Justin Rose wins for first time on United States Tour

England's Justin Rose - he was actually born in South Africa! - finally broke his American duck with arguably the finest round of his life at the Memorial Tournament at Muirhead Village, Ohio today.

Playing the 162nd event of his PGA Tour career, Rose came from four behind Rickie Fowler to triumph by three with a magnificent closing 66, the low round of the day, and 18-under-par total of 270.

His victory in the $6million tournament was worth $1,080,000.
It makes the 29-year-old the third European to win in the States this season after his close friend and Ryder Cup partner Ian Poulter's success at the WGC-Accenture Match Play and then Rory McIlroy's stunning Quail Hollow Championship victory.
Australian young gun Jason Day's charge for a second US tournament win in three weeks faltered with a closing six-over 78 consigning him to a tie for 33rd place alongside compatriots Adam Scott and John Senden.
Geoff Ogilvy and Nathan Green both carded four-over-par rounds to finish a stroke further back at one-under, while Aaron Baddeley and Greg Chalmers finished even with the card.
Rose made his first birdie on the fifth and then had three in a row from the seventh to turn in 32.
He was still behind at that point, but 21-year-old Fowler, also chasing his maiden win, bogeyed the 10th and then went in the water on the short 12th for a double bogey five.
Rose took control with further birdies on the 14th and 16th, but Fowler put the pressure back on by picking up shots at the 14th and 15th.
However, the youngster left a bunker shot in the sand on the short 16th, dropped another shot and could find no way back with Rose rock solid.
The former European Tour No.1's first PGA Tour event was, of course, the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale when he finished a spectacular fourth as a 17-year-old amateur.
This could have the spin-off effect of qualifying him for St Andrews next month off a current form money list running in America.
But first comes the US Open and a 36-hole qualifier close to Muirfield Village on Monday.
Rose, 66th in the world, will move just outside the top 30 and it lifts him from 27th to eighth on the European Ryder Cup world points list.
The first four places in Colin Montgomerie's side will come from that list, with the next five automatic spots decided by European Tour earnings.
Rose goes just ahead of 2007 team-mate Graeme McDowell, who earlier in the day captured the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
"I couldn't wish for a better place - it's an honour," Rose told tournament host Jack Nicklaus after holing the winning putt.
"I have had a few close calls and sometimes you wonder why you can't get it done. But when you do it feels easy."
"It's nice to have the hard work pay off."
Bo Van Pelt and Ricky Barnes were three shots further back in a tie for third, with Phil Mickelson, who would have taken over from Tiger Woods as world No.1 for the first time by winning, joint fifth and Woods 19th.
McIlroy's one-under 71 left him 10th with Jim Furyk.
Meanwhile, Australian Nick Flanagan shot a closing four-under 67 to finish tied for fourth at the Nationwide Tour's Melwood Prince George's County Open.
Flanagan finished with a 15-under total, just two strokes behind winner Tommey Gainey from America.
Stephen Leaney took a share of 15th at 11-under, with David McKenzie was a further stroke back and Scott Gardiner at nine-under.

United States PGA Tour Scoreboard

MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Justin Rose  65 69 70 66 270
Rickie Fowler  65 66 69 73 273
Bo Van Pelt 70 69 68 69 276
Ricky Barnes 70 71 62 73 276
Ryan Moore 70 69 70 68 277
Phil Mickelson 67 71 70 69 277
Tim Petrovic  69 66 68 74 277
Matt Kuchar 71 68 69 70 278
Stewart Cink  70 67 71 70 278
Jim Furyk 68 67 72 72 279
Rory McIlroy 72 68 68 71 279
Rory Sabbatini 67 73 70 70 280
Vijay Singh 71 72 66 71 280
Jeff Overton 69 70 68 73 280
Brendon de Jonge  71 69 65 75 280
Sean O'Hair 68 71 68 73 280
Steve Stricker  69 70 71 71 281
Kenny Perry 71 68 68 74 281
Pat Perez 71 70 71 70 282
Steve Marino  68 71 71 72 282
Thongchai Jaidee  71 70 69 72 282
Tiger Woods  72 69 69 72 282
Chad Collins 73 72 68 71 284
Andres Romero  67 75 70 72 284
D.A. Points 73 71 68 72 284
Y.E. Yang  70 74 67 73 284
Bryce Molder  74 71 71 68 284
Alex Cejka  71 67 74 73 285
J.B. Holmes 68 74 71 72 285
Ben Curtis 73 72 69 71 285
Carl Pettersson  69 70 76 70 285
Camilo Villegas  77 68 70 70 285
Dustin Johnson  72 69 73 72 286
Adam Scott  70 70 75 71 286
Selected scores:
Martin Laird 72 71 73 75 291 (jt 60th).
Brian Davis 71 73 73 77 294 (67th).

ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Barrie Edmond wins Royal Aberdeen

Medal as leading qualifier

Barrie Edmond (BA) won the Royal Aberdeen medal in the 2010 Links Championships with a score of 137 ( 65,72).
He won it by a single stroke from clubmate Alan Shand (73,65) and Caledonian's Barry Reid (68,70).
Shand has some consolation though as his 65 was good enough to win the Neville Smith Cup on a countback and his net total of 132 (70,62) was enough to win the Class 1 Handicap trophy.

Edmond, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, will play Davie Leslie (N) in the first match out on Monday evening.
In the Murray Cup , leading qualifier Mike Flanagan (BA) will face clubmate Doug Barclay in the first match out on Tuesday evening.
Mike Taylor (C) will face fellow Caley player Chris Laing in the opener for the Handicap Championship on Thursday.


MONDAY NIGHT'S FIRST-ROUND LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP TIES
5.00 B.Edmond (BA) v D.Leslie (N)
5.06 M.Dunn (BA) v J.Kilman (BA)
5.12 A.Doig (C) v J.Annand (BA)
5.18 TM.Allan (C) v R.Neilson (N)
5.24 M.Greig jnr. (BA) v W.West (N)
5.30 S.Carmichael (C) v D.Nicholson (N)
5.36 R.Evett (N) v W.Ross (C)
5.42 L.Morrice (C) v D.Gardiner (C)
5.48 A.Shand (BA) v P.McIntosh (C)
5.54 G.Grimmer (C) v P.Boyce (N)
6.00 S.Finnie (C) v D.Grieve (BA)
6.06 A.Cruickshank (C) v N.Meldrum (BA)
6.12 B.Reid (C) v S.Duff (N)
6.18 G.Horne (N) v C.McBain (N)
6.24 K.Dalglish (BA) v S.Murray (BA)
6.30 I.Welsh (BA) v S.Slessor (N)

MURRAY CUP
Tuesday 8th June
5.00 M.Flanagan (BA) v D.Barclay (BA)
5.06 G.Kidd (N) v K.Smith (C)
5.12 D.Donaldson (BA) v W.Guyan (BA)
5.18 D.Stewart (C) v J.Hay (N)
5.24 AG.Forbes (C) v A.Greig (BA)
5.30 F.Kennedy (BA) v R.Moir (C)
5.36 G.Martin (BA) v I.Stewart (BA)
5.42 R.Lumsden (N) v D.Coull (N)
5.48 C.Murphy (BA) v J.Muir (N)
5.54 M.Rimmer (C) v D.McKerron (N)
6.00 A.Forbes (C) v G.McDonald (C)
6.06 C.Taylor (N) v R.Grieve (BA)
6.12 R.Dunn (BA) v GW.Mackie (C)
6.18 J.Gall (C) v R.Jones (N)
6.24 B.Lumsden (N) v B.Lumsden jnr (N)
6.30 J.Hosie (N) v S.Leslie (C)

HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday 10th June
5.00 M.Taylor (C) v C.Laing (C)
5.06 S.Murphy (BA) v S.Davidson (N)
5.12 A.Divers (C) v P.Angelo (N)
5.18 C.Johnstone (N) v A.Stewart (C)
5.24 EM.Leslie (BA) v D.Forbes (C)
5.30 M.Smith (C) v C.Ross (N)
5.36 R.Stewart (BA) v W.Shand (BA)
5.42 R.Allerton (BA) v P.Cheyne (N)

Senior Results
JIMMY HUNTER TROPHY
1st - G.Paterson (N) 138 (69,69)
2nd -N.West (N) 149 (77,72)
3rd - RA.Cheyne(BA)152 (77,75)
FRED SUTHERLAND SHIELD
1st- D.McKay (C) 131 (68,63)
2nd-E.Yeats (C) 134 (69,65)
3rd-DJ.Hampton (C) 134 (68,66)
VIC-BON TROPHY
1st-J.Murphy (N) 130 (67,63)
2nd-G.Forbes (C) 133 (69,64)
3rd-G.A.Ingram (BA) 134(65,69)

