WEBB SIMPSON CHASING A 'GREAT CHUNK OF MONEY'

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
St SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) — Webb Simpson kept his name near the top of the leaderboard Friday at Sea Island and his eyes on a showdown with Luke Donald next week at Disney.
Simpson, in a chase to try to win the US PGA Tour money title, made a pair of late birdies for a 3-under 67 at the McGladrey Classic. That left him two shots behind Billy Horschel, who picked up four shots over his last four holes on the Seaside course for a 64.
After finishing his second round, Simpson said he would play the US Tour's final tournament next week at Disney in his bid to capture the money title. Donald, currently atop the money list by $68,971 over Simpson, had said earlier Friday that he would add Disney to his schedule.
Donald, who was in England for his caddie's wedding, said on Twitter: "There was never really a decision to be made. I have a chance of making history. See you all at Disney next week." That was followed by a hash tag that said, "Bring it on."
Simpson continued to do just that.
After opening with a 63 and facing stronger wind off the coastal waters, he survived a shaky start and poured in enough birdies to get into the lead with Michael Thompson, who had a 64 earlier in the day. They stayed there until Horschel made his late burst with an eagle-birdie-par-birdie finish to take the lead at 12-under 130.
"I figured Luke was going to play," Simpson said. "I think he's kind of thinking the same thing I'm thinking, that if one of us was going to play, the other one really needed to. It's going to be fun. He's one of the most competitive guys on tour, and so I'm sure he's going to come guns loaded, and he's going to play great like he has all year."
It's the first time since 2003, when Vijay Singh held off Tiger Woods in the Tour Championship, that the US PGA Tour money title will come down to the final tournament of the year.
Simpson is not entirely focused on next week. He was only two shots behind going into the weekend, poised to make a run at a tour-leading third win this year. That might be enough to make him the favourite for PGA Tour player of the year, and the money list could help sway the players' vote. Donald has a large lead in the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average.
Louis Oosthuizen also had little trouble handling the stiff breeze, having grown up in the wind along the South African shore and winning the British Open by seven shots at St. Andrews last year. Oosthuizen, playing his last event on the U.S. tour, had a 67 and was in the group four shots back.
Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who left Alabama University this summer after his junior (third) year, took another step toward becoming only the sixth player to get his US Tour card without going to Q-school. Cauley was among the top 10 until running into trouble on the 14th, one of the more exposed holes on the Seaside course, and making double bogey. He still had a 68 and was tied for 17th going into the weekend. In eight tournaments since turning pro, Cauley has missed only one cut.
Horschel, meanwhile, is No. 139 on the money list and says he's not worried - not as he tries to finish among the top 125 to keep his card, or tries to stay in the top 150 to avoid two stages of Q-school.
"I'm not worried about No. 139," Horschel said. "I'm worried about playing well."
Horschel played with Cauley and William McGirt, the long shot of the FedEx Cup playoffs who now is trying to get his card. McGirt took a triple bogey early in his round to fall three shots over the cut line, and then rallied with five birdies to make it to the weekend and keep his hopes alive.
The McGladrey Classic did lose its tournament host, however, when Davis Love III took bogey on the last hole and wound up missing the cut by one shot. Seventy-two players made the cut at 1-under 139. Among those knocked out was Matt Jones, who is No. 125 on the money list. He opened with a 65, but followed with a 75 to miss by one shot.
Simpson also is interested in money, but on the high end of the food chain.
This race was set up a month ago at the Tour Championship, when Donald made a birdie on the final hole at East Lake that put him in a three-way tie for third and earned him enough money to move past Simpson to the top of the money list.
Donald has a commanding lead on the European Tour money list as he tries to become the first player in history to win money titles on both the European and US PGA Tours in the same year.
"His birdie on 18 at the Tour Championship turned out to be the biggest putt of the year for him, in my opinion," Simpson said. "It just kind of turned around our schedules a little bit."
Because the tour tweaks groupings, Simpson expects to be paired with Donald for the first two rounds at Disney.
"A lot is going to happen next week," Simpson said. "And a lot can happen this weekend. I'm just going to try and win the golf tournament. If I can play well this weekend - even if I don't win - a great chunk will be added to the money list."

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KOKRAK LEADS BY THREE ON NATIONWIDE TOUR

