Lothians Golf Association at Newbattle, Stuart Bruce, a delegate representing Broomieknowe, raised the SGU's proposals to increase the per capita fee paid by members of affiliated clubs over each of the next three years.

In a letter to clubs, the SGU has said it wants to increase the fee to £8 in 2010, £9 in 2011 and £10 in 2012 but, according to Bruce, no reason or rationale has been given.

"This was the organisation that lost £57,000 last year and £40,000 the year before that," he said. "Even if there is a ten per cent reduction in the 193,000 (male] club members in Scotland next year, that will see the SGU raising £173,000 and, over three years, it will be close to £600,000.

"It's as though the SGU seems it can turn a tap on that says 'Give us money, the members will pay for it and sort it out.'"

Responding, Lothians president Ken Wood said the SGU had tabled the proposals in the face of a reduction in the number of people joining golf clubs in Scotland as well as a decrease in sponsorship income.

When asked what cutbacks had been made by the SGU, Wood added: "Staff have been made redundant and expenditure has been cut by 12 per cent across the board."

A series of seminars are being held around the country by the SGU to let clubs have their say on the proposals, one of which is being held at Ratho Park next Wednesday, though that is already over-subscribed.

Hamish Grey, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the SGU's chief executive, said the proposals had been made to give the organisation that governs the men's amateur game in Scotland a chance to plan ahead and also to let clubs know what was happening over the next three years rather than being kept in the dark.
"Like any club and business in the current economic climate, we have been cutting our cloth and will continue to do so, but there is a limit to how much that can be cut before you are not able to deliver strategies," said Grey.

