Corey Pavin's wife designed those

United States Ryder Cup rainsuits!

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
Rick Reimers looked out from his hotel room in Wales and saw nothing but sheets of rain. It was his last day at the Ryder Cup before flying to a business meeting that Friday afternoon, and he didn't even bother going out to Celtic Manor.

"I thought, 'No way they're playing in this thing,'" Reimers said. "And they did for three or four holes - unfortunately."

Indeed, it was most unfortunate for Reimers.

He is the founder and owner of Sun Mountain, the Missoula, Montana-based company that invented the first golf bag with built-in legs and, most recently, provided the U.S. Ryder Cup team with its rain suits.

Two hours of golf was played before heavy rain halted the opening session.

The rain suits, already lampooned for looking like basketball warmups with stripes and names on the back, didn't seem to be working. It was never clear if they leaked or retained too much water. During the seven-hour delay, U.S. team officials bought a different brand of rain suits from the merchandise tent.

"We were pretty depressed," Reimers said in a telephone interview. "It was hard to talk directly to anyone using the garment. We didn't know any more than what was being reported in the press. And it turns out, that was the only thing to talk about."

With no golf being played, the rain suits turned into the big story on the opening day.

Sun Mountain immediately tried to figure out what happened with its RainFlex gear, unique in that it is waterproof and the knit fabric stretches so that it doesn't make noise when a golfer swings.

Reimers had an employee put on a rain jacket (that had been made for a player not picked for the team) and stand in the shower for two hours. He said water was coming down the neck and up from the cuffs, but "we couldn't see that it leaked anywhere." The company also ran tests at an independent lab that showed the suits were waterproof.

So what happened?

"We think nobody got wet with rain coming through the garment," Reimers said. "Did the outside material hold more moisture than you'd like? Probably. When something gets soaked, it feels cold on the skin. People might interpret that as being wet."

Reimers was remarkably honest in the wake of such bad publicity. He said he heard from one prominent Ryder Cup player who told him he liked the rain suit and didn't understand all the fuss. Several players continued to wear them.

The contract with the PGA of America, which bought the gear, kept Sun Mountain from promoting its role in the Ryder Cup. The only way anyone would know the brand would be if something went wrong.

"If people had loved them, we wouldn't receive any benefit," Reimers said. "We just never imagined anything like this would happen. We've had people call our tour rep and say, 'I've worn it in the rain and it's an advantage.'

Reimers expected Sun Mountain sales to take a hit, although he hasn't seen any evidence of that, only anecdotes. Some long-time customers don't understand the complaints and continue to buy, while prospective customers have shied away because of the Ryder Cup.

So what's next?

As it has done for nearly 40 years, Reimers said Sun Mountain will try to make improvements. It is in the running to supply the U.S. Presidents Cup team with rain gear, as it did in 2009. He said the PGA Tour already has asked for samples.

Reimers said Lisa Pavin, the wife of U.S. captain Corey Pavin, wanted a retro look and was responsible for the design.
For the Presidents Cup, he is providing a more conservative look - navy blue, with a small amount of color to accent the garment.
"But no names," he said. "And no stripes."

TIGER AT THE TOP: This will be the final week Tiger Woods is at No. 1 in the world, ending a run of more than five years dating to the week before the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
Lee Westwood will go to No. 1 on Sunday, unless PGA champion Martin Kaymer gets to No. 1 this week at Valderrama.
Oddly enough, what has made it tough on Woods' competition in the world ranking is now working against Woods. He plays such a limited schedule that his divisor is rarely more than 40 or 42 tournaments over two years.
Woods has played only 30 tournaments in the last two years because of his knee surgery and personal turmoil. If not for the minimum divisor of 40 tournaments, his lead over Westwood in the world ranking this week would be 2.83 points instead of 0.06.


FALL SERIES IN FAR EAST: The next two tournaments on the US PGA Tour schedule offer $6 million and $7.5 million in prize money. They just don't count on the money list.

