Russell Knox might try European

Tour School next year

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Florida-based Russell Knox from Inverness has told Scottishgolfview.com in an E-mail today - following his failure to progress past Stage 2 of the US PGA Tour Qualifying School that he might consider having a go at the European Tour Qualifying School process next year.
Here's Russell's note:

"(Failing to get past Stage 2 of the US Tour School is) Very disappointing finish to another successful year. My downfall this time was my wedges and putter. Usually the best part of my game too.
"Just couldn't get the ball in the hole. Short misses and on a hard course it's hard to recover from three putts.
"Obviously feeling a little bit low right now but just wasn't my time i guess

"Looking forward to some time off golf. Been a long year and I feel tired now.
Hopefully 2011 will be the year I break through.
This was my fourth year going to the US Tour Q School; third straight to get as far as Stage 2 - and I have still to get to Final School. I hate golf! So many highs and lows.
"Pretty sure i might try the European Tour Q School next year as well as having another go at the US Tour one as well. Just a thought but a year to commit."
RUSSELL KNOX

+Scroll down for a summary of the US Tour Q School's Stage 2 events.

Lerda beats Cocha in Argentina championship final

Julian Lerda beat fellow Argentinian Tomas Cocha by 8 and 6 in the 36-hole final of the Argentina men's amateur open championship at Highland Park Country Club, Buenos Aires.
Lerda was five up after nine holes, four up after 18 and five up after 27.
England's Andrew Sullivan, the No 5 qualifier for the match-play stages, lost by one hole in the second round to Ramiro Fernandez de Vera (Argentina).
The last surviving foreign player to go out was Norway's Espen Kofstad who lost by one hole in the semi-finals to Lerda.
Cocha beat yet another Argentinian - Franco Grillo - by 5 and 4 in the other semi-final.
Grillo had beaten Richard Jung (Canada) by 4 and 2 in the quarter-finals. Six of the last eight were from the host nation - a big change from last year when Frenchman Romain Wattel beat Scotland's Ross Kellett in the final.

Irish 15-handicapper Sinead Kenny in

winning four at Gary Player Invitational

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Irish businesswoman Sinead Kenny, pictured, enjoyed the most memorable moment of her golfing career when she finally claimed victory today in the 11th Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, at The Links at Fancourt Hotel, George on South African's renowned Garden Route at the southern Cape.
The Dublin-born 15-handicapper, a business property magnate and a regular competitor in this charity tournament - she is a member of the local golf club, finished second last year and vowed she would return to win it.
And on an overcast afternoon on The Links, Kenny combined with former football star Dwight Yorke and professionals Sergio Garcia and John Cook to win the four-ball alliance competition by three strokes on 27 under par.
“I think the difference this year was that I just had so much fun out there,” said Kenny. “Being with these ultimate professionals makes all the difference to your own game.”
Kenny was also delighted to hear that the tournament raised in excess of R5 million for charity through the participating business leaders, the live and silent auctions and various donations.
“As always it’s been such an amazing experience to be part of this. It’s a wonderful privilege to contribute to Gary’s charities,” added Kenny.
As her amateur partner, Yorke was equally thrilled to claim a victory on his debut in this event.
“I’m absolutely over the moon. These are things you dream of. I’ve played Premiership football and golf is now the next step in my career and the next challenge for me to master. So to have the opportunity to play with someone like Sergio Garcia and John Cook was fantastic.”
Kenny and Yorke had to fight off a strong charge from the team of Alex Maditsi, the Country Manager of Coca-Cola East and Central Africa, and his amateur partner DJ Thomas Msengama, who finished second on 24 under par.
“It was very exciting,” said Yorke. “My game wasn’t that great off the tee. But you can watch and learn so much from these pros. So I’ll go away knowing what I need to work on if I want to get close to these guys.”
In the professional better-ball competition, Garcia and Cook triumphed on a score of 14 under, winning by a single stroke over the team of Bertus Smit and Darren Fichardt.
“John really kept us together out there. When I was struggling he made all the necessary birdies,” said Garcia. As the tournament host, Gary Player expressed his thanks for the continued support of business leaders, celebrities and professional golfers in the cause to raise funds for underprivileged children.
“Thank you to everybody who has helped to make a change in so many young peoples’ lives. To raise R5 million in these tough economic times is a fantastic achievement,” he said.

