MARCEL SIEM LEADS BUT DARREN CLARKE MISSES IRISH OPEN CUT

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Marcel Siem picked up three shots in his last three holes to snatch the halfway lead at the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland.
The German, who won his only European Tour title in 2004, fired a second consecutive 66 to be ten under par at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.
First round leader Jeev Milkha Singh and Danish Ryder Cup star Søren Hansen are a shot further back, with Spain’s Ignacio Garrido fourth on eight under.
Late in the day Siem eagled the long 16th and sank a 25 foot birdie putt on the next to move one ahead of Singh and Hansen.
"There's two rounds to go - it's only half-time," he said after his 66. "I just want to stay calm and see what happens."  His one previous victory was in South Africa seven seasons ago.
“It's a great venue here and I love that golf course, and the crowds we had here the first two rounds is perfect. If we had that every week, it would be great.”
In his first start since his dream Open Championship victory at Sandwich, Darren Clarke dropped four shots in the last eight holes for a 74 and a one over aggregate that saw him miss the cut.
Clarke admitted his mental energy levels were down after a bout of 'flu followed his post-Open celebrations.
"I just couldn't get anything going," he commented. "A weekend off is not what I wanted. It probably won't do me any harm, albeit I would much prefer to be here to play.
"A couple of things went my way over at Sandwich and here bounces went the other way. Payback time I suppose.
"I didn't have much time off after The Open, but that's no excuse for shooting 74."
While two of Ireland's four Major Champions will not be around for the weekend after Clarke and Padraig Harrington both missed the cut, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy will spearhead the Irish challenge after rounds of 66 and 68 respectively.
US Open Champion McIlroy birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to surge up the leaderboard.
He said: “I'm only  six back going into the weekend so I have a great chance – we all know how much can happen in 36 holes so if I can get out there on Saturday and make a good start I really feel like I can post a number. To play in front of these crowds is phenomenal and that's one of the great things about the Irish Open, the crowds turn up in force, and it's really a great atmosphere to play in.”
McDowell posted six birdies in his round to join his compatriot on four under par, six shots behind Siem.
“The event has got exactly what it needs," he said. "It's got some sunshine, a great venue and massive crowds.  Of course we are disappointed that Pádraig and Darren are not here for the weekend but myself, Rory and the rest of the Irish boys will try and make a great weekend of it and see if we can get a home winner.”
Singh led by two after an opening 63 that matched the lowest round of his career and, given he hit a wild opening drive into the stones beside Lough Leane, he settled for adding a 70.
But that allowed ex-Ryder Cup man Hansen to catch him with a 66, while defending champion Ross Fisher is among those on seven under and promising Irish amateur Paul Cutler stands six under after a 67.
“I played again sort of very, very similar round to yesterday,” said Hansen. “I just kept my head on very well. There was a few loose drives on the last nine holes, but hopefully I can sort that out by tomorrow, otherwise I played pretty good.”

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
132 Marcel Siem (Germany) 66 66
133 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 65 66, Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 63 70.
134 Ignacioi Garrido (Spain) 69 65

SCOTS' SCORES
137 Stephen Gallacher 71 66, Richie Ramsay 68 68 (T20)
141 George Murray 71 70, David Drysdale 71 70, Peter Whiteford 70 71, Lloyd Saltman 67 74.
MISSED THE CUT (141 or better qualified)
142 Gary Orr 73 69.
143 Steven O'Hara 69 74
146 Scott Jamieson 72 74.

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GRAY JUST MISSES ELLON PRO RECORD WITH A SEVEN-UNDER 63

Hayston's Stephen Gray was only one shot outside Colin Gillies' professional course record at Ellon, Aberdeenshire with a seven-under-par round of 63 to win the first prize of £1,146 in the Tennents McDonald pro-am today. Gray had an eage 3 at the ninth and birdies at the first, long fourth, short seventh, and two short holes after the turn, the 11th and the 15th. He won by four shots from Chris Doak who earned £916 for a 67 with local tour pro Ross Cameron and Jonathan Lomas sharing third place on 69 and earning £601 each. Graham Fox, the new pro at Rowallan Castle, led the Energy Resource Partnership trio of Neil Birnie junior (handicap 14), Neil Birnie senior (12) and Ryan Birnie (12) to victory in the pro-am team event with a net score of 126. Two or three other teams also totalled 126 but Fox and his trio won the card countback. TENNENATS McDONALD PRO-AM McDonald Ellon GC Leading pro scores Par 70 63 Stephen Gray (Hayston) £1,146. 67 Chris Doak (unatt) £916. 69 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) £601 each. 70 Gary Forbes (Aboyne), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) £286 each. ends

