THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 216 (3x72)
Players from US unless stated
204 Kevin Na 67 69 68
205 Matt Kuchar 68 68 69
207 Rickie Fowler 72 69 66
208 Ben Curtis 68 71 70
209 Zach Johnson 70 66 73

SELECTED SCORES
210 Martin Laird (Scotland) 65 73 78, Brian Davis (England) 68 70 72 (T8)
212 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 73 71 68, Phil Mickelson 71 71 70, Ian Poulter (England) 65 76 71 (T14)
213 Luke Donald (England) 72 69 72 (T27)
214 Tiger Woods 74 68 72 (T34)
215 Lee Westwood (England) 71 70 74 (T43)
219 Justin Rose (England) 76 68 75 (T62).

TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD ROUND SCORES AND, ON SUNDAY EVENING, LIVE SCORING FROM THE FINAL ROUND AT SAWGRASS

CLICK HERE

MORAY AND NAIRN GOLF LEAGUE RESULTS

THURSDAY
Nairn 7, Nairn Dunbar 1

FRIDAY
Elgin 2, Moray 6

TODAY
Forres 6 1/2, Nairn Dunbar 1 1/2
Elgin 4, Nairn 4
Moray 5, Forres 3
Nairn Dunbar 3 1/2, Elgin 4 1/2

HOW THEY STAND
Moray Played 2 Points 4
Nairn  Played 2 Points 3
Elgin  Played 3 Points 3
Forres Played 2 Points 2
Nairn Dunbar 3 Points 0

SUNDAY'S MATCHES
Nairn v Forres
Nairn Dunbar v Moray
Forres v Elgin
Moray v Nairn

+Due to a technical difficulty, we are unable to give you the individual results but that information is available on the Moray and Nairn Golf League website which you can access as follows

CLICK HERE

SHIELDS AND WHITE ONLY SCOTS TO BEAT THE CUT IN IRISH OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY

Only two Scots - Paul Shields and James White, survived the halfway cut - totals of 152 or better qualified for Sunday's final 36 holes - in the Irish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Dublin.
Shields shot a pair of 74s for 148 and White scored 74-77 for 151.
Belfast's Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park) carded a second round of 70 to give him the halfway lead on one under par.
He is one shot clear of a four-man chasing pack which includes the World No 7 amateur  and last weekend's runaway Lytham Trophy winner Dan Huizing (Netherlands), the Peter McEvoy Trophy winner Gavin Moynihan, Robin Kind (Netherlands) and the impressive American Mike Miller who are all level par.
A round that contained five birdies, including one on the 18th, gave Diamond the equal best round of the day.
Good friends with Rory McIlroy, Diamond will be hoping to do something that McIlroy never did, in winning the Irish amateur open title.
A total of 45 players made the cut which fell at 152.

LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
143 H Diamond (Belvoir Park) 73 70.
144 D Huizing (Netherlands) 74 70, G Moynihan (The Island) 74 70, R King (Netherlands) 73 71, M Miller (US) 71 73.
145 C Campbell (Warrenpoint) 74 71, M Trappel (Austria) 73 72, C Dorna (Banbridge) 73 72, D McElroy (Ballymena) 71 74, S Ward (Co Louth) 70 75.

SCOTS' SCORES
149 P Shields 74 74
151 J White 74 77

MISSED THE CUT (152 or better qualified)
154 S Binning 76 78.
156 S Borrowman 80 76, S Larkin 80 76.
157 J Hendrick 78 79.
158 M Robb 85 73.
159 C O'NeIl 80 79, G Stevenson 78 81.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

AGUILAR LEADS CHALLENGER TOUR FIELD INTO FINAL ROUND

From Challenge Tour Press Officer

PAUL SYMES Carlos Aguilar will take a slender lead into the final round of the ALLIANZ Côtes d’Armor Bretagne, where he is bidding to secure his debut Challenge Tour title.

