FIFE GOLFERS BEAT MIDLOTHIAN - NOW THREE WINS OUT OF THREE

Fife continued their all-conquering run in the Fife-Lothians Winter Golf League by beating Mid Lothian 7-3 at Baberton GC today. Fife's record in the league reads: Played 3, Won 3. Details: MID LOTHIAN 3, FIFE 7 Mid Lothian players first David Miller bt Ian Bell 2 and 1. Alex Robertson lost to Kevin Blyth 3 and 2. Sean McGarvey bt Alex Moir 1 hole. Marc Riddell lost to Ally Hain 5 and 4. Jamie McIntosh lost to Keith Anderson 4 and 2. Graham Reid lost to John Jamieson 2 and 1. Ducan Johnston lost to John Douglas 4 and 2. Lee Morgan bt Jamie Stephen 2 and 1. Scott Johnston lost to David Mitchell 3 and 2. James Muir lost to Scott Stewart-Carlton 4 and 2 West beat East 8-2 at Silverknowes in another Fife-Lothians Winter League match the weekend. DECEMBER 4 FIXTURES Fife v West at Charleton. East v Mid at North Berwick

MAT FINISH A WINNER FOR JAMIE SAVAGE AT KINGSFIELD

Cawder's Jamie Savage set aside his aversion to play off winter mats on a golf course to win the Scottish Junior Golf Tour Level 4 and 5 event at Kingsfield on Saturday. He crammed seven birdies in to a four-under--ar score of 64 to win by four shots from Jake Scott (Strathlene) and Stuart Easton (Bogside) with George Burns (Williamwood) fourth on 70. Fraser Kane (Kirkhill) won the Under-14s section with a 72. Robbie Kemsley (Balmore) was second with a 73 and Calum Fyfe (Cawder) third on 74. Josh Beatt (Fereneze) filled fourth place with a 76.  Ronan Higgins (Shotts)  won the handicap prize with net 65.  The putting competition was won by Josh Beatt. Campbell Mathieson (Troon Welbeck) won the short game challenge.

DUMFRIES TEENAGER GREIG MARCHBANK THIRD IN DUBAI

Scottish Golf Union boys' order of merit winner Greig Marchbank finished third at the weekend in a 54-hole competition organised by the Emirates Golf Federation. Marchank, a Dumfries and County GC member, is in Dubai for warm weather training as a member of the SGU squad of top prospects. Greig shared the lead going into the final round of the Shaikh Rashid Trophy at Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa but slipped back to third place as fellow Scot Daniel Hendry, not a member of the SGU squad,  surged to the front with a course record-equalling 69 for a three-under-par final total of 213. Hendry, a member of the SGU Boys Development National Squad last year, is now based in Dubai and plays out of the Emirates Golf Club. The 17-year-old trailed playing partner Marchbank by a stroke going into the final 18 holes, but his great final round gave him a four-stroke winning margin from runner-up, defending champion Michael Harradine. Marchbank had rounds of 73, 70 and 77 for 220. Marchbank, while disappointed with his finish, believes the experience in the United Arab Emirates is serving him well. He said: "Overall, it's been very good and I've enjoyed the experience thoroughly. The first two days I played some great golf so that is very encouraging. "This time in Dubai has been beneficial in life too, as I've had to deal with different situations, which has been interesting. So, overall, I'm very pleased with my experience." ends

