EUROPE'S RYDER CUP SQUAD WIN BBC TEAM OF YEAR AWARD

... and skipper Monty is named

Coach of the Year

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE
Europe's Ryder Cup team have been named the Sports Personality Team of the Year after their success at Celtic Manor.
And their captain, Colin Montgomerie, was named Sports Personality Coach of the Year.
The European 12, captained by Colin Montgomerie, regained the historic title by beating the United States 14½-13½.
Team USA led 6-4 after the first two sessions during a rain-affected event before Europe fought back to gain a 9½-6½ advantage going into the singles.
Europe won when Graeme McDowell clinched victory on the 17th against Hunter Mahan in the last singles tie.
The European team also included Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Peter Hanson, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Montgomerie was backed up by five vice-captains - Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley and Sergio Garcia.
"It's an honour for me to be here on behalf of this team of 12 great great men," said Montgomerie when picking up the award.
"We're very fortunate when you see the list of contenders [for this award]. We thank you for your support and your votes.
"I had a great group of assistants and our own unsung heroes, our caddies.
"There were three times as many people there on that Monday as are here tonight, I don't think a lot of work was done in the south of Wales on that famous Monday, we want to thank every supporter who turned out and supported us."
The match, which had to be concluded a day later than scheduled due to heavy rain at the Welsh course, went down to the wire.
The score was tied at 13½-13½ with only Ulsterman McDowell and Mahan of the US left on the course.
McDowell, who won the US Open in June, knew he had to win the match to stop the US from retaining the Ryder Cup.
And he held his nerve, sinking a 15ft birdie putt on the 16th to go two holes up with two to play and Mahan capitulated on the 17th, fluffing a chip to the green and eventually conceding the hole and match.
An emotionally drained Montgomerie said at the time: "This means the world to everyone involved in the European Tour.
"I didn't hit a shot, yet it is a proud, proud moment for me personally. It's an amazing feeling to have won.
"I'd also like to pay tribute to my vice-captains, because we wouldn't have won the Ryder Cup without them."
Though not strictly a coach, Montgomerie is credited with getting the best out of his team against the powerful American outfit in Wales.
Europe trailed 6-4 after the first two sessions but Montgomerie's men hit back to lead 9½-6½ ahead of the singles.
"It is an honour again to be here again and receive this award on behalf of 12 fantastic players and coaches, who got us prepared just that bit better than the opposition," said Montgomerie.
"It was a fantastic year for European golf, we've never been in ruder health, I'm privileged to be here to receive this on behalf of the European Tour."
+Irish National Hunt jockey A P (Tony) McCoy topped the poll to be the BBC Sports Personality of the Year - the first jockey to win the award since the event started in 1954.

LANARKSHIRE GOLF ASSOCIATION DINNER

Lanarkshire Golf Association will host their Annual County Dinner at Colville Park Social Club on Friday, February 18th (Unfortunately it clashes with the Scottish Golf Union Dinner)
Tickets are available to all clubs and individual members and will cost £20. There will be a four course dinner and two after-dinner speakers and the prize-giving to all the major winners in Lanarkshire in 2010.
The League winners were as follows:
1st Division Hamilton GC
2nd Division Crow Wood GC
3rd Division Shotts GC
4th Division Mount Ellen GC
5th Division Easter Moffat GC
Other notable winners were:
Boys Spring Meeting Martin Scott Hamilton
Boys Stroke Play Champion Martin Scott Hamilton
Boys Match Play Champion James Steven Kirkhill
Scottish Area Silver Medal James Steven Kirkhill Martin Scott Hamilton Eamon Bradley Mount Ellen Craig Ross Kirkhill
County Stroke Play Champion Stewart Henderson Hamilton
County Match Play Champion Ed Wood Crow Wood
Youth Stroke Play Champion Mark O’Donnell Hamilton
James Brown Memorial Trophy Crow Wood
County Order of Merit Award Robert Jenkins Crow Wood
Boys County Order of Merit Award Martin Scott Hamilton
The dinner will be chaired by Lanarkshire President W S O Sharpe of Hamilton Golf Club.
All ticket enquiries to Tom Logan secretary on 01236 428799
Willie Sharpe
 President LGA

