PRESIDENTS CUP - LIVE SCORING FROM THIRD DAY IN AUSTRALIA

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STEPHEN GRAY HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON SOME TURKISH DELIGHT

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Tartan Tour stalwart Stephen Gray is next week aiming to bounce back from Tour School disappointment by being crowned the No.1 PGA player at the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey.
The Hayston Golf Club player missed out at Q-School recently but can still earn a number of European and Challenge Tour starts with success in the play-offs at Antalya Golf Club's PGA Sultan Course from next Monday to Wednesday, November 21-23.
Gray, pictured, who topped both the Order of Merit and money list ahead of fellow Scots Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) and David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre), is part of a 24-man field featuring the leading players from the PGA's seven regions who will contest the £15,000 event over 54-holes.

The consistent Gray, who credits Lanark coach and PGA Scottish chairman Alan White for his good form over the past five years, enjoyed a blockbuster season in which he ultimately cruised the Scottish Region's Order of Merit with two wins, a second, a third and a fourth place. He also had three top 10 finishes on the PGA Europro Tour.
"I don't think it has sunk in yet but it is something I will look back on with a lot of pride," he said of his Tartan Tour success.
Having enjoyed a well-deserved sunshine break in the Canary Islands, Gray is itching to get back into action but admits his rivals, plus the acclaimed PGA Sultan course, pose a stern test in the play-offs.
"I won a pro-am at the Sultan three years ago and it is a great test of golf," said Gray, pictured above by courtesy of Andy Forman.
"There are a lot of tough holes and if the wind blows there are some brutal ones. I like the 54-hole format. It gives you a chance to either catch up or stretch your lead and is not such a sprint as 36 holes but there is a lot of competition with the likes of Simon Lilly who has just shot a 59, Greig Hutcheon and Matthew Cort plus some other good players."
"The top 10 finishers also qualify for the BMW PGA Championship which is an added incentive for Gray.
"To qualify for the BMW PGA Championship would be fantastic because outside of the Open it is the biggest tournament in Europe."
Hutcheon meanwhile travels confidently as defending champion having capitalised on the spin-offs from that - to the tune of around €44,000 by making the cuts in the European Tour's Saab Wales Open, the Barclays Scottish Open and the BMW PGA Championship.
Former Walker Cup player Patrick completes the Scottish line-up in Turkey, having edged out Paul McKechnie by just five points in the OOM.
The tournament, being held overseas for the first time, features a field of 24, comprising the top three from each of the PGA's seven regions plus the Glenmuir PGA Professional champion and runner up and the Powerade PGA Assistants' champion.
Titleist, manufacturer of the world's No.1 golf ball, has signed a three-year deal to sponsor the tournament as an extension of its support of grass roots PGA professionals, reflected in its position as a long-standing supporter of the PGA's training programme.

FERNANDEZ-CASTANO LEADS DUNLOP PHOENIX IN JAPAN

MIYAZAKI, Japan — Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano made four straight birdies on the back nine in a 5-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead today in the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.
Fernandez-Castano won the rain-delayed Singapore Open on Monday in a play-off.
Fernandez-Castano, who started play on the 10th hole, made his fourth consecutive birdie on the par-4 eighth and finished the second round at 8-under 134.
Japan's Hideto Tanihara was second after a 69.

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RAYMOND RUSSELL TRAILS BY NINE IN DEFENCE OF BEKO CLASSIC

Defending champion Raymond Russell has nine shots to make up going into Saturday's third and final round of the PGAs of Europe Beko Classic at Antalya Golf Club, Turkey.
Russell, who won by four shots last year, had a disappointing two-over-par 73 for a level par tally of 142 in today's second round with bogeys at the long third, fourth and ninth in an outward 38. He covered the inward half with eight pars and a birdie at the long 16th.
Spanish-born with an English-born mother, Carl Sunesson shot a 66 with four birdies in a row from the 13th to the 16th to lead by one on 10 under par 133.
His nearest challenger is Englishman Iain Pyman whose 68 included a hole in one at the 174yd 17th.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
133 Carl Sunesson (Spain) 67 66
134 Iain Pyman (England) 66 68
135 Ben Barham (England) 66 69, Jamie Little (England) 65 70.
Selected score:
142 Raymond Russell (Scotland) 69 73 (T15).

