Kelly-Stricker share lead on 66 with

Leonard-Verplank in Shark Shoot-out

Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker were tied with Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank for the lead of the Shark Shoot-out at 6-under 66 after the first round at Naples, Floriday today.
Kelly and Stricker birdied the fifth, eagled the sixth, birdied Nos. 7-9, then added another birdie on No. 12 at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. They "struggled" after that, playing the final six holes in 1-over.
Leonard and Verplank did the opposite, with birdies on four of their last six holes in the tournament hosted by Greg Norman.
Tim Clark and Chad Campbell were in third place, one back at 5 under, along with Steve Flesch and Dustin Johnson.
Clark made a 40-footer for birdie on No. 2 and closed the round with a 9-footer on No. 18. Flesch and Johnson birdied four of their last six holes.
Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter survived a triple-bogey to finish at 4 under.
Norman isn’t playing in the event for the first time after having right shoulder surgery in late September. The tournament ends on Sunday.
• Click here for scores

Australian Tour Scoreboard
AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Hyatt Regency Coolum Resort GC, Queensland
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
135 Matthew Griffin 67 68
136 Jason Norris 69 67, Geoff Ogilvy 70 66, Stuart Appleby 67 69
137 Min-kyu Han (Kor) 62 75, Scott Strange 67 70, Bronson LaCassie 68 69
138 Adam Scott 68 70, Robert Allenby 70 68, Shin-Ching Chan (Tpe) 68 70, Greg Chalmers 68 70, Michael Curtain 73 65
139 Chris Campbell 72 67, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 68 71
140 Brett Rumford 70 70, John Senden 73 67, Andrew Dodt 67 73, Nick O'Hern 70 70, Michael Wright 71 69
141 Michael Sim 71 70, Stephen Leaney 71 70, Cameron Percy 72 69, Paul Marantz 69 72, John Daly (USA) 71 70, Henry Epstein 67 74, Stephen Dartnell 68 73, Marc Leishman 70 71, Paul Sheehan 73 68
142 Scott Laycock 76 66, Rodney Pampling 73 69, Kyle Stanley (USA) 71 71, Andrew Tschudin 73 69, Adam Crawford 71 71, Mathew Goggin 70 72, Marcus Both 70 72, Anthony Brown 71 71, Leigh Mckechnie 72 70, Bryce Molder (USA) 73 69, Gavin Flint 71 71, Brad Kennedy 76 66, Chao Li (Chn) 71 71
143 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 73 70, Aron Price 74 69, Ryan Haller 66 77, Nick Flanagan 76 67, Josh Geary (Nzl) 70 73, Steve Marino (USA) 70 73, Nathan Green 71 72, Jarrod Lyle 70 73, Richard Green 71 72
144 Scott Barr 74 70, Matthew Millar 71 73, Craig Parry 71 73, Peter O'Malley 73 71
145 Tae hee Lee (Kor) 75 70, Rick Kulacz 71 74, Steven Conran 70 75, Heath Reed 70 75
146 Aaron Townsend 69 77, Paul Gow 75 71, Darren Beck 74 72, David Smail (Nzl) 71 75, Ben Burge 79 67, Anthony Summers 76 70, Terry Pilkadaris 71 75, Ji-Man Kang (Kor) 74 72, Brad Andrews 72 74, Kurt Barnes 76 70, Peter Wilson 72 74, Graeme Stockley 75 71
MISSED THE CUT
147 Gareth Paddison (Nzl) 71 76, Michael Long (Nzl) 73 74, Jae-woong Eom (Kor) 73 74, Andre Stolz 71 76, Craig Spence 71 76, Rodger Davis 72 75, Stuart Bouvier 71 76, Marcus Fraser 72 75
148 Kevin Chun (Nzl) 74 74, Ho-sung Choi (Kor) 73 75, Jae-hae Choe (USA) 70 78, Tim Wood 73 75, Chang-kyu Hong (USA) 70 78, Peter Senior 71 77, James Nitties 71 77, David Diaz 74 74, Richard Moir 78 70, Jarrod Moseley 71 77, Tony Carolan 73 75, Seong Ho Lee (Kor) 73 75, Shintaro Iizuka (Jpn) 72 76
149 Ki joon Song 72 77, Chris Gaunt 73 76, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 71 78, Andrew Bonhomme 77 72, Chang wan Woo (Can) 72 77, Steven Bowditch 75 74, Steven Jeffress 76 73, Brad Lamb 74 75, Tristan Lambert 74 75, David McKenzie 74 75, Min-chang Lee (Kor) 70 79, Craig Scott 74 75, Alistair Presnell 75 74
150 Scott Hend 76 74, Adam Bland 75 75, Meng Zhang (Chn) 74 76, Michael McGrath 73 77, Jae Hoon Jung (Kor) 74 76, Jamie Lovemark (USA) 73 77, Ashley Hall 71 79, Kyong-jun Moon (Kor) 75 75
151 Soon-sang Hong (Kor) 76 75, Ed Stedman 77 74, Steve Jones (USA) 75 76
152 Rowan Beste 76 76, Michael Brennan 76 76, Ewan Porter 74 78, Lucas Bates (Can) 76 76, C j Gatto (USA) 73 79, Wayne Perske 76 76
153 Kevin Stadler (USA) 77 76, Josh Lane 79 74, Michael Moore 73 80, Stephen Allan 76 77
154 Andrew McKenzie 79 75, Gui Ming Liao (Chn) 77 77, Terry Price 75 79
156 David Gleeson 83 73, Ryan Hammond 79 77, Qin Xu (Chn) 73 83
157 Sung-kug Park (Kor) 78 79, Wade Ormsby 82 75, Max Kellner (Ger) 78 79, Tony Mills 84 73
159 Ye Tian (Chn) 81 78, Damon Welsford 82 77
160 Zhi Xie (Chn) 83 77, Steven Han (Nzl) 80 80, Kim Felton 87 73
161 Kenichi Sawada (Jpn) 76 85
162 Nathan Uebergang 87 75, Tae-hyun Jun (Kor) 78 84, Gregg McIntosh 83 79
163 Kevin Chen (Chn) 86 77, Kelvin Jones (Nzl) 86 77
164 Darren Kapusi 83 81, Jian Chen (Chn) 83 81
165 Zhi jun Ou (Chn) 86 79
166 Jian Hou (Chn) 84 82
177 Ning Bo (Chn) 87 90
Withdrew: 75 Won-Kyung Heo, David Oh, 78 Jason King, 83 Scott Hill, In-Woo Lee

