Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Alexis Thompson and Romain Wattel with their Junior Orange Bowl championship trophies. Click on image to enlarge.

Wattel wins Junior Orange Bowl play-off,

Alexis Thompson takes girls' title

British amateur champion Matteo Manassero, on the very day that he became the world's No 1 amateur in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings, lost the lead he had held over the first three rounds and finished a close-up third in the Junior Orange Bowl International Championships' boys' category.
Manassero, 16, from Rome had rounds of 65, 70, 68 and 71 for a six-under-par total of 274 over the par-70 Biltmore course at Coral Gables, Florida.
He finished one shot behind French men's amateur champion Romain Wattel - who recently beat Motherwell's Ross Kellett in the final of the Argentina men's amateur championship - and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.
They tied on 273 before Wattel won a sudden-death play-off.
Grillo had rounds of 68, 72, 66 and 67. Wattel scored 67, 71, 68 and 67. Wattel birdied the short 14th, long 15th and 17th to come home in 32 at the last time of asking. Grillo bogeyed the 13th and 14th but birdied the 15th and 16th.
Manassero had a costly bogey at the 16th which prevented him from figuring in a three-way play-off for the prestigious title.
England's representative, Jonathan Bell from the Royal Blackheath club, had a nightmare last round of 10-over-par 80, with two double bogeys, eight bogeys and birdies at the first and eighth. His total of 294 gave him joint 30th place in the final standings.
Alexis Thompson, as expected, made up a two-shot overnight leeway to win the girls' title with rounds of 71, 72, 66 and 71 for level par 280. Alexis, from Coral Springs, was playing in her home state of Florida.
Overnight leader Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) fell away under pressure to sign off with a76 for 283. She lost second place to Cindy Feng (US) who had rounds of 71, 72, 67 and 72.

LEADING BOYS' FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70) 6,699yd.
273 Romain Wattel (France) 67 71 68 67, Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) 68 72 66 67 (Wattel won play-off).
274 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 65 70 68 71.
282 Andrea Bolognesi (Italy) 67 71 70 74, Tom Lovelady (US) 69 67 71 75.
283 Justin Thomas (US) 69 71 69 74, Curtis Thompson (US) 67 73 72 71.
284 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 69 73 75 67, Patrick Rodgers (US) 70 74 72 68.
Selected score:
294 Jonathan Bell (England) 71 72 71 80 (jt 30th).
LEADING GIRLS' FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70). 6,061 yd.
280 Alexis Thompson (US) 71 72 66 71.
282 Cindy Feng (US) 71 72 67 72.
283 Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 71 69 67 76.
286 Victoria Tanco (Argentina) 73 75 70 68.
288 Daisy Nielsen (Denmark) 69 77 74 68.
290 Moriya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 69 74 73 74.
291 Jessica Korda (US) 75 72 76 68.
292 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 71 77 71 73.
To see all the scores, click on: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/leaderboards/player/static/player1885.html
TO READ DAVID MACKINTOSH'S REPORT FROM THE COURSE, SWITCH TO OUR SISTER GOLF NEWS WEBSITE, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

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Scroll down for comments from Gavin Dear, Bryan Fotheringham & Andy McDonald of the R&A

Manassero new world No 1

amateur, and Kellett takes

over as top-ranked Scot

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Matteo Manassero, the 16-year-old British amateur champion from Rome, moves from No 2 to No 1 in today's updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
The other significant move, from a Scottish point of view, sees Ross Kellett (Colville Park), picture by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography, surge past James Byrne (Banchory & Arizona State University) into No 25, his highest ever position and one which makes him the leading Scot in the rankings for the first time.
Byrne remains at No 40.
The R&A WAGR is calculated on a 52-week cycle which reflects players' form and finishes over the whole year not the past week.
Thus, Manassero has not gone from No 2 to No 1 because he won an event last week. He didn't.
Similarly, American Peter Uihlein's victory in Dixie Amateur championship must have contributed to him going up to two places to No 4.
But James Byrne finished eighth in the same Dixie Amateur while Ross Kellett was not in the top 20 - but Kellett's ranking is improved by 16 places but Byrne marks time.
Do I understand this? No. Can I explain it? No.
The new top 10 rankings with the players' "movements" up or down in brackets are:
1 Matteo Manassero (Italy) (+1).
2 Victor Dubuisson (France) (-1).
3 Nick Taylor (Canada) (no change).
4 Peter Uihlein (US) (+2).
5 Morgan Hoffman (US) (no change).
6 Bud Cauley (US) (-2).
7 Matt Hill (Canada) (no change).
8 Russell Henley (US) (+1).
9 Blayne Barber (US) (-1).
10 David Chung (US) (+2).
Selected rankings:
14 Stiggy Hodgson (England) (-1).
15 Matt Haines (England) (no change).
19 Tommy Fleetwood (England) (no change).
21 Chris Paisley (England) (no change).
22 Darren Renwick (England) (no change).
25 Ross Kellett (Scotland: Colville Park) (+16).
29 Jamie Abbot (England) (-1).
Other Scottish rankings:
40 James Byrne (Banchory & Arizona State Univ) (no change).
165 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) (-1).
173 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) (-2).
202 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck & East Tennessee State Univ) (no change).
229 James White (Lundin & Stirling Univ) (no change).
277 David Law (Hazlehead) (-3).
343 Steven McEwan (Caprington) (+42).
426 Philip McLean (Peterhead) (-2).
523 Fraser McKenna (Balmore & Southeastern Louisiana Univ) (-2).

