PAUL O'HARA STARTS WITH A 73 IN TURKEY

Motherwell's Paul O'Hara made a so-so start to the 2011 EPD Tour with a one-over-par 73 in the Tat Classic over the Tat International course in Turkey.
O'Hara birdied the long second, the seventh,  the long 10th and the long 18th in halves of 37 (one over par) and 36 (level). He bogeyed the first, third, short eighth, 12th and 14th.
The Scot was lying joint 26th at the end of the first day.
Germans dominated the leaderboard with Christop Gunther opening up a two-stroke lead with a six-under-par 66.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (36-36)
1 GÜNTHER, Christoph 66 
T2 MAURITS, Sven 68 
T2 GLAUERT, Maximilian 68 

T2 NOVY, Marek 68 

T2 SULZER, Nicolas 68 

T2 KNAPPE, Alexander 68 

T7 FROREICH, Daniel Alexander 69

T7 WELCH, Ben 69

T7 MOGENSEN, Daniel Slott 69 

T10 DE VRIES, Wouter 70 

T10 BACHER, Hans Peter Junior 70 

T10 JOHANSEN, Lars Jan 70

T10 WOLTERS, Stephan 70 

T10 LIPSANEN, Henri 70

T10 HARRIS, Rob 70

T10 EERDMANS, Johan 70 

T10 WEINHANDL, Uli 70

T10 BUHL, Sebastian 70

T19 PERRIER, Damien 71 

T19 ZEDNICEK, Jan 71 

T21 SZAPPANOS, Alexis 72

T21 RHAZALI, Reda Ahmed 72

T21 LUDWIG, Benjamin 72 

T21 WÜNSCHE, Daniel 72
T21 ASTL, Leo 72 F (1) 
T26 KÜPPER, Dennis 73 F (10) +1
T26 WUTTKE, Benjamin 73 F (10) +1
T26 O'HARA, Paul 73 F (1) +1
T26 SCHMID, Jan 73 F (10) +1
T26 HEINZINGER, David 73 F (1) +1
T26 KAYA, Cahit 73 F (1) +1
T26 PFAU, Christoph 73 F (10) +1
T26 WATREMEZ, Guillaume 73
T26 HAREMZA, Marcel 73 
T26 JOHN, Allen 73 
T36 WEISS, Tino 74
T36 LAIER, Maximilian 74 
T36 GODSON, Christopher 74
T36 DAVIES, Gareth 74 
T36 BELCH, Danny 74 
T36 PARKER, Ben 74 F (1) +2
T36 TSCHINKEL, Maximilian 74 F (10) +2
T36 GRESSE, Gerald 74 F (10) +2
T36 CORFIELD, Lee 74 F (10) +2
T36 RIEDER, Wolfgang 74 F (10) +2
T36 GRUBER, Rene 74 F (10) +2
T47 BECKER, Fabian 75 F (10) +3
T47 KUCERA, Jakub 75 F (1) +3
T47 DE HAAS, Floris 75 F (1) +3
T47 BRENNER, Malte 75 F (1) +3
T47 EL HALI, Kadri 75 F (1) +3
T47 SCHMIDT, Sascha 75 F (10) +3
T47 STROMSKY, Björn 75 F (10) +3
T47 SCHILPEROORD, Ramon 75 F (10) +3
T47 EIBL, Felix 75 F (1) +3
T47 ENGEL, Christian 75 F (10) +3
T57 JAHN, Florian 76 F (1) +4
T57 HEINRICH, Constantin 76 F (10) +4
T57 DEARDEN, Matthew 76 F (10) +4
T57 GRANT, Stephen 76 F (10) +4
T57 O'NEIL, Liam 76 F (1) +4
T57 GROSS, Stephan 76
T63 SEEGMULLER, Gael 77 F (10) +5
T63 BORHY, Oskar 77 F (1) +5
T63 SCHWARTZER, Tobias 77 F (1) +5
T63 SIGL, Benjamin 77 F (1) +5
T63 BROWN, Ian 77 F (1) +5
T63 WERNER, Allan 77 F (1) +5
T63 RITTHAMMER, Bernd 77 F (10) +5
T63 BIERENBROODSPOT, Tristan 77 F (1) +5
T63 LI PUMA, Franco 77 F (10) +5
T63 MOGER, Lawrence 77 F (1) +5
T73 KASKE, Janne 78 F (10) +6