Dubai World Championship: News of Round 2

Westwood leads by two,

thanks to late mistakes by

McIlroy and Harrington

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Lee Westwood is back on course for victory on Sunday at the Dubai World Championship presented by: DP World following a day of amazing twists and turns at the Earth course.
Westwood leads by two shots on nine under par at the halfway stage after a second round 69, but only thanks to dramatic mistakes by current Order of Merit leader Rory McIlroy and then Padraig Harrington.
McIlroy, who started the day two behind Westwood and three shy of overnight leader Robert Allenby's total of seven under par, had led by two after a riotous front nine 31, but three-putted the 14th and 15th in coming home in 38.
That left Harrington out ahead on nine under, but he fired two balls into the water on the 620yd par-5 18th hole at the Greg Norman-designed course.
The three-time Major Championship winner had to settle for a double bogey 7 as Westwood then rolled in a long birdie putt on the same hole shortly afterwards to extend his lead heading into the final two rounds.
“I'm delighted with 69,” Westwood said. “It was certainly much harder than yesterday with the wind blowing.
“Some days you struggle to get things going, the birdies don't quite come so freely and you have to just dig in there and just grind it out for a while.
“It was a case of patience being a virtue, and all good things come to those who wait. The last hole was playing tough but it's always nice to finish with a birdie, it makes dinner taste sweeter.”
McIlroy - who currently leads Westwood in The Race to Dubai standings by over €128,000 - now shares second sport with five other players, Harrington, Ross McGowan, Camilo Villegas, Louis Oosthuizen and Allenby.
McIlroy, 20, had originally threatened to romp away after his front nine.
“It was a perfect way to start to get myself right back on top of the leaderboard,” McIlroy said.
“I felt as if I played the back nine okay, just those couple of short putts on 14 and 15.
“The most disappointing thing was 14 and 15 are birdie holes and to bogey them, you are sort of losing three strokes. But I'm still in a good position and I’m positive going into the weekend.”
Making up the rest of the top 10 are Spaniards Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Sergio Garcia, Liang Wen-chong from China and Thomas Aiken (South Africa) in a tie for eighth on six under par.
Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher, the other two players still in with a chance of the Order of Merit title, sat down the leaderboard on two under par and level par respectively.
Kaymer still had high hopes when he went to the turn in 34 and with two to play stood four under, but a bad chip on the 17th was followed by a trip to the water on the last. Both led to bogeys and a second successive round of 71.
“I played a little bit more solid than yesterday, but I couldn't get the putts in the hole and that was a little frustrating,” Kaymer said.
“But you can shoot six or seven under on this golf course, and I think I can do that twice, so I'm not out of it yet.”
McIlroy, who started the day two behind Westwood and three shy of overnight leader Stuart Appleby’s total of seven under par, had led by two after a riotous front nine 31, but three-putted the 14th and 15th in coming home in 38.
That left Harrington out ahead on nine under, but he fired a two balls into the water on the 620yd par-5 18th hole at the Greg Norman course.
The three-time Major Championship winner had to settle for a double bogey 7 as Westwood then rolled in a long birdie putt on the same hole to extend his lead heading into the final two rounds
McIlroy had earlier roared into the lead with a dazzling front nine of 31.
Joint fifth after an opening 68, Rory eagled the 572yd seventh and birdied the first, second and ninth.
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Related Link
European Tour's official website
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Lee Westwood had moved into a two-stroke lead by matching McIlroy's start, but then had to be content with five successive pars.
That included the long seventh, where McIlroy's approach had rolled down a slope to within four feet of the flag.
McIlroy had said he was happy not to be paired with Westwood after he lost their head-to-head by two on Thursday, but it looked as if could be back together before the tournament is finished.
Overnight leader Robert Allenby bogeyed the first and fourth to drop down to five under.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Lee Westwood 66 69
137 Rory McIlroy 68 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 65 72, Camilo Villegas (Col) 66 71, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 66, Padraig Harrington 68 69, Ross McGowan 71 66
138 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 68 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 67, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 68 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 71 67
139 Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 69 70
140 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72 68, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 69 71, Gareth Maybin 71 69, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 72 68, Scott Strange (Aus) 73 67
141 Adam Scott (Aus) 68 73, Nick Dougherty 69 72, Peter Lawrie 71 70, Bradley Dredge 70 71
142 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70 72, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 73 69, Anders Hansen (Den) 73 69, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 71, Anthony Wall 71 71, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 73 69, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 71
143 Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 71, Oliver Wilson 71 72, Jamie Donaldson 73 70, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 70 73, Simon Dyson 70 73, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 73, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 71
144 Chris Wood 66 78, Damien McGrane 74 70, Robert Rock 74 70, Ross Fisher 73 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 70 74, Graeme Storm 78 66
145 David Drysdale 72 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 73 72, Ian Poulter 71 74, Luke Donald 73 72
146 James Kingston (Rsa) 73 73, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 74 72, Graeme McDowell 76 70, Soren Hansen (Den) 73 73, Danny Willett 76 70
147 Justin Rose 72 75, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 75 72
148 Steve Webster 75 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 74 74