Aguilar, pictured today by Bruno Torrubia, has won twice in a ten year professional career, on the domestic Tour in his native Spain and the Satellite EPD Tour, but victory in this week’s €160,000 tournament in France would surpass all his previous achievements.
After a level par round of 70 the 29 year old from Alicante remained on five under par, two strokes clear of Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl, whose 67 was one of only two sub-par scores on a windswept third day in the Bretagne region of northern France.
In contrast to the second round, when he racked up four successive birdies, Aguilar struggled on the front nine at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André, turning in 36 to relinquish his overnight lead. But the back nine was a different story for the Spaniard, who notched three birdies in four holes from the ninth. A dropped shot at the 15th hole was cancelled out by a gain at the 17th, but a three-putt bogey on the last green gave Huldahl hope of overturning Aguilar’s advantage.
Aguilar said: “Both putts on the 18th were a misread, as I thought they would break from the right. But overall I’ve got no complaints, because it was a tough day and I coped quite well. The long shots were quite difficult to judge, because the wind was stronger than yesterday and from a different direction, and it was also cooler. But hopefully the weather tomorrow will be better.
“I will have to play my best to have a chance to win, because the standard on the Challenge Tour is very high. But I can’t worry about what anyone else is doing – I just have to play my own game. I had some nice messages from friends and family after my round yesterday and I’m sure I’ll have some more today, so hopefully I can make them happy. But it doesn’t depend on them – it’s all down to me now.”             
The lowest score of the day was compiled by Huldahl who, despite the tricky cross-winds, carded just a solitary bogey in his three under par round of 67.
The Dane is a European Tour champion, and will return to the scene of his win when he competes at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at the end of the month. But his focus this season will be predominantly on the Challenge Tour, as he bids to secure a swift return to the top tier having relinquished his card last term.     
Huldahl blamed poor putting and a wayward driver for his 158th place finish in The 2011 Race to Dubai, but his all-round game was in great shape as he collected four birdies to climb 14 places up the leaderboard from his overnight position of tied 15th. 

The 29 year old from Copenhagen will now go in search of his second Challenge Tour title, having won the 2008 Lexus Open en route to finishing tenth in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
He said: “The wind changed direction today, so all the tricky holes were playing into the wind. But I held it together nicely, and managed to keep it in play for the whole round except for the sixth hole, where I found the rough off the tee and didn’t manage to get up and down. But one bogey in those conditions is pretty good going.
“It’s a good position to be in going into the final day, and I’m probably one of the more experienced players this week so hopefully I can use that to my advantage. Obviously last year I was disappointed to lose my card, but I used the long off-season to put in some practice, and I feel much better about my game now.”
A level par round of 70 moved Aguilar’s compatriot Ignacio Elvira up to third place on two under par, one stroke ahead of the English duo of Peter Baker and Eddie Pepperell, Denmark’s Rasmus Hjelm and Italian Gregory Molteni.
SCOTSWATCH: Aberdeen's rookie pro David Law, twice Scottish amateur champion in the past three years, is heading for a top-20 finish on his debut on the Challenge Tour which would be no mean feat for the Northern Open champion. He is joint 16th after a 72 today, his brilliant second-round 64 making him the only Scot to survive the halfway cut.

THIRD-ROUND SCORES

 Par 210 (3x70)

205 C Aguilar  (Esp) 69 66 70,

207 J Huldahl (Den) 72 68 67,

208 I Elvira  (Esp) 69 69 70,

209 E Pepperell (Eng) 67 71 71, P Baker (Eng) 73 64 72, G Molteni (Ita) 68 70 71, R Hjelm (Den) 71 67 71,

210 M Korhonen (Fin) 68 69 73,

211 K Broberg (Swe) 70 72 69, J Dantorp (Swe) 74 63 74,

212 K Samooja (Fin) 71 71 70, D Perrier (Fra) 69 69 74, N Bertasio (Ita) 75 65 72, G Stal  (Fra) 69 70 73, B Pastore (Ita) 71 67 74

213 J Howarth (Eng) 76 65 72, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 70 71, D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 70 74, J Barnes (Eng) 71 72 70, D Law (Sco) 77 64 72

214 D Wright (Eng) 71 71 72, F Calmels  (Fra) 76 67 71, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 73 69 72, S Grant  (Irl) 67 73 74, F De Vries  (Ned) 68 74 72

215 N Lemke (Swe) 70 71 74, M Haines  (Eng) 73 71 71, B McCarroll  (Irl) 70 73 72

216 K Le Sager  (Fra) 71 70 75, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 71 76, A Haig (RSA) 69 72 75, M Evans (Eng) 71 71 74, J Abbott (Eng) 71 68 77, C Hanson (Eng) 67 73 76

217 A Bihan (Fra) 74 70 73, W Roebuck (Eng) 71 70 76, A Knappe (Ger) 74 69 74, M Quiros (Esp) 73 68 76, J Ruth  (Eng) 73 70 74, T Leon (USA) 69 70 78,

218 E Chamaulte (Fra) 71 72 75, S Manley (Wal) 71 72 75, I Giner (Esp) 74 69 75, O Farr (Wal) 73 68 77

219 A Levy (Fra) 74 66 79, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 74 68 77, D Geminiani (Ita) 74 70 75, N Mourlon (Fra) 73 70 76

