POULTER TELLS PAL LEWIS HE NEEDS TO COME OUT OF HIS SHELL

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN in Casares, Andalucia, Spain
For any other 21-year-old Tom Lewis has greatly overachieved. But he has been warned by Ian Poulter, his opponent here at the Volvo World Match Play on Friday, that he will never reach his full potential unless he shakes off his “shyness”.

This was not gamesmanshp on the part of Poulter, the arch head-to-head golfer who duly accounted for the Australian John Senden todah.

Lewis is Poulter's   friend, if not his student.

Poulter first met him when Lewis caddied for him as a 10 year-old. And since his startling rise to the golfing elite, Poulter has taken Lewis under his wing. He was not saying anything he has not told Lewis before.

“Tom’s a great player as he showed when leading the Open last year as an amateur and then when winning his third event as a pro [at the Portuguese Masters in 2011],” said Poulter, the defending champion here. “But he’s very, very shy and quiet. That to me is what he needs to change.

“He’s kind of in that cloud in the background. He’s a winner and when he comes out of that box he’ll be great. He should be confident and walk with his chest out and go win some more golf tournaments.”

Lewis, who first plays Senden on Friday morning, has struggled since his victory. Bizarrely he quit his coach, the much-vaunted Pete Cowen, and plainly needs a boost. A win against Senden would take him into the knockout stages and be the perfect boost. A confidence-booster, indeed

If he does make it to the weekend he will likely find Graeme McDowell, who beat Robert Karlsson on the last by coming back from one down with three to play. The Swede missed an eight-foot putt on the last.
Justin Rose inflicted a 7 and 6 beating on English compatriot Robert Rock, although perhaps the day’s most worthy success came from the sole American.
Brandt Snedeker teed off with 10 clubs cobbled from Senden’s spares and the pro-shop, and wearing trainers. His clubs were lost in transit and did not appear until he was on the fourth. No matter, by then he was three up against Thomas Bjorn and eventually prevailed 5 and 4.
“John’s driver worked really well, so I think it’s mine now and no longer his,”

 

 

  

 

 

PAUL LAWRIE WINS FIRST MATCH-PLAY TIE IN SPAIN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sergio Garcia claimed the local bragging rights as the Spaniard kicked off his Volvo World Match Play Championship with a 2 and 1 victory over compatriot Alvaro Quiros.
The 32 year old went one up at the first when Quiros hooked his drive and double bogeyed, lost the second with a bogey but birdied the third to restore his advantage.
Quiros levelled with a par at the seventh, and went ahead for the first time with a birdie at the short tenth.
But Garcia birdied the 13th and 17th, and with Quiros losing the 14th after a bogey it was The Ryder Cup star who made a winning start to the group stage.
“I guess you could say it was a good battle, because it was a battle,” said Garcia. “That's about it pretty much.
“I think the one that has the most credit today is the people that were following us for not walking off after nine probably, because I can't really imagine that that was a lot of fun to watch. We weren't playing very good.
“I had a stretch there on ten, 11, 12, where he did hit some good shots. I made a big putt on 11 to stay one down, and then he had a great chance on 12 from about probably five feet, no more than that, to go two

PAUL LAWRIE Won his opening tie against Peter Hanson. This is what he had to say about it on his website this evening:
It wasn't a very exciting game against Peter Hanson as both of us putted poorly, I eventually won 2 and 1, which was a good win as Peter is ahead of me in the world rankings and in the order of merit. It was a nice day with just a little breeze blowing. I was a little tentative with the putter today, which is understandable as the greens are very quick but I need to be more positive tomorrow
TO VIEW THE FIRST-DAY RESULTS IN THE VOLVO WORLD MATCH-PLAY TOURNAMENT

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BRORA VERSUS DEESIDE IN SENIOR NORTHERN COUNTIES CUP FINAL

By ROBIN WILSON

Home course specialists, Brora, are on course to win the B D Fraser Senior Northern Counties Cup  for a third time when they line up against Deeside in Friday's final over the Sutherland course.