Three Scots make halfway cut in Alfred Dunhill Championship

Pablo Martin leads by four at halfway in South Africa

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Less than a month after fearing for his European Tour future, Spaniard Pablo Martin has charged into a four-stroke halfway lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, Malelane in South Africa.
Martin, whose game nose-dived after he became the circuit's first amateur winner two years ago, followed eight birdies with a closing eagle for a dazzling 63.
The 23-year-old is on 13 under par, but title favourite Ernie Els and in-form Italian Edoardo Molinari look set to test him over the weekend.
They are joint second after Els also had eight birdies in a 67 and Molinari kept alive his hopes for a remarkable fifth win in his last seven events with a 69.
=================================
More Golf News
Lifetime achievement award for Seve
Norman has sympathy for Woods
Griffin takes lead as Han stumbles
Kim leads the way
==================================
Martin missed the halfway cut in his first seven tournaments this year and it was not until the last day of his season that he avoided a trip to last week's qualifying school.
He has still had only one top-10 finish as a professional, but his 63 matched the lowest round of his career after he played the last eight holes in six under.
Els needs to repeat his 2005 victory at Leopard Creek to extend a remarkable record of at least one win every year since 1990.
He would have been only one behind but for three bogeys and said on the Sunshine Tour website: "They were very soft bogeys, two three-putts and a pretty basic up and down that I didn't do.
"But I feel like I'm playing well enough to shoot some really good numbers."
Molinari's best win came two weeks ago when he teamed up with his brother Francesco to give Italy their first World Cup success.
Players had to shoot at least one-under-par 143) to survive the halfway cut. Three Scots - Alan McLean (141), Andrew Coltart (142) and Peter Whiteford (143) - did. Four Scots did not - Richie Ramsay (145), David Drysdale (147), Callum Macaulay (149) and Andrew McArthur (152).
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
131 Pablo Martin (Spa) 68 63
135 Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 67, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 66 69
136 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 64 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 65 71, Ariel Canete (Arg) 68 68
137 Robert Rock 69 68, Damien McGrane 67 70, Sion Bebb 67 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 67 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 69 68
138 Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 71 67, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70, James Kingston (Rsa) 68 70, Gareth Maybin 68 70, Richard McEvoy 68 70, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 68 70, Shane Lowry 67 71, David Dixon 70 68, Dale Whitnell 70 68, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 66
139 Titch Moore (Rsa) 66 73, Jacques Blaauw (Rsa) 71 68, Carl Suneson (Spa) 71 68, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71, Andrew Curlewis (Rsa) 71 68, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 67 72, Vaughn Groenewald (Rsa) 71 68
140 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 69, Steve Basson (Rsa) 70 70, Joost Luiten (Ned) 70 70, Nic Henning (Rsa) 69 71, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 70 70, Kenneth Ferrie 72 68, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 67 73, Markus Brier (Aut) 72 68, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 71
141 Jamie Elson 71 70, Dion Fourie (Rsa) 71 70, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 68 73, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 70 71, Alan McLean 67 74, Benn Barham 68 73, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 71 70
