February dates for President's Putter at Rye

The President's Putter tournament, which should have been played at Rye Golf Club, Sussex this past week, has been rescheduled for February 18 to 21 in the hope that the weather then will be good enough for the competition to go ahead.

Jason Norris wins Victorian Open

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
A final round two-under, 69 has given Victorian Jason Norris victory in the 2010 Subaru Victorian Open at Spring Valley earlier today.
Norris, now based in Adelaide was never headed finishing at ten-under to win by two shots from Canberra's Chris Campbell.
Veteran Victorians Scott Laycock and David McKenzie tied for third a further two shots adrift.
Another Victorian Heath Reed continued his steady rise through the professional ranks closing with a final round 69 to finish outright fifth at five-under.
Having played at Spring Valley since a junior, 37 year-old Norris leant on his home course experiences to build a four stroke lead midway through the final round.
However a series of errant shots on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes threatened to spoil the Victorian's charge to his third professional win.
With his rivals unable to capitalize, Norris made par up the tough par-four 16th, then a birdie on the par-five 17th put the issue beyond doubt.
After a rock-solid par up the last he embraced his emotional mother Lynn, who had come out of her sick bed late in the afternoon to see her son's first win on Victorian soil.
“I think it feels much better than the previous two wins (2007 WA PGA and NSW Open) I’ve had,” said Norris following his victory.
“I know everybody here virtually and it’s good to have that support behind you. Obviously all the way around everyone was hoping I’d do well. It’s a huge thrill.”
Norris collected the winner’s cheque of $17,250 and will look to build on his bank account in the coming weeks as the PGA Tour of Australasia moves across the Tasman for two events in New Zealand before the Moonah Classic and the Victorian PGA Championship at Sandhurst Club in Melbourne in February.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR ALL THE VICTORIAN OPEN SCORES

http://www.pga.org.au/site/_content/document/00039726-source.pdf

Stenson is Monty's hero as Europe beat Asians

Europe, trailing at the end of the first day, pulled off an encouraging victory against Asia today in a tightly fought Royal Trophy match-play event, with Henrik Stenson picking up a shot on the final hole to secure an 8 1/2-7 1/2 victory at Chonburi, Thailand today.
Stenson's singles opponent, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, faced a 15-foot putt on the 18th to take his match and square the three-day event at 8-8 to force a play-off, but the ball came up inches from the hole. The Swede, ranked seventh in the world, then sank a 7ft putt to square the match and give Europe victory in the three-day event.
"All credits to my team for fighting. We all contributed at least one point this week," European captain Colin Montgomerie said. "Congratulations to my team. Good start to the year for European golf."
Asia's non-playing captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki captain praised the Europeans but said he was "pleased" with his team's performance. He said he remained convinced until the end the two teams would end in a play-off.
"Actually, I had a vision that Thongchai would make a putt on the 18th hole and we would go to the play-off," Ozaki said. "Unfortunately it didn't happen."
The roller-coaster match saw Asia take the early lead Friday but fall behind after Saturday's four-ball competition.
Asia entered the final day a point down but appeared poised for a victory after claiming 3- points to 1 over the first five singles matches. Charlie Wi of South Korea, Koumei Oda of Japan and Jeev Milkha Singh of India won their matches respectively against Simon Dyson of England, Alexander Noren of Sweden and Robert Karlsson of Sweden.
But then Spain's Pablo Martin and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen won their matches, setting the stage for the final match.
Down by three after nine holes, Stenson fought back to even the match with three holes to play. Thomchai, inspired by the cheering crowds, retook the lead on the 17th hole with a clutch birdie putt from eight-feet away.
Knowing he needed to win the match to force a playoff between the two teams, Thomchai pushed hard on the 18th only to come up short. Stenson coolly made a 7-foot par putt after Thomchai missed his 15-foot par putt.
"I was three down after 10 and I had to dig deep and really find something to make it even," Stenson said. "I told the boys I wasn't playing great, but said maybe I could find something if I had to -- and I did."
+Log on to the tournament website for more info and all the results.
http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2010/course.html