220 C Monasterio (Arg) 70 72 78

222 K Benz (Sui) 70 74 78, L Claverie (Esp) 71 73 78, C Devlin (NIr) 73 71 78

223 F Ojeda  (Arg) 74 70 79, S Lewton (Eng) 75 67 81, M Cryer (Eng) 73 70 80

224 T Mordt  (RSA) 74 69 81, J Adarraga Gomez  (Esp) 71 72 81, G Watremez (Bel) 76 68 80, B Mannix (Eng) 75 68 81, M Higley (Eng) 71 73 80

229 I Sanchez-Palencia  (Esp) 71 71 87

   

CARLOS DE MORAL - ONLY 20 PUTTS - LEADS BY THREE IN MADEIRA OPEN

           CARLOS DEL MORAL in action today. Picture by Getty Images (c)

 NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Spaniard Carlos Del Moral surged to the top of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal leaderboard with a stunning nine under par 63 in the third round at Santo da Serra today.

The 26 year old will take a three-shot lead into the final day as he goes in search of his maiden European Tour title, thanks to an exquisite putting display which racked up nine birdies.

Del Moral had just 20 putts in a round which ended with three consecutive birdies – plus two more putts from just off the green – to power ahead of young Swede Joakim Lagergren, who is 14 under, while Mikael Lundberg and Magnus A Carlsson, also of Sweden, Portugal’s Ricardo Santos and Englishman Oliver Wilson are another shot back at 13 under.

“It was incredible,” said Del Moral. “I putted beautifully and it gives me a lot of confidence. I had nine holes in a row – the entire front nine – with only one putt. And the ones that I missed hardly missed at all, they were so close to going in. My putting really was outstanding.

“It was tough mentally on the back nine. I have been working on my swing for a while and this is the first time I’ve been up there in a tournament and it feels like it is in place.

“Last week at the Spanish Open I played well but didn’t putt well. I am a lot better from tee to green these days. I am much straighter off the tee, and this golf course allows you to go a bit wider off the tee as well.

“I’m really glad to be in this position and I’m very excited about tomorrow. I’ve been up there before a few times and didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped, but I’m a much more mature player now and I am looking forward to it.”

European Tour rookie Lagergren did not quite hit the heights of his first two rounds, when he shot 66, but a two under par 70 keeps him in contention.

“I didn’t play very well on the front nine,” said the 20 year old. “I was a little nervous on the first tee but that soon went away. Luckily I managed to play a lot better on the back nine – I was three under and it could have been a lot more. My putter was ice cold and I missed a few short ones.

“I’ll have to go on the hunt tomorrow. I’ve shot 66 for two rounds so I know there are low scores out there. Carlos is three ahead but that’s not a lot in a final round, so I’ve just got to concentrate on playing well and hopefully I can catch him.”

Ricardo Santos delighted the home crowds with his round of 68, which included an eagle, three birdies and a bogey.

“Tee to green I’m playing great,” said the 2011 Challenge Tour graduate. “My putting needs to be a bit better though.

“This course is very special to me because I did well here as an amateur and I was leading here in the first round in 2007. It’s a place I’d love to win, of course. It’s great to have lots of family and friends here watching. It spurs me on.

“Carlos is a few shots ahead but there is still a long way to go and I just have to go out and keep playing well tomorrow.”

John Parry, a European Tour winner who is back on the Challenge Tour this year, signed for a seven under par 65 to reach ten under.

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
199 Carlos Del Moral (Spain) 69 67 63
202 Joakim Lagergren (Sweden) 66 66 70
203 Mikael Lundberg (Sweden) 69 70 64, Ricardo Santos (Portugal) 68 67 68, Magnus A Carlsson (Denmark) 66 68 71, Oliver Wilson (England0 66 65 72.

SCOTS' SCORES
206 Gary Orr 69 69 68 (T12)
207 Alastair Forsyth 69 68 70 (T17)
208 Chris Doak 70 68 70 (T22)
210 Raymond Russell 71 70 69 (T30)
211 Jamie McLeary 69 69 73 (T45)
212 Andrew McArthur 70 68 74 (T50
213 Lloyd Saltman 68 73 72 (T58)

MISSED THE CUT (141 or better qualified)
143 Steven O'Hara 73 70
144 Craig Lee 72 72
147 Callum Macaulay 76 71
148 Scott Drummond 71 77