LANARKSHIRE COUNTY NEWS

Silver medals at Peebles for Lanarkshire boys

The Lanarkshire boys' team and manager Laurie Hendry are pictured with their silver medals at the conclusion of the Scottish boys' area team championships at Peebles today, writes Willie Sharpe.
The boys left themseves a lot to do after the morning foursomes with scores of 73 and 78 but they rallied in the afternoon with a one under par total and won the silver medal by virtue of the best 4th counting score of 73 from Martin Scott.
In the picture are, left to right, team manager Laurie Hendry, Craig Ross (Kirkhill), Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen), Martin Scott (Hamilton) and James Steven (Kirkhill).
Scott Costello of Kirkhill narrowly missed out on team selection but made up for it with his first 36 hole competition victory in the Baxter Trophy at Strathaven.
Scott scored 73,72 for an excellent aggregate of 145 and a one shot victory over four others,
He needed a birdie at the last to win and duly obliged with a magnificent up and down from a bunker 90 yards from the green.

Andy Forman's picture of the winning Lothians' quartet with the championship trophy.

Lothians' record ninth win in SGU boys' area team championship

Lothians have won the Scottish boys’ area team golf championship – sponsored by Dunfermline Building Society – for a record ninth time at Peebles Golf Club today
The Lothians quartet of Scottish boys' champion Grant Forrest, Anthony Blaney, Graeme Duncan and Fraser Thain totalled 356 in the foursomes-singles format.
They finished four shots ahead of Lanarkshire (Eamon Bradley, Craig Ross, Martin Scott, James Steven) and South (Scott Gibson, Liam Johnston, Greg Marchbank, Danny McConnachie). Lanarkshire were officially placed second by virtue of having the best fourth individual score.
Marc Smith (Ayrshire) was the winner of the Niagara Cup for the best individual afternoon round of 67.
North were disqualified for playing out of sequence in the morning foursomes.
FINAL TOTALS
356 Lothians (foursomes 138-singles 218).
Grant Forrest and Anthony Blaney 66.
Graeme Duncan and Fraser Thain 72
Forrest 72, Thain 72, Blaney 74, Duncan 76.
360 Lanarkshire (151-209)
Eamon Bradley and Craig Ross 73
Martin Scott and James Steven 78
Ross 68, Steven 70, Bradley 71, Scott 73.
360 South (143-217)
Scott Gibson and Liam Johnston 69.
Greg Marchbank and Danny McConnachie 74.
McConnachie 70, Marchbank 72, Gibson 75, Johnston 76.
362 Ayrshire (154-208)
Jack McDonald and David Wilson 76.
Marc Smith and Euan Walker 78.
Smith 67, McDonald 70, Walker 71, Retired: Wilson.
362 Clackmannanshire (153-209)
John Salmond and Scott Baird 74
Lawrence Allan and Gary Chalmers 79.
Allan 69, Chalmers 69, Salmond71, Baird 72.
362 Fife (152-210)
Neil Beattie and Cameron West 79.
Ewan scott and Andrew Whyte 73.
Scott 69, Whyte 70, Beattie 71, West 75.
363 Borders (150-213)
Simon Fairburn and Daniel Flannery 73.
Craig Howie and Callum McNeil 77.
McNeil 70, Howie 71, Fairburn 72, Flannery 73.
366 Renfrewshire (149-217)
Andrew McLachlan and Josh Bogle 77.
Fraser Lauder and Alasdair McDougall 72.
McLachlan 70, MDougall 73, Bogle 74, Lauder 83.
366 Stirlingshire (145-221).
Jamie Lynch and Dariusz Kunecki 68
Ryan Campbell and Euan Douglas 77.
Lynch 68, Campbell 74, Douglas 79, Kunecki 82.
371 North-east (154-217)
Calum Cromar and Steven Smith 74
John Drummond and Alexander Wiseman 80.
Wiseman 70, Cromar 73, Drummond 74, Smith 79.
371 Perth and Kinross (151-220).
Paul McPhee and Thomas White 76.
Greig Stewart and Bradley Neil 75.
McPhee 72, Neil 72, White 76, Stewart 76.
375 Dunbartonshire (160-215).
Angus Carrick and Liam Chambers 82.
Cameron Farrell and Gavin Roger 78.
Farrell 70, Carrick 71, Chambers 74, Roger 75.
376 Glasgow (160-216).
Conor O'Neil and Gary Foley 81.
Jamie Savage and Callum McLean79.

O'Neil 72, Savage 72, McLean 72, Foley 78.

393 Angus (159-234).

Grant Bowman and Ross Munro 84.

Reece Mitchell and Calum McKay 75.

Mitchell 73, Munro 78, Bowman 83, McKay 84.

396 Argyll and Bute (159-237).

Bob McIntyre and Alistair MacV icar 76.