Steven O'Hara earns 5,800 Euros for four steady rounds

Schwartzel wins as South Africans

provide a 1-2-3 home finish

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE:
Charl Schwartzel claimed his fourth European Tour title after his final round 67 was good enough to help him secure the Africa Open title and first prize of 158,500 Euros at East London Golf Club, Eastern Cape, South Africa today.
The South African, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images, the highest world-ranked player in the field at 66 and one of the favourites heading into the tournament, ended with a total of 272 - 20 under par for four circuits of the par-73 lay-out - to edge out joint-overnight leader and compatriot Thomas Aiken by a stroke.
Aiken, who shared the third round lead with Trevor Fisher junior, failed to produce the promising form he showed earlier in the week, which included a pair of 67s and a 69, and had to settle for a 70 and runner-up prize of 115,000 Euros.
Possibly his most decisive moment came on the par-4 fifth hole, where he found trouble and double bogeyed to slip back early in his round.
It was a South African 1-2-3 on home territory with Jbe' Kruger finishing in third place on 18 under after his day four score of 70 for a cash pay-out of 69,200 Euros.
Fisher's closing 72 - the worst among the leaders - dropped him into a share of fourth place with Chris Swanepoel and the two highest placed foreigners in the field, Englishman James Morrison and Rick Kulacz from Australia.
The quartet finished with a total of 275, while Branden Grace ended with an emphatic round of the day 66 to tie for eighth place on 16 under with five other players, including James Kingston and veteran Miles Tunnicliff.
Richard Sterne, another of the pre-competition favourites alongside the eventual winner and Kingston, tried his best to revive his chances with a determined bogey free 67, but it was only enough to get him to 15 under.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke's three under round enabled him to finish three shots further back on an overall 12 under par for a 280 total.
But the day belonged to Schwartzel, despite having to endure a nerve-wracking wait as he watched the leading two groups finish their rounds.
The 25 year old, whose previous tournament wins came at the 2005 Alfred Dunhill Championship, the 2007 Open de Espana and the 2008 Madrid Masters, could have all-but sealed the title with a par on the 18th hole, having avoided dropping a shot over his previous 17 holes.
But he sliced his drive towards the ninth tee and took four shots to get on the green
He held his nerve for a bogey, but that still allowed an opening for the chasing Aiken. However the round three leader missed a 15ft putt for birdie at the last that would have forced a play-off.
Schwartzel said: "Obviously I played so good all day, I pretty much didn't miss a shot and then down on 18 I just came out of it.
"It was not quite what I was looking for and I put a little pressure on myself there to make five at the end.
"I said to my caddie Wynand after I hit my second shot short right, 'we're still two ahead, so let's make 5 and let them make the birdie' and it worked out in my favour."
Colin Farquharson writes:
Steven O'Hara from Motherwell, the only Scot to survive the halfway cut, had four steady rounds including a four-under-par 69 to finish with a total of 10-under-par 282. He earned 5,800 Euros for his week's work.
+The East London Golf Club measures "only" 6,770yd - short by European Tour standards - and to have a par of 73 seems all out of proporton. Two of the course's four par-5 holes are under 500yd.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 292 (4x73)
272 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 70 68 67
273 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 67 67 69 70
274 Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 69 68 67 70
275 Rick Kulacz (Aus) 72 69 67 67, Chris Swanepoel (Rsa) 71 68 68 68, Trevor Fisher junior (Rsa) 66 66 71 72, James Morrison 68 70 69 68
276 Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 69 69 70 68, James Kingston (Rsa) 68 69 71 68, Branden Grace (Rsa) 70 70 70 66, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 68 70 69, Miles Tunnicliff 68 71 67 70
277 Marco Ruiz (Par) 69 70 68 70, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 66 67 75 69, Benn Barham 71 70 68 68, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 70 66 71 70, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 66 71 73 67
278 Keith Horne (Rsa) 67 67 73 71, Jake Roos (Rsa) 68 71 66 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 66 68 70
279 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 68 73 67 71, Dawie Van Der Walt (Rsa) 73 68 66 72, Sion Bebb 70 68 71 70, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 72 67 71 69, Bradford Vaughan (Rsa) 69 67 70 73, Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 70 71 67 71, Neil Schietekat (Rsa) 69 69 71 70
280 Brandon Pieters (Rsa) 72 69 70 69, Joost Luiten (Ned) 69 71 70 70, Jaco Van zyl (Rsa) 69 68 73 70, George Coetzee (Rsa) 68 72 67 73, Darren Clarke 69 70 71 70, Louis De Jager (Rsa) 69 68 74 69, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 69 71 69 71
281 Titch Moore (Rsa) 66 72 70 73, Anthony Michael (Rsa) 71 70 67 73, T C Charamba (Zim) 72 67 68 74, Peter Baker 70 70 68 73, Matthew Zions (Aus) 72 69 70 70, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 68 72 69 72, Scott Hend (Aus) 72 69 71 69, Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 69 70 68 74
282 Tjaart Van Der Walt (Rsa) 67 71 74 70, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 70 69 72, Steven O'Hara 71 70 72 69, Julien Quesne (Fra) 71 67 75 69
283 Willie Van Der Merwe (Rsa) 71 70 74 68, Oliver Fisher 70 70 71 72
284 Sam Hutsby 68 71 73 72, Reggie Adams (Rsa) 70 71 73 70, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 68 76 71, Justin Walters (Rsa) 68 68 76 72, Charl Coetzee (Rsa) 68 69 73 74, Deane Pappas (Rsa) 68 68 75 73
285 Tyrone Mordt (Rsa) 70 70 72 73, Paulo Pinto (Arg) 69 70 75 71, Doug McGuigan 74 67 68 76, Michael Hoey 68 72 72 73
286 Prinavin Nelson (Rsa) 71 69 72 74, Andre Cruse (Rsa) 68 71 72 75
287 Garry Houston 69 71 74 73, Thabang Simon (Rsa) 70 71 72 74, Mark f Haastrup (Den) 66 75 73 73
288 Desvonde Botes (Rsa) 70 70 75 73, Carl Suneson (Spa) 69 72 73 74
289 Jacques Blaauw (Rsa) 69 70 73 77
292 Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 67 77 76