EWAN SCOTT LEADS AT HALFWAY IN GOLF DATA LAB SCOTTISH YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Ewan Scott (St Andrews), beaten by Craig Howie (Peebles) in the final of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish schools championship at Murcar Links in early April, is on course to gain a victory that might more than make up for his disappointment on that occasion.
Scott, pictured at Murcar Links by Kenny Smith (SGU), has shot 72 and 67 for a halfway total of three-under-par to lead by two shots in the Golf Data Lab Scottish youths championship at Ladybank GC, Fife.
His nearest rival is Cameron Marr (Musselburgh on 141, made up of scores and 72 and 69.
But Ewan Scott certainly won't be counting his chickens. There are a lot of big names in Scottish Under-21 golf taking closer order with two rounds to go.
Blairgowrie's top prospect Bradley Neil and Simon Fairbairn (Torwoodlee) are both on 143 while Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), recent winner of a British students' title, and Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and Co) are both on 144, that's only five shots to make up over Sunday's 36 holes.
It should be quite a finish.
The cut-off for the leading 40 and ties was 150 or better to qualify.
On the wrong side of the limit mark was the defending champion, Lyle McAlpine from Royal Dornoch. He had rounds of 78 and 75 for 153 - three to many to retain an active interest in the championship.

LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) SS 73. CSS 74 73
139 Ewan Scott 9St Andrews) 72 67
141 Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) 72 69
142 Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 70 72
143 Thomas White (Kinross) 72 71, Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 71 72, Simon Fairbairn (Torwoodlee) 71 72
144 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73 71, Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County) 70 74, Jamie Harrison (Rotherham) 72 72, Cameron Michell (Lundin) 69 75

SELECTED SCORES
146 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 69 77 (T13)
148 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 73 75, Connar Cook (Caird Park) 71 77

MISSED THE CUT (150 or better qualified)
153 Lyle McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) 78 75.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

KELLETT WINS 1,822 EUROS FOR JOINT SIXTH FINISH ON ALPS TOUR

Motherwell's Ross Kellett and Kris Nicol from Fraserburgh both had final rounds of four-under-par 68 in the Alps Tour event, Servizitalia Lignano Open at Golf Club Lignano, Italy today.
Kellett, pictured, finished joint sixth on six-under-par 210, having had earlier rounds of 72 and 70. He birdied the first, seventh, eighth, 10th and 11th in his 68, the one blemish being late on with a bogey at the short 17th. Without that he would have made the top 5. His financial reward was 1,822 Euros.
Nicol started the tournament well with a 70 and then sagged to a 74 but picked up the pace again with his last-round 68 for four-under 212 for which he earned 922 Euros.
Nicol birdied the first, fifth, seventh and ninith to be out in four-under 32. Then he dropped his only shot of the day, at the 13th, but birdied the long 16th on the way home.
Lancashire's Jack Senior (Heysham), a member of the Walker Cup-winning GB and I team at Royal Aberdeen last September, scored his first pro win in spectacular fashion.
Three shots behind leader Jesus Legarrea (Spain) with three to play, Senior birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th for a 69 (earlier rounds 68-68) and an 11-under-par total of 205, which put him into a play-off with Legarrea.
 Of course, Senior, with the momentum in his favour, won the sudden-death play-off with his fourth birdie in a row.
Senior collected 6,525 Euros and, just as important, his first pro tournament victory.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
205 Jack Senior (England) 68 68 69, Jesus Legarrea (Spain) 70 67 72 (Senior won sudden-death play-off).
208 Mattia Miloro (Italy) 68 72 68.
209 Leo Astl (Austria) 69 70 70, Niccolo Quintarelli (Italy) 70 69 70.

SELECTED TOTALS
210 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 72 70 68 (T6).
212 Kris Nicol (Scotland) 70 74 68 (T12).]
215 Warren Harmaston (England) 74 69 72, Tom Sherreard (England) 70 71 74 (T20).

WOLSTENHOLME, WESSELINGH SHARE LEAD IN MALLORCA SENIOR OPEN

GARY WOLSTENHOLME playing a textbook bunker shot today. Picture by Getty Images (c).

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR

A superb five under par 66 propelled Englishman Gary Wolstenholme into a share of the Mallorca Open Senior lead at six under par alongside compatriot Paul Wesselingh, but the pair have a host of contenders lurking close behind following the second round of the Senior Tour’s opening event of 2012.

Wolstenholme, who signed for a one under par round of 70 at Pula Golf Club on Friday, made seven birdies over the course of an impressive showing on the Balearic Island, while Wesselingh, who, having continued the fine form that saw him seize a share of the first round lead, carded a second consecutive three under par 68 that included five birdies, meaning the fellow countrymen will take a slim lead into Sunday’s final round, one shot clear of a trio at five under par.