Craig Pirie and Mark Turnbull 83.

Pirie 75, MacVicar 78, MacIntyre 84, Turnbull 92.

Disqualified: North

Calum Stewart and Rodger Clarke Disqualified (for playing in an incorrect sequence, i.e. not alternate shot).

Ross Proctor and Jeff  Wright 78.

Proctor 70, Wright 72, Clarke 72, Stewart 83.

And the winner is ... Matthew Southgate from Essex. Image by courtesty of the St Andrews Links Trust.

Philip McLean shoots eight birdies over Old Course

as he finishes jt second in St Andrews Links Trophy

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul Lawrie protege Philip McLean from Peterhead gave his mentor something to aim for in next month's Open over the same course when he shot a bag of eight birdies over the Old Course and finished on a high with a 68 to share second place in the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy today.
McLean’s eight-under-par total of 280 matched that of Walker Cup youngster and playing partner Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) as they finished five shots behind the winner, Essex man Matthew Southgate (Thorpe Hall).
“That’s my best in five attempts at this tournament,” said McLean, Edward Trophy winner earlier in the season and coached by Neil Marr. “I was determined to do better this weekend than I’ve done in the past so I came down to St Andrews on the Wednesday and got in some good practice rounds.
“I was hitting the ball pretty straight and, looking back, I could have finished second on my own but for a double bogey 6 with a lost ball at the second in the final round. But I can’t complain really. That spurred me on to birdie the third, fourth, fifth, 10th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 18th.
“I knew it was between me and Stiggy for second place and when he holed from about 20ft for a birdie at the last I knew I had to follow him in from seven feet, also for a birdie, which I did. So that was a nice way to end. I’m going home to Peterhead with some good memories.”
Southgate, 21 years old, has yet to gain a full England cap. His biggest win prior to this was in his home county, the Essex open amateur championship.
“I couldn’t have picked a better place for my biggest win,” said Southgate who shared the lead at halfway with Denmark’s Daniel Lokke and Ben Westgate (Trevose) on six-under-par 138.
Stiggy Hodgson took over the lead after a third-round 67 for 207, a one-shot lead over Southgate who forged clear on his own to win by five shots with a closing 67 (34-33) for a 13-under-par total of 275.
British boys' champion Tom Lewis was looking like the winner's main challenger until he had double bogeys at two holes birdied by Southgate on the run home. That meant a six-shot swing over these holes and killed off the charge by Lewis who finished joint foufrth with Todd Adcock (Nevill) and Jack Senior (Heysham) on 281.
Second Scot in the hit parade was Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck, recently returned for the summer holidays from East Tennessee State University. Stewart finished joint seventh on 282 with Sunday rounds of 72 and 69 over the Old Course. On the same mark was Romain Wattel, the Frenchman who won the Scottish open amateur stroke play title the weekend before at Glasgow Gailes.
Stirling University student James White (Lundin) shared 15th place on 284, closing with 70 and 71.
Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) finished joint 24th on 286 with Sunday rounds of 67 and 75.
The seven Scots who survived the halfway cut were completed by Ross Bell (Downfield) on 288, Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 292, and Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 297.
FINAL TOTALS
First two rounds Jubilee Course, third and fourth rounds Old Course.
Par 288 (4x72) CSS 73 73
275 Matthew Southgate (Thorpe Hall) 68 70 70 67.
280 Philip McLean (Peterhead) 70 70 72 68, Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) 69 71 67 73.
281 Todd Adcock (Nevill) 71 73 70 67, Jack Senior (Heysham) 70 73 67 71, Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 69 70 70 72.
282 Victor Dubuisson (Fra) 72 72 69 69, Romain Wattel (Fra) 74 69 68 71, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 68 72 69, Chris Lloyd (Kendleshire) 72 68 69 73, Ben Westgate (Trevose) 67 71 70 74.
283 Alexander Levy (Fra) 73 69 71 70, Adrian Otaegui (Spain) 72 69 71 72, Patricio Salem (Peru) 67 73 71 72.
284 James White (Lundin) 7` 71 70 71, Laurie Canter (Saltford) 72 70 72 70, Alastair Jones (Radyr) 69 73 70 72, Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 71 70 73.
285 Neil Raymond (Corhampton) 74 70 71 70, James Frazer (Pennard) 72 68 75 70, Ben Campbell (NZ) 70 70 73 72, Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth) 70 70 72 73, Daniel Lokke (Den) 66 72 7671..
286 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 71 73 67 75, Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 71 72 68 75, Sam Claridge (Harpenden Common) 72 68 74 72.
287 Seamus Power (West Waterford) 71 73 70 73.
288 Pierre-Alexis Rolland (Bel) 74 69 69 76, Ross Bell (Downfield) 70 72 73 73.
289 Jerome Lando Casanova (Fra) 73 70 75 71.
290 Sebastian Maclean (Bol) 71 73 74 72, Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) 70 74 74 72, David Coupland (Boston) 68 73 76 73.
292 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 72 70 78 72.
293 Nino Bertasio (Ita) 71 73 74 75.
295 Patrick Spraggs (Stowmarket) 73 71 77 74, Liam Burns (Sundridge Park) 71 73 73 78.
297 Jonathan Hurst (Shaw Hill) 69 75 78 75, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71 75 78.
302 Richard Smith (Notts) 72 72 78 80.

EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR REPORT, SCORES

Gordon Brand junior wins Jersey Seniors title by five shots

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Anglo-Scot Gordon Brand Jnr produced a steady level par final round 72 to complete a fine wire-to-wire victory in the Matrix Jersey Classic and seal his maiden European Senior Tour title by five strokes.
On the same weekend that some of Europe’s Ryder Cup hopefuls were taking on this year’s host venue The Celtic Manor Resort, Bristol-based Brand Jnr rekindled the form that took him to two Ryder Cups in the 1980s as he completed a remarkable return to La Moye Golf Club.
In the 1986 Jersey Open the Scot set a European Tour record of four eagles in a round en route to the La Moye course record of 62 and opening rounds of 63 and 66 had brought memories of that performance flooding back.
Windier conditions made scoring less spectacular on the final day but the 51 year old, who has twice lost in a play-off on the Senior Tour, held his nerve to finish on 15 under par 201 – five strokes clear of South African Bobby Lincoln and England’s Carl Mason.
“I was quite emotional there today,” said Brand Jnr. “I was very nervous this morning. I played great the first two days but because I had such a lead it was mine to lose.
“I kept my emotions together though and I’m holding the trophy so I obviously player better than everyone else!
“This course just sets up to my game. I can see the shots and bump it along the ground. I do like links courses and I’m lucky that I came here this week and played well and the two came together. “
Brand Jnr began his final round with a six stroke advantage but a nervous tee shot on the first hole saw him drop a shot immediately. However he quickly steadied himself and posted nine consecutive pars before his only birdie of the day on the 11th hole.
A run of seven straight birdies on the way in ensured Brand Jnr ended a 17 year gap without a win dating back to his 1993 European Open victory - the last of his eight European Tour titles.
“I was just trying to keep myself together as it was hard work today but luckily no-one got that close to me so I just had to keep making pars,” he said. “It’s a nice feeling and I managed to keep my emotions in check on the course.
“I had a six shot lead and a lot goes through your head and you are looking for a solid start but I didn’t get that. I was maybe a little fortunate that there was wind today as that made it difficult for the others.
“I hit a couple of bad shots – a shank on the first and the seventh – but there’s no pictures on the score card and I won by five so I’m delighted.”
Brand Jnr had taken some time away from competitive golf after leaving The European Tour in 2006 during which time he has concentrated on coaching, including taking the England Under 16 and 18 teams.
That hiatus reinvigorated his love for the game and he joined the Senior Tour in 2008, losing in a six-hole play-off to namesake Gordon J Brand on his debut in The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship before also losing to Carl Mason in a play-off at the Benahavis Senior Masters last season.
It was Mason who had to settle for a share of second place this time and his cheque for €13, 816 means he is now just €2,718 short of becoming the first player to pass the €2million mark in career earnings on the Senior Tour – a feat he looks likely to now achieve in next week’s Handa Irish Seniors Open presented by Fáilte Ireland.
He signed for a 68 to finish level on ten under par 206 with 2007 champion Lincoln, who posted a 70 to finish joint runner up for the second time this season following the Berenberg Bank Masters.
American Bob Boyd and Australian David Merriman shared fourth place on nine under par while former PGA Championship winner Andrew Oldcorn continued his strong start to life on the Senior Tour by finishing a shot further back in a share of sixth place with Graham Banister and Mike Cunning.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from England unless stated otherwise.
201 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 63 66 72
206 B Lincoln (Rsa) 68 68 70, C Mason 70 68 68
207 B Boyd (USA) 72 65 70, D Merriman (Aus) 71 65 71
208 G Banister (Aus) 68 67 73, A Oldcorn (Sco) 68 68 72, M Cunning (USA) 69 67 72
209 T Johnstone (Zim) 68 70 71, L Carbonetti (Arg) 72 69 68, M Farry (Fra) 71 68 70, A Franco (Par) 71 68 70
210 B Cameron 70 68 72
211 P Fowler (Aus) 71 66 74, K Spurgeon 66 71 74, J Harrison 68 73 70, B Longmuir (Sco) 75 65 71
212 R Drummond (Sco) 72 69 71, N Job 71 70 71, G Ryall 69 69 74, D Hospital (Spa) 71 70 71
213 J Rhodes 72 69 72, J Chillas (Sco) 71 71 71
214 D Durnian 70 71 73, G Ralph 73 70 71
215 M Harwood (Aus) 71 72 72, M Clayton (Aus) 72 71 72
216 J Heggarty (NIrl) 74 71 71, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 70 71
217 D Russell 76 73 68, B Smit (Rsa) 74 69 74
218 B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 72 77, R Chapman 71 73 74, A Johnsson (Swe) 71 74 73, D Smyth (Irl) 73 68 77
219 G Cali (Ita) 74 70 75
220 S Bennett 75 71 74, M Deeley 72 71 77, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 73 76, G Brand 71 78 71, T Charnley 72 73 75
221 P Mitchell 72 75 74, F Mann (Sco) 75 74 72, A Fernandez (Chi) 76 73 72
222 A Sowa (Arg) 72 73 77
223 J Gould 72 72 79, J Hall 73 74 76, M Gray (Sco) 74 75 74, M Belsham 74 72 77
224 T Horton 73 74 77, M Miller (Sco) 80 69 75, L Higgins (Irl) 74 74 76
225 M Bembridge 77 71 77, R Willison 71 72 82, I Mosey 76 76 73
226 A Garrido (Spa) 70 76 80
227 D Cambridge (Jam) 75 74 78, G Watine (Fra) 77 73 77
229 M Poxon 78 78 73
241 T Gale (Aus) 79 75 87