REPORT FROM THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour staff
MIAMI, Florida -- Jason Kokrak likes to know how everybody is doing on the golf course, so the big-hitting 26 year old watches the leaderboard during his rounds. What he's seen this week is his name established clearly at the top.
Kokrak added a 5-under 66 to a first-day 63 at the Miccosukee Championship and moved into sole possession of the 36-hole lead. Kokrak's 13-under 129 total is not only a tournament record at the halfway point, but it's three shots better Luke List (66) and Jonas Blixt (65), his nearest challengers.
"I'm a watcher, I like to know," said Kokrak, winner of the Albertsons Boise Open last month. "I like to put that pressure on myself because I want to know if I should play out to the middle of the green or take dead aim and hit it."
Kokrak has been using his length off the tee -- he's No. 1 in Average Driving Distance on Tour this year -- to his advantage this week at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
"The par-5s are all reachable in two shots and on the long par-4s I'm still hitting 8-, 9-iron or wedge into the greens where some of the guys have to use 5- and 6-irons," said the leader.
"I think length is a huge advantage at this course. There are some holes out here where we can play aggressive."
Kokrak, who started the year with conditional status, has been hammering his way around the Nationwide Tour since early summer when he finally started getting into tournaments. He made the cut in nine of his previous 13 starts and has a pair of top-10 finishes to go along with his first career win.
"I've only had half a season out here so I'm still proving myself a little bit," he said. "I want to finish off strong and hopefully win again before we're done. Hopefully we'll throw up another 63 and put this thing away."
Kokrak relied on his putting to grab a share of Thursday's lead with Daniel Chopra (72), but was a little more solid on Friday while moving into first place. He hit more fairways and more greens while creating some distance on the field.
Chasing him are former college standouts List (Vanderbilt) and Blixt (Florida State).
Brett Wetterich, who became a father for the second time on Thursday, is four shots back heading into the weekend. Jin Park, Brad Elder, Carl Paulson, Rahil Gangjee, Tyrone Van Aswegen and Matt Every are five off the pace.
• Kokrak's 13-under 129 total is the best start in tournament history. Marc Turnesa was 12-under and led by four strkes at the halfway point in 2007 and went on to finish at minus-15 and win by one.
• Kokrak, No. 15 on the money list, could move to as high as No. 4 on the money list with a win this week. First place is worth $90,000.
• England's Greg Owen had a pair of eagles on the par-5 5th and 10th holes. Owen is only the fifth player in tournament history to register two eagles during a single round. Owen shot a 3-under 68 and is minus-5 and T23.
• Coincidentally, another Englishman, Mylan Classic winner Gary Christian, also had a pair of eagles at Nos. 5 and 10. Christian is also at 5-under and T23
• Leading Nationwide Tour money winner J.J. Killeen (70-70) missed the cut this week by one shot. This is only the third missed cut of the year in 23 starts for Killeen, who won back-to-back events this summer at the Utah Championship and the Cox Classic.
Killeen is assured of being No. 1 on the money list come Sunday because the only two players who could have passed him -- No. 2 Mathew Goggin (73-69) and No. 3 Ted Potter, Jr. (72-69) -- both missed the cut as well.
• Twenty-three of the top-25 money winners were entered this week and seven of them did not make it to the weekend. Among those missing the cut were: J.J. Killeen (No. 1), Mathew Goggin (No. 2), Ted Potter, Jr. (No. 3), Kyle Reifers (No. 13) Steve Wheatcroft (No. 14), Scott Brown (No. 17) and Josh Broadaway (No. 23).
• There is also a good deal of attention being paid to the top-60 on the money list. Only the top-60 money winners following next week's Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open will advance to the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island the following week and have a chance to earn their US PGA Tour cards for the 2012 season.
are missing are Danny Lee (No. 4) and John Malliner (No. 9). This week's field also includes 46 of the top 50 and 93 of the top 100 money winners.


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COUPLES, LOWERY SHARE SENIORS' LEAD IN TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- Fred Couples shot a 7-under 65 to take a share of the first-round lead with Steve Lowery at the US Champions (Seniors) Tour's AT and T Championship on Friday.
Lowery settled for a birdie at the 190-yard 13th after his 6-iron lipped out, then holed out from the fairway from 168 yards with an 8-iron for an eagle on the next hole.
Hal Sutton and Nick Price were a stroke behind, and Tommy Armour III and Chien Soon Lu had 67s.
Ten players were 4 under: Phil Blackmar, Mark Calcavecchia, Bobby Clampett, Russ Cochran, Scott Hoch, John Huston, Gil Morgan, Steve Pate, Loren Roberts and Eduardo Romero.
This is the first year the event has been played at TPC San Antonio's Canyon Course, and more than half the field shot under par. There was hardly a breeze on a nearly cloudless day over a Pete Dye-designed course that doesn't look anything as demanding as his lay-outs in places such as Whistling Straits or Kiawah Island.
"I think this had to be the prettiest day we've played golf all year long," said Sutton, who hit all 18 greens in regulation. "If you hadn't have told me Pete Dye (designed the course), I wouldn't have really guessed that."
Defending champion Rod Spittle (74) was among the 31 players over par.
Couples is playing for the third straight week and is looking for his third-straight top-10 finish despite back problems that have been eased by protein injections he received this summer in Germany. He won the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship in August and tied for 15th at the Masters.
"I feel pretty good right now," Couples said. "But I'm not going to overdo it."
Though he birdied his first three holes and had eight for the day, he got big breaks with a 30-foot putt for par on the No. 8 and then saw his errant drive at No. 12 hit a rock and bounce back into the middle of the fairway. He birdied.
"Little jumps like that are big moves," Couples said.
Lowery, whose victory at the AT and T Pebble Beach Pro-Am three years ago is one of his three victories on the US PGA Tour, is looking for his first trophy on the Champions Tour. He would have come in with the lead if not for a bunker shot at No. 17 that clipped the lip of the trap and barely dribbled onto the green. That left him 90 feet from the cup, and he three-putted.
It's the last full-field tournament for the Champions Tour before the top 30 on the money list head to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco in three weeks.