The home line up of Jim Miller, Iain Grant, Ronnie Sim and Robin Wilson were all on form to beat Inverness in the quarter finals by five holes then in the semi-finals beating Strathpeffer Spa, the club they beat  in the final to win the cup for the first time in 2003.
The North v East final will feature Deeside who saw off Nairn Dunbar's second team by four holes then followed up with a win over Duff House Royal in the semi-final by a narrow one hole margin. Deeside's second string of Hector Morrison and Richard Bickerton won Brora's final par three 18^th hole to finish three up and take their club mates  through by one hole to play the local club in this morning’s final.

Results

Round 3

Strathpeffer Spa bt Fortrose and Rosemarkie by 9 holes

 (D Kryzanowski and  B Mackenzie 5, J Hearman and W Donnelly 0; P Bannerman

and M Wilson 4,  A Tait & L Patience 0)

Brora bt Inverness by four holes.

 (J Miller and I D  Grant 1, L Chancellor and  D Rae 0; R J Wilson and R G Sim 3, W Hutchen and J Elliot 0)

 Duff House Royal bt Royal Dornoch by seven holes

.(M Jenkins and J Sim 0, B Nicholson and  P  Lee 2; D Clark and A Kennedy 9, R Murray and A Ramsay 0)

Deeside beat Nairn Dunbar (2) by four holes

(N Harper and A Gall 4, J Westwood and K Campbell 0; H Morrison and R Bickerton 0. G Anderson and Kettels 0.)

Semi finals

Brora bt Strathpeffer Spa by six holes.

(Miller and Grant 6, Kryzanowski and Mackenzie 0; Wilson and Sim 0 Bannerman and Wilson 0)

Deeside bt Duff House Royal by one hole.

( Harper& Gall 0, Jenkins & Sim 2, Morrison and Bickerton 3 Clark and Kennedy 0)

