TIGER WOODS BACK IN WORLD TOP 50 - BUT ONLY JUST!

FROM THE SKY SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
Tiger Woods is back in the world's top 50 after finishing third at the Australian Open - but only by the skin of his teeth.
Woods, who had fallen from top of the rankings just over a year ago to 58th, is now up to 50th, a mere 0.03pts ahead of Retief Goosen, who could only finish tied 46th in the Singapore Open.
Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano improves from 126th to 58th, thanks to his play-off victory at the Barclays Singapore Open on Monday.
Australian Open winner Greg Chalmers, meanwhile, makes a lap of over 100 places. Way down in 215th going into the tournament in Sydney, the Aussie left-hander is up to 104th.
Fellow southpaw Phil Mickelson has slipped another place, down to 12th, after a disappointing week in Singapore (tied 33rd).
The same players comprise the top 10 although Dustin Johnson has slipped to sixth, Adam Scott has edged in front of Jason Day and Webb Simpson has swapped places with Matt Kuchar after the latter missed the cut in Sydney.
Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:
1 Luke Donald 10.33
2 Rory McIlroy 7.55
3 Lee Westwood 7.49
4 Martin Kaymer 7.00
5 Steve Stricker 5.91
6 Dustin Johnson 5.88
7 Adam Scott 5.58
8 Jason Day 5.58
9 Webb Simpson 5.26
10 Matt Kuchar 5.14
11 Nick Watney 5.13
12 Phil Mickelson 5.08
13 Charl Schwartzel 4.83
14 Graeme McDowell 4.70
15 K J Choi 4.64
16 Justin Rose 4.22
17 Bubba Watson 4.05
18 Sergio Garcia 4.04
19 Hunter Mahan 3.94
20 David Toms 3.82

Other leading Europeans:
21 Paul Casey, 25 Ian Poulter, 29 Robert Karlsson
31 Simon Dyson, 32 Thomas Bjorn, 33 Fredrik Jacobson, 34 Anders Hansen, 35 Darren Clarke, 39 Francesco Molinari
40 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 42 Martin Laird, 48 Alvaro Quiros
54 Peter Hanson, 55 Matteo Manassero, 58 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
60 Edoardo Molinari, 64 Alexander Noren
75 Nicolas Colsaerts
80 Jamie Donaldson, 83 Padraig Harrington, 85 Ross Fisher, 89 Pablo Larrazabal
93 Joost Luiten, 94 David Lynn, 98 Raphael Jacquelin
100 Fredrik Andersson Hed