T73 SCHMALTZ, Clinton 78 F (1) +6

T73 SABI, Abdelhak 78 F (10) +6

T73 EL HASSANI, Younes 78 F (1) +6

T77 MACHLEID, Timo 79 F (1) +7

T77 DRONGSTRUP, Jesper 79 F (1) +7

T77 REITER, Bernhard 79 F (10) +7

T77 DE BUSSER, Danny 79 F (1) +7

T81 COLUMBIA, Adam 80 

T81 THORPE, Andy 80 

T81 BAUNSOE, Christian 80 

T81 JONES, Lewis 80

T85 BAUMANN, Gregori 82

T85 HOOPER, Mark 82 

87 LÜDEMANN, Christian 86

T88 NEUENDORF, Jan-Philip 91 

T88 PICKEL, Marcel 91

RTD ÖSTBERG, Marcus 87

KEVIN THOMSON WINS NORTH SCOTTISH ALLIANCE AT MORAY NEW

By ALAN COWIE
North Scottish Golfers Alliance secretary
Kevin Thomson of the home club won Saturday's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance rescheduled fixture on Moray's New Course by two strokes, carding a level par 69. Halves of 36 and 33, starting with three straight bogeys, adding one more were countered by birdies at the 9th, 12th, 14thand 18th.
Rothes Golf Club players dominated the handicap section with Paul Masson winning section one and Barry Mellis section two both earning a one shot handicap reduction in the process.
After a week of disqualification stories elsewhere, there was nothing more mundane than four unsigned cards!
Leading Scratch scores:
Par 69
69 K Thomson (Moray).
71 A Thomson (Moray) p, K Stables (Elgin) p, P Masson (Rothes), G H Hay (Grantown).
72 J Wright (Forres), M L Macleman (Moray).
73 B Mellis (Rothes), J S D Campbell (Grantown).
74 S H C Milne (Elgin), G Mackenzie (Hopeman), J A Grant (Grantown), R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p, A Cameron (Inverness), K Williamson (Torvean);
75 L MacBean (Boat of Garten), N McWilliam (Elgin), R McKerron (Forres), J A G Innes (Elgin).
76 G J Abel (Elgin), J R Ingram (Elgin), R Proctor (Forres).
77 J Simpson (Forres), R Mackay (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), A Hutchison (Torvean), R R Adams (Moray), D Hector (Elgin).
78 J Milne (Elgin), B Cruickshank (Garmouth and Kingston), D R Mackellar (Grantown), W B Johnston (Moray), D Johnston (Moray), W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), S Johnston (Elgin), W R Duncan (Moray).
79 J C Milne (Moray), W Hutchison (Inverness), I Hamilton (Elgin),
HANDICAP
Class 1 (seven and under)
65 P Masson (Rothes) (6).
69 K Williamson (Torvean) (5), G Mackenzie (Hopeman) (5), G J Abel (Elgin)(7).
70 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) (6).
Class 2 (nine to 14)
63 B Mellis (Rothes) (10).
66 L Macbean (Boat of Garten)(9);
69 A Hutchison (Torvean) (8), W B Johnston (Moray) (9).
70 B Coupar (Boat of Garten) (12).

NORTH-EAST'S GORDON IS NEW SCOTTISH GOLF UNION PRESIDENT

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

By ROSS DUNCAN

Hazlehead Golf Club’s Gordon Murray was appointed the new SGU President for 2011 at the organisation’s AGM today at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan.

Murray becomes the North-east’s first representative to hold the honour since Dennis Miller was in post between 1987-88 and takes over the mantle from Bathgate’s Bert Leslie.

The 75-year-old Murray, pictured, has been the area’s representative on the SGU council since 1995 and has been an active volunteer in local, area and national golf for nearly 40 years.