DAVID LAW v DANIEL KAY SCOTTISH FINAL AT WESTERN GAILES

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
By ROSS DUNCAN
Tomorrow’s 36-hole Scottish Amateur Championship final will be contested between Dunbar’s Daniel Kay and Hazlehead’s David Law after a dramatic afternoon at sun-kissed Western Gailes.
Law, aiming to become the first player to win multiple titles since Charlie Green almost 30 years ago, produced a superb display of links golf to end the challenge of James Ross before Kay clinched a dramatic victory over number two seed James Byrne with a birdie three at the first extra hole.

Paul Lawrie protégé Law, who beat Paul O’Hara in the final at Royal Troon two years ago, birdied two of the opening four holes to race into an early three-hole before Ross hit back with a wins at the next two holes. Law’s lead was increased to four after birdies at 9 and 11 and put the match almost out of sight with a winning par four at the 12th.

Royal Burgess member Ross showed great sprit to win the 14th with a fine birdie four after an excellent approach, but Law clinched his final berth with a par three at the 15th.

“I hit the ball really good this afternoon after struggling a bit this morning,” said Law, who also won the Scottish Boys Championship in 2009. “I went to the range at lunchtime for fifteen minutes to do a couple of drills that I’ve been working on with Neil Marr and got it going straight away against James.”

“This is the tournament I enjoy the most and it feels great to play in front of a big crowd in your national championship. This event feels the most special to me after winning at Royal Troon and hopefully I’ll have a few down from the North East tomorrow to cheer me on.” he added.

In the second semi-final, it was Kay who got off to a good start, winning the second with a birdie two before Byrne responded with a birdie at the fifth to draw level. Kay won the sixth but Byrne showed his class to notch excellent birdies at the 8th and 10th to move ahead for the first time. Last year’s Amateur Championship silver medallist went two up with a par at the 13th, but a wedge to four feet for birdie at 14 and a 4-iron to 20 feet for birdie two at 15 from Kay squared the match once more.

The game took another twist when Byrne drilled in a superb 30-foot putt at the 16th to go one clear and after a half in four at 17, the 20-year-old from Dunbar took the match to extra holes after Byrne couldn’t get up and down for par on the 18th.

Kay hit a nervy tee-shot at the 19th but produced a stunning nine-iron from a seeded divot to 8-feet and when Byrne couldn’t hole from the back of the green, Lothians man Kay calmly rolled in the winning birdie putt to seal the match.

“It feels like the best win I’ve ever had,” said Kay, who reached the semi-finals of the 2009 Scottish Boys Championship in 2009. “The win against Kris Nicol earlier in the week gave me confidence and I’ve putted well all week and cut out the silly mistakes.”

“You always enter an event thinking you can win it. I’ve been working with my coach Colin Brooks for the last few years which has been a big help and working at The Renaissance Club gives me a chance to use their great facilities, which has also benefitted my game.”

Tomorrow’s 36-hole final tees off at 8.30am with the afternoon round taking starting at 1.00pm. With great weather forecast and the prospect of some fantastic golf on show from two very talented 20-year-olds, spectators are encouraged to come to Western Gailes and support the players.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
DAVID LAW (Hazleead) bt James Ross (Royal Burgess) 4 and 3.
Daniel Kay (Dunbar) bt JAMES BYRNE (Banchory) at 19th.