First up is the Asia Pacific Classic, a 40-man field in Malaysia that represents the tour's first event with the Asian Tour. The field features 25 members from the US PGA Tour. While some were sceptical that enough players would want to go halfway around the world this late in the year, it worked out just fine. Brian Gay, who was No. 54 in the FedEx Cup standings, didn't even get in.

It features four of the top 25 in the world ranking, led by Luke Donald of England (No. 8) and Ernie Els of South Africa (No. 11). The highest-ranked American in Malaysia is Rickie Fowler at No. 32.

Also going is Heath Slocum, who won the McGladrey Classic and is No. 30 on the US PGA Tour money list by $132 over Ryan Moore.
"I think it's going to be a good experience," Slocum said. "It's free money. To be honest, it's nothing simpler than a tournament that I can win, and 40 guys there you're trying to beat. And you don't have to pay for a thing. It's ideal."
It will be Slocum's fourth tournament overseas this year. He also played the French Open, Scottish Open and British Open.


LPGA RACE: For all the talk about the revolving No. 1 ranking in women's golf, far more compelling is the race for the money title.
The LPGA Tour is in South Korea this week competing for a $1.8 million purse. Then it's off to Japan and Mexico before wrapping up its season in Florida with the LPGA Tour Championship.
Jiyai Shin is atop the money list with $1,463,833, giving her a $14,781 lead over Na Yeon Choi.
Six players have earned more than $1 million on the LPGA Tour this year, and they are separated by a mere $83,340.


DIVOTS: Olympia Fields, where Jim Furyk won the 2003 U.S. Open, will host the 2015 U.S. Amateur. ... John Daly has made 14 cuts in 20 starts on the PGA Tour, his most in one year since making 17 cuts in 2005. He was 42nd on the money list that year. Daly is No. 192 on the money list with one tournament left this year.


STAT OF THE WEEK: For the first time since 1991, only one major champion is among the top 10 on the US PGA Tour money list.

RON MENZIES' FUNERAL SERVICE ON FRIDAY

The funeral service for Ron Menzies, president of the North-east District of the Scottish Golf Union and secretary of the North-east Golfers' Alliance, has been confirmed for 10.50am on Friday, October 29 at Aberdeen Crematorium.

NORTH ALLIANCE

Doug Thorburn's 67 best at Invergordon

By ROBIN WILSONA three-birdie card in halves of 34 and 33 gave Thurso's scratch golfer, Doug Thorburn, victory in the North Golf Alliance fixture at Invergordon, leaving Tain duo Munro Ferries and Mike Sangster filling second and third places.
Before his move to Thurso, ex-Invergordon member Bryan Ronald, winner of the first fixture at Durness, was expected to be Thurso's main threat in Invergordon but while Ronald was still feeling his way round with a new set of irons, Thorburn was taking advantage of good approach shots to shoot his first birdie at the second hole and match par for the next seven for an outward one under par 34.
The birdie was not given back to the course until the 15th hole but a double birdie finish at 17 and 18 rounded of an inward 33 for 67 and a four-shot win over Ferries.

In the field of 43 two further Caithness members broke 80, Bryan Ronald and Wayne Mowat (Reay) both returning 77s. Mike Sangster's gross 74 turned into a net 72 for a share of first handicap place in the Category 1 section with local Jock McIver and Reay's Mowat.

There was another Caithness winner in the high handicap section, Gavin Gunn (Reay) a net 68, off 11, one stroke better than Tain's Ali Melville before a three-way tie for third place that comprised of Durness pair Martin Mackay and Alistair McCowan joined by S Barnes (Ullapool).