ERNIE ELS WINS SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN FOR FIFTH TIME

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ernie Els held off the challenge of Retief Goosen to capture the South African Open Championship for the fifth time in his career on a fascinating final day in Durban.
In the 100th staging of the event, it was fitting that Els, who shot a final round six under par 66, edged out fellow former champion Goosen by a shot, as arguably the two greatest South African golfers of the modern era went toe-to-toe.
Two rounds were played at the Durban Country Club after rain earlier in the week had washed out almost the entire first day, while further showers in the early hours of this morning delayed play and also made the par-3 fourth green unplayable.
It meant that instead of 36 holes, only 34 were played, with all players given a nominal par at the fourth in both rounds to avoid confusion.
And three-time Major winner Els, who fired a 67 earlier in the day, followed it up with another excellent display as he carded five birdies, an eagle and a bogey to end on 25 under overall.
He by no means cruised to victory, though, as Goosen rallied late on with four birdies in his last five holes.
But the charge proved too late for the championship winner from 1995 and 2005, and despite emulating Els' 66, he fell just short on 24 under overall.
Another Major winner, Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, ended four stokes further back after a 66 in the final round, while rising youngster Charl Schwartzel (67) finished on 18 under to make it a top four for South Africa.
Robert Rock was the highest placed European thanks to successive 64s that saw him end on 16 under to complete the top five at the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event.
Els, who picked up a prize of €158,500 after securing his third title of the year, said: "It was a wonderful choice to come here. This really makes the year very good now.
"Playing under a lot of pressure, with really good players in the field on a great golf course. It was a great championship."
The title added to his previous ones in 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2006 and was made even more special considering it came at the centenary of the tournament.
Els, 41, described playing two rounds in a day during such a big competition as an "incredible feeling".
He continued: "I've been playing the game for quite some time, 20 years now as a professional player and I've never had a day like that.
"I had a two-shot lead at the start of the day and then after five holes I was three behind and then I was one up again after 18 holes. So it was just an incredible day."
He also felt that securing an eagle from 15 feet on the par five 14th hole was crucial in helping him edge out Goosen - a man whose two titles were won with Els as his main final round rival.
He added: "Obviously 14 was a big putt, making eagle there. I knew Retief was going to come, but I never thought he was going to do it at 16 and then he had a great finish.
"I think right from the start (it's going to be a head-to-head). I knew Retief was going to be the guy I had to beat.
"Obviously Louis and Charl were there, but Retief was the main one.
"He's beaten me coming down the stretch quite a few times, so I really wanted to play well. It was really important. He made it really tough for me.”
French rookie Romain Wattel (68) ended on 16 under overall, along with Rock, while fellow Frenchman Victor Riu (69) and Alexander Cejka (68) were a further shot back.
The top 10 were completed by Robert Dinwiddie (68) from England, Dane Thorbjorn Olesen (69) and South African Tim Clark (69) - all tied on 14 under.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
263 Ernie Els (S Africa) 65 65 67 66.
264 Retief Goosen (S Africa) 64 68 66 66.
267 Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) 67 67 67 66.
270 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 65 69 69 67.
272 Robert Rock (England) 69 69 67 67, Romain Wattel (France) 67 66 71 68.
273 Victor Riu (France) 68 68 68 69, Alex Cejka (Germany) 64 72 69 68.
SCOTS' SCORES
278 David Drysdale 67 71 70 70 (jt 23rd).
286 George Murray 72 69 71 74 jt 53rd).

TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

HIRATSUKA WINS BLACK MOUNTAIN MASTERS PLAY-OFF

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin, Thailand : Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka claimed a third title of the season when he won the US$600,000 Black Mountain Masters after a play-off against Thai youngster Namchoak Tantipokakul today.
Hiratsuka triumphed in the Asian Tour’s season-finale at the Black Mountain Golf Club with a par at the first play-off hole on the par five 18th to pip Namchoak, who agonizingly bogeyed in extra time.
The Japanese veteran, who also triumphed in the Air Bagan Myanmar O pen and Queen’s Cup in Thailand earlier this season, signed off with a one-under-par 71 and was caught by a fast-charging Namchoak, who closed with a 65 for a 14-under-par 274 total in a thrilling end to the season.
“It’s amazing, very unbelievable to win (for a third time). I was a bit nervous but other players were not shooting low scores. After I missed a putt (to win in regulation), I knew I still had a chance in the play-off. It was not a problem for me,” said the 39-year-old Hiratsuka , whose cheque of US$95,100 saw him end the season in fifth place on the final Order of Merit.
“I was trying for pars and if I had a chance, I would go for a birdie. But there were no easy putts out there, even when the putts were short. I tried hard every day. I love the Asian Tour and now I want to concentrate on improving my world ranking and break into the top-50,” added Hiratsuka , who was ranked 82nd entering the Black Mountain Masters.
Namchoak didn’t quite live up to his nickname of “Lucky” despite a stunning final round which included seven birdies against no bogeys. But the 23-year-old found consolation that his cheque of US$65,100 helped him earn his Asian Tour card for next season.
“It was disappointing not to win. I was feeling slightly nervous and couldn’t control my shots as much as I wanted to because of the strong wind. Tetsuji is a very strong player but overall, I had a great week,” said the Thai, who finished 35th on the merit list.
“Securing my Asian Tour card for next season is a great Christmas and New Year present for me.”
Overnight leader Piya Swangarunporn was dealt a double blow when he missed out on the play-off by one shot after closing with a 73 and then realized he also missed his Tour card by a mere US$205.
“I was feeling very nervous on the first five holes. It isn’t really disappointing for me because I played very well for the week,” said Piya, who ended up in 62nd position on the rankings, one rung outside the required mark to earn his 2011 card.
“This is my best finish on the Asian Tour and it will give me more confidence in my career to do better. I gained a lot of experience playing in the last flight. Maybe next time, I won’t be so nervous.”
It was also heartbreak for Lee Sung of Korea who bogeyed his last hole to finish one shot shy of the play-off duo in his round of 70 while Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, who was in the thick of battle, fell off the pace with a double bogey, bogey, bogey run from the 11th hole to eventually finish seventh, two shots back.
Australia’s Scott Hend, who carded a 65, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand , who closed with a 66, also shared third place on 275 in what was truly an exciting finale to the 2010 Asian Tour season.
Qualifying School graduate Ben Fox of the United States , who missed the cut in Black Mountain , finished 61st on the merit list to be the last player to earn his card for next year.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
274 Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 65-71-67-71, Namchoak Tantipokakul (THA) 68-64-77-65 (Hiratsuka won sudden-death play-off at first hole).
275 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 69-65-68-73, Lee Sung (KOR) 66-64-75-70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 69-66-74-66, Scott Hend (AUS) 70-68-72-65
276 Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-69-68-71
277 Marcus Both (AUS) 70-68-69-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 67-72-70-68, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 70-66-74-67, Alexander Noren (SWE) 72-69-69-67
278 Zaw Moe (MYN) 69-72-67-70, Rory Hie (INA) 70-71-69-68
279 Daisuke Maruyama (JPN) 65-71-73-70, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 66-72-71-70, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-68-71-70, Anthony Kang (USA) 66-73-70-70, Matthew Rosenfeld (USA) 67-69-74-69.
SELECTED SCORES
282 Simon Griffiths (England) 66 71 71 74 (jt 25th).
284 Chris Rodgers (England) 71 70 73 70 (jt 30th).
285 Simon Dunn (Scotland) 73 70 73 69 (jt 34th).
286 Ross Bain (Scotland) 69 71 72 74 (jt 40th).


MORE SELECTED SCORES TO COME
 For further information, please visit http://www.asiantour.com/