EUROPEAN TOUR REPORT, SCORES

Graeme McDowell wins, with Rhys Davies runner-up again

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Graeme McDowell produced a simply brilliant victory in The Celtic Manor Wales Open after an exhilarating final round.
Playing on The Twenty Ten Course where he hopes to earn his second Ryder Cup cap against the Americans in October, the 30 year old Northern Irishman was forced to pull out all the stops to grab his fifth European Tour title.
In-form Welshman Rhys Davies was the man to put the heat on with a stunning course record 62 that saw him cover the middle 12 holes in ten under par.

But McDowell, pictured, matched the 25 year old's front nine 30, started for home with two more birdies and, with a three stroke lead once Davies had bogeyed the difficult 16th, did not let the opportunity slip.

A closing 63 for a 15 under par total of 269 gave McDowell, winless since the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open, the €350,940 first prize by three and left Davies a runner-up for the second week running.

"I think it's the best final round I've ever played to win a tournament," he said. "The first 11 holes was dream golf and I am ecstatic. I feel like I'm in the form of my life right now and I really feel I have a big event in me.

"To win around here is certainly going to stand me in good stead," he added.

Four behind at the start of the day McDowell could not have expected to become the man to catch so quickly, but overnight leader Marcel Siem put two balls in the water and ran up a quadruple bogey seven at the short third.

Davies, eight adrift when he teed off, knew he was in with a chance from the moment he sank his 170 yard eight iron for an eagle two on the eighth.

His fourth birdie came on the next, then he produced two more at the start of the inward half and when he drove the green at the 377 yard dog-leg 15th - what a hole that is going to be come October - and made his 30 foot putt for another eagle two The European Tour's first ever 59 was still a possibility.

The European Tour rookie required two more birdies for that, but instead he failed to get up and down from sand on the next and had to settle for two closing pars.

His round nevertheless shaved a stroke off the course record set by Stephen Gallacher in the third round and matched by his fellow Scot Marc Warren early on the final day.

McDowell's 64-63 finish - he feared he was going to miss the cut on Friday - was only three outside the best ever on The European Tour.

Davies stated: "I enjoyed every second. I went out very relaxed - I tried to push too hard yesterday and was mindful of that."

He admitted he thought of 59 at one point, but "put it aside very quickly”.

He added: "I tracked what Graeme was doing. He continued to make birdies, so I kept my head down and tried to make some more. I tried my best, but it didn't quite happen."

Third place went to Luke Donald, the man who pipped Davies in last week's Madrid Masters. His three-week trip back to Europe has brought him a win, a second and a third and he is even closer now to regaining his Ryder Cup spot.