The next venue is Thurso on Sunday November 7.
RESULTS
Scratch
67 D Thorburn (Thurso).
71 M Ferries (Tain).
74 M Sangster (Tain).
77 B Ronald (Thurso), W Mowat (Reay).
78 J Harper (Wick).
79 J MacIver (Invergordon).
Handicap
Class 1 - J McIver (Invergordon) (9) 70; M Sangster (Tain) (2), W Mowat (Reay) (5), F Sparling (Thurso) (7) 75. C
Class 2 - G Gunn (Reay) (11) 68; A Melville (Tain) (12) 72; M Mackay (Durness) (10), A McCowan (Durness) (12), S Barnes (Ullapool) (16) 74.

CONNOR O'NEIL - A student at Michigan State University (image by Tom Ward).

CONNOR O’NEIL CLINCHES SGU


BOYS' ORDER OF MERIT TITLE


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
By ROSS DUNCAN
The final domestic national amateur golfing honour of the season has gone to Pollok’s Conor O’Neil, who has been crowned the 2010 SGU Boys’ Order of Merit title winner.
A string of excellent performances during the summer saw O’Neil emerge at the top of the rankings, in a tight battle which saw Scotland’s leading five junior golfers separated by just 73 ranking points. O’Neil finished the season with 711.25 points, with Dumfries and Country’s Liam Johnston just behind in second place on 697.5 points.
O’Neil, who was a pupil at St Ninian’s High School on the south side of Glasgow before beginning a golf scholarship at Michigan State University in August, came agonisingly close to claiming his first national title at this year’s Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship at Craigielaw, where Finland’s Linus Vaisanen birdied the 72nd hole to beat him by a shot.
His silver medal finish sparked a great run of form for the 18-year-old, who went on to reach the quarter-finals of the British Boys Championship at Kilmarnock Barassie, being pipped by German Max Rotluff at the 21st hole, before helping Scotland to second place in the Boys Home Internationals, where he boasted an unbeaten record of five and a half points from a possible six.
O’Neil, who has been called up to the Scotland Men’s Elite Squad, praised his coach Adam Hunter for the progress made during the last year:
“I worked very hard with Adam (Hunter) and George Boswell when Adam was ill and developed a more solid all round game. Adam is a fantastic coach and has been very supportive with me while giving me much more belief in my ability.”
“Having got the Highers I needed for my scholarship during my fifth year at school I didn’t have the added pressure of needing exam results or trying to impress potential universities, so I could really concentrate on my golf this season.” he added.
“The highlight of the year was beating England in the Boys’ Home Internationals. We had a great team spirit and it was good to give Spencer (Henderson) a good send-off in his last duty for Scotland. I’m really looking forward to being part of the main squad and learning from the more experienced players.”
“My scholarship in Michigan has started really well and I’m learning quickly, trying to balance golf, the fitness aspect and my school work but it builds great discipline. It’s great to experience a different climate, different types of golf course week in week out and new opponents, which can only help me with my long term goal of turning professional.”
Runner-up Johnston also enjoyed a fine season and was the leading Under 18s performer at the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Gullane, where he reached the last eight. Johnston’s South team-mate Scott Gibson (Southerness) finished third in the Boys’ Order of Merit, with long time leader Simon Fairburn (Torwoodlee) in fourth place and Scottish Boys Champion Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) fifth.


Click here for the final standings.

