Friday, December 17, 2010

    Samanah golf course, Marrakech - one of the five courses to be used for next year's Morocco Golf Festival. Yes, these mountains in the background are real - they're the Atlas Mountains                                                                                                    
PLAY IN MOROCCO FOR A WEEK

- AND BRAG ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR

FLY OUT OCTOBER 8. FLY HOME OCTOBER 15.

Five courses in and around Marrakech - "The Red City"

Three competitions:

Sunday better-ball pairs at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah course.

Monday-Tuesday-Thursday Three-round Aggregate at the Royal (Mon), Palmeraie (Tue) and Al Maaden (Thu).

Friday Teams of four Stableford at Amelkis.

Fly to Marrakech direct from the airport of your choice.
Interested?

E-mail Tournament Director Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com for details

BE ONE UP ON YOUR GOLF MATES, NONE OF WHOM WILL HAVE GOLFED IN AFRICA!


Labels: ,

McDOWELL, TSENG AND LANGER US PLAYERS OF YEAR

Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Germany's Bernhard Langer have been named "Players of the Year" by the Golf Writers Association of America.
McDowell, the first European to win the US Open in 40 years with his victory at Pebble Beach, won four times in 2010 and captured the decisive point for Europe in their Ryder Cup triumph over the United States.
He prevailed in a close race, receivig 43 per cent of the votes for male player of the year against 32 per cent for American Jim Furyk and 25 per cent for the US PGA champion, Martin Kaymer.
Tseng, who claimed the Kraft Nabisco and women's Open Majors, received 69 per cent of the vote for female player of the year. Next best was the American Cristie Kerr, named on 16 per cent of the ballots.
Langer, who won five times on the US Champions (Seniors) Tour, including back-to-back Majors in the Senior Open and US Senior Open, was a runaway choice for Champions Tour player of the year, with 94 per cent of the vote to six per cent for Fred Couples.

Labels:

CEJKA AND GOOSEN SHARE SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN LEAD ON 64

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
German Alex Cejka took advantage of a defenceless Durban Country Club today to card an eight-under-par 64 to share the first round lead of the 100th playing of the South African Open Championship.
“It’s quite a tricky course, but it’s not that long, especially when the wind’s not blowing,” he said. “So I played quite smart with a lot of three-irons off the tee, and a lot of three-woods – you’ve got to have the ball in play.”
He shared the lead with two-time winner Retief Goosen, and was just one stroke clear of Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel.
The first round was completed today after the course became waterlogged after incessant rain on Thursday when just two-and-a-half hours of play were possible.
The second round will be played on Saturday, after which the cut will be made to 50 and ties, instead of the original 65. Those who make the cut will have to play 36 holes on Sunday to complete the championship.
The difference between Cejka and the others was that Cejka made no mistakes at all as the wind stayed away and made the course play even shorter than its 6,157-metres (6,732yd).
Cejka made an adjustment to where he positions the ball in his stance, and it’s a change that has borne fruit: “I moved the ball a bit forward, and really ground it out on the range,” he said.
“Then I just decided this morning to commit to the change, and it worked out well,” he added.
Goosen made two bogeys in his 64, while Els and Schwartzel each dropped a single shot in their seven-under-par 67s.
“I missed quite a few putts on the front nine and was getting a little annoyed with myself,” said Els. “But I played a really solid back nine,” he said of his closing 31 which included a chip-in for eagle on 13 and three birdies.



Goosen, pictured, had two eagles in his round – on 18 after starting his round on the 10th and on the third. “I hit a perfect three-wood on to the front edge of 18,” he said, “and then holed a 25-footer. And on three, I hit a three-wood and a five-iron from 198 metres to about 10 feet in there.”
They were a further stroke clear of a group of six players on six-under-par 66.
In that group was 2008 SA Open champion Richard Sterne, who has been out of action with back problems for the better part of the year and a lot of the previous year.
He looked his old self but for a brief wobble on the 17th when he dropped a shot with a streaky approach and then a three-putt. But seven birdies made him look very impressive indeed.
The other players on six-under were Jaco Ahlers, Garth Mulroy and Tyrone van Aswegen all of South Africa, England’s David Dixon and Spain’s Carlos Del Moral.
Open champion Louis Oosthuizen headed up a group of 10 players on five-under-par 65, and his bogey-free round set him up nicely ahead of the weekend.
Oosthuizen had a poor Alfred Dunhill Championship last week, missing the cut, even though his game started coming around in the second round there – and he was concerned the break for rain would negatively affect him.
“When tournament directors and everyone is pushing you to get as many holes as possible,” he said, “you can play yourself out of the tournament right there.”
Instead, he’s just three shots off the pace, and up there with the big duo of Goosen and Els, the next generation represented by Schwartzel, and Cejka, who represents the efforts by players from outside South Africa trying to win the title.
SCOTSWATCH: Defending champion Richie Ramsay from Aberdeen had a one-under-par 71 but on a low-scoring day that earned him only a share of 60th place with European Tour rookie and compatriot Lloyd Saltman and Peter Whiteford.
David Drysdale from Dunbar took the Scottish honours with a 67 to be just outside the top 10. Raymond Russell had the misfortune to be disqualified for a scorecard errot.
Playing in his first full European Tour event in more than four years, the former Cannes Open champion shot a 71, only to be ruled out of the competition when it was discovered that he had signed for 4s at the 13th and 14th when, in fact, he had taken a 3 and a 5 at those holes.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
64 Alex Cejka, Retief Goosen.
65 Ernie Els, Charl Schwatzel.