MURRAY 2nd, WHITEFORD jt 3rd IN SOUTH AFRICAN DUNHILL

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Garth Mulroy was caught twice but fought back to win his first European Tour title on home soil at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club, South Africa today.
Two strokes clear overnight, the 33-year-old bogeyed the second to allow Jbe Kruger to level, before the latter’s challenge was ended by a double bogey six at the ninth when he found water.Four birdies between the sixth and 13th looked to have sealed victory for Mulroy, but as he dropped a shot at the 14th Scotland’s George Murray (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) played a wonderful second shot at the long 15th to ten feet and eagled.
But while Murray parred his way in for a career-best European Tour finish of second, Mulroy birdied the 15th and 16th – the latter with a 60 foot downhill putt - which with two closing pars gave him a four under par 68 and 19 under total.
“I just tried to play smart golf and hit it in the right spots,” said Mulroy, who has twice won on the Sunshine Tour and now has a great chance to win their Order of Merit at the South African Open next week.
"I knew halfway down that slope it had a chance," he added, referring to his monster putt at the 16th.
The €158,500 first prize opens The European Tour door to him just a month after he earned a return to the US PGA Tour in the United States via the Nationwide Tour.
Murray, meanwhile, achieved his best-ever Tour finish seven weeks after he came third in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, where he outscored World No 1 playing partner Luke Donald in the final round.
This time a five under par 67, one better than Mulroy, took him four clear of four players in third place - his compatriot Peter Whiteford, South Africans George Coetzee and Jaco van Zyl and also Chilean Felipe Aguilar.
Murray was down in 183rd spot on The Race to Dubai entering October and facing the danger of a sixth trip to the Qualifying School.
Now the 28 year old from Anstruther in Fife, Scottish amateur champion in 2004, is inside the top 80 with winnings of over €380,000 this season.
Mulroy’s was the 100th South African win in European Tour history and he admitted it presented him with some exciting opportunities.
“There are a lot of opportunities for me now. It’s nice to have these kind of options,” he said.
“I want to win the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. I know I’m ahead now, but I’m not going to relax until next week’s over. I’ll putt it off the tee next week if I have to!”
There were two Scots in the three - Peter Whiteford finishing joint third on 275 with a final round of 71. He earned 48,750 Euros. Nice work!
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Prize money in Euros
269 Garth Mulroy (South Africa) 69 68 69 68 (158,500)
271 George Murray (Scotland) 66 6 69 67 (115,500)
275 Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 75 67 64 71, Felipe Aguilar (Chile) 71 64 68 72, George Coetzee (South Africa) 68 71 69 69, Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa) 68 68 72 67 (48,750 each).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
285 Alan McLean 66 73 71 75 (37th) (7,300).
287 Lloyd Saltman 70 68 71 78 (T41) (6,300)
288 Alastair Forsyth 75 68 68 78 (T49) (4,400)).


TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

Gonzalo-Fernandez second in Japan after victory in Sinapore play-off

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, the Spaniard who won a play-off on Monday for last weekend's Singapore Open, finished second in his next tournament, the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.
Winner was Japanese player Toshinori Muto with scores of 68, 70 and 63 for eight-under-par 201.
Fernandez-Castano scored 68, 66 and 71 for a total of 205. Ireland's Shane Lowry (69-69-68) and American Ricky Barnes (68-70-68) tied for third place on 206.

Dutchman Daniel Huizing in today's Argentina amateur championship final

Dutchman Daniel Huizing is playing Patricio Tolosa (Argentina) in today's 36-hole final of the Argentina amateur international championship at San Isidro Golf Club today.
In the semi-finals, Tolosa bt Jarved Harvey (South Africa) by two holes while Huising was winner by 5 and 4 against Joaquin Bonjour (Argentina).

LOCAL HERO WINS FUBON SENIOR OPEN ON TAIWAN

By STEVE TODD
European Senior Tour Press Officer
Taiwan’s Chien Soon Lu coasted to a five-stroke victory on home soil in the Fubon Senior Open, capturing his maiden European Senor Tour victory with a closing round of 69 at Miramar Golf and Country Club.
After heavy rain affected play on Saturday, Lu completed the remaining 14 holes of his second round on Sunday morning, recovering from beginning with a double bogey on the fifth to card a one under par 71.
That meant he took a three-stroke lead over Englishman Roger Chapman into the final round and a birdie on the opening hole followed by an eagle three on the par five second extended Lu’s cushion and the top of the leaderboard.
The 51 year old dropped two shots in three holes with bogeys on the fifth and seventh holes but a birdie on the tenth settled any nerves and another on the final hole ensure a home champion on the Senior Tour’s first visit to Taiwan.
Lu finished on 12 under par 204 for the tournament, five clear of American amateur Lorens Chan who closed with a 70, to become the 11th first time winner on the Senior Tour in 2011.
“I’m delighted to win the Fubon Senior Open,” said Lu. “I felt confident coming into the event and it is great to be able to hold the trophy.
“I have been playing well in America on the US Champions Tour this year but this victory is the highlight of the season. I was asked by Hseih Min Nan, the President of the Senior PGA of Taiwan, to come back for this tournament and try to keep the trophy in Taiwan and I’m delighted that I have managed to do that.”
Lu was playing in his first Senior Tour event outside the Senior Major Championships but indicated his pedigree last season with top 20 finishes in both The Senior Open Championship and US Senior PGA Championship. He also finished 24th on the US Champions Tour Money List this year and is the third Asian to claim a Senior Tour title in 2011, following Japan’s Massy Kuramoto in the Handa Cup Senior Masters in Japan last November and Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit in the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters in England in September.
Chapman had started the final round hopeful of capturing his own maiden Senior Tour title following three top ten finishes in his last four appearances but the Englishman endured a difficult front nine, with back-to-back double bogeys on the eighth and ninth in addition to three bogeys. He eventually signed for a 79 to finish 13 shots behind Lu on one over par and in a share of 12th place.
Runner-up was 17-year-old Taiwan-born amateur Chan, who had been given a special invitation by the sponsors to gain some playing experience alongside the Senior Tour players. Frankie Minoza of the Philippines finished third, a further two shots back on five under par after a closing 69.

