Russell Knox wins $34,306 first prize

on eGolf Tour opener

Inverness exile Russell Knox came off the Hooters Tour to pick up his biggest ever first prize cheque as winner of the opening event of the eGolf Tour season on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Knox had rounds of 73, 68, 69 and 70 for a total of eight under par 280 to win by three shots from Americans Matt Cannon and David Sanchez.
Knox scooped the first prize of $34,306. Cannon and Sanchez divided the second and third prizes of $18,019 and $14,161.
Wallace Booth from Comrie finished joint 42nd on 294 with scores of 76, 69 74 and 75 to earn approximately $1,549.
Joel Hendry, the twice past Scottish youths champion from Elgin but a long-time resident of America, finished joint 64th of 305 with scores of 73, 73, 82 and 77 to earn $1,126.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
280 Russell Knox (Scotland) 73 68 69 70.
283 Matt Cannon 69 76 70 68, David Sanchez 71 69 74 69.
284 Joe Daley 67 73 73 71.
285 Brian Harman 71 72 72 70, Chris Epperson 74 69 74 69, Ryan Gildersleeve 66 74 71 74, Jason Kokrak 70 71 70 74, Alex Hamilton 7 0 75 73.
Selected scores:
294 Wallace Booth (Scotland) 76 69 74 75 (jt42nd).
305 Joel Hendry (Scotland) 73 73 82 77.

Scottishgolfview sent a message of congratulation to Russell Knox. Here is his reply
"Thank you very much. Great feeling. Biggest cheque ever. I played great from tee to green and putted pretty well. Ball striking was solid. I like winning. Ha ha! Hope all is well."

Ian Poulter through to final with big win over Sergio Garcia

Arizona semi-finalists struggle as desert weather worsens

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By Jim McCabe
MARANA, Arizona – We came to watch the Accenture Match Play Championship and the British Open broke out.
It might sound funny to you, but to those trying to compete here at Dove Mountain, it’s no laughing matter. With cold winds whipping at 20-25 miles per hour and a steady rain pounding down, it sure feels like Carnoustie.
But all the signage assures us we’re at the Accenture and all the cacti shows us that we haven’t left the desert. Until this morning, it had been a pristine week, warm temperatures and endless blue sky. Forget all that, however, because with the semifinals barely under way, play had to be halted.
With Sergio Garcia vs. Ian Poulter through two holes and Camilo Villegas vs. Paul Casey through one, players were put into vans, kept out on the course, and allowed to let the worst of the wind and driving rain blow by.
We’re back to golf here and while the wind has subsided, it’s still cold and wet.
It’s also ugly golf – though you can’t blame the players. Conditions are just brutal.
Garcia needed five strokes at the 445-yard, par-4 first – and still didn’t finish the hole. He conceded to Poulter, but coming along next, Casey could commiserate. The Englishman had made a birdie and three pars at the first in his previous matches, but against Villegas he made a double-bogey to fall 1 down.
Play isn’t getting any better, either.
At the 209-yard, par-3 third, Garcia shanked his shot dead right into water, while Poulter hooked his shot into a bunker 30 yards left of the green. He hit his second into another bunker, blasted on to 5 feet and won the hole, with a bogey.
Nasty stuff.
Gotta love it.
SCOREBOARD
QUARTER-FINALS
I Poulter bt T Jaidee 1 hole.
S Garcia bt O Wilson 4 and 3.
C Villegas bt R Goosen 4 and 3.
P Casey bt B Gay 5 and 4.
SEMI-FINALS
Poulter bt Garcia 7 and 6.
Villegas and Casey all square after 13 holes

Ross Kellett only Scot to qualify for fourth round

Portuguese amateur championship Scoreboard
Aroeira 1 course, near Lisbon
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS (before end of play)
Leading 40 and ties qualify for final round
204 Alexander Levy (France)65 68 71.
207 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 68 69 70.
208 Steven Brown (England) 70 68 70.
209 Manuel Alexandre Violas (Portugal) 70 68 72, Romain Wattel (France) 69 73 67, James Watts (England) 70 70 69.
Selected scores:
210 Tom Lewis (England) 71 68 71 (jt 7th).
212 Chris Lloyd (England) 68 66 78 (jt 13th).
213 Matthew Southgate (England) 72 69 72, Nicholas Grant (Ireland) 72 70 71 (jt 18th).
214 Jack Senior (England) 74 69 71 (jt 22nd).
215 Jamie Abbott (England) 68 71 76, Paul Cutler (Ireland) 71 72 72 (jt 27th).
216 Eddie Pepperell (England) 76 71 69 (jt 32nd).
217 Jonathan Bell (England) 77 70 70 (jt 37th).
MISSED THE CUT (Scores of 217 or better qualified)
Other Scots' scores:
218 Philip McLean 74 72 72 (jt 41st).
220 James White 76 69 75, Glenn Campbell 71 76 73 (jt 49th).
221 David Law 77 76 68 (jt 53rd).
222 Gordon Yates 73 76 73 (jt 60th).
225 Greg Paterson 74 74 77, Mark Bookless 76 74 75 (jt 74th).
231 Kris Nicol 76 79 76 (jt 97th).

Palmetto Hall Championship Scoreboard
Palmetto Hall Plantation Club, South Carolina.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
(one round to go)
Par 216 (3x72)
210 Russell Knox (Scotland) 73 68 69, Matt McQuillan 66 69 75.
211 Ryan Gildersleeve 66 74 71, Jason Kokak 70 71 70.
212 Alex Hamilton 67 70 75.
213 Joe Daley 67 73 73, Andy Bare 71 73 69.
Selected scores:
219 Wallace Booth (Scotland) 76 69 74 (jt 33rd).
228 Joel Hendry (Scotland) 73 73 82 (65th)