Gallacher and Ramsay only two Scots in

Dubai World Championship climax


Only two Scots figured among the European Tour's top 60 money-winners who qualified to play in this coming week's Race to Dubai climax - Stephen Gallacher and Richie Ramsay.
Gallacher, who played in 29 events, finished 26th with earnings of 908,444 Euros, Ramsay was 47th with 701,367 Euros from 31 events.

At the top of the table, the positions were:
1 Martin Kaymer (21 events) 3,283,930 Euros.
2 Graeme McDowell (23 events) 2,993,019 Euros.
3 Lee Westwood (13 events) 2,362,143 Euros.
4 Francesco Molinari (26) 2,249,324.
5 Ian Poulter (14) 1,983,.144.
6 Ernie Els (14) 1,911,760.
7 Miguel Angel Jimenez (28) 1,907,952.
8 Charl Schwartzel (23) 1,873,139.
9 Edoardo Molinari (27) 1,785,937.
10 Louis Oosthuizen (22) 1,767,617.
11 Paul Casey (13) 1,543, 311.
12 Rory McIlroy (15) 1,438,704.
13 Luke Donald (12) 1,410,430.
14 Ross Fisher (21) 1,309,024.
15 Alvaro Quros (24) 1,285,977.
16 Peter Hanson (21) 1,237,925.
17 Rhys Davies (30) 1,201,976.
18 Padraig Harrington (13) 1,108,967.
19 Richard Green (25) 1,102,793.
20 Fredrik Andersson Hed (26) 1,087,669.
The last of the 60 qualifiers was South Africa's Thomas Aiken with 543,379 Euros from 27 events.
So how close did the other Scots get to making it?:
69 Paul Lawrie (25 events) 412,293 Euros.
73 David Drysdale (33) 394,699.
86 Peter Whiteford (29) 334,271.
103 Martin Laird (5) 242,572.
114 Steven O'Hara (27) 213,709.
126 Marc Warren (29) 153,043.
128 Alastair Forsyth (32) 149,176.
130 Colin Mongomerie (18) 148,216.
144 Andrew Coltart (25) 116,690.
170 Gary Orr (11) 78,219.
174 Alan McLean (7) 71,795.
185 George Murray (5) 55,920.
198 Scott Drummond (21) 49,040.

+The Dubai World Championship - the climax to the Race to Dubai - tees off on Thursday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. The prize fund is $7,500,000 with a further $7,500,000 win bonus pool to be distributed among the leading 15 players at the end of the 2010 season.

SCOTTISH GOLF ACADEMY WINTER SERIES SCORES

All the scores from today's Scottish Golf Academy Under-16s Winter Series Event No 2 at Strathmore Golf Centre, Alyth are available on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

 Haastrup heading back to Q School

Chilean golfer Felipe Aguilar held on to his European Tour card for 2011 after the close of the Hong Kong Open.
Aguilar, 36, arrived in Hong Kong lying 117th on the Race to Dubai money list and knowing that the leading 117 players after the event would retain full membership for next year.
His 63rd place following a final-round 71 earned him 4,521 euros (£3869), enough to retain his 117th place and the assurance of his card.
"It's great to know that I am back on the Tour next year and not having the worry of going back to the Tour School," he said.
Korean-born American Anthony Kang finished fourth in Hong Kong to move from 138th up to 112th on the list.
The results meant that absent Dane Mark Haastrup dropped to 118th in his rookie year and will have to return to the Tour's Q-School later this month.
Others to forfeit automatic 2011 European Tour membership included Scots Marc Warren (125th) and Alastair Forsyth (128th) and former European Masters winner Jean Francois Lucquin of France (140th)

