Saturday, December 11, 2010

ROOKIE MICHAEL STILL LEADS ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Rookie Anthony Michael holds a one-shot lead going into Sunday's final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, but he has the defending champion hot on his heels.
With difficult pin positions at Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, preventing low scoring – only former Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price managed a bogey-free round – Michael’s one under par 71 was enough to preserve his position at the top of the leaderboard.

“I am feeling the pressure,” admitted Michael, “but I learned a lot from when I led into the final round of the Zimbabwe Open and finished fourth.
“Starting with two bogeys in the first three holes was not ideal, but I was able to get myself back, and that’s where the experience of Zimbabwe helped.”
The 25-year-old South African rookie sits ten under par with 18 holes remaining, one in front of compatriot Dawie Van Der Walt, who fired a two under 70, and Spaniard Martin – the man who captured the title 12 months ago.
Martin, who was the first amateur to win on The European Tour in 2007, shot a four under 68, which was only one shot outside Thomas Aiken’s best-of-the-day 67.
The highlight of the 24-year-old’s round came at the long 15th, where he hit a tremendous three wood approach over the water to eight feet and holed the putt for an eagle 3.
He also eagled the par-5 13th by chipping in, as well as carding two bogeys and two birdies.

“It’s a game,” said Martin. “Why wouldn’t I go for my shots, especially in the third round?
“I played like a dog. I wasn’t driving well at all, so I ended up taking a three-wood off the tee. It was a good 68 because it could quite easily have gone the other way as well.”
The pressure of leading a big event looked to have got to Michael when he dropped shots on two of his first three holes, but he steadied his round with four birdies and only one further bogey.
Big-hitting Van Der Walt finished with a birdie after clearing the water at the dangerous 18th in two to sign for a round which included five gains and three dropped shots.
Last year’s runner-up and former winner Charl Schwartzel shot a round of 69 to share fourth place with another South African, Alex Haindl, on seven under par.
“I’m swinging well, and today the putting stroke felt the best it did for the last three days,” said Schwartzel.

SCOTSWATCH. David Drysdale, after three steady rounds of 70, 70 and 72, is joint seventh on 212 - six shots off the pace. Scott Jamieson lost a bit of ground with a two-over-par 74 after earlier rounds of 71 and 68 but, on 213 with 18 holes to go, a sub-70 final round could get him into the top 10.
Alan McLean, the third Scot to survive the halfway cut, has been going backwards down the field after following a promising opening round of 70 with scores of 74 and 75 for three-over-par 219.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)
206 Anthony Michael (Rsa) 66 69 71

207 Dawie Van Der Walt (Rsa) 67 70 70, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 70 68

209 Alex Haindl (Rsa) 71 66 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 70 70 69

211 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 72 72 67

212 Robert Rock 67 70 75, David Drysdale 70 70 72, Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 72 69 71, Robert Dinwiddie 69 72 71, TC Charamba (Zim) 70 72 70

213 Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 71 68 74, Phillip Price 70 75 68, Scott Jamieson 71 68 74

214 Grant Muller (Rsa) 70 74 70, David Howell 72 68 74, Dale Whitnell 74 70 70, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 71 75

215 Tjaart Van Der Walt (Rsa) 70 70 75, Julien Quesne (Fra) 73 70 72, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 71 73 71, Marius Thorp (Nor) 67 71 77

216 Neil Cheetham 71 68 77, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 68 72 76, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 72 71, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 74 72 70, Kyron Sullivan 72 72 72, Sebastian Buhl (Ger) 67 74 75, Seve Benson 72 72 72

217 Martin Wiegele (Aut) 72 70 75, Lee Slattery 71 73 73, James Kingston (Rsa) 69 71 77, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 68 73 76, Julio Zapata (Arg) 70 71 76, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 73 72 72

218 Merrick Bremner (Rsa) 72 74 72, Damien McGrane 72 73 73, Matt Ford 76 68 74, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 68 78 72, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 74 72 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa) 71 72 75, Michael Hoey 74 72 72

219 Floris De Vries (Ned) 73 72 74, Christiaan Basson (Rsa) 75 70 74, Alan McLean 70 74 75, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 74 71 74