COUNTY NEWS

Renfrewshire are the A team in

West League

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
Renfrewshire Golf Union’s “A” team remains unbeaten in its bid to retain the West of Scotland League title after a very close match against Dunbartonshire at Greenock Golf Club.
With a strong wind being a major factor, there were many wayward shots and anyone visiting the cemetery to the right of the 14th hole would have collected a number of balls which found their way there!
As it transpired, the key game of the day was the first game out – Sam Binning (pictured)of Ranfurly Castle against Dumbarton’s Andrew Campbell. Both players have been boy internationals and, as expected, it went all the way to the last hole where Sam, having been down, salvaged a halved match. Another massive result came from Stuart Robertson (Cochrane Castle) who, in his first County appearance this season, faced Hilton Park’s Gordon Yates. Gordon is a full international, an SGU squad player, a member of the 2009 Walker Cup training squad and runner up in this year’s Asia-Pacific Open. Stuart was unfazed and recorded a one- hole victory which saw Renfrewshire win the match 5 ½ to 4 ½.
With two matches remaining, Renfrewshire are now firm favourite for the title. Team Captain, Ronnie Clark (Erskine), who had a convincing 4 and 3 win over Paul Betty (Hayston) said that with three of his top players unavailable, the result demonstrated the depth of talent which exists in the Renfrewshire Golf Union.
The Youth team recorded an away win at Hilton Park Golf Course and are now back with an outside chance of retaining its title after a disappointing start to the campaign.
Full “A” Team results
RENFREWSHIRE 5 1/2, DUNBARTONSHIRE 4 1/2
Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) halved with Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton).
Michael Campbell (Renfrew) lost to Kevin Smyth (Windyhill) 3 and 2.
Paul Alexander (Caldwell) bt Craig Checkley (Vale of Leven) 4 and 3.
Michael Daily (Erskine) lost to Peter Haggarty (Helensburgh) 1 hole.
Ronnie Clark (Erskine) bt Paul Betty (Hayston) 4 and 3.
Stuart Robertson (Cochrane Castle) bt Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 1 hole.
Steven Higgins (Gourock) bt Grant Minnes (Hayston) 3 and 2.
Ross Campbell (Gourock) bt Colin Peddie (Kirkintilloch) 3 and 2.
Nicky Gold lost to Ryan McKenzie (Cardross) 2 and 1.
David MacFarlane lost to Niall Lamond (Balmore) 2 and 1.

ASIA PACIFIC CLASSIC TEES OFF THURSDAY

Luke wants to be Million

Dollar Man in Malaysia

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Kuala Lumpur: A resurgent Luke Donald hopes to translate his impressive form into a victory at the inaugural CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia starting on Thursday.
Donald, pictured, ranked eighth in the world, has not won a US PGA Tour tournament since 2006 and he will be inspired to rekindle the winning feeling at the Mines Resort and Golf Club.
The European Ryder Cup stalwart will be jo ined by a stellar cast which includes South Africans Ernie Els, a three-time Major champion and Tim Clark, who won The Players Championship in May, at the US$6 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, PGA Tour and the Professional Golf Association of Malaysia (PGAM).
Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Korea’s teen titan Noh Seung-yul, the current number one, and compatriot K.J. Choi, Australia’s Andrew Dodt and Bangladeshi Siddikur will also be in the elite 40-man field.
Donald, the highest ranked player in this week’s field, has enjoyed a solid season with three runner-up finishes in America and a victory in Europe. He is determined to continue his solid form as he aims for the top prize of US$1 million.
“Great players are judged by how much they win and it is disappointing not to have won for four years on the PGA Tour. I had three runner-up finishes this year and hopefully I can learn from these and turn those second place finishes into wins,” said Donald who has won twice in the United States .
A wrist injury in 2008 curtailed his performances last season but he believes he is back to his best form and ready to launch a title assault at the par-71 course this week. He is also buoyed by the Ryder Cup victory over the Americans.
“I attribute my good finishes to hard work. I always have a strong desire to improve and get better and I’m always finding ways to do just that. After my wrist injury, 2009 was kind of a learning experience and now I’m able to concentrate and come out with some good results,” said the 32-year-old.
He was delighted with the launch of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia and believes it will spur the development of golf in the region.
“Golf is a global game now. People want to see the US players playing in Malaysia , China or Japan . New events like this tend to increase fan support for the game and create awareness that there are great places around the world to play golf in,” he said.

Clark won his first US PGA Tour title at the Players Championship in May and continued to sparkle with six other top-10 finishes. He is eyeing for more success this week.

“I think this is a very important stretch for us to come over here. We certainly don’t want to travel all the way here and not have our ‘A’ game. It is something I’m geared for and getting my game in good shape to play well,” said the 34-year-old.