Sandy Lyle second to Peter

Senior Down Under

Former Open and Masters champion Sandy Lyle finished second to Peter Senior in the Handa Australian Senior Open championship at Royal Perth Golf Club today - the Scot's highest tournament finish for some time.
Sandy birdied four par-5 holes in a closing round of 69 for a total of six-under-par 210. His earlier rounds had been a 73 and 68. In his final circuit, he birdied the first, third, seventh, ninth and 18th with bogeys at the fifth and 15th. Lyle earned 40,800 Australian dollars for his performance.
He finished three shots behind all-the-way leader Australian Peter Senior who had rounds of 65, 70 and 72 to take the title and the 72,000 Australian dollars first prize.
Senior's opening round of seven-under-par 65 was a course record and gave him an initiative he never relinquished although he did drop two shots over his final nine holes. Last year Senior lost in a play-off to compatriot Michael Harwood.
“It’s been a great week. The course was sensational and it’s been great to see the European boys out here playing," said Senior.
“I would have liked to have played a little bit better coming down the stretch but I think I played a little bit safe, which is why I made a few mistakes, but nobody really came after me."
“I’m really happy to finish on top, especially after what happened last year, when I let a lot of guys in."
Gary Wolstenholme, in his rookie year as a senior pro, finished third, a shot behind Lyle.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72). Prize money in Australian dollars.
207 Peter Senior (Aus) 65 70 72 (72,000).
210 Sandy Lyle (Sco) 73 68 69 (40,800).
211 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng) 73 68 70 (27,000).212 Marc Farry (Fra) 71 71 70, Michael Harwood (Aus) (17,600 each).
213 David Russell (Eng) 72 69 72, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 74 71 69, Chris Williams (Aus) 72 71 70, Peter Fowler (Aus) 67 71 75, Rodger Davis (Aus) 74 68 71 (11,920 each).
214 Michael Clayton (Aus) 71 73 70 (8,800).
215 Andrew Oldcorn (Sco) 73 69 73, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 72 73 70, John Harrison (Eng) 73 71 71 (7,333 each).
Selected totals:
216 Ian Baker-Finch (Aus) 75 71 70 (jt 15th) (6,080).
218 Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 71 73 74 (jt 19th) (4,410).
221 Sam Torrance (Sco) 73 76 72 (jt 25th) (3,373).
223 Nick Job (Eng) 77 74 72 (jt 29th) (2,720).
224 Glenn Ralph (Eng) 74 74 76 (jt 32nd) (2,440).

MORE NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA:

Australia’s newest US PGA Tour member Steven Bowditch has added another title to his growing collection, claiming the Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship by two shots at Wollongong Golf Club today.
With the win Bowditch lifted the $17,250 first place prize cheque along with the title, which will give the 27-year-old plenty of confidence heading into the remaining 2010 PGA Tour of Australasia events.
Bowditch finished at 17-under, two strokes ahead of New Zealander Gareth Paddison.
Canberra professional Damon Welsford finished third at 12-under, a shot ahead of fourth-placed Matthew Millar.
“After a great year in the states it was one of my goals to come home and really compete in our big events and this is a great stepping stone,” said Bowditch.
The PGA Tour of Australasia will now head to the NSW Hunter Valley for the staging of next week’s 2010 NSW Open hosted by Nathan Green at The Vintage Golf Club.
The tournament will be headlined by event namesake Green, with Peter O’Malley, Stephen Leaney, Andre Stolz and Bowditch among others in the field.