220 Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 69 70 81

221 Desvonde Botes (Rsa) 73 73 75, Jeremy Kavanagh 69 77 75, Divan Van Den Heever (Rsa) 71 73 77, Rikard Karlberg (Swe) 77 68 76, Bradford Vaughan (Rsa) 72 73 76, Kenneth Ferrie 74 72 75, Gregory Molteni (Ita) 71 75 75, Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra) 71 72 78, Anders Sjostrand (Swe) 70 74 77, Colin Nel (Rsa) 70 74 77

222 Mark Laskey 73 69 80, Doug McGuigan 74 72 76, Marcus Palm (Swe) 74 70 78, Alex Cejka (Ger) 75 69 78

223 Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 71 72 80, Mark Brown (Nzl) 69 74 80

224 Garry Houston 76 70 78, Grant Jackson 78 68 78

225 Justin Harding (Rsa) 74 71 80

227 Johan Du buisson (Rsa) 71 75 81, David Dixon 74 72 81

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A TOUCH OF FROST IN MAURITIUS

From Michael Gibbons
European Senior Tour Press Officer
David Frost’s magnificent second-round performance today at the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open saw the South African take control of the tournament and set up a potentially perfect ending to a sensational first season in the Senior ranks.
Frost began the day three strokes behind overnight leader Gary Wolstenholme but after a masterful display of shot-making around the testing Legends Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage that saw him produce a ten birdies and two bogeys in a sparkling eight under 64, he finished the second round two shots clear of Wolstenholme.
Having won on the Champions Tour in America and finished second in the US Senior PGA Championship, Frost is now poised to make his victory breakthrough on the European Senior Tour if he can hold off Wolstenholme and a chasing pack that includes the English duo of Roger Chapman and Barry Lane.
The South African is lying on ten under par 134, with Wolstenholme two shots back and Chapman four off the pace. Lane is joined by Argentina’s Adan Sowa on four under, with Frenchman Marc Farry and the South African duo of Bertus Smit and Steve Van Vuuren
“I played great today,” said Frost. “I hit the ball very well and hit it in pretty close for a few nice short birdie putts. It was one of those days when the main thing I had to focus on was the mental approach – staying out of my own way mentally and continuing to commit to my shots and my lines because I was striking the ball so well.
“It would be great to win tomorrow – it would be a very nice way to end what has already been a great season for me with winning in America and finishing second in a Major. It has been good to do so well in my first full year on the Senior Tour and I have definitely rediscovered my game and my desire to win after thinking that I was finished a few years ago.
“I have the hunger back and some big goals for next year – I would love to win a Senior Major, the British Open or US Open would be top of the list and then to try and win the Senior Tour money list as well.”
Wolstenholme will certainly make Frost earn his victory in Sunday’s Final round. The tenacious Englishman, himself a new boy in the Senior ranks, has made a fantastic start to his new career with a victory and two top three finishes in just eight events.
He hopes to add another title to his CV tomorrow but is fully aware that he will need to be at his very best to overcome an in-form Frost and the sweet-swinging Chapman.
“Tomorrow is a big day for me and I hope that I can continue to do what I have done for the past few days and indeed try to do throughout my career,” said Wolstenholme, who turned a four-shot deficit to two by birdieing his last two holes of round two.
“I need to hit my fairways and greens and try and make a fast start because I am up against two fantastic players in David and Roger.
“David is a class act and Roger is, in my opinion, the best swinger of a golf club out here. I am lucky to be able to play against these guys but I do have to get all of those thoughts out of my mind and focus on what I need to do.”
Chapman is in with an outside chance of victory. He will enter the final round four shots behind Frost but will take an aggressive approach onto the Legends Course having finished his second round with three birdies on the spin.
“I’ll need to be aggressive if I want to have a chance of catching Frosty,” smiled Chapman. “I’m just going to out there and go for it – I have nothing to lose and if I can putt the way I did for the last three holes today then I have a chance of going low because I am hitting the ball very nicely.”
SCOREBOARD
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72). Yardage: 6,584.
134 D Frost (RSA) 70 64
136 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 67 69

138 R Chapman (Eng) 71 67

140 B Lane (Eng) 73 67; A Sowa (Arg) 72 68

141 B Smit (RSA) 70 71; M Farry (Fra) 72 69; S Van Vuuren (RSA) 71 70;

142 J Harrison (Eng) 71 71; D Johnson (USA) 70 72; N Job (Eng) 69 73; G Banister (Aus) 71 71; C Rocca (Ita) 70 72

143 S Torrance (Sco) 68 75; S Bennett (Eng) 69 74; D O'Sullivan (Irl) 74 69; R Drummond (Sco) 73 70; B Longmuir (Sco) 69 74; J Quiros (Esp) 72 71