The South African lauded the development of golf in Asia in recent years. “I’ve seen the growth down here. With the amount of Asian players we see in the Ma jo rs and world golf events, it shows the game is growing.

“If you get onto the computer and the television, you can see the Asian Tour or Japanese Tour events. There’s no question the game is growing down here and I think it is fantastic,” he added.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR FINALE

GEORGE MURRAY - Already secured European Tour place for 2011 season.

It's chalk and cheese for Murray and Russell

By PAUL SYME

European Challenge Tour Press Officer 
While the Scottish duo of George Murray and Raymond Russell might be close geographically their state of minds are worlds apart at this week’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, the final event of the 2010 Challenge Tour season.
For whereas Murray is able to relax, safe in the knowledge that his card for The 2011 European Tour International Schedule is already secure, thanks chiefly to his maiden Challenge Tour victory on home soil at this year’s Scottish Hydro Challenge, Russell is in the unenviable position of 21st – just one place shy of promotion to the top tier.
The pair enjoyed contrasting fortunes at last week’s Eyptian Open presented by SODIC, where Murray – who had held the lead going into the final round – finished in a tie for second place behind the winner Mark Tullo of Chile; whilst Russell was replaced in the top 20 of the Rankings by Lee Slattery after the Englishman finished fourth, some 25 places higher than the man from East Lothian.The €16,094 Murray collected for his tied runner-up finish moved him up to eighth place in the Rankings with season’s earnings of €86,319 and, with €51,500 available to the winner at San Domenico Golf this week, the 27 year old former Scottish amateur champion from Anstruther now stands an outside chance of deposing current No 1 Alvaro Velasco from the top of the tree should the Spaniard suffer a rare bad week.
He said: “I can be a lot more relaxed going into the Grand Final now, because I virtually guaranteed my place in the top ten in Egypt last week. Hopefully that will help me to have a good week, because like most golfers I tend to play well when there’s less pressure on me.
"There’s obviously a lot of pressure on the guys outside the top 20 of the Rankings this week, whereas I’m quite lucky in that I can just go out there and try to enjoy myself. I really like the course here, and I just hope the wind blows as much as it has done in previous years, because I’m used to those sort of conditions so I feel I can maybe cope with them better than some of the other lads out here.
“I haven’t really thought about winning the Rankings, to be honest. Alvaro’s a long way ahead of me and he’s been playing very well, so he’ll be very hard to catch – I’d have to win and he’d have to have an off week. Obviously if I did manage it, it’d be a huge bonus – but my main goal is not to let anyone overtake me so that I stay in the top ten. If I can do that, I’ll be a very happy man.”Russell has no such lofty ambitions, however – his one and only goal is to climb back into the top 20 of the Rankings, in order to regain the European Tour card he lost after suffering a dip in form back in 2006.
The 1996 Air France Cannes Open winner has done remarkably well just to make this week’s 45-man field, having started the season on the ALLIANZ Tour in France after losing his playing privileges on the Challenge Tour on the back of a wretched campaign last year.
The 38 year old said: “It’s my first time playing at San Domenico, and obviously I need a good week to get back into that top 20. Obviously it wasn’t ideal to be knocked out in Egypt last week, but it is what it is. I just have to go and try and treat it like any other week, and try to focus on playing well. I know that’s a cliché, but it’s all you can do. At the end of the day, the season isn’t decided on one week.
“You get quite a few people on the Challenge Tour whining about how some events carry much more prize money than others, and that it’s unfair that someone who plays well in St Omer or Kazakhstan or at the Grand Final pretty much gets a card from just having one good week.
"But that’s not the way to look at it. It’s all about peaking at the right time, and the guys who have played well in the big events deserve to be up near the top of the Rankings.
“There are four major events on the Challenge Tour in terms of money, including the Scottish Challenge, and we now have one big week left to get ready for. All I can do is to play as well as I possibly can, and hope that it’s good enough. And if it’s not, well then at least I've given it my best shot, and I can have another bite at the cherry at the Qualifying School Final in December.”
The two remaining Scots in the field for the €300,000 event are Scott Jamieson and Jamie McLeary who, at 11th and 33rd in the Rankings respectively, will also have contrasting emotions as they prepare for the season finale.