Comment from former Walker Cup player Gavin Dear
(who almost made the top 10 during his amateur career)

Hi Colin,
The reason for Ross Kellett moving up the rankings will be the fact he now has a divisor of 83. The rankings, for some reason. have a maximum divisor of 80, roughly meaning the more you play the higher you will be.
For Ross that means his points average is 996.25. When divided by 80, it should be 960.2 (divided by 83). That would put him back in 42nd place behind James Byrne. Hopefully that clears it up, it's a rule which I don't think should be in the system, because I always felt it gave an advantage for the guys that played the most rounds, but there you go.
Cheers,
Gavin Dear

Comment from former Scotland amateur international

Bryan Fotheringham (Forres):

Hi Colin
As far as the World Amateur Golf Rankings go, not one player I have spoken to fully understands how they work. I once had a shot of trying to understand them but got lost and decided to not bother with them.
As you have pointed out guys do well one week and either don't move or go down, and on the flip side, guys do poorly, finish way down the list or miss cuts and move UP the list.
It's a baffling system and one I don't get. Guys turning pro constantly doesn't help and it needs simplifying.

Cheers

Bryan Fotheringham

Comment from R&A staff man Andy McDonald
who compiles the weekly R&A WAGR:

WAGR operates on a 52-week cycle. It is not just about current form as players' scores that are good, bad or indifferent are assessed over the 52-week period. Our web site has very good information on how WAGR operates.
Since I took over from David Moir, one thing has become clear and that is that players, coaches, etc do not fully understand how WAGR works (that is not a criticism). This I hope to address in 2010.
Best wishes for 2010.
Andy McDonald

You can E-mail your comments on any golfing topic to Colin@scottishgolfview.com


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Emirates-based Swede latest big name on entry list

Abu Dhabi Championship is a 'home posting' for Stenson
NEWS RELEASE
Sweden’s highest ranked golfer, United Arab Emirates’ resident and current world number eight, Henrik Stenson, is the latest superstar to throw his hat in to the ring for the 5th Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, as he looks to become the first European Tour player to win all three Middle East-based, ‘Gulf Swing’ tournaments.
A veteran of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, running 21-24th January at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s Par-72 National Course, Stenson – who has wins at the Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters – knows an elusive UAE capital victory would be an important catalyst to getting his 2010 season underway.
Stenson is also hoping ‘home’ advantage will give him the edge over an increasingly powerful field including European number one, Lee Westwood; two-time Abu Dhabi champion and world number seven, Paul Casey; and Northern Ireland’s young-gun and world number nine, Rory McIlory.
“I am familiar with The National Course; it is a great place to play and I enjoy the wide fairways, which suit my game. I have put in some good Abu Dhabi performances over the years and aim to keep doing so. It would be great to be the first golfer to complete the Middle East treble, although I am just focussing on getting out there, doing my best and hopefully I’ll come away with a great result,” said Stenson, who had nine top 10 finishes in 2009.
Since winning the WGC Accenture Match Play in 2007, Stenson has really come to the fore of international golf. Over the last two seasons he has notched up 20 top ten finishes including a memorable victory in the 2009 Players’ Championship on the US PGA Tour. The big hitting, affable Swede has risen through the ranks to become his country’s top professional, a position he has held for almost a decade.
The 33-year-old is only one of a handful of players to have competed in all four previous Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, and has narrowly missed out on lifting the Falcon trophy twice, after finishing second in 2006, the inaugural year, behind American Chris DiMarco and again in 2008 to Germany’s wunderkind, Martin Kaymer.
Having missed the cut in 2009, Stenson is keen to give the 126-man Abu Dhabi field - which includes Spanish sensation and world number 11, Sergio Garcia; Australian world number 14, Geoff Ogilvy; and Colombian star and world number 23, Camilo Villegas - a run for its money.
“It was hard going in Abu Dhabi last January, and I think I was a little bit jaded coming into the new season. However, I’ve been working hard during this winter break and want to come out firing on all cylinders. I’m going to get one or two events under my belt before coming to Abu Dhabi so I should be in good shape to make a strong challenge,” added Stenson, who turned professional in 1998.
With seven of the world’s top 25 golfers already signed up for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2010, and with more expected in the coming weeks, tournament organiser Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), is confident its upcoming event will be the most hotly contested to date.
“Five years on, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship has matured to become a major addition to the European Tour calendar and continues to attract some of the sport’s biggest names. Everything about this event is geared to create an unrivalled golfing experience, from the players and intimate viewing opportunities to the off-course entertainment and interactive activities, all of which allow fans to connect with a truly world-class golfing destination in the making,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Head – Major Event’s Division, ADTA.
All four days of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2010 will be covered live on high definition TV, reaching a global audience of over 400 million.
The 2010 Championship formally begins on Wednesday, January 20 with the Al-Masaood Pro-Am and Awards Gala when sponsors and their guests will play and socialise with some of the world’s best professionals.