LOSSIEMOUTH MAN GRANT STEWART LANDS SUNNINGDALE POST

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Calcarsongolf@btinternet.com
Moray Golf Club member Grant Stewart was recently appointed head greenkeeper at one of the top south of England golf clubs, Sunningdale.He takes up the post at the beginning of December.
Fifteen years ago Grant, pictured, was only 16 and just left school when he started as an apprentice greenkeeper at the Moray club, Lossiemouth.
A year or two later, Neil Ballingall, the then head greenkeeper at Lossie, took Stewart with him to Fairmont St Andrews Bay where he rose to be head greenkeeper, overseeing the links for the staging of some some prestigious events, such as the Scottish Senior Open.
"Those of us he left behind at Moray Golf Club, are really pleased for him," says Malcolm MacLeman, a North District team player with +1 of a handicap and one of the leading golfers at the Lossiemouth club.
"Grant is a very popular, quiet, modest guy. Very hard working, very knowledgable and the last to blow his own trumpet. He is passionate about greenkeeping often talking about work. He has played golf since he was seven and before work took over he had a handicap of nine.
"All his mates and members at Moray wish him all the best and we are sure he will do a great job.
Neil Ballingall, course superintendent at Fairmont St Andrews tracks Grant Stewart's progress down through the years:
"When I took over as manager of the two courses at Moray Golf Club in April 1997, my first thoughts of Grant Stewart - the youngest 'loon' of my inherited squad - was that I would rather walk round him than through him, a sturdy lad indeed.
"From the start Grant was willing to do any task on the golf course without question, a credit to his family and the way he was brought up. The only draw back I found in the first few years was Grant's love for having a long lie in bed - to such an extent that I told him to take his holidays at the same time as his mother (his alarm clock) was away on hers!
"In 2001 I was appointed to the post of Golf Course Superintendent at St Andrews Bay. This was a new project with no greenstaff in place. The first person I invited down was Grant. He was the kind of person I needed, someone not scared of a challenge and someone who knew the right end of a shovel.
"I employed him in as a Grade 2 greenkeeper even though his qualifications merited a Grade 3 position but he needed the extra money to rent a place in St Andrews or he 'wisnae coming doon.' One thing that surprised me was Grant's ability to soak up information. He showed little of that as a young greenkeeper when only his ability for hard graft was evident.
"However with this 'gift' he soon moved up the Grades; from 2 to 1, then deputy to head greenkeeper of the Torrance Course and then finally Head Greenkeeper for both Kittocks and Torrance courses.
"Grant has become a very competent manager over the past five years, coping efficiently with all that has been put his way. He has been the daily driving force behind the greenkeeping maintenance programme at Fairmont St Andrews.
"His ability to man manage the large squad has been a pleasure to watch and all the staff will be grateful for the time they have spent learning from him.
"For pastures new there can't be many finer in the UK than Sunningdale, 36 holes of immaculate golf in the Berkshire countryside - home to the Sunningdale Foursomes, International Open Qualifying as well as the occasional British Seniors Open.
"I have no doubt that Grant will take this new challenge in his stride and our loss at Fairmont St Andrews will be Sunningdale's considerable gain, However, I also feel that this won't be the last we hear about the 'young loon fae Lossie' and in the not too distant future he will be master of his own destiny and at yet another notable venue. Of this I am certain.
"Apart from digging holes what has Grant done in the past 10 years? He can boast a final Open Qualilifier 2010 and three Scottish Seniors Opens 2009-10-11 as well as many other very successful events in his time in St Andrews but probably the best reference he has had recently is from Ryder Cup- winning captain Sam Torrance, himself a member at Sunningdale.
"On being told that Grant was to join him down there, Sam said: 'Well, I hope you bring your greens down with you.' Joking aside though Sam is very appreciative of the involvement Grant has had in shaping the Torrance lay-out at Fairmont - 'his golf course" - and as he says 'the best greens in Scotland bar none."
"I have been fortunate to have worked alongside Grant for over 14 years, witnessing him morph from apprentice to greenkeeper to manager and I can't think of anyone who deserves the move to Sunningdale more. It gives me immense pride to have been involved in his career.
"Everyone at Fairmont St Andrews would like to wish Grant all the very best in his new venture down south."
Last word from Moray Golf Club captain Mike O’Brien:
“Unfortunately, Grant was already gone from Moray before I found my way onto Council, so my knowledge of him is fairly limited
“All I can really say is full credit to Neil Balingall who clearly saw Grant's potential during his time here as our Courses Manager. When Neil left and head hunted Grant away to Fairmont St Andrews, I always thought that move in itself was quite an achievement, but presumably Grant still had to develop his own style and skills to fulfil his promise.
“Having started with Moray Golf Club, served his time and then gone on to hone his skills and become a true profesional in his chosen career serves as an inspiration to anyone with ambitions to climb the ladder.
“Moving out of your comfort zone can be a big step, but Grant's progress stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved.
“To be appointed at a prestigious club like Sunningdale must surely be the pinnacle of any career and I can imagine how thrilled he must be.
“It is always good to hear about any local lad doing well, but for one of our very own it is so much better.
“Well done, Grant and best wishes for the future from all at Moray Golf Club.”

+Colin Farquharson would like to thank Malcolm Macleman, Neil Ballingall and Mike O'Brien for their contributions to the above article which would not have been possible without them. The only man not quoted is Grant Stewart - but Malcolm, who instigated the article, wanted its appearance in Scottishgolfview.com to be a surprise for him and for that reason I did not contact Grant.  Once he settles in at Sunningdale, I shall get in touch with him for a follow-up article.