Gallacher shared fourth with England's Robert Rock and Italian Edoardo Molinari, but Siem fell back to seventh with a 74.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71)

269 Graeme McDowell 72 70 64 63 (350,940 Euros).

272 Rhys Davies 67 73 70 62 (233,960 Euros)

274 Luke Donald 75 65 69 65 (131,813 Euros)

275 Robert Rock 68 71 70 66, Stephen Gallacher 70 73 63 69, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 67 71 70 67 (89,420 Euros)

276 Marcel Siem (Ger) 69 67 66 74

277 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 68 70 69

279 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 69 68 68 74, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 72 67 71, Richard McEvoy 67 71 69 72

280 Marc Warren 71 71 75 63, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 74 71 68 67, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 68 69 73, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70 74 69 67, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 68 71 66 75, David Lynn 72 72 66 70 (31,900 Euros each).
281 Simon Dyson 71 70 65 75, Bradley Dredge 66 73 72 70
282 Damien McGrane 69 76 66 71, Peter Whiteford 72 72 69 69, Soren Hansen (Den) 68 70 69 75, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 72 72 70 68, Peter Lawrie 72 67 72 71, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 73 71 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 71 72 69 70 (23,192 Euros each).
283 Richard Bland 74 71 71 67, Richie Ramsay 68 72 69 74, Anton Haig (Rsa) 72 71 72 68, Gareth Maybin 69 73 73 68 (19,688 Euros each).
284 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 73 72 71 68, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 71 69 70 74, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 69 70 71 74
285 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 72 70 71, Gary Boyd 71 70 70 74, Scott Hend (Aus) 71 72 72 70, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 68 74 73 70, Benjamin Hebert (Fra) 73 71 72 69
286 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 72 71 70 73, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 71 66 79, Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 74 73 69, Shane Lowry 70 73 69 74, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 66 70 75 75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 72 72 70, Darren Clarke 69 71 73 73
287 Chris Wood 65 76 70 76, Colin Montgomerie 70 70 76 71, Phillip Price 70 74 73 70, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 71 72 76 68, Danny Lee (Nzl) 68 75 70 74, Jamie Donaldson 71 72 76 68, Alastair Forsyth 71 73 69 74, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71 73 71, Pablo Martin (Spa) 71 73 73 70, Barry Lane 71 72 76 68 (9,265 Euros each).
288 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 73 68 77, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 72 72 68 76, James Ruth 70 74 70 74, Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 70 75 75 68, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 69 76 72 71
289 Garry Houston 73 71 72 73, Simon Thornton 68 75 73 73
290 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 72 71 81 66, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 73 72 71 74, Ross McGowan 70 73 70 77
291 Chris Gane 70 75 74 72, Oliver Wilson 70 71 75 75, Benn Barham 70 72 78 71
292 Mark Foster 72 73 75 72, Graeme Storm 74 71 75 72
295 Marco Ruiz (Par) 71 71 78 75
298 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 68 74 81 75, Oliver Fisher 74 68 78 78
304 Julien Quesne (Fra) 71 73 78 82