GAVIN DEAR WINS PROMOTION
Gavin Dear clinched promotion to next year's European Challenge Tour after the Alps Tour's season-ending Puglia International Open in Italy at the weekend.***

The Scone rookie, part of Scotland's 2008 Eisenhower Trophy-winning team, finished 14th on a four-under 210 but that was enough to cement his fourth place in the final order of merit with the top five making the step up.
Dear, a winner on the Alps circuit on Italian soil last month, signed off with a level-par 71 at the Tessali course and finished nine shots behind Spanish winner Miguel Sastre.
The Perthshire man will now head for stage two of the European Tour's qualifying school next month to try and earn a place on the main circuit in 2011.

Winner Manassero scrambling for Shanghai visa

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
CASTELLON, Spain (AP) — Matteo Manassero is scrambling to get a visa on short notice so he can play in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai next week.
The 17-year-old Italian qualified Sunday when he became the youngest winner in European Tour history at the Castello Masters in Spain.
Rather than travel as scheduled on Monday from Valencia to Valderrama to play in Thursday's Andalucia Masters, Manassero flew back to Italy to try to obtain a visa for the November 4-7 World Golf Championship event.
But his manager, Gorga Guillen, says getting a letter of invitation from China on short notice "is not going to be easy."


RECAP ON CASTELLO MASTERS FINAL TOTALS


Par 284 (4x71)
268 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 68 66 67 67
272 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 70 66 68 68
273 Gary Boyd 68 68 63 74, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 68 67 66 72, Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 72 65 68, Peter Lawrie 72 64 67 70
274 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 68 66 70 70
275 Martin Wiegele (Aut) 71 66 69 69, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 66 71 71 67, Carl Suneson (Spa) 68 69 67 71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 70 67 69 69, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 69 64 71 71
276 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 64 68 73, John Parry 70 71 63 72, Gary Orr 66 72 71 67, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 70 69 68, Tano Goya (Arg) 71 66 72 67, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 71 70 68 67
277 Richard Finch 66 70 67 74, Gareth Maybin 68 73 69 67, Phillip Price 69 68 69 71, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 70 71 65
278 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 66 68 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 68 68 68 74, Oliver Wilson 69 70 70 69, Richard McEvoy 71 67 70 70, David Horsey 65 72 71 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 69 66 71, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 67 68 74 69
279 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 67 70 74 68, Damien McGrane 76 65 71 67, Anders Hansen (Den) 69 68 71 71, Scott Strange (Aus) 73 66 73 67, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 64 71 71 73, David Drysdale 67 72 71 69, Paul Lawrie 64 70 72 73, Richard Green (Aus) 69 70 71 69
280 Steve Webster 69 69 74 68, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 72 71 68 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 68 68 74
281 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 69 73 69, Jamie Donaldson 70 71 70 70, Julien Quesne (Fra) 69 69 70 73
282 Richard Bland 67 75 70 70, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 70 73 72, Paul Waring 69 72 71 70, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 70 73 69 70, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 69 73 70, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 70 72 69, Javi Colomo (Spa) 69 73 72 68
283 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 72 71 71, Sam Hutsby 71 69 72 71, Paul McGinley 74 66 72 71, Steven O'Hara 72 71 70 70
284 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 69 74 70 71, Marco Ruiz (Par) 69 74 72 69, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 72 69 74 69, Mark Foster 72 68 71 73
285 Richie Ramsay 71 70 72 72, James Kingston (Rsa) 72 71 70 72, Andrew Coltart 70 73 67 75, Mark Brown (Nzl) 70 71 70 74, Simon Khan 66 74 73 72, Bradley Dredge 72 70 73 70
286 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 72 69 72 73
287 Jamie Elson 72 71 69 75, Shane Lowry 69 70 76 72, Markus Brier (Aut) 72 71 68 76
288 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 74 68 70 76, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 73 70 69 76, Ross McGowan 73 70 71 74
290 Michael Hoey 67 70 75 78
292 Alastair Forsyth 69 73 74 76
293 Todd Hamilton (USA) 69 74 70 80
DQ: Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 73 68 71