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SCOTS BOYS SEEK HAT-TRICK OF WINS IN ENGLISH UNDER-14s

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Boys under 14 Stroke Play Championship for the Reid Trophy returns to its traditional home of Porters Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire on 2nd – 4th August with the Scots seeking a hat-trick of victories.
The title has resided north of the border for the past two years following the victories by Euan Scott at The Kendleshire in 2009 and Bradley Neil at Hesketh last year.
On the last occasion the Reid was staged at Porters Park, in 2007, the winner was Stanislas Gautier from France, so Toby Tree (picture © Tom Ward) in 2008 has been the only English winner in the past four years.
There will be a wealth of English talent on show this year, while the entry is again truly international with players representing Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and Switzerland alongside those from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Among the English players likely to feature are Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park, Derbyshire), who was beaten in a playoff for the Midland Boys Championship recently, Max Martin (Copt Heath, Warwickshire), who finished fifth last year at Hesketh but won the under 13 title, and Harry Hall (West Cornwall, Cornwall), the current Cornish under 14 and under 16 champion.
Also in the field is Marco Penge (Worthing, Sussex), winner of the Laddie Lucas Spoon at Prince’s in April. Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor, Sussex) is again the youngest player in the field at 12 years old.
The Reid Trophy is always keenly contested over 54 holes and that will be the case again this year and some of those competing will eventually emerge as the golfing stars of tomorrow. There is also an under 13 championship with 22 players eligible.
Past winners include boy caps Jonathan Bell and Oscar Sharpe and Eddie Pepperell, now a professional.
The total number of entries received this year was 126, so a ballot was held and of the 31 players with handicaps of six, 28 gained entry. The remainder are on a reserve list along with those off seven.
The leading six players in the Championship will gain automatic exemption to next year’s McGregor Trophy (under 16 stroke play Championship) at Trevose in Cornwall.

More information and live scoring can be found on the Championships section of the English Golf Union website englishgolfunion.org.
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VIVA LAS VEGAS FOR EASTWOOD PAIR STUART AND ALASDAIR

 Eastwood PGA professional Stuart Wilson (left) and amateur partner Alasdair Dunn. Image by courtesy of Matthew Lewis at Getty Images (c).

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
 Eastwood Golf Club duo Stuart Wilson and Alasdair Dunn were left shaking their heads in disbelief after winning a trip to Las Vegas in the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship qualifier at Dundonald Links.
The Glasgow-based pairing edged out the host club’s William Colquhoun and William Torrance on countback after both shot a five under par round of 67.
It was a tale of two finishes as Eastwood ended with four straight birdies while the Dundonald duo made two double bogeys over the same holes.
Wilson and Dunn will take part in the grand final of Europe’s biggest Pro-Am event, which will be held at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort in Nevada from December 5-6.
They will make their appearance in the 36-hole final - supported by SkyCaddie and BMW - which is being staged over the Jack Nicklaus-designed SouthShore course.
But PGA professional Wilson admitted that he had no idea they were so close to winning the top prize as they started out early and expected their score to be overhauled.
Wilson said: “Alasdair was just shaking his head in disbelief in the car on the way home.
“And although I play this event every year, I’ve never won through the final and wasn’t really expecting to do so this time. I treat as an enjoyable day out.
“Dundonald hasn’t hosted one of these qualifiers before so there was nothing to measure it against.
“I didn’t think five under par would be enough and we were fully expecting someone else to come in with better.
“But looking back, it was our finish which won it for us. We were two over par after the eighth hole. Our nearest rivals were nine under par with four holes left - but they were four over par over those four holes.
“We’d really no idea how things were panning out until the end when we found out we’d won.
“I actually came close to a hole in one at the 15th - it thought about going in and finished four inches away. I was quite glad it didn’t go in as there were plenty of people in the clubhouse to buy a drink for!
“But playing in the final in Las Vegas will be fantastic and a bit of a co-incidence as myself and some friends had been planning a golf trip to the States. Now that’s been arranged for us!”
The PGA National Pro-Am Championship is now its 27th competitive year with the award-winning Virgin Atlantic long haul airline sponsoring the event for the third successive year.
The winning professional at the Grand Final will take home a cheque for £5,000.
LEADING FINAL TOTALSPar 72
1= 67 Stuart Wilson and Alasdair Dunn (Eastwood)
     William Colquhoun and William Torrance (Dundonald Links)
     (Eastwood win on countback)
3= 69 Stuart Callan and David Stewart (Bathgate)
     Paul Wytrazek and Robin Farnan (Burntisland)  
     Ian Bratton and Stephen Dryden (Newburgh on Ythan)
     Craig Mackie and Kenny Liddell (Scotscraig)

Full results from the regional final at Dundonald Links at be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi1119/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

LIVE SCORING FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR'S IRISH OPEN

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LIVE SCORING FROM SCOTTIS MEN'S AMATEUR QUARTER-FINALS

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RESULTS OF MORNING QUARTER-FINALS

James Ross (Royal Burgess) bt Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 3 and 2.
DAVID LAW (Hazlehead) bt Neil  Henderson (The Glen) 2 holes.
Daniel Kay (Dunbar) bt Paul Alexander (Caldwell) 2 holes.
JAMES BYRNE (Banchory) bt JAMES WHITE (Lundin) 1 hole.