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT, SCORES

Another ace performance by Martin Wiegele

FROM SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Austrian Martin Wiegele won the Karnten Golf Open by Markus Brier Foundation on home soil today after an astonishing coincidence in the final round contributed to a six under par 66 and a one shot victory.
Wiegele had a hole in one at the par three eighth, the same hole he aced in the last round of this tournament 12 months ago. Last year he won a car; this time he bagged another car and the title as no one in the last five groups could better his 13 under par total at Klagenfurt-Seltenheim Golf Club.
Floris De Vries and Matthew Zions both had birdie putts at the 18th to force a play-off – the latter’s from eight feet – but neither succeeded, leaving Wiegele to celebrate his second Challenge Tour victory.
Englishman Daniel Denison joined De Vries and Zions for a share of second with a superb 66 earlier in the day, and in a fine week for the Austrians, Markus Brier and Roland Steiner had a share of fifth place. It was not such a good day for their countryman and overnight leader Thomas Feyrsinger, however, who slipped down to tied 15th with a two over par 74.
Still stunned after his victory, Wiegele said of his hole in one: “It was too good to be true. My girlfriend was with me all week and every time I went up to the eighth tee box she joked about doing the same as last year. She did it today again... the pin was in the same position, I took the same club and it seemed to be the same wind so I tried the same shot and it turned out to be perfect.
“I thought it would be close but didn’t believe it would go in. Then all of a sudden it hit the flag and went straight in without even bouncing. I didn’t know for sure if it was in but then the people watching started screaming and going crazy.
“After that I was playing well without being great and nothing happened for a while until the 15th where I almost had another hole in one. It was about 20cms away. Then on the 16th I drove the green and landed on the right hand fringe and putted in for eagle from seven metres.
“That took me to 13 under and I struggled a bit on the 17th and was a little nervous on the 18th so I was happy to par both. I was more nervous waiting than I was on the course. If you’re in the clubhouse there’s nothing you can do.”
Wiegele, who had an up and down week with a sublime first round 62 followed by scores of 76 and 71, added: “I was half watching Matthew’s putt. Of course you don’t wish for a fellow player to miss, but when I saw it hadn’t gone it took me a few seconds to realise I had won and then I was so happy. I had a tough start to the season so to win here is very satisfying.
“And to do so on home soil with so many people supporting me is very special and I will remember this moment for a very long time.”
The 31 year old, who won on the same course as an amateur in 2002, is the second Austrian to clinch a Challenge Tour event on home soil after Brier's victories in the 2002 and 2004 Austrian Opens.
Zions was barely able to express the depth of his disappointment after missing a relatively straightforward putt at the last.
“I missed from three feet for birdie at the 15th and should have put that one in on the last as well. It’s extremely disappointing and I can’t really describe how frustrating it is.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72). Yardage 7,053.
275 M Wiegele (Aut) 62 76 71 66 (25,600 Euros).
276 M Zions (Aus) 70 71 65 70, F De Vries (Ned) 68 67 71 70, D Denison (Eng) 73 66 71 66 (12,800 Euros each).,
277 R Steiner (Aut) 71 66 73 67, J Zapata (Arg) 69 72 69 67, M Brier (Aut) 67 68 74 68, L Claverie (Esp) 68 68 71 70 (6,000 Euros each)
278 L Westerberg (Swe) 70 68 69 71, J Arruti (Esp) 70 72 72 64, E Canonica (Ita) 72 67 73 66, J Campillo (Esp) 68 72 67 71, E Dubois (Fra) 71 68 70 69,
279 M Higley (Eng) 69 72 70 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 67 71 70 71, T Feyrsinger (Aut) 67 67 71 74, G Molteni (Ita) 71 68 71 69, N Meitinger (Ger) 67 69 73 70,
280 A Bruschi (Ita) 70 70 69 71, A Sjöstrand (Swe) 65 71 73 71,
281 L Jensen (Den) 75 66 72 68, A Snobeck (Fra) 72 69 73 67, G Davies (Eng) 69 70 72 70, A Johnston (Eng) 68 71 73 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 70 73 69 69, T Olesen (Den) 71 71 67 72,
282 M Cobo (Esp) 71 69 72 70, J Caldwell (Nir) 68 71 72 71, M Thorp (Nor) 72 68 72 70, D Whitnell (Eng) 70 72 70 70, C Macaulay (Sco) 70 70 75 67, K Eriksson (Swe) 75 67 68 72, J Xanthopoulos (Fra) 70 72 72 68 (1,312 Euros each).
283 R Kind (Ned) 71 70 71 71, A Maestroni (Ita) 69 70 72 72, J McLean (Aus) 70 68 73 72, S Jamieson (Sco) 70 69 70 74, A Haindl (RSA) 72 68 70 73 (1,120 Euros each),
284 A Gee (Eng) 71 71 71 71, C Ford (Eng) 70 73 71 70, D Vanegas (Col) 70 72 71 71, M Moser (Aut) 72 71 70 71, T Whitehouse (Eng) 70 70 73 71, H Bacher (Aut) 69 73 72 70, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 70 72 74,
285 G Shaw (Nir) 67 76 72 70, A Kaleka (Fra) 72 71 70 72, F Calmels (Fra) 70 68 78 69,
286 P Golding (Eng) 75 67 74 70, J Maurer (Aut) 72 71 75 68,
287 R Thuillier (Fra) 74 68 73 72, A Bossert (Sui) 70 71 71 75,
288 J Larsen (Nor) 73 70 70 75, J Axgren (Swe) 73 70 71 74, G Woodman (Eng) 73 68 79 68, P Del Grosso (Arg) 71 71 75 71,
290 V Covello (USA) 70 71 73 76,
291 E Ramsay (Sco) 74 68 74 75, L Kennedy (Eng) 70 73 72 76, J Colomo (Esp) 70 72 75 74 (512 Euros each)
292 L Moolman (RSA) 69 72 75 76, J Abbate (Arg) 74 69 76 73,
294 M Mills (Eng) 68 74 77 75,
298 V Riu (Fra) 70 71 78 79,