144 G Cali (Ita) 75 69; J Stuart (USA) 70 74; J Bruner (US) 71 73; G Brand (Eng) 73 71; D Merriman (Aus) 68 76

145 P Allan (Eng) 69 76; B Ruangkit (Tha) 73 72; G Ralph (Eng) 69 76; M Kierstenson (Eng) 74 71; F Illouz (Fra) 73 72; J Heggarty (Nir) 75 70;

146 G Ryall (Eng) 69 77; M Belsham (Eng) 73 73

147 M Cunning (USA) 77 70; M Bembridge (Eng) 74 73; S Cipa (Eng) 75 72; K Spurgeon (Eng) 76 71; J Chillas (Sco) 71 76

148 D Durnian (Eng) 74 74; P Dugeny (Fra) 73 75

149 J Sallat (Fra) 76 73; C Williams (RSA) 73 76; J Gould (Eng) 74 75; J Rivero (Esp) 74 75; B Lincoln (RSA) 71 78

150 M Williams (Zim) 73 77; M Gray (Sco) 75 75; M Briggs (Eng) 77 73; F Mann (Sco) 74 76

151 J Hall (Eng) 77 74; A Garrido (Esp) 75 76; G Watine (Fra) 80 71; P Harrison (Eng) 73 78; T Giedeon (Ger) 73 78; T Burgoyne (Sco) 75 76