Englishman tops his previous highest earnings on European Tour

Ian Poulter wins Hong Kong Open

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ian Poulter landed his tenth European Tour title by holding off all challengers at the UBS Hong Kong Open today.
The 34 year old, who narrowly missed out at last weekend's Barclays Singapore Open, closed with a three under par 67 to finish with a 22 under par aggregate of 258.
That was one clear of compatriot Simon Dyson and Italy's Matteo Manassero, but in truth the Ryder Cup star never looked like relinquishing the advantage he had held since the second round.
A bogey at the last after his approach found the bunker slightly spoiled his card, but three birdies on the front nine and a brilliant eagle at the par five 13th - where he nailed his drive then faded a fairway wood approach to 12 feet - secured victory.
"It feels more than good," said Poulter. "I'll be honest, the last two weeks I've been really disappointed. Shanghai I was lying fourth with six holes to play.
"Obviously last week, I was in the lead for a number of holes. I was in position again to win and I didn't do it - I didn't convert the putts.
"I played nicely on Sunday - on Monday shall I say - and didn't quite convert the putts, and I've played great all week this week.
"I think today, I actually played better to shoot three under than I did ten under. I don't think I've hit as many good golf shots today in a long time. So it was nice, I felt calm all day. I felt as if I just kept going around my business, I'd make a few birdie putts and that would be enough to win - it's very pleasing to do so."
Dyson's 65 saw him emerge as the main challenger, but after a front nine 30 the former KLM Open winner's putter went cold on the way in and he picked up just one more shot.
"Disappointed," admitted the former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner. "I played lovely today, I just didn't hole a thing on the back nine, didn't hole a thing.
"Eight kind of stopped me in my tracks. I got off to such a great start that the bogey on eight just stopped me in my tracks a bit.
"I had a good chance at nine - I had a good chance on every hole the back nine. Didn't miss a green and they just didn't want to drop and that last one summed it up, absolutely summed it up. It can't miss three foot out, downhill, downgrain and it stops two inches short.
"Still, a great week. I played lovely, and it's good to take into the last tournament of the year."
Manassero's eight under 62 confirmed the teenager's outstanding talent, while American Anthony Kang took fourth ahead of Graeme McDowell - who having been second overnight will be disappointed not to have made a bigger dent in Martin Kaymer's Race to Dubai lead.
World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play winner Poulter had hardly put a foot wrong all week and when he found water at the third it was his first bogey of the tournament.
"After hitting a poor four iron on the third hole and making bogey, I think I pretty much had a birdie putt on every single hole," he added. "You know, putts from eight feet which kept looking like they were going to go in but didn't. But to make five at the last, get the job done, it's a good victory."
The win also moves Poulter back inside the top ten on the Official World Golf Rankings and increases his earnings in The Race to Dubai to €1,983,142 - the most he has ever won in a single European Tour season.
Manassero became the youngest ever winner on The European Tour in Spain last month, and was pleased to continue his good form.
"Fantastic day actually for me," he said. "I started the day quite far behind - Poulter was 19, I was 13.
"I made some great shots, so I'm very happy with the way I played and the way I tried to catch the leaders."
McDowell's challenge for the title never really materialised as the Northern Irishman finished with a two under 68 to take fifth place.
The US Open Champion was undone by two bogeys in his first three holes and though he recovered on the back nine with five birdies, it was too late to threaten playing partner Poulter.
McDowell now switches his focus to the Dubai World Championship next week where he hopes to be crowned Europe's Number One ahead of current Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, having reduced his arrears to €214,222.
Rory McIlroy had narrowly missed out on victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the last two years and though he started well this time he was never really in the hunt as the final round progressed.
The 21 year old bogeyed the first and though he recovered with four birdies over his next 12 holes, another dropped shot on the par four 14th left him with plenty to do in his remaining holes.
McIlroy birdied the 16th before making par on the last two holes to finish on 18 under, four shots behind Poulter in sixth.
Last year's winner Grégory Bourdy claimed a share of 11th after carding a 68.
SCOTSWATCH: David Drysdale finished the top Scot on 272 after saving his best round until last - a 66 - which earned him 14,741 Euros for joint 31st place.
Paul Lawrie repeated his Saturday round of 68, which included only 26 putts, to finish joint 38th on 274 and pick up 11,033 Euros.
Stephen Gallacher closed with a 69, the same as Monty, and they tied for 47th place on 275, for which the financial reward was 7,958 Euros apiece.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
Players from GB and I unless stated. Prize money in Euros