142 Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 72 70, Tjaart Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 75, Grant Muller (Rsa) 71 71, Mark f Haastrup (Den) 72 70, Andrew Coltart 70 72, Louis De jager (Rsa) 69 73, Michael Hoey 73 69
143 Josh Cunliffe (Rsa) 73 70, Doug McGuigan 70 73, Hendrik Buhrmann (Rsa) 72 71, Warren Abery (Rsa) 72 71, Deane Pappas (Rsa) 74 69, Charl Coetzee (Rsa) 74 69, Peter Whiteford 69 74, Peter Baker 74 69, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 74, Vaughan Bradford (Rsa) 69 74, Rhys Davies 71 72, Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 69 74, Richard Finch 69 74, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 72 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 75 68, James Ruth 72 71, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71
MISSED THE CUT
144 Clinton Whitelaw (Rsa) 75 69, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 73, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 74 70, Divan Van Den Heever (Rsa) 71 73, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 77 67, Branden Grace (Rsa) 70 74, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 74 70, Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 75 69, Marco Ruiz (Par) 72 72, Gary Boyd 70 74, Christiaan Basson (Rsa) 71 73, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 75 69, Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa) 71 73
145 Richie Ramsay 73 72, Robert Coles 75 70, TC Charamba (Zim) 71 74, Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 71 74, Phillip Price 74 71, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 74 71, David Hewan (Rsa) 71 74, Neil Schietekat (Rsa) 75 70
146 Richard Bland 74 72, John Parry 71 75, Anton Haig (Rsa) 71 75, Jake Roos (Rsa) 77 69, Andre Cruse (Rsa) 73 73, Julien Quesne (Fra) 74 72, Gary Clark 76 70, Louis Moolman (Rsa) 72 74, Ryan Tipping (Rsa) 77 69
147 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 71 76, Shaun Norris (Rsa) 75 72, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 77 70, Gary Lockerbie 74 73, David Drysdale 77 70, Toto Thimba (Rsa) 70 77, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 76 71, Justin Walters (Rsa) 73 74, Desmond Terblanche (Rsa) 73 74, Lindani Ndwandwe (Rsa) 72 75
148 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 72 76, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 77, Jaco Ahlers (Rsa) 77 71, Peter Karmis (Rsa) 73 75, Omar Sandys (Rsa) 75 73, James Morrison 71 77
149 Merrick Bremner (Rsa) 70 79, Brandon Pieters (Rsa) 76 73, Tyrone Mordt (Rsa) 76 73, Andrew Georgiou (Rsa) 72 77, Gary Murphy 72 77, Callum Macaulay 73 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 79 70, Francois Calmels (Fra) 77 72
150 Prinavin Nelson (Rsa) 73 77, Keenan Davidse (Rsa) 73 77, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 71 79, Grant Veenstra (Rsa) 75 75, John Bickerton 81 69, Lee Slattery 75 75
151 Chris Swanepoel (Rsa) 76 75, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 76 75, George Coetzee (Rsa) 73 78, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 75 76
152 Desvonde Botes (Rsa) 77 75, Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 75 77, Andrew McArthur 78 74, Tyrone Ferreira (Rsa) 78 74, Albert Pistorius (Rsa) 77 75, Barry Lane 76 76, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 78 74
153 Ross Wellington (Rsa) 74 79, Gian Scarola (Rsa) 79 74, Thabang Simon (Rsa) 72 81, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 77 76, Mark Murless (Rsa) 77 76
154 Jeff Inglis (Rsa) 76 78, Stephan Gross (Ger) 76 78
155 Brett Liddle (Rsa) 78 77, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 82 73, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 75 80
156 Andrew Butterfield 75 81, Heinrich Bruiners (Rsa) 77 79
160 Clifford Howes (Rsa) 78 82, Oliver Fisher 80 80