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Changing my swing was a big mistake, says
-
forgotten man David Inglis in America

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
David Inglis, one of the forgotten young men of Scottish golf, insists his best years still lie ahead but is considering making a dramatic return to the amateur ranks.
The 27-year-old from Roslin, pictured right in his youth by Cal Carson Golf Agency, looked set for a bright future in the game after capping an outstanding amateur career by helping Great Britain & Ireland win the Walker Cup at Ganton in 2002.
He has been based in America, where he starred on the college circuit during a spell at the University of Tulsa, since turning professional but admits his game has suffered badly due to swing changes he now regrets.
"I have worked now for the past four years at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, doing a variety of things from teaching and working in the shop to parking cars at the valet," said Inglis, who was one of Britain's most decorated juniors as he cut his golfing teeth in the Lothians.
"It has been a great place to be, especially in the winter, and has provided me with some help to pursue my golfing ambitions. However, my results over recent years have been a long way from what I am capable of."
Inglis' CV still makes for impressive reading. The Glencorse player lifted the Scottish Under-16 title in 1997 and 1998, the same year he won the R&A Junior Open Championship, before claiming the Faldo Series crown in 1999.
In 2000, he won the British boys' championship – Sergio Garcia lifted that title three years - earlier while Inglis was succeeded by Pablo Martin, another Spaniard who has gone on to be a winner in the paid ranks.
The red-head Scot, who was a Glencorse Golf Club member, also claimed a notable success in that Walker Cup win, beating Ryan Moore, the current world No 51, in the singles on the final day.
"Quite simply, I feel like I made a mistake of trying to change my swing," he said. "I had always done things my own way and never really bothered about it until I turned pro. While my intentions of improving my game and swing so I could compete on tour were good, I don't think I went about it in the right way.
"I got too bogged down with technique and aesthetics and lost focus on what was really important – getting the ball in the hole."
Inglis, who was paid a visit recently by former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper, has also gone through a divorce that proved difficult to cope with but is hoping things will start to look up for him again soon.
"I've had to work a lot and, while I am not complaining about that, it certainly has cut into the time I have been able to spend on the golf course," he said.
"For the future, I intend to rededicate myself to my golf because I still have the desire to compete. Maybe it will result in me gaining back my amateur status. Who knows just now?
"But I really do feel my best golf is ahead of me still and that is what keeps me motivated to play.
"Obviously, I have considered other careers in this time and I would like to stay in golf as much as I can. I am currently considering a career as a college golf coach over here but it is the middle of the school year and currently there are not many assistant coach jobs open.
"However, the main goal for the winter is to get my game back to where I know it can be."
At the moment, it looks as though Inglis still sees his future lying in the States. He added: "I have a green card (for US employment) until 2018 so for now I'm staying here. But, if I felt it would benefit me, I would consider coming back to Scotland."
*The above article appears in today's Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.

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