DRIVER-LESS LAHIRI TAKES SAIL OPEN LEAD AT NEW DELHI

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOURNew Delhi , March 22: Anirban Lahiri led the Indian charge at the SAIL Open after shooting a sparkling opening round six-under-par 66 on Tuesday.
Lahiri’s decision to leave his driver out of the golf bag paid off tremendously as he took a one-stroke lead at the challenging Delhi Golf Club.
Japanese Daisuke Maruyama put his troubles at home behind as he returned with 67 to share second place with in-form Gaganjeet Bhullar and little known Anura Rohana of Sri Lanka in the US$300,000 event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGTI.
Big hitting Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand , who is searching for his maiden Asian Tour victory shared fourth place with countryman Prom Meesawat,    India ’s Manav Jaini, Japanese Akinori Tani and Bangladeshi Siddikur.
Highly rated Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines made a flying start to his one week old professional career as he posted a 69, three strokes from the leader.
Lahiri said it was the first time in 11 years since he opted not to use a driver and was rewarded with five birdies and one eagle against one bogey for his best score at the Delhi Golf Club.
“I’m hitting my three wood and that’s good enough. I decided yesterday evening to take my driver out. It was partly because this golf course has narrow fairways and also because I haven’t been hitting it very well with my driver,” said the 23-year-old.
He was delighted with his strong start but admitted that he could have gone lower. “I missed about six putts inside 12 feet for birdie but I’m not complaining. I’m just happy I’m giving myself a lot of scoring opportunities,” he said.
Maruyama turned in 37 but bounced back brilliantly with six birdies in his homeward nine. The two-time Asian Tour winner together with the seven other Japanese players will be playing this week with a black ribbon pinned to their caps to honour the lives lost in the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan .
“I had a lot of time to think about playing in the SAIL Open this week and I finally decided to play. It wasn’t an easy decision to make but life in Japan is not easy now with the shortage of water and irregular electricity supply,” said the Japanese.
Thailand ’s Kiradech, who started on the back nine, made the turn in 34 before adding an eagle three from four feet on the first hole. He credited his strong iron play where he found 16 greens in regulation for his good start.
“I enjoy playing here but hitting it off the tees is a real challenge. If you can keep your ball on the fairways, you will have a chance to win this week. I changed my putting from the grip to my aiming and that worked for me today,” said the burly Kiradech, who was in contention for his maiden Asian Tour victory on four occasions last year.
Playing in his first Asian Tour event as a professional, Tabuena, 16, was delighted to outshine some of the more experienced players.
“I want to go out there and try my best. It shows that I can compete with the bigger guys. I’m not expecting much but it was a good result for me today,” said Tabuena.
Tabuena earned his Asian Tour in Qualifying School earlier this year as an amateur before deciding to take his career to a new level. He said working with decorated Canadian coach Rick Gibson has helped him adapt faster to life as a professional.
“I’ve been working with Rick and that has been good because of his experience playing on the Asian Tour. There’s still three more days to go but this course suits me as I’m not a long hitter and like to keep the ball in play. I’m looking forward to the next few days,” added the Filipino.
Leading first round scores
66 - Anirban Lahiri ( IND )
67 - Anura Rohana (SRI), Gaganjeet Bhullar ( IND ), Daisuke Maruyama (JPN)
68 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA), Manav Jaini (IND), Prom Meesawat (THA), Akinori Tani (JPN), Siddikur (BAN)
69 - Md. Zamal Hossain Mollah (BAN), Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Mukesh Kumar (IND), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Joonas Granberg (FIN), Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND), Mars Pucay (PHI)
70 - Ben Fox ( USA ), Ranjit Singh ( IND ), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), M. Sasidaran (MAS), Sanjay Kumar (IND), Jyoti Randhawa (IND)




Ends.

ANGUS, FIFE NAME TEAMS FOR PROVAN SALVER TIE AT MONTROSE

Teams named for Sunday's opening Provan Salver tie between Angus and Fife at Montrose Links are:

ANGUS
G Bell, R Bell, C Donaldson (all Downfield), G Tough, R Coull, W Bremner (all Edzell), M Brown (Monifieth), K Harper (Carnoustie).
FIFE
Gary Sharp St Andrews GC
Colin Martin Balbirnie Park GC
Gary Page Balbirnie Park GC
Peter Latimer St Andrews New GC
Scott Stewart-Cation Balbirnie Park GC
Scott Crichton Aberdour GC
Ally Hain Ladybank GC
Kevin Blyth Lundin GC

TIGER WOODS' NEW GIRLFRIEND'S LINK TO RANGERS F C

Tiger Woods' new girlfriend is the stepdaughter of the Rangers FC chairman - log on to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk for the full story and picture

CAMPBELL v FOX IN AUSSIE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY FINAL