MORE ON AOL:Join AOL
Chat & Community
Dating
Eleven
Entertainment
Games
Kids
Homes & Property
Horoscopes
Hot Searches
Living
Money
Motoring
Music
News
Shopping
Sport
Travel
Video
Ruby Room
Help



About AOL
Contact
Terms of Use - updated 01/02/07
Privacy Policy - updated 17/04/09
Sport Sitemap
Sitemap
Archive
Advertising Contact
Affiliate Programme
International



Check the latest scores and breaking stories from the sport service with all the results that matter. From results to fan pages, get informed and have your say on AOL.



© AOL (UK) Limited its affiliates and licensors

Fred Couples wins by seven shots

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) — Fred Couples left Corey Pavin and everybody else way behind in the Administaff Small Business Classic, shooting a 9-under 63 on Sunday for a seven-stroke victory in the US Champions (Seniors) Tour event.
Two strokes behind Pavin after 10 holes in the final round, the 50-year-old Couples (pictured after a previous win this year) played the final eight in 7 under, making an eagle - his second of the round - and five birdies.
"I don't know if I putted like that on the PGA Tour, ever," said Couples, who had only 24 putts in the final round. "I used to putt well and once you hit your mid-40s, every putt is important."
The former University of Houston star finished at 17-under 199 on The Woodlands Country Club course and earned $255,000 for his fourth Champions Tour victory of the year.
Mark Wiebe (71) was second, Dan Forsman (66) and Brad Bryant (66) followed at 9 under, and Pavin (74) and John Cook (67) tied for fifth at 8 under.
Couples birdied Nos. 11 and 12 to tie Pavin, then made a long eagle putt on the par-5 13th. After Couples' eagle, Pavin made a bogey, missing a 7-foot putt.
"That was something," Couples said. "I played well yesterday and I felt I'd play well today. I assumed one of us (in lead threesome) would win. To be honest, I hit the ball well and made a lot of putts and it all added up to a 63."
Couples moved two more shots ahead on the next hole with another birdie and Pavin's bogey.
Couples also birdied Nos. 16 and 18.
"Fred played great, it was a pretty amazing nine holes," Pavin said. "It was tough to keep up with him. I wasn't playing well anyway. I was out in front of the ball today. I struggled all day and it never turned around. ... Things weren't clicking, I'll try again next week. I haven't played much golf lately, only the second event since Oregon. I hope to compete the next two weeks. It would be nice to get a win."
Bernhard Langer, 535 points ahead of second-place Couples in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, shot a 66 to tie for 13th at 3 under. Kenny Perry tied for 35th in his first start on the 50-and-over tour, closing with a 70 to finish at 1 over.
Couples is skipping the ATandT Championship this week in San Antonio.
"I'd have to say it is important, but I physically couldn't play next week," Couples said. "I'm exhausted. If I played next week, I wouldn't be ready for the Schwab Cup.

"I physically couldn't play next week I'm drained. I'd get a couple of days off and then have to play in the Wednesday pro-am and the Thursday pro-am."