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ROGER CHAPMAN IN CONTENTION IN FUBON SENIOR OPEN

By STEVE TODD
European Senior Tour Press Officer
Englishman Roger Chapman continued his fine recent form on the European Senior Tour with a five under par opening round 67 to sit three shots behind leader Chien Soon Lu of Taiwan in the Fubon Senior Open.
Chapman, who is chasing his maiden Senior Tour title, eagled the par five sixth hole at Miramar Golf and Country Club and posted five birdies, including a superb four iron approach to the last hole, to set the clubhouse target which was then equalled by Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Massy Kuramoto of Japan.
However, playing in the last group and on home soil, Lu fired a magnificent eight under par 64 to pass the trio, carding nine birdies and just one bogey on the 16th hole.
Lu, who finished in the top 20 in in both The Senior Open Championship and US Senior Open Championship in 2010, is confident he can contend this week having finished 24th on the US Champions Tour Money List this year.
“I’ve played well in America this year and it is my first time playing in this tournament,” he said. “I feel good about my chances of winning this week and it would be the highlight of my year if I could do so.”
Chapman has three top six finishes in his last four appearances, including joint runner up at the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters and tied third in the Casa Serena Open, and he is confident he can make his Senior Tour breakthrough in the penultimate event of the 2011 campaign.
“Spending a bit of time in America on the US Champions Tour this year was good experience for me and it toughened me up a bit,” said the 52 year old. “I’ve brought that back with me and I’ve been playing well. I’m now feeling very confident and hopefully I can keep it going.
“I played really well today and drove the ball well. I pulled my first drive a little but apart from that I drove it really well. There was no wind at all today after two really windy days and the course was soft from all the rain we’ve had so conditions were good for scoring. I’ve been struggling with a hip problem and had to take painkillers before I played but it was a good start.”
Kuramoto is chasing his second victory of the 2011 season after capturing the Handa Cup Senior Masters in his native Japan last November.
Meanwhile Minoza’s best Senior Tour finish was runner up to Boonchu Ruangkit in last season’s Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum and he is hoping to go one better this week despite injury problems.
“I’ve been having a bit of a problem with my wrist but my iron play was really good today,” said Minoza. “I feel I having a chance of winning this week if I play like this.”
Taiwan’s Lin De-Ming is four under par alongside American amateur Lorens Chan, with Englishman Nick Job is one of three players a shot further back in tied seventh place.
American Doug Johnson had a hole in one on the par three third hole en route to a two under par 70. Aside from that hole, Johnson posted 17 pars and is in a share of tenth place with five other players including Scotland’s Ross Drummond, Sweden’s Anders Forsbrand and Welshman Glyn Davies.
Sandy Lyle, Peter Smith and Bill Longmuir formed a "Scotch Corner" on 74 while another Scot, Ian Dougan, is on 83.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72

64 L Chien Soon (Tpe) ,

 67 F Minoza (Phi) , M Kuramoto (Jpn) , R Chapman (Eng) ,

 68 L De-Ming (Tpe) , L Chan (am) (USA) ,

 69 N Job (Eng) , C Jamnian (Tha) , C Chin-Kuo (Tpe) ,

 70 C Tsang-Te  (Tpe) , D Johnson (USA) , G Davies (Wal) , R Drummond (Sco) , D Ishii (USA) , A Forsbrand (Swe) ,

 71 G Banister (Aus) , D Merriman (Aus) , J Sallat (Fra) , L Wen-Sheng (Tpe) , T Thelen (USA) , B Cameron (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA) , J Gould (Eng) , J Jacobs (USA) , H Shih-Ming (Tpe) , B Ruangkit (Tha) , S Bennett (Eng) , C Chun-Hsing (Tpe) , M Farry (Fra) ,

 72 J Harrison (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , C Williams (RSA) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , S Cipa (Eng) , J Stansberry (USA) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , G Manson (Aut) , M Kierstenson (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , M Briggs (Eng) , T Burgoyne (Sco) , C T.c. (Tpe) , L Ji-Xiang (Tha) , A Sherborne (Eng) ,