FUBON SENIOR OPEN SCOREBOARD

Miramar Golf and Country Club, Taiwan
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
204 L Chien Soon (Tpe) 64 71 69,
209 L Chan (am) (USA) 68 71 70,
211 F Minoza (Phi) 67 76 68,
213 C Tsang-Te (Tpe) 70 72 71,
214 M Kuramoto (Jpn) 67 72 75,
215 B Ruangkit (Tha) 71 70 74, D Ishii (USA) 70 71 74,
216 L Ji-Xiang (Tpe) 72 72 72, G Banister (Aus) 71 73 72, J Sallat (Fra) 71 72 73, G Manson (Aut) 72 69 75
217 K Tomori (Jpn) 73 74 70, C Chun-Hsing (Tpe) 71 75 71, R Chapman (Eng) 67 71 79
218 S Cipa (Eng) 72 71 75
219 J Harrison (Eng) 72 72 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 71 72 76, R Drummond (Sco) 70 73 76
220 C Williams (RSA) 72 75 73, D Merriman (Aus) 71 75 74, C Liang-His (Tpe) 73 72 75, A Sherborne (Eng) 72 73 75, A Forsbrand (Swe) 70 72 78
221 C Hung-Ta (Tpe) 74 73 74, Y Chin-Han (Tpe) 73 74 74, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 73 76, C Chin-Kuo (Tpe) 69 75 77, G Brand (Eng) 72 71 78
222 B Longmuir (Sco) 74 74 74, J Bruner (USA) 74 72 76, T Thelen (USA) 71 75 76, B Cameron (Eng) 71 75 76
223 P Smith (Sco) 74 77 72, S Lyle (Sco) 74 74 75, K Tarling (Can) 73 73 77, H Shih-Ming (Tpe) 71 73 79
224 P Dahlberg (Swe) 73 75 76, J Gould (Eng) 71 76 77, N Job (Eng) 69 77 78, C Jamnian (Tha) 69 76 79
225 M Aoki (Jpn) 76 75 74, M Belsham (Eng) 75 74 76
227 D Johnson (USA) 70 84 73, S Chung-Shyan (Tpe) 75 75 77, M Briggs (Eng) 72 78 77, T C Chen (Tpe) 72 78 77, G Ryall (Eng) 74 75 78, L De-Ming (Tpe) 68 78 81
228 G Davies (Wal) 70 77 81
229 T Chin-Fa (Tpe) 75 78 76
230 K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 75 83, J Stansberry (USA) 72 71 87
231 S Bennett (Eng) 71 83 77, C Wang-Ken (Tpe) 77 74 80, J Jacobs (USA) 71 80 80
232 T Yasushi (Jap) 77 77 78, L Wen-Sheng (Tpe) 71 83 78
233 J Murphy (Eng) 77 76 80, L Ching-Ho (Tpe) 77 75 81
234 D Cambridge (Jam) 73 81 80
235 B Stevens (Eng) 76 77 82
238 D Young (Eng) 73 80 85239 H Shih-Her (Tpe) 75 79 85
Retired: M Farry (Fra) 71 79 ret

MISSED THE CUT (154 or better qualified for final round)
173 Ian Dougan (Sco) 83 70.
Disqualified - Terry Burgoyne (Sco) 72 78.

