SIMPLE FOR SIMON THORNTON IN MAEDIRA ISLANDS OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ireland's Simon Thornton established a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the Madeira Islands Open after a second round 66 at Porto Santo Golfe.
Having shown some promising signs with his 16th-place finish in Mallorca last week, the 33 year old carded an eagle on the par five third en route to an outward 34.
But he did most of his good work on the back nine, with four unanswered birdies giving him a six under par round and seven under total.
That gave him a one shot lead over France's François Delamontagne, with overnight leader Chris Gane and his English compatriot Jamie Elson tied for third on five under.
"I played well today, and I drove and putted well in worse conditions yesterday," said Thornton, who was third at the halfway stage of this event last year before fading over the weekend. "I just hit lots of fairways and my putter's hot at the moment so it was a good round today.
"Just one really long one on the top of the hill there, at 15. I putted on the third for eagle off the green and holed that putt, but apart from that, most of them were close. At the moment they're going in, so hopefully it'll last over the weekend as well.
"Keep doing what I'm doing. Keep it in the fairways. It's firm enough so you just got to keep putting it in the right places.
"Obviously last week was very fiery at the weekend. Hopefully it won't be like this here, but similar conditions as I say, it suits my game. I don't carry it very far off the tee but it runs out quite a long way - this course suits my game."
Delamontagne started on the back nine and at one stage was four under par for the day - thanks in part to a chip-in at 18 - but he dropped shots at the fourth and seventh as he signed for a 70.
"Maybe I missed a few shots today but my putting was just amazing, I think I took 20 putts, that's my record by maybe four or five putts. It's much easier when you're putting like this!," said the 32 year old, who is still looking for a first European Tour title.
"But the rest was okay. My back nine was not very easy, it was very, very tough. A few holes you had to be really concentrate, and it's very easy to make bogey. Maybe not double, but if your shot is not perfect, you're left with a tough chip or tough putt, so there's a lot of opportunity for birdies on the back nine. But the front nine is very tough."
Elson signed off in style with a birdie-birdie finish as he posted a 68.
"I'm pretty happy with that," he said. "I birdied the ninth yesterday too, even though it's quite a tough hole with the wind coming across you. But I've hit two great shots to eight feet and rolled in the putt both times, so I'm very pleased."
Gane was level par for the day, but still pleased with his work over the first two days.
"I'm happy with that," he said. "I didn't play as well as I did yesterday, but I scrambled well. You need a bit of luck out there, and maybe I didn't get it today. But hopefully that changes over the weekend."
Denmark’s Andreas Hartø, Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey – whose only previous European Tour victory came on Portuguese soil – are tied for fifth on four under.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
137 Simon Thornton (Ireland) 71 66.
138 Francois Delamontagne (France) 68 70.
139 Jamie Elson (England) 71 68, Chris Gane (England) 67 72.
140 Andreas Harto (Denmark) 73 67, Alastair Forsyth (Scotland) 71 69, Michael Hoey (N Ireland) 72 68.
141 Lloyd Saltman (Scotland) 68 73.
OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
145 George Murray 76 69, Chris Doak 73 71 (T31).
148 Andrew Coltart 75 73, Jame McLeary 78 70 (T64).
MISSED THE CUT (148 or better qualified)
149 Elliot Saltman 76 73.
152 Scott Drummong 75 77, Marc Warren 77 75.
153 Craig Lee 78 75.
156 Jack Doherty 80 76, Callum Macaulay 79 77.

McDOWELL v McILROY IN WORLD MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Graeme McDowell is well used to being "beaten up" by Rory McIlroy in practice, but now they are going to meet for real for the very first time in the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.
McDowell topped his group at Finca Cortesin when he followed up his win over Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen with a last green victory against Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas.

His Ryder Cup partner McIlroy would have avoided him - at least for the time being - if he had defeated Nicolas Colsaerts and topped his section.

But by losing 3 and 2 to the Belgian the 28 year old, he goes instantly into a clash with McDowell.

They are ranked fifth and sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking, but McDowell, the higher of the two, said: "He beats me every time we play together.

"But this is not the Northern Ireland match play championship and I'm hoping it's going to be different. It's the Volvo World Match Play and the pressure is on.