PETER SMITH MISSES CUT BUT GARRY HARVEY HAS CHANCE

Peter Smith's defence of the Senior PGA championship is over although there is still one round to go in the 54-hole tournament at Northamptonshire County Golf Club. That's because the Deeside Golf Club teaching professional missed the 36 hole cut by two shots with rounds of 76 and 73 for 149. But there is still a chance that it will be another Scot's name that is engraveon the trophy after Friday's final round. Former British boys champion Garry Harvey from Perth, now based at Kinross, is lying joint second with scores of 71-66 for three under par 147. Harvey, who took over from his father as on-the-spot engraver of the Open championship trophy, is two shots behind leader Mark Stokes (Rayleigh Golf Range) (67-68) with Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park) (72-65) sharing second place. Russell Weir (Cowal) and Edzell's Alastair Webster are two more Scots in the top eight on 140. Weir has scores of 69-71, Webster 73 67. SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Northamptonshire County Golf Club SECOND-ROUND TOTALS Par 140 (2x70) 135 Mark Stokes (Rayleigh) 67 68 137 Garry Harvey (Kinross) 71 66, Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park) 72 65 138 John King (Lindrick) 67 76, John Hoskison (Newbury) 67 71 139 Jeff Matthews (Oak Royal) 71 68. 140 Alastair Webster (Edzell) 73 67, Russell Weir (Cowal) 69 71 OTHER SCOTS 141 Iain Parker (Royal North Devon) 71 70 (T10) 143 Terry Burgoyne (Glencruitten) 74 69 (T15) 147 Jim Farmer (R and A) 74 73, Graham Laing (North Wilts) 74 73, John McTear (unatt) 74 73 (36) MISSED THE CUT (147 or better qualified) 149 Peter Smith (Deeside) 76 73, Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) 75 74, Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) 74 75, 150 Bill Lockie (North Gailes) 73 77 154 David Thomson (Carnegie, Skibo Castle) 78 76, Keith Baxter (Buchanan Castle) 76 78 REPORT FROM PGA WEBSITE The only way could be Essex for the Senior PGA Professional Championship trophy after title contender Mark Stokes opened up a two stroke lead. The Rayleigh Golf Range pro, one of three first round co-leaders, put himself in pole position to win the £33,000 tournament on his debut at Northants County after adding a bogey-free 68 to his opening 67. Birdies at the second and the last - both par fives - gave the 50-year-old a two-shot cushion over in-form Paul Wesselingh, who came into the tournament on the back of a runner-up spot in the Mallorca Open Senior, and former championship runner-up Garry Harvey of Kinross. Kedleston Park pro Wesselingh carded a best-of-the-week five-under 65, containing six birdies and one bogey, while Harvey posted a 66, rallying from two early dropped shots with six birdies. Stokes' two overnight co-leaders John King (Lindrick) and John Hoskison (Newbury Golf Centre) both posted one-over 71s to sit three shots off the pace and within striking distance. But Stokes has established himself as the man to beat having gone 31 holes without dropping a shot. Reflecting on his round and the task ahead, he said: "I played pretty solid and chipped and putted really well. The course was a bit firmer but it was all pretty good. "I don't think my focus changed. I just kept the same attitude but I was more aware of what was happening as you see your name on the leaderboards around the course. "You can't help but see it and people keep telling you, you're in the lead, so it's just a case of dealing with it. "As for the last round, a 20-shot lead would be better as Wess and the boys behind are all good players, so it's game on. "I'm not surprised to see the scores today as we know these boys can play and the course is geared up for someone to shoot a pretty good score if they get it going. "I'm looking forward to the final round but I'm keeping things quiet, I'm not getting too carried away. Even the guys back at level par and one-over could come from the pack and win. "If I play my game everyone else has got to be on their game." Back on his game was Wesselingh, who has shaken off the effects of his exploits of last weekend and his hastily arranged trip to the US to compete in next week's US Senior PGA Championship. Wesselingh, who sunk six birdies with just one blemish at the 17th, hailed the round as his best over this track, but admitted that events of the past few days had taken their toll. "What a difference a day makes," he said having opened his challenge with a 72. "I didn't do much wrong, dropped just one shot, and other than that I hit it well, much better that the past two days and I think it has taken till now to get over last week. "I feel a bit a fresher after all the traveling and sorting out plans for next week, which is all I did on Monday." Harvey, who was joint second when Donald Stirling claimed the title in 2007, was stunned by his display having come out of golf's equivalent of hibernation. "I am absolutely flabbergasted as I haven't played a lot of golf at all," he said. "I put the clubs away September and haven't played since. I've practiced a wee bit in January and March but this is the first tournament I've played, so I'm wondering where that round came from as I have no idea." Looking ahead to the final day, Harvey said: "I'll just carry on the way I have been. I won't change anything and I don't want to get too excited. I didn't come here expecting to be a challenger." A field of 43 players remain, but not defending champion Peter Smith (Deeside) who missed the cut, which came at seven-over-par. They will contest the £33,000 prize fund, while they will also be chasing a place in the top 20 which will secure entry to the £250,000 ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at De Vere Slaley Hall next month.

DAVID PATRICK GETS CALL TO PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Fife coach David Patrick will put his own game under the microscope after answering an 11th hour call to play in his first BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next week.
The Fife PGA professional based at Elie Sports Centre has been drafted into European Tour's €4.5million flagship event as a late replacement for Paul Wesselingh who has earned an invitation to the US PGA Senior Championship.
It means Patrick, who was due to tee up in the Lochwinnoch Pro-Am next Friday, will instead be faPROcing some of the world's best players with at least 14 major winners in the field including world no. 1 Rory Mcllroy.
"I was put on stand-by on Monday night but only had it confirmed at lunchtime today (Wed)," said Patrick who has recently been excelling off the course as the leading Scottish-based PGA professional in the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year awards.
"It's obviously exciting to have the opportunity to play in such a prestigious tournament that you have watched on television over many years."
The former Walker Cup player is hastily rearranging his teaching diary to squeeze in some last minute practice and will use a pro-am outing at Buchanan Castle on Saturday to fine-tune his game before driving down on Sunday night.
Having never played the famed West Course before, the 37-year-old is aiming to play a couple of practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, possibly with fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher who practices at the same facility where Patrick coaches.
"Although I have never played the course before you think you know what you should be doing off most of the tees, especially the back nine where you know where the trouble is and what shots you should be hitting," he added.
"In that sense I think I know what to expect but it is a difficult course and you'll need to hit the ball well and putt and chip well too."
With a burgeoning coaching career, Patrick revealed he won't be phased at the task ahead of him.
He added: "My main focus now is coaching so my game is what it is. I will try and clear the diary a bit in the next few days and cram in some extra practice but long as I can play my own game, and trust in myself I'll be happy."
PGA pros qualify for the lucrative Wentworth event through the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey. The top 10 qualify and Patrick lost out to Barrie Trainor in a play-off for the final spot last season.