TIGER MAKES COMEBACK IN BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL NEXT WEEK

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods finally gets back to golf next week at the Bridgestone Invitational, ending an 11-week break to heal injuries to his left leg.
Woods used his websit to announce his return on Thursday. He posted on his Twitter account that he's "feeling fit and ready to tee it up at Firestone next week. Excited to get back out there!"
It marks the third-longest layoff of his career, only this time Woods returns with as much uncertainty about his future as ever. Along with questions about the strength of his left knee and Achilles', Woods embarks on his latest comeback with a different caddie, and without guarantees he will be eligible for more than two weeks.
Woods last month fired Steve Williams, who caddied for Adam Scott at the U.S. Open, then angered his boss by working for the Australian again at the AT and T National without seeking permission.
The Golf Channel reported Thursday night that Bryon Bell, a childhood friend and president of Tiger Woods Design, would caddie for him at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Bell has caddied for Woods three times - a win at the 1999 Buick Invitational, a tie for second at the Buick Invitational when Woods gave him a chance to help defend, and a tie for second in 2003 at the Disney Classic when Woods gave Williams the week off for a car race in New Zealand.
Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at Excel Sports Management, declined to confirm Bell would be on the bag, saying in a text message that "no long term been discussed yet as he just decided tonight he was fit and ready to go next week."
Bell would bring a level of familiarity to Woods, although Bell was implicated during Woods' sex scandal as allegedly arranging travel for one of his mistresses.
Woods has plunged to No. 21 in the world - his lowest ranking since Jan. 26, 1997 - and has gone more than 20 months since last winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, shortly before he was exposed for having multiple extramarital affairs that led to divorce.
He last played May 12 at The Players Championship, when he withdrew after going 6 over on the front nine because of recurring pain in his left leg. He has said he would not compete again until he was fully healed.
How long he lasts might depend on more than just his leg, however.
By missing three months, including the last two majors, Woods has gone from No. 81 to No. 133 in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 125 players qualify for the opening round of the playoffs at The Barclays, likely leaving him only the Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship next week to make up ground. Otherwise, he would have at least five weeks off without being able to play on the US PGA Tour.
At least he is returning to a friendly course - Woods has won seven times at Firestone, matching the most he has won on any course as a pro. However, he was at his low point on the course in the Bridgestone Invitational last year when he finished 78th in an 80-man field. Before that, Woods had never finished out of the top five.
Woods missed the second half of the 2008 season following reconstructive knee surgery, then sat out five months after crashing his car into a fire hydrant on Thanksgiving night in 2009, changing his career on and off the golf course. His image shattered, he lost four major corporate endorsements and still has not found an endorsement for his bag. He was divorced in August 2010, and he left IMG when the management company did not renew Steinberg's contract.
On the course, Woods has lost the aura he built while becoming the sport's most dominant figure in the last 40 years. He remains stuck on 14 majors - the last one was in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines - and he nearly missed the cut the last time the PGA Championship was played at Atlanta Athletic Club in 2001.






Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2085841,00.html#ixzz1TThPss6h

PAUL LAWRIE SPONSORS AND WATCHES NORTH versus NE BOYS

Paul Lawrie is in there somewhere! Big group of boys from yesterday's age-group matches between North and North-east at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth. Image by courtesy of Alan Joss of the NE District Association.The North-east won the Under-18s match 6-3 and the Under-14s by 6.5 to 2.5.

Details
(North names first)

UNDER-18s
FOURSOMES (1-2)
Freddie Brown and Jordan Milne bt Chris Lamb and Jamie Reid 4 and 3.
Jordan Shaw and Greg Forsyth lost to Andrew Carrell and Ross Anderson 3 and 2
Peter Sangster and Andrew Young lost to Lewis Mutch and Jamie Pryde 3 and 1.
SINGLES (2-4)
Brown lost to Lamb 3 and 1
Milne bt Reid 1 hole
Shaw bt Carrell 4 and 3
Forsyth lost to Anderson 3 and 2
Sangster lost to Mutch 1 hole
Young lost to Pryde 4 and 3
UNDER-16sFOURSOMES (2-1)
Andrew Kenyon and Rory Asher bt Craig Lawrie and Grant Joss 2 and 1
Alisdair Ross and Ian Stewart lost to Ben Murray and Jack Moir 4 and 3
Cameron Franssen and Cameron Kerr bt Ryan McKinnon and Finlay McPherson 2 and 1.SINGLES (3-3)
Kenyon lost to Craig Lawrie 2 down
Asher bt Grant Joss 6 and 4
Ross lost to Ben Murray 1 hole
Stewart beat Jack Moir 3 and 2
Franssen halved with McKinnon a
Kerr halved with McPherson.