DUTCHMAN LUITEN CATCHES CHOPRA TO WIN ISKANDAR JOHOR OPN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Rising star Joost Luiten of the Netherlands translated a run of good form to win the weather-shortened Iskandar Johor Open today.
Luiten overcame a four-shot deficit with a sizzling six-under-par 65 to defeat Daniel Chopra of Sweden by one shot in the US$2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour that was reduced to 54 holes due to adverse weather in the last three days.
Chopra narrowly missed his 20 foot eagle putt on the last hole to force a play-off and settled for second with a final round 70 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Former Asian Tour member Rhys Davies of Wales, title holder Padraig Harrington of Ireland and James Morrison of England finished in tied third, two shots from the champion.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour number one, Charlie Wi of Korea, Shiv Kapur of India and Bangladeshi Siddikur ended their campaigns as the top Asians in tied 15th place.
Luiten, who has six top-10 finishes this year, turned in 30 strokes, highlighted by a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole before adding another birdie on 11 to win his first European Tour title.
Playing on the second last flight, Luiten had an agonizing wait but revelled in delight when Chopra missed his eagle putt on the last which would have forced a play-off.
“Well it is always tough to get your first Tour win and you'll always believe that you'll get a good one. I've come close for a few times and I'm really relieved to finally win and looking for the next one,” said the 25-year-old Dutchman, who won US$333,330 with a winning total of 15-under-par 198.
“I knew at the beginning of the week that it will be raining season here so it didn’t really bother me. You just need to relax when the delay comes and accept it. You can’t let it get to you or it will affect your round,” said Luiten, who wears two gloves for a better grip.
Chopra, who held a two-shot lead after play was suspended yesterday, was disappointed not to recapture the title he won way back in 1993.
His title hopes looked to have faded after a double bogey on seven but the two-time US PGA Tour winner battled back with three birdies in his closing six holes to finish lone second.
“I was very disappointed because I hit the ball really nicely (the double bogey). It was really the only bad shot I made all day. I had a bad break there but I knew there was a long way to go and if I could get some birdies, I would still have a chance to win. I just tried to stay patient,” said Chopra, who grew up in India.
“It is a great way to finish the year. It has been a long hard working year and it is nice to have this good finish at the end of the year. It gives you some encouragement for the next year,” added the Swede, who earned his 2012 US PGA Tour card through the Nationwide Tour this year.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71) Yardage 6,783
198 - Joost LUITEN (NED) 63-70-65.
199 - Daniel CHOPRA (SWE) 64-65-70.
200 - Rhys DAVIES (WAL) 70-65-65, James MORRISON (ENG) 66-65-69, Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL) 64-67-69.
201 - Gregory BOURDY (FRA) 64-67-70.
202 - Soren KJELDSEN (DEN) 71-64-67.
203 - Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 69-67-67, Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE) 68-67-68, Darren BECK (AUS) 70-65-68, Marcus FRASER (AUS) 64-70-69, Jose Manuel LARA (ESP) 67-67-69.
204 - Marcel SIEM (GER) 69-67-68, Soren HANSEN (DEN) 68-67-69.
205 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 70-68-67, Charlie WI (KOR) 66-72-67, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 69-69-67, Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 71-64-70, Michael JONZON (SWE) 69-65-71, Christian NILSSON (SWE) 67-67-71, SIDDIKUR (BAN) 67-67-71, Ross FISHER (ENG) 71-69-65.
SCOTS' TOTALS
206 Colin Montgomerie 69 71 66 (T23).
208 Jamie McLeary 66 70 72, Gary Orr 72 66 70, Richie Ramsay 68 69 71 (T38).
209 Ross Bain 69 71 69 (T48).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

Ends.

TIGER GETS CLINCHING POINT AS US WIN PRESIDENTS CUP 19-15

   THE SMILE ON THE FACE OF THE TIGER. Woods presses the flesh with well-wishers after his last-day singles win for the United States in the Presidents Cup match. Image from the BBC Sport website.

Internationals win first four singles but 6-6 finale
FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE
Tiger Woods earned the winning point as the United States beat the International team 19-15 to clinch the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club today.
Woods beat Australian Aaron Baddeley 4 and 3 in the final set of singles to give the US the 18 points they needed to retain the Cup.
The Americans led 13-9 going into the singles but lost the first four matches. On a tense afternoon Woods sealed victory with his success
"It feels good," said Woods. "I hoped it wouldn't come down to my point."