258 Ian Poulter 67 60 64 67 (301,447) 259 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 67 63 67 62, Simon Dyson 64 65 65 65 (157,094 each). 260 Anthony Kang (US) 67 61 67 65 (90,436) 261 Graeme McDowell 65 65 63 68 (76,689). 262 Rory McIlroy 63 66 66 67 (63,305). 263 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 63 67 66 67, Gareth Maybin 67 67 68 61, Jamie Donaldson 66 66 65 66 (46,665 each). 264 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 68 63 67 66 265 Damien McGrane 65 70 67 63, Anders Hansen (Den) 66 64 68 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 64 67 70 64, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 66 66 65 68 266 Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 66 64 68 68 267 Mark Brown (Nzl) 62 69 65 71, Kenneth Ferrie 65 66 70 66, Bradley Dredge 67 70 68 62 268 Darren Clarke 72 64 64 68, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 68 67 69 64 269 Ben Leong (Mal) 68 68 66 67 270 Marcus Both (Aus) 67 70 68 65, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 67 64 70 69, Kunal Bhasin (Ind) 68 67 67 68 271 A Siddikur (Ban) 72 64 66 69, Wen-Tang Lin (Taipei) 68 68 68 67, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 69 66 68 68, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 68 68 71 64, Michael Hoey 68 65 69 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 67 67 70 67 272 Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 70 68 67 67, David Drysdale 67 71 68 66, David Howell 66 69 71 66, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 68 68 69 67 (14,741 each). 273 Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 69 69 69 66, Scott Barr (Aus) 68 67 68 70, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 66 68 70 274 Sung Lee (S Korea) 67 68 72 67, James Morrison 67 69 69 69, Jason Knutzon (US) 70 67 72 65, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67 69 68 70, Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 69 66 65 74, Paul Lawrie 68 70 68 68, Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 67 71 66 70, Mark Foster 70 67 69 68, Joong Kyung Mo (Kor) 66 70 69 69 (11,033 each). 275 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 68 70 68, Colin Montgomerie 69 68 69 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 68 71 68, Peter Lawrie 70 66 72 67, Young Nam (Kor) 65 71 66 73, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 72 66 68 69, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 66 69 68 72, Stephen Gallacher 68 70 68 69 (7,958 each). 276 Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 68 70 69 69 277 John Daly (US) 69 66 71 71 278 Tony Carolan (Aus) 70 65 67 76, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 68 69 68 73, Graeme Storm 69 68 72 69 279 Iain Steel (Mal) 69 66 76 68, Rhys Davies 65 71 72 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 69 70 71 280 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 69 68 72 71 283 David Gleeson (Aus) 70 67 73 73, Danny Chia (Mal) 70 68 71 74, Paul McGinley 69 68 73 73

Mallinger's birdie-birdie finish

leads at Pebble Beach

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
PEBBLE BEACH, California (AP) — John Mallinger, no longer fully exempt on the US PGA Tour after finishing 133rd on the money list this year, birdied the final two holes at Del Monte for a 2-under 70 to maintain a one-stroke lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach Invitational.
"Today was playing tough," Mallinger said. "I expected rain and then there was perfect weather. I struggled when the wind picked up."
Mallinger had an 11-under 205 total in the Callaway-sponsored event that features 76 male and female players. Russ Cochran, a two-time Champions Tour winner, was second after a 70 at Spyglass Hill.
"It's always good thing to be in the lead," said Mallinger, who will play in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament in two weeks in a bid to improve his 2011 conditional status. "Some of the pins were nasty, so I wasn't expecting much."
Mallinger, winless on the PGA Tour, has eight top-three finishes on the tour, including two thirds at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He also tied for 22nd in the U.S. Open in June at Pebble Beach.
Morgan Pressel (71), Champions Tour player Mark Wiebe (71) and D.A. Points (72) were tied for third at 7 under. Annika Sorenstam, competing for one of the few times since her 2008 retirement, was seven strokes back after a 71 at Pebble Beach, the site of the final round.
Juli Inskter, who in 1990 became the only woman to win the event, was even par after a 75 at Spyglass.
The top 40 and ties advanced to the final round.
The winner will get $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
205 John Mallinger 70 65 70.
206 Russ Cochran 71 65 70.
209 D A Points 71 66 72, Morgan Pressel 66 72 71, Mark Wiebe 72 66 71.
210 Jason Gore 69 69 72, Bryce Molder 66 72 72, Kevin Sutherland 72 73 65.
Selected total:
212 Annika Sorenstam 69 72 71.