BUCHAN LOONS FINDLAY AND NICOL START WELL IN ITALY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay and Kris Nicol made a flying start to the Alps Tour Final Qualifying School in Italy today but a third North-east player, Northern Open champion and Scottish amateur champion David Law from Aberdeen is in big danger of missing the 36-hole cut after an error-strewn 78.
The leading 65 players and ties after Tuesday's second round will go on to the third and final round at the end of which only the leading 35 will gain playing rights for the Alps Tour.
Two courses are used over the first two rounds and Findlay, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, is sharing the lead with Frenchman Jerome Lando-Cananova at Toscana Golf Club with four-under-par 67s.
Findlay, 23-year old former British boys champion, said:
“I did not make any mistakes. I hit 17 greens and holed four birdie putts - at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th.”
"Unfortunately I missed out at Stage 1 of the European Tour School qualifyingthe so I was advised by Gavin Dear and Scott Henry (both former Alps Tour players), that this circuit is well run and good to prepare for the upper circuits.”

Kris Nicol, pictured right, looked like leading at the end of the day at Toscana until he ran up a double bogey 6 at the 17th and parred the last for a 68.
Ealier Nicol had birdied the first, second and sixth in an outward 33 to which he added birdies at the 12th and 15th before coming off the rails temporarily.
Peterhead's Philip McLean and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) had reasons to be cheerful with one-over 72s at Toscana. McLean had one birdie (at the 12th) and two bogeys. Kellett had three birdies but four bogeys.
At the Punta Ala par-72 course, three players share the lead on 69 - English Walker Cup player Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale), Nicolas Porteboeuf (France) and Daniel Osorio (Spain).
John Henry (Clydebank), originally a non-qualifier at last week's Stage 1 but admitted to this week's field on a withdrawal, shot a 73 at Punta Ala with an eagle 2 at the 10th after a triple bogey 7 at the ninth.
It was at Punta Ala that David Law had a 78 in which he had a triple bogey 8 at the long seventh and a double bogey 6 at the third in halves of 40 and 38. On his outward half the Aberdonian had only two par figures, at the sixth and eighth.
David's eventful outward half read: birdie at first, bogey at short second, double bogey 6 at the third, birdie at the long fourth, birdie at the fifth, par at the sixth, triple bogey 8 at the long seventh, par at the eighth and bogey at the ninth. Then he settled down to have a run of six pars from the turn but slipping off the perch again with bogeys at the 16th and 17th.
Also at this venue, Walker Cup Scot Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) had an uninspired three-over 75 with a triple bogey 7 at the 12th being countered by an eagle 2 at the next hole.
Stewart. still ranked in the top 12 world amateurs, also birdied the long fourth.
He dropped single shots at the fifth, eighth, 11th and 14th in halves of 37 (one over) and 38 (two over).
Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) did even worse than David Law at Punta Ala. He had a 10 at the par-4 ninth and a triple bogey 7 at the 16th in his 11-over-par 83.
The youngest of the three Saltman brothers, Zack birdied the short second but bogeyed the fifth and short sixth before he got back to level par with a birdie at the long seventh. That 10th at the ninth put him out in 42. Coming home, he bogeyed the short 11th and then the 12th before his triple boghey 7 at the 16th saw him home in 41.
Zack had played so well at last week's Stage 1 but that form has evaporated even in perfect, windless conditions.
The pundits' forecast is that to be among the 65 and ties who will advance after Tuesday's second round, players will have to score three over par or better. To make the top 35 and gain playing rights, a level par aggregate or better for the 54 holes is the forecast.


COLLATED SCOREBOARD

ALPS TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Italy - 54 holes
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
TOSCANA (par 71)
67 Jerome Lando-Casanova (Fra), Jordan Findlay (Sco).
Selected scores:
68 Kris Nicol (Sco), Luca Fenoglio (Ita).
69 Andrew Cooley (Eng) (am)
70 Warren Harmston (Eng), Donald Stirling (Eng).
71 Matthew McAlpin (N Ire), Tom Sherreard (Eng).
72 Philip McLean (Sco), Ross Kellett (Sco).
73 Adrian Gray (Eng).
75 Richard Glen (Eng).
77 Ben Banks (Eng)
78 Mike Kelly (Ire).
PUNTA ALA (par 72)
68 Stiggy Hodgson (Eng), Nicolaus Porteboeuf (Fra), Daniel Osorio (Spa).
Selected scores:
73 John Henry (Sco).
75 Michael Stewart (Sco), Jack Senior (Eng), Daniel Perrett (Eng).
78 David Law (Sco), Alexander Christie (Eng), Darren Wright (Eng).
79 Elliot Forbes (Eng) (am)
80 Nicholas Jenkins (Eng).
81 Jack Carter (Eng).
83 Zack Saltman (Sco)