FROM STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
New Zealand's Ben Campbell has secured a place in tomorrow's final of the Australian amateur match-play championship after a monumental battle with compatriot Ryan Fox in Melbourne today.
Last year's runner-up had to endure three extra holes before claiming his place in the 36-hole final where he will meet Australian Matthew Stieger at Victoria Golf Club. Campbell, the world's 14th-ranked amateur, displayed all his experience and attitude to sneak home in the morning quarter-final, a one-hole victor over South Australia's Brad Moules.
He made a hot start to the semi-final against Fox, going two-up after nine holes and finishing five-under par.
Campbell moved to three-up with four holes to play before Fox got one back with a birdie on the 15th, another with a par on the 17th and then a brilliant tap-in eagle on the par-5 18th to send the match into extra holes.
Campbell thought he had won the contest when his 4m birdie on the first extra hole slid in and then out of the cup, with his celebratory fist-pump proving premature.
They halved the second play-off hole and Campbell got the job done when he two-putted from 20m while Fox failed to get up and down out of the bunker.
Earlier, Fox was in outstanding form to dispose of Englishman Dave Coupland, runner-up in the stroke-play section of the Australian men's amateur championship, 2 and 1.
Australian Bryden Macpherson, the New Zealand stroke-play champion three years ago, ended the hopes of Waikato's Mat Perry 4 and 3 in the quarter-final but the Victorian, who has a New Zealand mother, lost three of his last four holes for Stieger to triumph 2 and 1 in the semi-finals.
Campbell has the chance to emulate the feat of his namesake Michael Campbell, who is the only New Zealander to have won the Australian amateur title in more than 100 years.

KEN SCHOFIELD JOINS ASIAN TOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR 
Kuala Lumpur: Ken Schofield, the former European Tour Executive Director, has been appointed into the Board of Directors of the Asian Tour, Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han announced today.
Han said Schofield’s vast experience and high standing in the world of golf will benefit the Asian Tour and provide further thrust for the Tour’s next phase of growth and development.
The Asian Tour is primed for an expanded 2011 Schedule with over US$45 million in total prize money, driven by a new long-term production and distribution partnership with IMG Media.
“As the Asian Tour continues to expand across the region, we are delighted to welcome Ken Schofield as our newest Board Member. His experience having brought together the European Tour from a large geography of multiple demographics is similar to what the Asian Tour is facing today. We believe these similar experiences are unique and transferable, and that Ken’s experience is suited to our stage of development,” said Han.
“We have a very strong and experienced Board at the Asian Tour whose members have been instrumental in our recent steps to strengthen and enhance our product offering to our members and partners. With Ken’s experience and expertise gathered during his illustrious career, it will complement that of our existing board members very effectively.”
Schofield retired as head of the European Tour in December, 2004 after being at the helm for over 30 years. During his tenure, Schofield and his successor George O’Grady grew the Tour from prize money of less than £500,000 to £80 million.
He has also been instrumental in the growth of the Ryder Cup which is now one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles and was one of the architects behind the establishment of European Tour Productions, the largest producer of golf programming in the world.
Schofield said: “The Asian Tour has grown tremendously over the years and I am excited to be given this opportunity to be a part of the team which will chart the Tour’s future and growth plans. The Asian Tour has established itself as a strong brand and with the success of its players both at home and abroad, the potential to grow is unlimited.
“I have long been aware of the enormous potential of golf in Asia and in recent years have enjoyed observing its ever more influential status on the global golfing map. I am delighted to be joining such a forward thinking and successful enterprise and hope that the knowledge I have gleaned from my years in golf will be of some benefit to the members. I look forward to being part of their next exciting stage of growth.
Schofield will join Rick Siemens, Gautam Thapar, Ho Lon Gee, Zhang Lian-wei, Boonchu Ruangkit, Unho Park, Iain Steel and Han on the Board of Directors.

Ken Schofield’s CV
Born in 1946 and raised in Perthshire, Ken began his working life in the banking profession, and at the age of 23 became Scotland's youngest bank manager. He succeeded John Jacobs on January 1, 1975 with the task of developing the autonomous European Tour. Ken set up the Tour’s charity-support programme, which has helped raise more than £25 million for many deserving causes. In 1993, Ken Schofield was awarded the Order of Merit from the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, followed by the Commander of the British Empire Award for Services to Golf and the Christer Lindberg Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of Golf by the PGA of Europe in 1996. In 2002 he won the Links Golfing Society Award and has been awarded both the Association of Golf Writers Award for Outstanding Services to Golf and the Sports Journalists’ Association Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sport off the field of play. In 2006, Ken was appointed by the ECB to conduct an enquiry into the state of English cricket, following the national side’s collapse in the Ashes Series that year. 19 of the report’s 20 recommendations were adopted, contributing to a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the national team. Outside of golf, Ken is a passionate supporter of Perth-based St Johnstone FCand a keen follower of athletics and cricket.