152 G Davies (Wal) 74 78

153 J Stansberry (USA) 75 78; M Miller (Sco) 73 80; V Garcia (Esp) 79 74; B Hardwick (Can) 79 74

154 D Cambridge (Jam) 79 75; T Jones (US) 80 74

155 T Charnley (Eng) 76 79

157 P Dahlberg (Swe) 76 81; S Shields (Eng) 81 76

158 N Clarke (RSA) 82 76; R Stelten (US) 74 84; C Linstead (Eng) 80 78; B Stevens (Eng) 78 80

159 D Young (Eng) 80 79

161 I Espitalier Noel (Mus) 83 78
168 I Dougan (Sco) 85 83











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JOHNNIE WALKER CAMBODIAN OPEN REPORT, SCORES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Siem Reap, Cambodia: Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya remained bullish ahead of his final round charge, declaring that he is ready to win his maiden Asian Tour title after taking a share of the third round lead with Korea’s Kim Hyung-sung at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open on Saturday.
Kuboya produced another bogey-free round of three-under-par 69 while Kim posted a 67 to share the round’s honours on matching 15-under-par 201 total at the Phokeethra Country Club.
Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand returned with a 65 to take third place on 202 while compatriot Prayad Marksaeng together with defending champion Marcus Both of Australia and Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands are bunched in fourth place on 204.
Kuboya, who earned his Tour card by graduating from the Asian Tour Qualifying school in tied-18th place in January this year, has been at the top of his game since the opening round where he has held the lead.
Although the 38-year-old Japanese was not able to take the outright lead, he is optimistic of his chances on the final day at the penultimate US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event before the season finale Black Mountain Masters in Hua Hin next week.
“I’m ready,” said the Japanese. “69 is a good score for me. Even though it’s higher than my scores in the previous two rounds, I’m confident that I can do well tomorrow as I’m playing well,” said Kuboya who posted scores of 65 and 67 in his opening two rounds.
Kim kept up the pressure on the Japanese when he signed his card with five birdies on the fifth, sixth, 13th, 14th and 16th holes.
“I’ve no complaints about how I’ve played today. Everything worked out well and I want to challenge for the title tomorrow,” said the Korean.
Meanwhile Thongchai remained on course to win his 13th Asian Tour title after a flawless 65 which he quickly attributed to his good putting.
“I think the key for me all week is my putting. I played very steady all week. The course is not very difficult. If you have a good game plan, you can be aggressive and attack the pins as the greens are very soft,” said Thongchai.
The decorated Thai star made birdies on the second, sixth and seven holes in his opening front-nine to reach the halfway mark in 33. He continued his birdie blitz with another on the par-four 12th before storming home with consecutive birdies in his last three holes.
“It has been a good week and I’ve been playing very solid. I hope to repeat my win here again,” said Thongchai who won the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open in 2008.
Prayad, a six-time Asian Tour winner, showed his mettle when he posted the day’s lowest score of 64. The 44-year-old, who started his round in tied-23d place, began his charge by posting four birdies on the second, fourth, seventh and eighth holes.
He added more birdies on the par-four 10th and 17th hole but the highlight of his round would come from the par-three 16th where he recorded the tournament’s first hole-in-one from 149 yards with a pitching wedge.
“It’s always a special feeling when you get a hole-in-one in any tournament. Everything just went right for me today and I’ve no complaints. Let’s see how it goes on the final day tomorrow,” said Prayad.
India’s Anirban Lahiri, who is currently lying on the bubble in 61st place on the Order of Merit which is the cut-off mark for players to earn their full playing privileges for 2011, is relieved that his good play today has given him a lifeline towards securing his Tour card for next season and also a chance to win his first Asian Tour title.
“I’m really feeling more relieved rather than happy because it has been some time coming. I needed a good finish this week but with the position I’m in now, I’m looking at contending and getting into the mix on the back-nine tomorrow,” said the 23-year-old.
Starting the day in tied-23rd place, Lahiri birdied the second, fifth and sixth holes in his outward-nine to reach the turn in 33.
The Indian then commenced his homeward convincingly with three successive birdies starting from the par-four 10th. He added his seventh birdie of the day on the par-five 17th to complete his round in 65.
“I struggled the first two days as I couldn’t hole anything but when I went out there today, I just holed everything. It was fantastic to have a good putting day today. I’ve been looking for this kind of form for some time and it’s starting to come together,” said Lahiri.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Par 216 (3x72)
201 Kenichi Kuboya (JPN) 65-67-69, Kim Hyung-sung (SKOR) 69-65-67
202 Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 70-67-65
204 Marcus Both (AUS) 67-69-68, Guido Van Der Valk (NED) 69-67-68, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 71-69-64
205 Martin Rominger (SUI) 70-68-67, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 73-67-65
206 Adam Groom (AUS) 68-66-72
207 Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 69-68-70, Lucas Lee (BRA) 70-67-70
208 Rory Hie (INA) 69-67-72, Shaaban Hussin (MAS) 70-68-70
209 Atiwit Janewattananond (THA) 66-69-74, Iain Steel (MAS) 72-66-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-70-70, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 69-71-69, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 73-68-68
210 Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 68-67-75, Mo Joong-kyung (SKOR) 68-69-73, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-69-71, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-68-71, Mark Foster (ENG) 73-68-69, Zaw Moe (MYN) 73-69-68
SELECTED SCORES
213 Chris Rodgers (England) 76 67 70, Ross Bain (Scotland) 72 70 71 (jt 35th).
214 Nick Redfern (England) 72 71 71.
About the Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include J.Lindeberg (Official Apparel Partner), Ricoh (Official Office Solutions Provider), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Royal Selangor (Official Trophy Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Pan Pacific (Official Hotel), BlackBerry (Official Mobile) and Srixon (Official Ball). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.





Calvin Koh
Communications Manager



Asian Tour

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MIDLAND ALLIANCE COMPETITION POSTPONED

The competition at Charleton Golf Course, on Tuesday, December 21, has been postponed and will now take place on Tuesday, January, Tuesday 11 (tee reserved from 8.45am to noon).


Lee Sutherland
PGA Professional
Ballumbie Castle Golf Club
Old Quarry Road, Dundee DD4 0SY
Tel. (01382) 770028
Fax. (01382) 770251
email leesutherland@btconnect.com