UNDER-14s
FOURSOMES (0-3)Rory Franssen and Clark Gordon lost to Dylan Smith and Benjamin Henderson 2 and 1
Sandy Scott and Finlay Asher lost to Liam Allan and Michael Lawrie 2 holes.
Cameron McLeod and Lorne Ross lost to Gavin Elrick and Stephen Roger 4 and 3.
SINGLES (2.5-3.5)Franssen bt Dylan Smith 2 and 1
Gordon lost to Benjamin Henderson 5 and 4
Scott bt Liam Allan 1 hole
Asher lost to Michael Lawrie 5 and 4
McLeod halved with Gavin Elrick
Ross lost to Stephen Roger 7 and 6

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (AP) — Trevor Immelman's best round of the year reinforced the former Masters champion's belief that he can regain his top form less than two years after wrist surgery.
The South African shot a 6-under 64 Thursday to take the first-round lead by a stroke over five others at the Greenbrier Classic.
"I hope I'm close," Immelman said. "You never know with this game. It's been a frustrating couple of years not being able to swing the way I want to swing and practice the way I want to practice. For the most part this year, I've been able to get back to working on the things I used to work on back then.
"I'm definitely seeing signs of improvement. Albeit slow progress, it's been progress."
Shooting 65s were Gary Woodland, Billy Mayfair, Derek Lamely, Webb Simpson and Australian Steven Bowditch.
The Old White TPC course underwent a makeover since Stuart Appleby shot 59 in the final round last year to beat Jeff Overton by a stroke. The renovations included lengthened tee boxes and reseeded greens that are less receptive to approach shots.
The course surrendered 81 under-par rounds on the first day last year; 41 players broke par Thursday.
Immelman, who failed to advance to weekend play in the 2010 tournament, carded seven birdies and a bogey. Although erratic off the tee, his iron play was solid. He missed one green in regulation and five of his birdies came from less than 11 feet.
Immelman began having trouble with his left wrist at the end of 2008. He had surgery in October 2009 and underwent several months of rehabilitation. The closest he's come to a top-10 finish in the past three seasons is a tie for 12th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.
Although he's missed the cut four times in his last six tournaments, Immelman is poised to improve on his No. 108 position in FedEx Cup points. He failed to qualify for the playoffs the last two seasons.
"For the most part this year I've been working on some of those old feels and trying to get some consistency back," Immelman said. "I've seen signs of some good play and some good shots at the right time. I'm just trying to stay patient with it."
The top 125 in the FedEx standings qualify for the playoff opener at The Barclays next month. Mayfair is 113th, while former Nationwide Tour players Bowditch (128th) and Lamely (195) are among others trying to move up.
Simpson, in his fifth year on the PGA Tour, is still chasing his first career win and hopes to earn a spot in next week's Bridgestone Invitational. The top 50 in the world rankings receive exemptions. He's 53rd.
Mayfair is still looking for his first win since 1998. He earned his PGA Tour card for 2011 after winning qualifying school in December.
Mayfair's lone top 10 this year was a tie for eighth at the Zurich Classic. Earlier this month he was 9 under midway through the John Deere Classic but finished 7 under.
"It's been a disappointing year," Mayfair said. "But as we all say, one week out here can change a lot of things."
Lamely won the Puerto Rico Open last year but has missed the cut in 25 of 39 events since.
After starting with 12 straight pars, Lamely made birdies on five of his last six holes Thursday, including a chip-in on the par-3 18th.
Woodland, whose first tour win came at the Transitions Championship in March, holed his approach shot from 101 yards for eagle at No. 4 and improved to 5 under after a birdie at No. 14. He had a chance to tie for the lead but overshot the green on the par-5 17th and made bogey. He finished with a 4-footer for birdie on No. 18.
Two strokes behind Immelman were Kyle Stanley, Chris DiMarco, Canadian David Hearn and Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe.
The crowd favourite was the group that included Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson and Appleby. It marked the first pairing together for Watson and Mickelson.
Mickelson, who can take over the FedEx Cup points lead with a win, shot a 70 that included five birdies and five bogeys. He then left to meet up with his family for a scheduled white-water rafting trip.
"That's the game plan," he said.
Appleby bogeyed his first two holes and shot 71 while Watson, the Greenbrier's pro emeritus who skipped this week's U.S. Senior Open in Toledo, Ohio, shot 75.
"Very different golf course," Appleby said. "I was definitely the third wheel out there."
NOTES: Sean O'Hair withdrew after winning last week's Canadian Open, which earned him a spot at Bridgestone ... Overton, the 2010 Greenbrier runner-up, shot 74. ... J.B. Holmes, who tied Sam Snead's course record of 60 last year before Appleby erased it, had a 76 Thursday that included double bogeys on both par 5s. ... Only four players had bogey-free rounds: Lamely, Will Strickler (67), J.P. Hayes (68), and Spencer Levin (70).