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DONALD GOING TO DISNEY ... BUT NOT FOR A LAUGH

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
LAKE BUENA VISTA, California (AP) — Luke Donald is not going to give up the US PGA Tour money title without a fight.
Donald decided today to enter the US Tour's final tournament next week at Disney, a response to Webb Simpson playing this week in the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island.
Donald made a birdie on the final hole of the Tour Championship to tie for third, pushing him to the top of the money list by $68,971 over Simpson. Donald is trying to become the first player to win the money titles on the US Tour and European Tour in the same year.
It could be the first time since 2003 that the US Tour money title came down to the final tournament of the year.



Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2096679,00.html#ixzz1amxOSAej

RUSSELL LEADS BY TWO FROM MACAULAY IN ROMA CHALLENGE

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
European Tour Deputy Chief Press Officer

You might not expect a Scot to be able to use extensive local knowledge around a golf course on the northern outskirts of Rome, but Raymond Russell employed exactly that to charge to top of the Roma Golf Open leaderboard at the halfway stage.

The Scot, pictured, back on the Challenge Tour after spending the majority of the year crippled by the effects of a mysterious and debilitating viral condition, posted a second round of six under par 65 to establish a two-shot lead over his countryman Callum Macaulay, the English pair of Lloyd Kennedy and Sam Little as well as Italian Gregory Molteni at the Olgiata Golf Club.
Russell’s extensive knowledge of this week’s host venue came, in the main, from his caddie for the first two rounds in Rome, the former club professional at Olgiata, Pete McEvoy, who has been a friend of Russell’s for many years and who is now the head professional at his home club, Old Fold Manor in Hertfordshire, England.
“I have had my friend Pete from back home on the bag for the first two rounds here. I know him from my club back home, Old Fold Manor, and he used to be the pro here,” Russell explained.
“My 65 was a good score today because conditions were tricky out there and the flags were tucked away. It was one of those days when you are playing for the most part to the middle of the greens and trying to take advantage of the par fives. It was a day to play smart and I managed to do that.”
Russell is just thankful to be competing after wondering at points during the year if he would ever get the chance to play at the top level, given the crushing effects of his viral condition.
The 39 year old from Edinburgh suffered a prodigious loss of weight during his illness and was told by doctors during the height of his troubles that his body was operating on 15 per cent of its usual capacity.
“It feels great to be at the top of the leaderboard but to be honest it is just good to be back competing,” continued the Scot. “It’s been a tough year so to be back out here competing is very satisfying.
“They still have no idea what the virus was. All they can tell me is that it was a virus with similar symptoms to glandular fever. I was tested for almost everything – Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, HIV, Dengue Fever, River Ross Fever – everything you can think of – and they still don’t know what it was exactly.”
While Russell is simply appreciating being able to play the game he loves to the kind of level that made him a European Tour champion at the 1996 Cannes Open, Macaulay is hoping to keep his 2012 European Tour dream alive by finishing in the top three in the Eternal City to progress to the season-ending Grand Final in three weeks.
The Roma Golf Open is the penultimate event of the year and Macaulay’s last chance to break into the top 45 in the Rankings and claim a Grand Final spot. Currently 61st, the 27 year old needs to finish in the top three in Rome to earn the requisite €10,000 that would allow him to continue his quest to finish in the elite top 20 European Tour card-winning spots at the conclusion of the season finale.
“I was a bit too aggressive to start today and bogeyed the first but that was the only mistake I made all day,” said Macaulay. “I kind of hung in there for the rest of the front nine, made a good birdie at the ninth and that set me up for a good back nine with three more.

“I’ll just keep plodding along and see where it takes me on Sunday. I’m here to win the tournament – as I am every week I tee it up – and that mindset won’t change.”

Jamie McLeary is another Scot in contention in Rome after a three under 68 left him on four under for the tournament, while Jack Doherty (-1), Craig Lee (level par), Gavin Dear (+1) and Chris Doak (+1) all survived the halfway cut. Elliott Saltman, meanwhile, endured a nightmare second round 80 to be the only Scot in the field to require an early flight home.

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
132 Raymond Russell (Scotland) 67 65.
134 Sam Little (England) 66 68, Callum Macaulay (Scotland) 66 68, Lloyd Kennedy (England) 68 66, Gregory Molteni (Italy) 69 65.

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
138 Jamie McLeary 70 68 (T12).
141 Jack Doherty 71 70 (T27).
142 Craig Lee 71 71 (T38)
143 Chris Doak 70 73, Gavin Dear 72 71 (T44)

MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified)
157 Elliot Saltman 76 81.