Beginning the day two shots behind the overnight leaders, Wolstenholme, the 2011 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year, came flying out of the blocks at the José María Olazábal-designed layout on Saturday morning, finding birdie at the short second after a monstrous 40-foot putt.

He found another birdie at the par four fourth, while a bogey five at the seventh was sandwiched between a further two birdies at the long sixth and par three eighth holes – thanks to another sizeable putt – helping him reach the turn in 33 blows.

The Egham-born man matched this total coming home, finding a further three birdies on the back nine at the 11th, 13th, and 15th holes with a second bogey of the day at the par four 17th as the 2010 Casa Serena Open Champion vies for his second Senior Tour title in Spain this week. 

He said: “It’s funny how things work out, yesterday I played average and today was better. This is my first tournament here and it’s a tough course so I can’t expect miracles, but I learned a few things from the silly mistakes I made yesterday and I have been hitting great shots.”

Wesselingh, playing his first event since claiming a card for this season with a second place finish at the Qualifying School earlier this year, again produced another solid round with just two bogeys coming at the par four fifth and 16th holes while the Kedleston Park pro found birdies at the second, fourth, and seventh holes on the front nine to reach the turn two under par for the day, with back-to-back birdies on the short 13th and par four 14th giving the 51 year old a share of the lead with one round remaining.

A makeable birdie putt at 18 that would have given him outright possession of the lead failed to drop, but it was still a satisfying day for the Liverpudlian considering the circumstances.

"I played really good, very solid play I am happy how it all went,” said Wesselingh. “This is the first tournament for me and I never expected to start this way, I didn't come out with any expectations, only to finish top 30 this year.

“But I had two great draws that helped a lot, I played with D J Russell yesterday, who was a pro in my club, and Dick Mast today, who I played two rounds with at the Q School, so they were great rounds that have really settled me in. I am delighted. I will look forward tomorrow, with no more expectations other than enjoy it.”

Australia’s Mike Harwood, a five time winner on The European Tour, looked to be putting the best round of the day together having reached the 16th tee at six under par, but successive bogeys at the final two par fours mean he will have to make do with a three-way tie for third place alongside Paraguay’s Angel Franco and Spain’s Juan Quiros – who both shot rounds of 68 – one shot back going into Sunday.

Andrew Sherborne of England (67) and Spain’s Manuel Moreno (70) are a further two shots back, while the other co-leaders following Friday’s first round, America’s Dick Mast and England’s David J Russell, both struggled to find the form that took them to the top of the leaderboard after the first round, matching each other with four bogeys and three birdies on the way to one over par rounds of 72.

Mast and Russell sit four off the pace alongside 2011 John Jacobs Trophy winner Peter Fowler (71) and last season’s Number Two, England’s Barry Lane (69), with a fascinating day in store in Sunday’s deciding round as the congested field contests for the €30,000 first prize in the augural Senior Tour event of the 2012 season.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 142 (2X71)

136 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 70 66, P Wesselingh (Eng) 68 68,

137 J Quiros (Esp) 69 68, M Harwood (Aus) 70 67, A Franco (Par) 69 68,

139 M Moreno (Esp) 69 70, A Sherborne (Eng) 72 67,

140 P Fowler (Aus) 69 71, C Williams (RSA) 73 67, D Mast (USA) 68 72, D Russell (Eng) 68 72, B Lane (Eng) 71 69,

141 A Oldcorn (Sco) 70 71, R Drummond (Sco) 73 68, J Gould (Eng) 69 72, M James (Eng) 69 72, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 74 67,

142 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 74 68, T Elliott (Aus) 71 71, M Farry (Fra) 71 71, S Torrance (Sco) 69 73, D Hospital (Esp) 70 72,

143 B Longmuir (Sco) 72 71, G Manson (Aut) 73 70, B Cameron (Eng) 71 72, A Takamatsu (Jpn) 72 71, E Rodriguez (Esp) 72 71, P Walton (Irl) 69 74,

144 R Chapman (Eng) 71 73, C Mason (Eng) 71 73, S McAllister (Sco) 72 72, A Forsbrand (Swe) 74 70, J Sallat (Fra) 72 72, R Gibson (Can) 72 72, M Mouland (Wal) 75 69, T Thelen (USA) 70 74,