Welshman Craig Smith takes two-stroke lead

at halfway in Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Siem Reap , Cambodia: Welshman Craig Smith put himself in prime position for his maiden Asian Tour win when he grabbed the second round lead at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open today.
Smith opened up a two-stroke halfway advantage after firing a sizzling six-under-par 66 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at the US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event.
India ’s Shiv Kapur, Filipino Artemio Murakami and Thailand ’s Annop Tangkamolprasert are two strokes behind on 137 at the highly acclaimed Phokeethra Country Club.
Overnight leader David Gleeson of Australia , Malaysia ’s Shaaban Hussin, Will Yanagisawa of the United States and Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand are among the players in tied fifth position, three behind the leader.
Smith, who is believed to be the tallest player on any of the international golf Tours at 6ft 8in tall, brilliantly birdied his final two holes on the eighth and ninth to set him apart from the chasing pack.
“I knew I was tied for the lead coming down those two holes and I managed to hit some good shots to give myself a chance. I only had one bogey on each day so things seem to be falling in quite easily for me. I hope it continues,” said Smith.
Smith recently relocated his home to Abu Dhabi and feels it has helped him as the weather is more similar to Asian conditions. “It feels at home and that’s one reason why I am so comfortable playing here. I am not going to take anything for granted, there is still a long way to go. I am just going to take it one shot at a time,” added the Welshman, who has only one career top-10 in Asia .
Kapur, currently in 69th position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, gave himself a huge boost of retaining his Tour card when he charged into contention with a superb 67. He made the turn in 35 before adding a birdie on the 10th hole and closing strongly with three consecutive birdies, including a 20-footer at his last.
“All in all, it was a frustrating day because I hit it close to the flag but couldn’t buy a putt. The way I struck the ball I should be at least 12 or 13-under. Luckily for me, I ended with three birdies and that turned an average day into a good day,” said Kapur, who needs to finish in the top-65 to keep his full playing rights on the Asian Tour.
“The greens are pretty tough here but fair. My putting has let me down and if I can get my putter hot during the weekend I should have a good chance,” added the 2005 Rookie of the Year.
Starting from the back nine, Murakami managed only one birdie on his front nine but a 10 foot chip-in for birdie on the third hole sparked further birdies on five and six en route to a 69. Like Kapur, the bubbly Filipino, ranked 77th on the merit list, is also fighting for his Tour card with two events remaining this season.
“I am just playing to save my card but I am not going to get carried away with my position. My chip-in was purely luck but I guess you need to have your good holes and bad holes (referring to the bogey on the 18th hole),” said the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open champion.
The unheralded Annop stunned the field as he moved into contention with a 69. The 19-year-old, playing in his first Asian Tour event this year, overcame his nervousness and performed superbly where his round was highlighted by a 20-foot putt for birdie on the 14th hole.
“I was scared initially but kept reminding myself to go out and have fun. I hit a lot of greens and that gave me the opportunity to shoot more birdies. My iron really pulled my game up,” said Annop.
Shaaban, starting from the 10th tee, wielded a hot putter on his front nine as he only made 10 putts before making the turn in 32. He finished his round on 67 after firing six birdies against one bogey.
“I have been in contention several times now and I am feeling more confident with my game and handling the pressure. My putting really worked well for me and you need that on this course where the greens are so tough to read,” said the Malaysian who is seeking his maiden Asian Tour title.
A total of 74 players made the cut, all of them shooting one-over-par 145 or better.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Craig Smith (WAL) 69-66
137 Shiv Kapur ( IND ) 70-67, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 68-69, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 68-69
138 Will Yanagisawa ( USA ) 71-67, David Gleeson (AUS) 67-71, Shaaban Hussin (MAS) 71-67, Chris Campbell (AUS) 70-68, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 68-70, Somchai Pongpaew (THA) 71-67
139 Marcus Both (AUS) 70-69, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 71-68
140 Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 72-68, Vikrant Chopra (IND ) 69-71
141 Namchoak Tantipokakul (THA) 69-72, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 68-73, Stuart Lunn-Walker (AUS) 72-69, Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 72-69, Borworn Chaisri (THA) 72-69, Toni Karjalainen (FIN) 72-69.
Selected scores:
142 Chris Roake (England) 69 73 (jt 23rd).
144 Ross Bain (Scotland) 72 72 (JT 39th)
145 Iain Steel (Malaysia) 72 73, Rhys Davies (Wales) 74 71 (jt 48th).
MISSED THE CUT (145 or better)
147 Simon Dunn (Scotland) 75 72 (jt 75th).
148 Steve Parry (England) 72 76 (jt 86th).
151 Nick Redfern (England) 75 76 (jt 100th).
Retired: Yasin Ali 76 -.

Greenburn Golf Club's Nicky Ferguson (left) and club pro Scott Catlin (image by courtesy of Sandy Young of Getty Images).