FRASER MANN FOUR SHOTS BEHIND LEADER WOLSTENHOLME

By Neil Ahern
European Tour Assistant Press Officer
Fraser Mann’s turbulent opening round at the Benahavis Senior Masters, which saw him card seven birdies and five bogeys, left him just four shots off the lead set by Gary Wolstenholme in Spain.
The Haddington player’s two under par round of 69, which included just six pars, meant he shared sixth place with six other players at La Quinta Golf and Country Club in the Benahavis region of Spain's Costa del Sol.
His bogey-birdie-bogey start was a sign of things to come as another bogey at the fifth was followed by four consecutive birdies which took him through the front nine with a two under par 33, before two birdies and two bogeys on a level par back nine.
Ross Drummond was a shot further back on tied 13th after a one under par 70 while Bill Longmuir and Gordon Brand junior were tied 37th after two over par rounds of 73.
Gary Wolstenholme, meanwhile, soared to the overnight lead after a six under par round of 65.
The Englishman is chasing his first win of the 2011 European Senior Tour season and is also in pole position for the Rookie of the Year award and he did his chances of clinching both accolades no harm as he tore up the front nine on the way to his one shot lead.
His five birdies in a flawless front nine included a run of three on the trot from the eight hole and while he did bogey the 13th hole, birdies on the 14th and the 17th atoned for that and saw him take to the summit, above second placed Adan Sowa.
The Argentinian shot to the top of the leaderboard earlier in the day after he holed an eight iron approach for an eagle two at the 451 yard par four third hole and he followed that up with three consecutive birdies on the eighth, ninth and tenth before cancelling out a bogey on the 13th with a birdie on the 14th to card a five under par 66.
Mark Mouland sat a shot behind after a bogey-free round which meant that he has gone three rounds without a single blemish, following his win at the Belas Clube de Campo Senior Open de Portugal a fortnight ago.
Mark James was in fifth place after a three under par round of 68 which included six birdies while Barry Lane finished tied 13th after a one under par 70 as he tries to close the gap on Senior Tour Order of Merit leader Peter Fowler, who finished the opening round in Spain with a one over par 72 to sit tied 31st.

FIRST ROUND
Par 71
65 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 
66 J Gould (Eng), A Sowa (Arg) 
67 M Mouland (Wal) 
68 M James (Eng)
69 J Davila (Esp), G Brand (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA), E Rodriguez (Esp), J Harrison (Eng), T Thelen (USA), F Mann (Sco) 
70 A Franco (Par) , R Drummond (Sco) , B Cameron (Eng) , D Hospital (Esp) , C Rocca (Ita) , C Mason (Eng) , D Johnson (USA) , J Cañizares (Esp) , B Lane (Eng) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , D O'Sullivan (Irl)
71 M Belsham (Eng) , J Quiros (Esp) , P Mitchell (Eng) , A Sherborne (Eng) , D Durnian (Eng) , T Johnstone (Zim) , G Manson (Aut) 
72 B Smit (RSA) , T Charnley (Eng) , P Fowler (Aus) , G Ryall (Eng) , R Chapman (Eng) , M Moreno (Esp)
73 G Brand junior (Sco) , C Williams (RSA) , F Illouz (Fra) , J Rhodes (Eng) , J Heggarty (Nir) , J Bruner (USA) , S Bennett (Eng) , J Stansberry (USA) , T Giedeon (Ger) , B Longmuir (Sco)
74 M Piñero (Esp) , J Sallat (Fra) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , G Banister (Aus) , D Smyth (Irl) , P Dahlberg (Swe)
75 P Allan (Eng) , D Cambridge (Jam) , J Hall (Eng) , A Oldcorn (Sco) , C Grenier (Aut) , G Ralph (Eng) , M Gray (Sco)
76 N Job (Eng) , B Lendzion (USA) , J Rivero (Esp) , J Stuart (USA)
77 T Burgoyne (Sco) , K Spurgeon (Eng)
78 A Garrido (Esp) , S Ruiz (Esp) , S Cipa (Eng) , M Bembridge (Eng)
79 H Carbonetti (Arg)
81 T Horton (Eng)
82 J Chillas (Sco), V Garcia (Esp) 
** B Queipo De Llano (am) (Esp)

CAN SIMON WIN THE PORTUGAL MASTERS? PAUL LAWRIE 4 BEHIND

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Londoner Simon Khan is determined to channel the pressure of leading the Portugal Masters into a positive performance over the weekend in Vilamoura.
England’s 2010 BMW PGA Championship winner carded an early 66 to reach 13 under at the halfway stage, and none of the afternoon starters were able to catch him.
Chingford-born Khan starts Saturday's third round with a one shot lead from three men - Welshman Rhys Davies, South American Felipe Aguilar from Chile and South African James Kingston.
The 39 year old has had something of a subdued season to date, with a fifth-place finish in France his best result of 2011 so far.
And Khan is determined to make the most of his chance to set the pace at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course.
“I can't remember the last time I was leading,” said Khan, who came charging from the pack on the final day to claim the biggest win of his career at Wentworth Club last May.
“It was probably the Scottish Open with Graeme McDowell in 2008, something like that. But I enjoy being up there.
“Like I said yesterday, you have to embrace the pressure really, and if you want to be on the fringes on this Tour, then go and do something else. It's only the shadow of your ambitions, the pressure, and you have just got to enjoy that and take it into yourself and go and do it.”
After starting with back-to-back birdies, Khan gained another shot at the fourth and responded to his first bogey at the seventh with a birdie at the par three next from 40 feet to turn in 33.
His back nine began with a bogey, but consecutive gains at the 12th and 13th – he almost had a hole in one at the latter - put him back in front, and he holed from 25 feet at the 17th before finishing with another birdie at the difficult closing hole after an approach to six feet.
“I started great - birdied the first two holes and that settled me down quickly,” he added.
At 51st on The Race to Dubai, Davies can confirm his place at the season ending Dubai World Championship with a good showing on the Algarve.
And the former Trophée Hassan II winner impressed with seven birdies in a round of 67 to be 12 under at the halfway stage.
The 26 year old will certainly appreciate the late start on Saturday, with Wales facing France in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup at 9am.
“I think we have a great chance,” said Davies. “We have a really tough team to play against, there's no doubt about it. I think the French are quite unpredictable.
“Thomas Levet was trying to tell me how dominant they were earlier, but I'm having none of it. I back my boys and I think they are great stuff. They have a really great team chemistry going it seems, and they are playing some really good rugby. We are fully confident on the weekend that we can turn them over tomorrow.”
South African Kingston threatened to match his sparkling opening 64 when he began with three birdies in his first four holes, but there were only two further gains separated by a bogey at the fifth.
“I'm not beating myself up,” said the 45 year old. “I played nicely out there. It was one of those days where I could have posted a decent round again, but it's never easy to do it after a low round the first day. Like I say, I played solid golf and I'm one behind.”
Like Davies, Aguilar is looking to book his place in Dubai in December – and at 61st in The Race to Dubai he is currently one place outside the cut-off point.
“I'm in good position,” said Aguilar, who mixed eight birdies with two bogeys. “This is where you want to be. I like to hunt from behind, especially on the weekend.
“I have nothing to lose - I think I'm playing well this year. I have my card and I want to get into The Race to Dubai."
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
131 Simon Khan (England) 65 66.
132 Rhys Davies (Wales) 65 67, Felipe Aguilar (Chile) 66 66, James Kingston (S Africa) 64 68.
133 Christian Nilsson (Sweden) 69 64, David Dixon (England) 69 64, Johan Edfors (Sweden) 66 67.
134 Tom Lewis (England) 70 64, Keith Horne (S Africa) 69 65, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 65 69, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 69 65.