145 G Banister (Aus) 74 71, I Woosnam (Wal) 69 76,

146 J Harrison (Eng) 76 70,

147 M Cunning (USA) 75 72, G Brand (Eng) 74 73, S Cipa (Eng) 74 73, G Ryall (Eng) 76 71,

148 J Hall (Eng) 72 76, M Belsham (Eng) 76 72, D Smyth (Irl) 74 74, P Mitchell (Eng) 73 75, D Wettlaufer (Can) 76 72, J Rivero (Esp) 74 74,

149 T Johnstone (Zim) 76 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 76, E Darcy (Irl) 74 75, V Garcia (Esp) 78 71, C Bolling  (USA) 74 75,

150 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 77 73, M Martin (Esp) 78 72, D Cambridge (Jam) 72 78, S Bennett (Eng) 74 76,

151 D Durnian (Eng) 76 75, J Cañizares (Esp) 77 74, M Piñero (Esp) 76 75,

152 J Chillas (Sco) 77 75, T Charnley (Eng) 77 75, J Heggarty (Nir) 71 81,

153 N Job (Eng) 80 73, T Burgoyne (Sco) 77 76,

154 A Garrido (Esp) 79 75, G Cali (Ita) 79 75,

155 J Rhodes (Eng) 78 77,

157 G Ralph (Eng) 78 79,

158 M Bembridge (Eng) 78 80,

167 F Fuentes Lopez (Esp) 84 83,

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey | GU25 4LX | UNITED KINGDOM

LIVE SCORING FROM GOLF DATA LAB SCOTTISH YOUTHS CH/SHIP

TO VIEW THE GOLF DATA LAB SCOTTISH YOUTHS' SCOREBOARD AT LADYBANK

CLICK HERE

PETER RICHARDSON NOW SEVEN SHOTS AHEAD IN MALAYSIA

 NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Malacca, Malaysia: England’s Peter Richardson edged closer to his maiden Asian Developmental Tour (ADT) victory after extending his lead in the third round with a three-under-par 69 at the PGM ADT Masters at A’Famosa today.

The Englishman posted a three-day total of 15-under-par 201 to take a commanding seven-shot lead over Malaysia’s Rashid Ismail who signed for a 71 to take second place at the A’Famosa Golf Resort in Malacca.  

South Korea’s Kim Ji-hoon returned with a 71 to take third place on 210 while Japan’s Go Nakauchi is a further shot back in fourth place after a 211. Malaysia’s R. Nachimuthu posted a 72 to take fifth place at the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) ADT event, which is the third ADT event to be staged this season.

Richardson continued his sizzling form which put him within touching distance of a win which will put him in good position of finishing in the top-three of the Order of Merit at the end of the season and earn his Asian Tour card for 2013. 

Despite opening with a bogey on the first hole, Richardson responded quickly with a birdie on the sixth hole before going on to eagle the seventh hole. He then completed a superb outward-nine with another birdie on the ninth hole. 

“Once again, I played really solid today and I’m really happy that I’m going into the final round with a huge lead. But then again, I cannot be complacent as anything can happen in golf,” said Richardson. 

“I’m really looking forward to a final good round tomorrow as that will put me in a good position for the rest of the season,” added Richardson.

Leading third round scores

201 Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 67-65-69

208 Rashid ISMAIL (MAS) 67-70-71

210 KIM Ji-hoon (KOR) 68-71-71

211 Go NAKAUCHI (JPN) 70-69-72

212 R. Nachimuthu (MAS) 71-69-72

KIM BI-O LEADS BY THREE IN MAEKYUNG OPEN AT SEOUL

NEWS RELEASE

SEOUL, South Korea: Kim Bi-o showed maturity that belied his youth to take a two-shot lead on Saturday after three rounds of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship at Namseoul Country Club in the South Korean capital.

The 21-year-old South Korean shot a five-under par 67 for a three-round 12-under par total of 205 on the hilly 6,964 yard course, the third stop on the 2012 OneAsia circuit.

Bi-o, who won on OneAsia last year when he prevailed in a four-way play-off to take the Nanshan China Masters, played blemish-free golf until the last, where pulled a sliding four-footer to give the chasers the sniff of a chance on Sunday.

Overnight leader Park Sang-hyun was alone in second place, while Hwang In-choon and Choi Ho-sung were a shot further back at eight-under.

"I tried really hard to concentrate out there and it went well all day until that bogey on the last," Bi-o said. "I just want to go out there tomorrow and do the same thing."

Bi-o has been one to watch since his youth when he won both the Korea and Japan amateur championships, but the rest of the world took notice in 2011 when at 19 he won full playing rights on the U.S. PGA tour -- the youngest to get his card that year.