Martin Laird lying third with one round to go on Hawaii

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
SBS CHAMPIONSHIP
Kapalua Plantation course, Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73)
202 Lucas Glover 66 65 71
203 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 66 68
204 Martin Laird (Sco) 67 68 69
205 Ryan Moore 69 68 68
206 John Rollins 68 66 72, Sean O'Hair 68 67 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 69 67, Matt Kuchar 67 68 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 68 68 70, Stewart Cink 68 69 69
207 Kenny Perry 70 67 70
208 Nick Watney 67 71 70, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 70 68 70, Pat Perez 71 70 67, Paul Casey (Eng) 70 69 69
210 Dustin Johnson 67 71 72, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 70 74 66
211 Steve Stricker 73 70 68, Stephen Ames (Can) 71 69 71
212 Zach Johnson 72 69 71
213 Jerry Kelly 69 70 74, Brian Gay 72 71 70
214 Nathan Green (Aus) 67 70 77
215 Bo Van Pelt 72 70 73, Mark Wilson 74 71 70
216 Michael Bradley 73 72 71, Troy Matteson 73 70 73
217 Heath Slocum 75 71 71

LIVE SCORING FROM HAWAII
Find out how Martin Laird and Paul Casey are faring in the final round this evening (our time)Click on the following link:
» Tournament leaderboard