"I am sure he will expect to beat me, but it will be a great game and I am excited about it.

"He is a fabulous player, so talented. This course is all about driving the ball and he is pretty good at that.

"It's hard to play against a close friend, but you've got to leave your friendship on the sidelines.

"I stopped playing him because he's too good. I'm more of an observer and he just tends to beat me up."

There is another all-Ryder Cup clash for a place in the quarter-finals - World Number One Lee Westwood against Ian Poulter, who won the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play title last year.

Westwood was in dazzling form for the second day running, seven under par in beating Australian Aaron Baddeley 4 and 3.

"I've carried on from where I left off in Indonesia and Korea," said Westwood, who is now seeking his third successive victory.

"I will try to keep that going, but match play is different - you can play well and lose."

Poulter has shown that under the tournament's new format it is also possible to come through the group without winning.

He halved with Paul Lawrie just as he had with Italian Francesco Molinari, but progressed because Molinari then ended the hopes of 1999 Open Champion Lawrie.

Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer, both of whom could take the Number One spot off Westwood this weekend, had their second victories.

Donald, who beat the German in the final in Arizona three months ago, overcame defending champion Ross Fisher 3 and 1, but Fisher also went through after an astonishing win over lone American Ryan Moore earlier in the day.

Moore went four up on the outward half and was still three ahead with four to play, but Fisher won them all.

Donald next plays Swede Johan Edfors and Fisher is up against Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel.

Kaymer, meanwhile, has so far defeated Koreans Y E Yang and Noh Seung-yul. He might have had to face Paul Casey next, but the World Number Nine was the highest seed to go out after losing to Alvaro Quiros and then Søren Kjeldsen.

There was also the first three-man play-off in the history of an event which until two years ago had always been staged at Wentworth Club.

That was because Schwartzel, Edfors and Miguel Angel Jiménez all won one game and lost one. Jimenez went out when he bogeyed the first extra hole and Schwartzel topped the group when Edfors bogeyed the next.

McIlroy said about facing McDowell: "He's not going to give me anything - it's going to be a really tough match.

"I'll just try and treat it like I'm playing anyone else. I'm here to try to win a tournament and I need to get through him - that's the number one thing on my mind."


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RECORD-BREAKER HORTON MAKES SENIOR HISTORY IN SPAIN

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
European Tour Deputy Chief Press Officer
Carl Mason became the most prolific winner in the history of the European Senior by lifting his 24th title at the OKI Open de España Senior by Cleveland/ Srixon.
The Englishman broke the record previously held by Tommy Horton with an overwhelming performance at the El Vale Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain, winning the title by four shots with a display befitting the most successful player to play on the Senior Tour.
Holding a one shot lead over Bill Longmuir going into the final round, Mason put on a ruthless front nine display of 32 (four under) to take a stranglehold on his record-breaking victory. Four birdies in the space of five holes allowed him to cruise home in 36 for a final round 68 and a four shot winning aggregate of 13 under 200.
England’s George Ryall emerged from the pack with a brilliant 65 to take second place on nine under, one ahead of Longmuir and two clear of fourth-placed John Harrison, who carded a final round 66.
But the day belonged to Mason, who vowed to celebrate the “highlight of my career” over a couple of drinks with his Senior Tour colleagues.
“It has to be the highlight of my career,” said Mason who added another €30,000 to his record Senior Tour career earnings of €2,183,751. “I will be having a couple of beers tonight and enjoying the victory. It has been a great day for me.
“It was very tough out there today with a lot of crosswinds and a tricky course so to make the start I did with four birdies on the front nine was a great effort. That meant I could take it easy on the back nine and not make any silly mistakes.
“I managed to do that and actually was able to enjoy the victory – there haven’t been too many like that in the 24!”
Mason’s trophy-laden Senior Tour career took off during his maiden season on the circuit in 2003. The 57 year old won four times en route to winning The John Jacobs Trophy – awarded to the Order of Merit winner – for the first time as he established himself as a dominant force in Europe.
He defended the John Jacobs Trophy successfully in 2004 and then finished runner-up to Sam Torrance in both 2005 and 2006 before reclaiming his last Order of Merit title in 2007.
“It has been one hell of a run,” added Mason, taking a sip of a well-earned and suitably chilled beer. “I am delighted to have finally got the 24th win because it has been hanging over me a little bit. I never would have expected to beat Tommy’s record when I started out on the Senior Tour – I can’t believe I have done it to be honest.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71
200 C Mason (Eng) 67 65 68,