His appointment comes during a highly successful period for North-east amateur golf. Murray’s club-mate David Law became the first golfer to lift both the Scottish men’s and boys' match play titles in the same season two years ago, while the North-east District side won their first Scottish area team championship for 20 years last May. 

Further success came when Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay reached the final of the 2010 Scottish amateur championship at Gullane, while another North-east man, Banchory’s James Byrne, will be crowned Amateur Golfer of the Year at next month’s XOS Scottish Golf Awards after finishing last season 15th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
“I am very proud to receive the honour of becoming the Scottish Golf Union’s 49th President, following in the footsteps of many men who have contributed so much to the development of amateur golf in Scotland,” said Murray.
“The role of the SGU has changed significantly during the time I have been involved and during these challenging times we are doing as much as we can to support our clubs in many different areas as well as grow the game through the recruitment of more young players.” added the new President, who has played a key role in junior golf in the North-east over the years.
“On the course, it will be an exciting year ahead for Scottish Golf with the Walker Cup matches at Royal Aberdeen in September. That’s something I’m really looking forward to and hopefully we’ll see a few Scots – and North-east players – in the Great Britain and Ireland team.” concluded Murray, an R and A qualified referee for the last 14 years.
Murray’s vice-president will be Maurice Shields, from Windyhill in Dumbartonshire, with Ian Harvey, representing Kilmarnock (Barassie) in Ayrshire, becoming the new Junior Vice-President.
SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey said: “We welcome Gordon’s appointment as our new President in recognition of his volunteering work at both national and area level. He has been a key member of our championship committee for a number of years and has become a very well known figure on the national events scene who will be a worthy ambassador for the SGU in 2011.”

SCOTS DISABLE GOLFERS TEEING UP FOR 2011

NEWS RELEASE
After a strong finish to the 2010 golf season, members of the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership are practising hard for the upcoming golfing year. They will tee-off their new season with games at
The Duke's near St Andrews, Swanston in Edinburgh and a training day at the Wellsgreen Golf Academy, near Kirkcaldy.
The top eight disabled golfers from the 2010 Scottish Order of Merit title race qualified for the Scotland Team, and will compete in the first four-team Ryder Cup event for disabled golfers, which will be played at the Westerwood Resort, Cumbernauld this July.
Steve Bramwell, secretary of the SDGP and captain of the Scotland Team for the World Ryder Cup, said: "2010 was our busiest year of operation since we created the group six years ago. We now have more golf competitions, training sessions with the PGA and fun games, than any other disabled group.
The highlight of the year will be the World Team Cup in July, but we have lots of golfers representing the SDGP, travelling around the UK and to several world and European events this year".
Each team has 12 players, but the eight Scottish Order of Merit automatic qualifiers for the World Cup were:
1st Derek Milne of Upper Largo Fife, 241pts
2nd Jim Gales of Springfield Fife 227pts
3rd Fraser Paterson of Edinburgh, 219pts
4th Steve Bramwell of Johnstone, 216pts
5th Steve Cunningham of Newton, West Lothian 213pts
6th Bob Drysdale of Tayport, Fife 204pts
7th Robert Craig of Dunfermline, Fife 181pts
8th Willy McEwan of Glenrothes, Fife 177pts

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership is governed and operated by disabled people and is the only group in Scotland which actively encourages and involves anyone of any age, with a disability, serious health problem or mobility issue and their coaches, who wish to play golf and includes amputees, the blind, deaf, those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome, stroke and heart attack victims, wheelchair users and anyone with other similar issues, who wish to learn or play the sport.
Further information about all the SDGP's events, can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk or by calling 01334 650 963.

KAYMER WINS BY EIGHT - AND NOW HE'S WORLD NUMBER TWO

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Martin Kaymer displaced Tiger Woods as the World No 2 today after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for the third time in four years by a thumping eight-shot margin from runner-up Rory McIlroy.
With Woods overhauled, top man Lee Westwood needs to be on his guard with Kaymer seemingly on the march towards the World Number One spot.
The German needed only a top-seven finish to depose Woods, but won at a canter from a field which included the other three current Major champions, and also Westwood, who ended up 64th, out-scored by a massive 26 strokes.