THIRD-DAY REPORT

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
Even with a three-shot lead at Kapalua going into the weekend, US Open champion Lucas Glover figured it would be tight.
Surely, a few players in this winners-only field would post a low score, and a few guys wouldn't.
He just didn't think he would be the one struggling to get by Saturday.
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PGATOUR.COM: Complete coverage of the SBS Championship
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Or that so many others would get into the hunt.
Glover went from a three-shot lead to a two-shot deficit in the SBS Championship, only to have his fortunes change as quickly as the direction of the wind. Three birdies over his last five holes allowed him to salvage a 2-under 71 and a one-shot lead over defending champion Geoff Ogilvy going into a final round with endless possibilities.
"Everybody wants an opportunity on Sunday, and I have that," Glover said.
Glover can attribute that to his finish, when the Kona wind shifted to the prevailing trade wind. That made the par-5 18th hole play shorter than its 663 yards, and it helped that Glover pounded a drive that rolled out 406 yards. He reached the green easily and two-putted from 60 feet to walk off the Plantation Course at Kapalua with the lead.
"I knew it was going to tighten up," Glover said. "Some guys were going to play well, and some guys weren't. That happened to be me."
He was at 17-under 202 and will play in the final group with the defending champion.
Ogilvy had a 5-under 68, his seventh consecutive round in the 60s at Kapalua, with his only blemish coming on the 16th. That's about when Ogilvy noticed the switch in the wind, found the worst spot -- a bunker -- and advanced the ball only about 80 yards in making bogey.
He also birdied the final hole to give himself a chance at starting another year with a win.
The final round figures to be anything but at two-man race.
Martin Laird of Scotland had a 4-under 69 and was at 204, while Ryan Moore shot 68 and was another shot back. The group at 206 included three major champions: Retief Goosen, Stewart Cink and Angel Cabrera.
Glover showed that a three-shot lead isn't safe. Eleven players were separated by five shots going into the last day, with five of them major champions.
"It's that sort of week," Ogilvy said. "There are cases when guys go crazy and win by a lot. It can bunch up guys as well. It doesn't matter what you're shooting."
It was one of the most unusual days at Kapalua, and players with deep local knowledge could have known what to expect when neighboring Molokai was shrouded with "vog," which is produced by volcanic ashes that drift from 100 miles away on the Big Island without the prevailing trade wind to disperse it.
Glover is making only his second trip to Kapalua and most likely is not aware of vog. What he did notice walking down the first fairway was Troy Matteson playing from a 40-foot valley of light rough beyond the ninth fairway.
The typical play in this wind is to hit iron off the 521-yard ninth hole to keep from running through the fairway. Matteson and Bo Van Pelt opted for driver down the valley, leaving a blind shot to the green -- but also a short iron instead of another long iron.
They were among seven players who took that route, and Glover joined them.
"Walking down No. 1, I saw Troy and Bo, and it didn't look like they had a bad lie," Glover said. "I didn't know if I could hold a fairway metal downwind. That was the thinking there. I never even thought about it before. Even on Tuesday and Wednesday, the wind wasn't blowing that hard."
Six of those seven players made birdie, and it came at the right time for Glover.
Having missed birdie chances on three straight holes early in the round, he lost his feel for the speed on the Bermuda greens had consecutive three-putts, one that went 8 feet by the hole, another that came up 8 feet short.
Suddenly, he was no longer in the lead.
The birdie on nine settled him, and he found his speed on the back nine with short but tricky birdie putts on the 14th and 16th holes that enabled him to regain the lead as he tries to give Kapalua a wire-to-wire winner for the second straight year.
Glover would have preferred a big lead, the way Ogilvy built a six-shot lead, although being in the hunt at the start of a new year was all he had in mind at the start of the week.
Having this much company?
Ogilvy walked off the 17th green and stared at a leaderboard for the longest time. Each page that turned continued to have player after player easily within range of the lead.
"This is a course where there's still 10 guys who can win," Ogilvy said.