SCOTS' SCORES
135 Paul Lawrie 69 66 (T12).
136 David Drysdale 69 67 (T22).
138 Peter Whiteford 71 67, Alastair Forsyth 68 70 (T43).
139 Colin Montgomerie 67 72, Steven O'Hara 68 71 (T60).

MISSED THE CUT (139 or better qualified)
140 Stephen Gallacher 70 70.
141 Gary Orr 70 71.
145 Richie Ramsay 71 74.
146 Scott Jamieson 73 73

OH HENRY! LATE SLIPS IN ALPS TOUR EVENT IN FRANCE

Scott Henry let his concentration slip and dropped three shots over the last four holes in a second-round 73 for a halfway total of four-over 148 in this weekend's Alps Tour event in France, the Mercedes 13 tournament at Pont Royal V GC. Henry was looking to break 70 after birdieind the fifth, 12th and 14th but he bogeyed the 15th and then ran up a double-bogey 6 at the 17th. The Scot made the cut with three shots to spare but he has drifted down the field to joint 23rd, nine shots behind the French joint leaders, Guillaume Cambis (63-76) and Laurent Seinger (72-67). Henry, fourth in the Alps Tour Order of Merit, needs to stay in the top five to gain promotion to the Challenge Tour. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE CLICK HERE

DAVID LAW MISSES CUT IN INDIAN OPEN AFTER SLEEPLESS NIGHT

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR

New Delhi: Chiragh Kumar of India raced into a three-shot lead to put himself in good position of securing a dream victory after the second round of the Hero Indian Open, a tournament which he highly regards as the fifth Major.

He battled to a solid five-under-par 67 to hold on to his overnight lead with a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 at his home course, the Delhi Golf Club.

Australia’s David Gleeson, a two-time Asian Tour winner, eagled two holes for 66 to lie in second while Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, who holds the world 72-hole scoring record he set in India in 2009, was a further two shots back in third after his blemish free round of 67.

Ross Bain of Scotland, Scott Barr of Australia and Young Nam of Korea were tied in fourth place on 137 in the US$1.25 million Asian Tour event.
Kumar, a 2006 Asian Games silver team medallist, surprised even himself after shooting another superb round to lead the chasing pack going into the weekend rounds.
“I really didn’t expect to shoot another low number but I’m glad I did. The Indian Open is such a big tournament for us and it has grown tremendously. It is like a fifth Major to all the Indian players,” said the 27-year-old, who finished in tied 10th in the 2006 Indian Open as an amateur.
Kumar, who stays approximately 10 minutes from the Delhi Golf Club, turned in 34 before adding three birdies on his homeward nine, highlighted by a huge 20 feet par putt on the sixth hole.
“That kept the momentum going as I was able to birdie the next two holes. It was a really good putt,” said Kumar, who had his family following him for the entire round.
Gleeson continued to climb up the leaderboard courtesy of two eagles on holes one and eight which he sank from 10 and 20 feet respectively.
“There are 36 holes to go and I got a lot of work to do to keep in contention. There are a lot of guys who still have a chance to make a charge and get close to winning the tournament,” said Gleeson, who finished second at the Macau Open last month.
Thailand’s Chapchai, who holds the world 72-hole scoring record with a 32-under-par 256 total, posted five birdies in a bogey free round without using a driver.
“Driving will be the key. You need to keep your ball on the fairway and you will have a good chance to score,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.
The Dubai-based Bain got off to a fast start when he holed a monster eagle putt on the first hole from 35 feet before turning in 34. He couldn’t buy a putt on his homeward nine and returned with two bogeys.
“I started like a house on fire which was nice. I’m a bit disappointed not to keep it going. I hit a couple of sloppy shots that cost me a few bogeys. I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be,” said the 35-year-old, who is searching for his maiden Asian Tour win.
The halfway cut was set at one-over-par 145 with a total of 70 players making the weekend rounds.