JALIL AMAN WINS FIRST SENIORS WINTER ORDER OF MERIT COMP

By DREW WILSON
The first event of the five Scottish Senior Golfing Society Winter Order of Merit competitions was held at Stirling Golf Club last Friday with a stiff breeze making scoring difficult.
The Stirling course was heavy underfoot due to heavy overnight rain and the greenstaff must be thanked as the greens were in excellent condition and the course played well.
Three players shared the lead on 38 Stableford points, all 20pts for the first nine holes, 18 for the second nine, with Jalil Aman (Grangemouth) winning on the best last six holes from Drew Wilson (Clober) and Ian Jeen (Milngavie).
Four players narrowly missed out on 37pts - Keith Ross (Beith), Andrew Brodie (Glasgow), Wilson Butler (Carluke) and Tom Allan (Dunblane).
Allan had a best of the day back-nine of 21pt with Keith Ross and Stuart Black having 21pt on the front nine.
Birdies were hard to come by 2 eagles were scored by David McClelland (16th hole) and Tony Clark (2nd hole).
This was the best attended event so far and we now look forward to the next event at the Glen on Friday, March 9, 2012

STABLEFORD POINTS SCOREBOARD
38 Jalil Aman (Grangemouth) , Drew Wilson (Clober), Ian Jeen (Milngavie).
37 Keith Ross (Beith), Andrew Brodie (Glasgow), Wilson Butler (Carluke), Tom Allan (Dunblane).
36 David Smith (Stirling). Bill Hunter, Norman Kelly (Glasgow), Jim Kinloch (Cardross)
35  Neil McGarva, David McLelland, Malcolm Sim, Tony Clark.
34 Fraser Sharp, Derek Murphy, Murray Lyle, Derek Sim. Stuart Black (Cathcart Castle).
33 Robert Gordon, Denis McQuade.
32 Albert Smith (Turriff).
31 Kenny Harrison, Billy Wallace, Gordon MacDonald, Alan Nelson, David Gardner, Len Grindod
30 John Johnstone, Gordon Gray, Peter Kinloch, Brian Kidd, Charles Brown, Gordon Doig, Brian Smith
29 Keith Howie
28 Richard Goodale, Colin Halcrow
27 Sandy Pirie, Ian Dickson, Jim Roy, David Millar.
26 Donald Lie
24 Dougal Chalmers
23 Neish Chisholm, Bill Miller

NETHERLANDS PAIR WIN JUAN TAILHADE CUP IN ARGENTINA

                          Netherlands' winning pair with their silverware at Los Lagartos CC
NEWS RELEASE FROM ARGENTINA
The Netherlands pair, Daniël Huizing and Robin Kind, with a total of 573 strokes are the winners of the 40th edition of the Tailhade Cup in Los Lagartos Country Club, in Argentina.
Australia (Todd Sinnott and Nathan Holman) came second, two strokes behind.
Huizing made a great birdie at the 18th hole while Holman made a double bogey at the same hole. That was the three-shot swing that decided the tournament in favour of the Dutchmen.
“We are so happy. I knew I had to hole my putt at the final hole and I made it”, said Huizing, who finished first with 275 strokes also in the individual competition
With this victory, the Netherlands are three time winners of this great amateur event, one of the most important in the world.
Australia and England are the best record here with fourth victories.

FINAL TEAM TOTALS

573 NETHERLANDS 145 139 145 144

575 AUSTRALIA 144 143 143 145
579 SOUTH AFRICA 151 140 143 145
585 ARGENTINA 145 147 144 149
588 SPAIN 152 144 146 146

591 NEW ZEALAND 153 147 144 147

593 FINLAND 147 149 146 151

594 CANADA 146 150 149 149

598 MEXICO 148 144 154 152

599 ENGLAND (Paul Lockwood and Matthew Wallace) 145 156 149 149

602 SWITZERLAND150 147 149 156

616 COLOMBIA 153 156 149 158

616 URUGUAY 152 152 148 164
618 ITALY 156 153 152 157

619 PERU 149 154 154 162

FERNANDEZ-CASTANO WINS DELAYED SINGAPORE OPEN PLAY-OFF

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano won the storm-delayed Barclays Singapore Open at the second play-off hole this morning.