Greenburn and Prestonfield pro-am pairs

head for six days of Turkish Delight

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
Two pairs of Scottish golfers have the chance to end the year on a high when they compete in the PGA’s final event of the season – the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship.
Greenburn professional Scott Catlin and amateur partner Nicky Ferguson plus Prestonfield professional Gavin Cook and amateur David Kidd are two of 16 teams from across Great Britain and Ireland that will compete for the prestigious title in Turkey at the start of December.
The tournament is being staged for the third successive year at the Sirene Golf & Beach Resort in Antalya, with the 36-hole final played over the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club.
For Greenburn pro Catlin it is the second year in succession that he has reached the final, where he finished sixth in 2008.
West Lothian-based Catlin and 13-handicapper Ferguson, who qualified at Lanark after a round of 61, jet off to the Mediterranean resort on December 6 for five days, which will include staying at the all-inclusive Sirene Hotel and a gala dinner at its five-star sister hotel, the Kempinski Dome Hotel.
Cook, professional at the nearest golf club to Edinburgh city centre, and Kidd, who plays off 14, also shot a 61 at Crieff to seal their place in the final, where the professionals will be battling for a share of the £30,000 prize as well as the title.
Kidd was struggling to take in the enormity of the achievement after qualifying.
“It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever achieved in golf. I’ve only been playing seriously four or five years,” said the 48-year-old senior analyst with RBS.
This is the 25th staging of the final, which is being sponsored for the first time by Virgin Atlantic, which is also celebrating its silver jubilee and is a keen supporter of golf.
“Virgin Atlantic is very happy to be working closely with the PGA to explore ways of building customer commitment through value, quality service and memorable experiences,” said Paul Wait, general manager sales, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.
“This is our first year of association and our aim is to continue to have golfers and all those in the business think of Virgin Atlantic as their preferred airline for long haul golf destinations. It's one of the reasons why we let golfers carry their clubs for free!
"Our association with the business of golf has many synergies - we attract people from all walks of life, we combine business with pleasure, we provide a variety of wonderful destinations and we both have customers who get hooked and relentlessly come back for more.”

THE DEBATE CONTINUES

E-mail from Neil Colquhoun
PGA Professional

Well done, Martin Dempster (staff writer of The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News papers).
It is not often a golf article (published in The Scotsman and reproduced on http://www.scottishgolfview.com/: scroll down a few days to read it in full), gets such a large number of comments.
It really is a great question, and one with no easy answers.
No 7 response, I believe, got closest to the reason we see so many talented younsters seemingly 'fail' (remember making it onto the big stage in golf is akin becoming a world class contender in any other sport - in tennis we only have one, for example).
The US mini tours are littered with fantastically talented players, and as so many European countries produce more and more golfers it is inevitable that standards get higher and only the very best will make it all the way to the top.
Remember being a huge fish in a small pond is only the start of the journey.This is not negativity but reality.
Support must be given to any young professional sportsman or woman. By this I do NOT mean hand-outs.
Opportunity to play for some real money locally without huge travelling expenses and the ability to judge themselves against other professionals would be a start.
I hope the comments on this article keep coming in. Well done again, Martin Dempster.

Cook and Browne shared lead on 66 at Pebble Beach

US Champions (Seniors) Tour players John Cook and Olin Browne shot 6-under 66s at Del Monte Golf Course to share the first-round lead in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational in California.
Cook, coming off a victory in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, had six birdies in his bogey-free round.
“I’m pretty satisfied, considering I haven’t played at all since the Charles Schwab Cup,” said Cook, who won his first US Tour event at the Bing Crosby Pro-Am on the Monterey Peninsula in 1981. “I mean I’ve hit a few balls. But I didn’t have any expectations, so I’m pleasantly surprised.”
Browne, who won the Pebble Beach Invitational in 2001, opened with an eagle, shot 31 on the front nine and had four birdies while playing one group ahead of Cook.
“I got off to a nice start and made some nice putts,” said Browne, who joined the Champions Tour in May after a three-win PGA Tour career. “Del Monte is the kind of course where if you hit quality shots, you’ll get lots of birdie chances.”
Jim Thorpe, one of 11 Champions Tour players in the field of 75 pros, shot a 67, also at Del Monte. Matt Bettencourt, 10th this year in the U.S. Open, and Champions Tour veteran Tom Purtzer also shot 67s at Del Monte.
Daniel Chopra, whose US Tour win was the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Rickie Fowler, who finished second this year in the Frys.com Open, both carded 68s at Spyglass Hill. D.A. Points had a 68 at Pebble Beach. Four players are grouped at 69.
The event includes players from the four major professional tours as well as mini-tour, club pros and amateur teams.
Two-time defending champion Tommy Armour III opened with a 71 at Del Monte.
Mina Harigae, who will join the LPGA Tour in 2010, shot a 70 at Pebble Beach, the lowest round among four women pro entrants.
The 72-hole event continues Friday and Saturday at all three courses. The final round Sunday, which will include the top 40 pros and ties and top 10 teams, will be held at Pebble Beach. The pro winner will receive $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.
SCOREBOARD TO COME