Scottish amateur champion David Law, pictured, from Aberdeen, making his tour pro debut, missed the cut by six shots with rounds of 73 and 78 for 151.
But the news from David's older brother Chris who is caddieing for him out there is that it was touch and go whether he would be well enough to make it to the first tee for the second round.
David was up almost all night with an upset stomach - the dreaded "runs," always a possibility in an Eastern country where they cook things differently to us in the West.
So it was a very weak Law who finally teed off today - and it showed.
Again it was the outward half that "killed" the Hazlehead GC honorary member. He had a triple boey 7 at the fourth and a double bogey 6 at the ninth with single bogeys at the first, second and seventh.
Highlights of a tortuous nine holes were birdies at the sixth and eighth. Law reached the turn in six-over-par 42 (three more than in the first round).
Perhaps David stopped feeling as though his stomach had turned upside down round about there, because he came home in nine straight pars. That
should have cheered up the Boy David. As a rookie he may be trying just that little bit too hard to make things happen but in this case, he was probably in no physical condition to play at Indian Tour level.
But Law's skill will come to the surface as a pro eventually. Does it matter if he misses a few cuts as he finds his land legs in pro events? Remember Justin Rose? How many successive cuts did he miss when he turned pro? Was it 25 in a row, or maybe even 27?
But look at him now - a successful campaigner on the US Tour. Your day will come, David! But keep off the Indian curries. Stick with the sandwiches.

Leading second round scores
Par 144 (2x72)
131 - Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 64-67.
134 - David GLEESON (AUS) 68-66.
136 - Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 69-67.
137 - Ross BAIN (SCO) 65-72, Scott BARR (AUS) 67-70, Young NAM (KOR) 69-68.
138 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 72-66, Harendra GUPTA (IND) 72-66.
139 - LU Wei-chih (TPE) 71-68, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 68-71, Zaw MOE (MYN) 65-74, Himmat RAI (IND) 69-70, S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 69-70.

140 - Ben FOX (USA) 72-68, Angelo QUE (PHI) 68-72, Scott HEND (AUS) 71-69, Tjaart VAN DER WALT (RSA) 69-71, Rick GIBSON (CAN) 70-70, SIDDIKUR (BAN) 70-70, Sujjan SINGH (IND) 70-70.

Selected scores

141 – Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 70, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 69 72 (T21)

144 – Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 74-70, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 70 74 (T47).

MISSED THE CUT (145 or better qualified)

146 – Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71-75

147 – Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72-75

148 - Miles Tunnicliffe (Eng) 76 72, Niall Turner (Ire) 73 75.

151 - David Law (Sco) 73 78.

KOKRAK AND CHOPRA SHARE NATIONWIDE TOUR LEAD

FROM THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour staff
MIAMI, Florida -- Jason Kokrak and Daniel Chopra, a pair of tournament winners this year, posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead in the Miccosukee Championship.
Kokrak, winner of the Albertsons Boise Open last month, was the first player off the tee in the morning and put together a bogey-free effort that held up for most the opening round at the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
Chopra, winner of the Fresh Express Classic back in April, dunked a wedge from 112 yards on the final hole for an eagle-2 and a spot the top.
"Its one of those that just looks so good, you're hoping it's the right distance," said Chopra, who was making up for a bogey at the previous hole. "This makes dinner taste better, that's all it does for me. It's just a number on the board now."
Brett Wetterich, winner of the Chitimacha Louisiana Open back in March, heads a group of six players tied for third at 6-under 65. Tyrone Van Aswegen, Mark Anderson, Scott Sterling, Cameron Percy and Diego Velasquez are also two back of the co-leaders.
Nine players -- including defending champion Jason Gore -- are in at 5-under 66.
Wetterich had, perhaps, the most interesting round of the bunch. The 38-year old got a call in the pre-dawn hours that his wife was going into labour -- 1,100 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"It was tough," he said of his day that included four straight birdies to close out his round. "I was thinking about Erin a bunch today and wish I could be there with her. She wasn't due until Monday and I was hoping it wouldn't happen until then. We talked about it and we came up with a plan. She knows I need to be here, even though I'd rather be there."
The 38-year old sat down to lunch when he got the call that his wife had just given birth to the couple's second child, and first son.
"If I was 10th on the money list or better, I probably wouldn't have come this week," said Wetterich, who is No. 24 with only three weeks left in the season. "I'm not in that position and this is a critical point in the year. We came up with a plan and we stuck with it. I'll see them first chance I get."
Kokrak is No. 15 on the money list and comes into the week much more relaxed after taking a breather from competition. Despite a head cold and congestion, the time away was a bonus for the 26-year old from Ohio, now living near Orlando. He went an entire week without hitting a shot.
"It was such a whirlwind after winning in Boise," he said. "There was a lot of stuff going on the next week, then I wound up missing the cut the next week because I was just going through the motions. I didn't play bad but my head wasn't in it."
His head is clear and his concentration was up to par on Thursday and on display at the shortened, par-4, 7thhole. Kokrak, No. 1 on Tour in Average Driving Distance (322 yards) figured he'd gamble because the tee was moved forward and it measured about 320 yards to the front edge of the green.
What he didn't figure was knocking the ball over the green and into the water.
"We had a helping wind and I thought I could get it pretty close," he said. "I took my drop on the cart path, then took relief from the path and then just heaved it up on the green and it rolled right in the hole. It was an odd birdie, for sure."
Odd or not, it helped stake him to a lead that looked solid until Chopra's closer.
Chopra needs a good finish this week. The 37-year old from Sweden was No. 2 on the money list when he won in California but has been sinking slowly ever since.
"I think I may have been trying too hard. I might have put too much pressure on myself," he said. "I felt that I had gotten off to such a great start that I have to take advantage of it. I honestly don't care now. I've cared the whole year and I've been slipping and falling further and further back. Now I'm at the point where I say to hell with it, just go out and finish the year off."
Maybe not the year, but the transplanted Floridian sure knew how to finish his round off in style.