 73 P Dahlberg (Swe) , K Tomori (Jpn) , C Liang-His (Tpe) , D Young  (Eng) , D Cambridge (Jam) , Y Chin-Han (Tpe) , K Tarling (Can) ,

 74 C Hung-Ta (Tpe) , T Gale (Aus) , P Smith (Sco) , B Longmuir (Sco) , H Min-Nan (Tpe) , S Lyle (Sco) , G Ryall (Eng) , J Bruner (USA) ,

 75 H Shih-Her (Tpe) , M Belsham (Eng) , S Chung-Shyan (Tpe) , T Chin-Fa (Tpe) ,

 76 S Shields (Eng) , H Ten-Lai (Tpe) , C Grenier (Aut) , B Stevens (Eng) , M Aoki (Jpn) , C Chang-Hui (Tpe) ,

 77 C Wang-Ken (Tpe) , M Cunning (USA) , C Tze-Ming (Tpe) , T Hiroharu (Jpn) , T Jones (USA) , T Yasushi (Jap) , H Sheng-Chuan (Tpe) , J Murphy (Eng) , L Ching-Ho (Tpe) , L Kuo I (Tpe) ,

 78 C Youn-Soo (Kor) , C Jung-Chun (Tpe) , C Shih-Ju (Tpe) , J Benda (USA) ,

 79 C Wen-Chin (Tpe) , U Chun-Ching (Tpe) ,

 81 B Hardwick (Can) , L Chung-Hui (Tpe) ,

 82 C Chin-Yi (Tpe) , D Chien-Kuo (Tpe) ,

 83 K Cox (USA) , I Dougan (Sco) ,

 84 C Linstead (Eng) ,

 85 N Clarke  (RSA) ,

 86 L Chung-Chun (Tpe) , H Chen-Feng (Tpe) ,

 87 A McKay (Aus) ,

GEORGE MURRAY LYING JOINT SECOND IN SOUTH AFRICA

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Jbe Kruger added a second round 67 to his opening 64 to establish a four shot lead at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 25 year old, searching for his first European Tour title, goes into the weekend 13 under par at Leopard Creek and well clear of first round joint-leader Seve Benson, Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Scotland’s George Murray.For much of the day it looked like Kruger’s compatriot George Coetzee was going to be the man to catch over the weekend.
Coetzee, the highest-ranked player in the field, led by four only to then drop five shots in the last three holes of his second round.
Also chasing a first European Tour title, Coetzee was sailing on smoothly until he found water on the short seventh, his 16th.
After taking five there he duffed a chip on the next and double-bogeyed again, then failed to get out of a greenside bunker at the ninth and dropped another shot.
Former Zambia and Zimbabwe Open champion Kruger has missed the cut in the event the last three years, but this time has already amassed two eagles and 12 birdies – a 25 foot eagle putt at the par five second giving him the perfect start to day two.
But Kruger felt his lead could have been even bigger had he continued to hole out for the remainder of his round.
“The putts just don’t want to drop, believe it or not,” Kruger said. “I’ve been hitting it close the last couple of days. On 15, 16 and 17 – I can’t believe how the putt on 15 missed, and on 17, the same thing.
“I didn’t have fun in the early part of my round, but later I did have fun. I think you should have fun, otherwise, why play? If you enjoy it you tend to play better.”
Benson had kept pace in the first round, but had to settle for a second round 71.At 163rd on The Race to Dubai he faces a huge weekend. Only a victory will guarantee his card for next year.
Murray has no such worries after finishing joint third with Graeme McDowell in the lucrative Alfred Dunhill Links championship at St Andrews last month.
The 28 year old from Anstruther, Fife started that week 183rd in The Race to Dubai and found himself playing with Luke Donald in the final round, but outscored the World Number One by three and quadrupled his 2011 earnings.
He added a 69 to his first-round 66 this time, while Aguilar, winner of the 2008 Indonesian Open, had a best-of-the-day 64.TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
"As long as you put yourself into contention then you are going to have a fun weekend," he said.