204 G Ryall (Eng) 70 69 65,
205 B Longmuir (Sco) 66 67 72,
206 J Harrison (Eng) 67 73 66,
207 D Merriman (Aus) 66 72 69, A Oldcorn (Sco) 69 70 68, B Lincoln (RSA) 72 71 64,
209 A Fernandez (Chi) 69 70 70, E Darcy (Irl) 71 72 66, B Cameron (Eng) 66 71 72, J Stuart (USA) 69 72 68, J Chillas (Sco) 72 69 68,
210 C Rocca (Ita) 71 70 69, M Belsham (Eng) 71 72 67,
211 J Rivero (Esp) 66 73 72, P Mitchell (Eng) 68 72 71,
212 J Quiros (Esp) 70 72 70, G Brand (Eng) 73 69 70
213 J Rozadilla (Esp) 69 70 74, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 69 72, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 71 73 69,
214 J Bruner (USA) 70 72 72, A Sowa (Arg) 74 74 66, N Job (Eng) 68 72 74,
215 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 72 71, B Smit (RSA) 70 72 73, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 72 76 67, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 73 71, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 72 69,
216 J Sallat (Fra) 74 71 71, A Garrido (Esp) 72 70 74, D Durnian (Eng) 68 75 73, D Smyth (Irl) 68 72 76, G Ralph (Eng) 74 70 72,
217 J Gould (Eng) 72 72 73, A Sherborne (Eng) 75 68 74, M Farry (Fra) 77 70 70, J Hall (Eng) 75 74 68, L Carbonetti (Arg) 73 73 71, C Williams (RSA) 71 72 74, M Piñero (Esp) 76 74 67,
218 G Manson (Aut) 71 74 73, J Cañizares (Esp) 71 72 75, G Banister (Aus) 71 70 77, D Cambridge (Jam) 76 69 73, J Stansberry (USA) 76 71 71, S Cipa (Eng) 72 71 75
219 E Rodriguez (Esp) 75 72 72
220 J Heggarty (Nir) 70 74 76, A Franco (Par) 70 71 79
221 F Mann (Sco) 72 78 71, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 74 74, J Davila (Esp) 79 72 70, A Forsbrand (Swe) 72 76 73, M Moreno (Esp) 71 76 74, T Johnstone (Zim) 75 74 72
222 T Charnley (Eng) 75 72 75, G Cali (Ita) 75 73 74, P Dahlberg (Swe) 76 70 76,
223 P Errity (Irl) 71 80 72, M Briggs (Eng) 78 74 71, M Bembridge (Eng) 74 76 73
224 M Kierstenson (Eng) 74 77 73
225 S Bennett (Eng) 74 71 80
226 M Gray (Sco) 73 76 77
227 M Miller (Sco) 75 82 70, B Hardwick (Can) 80 72 75,
228 L Cooper (USA) 78 76 74, B Stevens (Eng) 76 79 73,
234 V Garcia (Esp) 77 81 76,
240 E Polland (Nir) 75 84 81,
249 G Hopkins (USA) 88 83 78,

ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPS TEE TIMES

LINKS SENIORS – FRIDAY 27TH MAY
 (10min intervals)
Abb. BA- Bon-Accord, C- Caledonian, N-Northern
8.00 J.L. Duncan BA, J. Murphy N, G. Fiddes N; J.A. Morrison BA, R. Green C; E.P. Morrison BA, J. Hepburn N; D.L. Ross BA, D. Yeats C, S. Robertson N; E. Leigh BA, E. Yeats C; I. Morrice BA, J. McBeath C, S. Duthie N
9.00 D.J. Duncan BA, E. Mitchell C; W. McKay BA, C. Cheyne BA; A. Hearns BA, S. Moir C, S. Davidson N; J. Wilson BA, D.J. Hampton C, D. Coull N; G. Bothwell BA, I. McLaughlin C
10.00 D. Leighton N, G. Forbes C, N. West N; C.L. Forbes BA, R. O’Rawe C, P. Reid BA; A. Low BA, J. Gall C, J. Muir N; F. Watson BA, C. Carson C; A. Henderson BA, G. Beattie C; S. Law C, R. Jones N
11.00 R. Ludlam BA, D. Harman N; G. Allan C, J. Forrest N; D. McKay C, J. Duff N; R.A. Cheyne BA, R.M. Grant C.

LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPS – SATURDAY 28TH MAY
 (10min intervals)
6.50 A. Haining BA, S. Davidson N; J.M. Annand BA, D. Mullen C, G. Bond N; G. McLaggan BA, M. Taylor C, L. Morrice C; R. Allerton BA, S. Duff N, R. Evett N; M. Dunn BA, C. Dunbar C, M. Burnett N; N. Mitchell BA, M. Beattie C, A.J. Sherriffs N; B. Edmond BA, G. Grimmer C, C. McBain N
8.00 Matt. Greig BA, G. Stewart BA, G. Horne N; M. Smith BA, R. Davidson C, D. Mair N; M. Edmond BA, R. Rimmer C, G. Anderson N; J. Kilman BA, B. Reid C, D. Leslie N; S. Murray BA, G. Allan C, J. Ritchie N; D.S.S. Smith BA, A. Cruickshank C, A. Howie C;
9.00 G.V. Somers BA, S. Finnie C; G. Reid BA, G. Forbes C, S. Muir N; R. Watson BA, P. Cheyne N, G. Morrison N; W. Smith BA, S. Slessor N;
9.50 S. Murphy BA, S. Kennedy N; S. Jamieson BA, J. Murphy N; K. Ironside BA, J. Forrest N; W. Shand BA, A. Davidson C, A. Patterson N; I. Welsh BA, T. Still N; R. Young BA, C. Johnstone N; S. Caie BA, S. Allan C, C. Ross N
11.00 N. Gray BA, T. McGovern C, D. Johnstone N;
11.30 S.A. Smith C, M. Ogston N; D. Forbes C, B. McPherson N; S. Kelly BA, A. Divers C, J. Inglis N; S. Allison C, W. Ross C, S. Stewart N; G. Geddes N, D. McKay C, D. Galloway N; E.M. Leslie BA, J.S. Gray C, G. Brown N; K. Ross BA, A. Styles C, R. Pirie C; D. Gardiner C, R. Neilson N; G. Nicholson N, A. Sheldrick C, J. Duff N
1.00 D. Grieve BA, Mark. Greig BA, W. West N.

MURRAY CUP – SUNDAY 29TH MAY
(10min intervals)
7.10 I. Stewart BA, D. Stewart C, G. Fiddes N; A. Greig BA, J. Skinner N; C. Somers BA, D. McPherson C; D. Donaldson BA, R. Buchan N, T. Leslie N; M. Flanagan BA, K.G. Robertson C, J. Muir N;
8.00 C. Robertson C, I. Petrie N, A. Handsley N
8.40 R. Anderson C, A. Forbes C, J. Reid N; S. Webster C, I. Douglas C;
9.00 J. Craig BA, C. Gunn BA, S. Barclay N; C. Carson C, G. Adams N; J. Gall C, D. Coull N; W. Ross N, G.W. Kidd N; C. Taylor N, J. Watt N; M. Rennie BA, G. McDonald N, D. Gill N
10.00 A. Rea BA, R. Sellar N; G. Hewitson BA, M. McLeod N; D. Barclay BA, M. Winton C, R. Jones N; W. Guyan BA, N. Pickard BA, G. Homer N
10.50 J. Hay BA, G. Reaper C, B. Lumsden N; K. Rennie BA, B. Lumsden jnr N, G. Martin BA, K. Gray C; R. Grieve BA, J. McKechnie BA, A. Pirie N; R. Dunn BA,

CHRIS GAINS FROM TIPS BY PLAYING PARTNER TOM WHITEHOUSE

FROM THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR WEBSITE
Chris Gane revealed he had playing partner Tom Whitehouse to thank after a fine five under par 67 gave him a one stroke lead after a windswept opening day at the Madeira Islands Open.
The Challenge Tour regular defied winds of up to 30mph to lead by one stroke from Frenchman François Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman of Scotland during the first round at the stunning Seve Ballesteros-designed Porto Santo Golfe.