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SIMPSON AND MILLER SHARE LEAD IN McGADREY CLASSIC

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
ST SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) — Webb Simpson signed up for the McGladrey Classic because it gave him a shot at winning the US PGA Tour money title. He played Thursday as though he was intent on doing just that.
Simpson matched his best score of the year in the opening round at Sea Island, making eight birdies for a 7-under 63 that gave him a share of the lead with tour rookie Zack Miller.
"There's no way I can play this golf tournament without thinking about the money title," Simpson said. "I'm thinking about it every day. But I'm not over every shot thinking, 'This is for the money title.' It's more that I'm just trying my best to get focused on winning the golf tournament."
At this rate, he stands a reasonable chance at both.
Simpson has won twice in his last five tournaments, leaving him $68,971 behind Luke Donald on the money list with two tournaments remaining. Donald isn't playing this week, and he has until 5 p.m. Friday to decide whether to play Disney next week in the final event of the US PGA Tour season.
Also at stake is the US PGA Tour player of the year award, with no clear favourite. No player has more than two wins and, while Donald has only one win in the United States, he has been No. 1 in the world since May. For Donald and Simpson, the money title could go a long way in collecting votes.
Simpson needs to finish at least in 15th place alone to surpass Donald, although he looked as if he had bigger plans the way he worked his way around the Seaside course, even as the breeze picked up late in the morning.
Deliberate by nature, Simpson at times switched clubs two or three times, although it paid off on the fourth hole when he went back to a 7-iron and dropped his shot some 4 feet from the cup for a birdie. The only glitch was a poor approach from the middle of the 18th fairway in the middle of his round for a bogey.
Simpson isn't alone in having money on his mind this week.
Miller is trying not to think about it. He hasn't made a cut since the Viking Classic in July and has fallen to No. 146 on the money list. If he doesn't get into the top 150, he'll have to return to the second stage of Q-school.
But he has tried to take whatever positives he could find out of the last few months, learning to base happiness on something besides his scores. It was hard not to be happy with a 63, especially after going birdie-birdie-eagle early in his round, the longest of those a 4-footer for eagle on No. 15 after a perfect 5-iron.
Martin Piller was tied for the lead until a bogey on the last hole put him in a large group at 64. That included Scott McCarron, who is No. 163 on the money list and birdied his last three holes. McCarron, like so many others in the Fall Series events, is trying to get inside the top 125 to secure his full Tour card for next year.
Also at 64 was Billy Horschel, who is No. 139 on the money list.
They were followed by a group at 65 that included two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, Ben Crane, Nick O'Hern and Richard S. Johnson of Sweden. Johnson had to go through Q-school last year, and started the year with a nagging injury to his right shoulder. He continued to play because he couldn't afford to fall further down the priority list, and it has cost him.
Johnson is at No. 186 on the money list, headed back to Q-school unless he can turn around his fortunes quickly.
"Now I've got to get back to my old swing," he said. "When you're swinging injured, you get into some bad habits. I've been playing nicely at home, but it's just a matter of bringing it out here."
That sounds a lot like Tiger Woods, and Johnson also plays out of The Medalist in south Florida.
"I haven't shot a 62 yet," he said, referring to Woods' setting the course record two weeks ago. "It's been more like 65 and 66."
Either way, those scores don't count when it comes to playing the tour and needing to make something happen quickly.
Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who left Alabama after his junior season to turn pro this summer, opened with a 68. Cauley is poised to become only the sixth player to go from college to getting his tour card without going through Q-school. He is the equivalent of No. 114 on the money list, and a solid start only helped that cause.
Simpson was as deliberate over his schedule as he is over a golf shot. He said he had some 15 options to consider because of his plans to go overseas for the first time, which includes the Presidents Cup in Australia. He has settled on the Singapore Open a week before the Nov. 17-20 matches at Royal Melbourne.
There was some consideration for Asia, although once he adjusted his international travel to make room for the McGladrey Classic, it was an easy decision.
Even so, he had to switch from vacation mode to find the game that brought him wins in Greensboro and Boston, and it didn't take long once he left the practice range.
"I did have a little question in my mind, 'Would I be able to turn the brain back on and get in the competitive mode again?'" Simpson said.
He answered with a 63, matching the score he posted in the third and final round at Plainfield in The Barclays.
Divots: Matt Kuchar, who has earned more than $9 million on the US PGA Tour in the last two years, has signed with Excel Sports Management and will be represented by Mark Steinberg. Kuchar joins a golf stable that includes Tiger Woods and former US Women's Amateur champion Danielle Kang. ... Tournament host Davis Love III has his son, 17-year-old Dru, caddying for him this week. Love opened with a 69. ... Rickie Fowler, coming off his first professional win last week in South Korea, shot 73.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 70
Players from US unless stated
63 Webb Simpson, Zack Miller.
64 Scott McCarron, Billy Horschel, Martin Piller.
65 Richard S Johnson (Sweden), Ben Crane, Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Nick O'Hern (Australia), D J Trahan, Michael Thompson, Cameron Tringale, Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa), Matt Jones (Australia).
SELECTED SCORES
68 Brian Davis (England) (T42).
69 Paul Casey (England) (T54).
70 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) (T78).
71 Michael Sim (Scotland/Australia) (T92).
75 Vijay Singh (Fiji).