The 31-year-old, pictured right, sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to defeat Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines who pushed his putt inches wide of the cup.
Lightning had forced the players off the course on Sunday in an event that had been shortened to 54 holes by the weather.
Both ended on 14 under, Fernandez-Castano surrendering a four-shot lead over the back nine.
Pagunsan had appeared to have done enough to seal victory as his late surge coincided with a bout of poor putting from Fernandez-Castano.
The Spaniard suffered three bogeys over the final nine holes, while Pagunsan sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the last to sign off with a 67 and pull level at the top of the leaderboard.
Fernandez-Castano hit his tee-shot into the water but the four-time winner on the European Tour engineered a superb escape, sinking a 20-foot putt to ensure a par five, a round of 72 and a play-off.
The shoot-out was twice interrupted by rain and lightning strikes before being delayed until Monday.
Pagunsan, 33, had a chance to win on the first extra hole, but he pushed a five-foot birdie putt wide and when he missed from 10 feet the second time they played the 18th, Fernandez-Castano made him pay to record his first European Tour victory in three years.
"This is probably the most nervous I've ever been on a golf course," said Fernandez-Castano, who admitted he had been unable to sleep on Sunday night.
"[Sunday] was the type of pressure I have never felt before. I've never been in the lead with a four-shot margin going into the last nine holes. I hope I've learned from that."
Anthony Kim narrowly missed out joining the duel after producing a round of 64 that contained eight birdies.
The American was joined in third place by South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion compiling a fine 65 that included seven birdies and just one dropped shot.
England's James Morrison, handily placed three shots off the lead after the second round, failed to close the gap after bogeys on the 11th and 18th.
Compatriot Justin Rose was tied for ninth on 10 under after shooting a final-round 69, while Graeme McDowell closed with a fine 66 to end eight under par. American Phil Mickelson was well down the field on five under.

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Six months ago there were serious doubts as to whether Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano would play golf again.

Plagued by a back injury that saw him miss three consecutive cuts at the start of the year before forcing him to the sidelines for six months, there were still questions over his European Tour future as recently as six weeks ago.
With less than 50,000 Euros banked by the end of September, time was running out for the 31 year old Spaniard to climb into the top 115 on The Race to Dubai.
Three productive weeks on home soil ended any immediate concerns, and the comeback is now complete after his play-off victory over Juvic Pagunsan in the Barclays Singapore Open.
After three days affected by storm delays, Fernandez-Castano±o and Pagunsan of the Philippines returned to Sentosa Golf Club to complete extra holes, both men finishing 14 under par after 54 holes.
And despite seeing a four shot lead evaporate over the back nine in regulation play, it was Fernandez-Castano who kept his nerve to birdie the 18th at the second time of asking and land a fifth European Tour title.
Not only have injuries disrupted the likeable Spaniard's game in recent years. He has had six runner-up finishes since his last win at the 2008 British Masters and undergone several changes to try and cure some serious woes with the putter.
A claw grip seems to be paying dividends, helping him finish sixth, second and 12th in Spain last month, and his progress was highlighted by the 20 foot curler he holed on the final green in regulation to force the play-off.
And with his success over the Serapong layout, Fernandez-Castano is now up to 58th in the Official World Golf Ranking, having been 188th three months ago
"It has been a great relief, especially the way I played yesterday - having a four shot lead and spoiling it all," he said. "It has been a tough year and I got a monkey off my back. It has been three years without a victory and it means a lot to me.
"Putting is probably my Achilles tendon but I think it has improved a lot. But in the heat of the battle, it's a different story."
Fernandez-Castano's display also takes him second in the European Ryder Cup points table, but the former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year insists there is a long way to go to secure a place on the plane to Chicago next year.
"It was never in my mind about The Ryder Cup points," he added. "I just wanted to come back from my injury and play well again. What I did until this week was pretty amazing and winning the title is unbelievable."
Pagunsan's best chance came when he pitched to eight feet at the first play-off hole, but although that missed birdie putt ultimately proved costly, he can console himself with the fact he now leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
"It was very close - I thought I was going to make my first putt [on the first play-off hole)," he said.
!I had big confidence I was going to win. Unfortunately I missed the first putt - I thought to myself 'This is my big chance to win,' but I missed it. But I am still a big winner in myself."

+Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay finished T13 on eight-under 205 with rounds of 69, 65 and 71. He won 62,428 Euros.

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