The last time a pair of Europeans filled the top two positions in the Official World Golf Ranking was Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer 18 years ago - and Woods will start his season at Torrey Pines in California this week down in third spot for the first time since October 2004.

Amazingly, Kaymer achieved the feat having played a tournament since clinching The Race to Dubai crown in November – his victory in the desert providing the perfect start to his defence of that title, of course.

The 26 year old, five clear of McIlroy with a round to go, closed with a 66 for a tournament-record 24 under par total of 268.

"He's killing us," said Retief Goosen after a best-of-the-week 64 brought him into a tie for third with Graeme McDowell ten behind. "I never saw anything above 20 under round here."

Kaymer did not have a single bogey in his final 60 holes - and he has had only two in his last 97 holes on what he now jokingly calls "my home course".

He has finished first, second, first and first since missing the halfway cut on his maiden visit in 2007 - and is a cumulative 80 under par.
This was Kaymer's 100th European Tour event and his ninth success. McIlroy, albeit five years younger, has had one in 82 starts.
The young Ulsterman, also emerging this week from a long winter break during which he suffered swine flu, will be delighted by three eagles and 18 birdies.
But he had eight bogeys compared to Kaymer's one, which came when he shanked out of a bunker into water on the 12th hole of his opening round.
Padraig Harrington, lying second when he was disqualified over a ball-marking incident on Thursday, was reduced to a commentating role as a result.
He was as impressed as anyone by Kaymer.
"Martin's probably the most formidable player in the world when he is leading," said the Irishman.
"He seems to intimidate the rest of the field into believing that if he gets in front he is going to win."
Any hopes McIlroy had of applying some pressure effectively ended when he bogeyed the third and fifth.
Kaymer had already added two birdies by then and more to come on the tenth, 13th, 16th and 18th, each of them just icing on the cake as he won the trophy to keep for his hat-trick.
"It's just the perfect course for me," he said. "It was more difficult, but I hit a lot of fairways and my putting was amazing.
"It was just one of those weeks when everything goes my way.
"I never expected my career to go this fast. There was not a lot to improve this week, but there's always something and I'll be working on my game before Qatar in two weeks."
Kaymer still considers Woods the best player in the world and said of being ahead of him in the rankings: "Hopefully I can stay there for a while."
Europe also has three of the top four with US Open Champion McDowell now ahead of Phil Mickelson rather than just level with him. Masters Tournament winner Mickelson managed 37th place in what was his first event since mid-November.
McIlroy, meanwhile, moves up from 12th to seventh.