It proved a struggle, however, and Bi-o lost his card, although at 25 on Nationwide Tour this year he is in good shape to regain admittance to the top flight.

"I think I was a little bit too eager and there was a lot of attention on me," he said. "Next time around I will be better prepared."

Bi-o said he was enjoying the relative anonymity of the Nationwide Tour where he was free to concentrate on his game.

"My priority is to get my full US PGA tour card back," Bi-o said, "so if I can get into good shape on the Nationwide, I also want to play OneAsia as much as possible".
Bi-o scored three birdies either side of the turn on Saturday to stamp his authority on a tournament played in perfect weather in front of excellent crowds.

He said he had been helped by much better physical conditioning.

"Until I played on the US PGA Tour I used to exercise in the off season and not bother during the season," he said. "But once I saw how they applied themselves, I realised I had to do the same.

"I am much fitter now. Walking up these hills at Namseoul means you lose your breath, but my recovery is much quicker and this helps play your shots."

The par-five 14th proved to be the turning point of the day as Park bogeyed after twice hooking into the woods that line the course. A birdie by Bi-o meant a two-shot swing and a lead he never looked like relinquishing.

Hwang and Choi stayed in the hunt after both scoring 68s on Saturday, as did China's Hu Mu who, has a mountain to climb at seven behind, but is still on course for an excellent pay day.

With him at joint sixth place is OneAsia Q School graduate Lucas Lee, from Brazil, who charged at the leaders at the start with three birdies in the first four holes, but gave a couple back as the round unfurled.

Jason Kang was the best of the Americans in the field at four-under, while Stephen Leaney led a strong Australian contingent a couple of shots further back.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72). Yardage 6,964(3x72)

205 KIM Bi-o (KOR) 69-69-67.

207 PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 68-69-70.

208 HWANG In-choon (KOR) 69-71-68, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 70-70-68.

211 HU Mu (CHN) 68-75-68, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 70-72-69, Lucas LEE (BRA) 71-70-70, KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-70-73.

212 PARK Jun-Won (KOR) 70-74-68, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 73-71-68, Jason KANG (USA) 70-72-70, KIM Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-72-70, SONG Young Han (KOR) 71-70-71, KIM Wi-joong (KOR) 71-70-71, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 70-69-73.

213 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 74-68-71, BANG Doo-hwan (KOR) 72-68-73, Koichi KITAMURA (JPN) 68-71-74.

214 LEE Tae-hee (KOR) 75-69-70, KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 70-73-71, Stephen LEANEY (AUS) 71-71-72, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 71-71-72, KIM Si-woo (am, KOR) 73-73-68, KIM Meen-Whee (KOR) 71-69-74, Garrett SAPP (USA) 68-71-75, KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 68-78-68.

215 SONG Young-hoon (KOR) 73-71-71, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 71-72-72, Maxwell McCARDLE (AUS) 70-75-70, Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS) 68-77-70, David OH (USA) 74-72-69.

216 SHIN Yong-jin (KOR) 69-75-72, HUR In-hoi (KOR) 68-76-72, LEE Jung-hwan (KOR) 69-74-73, KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR) 74-71-71, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-74-73, JIN Daxing (CHN) 70-72-74, JUNG Ji-ho (KOR) 70-71-75, YOON Jung-ho (KOR) 71-70-75, SEO Jeoung-min (KOR) 73-68-75.

217 Ashley HALL (AUS) 72-72-73, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 78-66-73, PARK No-seok (KOR) 69-74-74, KIM Gyu-bin (am, KOR) 75-70-72, Ryan HALLER (AUS) 72-73-72, JOO Heung-chol (KOR) 72-73-72, PARK Jun-sub (KOR) 73-73-71, HONG Chang-kyu (USA) 71-75-71.

218 Tanutchan PUAKTES (THA) 73-72-73, KIM Jong-duck (KOR) 72-73-73, Ted OH (KOR) 71-74-73, LEE Tae-kyu (KOR) 74-68-76.

219 YANG Ji-ho (KOR) 73-71-75, BYUN Jin-jae (KOR) 73-71-75, KIM Hyung-sung (KOR) 77-68-74, WU Ashun (CHN) 71-72-76, CHOI Joon-woo (KOR) 73-72-74, LEE Chang-woo (am, KOR) 71-74-74, CHO Min-gyu (KOR) 70-71-78, LEE Ki-sang (KOR) 74-72-73.

220 CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 71-73-76, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 73-72-75, LEE In-woo (KOR) 74-72-74, KIM Seong-yong (KOR) 71-75-74, Douglas HOLLOWAY (NZL) 70-76-74.