SINGLES RESULTS=====
US players named first
United States 6, International Team 6
W Simpson lost to K T Kim 1 hole
D Johnson lost to C Schwartzel 2 and 1
B Watson lost to R Ishikawa 3 and 2
B Haas lost to G Ogilvy 2 holes
H Mahan bt J Day 5 and 3.
N Watney bt K J Choi 3 and 2
P Mickelson lost to A Scott 2 and 1
M Kuchar lost to R Goosen 1 hole.
J Furyk bt E Els 4 and 3.
D Toms bt R Allenby 7 and 5
T Woods bt A Baddeley 4 and 3
S Stricker bt Y E Yang 2 and 1
================

Woods' victory was a repeat of 2009, when he sank the winning putt against South Korea's Y E Yang at San Francisco to hand the United States their sixth Cup.
The former world number one, who was a controversial wild-card pick by skipper Fred Couples after injuries and a serious slump in form, credited team-mate Steve Stricker for a putting tip.
"I played well all week, but unfortunately didn't make any putts in the first four matches," said Woods, who earned two points out of a possible five. "Today was a different deal - they poured right in."
Captain Couples, celebrating his second win in charge, said: "For Tiger to get the winning point makes us feel very good as a team.
"I don't think I've ever been vindicated in golf, but I feel like I know what I'm doing. When I picked Tiger a month early, he worked six to eight hours a day on his game.
"When a guy looks you in the eye and says: 'Don't worry about me, I'll be right', it brings a smile to your face, especially when it's Tiger.
"I got frustrated a bit (by the attacks on his selection) because I felt I was picking the greatest player I've ever seen play.
"I heard he was the Tiger of old today and Aaron Baddeley said it was phenomenal."
The International team, who last won the Presidents Cup in 1998, also at Royal Melbourne, made a fast start on a sunny day in Victoria.
Wins for K T Kim, Charl Schwartzel, Ryo Ishikawa and Geoff Ogilvy against Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Bill Haas respectively gave them hope.
But Hunter Mahan, the American who had a nightmare singles experience in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, and David Toms stopped the rot.
Mahan trounced Jason Day 5 and 3 and David Toms thrashed Robert Allenby 7 and 5 to nudge the US ahead.
Adam Scott kept the Internationals in the hunt with a 2 and 1 win over the previously unbeaten Phil Mickelson, while Nick Watney defeated K J Choi 3 and 2.
Jim Furyk maintained his 100% record with a 4 and 3 victory over Ernie Els to take the US to the brink before Woods sealed victory.
In the two games still going, South Africa's Retief Goosen beat Matt Kuchar and Stricker overcame Y E Yang to widen the gap to four points again.
The 12 singles ended up: United States 6, the Internationals 6.
International team captain Greg Norman said: "The guys stepped up to the plate, very, very proud of them for doing that.
"My team can hold their heads up extremely high. We'll take a lot out of this tournament."

EDITOR'S TALKING POINT: It's 13 years since the International Team beat the Americans in the Presidents Cup. Isn't time Europeans were included in the International line-up?

GREIG MARCHBANK SHARES LEAD IN DUBAI'S RASHID TROPHY

DUBAI - Defending champion Michael Harradine and Greig Marchbank (pictured right by Kenny Smith) matched the day’s best score to share the lead going into the final round of the Shaikh Rashid Trophy, organized by the Emirates Golf Federation
Starting the day, three shots off the pace, Harradine strung together a solid 70 to join Marchbank, a member of Dumfries and County Golf Club and the SGU boys' Order of Merit winner for 2011, on top at one-under 143 after the second round played at the Els Club.
Overnight leader Daniel Hendry carded a two-over-par 74 to slip to a solo second, a good two shots ahead of Cullum Mills.
On a day when most of players struggled to hole their putts on fast greens, running at almost 10 on Stimpmeter, Harradine made a tremendous start to his round, going four under after 10 holes, but dropped shots on the 13th and 15.
“I had chances to put a good number, but those dropped shots on the back nine didn’t help,” said Harradine, adding: “The tournament is still wide open and anyone among the top five or six can walk away with the trophy.”
Marchbank, who is representing the Scottish Golf Union, followed his opening 73 with a 70 to stay in contention for the title “I am really enjoying playing here. It’s a good experience,” he said.
Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit champion Miki Mirza signed off with a 75 to join Craig Forest at 148.
SECOND-ROUND LEADING TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
143 – Michael Harradine 73 70, Greig Marchbank 73 70
144 – Daniel Hendry 70 74
146 – Cullum Mills 74 72
148 – Craig Forest 75 73, Miki Mirza 73 75
150 – Faris Al Mazroui 76 74, Paul King 75 75, Dino Varkey 72 78
151 – John Mills 74 77
152 – Sidney D’Souza 79 73, Brian McCarthy 77 75