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY (in Euros)
Par 288 (4x72)
1 KAYMER Martin GER 67 65 66 66 264 (334,398)
2 MCILROY Rory NIR 71 67 65 69 272 (222,932).
3 GOOSEN Retief S Africa 70 71 69 64 274  (112,960).
3 MCDOWELL Graeme NIR 66 70 71 67 274 (112,960)
5 LYNN David ENG 69 68 67 72 276 (77,6475).
5 MAYBIN Gareth NIR 71 67 69 69 276 (77,647).
7 CABRERA-BELLO Rafael Spain 71 73 67 66 277 (60,1928).
8 GONZALEZ Ricardo ARG 72 68 71 67 278 (45,0778).
8 MOLINARI Francesco ITA 71 72 69 66 278 (45,0778).
8 SCHWARTZEL Charl S Africa 64 71 71 72 278 (45,077).
11 COLSAERTS Nicolas BEL 72 67 69 71 279 (31,328).
11 DONALDSON Jamie WAL 74 69 70 66 279 (31,328).
11 ECHENIQUE Rafa ARG 69 68 71 71 279 (31,328).
11 JIMÉNEZ Miguel Angel Spain 71 71 71 66 279 (31,328).
11 LARRAZÁBAL Pablo Spain 70 70 69 70 279 (31,328).
11 STRANGE Scott AUS 70 71 68 70 279 (31,328).
11 WALL Anthony ENG 73 68 69 69 279 (31,328).
18 CASEY Paul ENG 73 70 67 70 280 (24,157).
18 GOYA Tano ARG 70 73 65 72 280 (24,157).
18 HANSEN Anders DEN 68 72 72 68 280 (24,157).
18 NOH Seung-yul S Korea 74 68 71 67 280 (24,157).
18 PRICE Phillip WAL 72 70 69 69 280 (24,157).
23 DAVIES Rhys WAL 71 71 68 71 281  (19,964).
23 FASTH Niclas SWE 66 71 71 73 281 (19,964).
23 GARRIDO Ignacio Spain 68 71 71 71 281 (19,964).
23 HOWELL David ENG 72 71 68 70 281 (19,964).
23 JACQUELIN Raphaël FRA 72 70 69 70 281 (19,964).
23 LUITEN Joost NED 70 69 71 71 281 (19,964).
23 QUIROS Alvaro Spain 71 72 69 69 281 (19,964).
23 WOOD Chris ENG 73 68 73 67 281 (19,964).
31 BOURDY Grégory FRA 70 71 71 70 282 (15,850).
31 FISHER Ross ENG 70 71 72 69 282 (15,850).
31 GALLACHER Stephen SCO 74 67 72 69 282 (15,850).
31 GREEN Richard AUS 68 71 70 73 282 (15,850).
31 McGOWAN Ross ENG 71 73 69 69 282 (15,850).
31 NOREN Alexander SWE 66 73 67 76 282 (15,850).
37 FINCH Richard ENG 71 72 73 67 283 (13,443).
37 HANSEN Søren DEN 70 72 70 71 283 (13,443).
37 KJELDSEN Søren DEN 69 69 74 71 283 (13,443).
37 MANASSERO Matteo ITA 71 71 72 69 283 (13,443).
37 MICKELSON Phil USA 71 70 72 70 283 (13,443).
42 DODD Stephen WAL 71 71 71 71 284 (11,637).
42 LAFEBER Maarten NED 71 71 72 70 284 (11,637).
42 STENSON Henrik SWE 70 71 69 74 284 (11,637).
42 WILSON Oliver ENG 69 73 70 72 284 (11,637).
46 BOYD Gary ENG 68 71 75 71 285 (9,430).
46 BROADHURST Paul ENG 71 70 70 74 285 (9,430).
46 JAIDEE Thongchai THA 70 71 70 74 285 (9,430).
46 MARTIN Pablo Spain 73 70 70 72 285 (9,430).
46 RUMFORD Brett AUS 68 72 71 74285 (9,430).
46 WARING Paul ENG 69 72 73 285  (9,430)
46 WEBSTER Steve ENG 73 71 72 69 285 (9,430).
53 DREDGE Bradley WAL 72 68 75 71 286 (7,022).
53 HORSEY David ENG 72 72 70 72 286 (7,022).
53 LEE Danny NZL 69 72 76 69 286 (7,022).
53 MONTGOMERIE Colin SCO 70 69 75 72 286 (7,022).
53 PARRY John ENG 70 73 75 68 286 (7,022).
58 COLES Robert ENG 68 70 72 77 287 (5,819).
58 DIXON David ENG 67 75 73 287 (5,819).).
58 ILONEN Mikko FIN 70 73 72 72 287 (5,819).
61 EDFORS Johan SWE 68 75 72 73 288 (5,417).
62 HAMILTON Todd USA 69 73 73 74 289  (5,116).
62 LEVET Thomas FRA 72 72 71 74 289 (5,116).
64 BENSON Seve ENG 72 71 75 72 290 (4,615)
64 KINGSTON James S Africa 72 72 74 72 290 (4,615)
64 WESTWOOD Lee ENG 69 75 73 73 290 (4,615).
67 BLAND Richard ENG 71 70 74 76 291 (4,113).
67 ZANOTTI Fabrizio PAR 69 74 72 76 291 (4,113)
69 WILLETT Danny ENG 67 74 73 78 292 (3,812).
70 McGRANE Damien IRL 71 73 74 76 294 (3,656).