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JACK SENIOR NOW FAVOURITE TO WIN ENGLISH AMATEUR TITLE

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Jack Senior is hoping to ring down the curtain on his amateur career by winning the English Amateur Championship, supported by abacus, over the Marquess course at Woburn.
After reaching the quarter finals with two impressive wins he can be considered the favourite to lift the trophy on Saturday.
Having needed 19 holes to put out United States-based Charlie Bull in the morning, the Lancastrian produced his best game to get past Lincolnshire’s Dave Coupland 3 and 2 to reach the last eight.
Senior made a blistering start with four birdies in the opening five holes. Coupland birdied the seventh and won the eighth to reduce the deficit to two. Although they traded birdies over the closing stretch, Coupland conceded the match after finding a bad lie in sand on the 16th.
“This course suits me,” said Senior. “You need to drive the ball well and putt well and they are my main strengths. I’ve not got a good record in the English, just average, so this is my best year by a long stretch.”
Senior now meets Jamie Clare from Somerset, a pupil at Millfield School, tomorrow morning. Seventeen-year-old Clare beat Kent champion Michael Saunders 4 and 3 in round two then had to go to the 19th in beating Andrew Palmer from Chorley.
Palmer got his nose in front with a birdie at the tenth only to lose the next. A further birdie at 15 looked to have put the Lancashire player in the box seat but he bogeyed the 16th after finding sand while Clare just needed a par at the 19th to ease through.
Sam Claridge claimed the biggest win of the afternoon with a 5 and 4 victory over Paul Kinnear. The Hertfordshire 20 year old didn’t drop a shot and admitted he has turned his game around between the qualifying and the match play.
“I was hitting it shocking coming into the week and I played poorly in the stroke play but managed to qualify,” he said. “Then I got a tip from a colleague at my club and I’m hitting it really well again.
“I’ve qualified every time I’ve played the English but I’ve never got past the first round before,” he admitted.
Claridge will now meet England international Steven Brown in the opening quarter final tomorrow after the Surrey man put out his Wentworth colleague Warren Harmston 2 and 1 in the morning when came from behind to beat Mark Wharton in the last 16.
Brown found himself 2-down with six to play after Wharton birdied the 11th and 12th holes. But the Bedfordshire 48 year old, who only decided to enter because it was being played close to his home, three-putted the next two holes, while a Brown birdie at 17 settled it.
“Mark played solidly for most of the round but he let me back in with the three putts,” said Brown. “I birdied 17 from about 15 feet which was pleasing because it was a tough pin today.
“Playing Warren this morning was tough because it’s always hard playing your best mate. But I’m playing well, not giving holes away and if I can keep doing that I’ll be hard to beat.”
Wharton, who needed 19 holes to put out local man Sam Whitehead this morning, said: “I’ve learned a lot this week. This course rewards the longer hitters but the biggest difference is in the short game. But if I’d got through the next two holes against Steve it would have been interesting.”
Philip Ridden from Newcastle-upon-Tyne also reached the quarter finals by putting out two England internationals, Stiggy Hodgson by 1 hole after a comprehensive 5 and 3 win over Paul Lockwood.
Lagonda Trophy winner Ridden always held the upper hand against Hodgson, being 2-up after seven holes and 3-up through 14. The Surrey man staged a comeback by reducing the deficit to one but couldn’t improve on that.
Ridden now meets Tyrrell Hatton in the last eight after the BB&O man beat Tim Martin from Sussex 3 and 2 then came from behind to overcome Surrey’s Ben Taylor 2 and 1.
“We both played well and the difference was that I dropped only one shot but Ben dropped two,” said Hatton.