 

 

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CHOPRA LEADS BY FIVE IN WEATHER-HIT ISKANDAR JOHOR OPEN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR

Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Daniel Chopra of Sweden fired a six-under-par 65 in the second round of the weather-hit Iskandar Johor Open today, somewhat 18 years since his first professional victory in the country.
Chopra, a two-time US PGA Tour winner, returned this morning to complete four holes in his opening round before setting the clubhouse target of 13-under-par 129 at the US$2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
An in-form Siddikur of Bangladesh fired a 67 to lead the Asian charge in tied second place with Sweden’s Christian Nilsson and Michael Jonzon on 134 at the scenic Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Threats of lightning suspended play for two hours and 30 minutes before the second round was stopped due to darkness at 6.40pm. A total of 70 players will return at 7.20am on Saturday to complete their rounds.
Chopra, who grew up in India, rekindled his love for the country where he won his first professional title at the 1993 Johor Open.
“My first ever professional win was here in Johor so I have fond memories here. I love Asia. I grew up in India and spend all my youth travelling around Asia. This is my second home,” smiled Chopra, who earned his 2012 PGA Tour card through the Nationwide Tour this year.
Chopra took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions early in the morning, turning in 33 before shooting four birdies in six holes highlighted by three straight birdies from the 13th hole.
“I didn’t drive the ball as well as I did yesterday but my putting was perfect. My iron play needs a little bit more work on the driving range this afternoon. If I can get that sorted out and get some rhythm with that than I should be good for the weekend,” said Chopra.
Siddikur, winner of the 2010 Brunei Open, birdied his opening two holes before making a huge 15 feet par save on the 15th hole. He added three more birdies against one bogey to trail the clubhouse leader by five shots.
“I’m happy with my round because my hitting has really improved. I missed the cut last week and that was disappointing but I’m glad I’ve regained my form. I’m in good position, I think it sets me up nicely for the weekend,” said Siddikur, who returned to complete six holes in his opening round on Friday.
Nilsson, who has five top-10s on the European Tour this season, battled through fatigue to keep himself in contention of ending a two-year title drought.
“It was pretty tiring for the last few holes – it’s difficult enough just to play 18 in these hot conditions, let alone 25. But I had plenty of snacks in my bag, and luckily they kept my energy levels up, even though I was feeling pretty tired towards the end of my round,” said Nilsson, who shot 67.
Overnight leader Joost Luiten of the Netherlands was nine-under through six holes while title holder Padraig Harrington of Ireland was two strokes back after nine holes.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) Yardage 6,783
129 - Daniel CHOPRA (SWE) 64-65.
134 - SIDDIKUR (BAN) 67-67, Christian NILSSON (SWE) 67-67, Michael JONZON (SWE) 69-65.
135 - Soren HANSEN (DEN) 68-67, Rhys DAVIES (WAL) 70-65, Soren KJELDSEN (DEN) 71-64, Darren BECK (AUS) 70-65, Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 71-64, Manny VILLEGAS (COL) 72-63.
136 - Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) 70-66, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 65-71, Peter KARMIS (RSA) 70-66, Jamie McLEARY (SCO) 66-70, Marcel SIEM (GER) 69-67.
137 - Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 69-68, Steve WEBSTER (ENG) 69-68, Sam WALKER (ENG) 70-67.
138 - Panupol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-69, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 71-67, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 70-68, Oliver FISHER (ENG) 70-68, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 71-67, Julien CLEMENT (SUI) 71-67.
139 - Camilo VILLEGAS (COL) 69-70, Christian CEVAER (FRA) 67-72.
140 - Steven O HARA (SCO) 68-72, Bradley DREDGE (WAL) 74-66, Thomas LEVET (FRA) 74-66, Ross FISHER (ENG) 71-69, Colin MONTGOMERIE (SCO) 69-71, Rafael CABRERA-BELLO (ESP) 72-68, Ross BAIN (SCO) 69-71, Scott HEND (AUS) 70-70, Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 68-72, Peter LAWRIE (IRL) 69-71, LEE Sung (KOR) 71-69, Mars PUCAY (PHI) 70-70.