SCOTS' SCORES
67 David Drysdale (jt 11th).
71 Lloyd Saltman, Richie Ramsay, Peter Whiteford (jt 60th).
72 George Murray (jt 89th).
74 Scott Jamieson (jt 117th).
75 Alan McLean (jt 132nd).
76 Elliot Saltman (jt 139th).
Disqualified: Raymond Russell 71.


TO READ ALL THE SCORES


CLICK HERE

Labels:

LET'S HEAR IT FOR LEADER LEE SUNG

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin, Thailand: South Korea ’s Lee Sung surged into a two-shot halfway lead at the US$600,000 Black Mountain Masters on Friday and expressed his delight of being able to hear the applause from the galleries for the first time in his life.
Three weeks after having an implant surgically put into his right ear to help him hear after being born deaf, the 30-year-old lighted up the Asian Tour’s season finale with a stunning eight-under-par 64 at the magnificent Black Mountain Golf Club.
Thai youngster Namchoak Tantipokakul, fighting for his Tour card, lipped out for eagle on his last to also sign for a 64 to trail the South Korean leader, who heads the elite field on 14-under-par 130.
Another Thai newcomer Piya Swangarunporn shot a 65 to lie four back in third place, followed by countryman Kiradech Aphibarnrat who returned a 66 on an unseasonal cool day in the coastal resort town.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Thongchai Jaidee, bidding for a second straight victory after winning in Cambodia, failed to ignite a charge, shooting a 69 to lie tied ninth and seven shots back.
Lee said he feels like a new man after his hearing implant. “I feel happy after the operation. I can hear the ball’s impact, which helps a lot when I’m chipping. I can also hear the applause from the crowds which is good,” said the Korean, whose lone Asian Tour victory was three years ago in Thailand .
“The operation has changed my life. I’m enjoying my golf. I’ll try to shoot another 64 tomorrow,” added Lee, who holed three lengthy putts on his outward nine.
Fighting to break into the top-61 of the rankings to earn his card for 2011, the 23-year-old Namchoak brilliantly battled into contention with a nine birdie round which he nearly ended on a high note but his eagle putt lipped out at the last.
He has lost five kilograms since August and said carrying less weight has helped. “The key this week is that I’m ready to play. To play in so many events, you need to be fit. This course is not an easy walk and it’s tiring but I feel confident,” said Namchoak, who tipped the scales previously at 103 kilograms.
“I’ve been confident with the driver all week. When you drive well here, you have an easier shot into the green. I’m using a new putter as well which is two inches shorter and it feels good on these greens. I’m not thinking about the top-61 position. I want to try and win.”
The strength of Thai golf was again on full display with 27-year-old Piya slipping into contention with a seven-birdie round. “I have to admit I’m surprised to see my name on the leaderboard. This is the first time and I’m feeling excited.”
Play was delayed by 30 minutes this morning following blustery winds and rain which joint overnight leader Daisuke Maruyama of Japan was amongst the early starters to bear the brunt of it. Indonesia ’s Rory Hie was the lone player who did not finish round two and will return early Saturday to complete his last hole.
Maruyama dropped an early bogey before recovering with a 71 to lie six back in tied fourth place with American Matthew Rosenfeld, countryman Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Hua Hin native Prayad Marksaeng, who braved the pain in his wrists to stay in contention.
“Conditions were tough, so this is a good score. When we started the round in the morning, there were big winds and it was hard,” said Maruyama, who finished 15th on the Japan Tour moneylist this year and a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Prayad, runner-up in Black Mountain last season, needed intense physiotherapy to tee up in the tournament and was delighted to keep his throng of fans happy with his 66.
“There is a bit of pain, especially in the morning but I just try to keep the wrist loose by doing exercises. I have a lot of fans following me so I want to keep playing well,” said the six-time Asian Tour winner.
He enjoyed a dash of luck when his approach into the par five 13th landed in the water hazard but skipped onto dry land before chipping in from 50 yards for an unlikely eagle. “I got lucky. I also holed long putts from 45 feet and 30 feet at the 16th and third holes which was very nice.”
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 Lee Sung (SKOR) 66-64
132 Namchoak Tantipokakul (THA) 68-64
134 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 69-65
135 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 69-66
136 Daisuke Maruyama (JPN) 65-71, Matthew Rosenfeld (US) 67-69, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 70-66, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 65-71
137 Simon Griffiths (ENG) 66-71, Angelo Que (PHI) 65-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-69
138 Chapchai Nirat (THA) 66-72, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-68, Scott Hend (AUS) 70-68, Marcus Both (AUS) 70-68
139 Anthony Kang (US) 66-73, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 67-72, Siddikur (BAN) 69-70, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-68, Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 67-72, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 68-71, Mo Joong-kyung (SKOR) 69-70.
SELECTED SCORES
140 Ross Bain (Scotland) 69 71.
141 Chris Rodgers (England) 71 70
143 Simon Dunn (Scotland) 73 70.
MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified).
148 Nick Redfern (England) 75 73.
 Visit www.asiantour.com for live scoring.

Labels:

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google