LLOYD SALTMAN IS 2011 WORLD HICKORY OPEN CHAMPION

WORLD HICKORY OPEN 2011 RESULTS

 CRAIGIELAW GOLF CLUB

SCROLL DOWN TO READ ORGANISER LIONEL FREEDMAN'S REPORT

CHAMPIONSHIP 36 HOLES SCRATCH

1 Lloyd Saltman         Archerfield                    156 (78-78)

2 Shaun McAllister    Craigielaw                    162  (83-79)

3 Rick Valentine         Loretto                          167 (86-81) (better second round)

4 Alastair Good          Gullane                         167  (80-87)                        

WORLD HICKORY CHAMPION 2011.

Lloyd Saltman

HANDICAP 36 HOLES

1 Mike Redferne       North Downs         (12)        150

2 Jergen Isberg         Sweden                    (3)         161

3 Ingvar Ritzen         Sweden                    (3)         162

TEAM RESULTS

1 J Still, R. Morris, G. Wilson                                 68

2 D Kirkwood, W. Tanner, C. Sinclair             69 (bih)

3 M Redferne, M. Verrier, M. van Wesemael   69

       
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD (in order of play)

NAME CLUB H'CAP 1st Round Gross 2nd Round Gross TOTAL Gross Nett

Mike Redferne (North Downs) (12) 87 87. Scratch total 174. Net total 150
Mike Verrier Royal Mid Surrey 8 102 102 204 188
Boris Lietzow Germany 10 103 96 199 179

Ryan Buckley Craigielaw scr. 84 86 170 170
Shaun McAllister Craigielaw scr 83 79 162 162
Alasdair Good Gullane scr. 80 87 167 167

Colin Sinclair Gullane 4 98 83 181 173
Tom Hayes Second master Scr 88 91 179 179
Carl Kolloss Golf Academy Scr 94 91 185 185

Clara Schwabe Golf Academy 2 88 90 178 174
Peter Templeton Golf Academy 3 90 89 179 173
Warren Bynoe Golf Academy 3 93 84 177 171

Keil Wiberg Lunds Akademiska 16 108 110 218 186
Matias Wiberg Lunds Akademiska 5 82 104 186 176
Jorgen Isberg Sweden 3 85 82 167 161

Tomas Nemec Hostivar, Czech. scr. 88 88 176 176
Owe Werner Sweden scr 84 87 171 171
Ingvar Ritzen Sweden 3 83 85 168 162

Lloyd Saltman Archerfield scr 78 78 156 156
David Laing Craigielaw scr 89 82 171 171
John Hughes Craigielaw 10 96 97 193 173

Robin Morris Royal Burgess.G.S 16 95 103 198 166
John Still Bruntsfield G.S 11 87 101 188 166
David Raistrick Craigielaw 14 107 104 211 183

Jock Howard Prestwick 12 104 102 206 182
Ewan Glen New Club St Andrews 5 96 91 187 177
Rick Valentine Master of Golf scr 86 81 167 167

Nicholas Rey Golf Academy 3 87 95 182 176
Ben Skinner Golf Academy 2 96 88 184 180
Ross Noon Scr 0 0
Stewart Pyle Scr 0 0

LLOYD SALTMAN FIRST TO WIN WORLD HICKORY TITLE TWICE

By LIONEL FREEDMAN

The Seventh World Hickory Open took place at Craigielaw Golf Club on October 10-11 in very testing conditions, dry but bright with strong westerly winds.
It produced for the first time a second time champion: Lloyd Saltman who won in 2007 having turned pro just after the Walker Cup.
His score over 36 holes was 156, five shots clear of Shaun McAllister on 161. In third place was the Master of Golf at Loretto Academy, Rick Valentine.
Lloyd Saltman, along with brother Elliot, played in the first day’s team three-ball better-ball competition.
British Golf Collectors Society teams finished 1st and 2nd. The winners Robin Morris, John Still and Graham Wilson scoring 68. In second place were David Kirkwood, William Tanner and Colin Sinclair who had tied on 69 but won it on a six-hole countback of 23.
The handicap event winner was Mike Redferne with 150 nett for two rounds from Jorgen Isberg 161 and Ingvar Ritzen 162.
The longest drive on Monday - by Peter Templeton, aged 17, from Loretto School, was measured at 247 yds into at least a three-club wind. Nearest to the hole at the 10th was Shaun McAllister, Craigielaw.
There will be a full report in on the World Hickory Open web site and November’s World Hickory Golfer.