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ELLIOT SALTMAN REFUTES CHEATING ALLEGATIONS

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER and NICK RODGER
Lothians golfer Elliot Saltman, fresh from securing a place on the European Tour, last night vowed to defend himself against allegations that he cheated during a tournament earlier this season.
Having earned a card, along with younger brother Lloyd, for the money-spinning main circuit at the Qualifying School final in north-east Spain yesterday, a dark cloud has been left hanging over Elliot's head following an incident during the second-tier Challenge Tour's Russian Challenge Cup back in September.
Elliot Saltman, 28, pictured, was disqualified from the event for incorrectly marking his ball after being reported by his two playing partners, Stuart Davis and Marcus Higley.
Since then, a frenzy of activity on the internet, and talk among players, both on the Challenge Tour and closer to home, has kept the controversy bubbling.
The Archerfield Links golfer is set to have an informal meeting with the tournament players' committee in the coming weeks where he will be allowed to explain his case before any further action, if any, is taken.
It is believed the European Tour were keen to have the matter resolved before the later stages of the qualifying, but this wasn't possible due to some of those involved in the process suffering family grievances. "I've seen the stuff on the internet and I'm disgusted to be honest," admitted Saltman, who played in last year's Open at Turnberry along with his brother.
"It affects not only me but my family. Not one player has come up to me and asked me my side of the story. I don't want to be labelled as a cheat. Nobody wants that reputation. The sooner this gets sorted out the better. I thought it was dead and buried but I am 100 per cent positive that we will get this resolved."

TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY ON THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

SALTMAN BROTHERS BOTH WIN EUROPEAN TOUR CARDS:

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE FULL REPORT AND SCORES FROM THE FINAL DAY OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL.

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AMERICAN GATES LEADS AUSSIE PGA BY ONE STROKE

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
By Luke Buttigieg at Coolum, Sportal
A roller-coaster third round of the Australian PGA Championship at Hyatt Regency Coolum has finished with American Bobby Gates atop the leaderboard for the third day in a row but he'll take just a one-shot lead into Sunday.
With the weather threatening to have a big say on Saturday on the Sunshine Coast it was only the wind that played any significant part but it didn't stop more hot scoring as Gates overcame an early stumble to card a one-under 71 and move to 12 under.
New South Welshman Aaron Townsend opened up a two-stroke lead on the midway through the back nine thanks to five birdies in his first 14 holes but he collapsed coming home with three bogeys in his final four holes to eventually shoot 70 and surrender his advantage.
Townsend now shares second place with two-time champion Peter Senior, who bounced back from an opening-hole bogey turned back the clock with a brilliant 68 that included a run of four birdies in six holes.
Equal fourth at minus 10 are Akio Sadakata from Japan following a superb 67, Andre Stolz (70) and Peter Fowler (70), who shared the lead only to leak three shots on the back nine before arresting the slump to remain in contention.
Steven Bowditch's roller-coaster tournament continued with his second 66 of the event, a day after he shot 76 tying him for seventh place on minus eight with dual Coolum winner Nick O'Hern (68), Gary Simpson (68) and John Senden (74) who endured a tough day after starting with double bogey.
South Korean Ji-ho Jung (71) and Liang Wenchong (75) of China are tied for 11th on seven under while two of the favourites, defending champion Robert Allenby (72) and last-start Australian Open winner Geoff Ogilvy (71), are six back along with Richard Green (70) and Matthew Griffin (72).
While Gates began his day with five successive pars to retain the lead his nearest challengers and playing partners Senden and Liang Wenchong both double-bogeyed the opening hole, leaving it to Townsend and then Fowler to take up the challenge.
And when Gates made his only bogey of the day at the 6th, in between Townsend grabbing his second and third birdies of the day at the 6th and 7th holes, Townsend found himself out in front.
But with his playing partner Fowler getting hot with four birdies in a row, rolling in a monster at the 7th, it wasn't long before the 51-year-old had joined Townsend at the top with Ji-ho Jung collecting five birdies in six holes to close within a shot.
While Gates began his recovery with his first birdie at the 9th, his second one on another steady day at 12 only kept him in touch as Townsend hit a brilliant long-iron approach shot to the par-five 12th but had to settle for a birdie after missing his eagle putt from inside two metres.
Fowler, having already bogeyed 10, could only manage par after failing to get up and down from short of the green and he fell a further shot back at the next when he tugged his approach well left.
The 1983 Australian Open champion continued his slide with another dropped shot at the difficult par-three 14th but Townsend produced another sparkling approach and calmly converted from two metres to extend his lead.
Townsend produced his first false shot of the back nine when he blocked his tee shot into the hazard and was forced to take a penalty drop before compounding the error by finding the fairway bunker with his third shot, resulting in a disappointing bogey.
Fowler pulled a shot back soon after at the same hole and at 16 Townsend missed a short putt after another fine approach that could have steadied him before a wayward second shot into the 17th green and subsequent chip well past the pin left him with a testing par putt that he slid by the hole.
Having dropped back into a share of the lead with Gates, Townsend then blocked his tee shot into the bunker and left his approach 15m short of the green before missing a three metre putt for par while New Zealand Open champion gates closed with his sixth-successive par.
Gates acknowledged that this has been the toughest day so far and he was happy to remain on top while Townsend is confident he can win even though he finished his day putting so poorly.
"I ground it out again today and never really got anything going but it's the nature of the beast out here with this course, you're going to hit some bad shots and saving par sometimes is pretty good," Gates said.
"The first five holes were pretty tough today and there weren't many times that we looked up and the wind was doing the same thing as it was 30 seconds ago."
"From our perspective that makes it pretty tough, we're trying to hit a certain shot and when you're committed to the shot and you get over it and you realise it's not even close to what you thought it was, it's tough but that's the fun of golf."
"A lot of good things came out of today so I'm still with every chance," said a disappointed Townsend who played poorly last week at the Japanese Tour Q-School when a back injury he's since had treated troubled him.
"I really enjoyed the way I've played the golf course over the last three days, I've been really confident with how I've picked my lines and hit my shots so I'm just going to keep doing that."
"I still feel like I'm putting well despite how I finished the last few holes ... (but) I've got heaps of confidence going into tomorrow."

TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE


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POULTER SHARING LEAD IN SHARK SHOOTOUT

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
NAPLES, FLORIDA (AP) — Two very different teams played to their strengths to achieve the same results in the first round of the Shark Shootout.
Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly, the defending champions, and Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter put up matching 9-under 63s in the modified alternate-shot format to take the lead at Tiburon Golf Club.

Stricker and Kelly have similar games, while Johnson hits massive drives and Poulter is more accurate off the tee. Johnson and Poulter also have an edge as far as rankings with both in the top 15 in the world, while Stricker and Kelly are good friends and know how to complement each other on the course.

"We're still a great team and sometimes teams can support each other, and it can help an individual along, even though you're playing your own ball," Kelly said. "It's still a team game."

The 63s tied the mark for low score in the format in the tournament's 10 years at Tiburon.

"I think it was a dream start, to be honest," Poulter said.

The overall format record is a 57 by Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd in 1990 at Sherwood Country Club in California. The 12 teams playing in the tournament hosted by Greg Norman will play better-ball Saturday, and a scramble on Sunday in the $3 million event.

Mark Calcavecchia and Jeff Overton, who grabbed the early lead with an eagle-birdie start, and Fred Funk and Kenny Perry were tied for third at 8 under. Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank were fifth at 6 under.

Members of those three teams in contention have good records in the event.

Calcavecchia, who is playing in his 17th Shootout, has won twice, and so has Perry. Leonard and Verplank lost in a playoff in 2006, and tied for second last year.

Norman and partner Matt Kuchar were last in the field after a 72.

Both of the first-round leaders stumbled down the stretch.

Sitting at 8 under through 11 holes, Johnson and Poulter bogeyed the par-3 12th, and despite the long-hitting Johnson the duo parred both the par-5 14th and 17th.

"Parring the two par-5s was brutal," Johnson said. "It was no fun. No. 14 was playing pretty tough, but No. 17 was playing fairly easy. We hit four pretty good shots and we made a 5."

Poulter rued the failure to build on a strong start.

"It's just a shame that we parred two of the par-5s," Poulter said. "I think we were really looking to take advantage of those, especially with Dustin's length, and how we got off to a decent start."

Stricker and Kelly were at 10 under through 15, then bogeyed the par-5 17th after Stricker knocked his second shot near the lip of a greenside bunker. Kelly was forced to play the ball directly to the left instead of straight at the pin, then barely got it out of the bunker. He missed a 10-footer for par. They missed the green at the last, but two-putted for par.

Johnson and Poulter both hit poor tee shots on the par-3 12th.

"I'm not taking the full blame on that one," Poulter joked, although he did admit he may have jinxed them when he said then they had got off to a good start.

Still, they're happy with where they're at and confident heading into the final two rounds.

"Our game, I think, is very good for this format," Poulter said. "Better-ball on Saturday gives us plenty of chances. I'm playing well. Dustin's hitting it long and straight, and that's dangerous.

"That's also going to be very dangerous come Sunday in that scramble format. You've just got to keep hitting good golf shots. We've certainly done that today in this format, which is the trickiest of the three."

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