FOR ALL THE FINAL TOTALS CLICK HERE

Hole-in-one ends Martin Laird's dream

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Bollins
MARTIN Laird lost his Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open title in a play-off - when the Scot's opponent Jonathan Byrd hit a hole-in-one.
Byrd triumphed at the fourth extra hole in a three-man play-off which also involved Cameron Percy. Just moments before his ace, the trio had discussed whether there was enough light to continue. They agreed to play one more hole, the 204-yard 17th at the TPC Summerlin. And the play-off essentially ended with one swing.
It was too dark for Byrd to see his ball land about ten feet short of the flag and roll into the cup, and even the cheers from a smattering of fans around the green weren't convincing. "Did that go in?" Byrd asked his caddie.
Almost as stunning was that Byrd remained in the play-off. On the third extra hole, the par-4 18th, Byrd's approach tumbled over the green and was one hop away from going into the water. Instead, it settled in a clump of grass, he chipped up to seven feet and made par to stay alive.
Another swing later, he only had to wait for Laird and Percy to hit their shot, and they both landed in the water, to come up with his first win of the year.
"I'm in shock," Byrd said, certainly speaking for everyone watching another Fall Series thriller. Only a week ago, Rocco Mediate won the Frys.com Open at CordeValle by holing a wedge for eagle on the 17th hole of the final round, right after Alex Prugh came within inches of holing out from the tee with a driver. This one was even more incredible, and it came at just the right time. Byrd was 117th on the money list going into Las Vegas. His fourth career victory now gives him a two-year exemption.
Players have made an eagle with a full swing on the final hole to win tournaments but a walk-off ace is among the rarest moments in golf.
Byrd closed with a 68, and he had to watch four times - once in regulation play, three times in a play-off - as Laird stood over a birdie putt with a chance to win. That sequence started in regulation, when Laird had a 30-foot birdie attempt. Laird, the defending champion, shot 69.
Percy, the Australian rookie who needed to win to keep his card on the PGA Tour, earlier holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 67 that allowed him to get into the playoff. They finished at 21-under 263.
Byrd won £481,000 for his first win since the 2007 John Deere Classic.
Webb Simpson was at 22 under and had a one-shot lead until he pulled his tee shot into the water on the 17th and made double bogey. He finished with a 68 and wound up one shot out of the play-off, along with Spencer Levin, who had a 66.
Nick Watney, who lives in Las Vegas and was playing his final tournament before his wedding, had a 66 and shared sixth place with Cameron Beckman, who had a 67.

FOR ALL THE FINAL TOTALS, CLICK HERE

Grant Joss spearheads North-east effort at Forres

By ALAN JOSS of the North-east District of SGU
I thought I would send you a short report on the from the North of Scotland Junior Match-play Championships at Forres.
There were 15 North-east juniors who made the journey North to play in the event.

Handicap Section
After two days of stroke-play qualifying, Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) qualified for the handicap section and narrowly lost 3 and 2 in the first round.

Under 18s Scratch
After two days of stroke-play qualifying, Evan Robertson (Inchmarlo) qualified for the U18 Scratch section. Evan beat Ryan Innes (Keith) 4 and 3 in the first round before losing 6 and 5 to Jordan Milne (Elgin) in the quarter-final.

Under 15s Scratch
The North-east were well represented in the U15s section where six of our boys qualified.
Lewis Mutch (Duff House Royal) was the leading qualifier on 148, beating Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo) by virtue of the better second round.
In the first match-play round;
Lewis Mutch bt C Kerr (Elgin) 3 and 2.
Jake Scott (Strathlene) lost at 19th to G Bennett (Inverness).
Grant Joss (Royal Aberdeen) bt Craig Stephen (Aboyne) at 19th.
Patrick McKenna (Alford) lost to Rory Asher (Nairn) 1 hole.
Adam Fisher lost at 20th to C MacMillan (Inverness).
In the Quarter Finals:
Lewis Mutch bt G Bennett 3 and 2.
Grant Joss bt Andrew Kenyon (Inverness) at 19th.
In the Semi Finals:
Grant Joss bt Lewis Mutch 1 hole.
Andrew Burgess (Nairn) bt C MacMillan 4 and 3.
In the Final:
Grant Joss bt Andrew Burgess 7 and 5.

In the final Grant got off to a flier winning the first three holes with birdies. He then had birdies at the sixth, eighth and ninth to go out in 30 (6 under par) and be five up. He then parred the first four holes in the back nine to win 7 and 5.