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ENGLAND'S WALLACE, LOCKWOOD BEATEN IN ARGENTINA

Both of England's representatives, Matthew Wallace and Paul Lockwood, were knocked out in the first round of the match-play stages of the Argentina men's international amateur championship at San Isidro Golf Club.
Wallace, who qualified 10th of 64, lost to the 55th qualifier, Anadon Florenco. Unfortunately, the Argentine Federation website does not list the winning/losing margin for this particular tie.
Lockwood, who qualified 49th, lost at the 21st to South Africa's Harvey Jared, the 15th qualifier.

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UNITED STATES LEAD 7-5 AFTER PRESIDENTS CUP FOUR-BALLS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
The United States will head into Saturday's foursomes leading the International team 7-5 after honours were shared in today's four-ball competition, with Tiger Woods again defeated at a windswept Royal Melbourne.
With five points on offer in each of tomorrow's sessions - the morning foursomes and afternoon four-ball - the International team will be desperate to dominate as they look to close the gap ahead of Sunday's 12 singles matches.
As temperatures reached the low 30s and northerly winds gusted at close to 60kmph today, players from both teams were tested to the limit - particularly on the super-fast, rock-hard greens as it was difficult for them to attack the pins.
The second match of the day summed up just how tough things were as Victorian Aaron Baddeley and Queenslander Jason Day went head to head with former world No 1 Woods and Dustin Johnson.
The contest went the distance and it was Baddeley who ultimately proved the difference on an afternoon Day might prefer to forget, going some way to make up for his poor finish yesterday to pull a point back for the Internationals.
But a day after giving the American team a lead that has not been challenged, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson claimed their second point from as many attempts in the first match, prevailing 2 and 1 against South African Ernie Els and rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.
And veterans Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk did likewise, finally getting past Queenslander Adam Scott and South Korean K T Kim 2 and 1 by winning the 17th hole, having earlier led by three.
Sandwiched between those results for the Americans was the biggest victory of the day, the 4 and 3 hiding Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker handed to Victorian Robert Allenby and South Korean Y E Yang.
Victorian Geoff Ogilvy bounced back from his own late collapse yesterday to combine with South Korean K J Choi for a one-hole win over Bill Haas and Nick Watney - the win Choi's second in as many days after he and Scott thumped Woods and Stricker 7 and 6 yesterday.
And South Africans Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel ensured the day would end 3-3 when they finished off David Toms and Hunter Mahan 2 and 1 in the final match of the day.
Shot of the day went to Ogilvy. One of three Internationals with intimate knowledge of the famed sandbelt course he put his team ahead by holing out from a bunker for a birdie at the fifth.
The wind made things so tricky that several times players sprinted to mark their balls on greens for fear of them moving again while others saw putts roll right off the other side of the putting surface when their attempts were only slightly off-line, so slick were the greens.
Watson and Simpson led after three holes only to hand the advantage straight back but Watson's birdie at the sixth and a Simpson par at the seventh gave them a lead they would not surrender, even if Els and Ishikawa twice briefly closed to within one.
Woods' brilliant birdie putt at the fourth put him and Johnson ahead but Day's par at the eighth levelled proceedings and a Baddeley birdie at 13 gave his team a lead they doggedly clung to down the stretch.
Mickelson and Furyk went ahead at the third and were on top by three after eight but saw their lead whittled to one with two to play thanks to some superb saves from Scott and Kim, before Furyk sealed the win with a birdie at 17.
Ogilvy's back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth holes put him and Choi on top but Haas birdies at the ninth and 11th holes tied it up before Ogilvy's par at 12 restored the International advantage and Ogilvy then closed it out with a par at 18.
A day after winning the final two holes with Johnson to halve his match with Baddeley and Day, Kuchar continued that momentum to be the key player as he and Stricker led by two through five and never saw their lead seriously challenged by Allenby and Yang.
The brightest note of the day for the Internationals was in the sixth match as Goosen won the second and third holes to give himself and Schwartzel a lead they stretched to three at one point before hanging on later to beat Mahan and Toms.

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