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RORY BITES BACK AT TV PUNDIT AFTER STINGING TWITTER CRITICISM

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
US Open champion Rory McIlroy got involved in a Twitter row with a BBC radio commentator after a late slump at the Irish Open yesterday.
After a back nine of errant tee shots, an angry Rory McIlroy told a television pundit to “shut up” after he criticised the Northern Irishman’s opening round at Killarney.
McIlroy let three shots go over the closing eight holes, which included a double-bogey 6, to finish with a one-under-par 70.
Jay Townsend, the American ex-pro-turned-pundit, used Twitter to berate McIlroy for his course management, calling it “shocking” and “some of the worst I have ever seen beyond under-10s boys golf competition”.
A bruised McIlroy was having none of that. “Shut up,” he tweeted. “You’re a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!”
His willingness to engage on such robust terms was influenced by frustration and loyalty to his caddie, JP Fitzgerald, who was soundly walloped by the critics after McIlroy’s collapse on Masters Sunday.
Townsend was one of many suggesting Fitzgerald should have done more to stem the bleeding. Townsend stood by his comments and went further by suggesting that McIlroy might profit were he to employ Steve Williams, released by Tiger Woods, to carry his bag.
McIlroy responded by ‘unfollowing’ him on Twitter.
“He’s been having a go at JP every now and again and this was the first time I’ve responded,” McIlroy said. “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Now I’ve blocked him on Twitter so I won’t be reading anything more.”
This is the kind of inevitable background noise that will attach to McIlroy following indifferent performances. The memory of Masters Sunday will not leave him alone on days like this. The downturn was sudden. A birdie at the 10th took him to four under and the outright lead.
Thereafter his round fell away, culminating in a double-bogey six via sand and water at the last. At the 16th, McIlroy needed the help of a tree to locate the green after heaving his approach way right from the centre of the fairway and at the 14th his tee shot was spectacularly bad.
But, oh, what a recovery, shaped over and around an Irish oak. Sky’s fairway commentator, Wayne Riley, a man prone to the emphatic declaration, said it was the best shot he had ever seen. McIlroy slipped it straight into his top five, up there with his six-iron at the 10th at Congressional on the final day of the US Open and his three-wood into the wind at the eighth hole at Doral two years ago.
McIlroy was 50 or so yards right of the 14th fairway, ankle deep in pasture. His tee shot was a shocker, a block that would have embarrassed an 18-handicapper. Nothing to do with course management. Just poor golf. As McIlroy admitted, he was suffering from competitive rust. This was only his second outing since his US Open win seven weeks ago. He needed a response.
“To be honest all I was trying to do was to get it in the front bunker. I had 125 yards to the front and 130 to the pin and had to hit it, must have been a 40 or 50-yard hook with a sand wedge. Luckily enough it just got over the bunker.
"It would have been great to make a 3 there but I would have taken a 4 from where I saw my ball after the tee shot. It was definitely one of the best shots I’ve ever hit.”
As McIlroy was limping off the 18th, Northern Ireland’s older man of the moment, Darren Clarke, was walking off the first with a bogey. None of the fabled Irish quartet of major champions had the leaderboard ringing.
Open champion Clarke closed on two under par, last year’s US Open champion, Graeme McDowell, finished on one over, and Padraig Harrington, he of the three majors, two over. The day belonged to Jeev Milkha Singh, the son of Olympic sprinter Milkha Singh, also known as ‘The Flying Sikh’. Junior was faithful to the Singh gene pool, racing away with the honours on the opening day, carding an eight-under-par 63.
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71
63 Jeev Milkha Singh (India).
66 Alexandre Kaleka (France), Michael Campbell (NZ), Marcel Siem (Germany), Christian Nilsson (Sweden).
67 Lloyd Saltman (Scotland), Raphael Jacquelin (France), Alejandro Canizares (Spain), Colm Moriarty (Ireland), Ross Fisher (England), Niclas Lemke (Sweden), Soren Hansen (Denmark), Bernd Wiesberger (Switzerland), Steve Webster (England), Richard Green (Australia).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
68 Richie Ramsay (T16)
69 Steven O'Hara (T27).
70 Peter Whiteford (T44).
71 David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher (T69).
72 George Murray (T90).
73 Gary Orr (T114).

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