RUSS COCHRAN LEADS US SENIORS' EVENT BY TWO SHOTS

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Russ Cochran has won on both the US PGA and Champions (Seniors) tours, but he knows the other side well.
"I played almost 600 events on the regular tour, maybe 598, I certainly know what not winning is all about," said left-hander Cochran, who shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to maintain a two-stroke lead over defending champion Tom Watson in the Champions Tour's season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
The 52-year-old Cochran, coming off a two-win season that broke a nearly 20-year drought, was in control for a second day, turning in another bogey-free round. The left-hander had seven birdies for a 17-under 127 total that matched Don Pooley's 36-hole record set in 2006.
"I started off hitting it pretty good and missing some shorter putts and then it seemed like everything bounced my way," Cochran said.
Watson shot a 65, birdieing the last hole to reach 15 under - the same two-round total he had last year when he led by two strokes.
"If I can hit the ball like I did today and putt like I did yesterday, I might have a chance to catch Russ," Watson said. "He's in a sprint right now. He's going to be tough to catch."
John Cook birdied half the holes and was alone in third place at 14 under after carding the lowest score in the round with a 64. He was stroke ahead of Jeff Sluman (66), while Tom Lehman (66) and Mark McNulty (67) followed at 12 under.
"Everybody's shooting the grass off the golf course and that's what's fun," Cook said. "This is the Champions Tour, not a bunch of schmos trying to play golf. These guys are really, really good."
Hualalai was just slightly windier and noticeably warmer than in the opening round when the field cruised through the Jack Nicklaus-designed resort course that's surrounded by black lava rock.
Cochran was steady and cool in the Hawaiian heat, using his sharp short game that seemed in midseason form. The Kentucky native began the round with a two-stroke lead over Watson and Ben Crenshaw after opening with a career-best 62 that included two eagles on the back nine.
With Cook scorching the front nine and Watson making a charge at the turn, Cochran birdied five holes during a seven-hole stretch in the middle of the round to preserve his lead.
With son Ryan as his caddie, Cochran birdied the par-3 12th to reach 15 under, giving him a one-stroke lead over Cook. Cochran hit a pitching wedge from 167 yards to 4 feet.
On the next hole, he opened up a three stroke-lead by dropping a 20-foot birdie putt. Watson holed an 8-foot birdie putt on 18 to pull within two.
Cochran's victories at the Posco E and C Songdo Championship and SAS Championship in consecutive starts in September were among his 11 top-10 finishes. He ended up fourth on the money list with nearly $1.8 million.
He won the 1991 Western Open for his lone US Tour victory.
Cochran remembers coming home from his first victory, and seeing his golfing cards all over. The cards were similar to baseball cards with photos on the front and bios on the back.
"When I won the Western Open, I came home and they had all the cards out and they were flipping them over striking the 'none' out and putting 'one,'" Cochran said.
His kids may have to break out the marker again if dad can pull through and hold off a hungry Hall of Famer in Watson and others.
"I know he's an aggressive player and I better come out ready to play," Cochran said.
The 61-year-old Watson stumbled early with a bogey on No. 2 when he hit into the rough, went into the back bunker and missed a 10-footer for par. But he recovered and birdied Nos. 11, 12, 13 and 14 to pull up the crowded leaderboard.
"I'm very grateful for the round. A 65 is a good round any time," said Watson, seeking his 14th title on the 50-and-over circuit. He also has 39 wins on the US PGA Tour.
Watson owns a home at Hualalai, purchased before his win last year. The ultra-exclusive resort is home to the world's wealthy like Charles Schwab. Cher recently sold her home here.
Asked if owning a home in the resort helped him with the win, Watson said it did.
"I had to pay for the house," he said.
Last year, Watson birdied the final two holes last year to beat senior newcomer Fred Couples in a classic duel.
Couples was tied for 16th at 7 under, and has struggled with his putting with his bad back visibly bothering him.
The winner Sunday will earn $305,000, while the last-place finisher will take home $10,000. A record 42 players, including seven Hall of Famer golfers, are entered in the event featuring major champions from the last five years, other tournament winners in the last two seasons and eight sponsor invitees.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
Players from US unless stated
127 Russ Cochran 62 65.
129 Tom Watson 64 65.
130 John Cook 66 64.
131 Jeff Sluman 65 66.,
132 Tom Lehman 66 66, Mark McNulty (Ireland) 65 67.
133 Tom Kite 67 77

TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE US CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

AUSSIE WINS LAKE MACQUARIE INTERNATONAL AMATEUR TITLE

FROM THE BELMONT GC, NEW SOUTH WALES WEBSITE
Twenty-year-old Western Australian, Brady Watt, played superb golf in windy conditions to win the Greater Building Society Lake Macquarie International Championships at Belmont today by four shots.
Watt, named Western Australia’s Junior Golfer of the year in 2009, carded a two under 70 today to take his four round total to 276 – four ahead of Royal Queensland club member, 17-year-old Cameron Smith and 15 year old South Australian, Anthony Murdaca.
Cameron Smith defeated Murdaca for second place on a count back and he also won the Junior title.
Two years ago Watt won the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship at the Heritage Golf Club in Victoria but this was his first major win as a senior.
His first move as he walked off the final green victorious was to telephone his father in Perth (West Australia).
“I’m thrilled with the win. I’ve been playing golf with dad since I was 11,” he said
“I birdied the holes I needed to birdie today in tricky conditions.”
Watt played in the Lake Macquarie tournament last year and finished in 30th position.
He clinched the title today on the hard par 4 15th when he had a miraculous birdie.
His drive finished in the right rough in a bad lie but he managed to wedge the ball to the front of the green 12 metres from the cup and then sank the putt.
New Zealand No. 1 amateur, Ben Campbell, was fighting out the finish with Watt until he had a disastrous triple bogey 7 on the 13th.
Campbell finished with six under, the same score as the best of the local brigade, 17 year old Charlestown member, Jake Higginbottom.
Top Australian amateur, Tasmanian Ryan McCarthy, had to pull out of the final round today after dislocating his left shoulder in a surfing mishap yesterday.
McCarthy, one of the favourites to win the prestigious amateur event, was only five off the pace on 211 after rounds of 72, 67 and 72.
He was surfing with a group of friends at Redhead Beach yesterday afternoon when the accident occurred.
“It was just a normal wave and I came out of it awkwardly,” a bitterly disappointed McCarthy said today.
“I was hitting the ball well so I was looking forward to finishing today.”
McCarthy, his left arm in a sling, said he could face months of rehabilitation and the injury would keep him out of golf for some time.
The only member of the Australian National Squad playing in the Lake Macquarie tournament, McCarthy was equal second in the recent Master of the Amateurs Event at Royal Melbourne.
He is rated No. 1 amateur in Australia and had he performed well today he could have forced his way into the top ten amateurs in the world.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from Australia unless stated
276 Brady Watt 68 69 69 70.
280 Anthony Murdaca 67 71 68 74, Cameron smith 67 73 68 72.


ENGLISH PLAYERS' TOTALS
284 Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton) 67 69 72 76 (jt 8th).
286 Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden Ci9ty) 72 72 69 73 (jt 13th).
287 Laurie Cantor (Saltford) 72 71 74 70, Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) 69 74 71 73 (jt 15th).
288 Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) 73 71 70 74 (jt 20th).
291 Jack Senior (Heysham) 71 74 71 75 (jt 44th).




TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AT BELMONT GOLF CLUB, NEW SOUTH WALES