221 Michael LONG (NZL) 74-71-76, HONG Soon-sang (KOR) 71-74-76.

222 ZHANG Xinjun (CHN) 72-73-77, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 73-72-77.

223 MA Sookil (KOR) 71-73-79, LEE Soo-min (am, KOR) 75-70-78, PARK Sung-kug (KOR) 74-69-80.

RORY McILROY MISSES SAWGRASS CUT - AGAIN

Players Championship Second Round leaderboard

• -8: Z Johnson (US), K Na (US) M Kuchar (US)
• -7: H English (US)
• -6: C Wi (US), M Laird (Sco), J Byrd (US), A Scott (Aus), B Davis (Eng)
• Selected others
•  -3: L Donald (Eng), L Westwood (Eng), I Poulter (Eng)
• -2: T Woods (US), P Mickelson (US)
• Even: J Rose (Eng), S Garcia (Spa)
• Missed cut
• +1: P Harrington (Ire) G McDowell (N Ire)
• +4: R McIlroy (N Ire)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

TO READ A SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S PLAY ON
THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

World number one Rory McIlroy suffered more Sawgrass misery as he crashed out of the Players Championship in Florida.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy missed the halfway cut for the third time in three visits after a four-over-par second-round 76 left him on four over.
"There's something about this course I can't quite get to grips with," said Mcllroy. "It's disappointing."
American trio Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson and Kevin Na are at the top of the leaderboard on eight under.
Johnson carded the lowest round, with eight birdies in his six-under 66, although a bogey on the last stopped him holding the lead on his own.
Na started the back nine with three successive birdies to lift himself into contention while Kuchar picked up three shots in five holes as he closed with 13 bogey-free holes.
Former world number one Tiger Woods was in danger of missing the cut until he put together a run of four birdies from the eighth hole, as he reached halfway alongside Phil Mickelson on two under.
"I was trying to shoot my number today," said the American after a four-under 68, ended a run of nine rounds without shooting in the 60s.

McIlroy's record at Sawgrass

• 2011: Did not play
• 2010: Missed cut (+1)
• 2009: Missed cut (+7)

"Sixty six was my number. I figured that would have been a good way to go into the weekend, being probably four or five back. But I'm still in with a good chance."

England's Luke Donald improved on his opening round of 72 with a second round of 69 to move to three under - the same mark as compatriots Lee Westwood and overnight leader Ian Poulter.
Donald, who started on the 10th hole, eagled the 16th and second, first hitting a five-iron to six feet and then making a 20-foot putt, but then undid some of his good work before a closing birdie on the ninth.
"It could have been a special round," said Donald who will replace McIlroy as world number one if he finishes in the top four. "I threw in a couple of bad swings, but 69 is not a bad score.
"I am quietly optimistic. I think this course is only going to get tougher and eight or nine under could be a good score come Sunday."
Westwood, who will return to world number one if he wins the tournament, said: "I didn't play as well as Thursday, but I'm shot one better off - that's golf.
"I'm playing all right. I like this course and it suits me.
"I suppose three under is in touch. Hopefully it will firm up and the greens will get quicker."

Sawgrass winners this century

• 2011: KJ Choi (Kor)
• 2010: Tim Clark (SA)
• 2009: Henrik Stenson (Swe)
• 2008: Sergio Garcia (Spa)
• 2007: Phil Mickelson (US)
• 2006: Stephen Ames (Can)
• 2005: Fred Funk (US)
• 2004: Adam Scott (Aus)
• 2003: Davis Love III (US)
• 2002: Craig Perks (NZ)
• 2001: Tiger Woods (US)
• 2000: Hal Sutton (US)

Poulter fell away after a four-over-par 76 that featured two double bogeys in his opening four holes.

Scotland's Martin Laird, who led with Poulter overnight, maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard until the closing three holes.
But he found the water with his second shot on the par-five 16th and then hit a poor tee shot to the island green on the short 17th to find the same lake.
Those errors cost him a bogey six and a double-bogey five, and his misery was complete when he left a chip well short on the last and bogeyed again to drop from 10 under to six under - two behind the leaders.
"That's what this course will do to you," he said. "I got a bit greedy with a four iron to the 16th - it was a stupid shot - and was between clubs at the 17th.
"A nine iron was too much and a wedge not enough, but I didn't hit it real solid and the wind got it. It was a bad shot.
"But I'm still well in it. I'd have taken my position before the start."
Brian Davis is now the highest-placed Englishman on six under after he mixed five birdies with three bogeys in his 70 to move into a tie for fifth on six under.