Mauritius hosts European Senioers Tour event

Perfect return to ‘paradise’ for Ralph

By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Glenn Ralph made the perfect return to Mauritius, where he sustained a career threatening injury, to take a one stroke first round lead in the inaugural Mauritius Commercial Bank Open with a fine five under par 67.
Ralph broke his ankle while on holiday on the sunshine Indian Ocean island three years ago, an injury which kept him out of the game for 14 months until the start of the 2009 campaign.
As a consequence the Englishman had to modify his swing to transfer more of his weight on to his front foot and the change led to his most successful season as a professional last year, when he won his maiden title in the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open en route to finishing fourth in the European Senior Tour Order of Merit.
He has carried forward that form into the opening event of the 2010 season, using his knowledge of Constance Belle Mare Plage’s Legend Course to move one stroke clear of compatriot Peter Mitchell and American Doug Johnson, with debutant David Frost two shots further back after a 70.
“Sam Torrance, who I was playing with, said 67 was the worst I could have scored today and that’s some compliment coming from him,” said Ralph. “I hit everything straight today and knocked nearly everything on the green. If I didn’t do that I chipped and putted well.
“I chipped in twice – on the 12th and 17th holes – which is the first time I’ve done that in my life. I’ve been on holiday quite a few times here so I know the course but I’ve also been playing well for some time now so long may it continue.
“I finished the 2009 like a steam train and I’m carrying it on.”
Ralph is targeting a sweet victory in Mauritius to banish the memories of the swimming pool accident which left him fearing for his golfing future.
“Breaking my leg here changed my golf for the better,” he said. “I’ve been coming here on holiday over the years because I love it and it just happened that I broke my ankle here. I walked away being told by the surgeon I might not play again and because of the way it has healed that seems to have changed everything which is bizarre but long may it continue! It’s been extraordinary.”
Mitchell had been the long time leader after producing a stunning front nine, reaching the turn in 30 shots after carding six birdies but he dropped three shots on the way in before a birdie on the last hole saw him sign for a four under par 68.
“I played really solid and the mistakes I made were just not being used to the greens,” said Mitchell, who is chasing his fifth Senior Tour victory. “I had two three putts coming in from 30ft which are easy mistakes to make when you are not used to the grain. My only ‘real’ bogey was on the 16th when I had a bad lie in the rough and I didn’t come out the way I wanted and finished in the bunker and I didn’t play a great shot.
“I was on fire on the front nine, I played really well. All my birdies were from four or five foot. My iron play was so good. I stuck to my game plan today even when things didn’t go too well so it’s been a great start to the season.
“I’ve spent a week practising at Qunita de Ria and Quinta de Cima in Portugal where the facilities are great and I came into this week confident. I wanted to get a good start. If I can get within three shots of the lead going into the final round I think I’m quite capable of forcing some errors on people.
“If I get a sniff of victory I’ll not let go – that’s the way I am. I’m really happy with my start and I’ll look forward to the weekend.”
Johnson recovered from a double bogey six on the 16th to eagle the last hole, stiffing his 230yard three wood approach shot to six feet, for a share of the second place with Mitchell.
Ironically Mitchell, who has coached a number of European Tour players including John Bickerton, has been giving Johnson some swing tips to help him rectify problems incurred following the injuries he sustained when his car engine exploded leaving him with severe burns to the left arm.
“I gave Peter a few putting tips before he won in the Czech Republic a couple of months ago so we’ve been trading favours,” he said. “I’ve not been swinging through fully but with Pete’s help my swing is back to what it was in the 1980s. If you get in the right set up you can hit it harder and better. Hopefully I can stick it out for the week.”
Johnson also revealed that a change in his putt helped him to a superb performance on the greens.
“I had 20 putts in my round and I one putted ten holes in a row which is unheard of for me. I’m using a T.R.U. Ball Golf putter for the first time this week and it is back weighted which seemed to make a big difference.”
South African Frost made a stunning start to his Senior Tour career with three birdies and an eagle in the first six holes to surge to the top of the leaderboard but struggled on the way in, finishing with a hat-trick of bogeys to sign for a two under par 70 and a share of fourth place with four other players including fellow European Tour winner Roger Chapman.
“I got off to a great start and then withered a bit in the heat of the battle on the back nine,” said the 50 year old two-time European Tour champion. “I shot myself in the foot on the back nine a bit, possibly due to a bit of inexperience on this course but overall it was a good start. It’s nice to know you can put a good nine together and I’ll hope to do it over 18 holes tomorrow.”
Sam Torrance, the 2009 Senior Tour Number One, began his defence of the John Jacobs Trophy with a two over par 74 to lie in a share of 30th place.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 G Ralph (Eng)
68 D Johnson (USA) , P Mitchell (Eng)
70 M Lord (Eng) , R Chapman (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA) , A Franco (Par) , D Frost (RSA) ,
71 R Drummond (Sco) , G Watine (Fra) , N Job (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , J Rivero (Esp) , J Quiros (Esp) , P Brostedt (Swe) , S Bennett (Eng) , K Spurgeon (Eng)
72 P Oakley (USA) , B Longmuir (Sco) , B Smit (RSA) , R Willison (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , J Bland (RSA) , I Mosey (Eng) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , M Kierstenson (Eng) , G Gunn (Can) ,
73 N Clarke (RSA) , B Boyd (USA) , M Briggs (Eng) , D Russell (Eng)
74 B Cameron (Eng) , D Cambridge (Jam) , D Merriman (Aus) , J Hall (Eng) , B McColl (Sco) , C Williams (RSA) , S Torrance (Sco) , M Cunning (USA)
75 A Garrido (Esp) , P Dugeny (Fra) , B Stevens (Eng) , J Hoskison (Eng) , J Heggarty (Nir) , G Ryall (Eng) , J Bruner (USA)
76 C Rocca (Ita) , J Rhodes (Eng) , D Young (Eng) , M Bembridge (Eng) , J Stuart (USA) , G Banister (Aus)
77 G Towne (USA) , H Baiocchi (RSA) , M Miller (Sco) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , J Chillas (Sco) ,
78 M Farry (Fra) , G Cali (Ita) , S Martin (Sco) , E Darcy (Irl)
79 M Williams (Zim) , J Benda (USA) , V Garcia (Esp) , B Hardwick (Can)
80 G Davies (Wal)
81 J Sallat (Fra) , T Jones (USA) , P Allan (Eng)
84 T Price (Wal)
86 G Palanyandi (Mus)
90 C Linstead (Eng)

Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek

Ernie Els leads during second in South Africa

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ernie Els was top of the leaderboard after 14 holes of today's second round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
And the South African once again got the better of the hole which cost him the title two years ago.
Playing the Leopard Creek course for the first time since his closing triple bogey eight - he was two ahead at the time and lost by one to England's John Bickerton - Els has so far made two birdies on the 541 yard 18th.
It was his fourth birdie of the back nine this morning, but there were also bogeys on the 13th and 17th as he improved from four under par to six under, two behind fellow South African Ulrich Van den Berg.
But three birdies in five holes after the turn propelled him to nine under, a one stroke lead.
After an opening 64 Van den Berg, with memories himself of handing the 2005 championship to Els from four ahead on the final day, was among the later starters on day two, as was second placed Swede Pelle Edberg.
In form Italian Edoardo Molinari had joined Van den Berg on eight under with four holes to play.
Not since 1990, the season after he turned professional, has Els gone through a calendar year without at least one victory and this is his last chance to keep that run going.
UPDATED REPORT AND SCORES AT THE END OF PLAY

A FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR KNOX Russell Knox from Inverness won $3,587 for finishing fifth in this week's NGA Hooters Tour Winter Series' event at Sugarloaf Mountain Golf Club, Minniola in Florida. Florida-based Knox had rounds of 69, 71 and 70 for a six-under-par total of 210 over the 7,107yd par-72 course. He finished eight shots behind the winner Travis Hampshire from Florida, winner of the $12,482 first prize by three strokes with rounds of 68, 61 and 73 for a 14-under 202 total. LEADING TOTALS 202 Travis Hampshire (Florida) 68 61 73 ($12,482) 205 Patrick Nagle (California) 71 65 69 ($6,183). 209 David Suggs (Florida) 73 68 68, Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma) 69 68 72 ($4,626 each) 210 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 70 ($3,587)