CLICK HERE

MARTIN LAIRD LYING 3RD IN BOB HOPE CLASSIC WITH ROUND TO GO

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Gary Woodland and Jhonattan Vegas realise the marathon Bob Hope Classic will come down to a sprint.
(Editor: Martin Laird, pictured, from Glasgow is in third place with one round to go, two shots off the pace. First prize is $990,000).
At least the weather will be perfect for a good run at their first US PGA Tour victories.
Vegas birdied the final five holes on Saturday to rejoin Woodland for the second straight day atop a leaderboard dominated by hungry, inexperienced 20-somethings.
Woodland and Vegas shot 66s to set up a fifth-round showdown between two 26-year-olds with tremendous driving power and little experience in such pressure-packed situations. Neither slugger had ever held a lead on the US Tour until this week.
"This deal is still long from over," Woodland said. "It's going to be a shoot-out again. The conditions will be perfect again. The greens are perfect. You're going to have to go low and get that putter hot."
Vegas fell several shots behind Woodland with a rough start on the La Quinta course before his flurry of birdies to get to 6 under, matching Woodland at 24 under for the week. Woodland was as steady as the postcard-perfect weather on the Palmer Private course in the US Tour's only five-day, four-course event.
"I saw the leaderboard and saw that Gary was (ahead), so I really tried to push it a little bit, and things went my way," said Vegas, who finished his round with an 18-foot birdie putt. "I stayed patient, stayed positive throughout the round, and was able to hit some really good shots in a row."
Vegas and Woodland will play together Sunday with Scotland's Martin Laird, who was two shots back, on the generous Palmer course. The ideal Palm Springs conditions, described by more than one golfer as playing in a dome, are likely to make near-perfection necessary.
"You know right from the first hole you've got to keep firing away," said Laird, who has only one PGA Tour win. "You can't play defensive golf. ... You've got to fire at flags. I don't know what it's going to take, but I think last year, 30 under won, and I would not be surprised if it was that or lower tomorrow."
Laird also shot a 66 to stay right behind the leaders, and defending champion Bill Haas jumped into a tie for fourth place with a 10-under 62 on the Palmer course. Haas, Chris Kirk, Keegan Bradley and Daniel Summerhays were 21 under.
With most of the sport's top names taking the week off or playing in Abu Dhabi, the Hope is a prime opportunity for a young player looking to make a mark in a historically important tournament fallen on leaner times despite its $5 million purse. None of the Hope's top seven leaders are older than 28 - and Vegas, Kirk, Summerhays and Bradley all were members of the Nationwide Tour's graduating class last year.
The prospect of a frantic finish intrigues both Woodland, the former college basketball player playing in his 28th US Tour event, and Vegas, the Venezuelan golf pioneer making just his fifth appearance. Woodland never even won on the Nationwide Tour, but plans to draw on his basketball experience and on his four tournament victories during his senior year at Kansas.
"You've got to stay in the moment, that's the main deal," said Woodland, who has never finished higher than 21st on the US Tour. "Even if you have a six-shot lead, these guys out here on this golf course, that's nothing. You can make up six shots in four or five holes."
Their formidable power off the tee actually hasn't been much of an asset on two of the courses, with the simpler holes requiring smaller clubs that won't overpower the holes.
Just how tantalising are these courses? Vegas has 32 birdies in four rounds, two shy of Steve Stricker's 34 at the Hope in 2009. The US Tour record for birdies in a 72-hole tournament is 32.
"I didn't feel great the whole day, compared to (Friday)," Vegas claimed. "I didn't feel comfortable, but I just found a way to get it on the greens."
Although the modest Hope field - which features just six of the world's top 50 players - provides a prime opportunity for a youngster, there's a movement afoot to help the Hope regain some of its lost luster from the days when Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Clint Eastwood and a handful of US presidents played in the desert. "The Hope" is being held without a title sponsor for the third straight year, with ever-fewer pros deigning to play in the lengthy pro-am.
After Joe Ogilvie suggested to Golf Digest that the Hope should draft Bill Clinton as its tournament host, with a commitment to expanding its charity outreach to the former president's Clinton Global Initiative, the tour issued a statement Saturday acknowledging discussions over the past several months with Clinton's various charities.
Explorations of a broad partnership include the potential for "leveraging the Bob Hope Classic as a focal point," the statement read.

LEADERBOARD
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from US unless stated
264 Gary Woodland 65 69 64 66, Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) 64 67 67 66.
266 Martin Laird (Scotland) 68 68 64 66.
267 Chris Kirk 69 68 64 66, Bill Haas 69 68 68 62, Daniel Summerhays 69 66 68 64, Keegan Bradley 66 67 68 66.
268 Greg Chalmers (Australia) 67 67 65 69.
Selected score:
272 Brian Davis (England) 67 66 71 68 (jt 21st).