Gane's compatriot Whitehouse went round in a two over 74, but his contribution to the leader's display did not go unnoticed.

Gane, who dedicated his round to son Oliver, who is suffering with chickenpox, said: "Golf's a very bizarre game - I felt pretty low after the final round last week, and I had about seven hours to kill before my flight, so I spoke to Tom Whitehouse and he agreed to have a look at me hitting a few balls.

"He gave me a lesson for about 45 minutes, and it's changed everything. So I owe him a lot, and I might even treat him to a drink later - but only because our hotel's all-inclusive!"

Delamontagne, who is yet to win on The European Tour, compiled an opening round of 68, despite suffering a poor front nine as two birdies were overshadowed by bogeys on the fourth, fifth and eighth holes.

His form improved drastically on the back nine, however, as the 32 year old notched eagles at the tenth and 14th holes, dropping only one shot in between before adding a pair of late birdies.

The Frenchman said: "I like these conditions - the majority of my best results have all come in windy conditions.

"When it's windy you need a lot of creativity out on the course, especially around the greens, and normally my short game is one of the strongest parts of my game, which was the case for me today. So I hope this wind continues!"

European Tour rookie Saltman, 25, also looked set for an unspectacular start, before he birdied three of the final four holes to join Delamontagne on four under par.

He said: "It was helpful playing in that type of wind in the Pro-Am yesterday, and also last week in Mallorca the conditions were quite similar. Despite shooting five over in the end I actually played pretty well on the final day, which gave me a bit of confidence to take here.

"I got off to a nice solid start with a birdie at the third, then I dropped a shot at the seventh to drop back to level par. But I knew there were a few chances on the back nine, and I managed to come back in four under even with a bogey on the 14th, where I hit it off the cliffs but made birdie with my second ball. So I was pretty pleased with that, because it was a tough day but I stayed patient and got my rewards in the end."

Home hopes rest firmly on the shoulders of José-Filipe Lima, and the European Tour champion did not disappoint with a two under par 70.

"This is a course I enjoy playing, mainly because there's always a lots of wind which suits me," he said.

"Today I had a very good strategy - the front nine is more dangerous, so my aim was to make pars on the front, and then attack a little bit more on the back nine. I hit my ball in the water on the tenth hole and still managed to save par, but then I made a stupid mistake on the 17th hole, which was such a shame because I was really close to the lead at the time. But it's always nice to finish with a birdie, which I wasn't expecting. I haven't felt like that on the course for a long time, because every aspect of my game is working well - including my putting."
SCOTSWATCH: Lloyd Saltman birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th for a four-under 68 and a share of second place. The Lothians man had earlier birdied the third, 10th and 12th, dropping shots at the eighth and 14th in halves of 36 and 32. Alastair Forsyth maintained his good form with a 73 for a share of 35th place but otherwise it was not a good day for the Scots with several of them in danger of missing the cut.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 Chris Gane (England).
68 Francois Delamontagne (France), Lloyd Saltman (Scotland).
70 Emanujele Canonica (Italy), Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal), Fredrik Henge (Sweden), Joakim Haeggman (Sweden), Manuel Quiros (Spain), Federico Colombo).
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
71 Alastair Forsyth (T10).
73 Chris Doak (T35).
75 Andrew Coltart, Scott Drummond (T61).
76 George Murray, Elliot Saltman (T80).
77 Marc Warren (T101).
78 Craig Lee, Jamie McLeary (T117).
79 Callum Macaulay (T124).
80 Jack Doherty (T132).

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US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD

CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 70. $1,1160,000 to the winner
Players from US unless stated
62 David Toms, Chez Reavie.
63 Rickie Fowler.
64 Brendon de Jonge (S Africa), Stewart Cink, Brian Gay, Nathan Green (Australia), Charlie Wi (S Korea).
Selected scores
66 Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Sergia Garcia (Spain) (T12).
69 Martin Laird (Scotland) (T39).
70 Brian Davis (England) (T59).

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