16 May, 2012

MARTIN LAIRD RELISHING RETURN TO CASTLE STUART

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR Martin Laird’s presence at Castle Stuart Golf Links from July 12-15 represents a huge boost to Scotland’s chances of producing the first home winner of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.
Arizona-based Laird is the highest ranked Scot in the Official World Golf Ranking at Number 31 and the 29 year old is relishing a return to Castle Stuart and an attempt to win one of the titles he covets among the most important in the game.
Laird, who has been a global golf ambassador for Aberdeen Asset Management since the beginning of the year, may play most of his golf on the US PGA Tour, where he won the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and the 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he is a proud Scotsman who loves nothing more than returning to his homeland to perform in front his own people.
“Playing in Scotland is something I really love coming home for,” said Laird. “The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is one of the most important events on my schedule so I am really looking forward to getting back to Castle Stuart in July.
“I think most Scots who live abroad and spend most of their time away from Scotland have an extra sense of patriotism and I am no different. The more time you spend out of the country the more you find yourself promoting it.
“I am the first person to tell anyone in America how great a country Scotland is and obviously what a fabulous destination it is to go and play golf so to have the chance to come home and play in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is a real honour for me.
“It goes without saying I would love to win it – that would be one of the highlights of my career to win the Scottish Open in front of one of the best golf crowds in the world. I think every Scotsman in the field would feel the same about winning in front of the home fans and it’s about time we produced another home winner.”
Laird played at Castle Stuart last year, producing three rounds of 70 to make the cut but finish well behind the champion, Luke Donald, in the 54-hole event.
The Scot is hopeful that the golfing Gods will bestow some favourable weather conditions upon Castle Stuart this year while welcoming the news of Aberdeen Asset Management taking on the title sponsorship of the Scottish Open.
“It’s very encouraging to see Aberdeen Asset Management take over the title sponsorship of the tournament and I hope they get a lot of value out of the sponsorship. I know from my own experience that Aberdeen Asset is a high quality brand and their association with the tournament this year can only be good for the event.”
Advance ticket savings are still available for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, with adult one day tickets currently costing £30 – a reduction of £5 on the gate price. Adult season tickets are currently priced at £70, offering a £10 saving on the gate price.
For full details of all Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open ticket and hospitality offers can be found at: www.europeantour.com/tickets or by calling the Ticket Hotline: +44 (0) 800 023 2557.

Postal enquiries should be addresses to: European Tour Tickets; Mirren Court Three; 123 Renfrew Court Three; Paisley; PA3 4EA.

DEFENDING CHAMPION PETER SMITH FIGHTS TO BEAT CUT

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE|

Yorkshire’s John King declared his intention to win the Senior PGA Professional Championship after opening his challenge in style.
The Lindrick professional and former coach to Lee Westwood threw down the gauntlet with a bogey-free three-under-par 67 at Northants County.
King, playing in the 54-hole £33,000 tournament for the second time, shares top spot with debutant Mark Stokes of Rayleigh Golf Range and Newbury Golf Centre’s John Hoskinson.
Top Scot is Russell Weir from Cowal with a 69 in joint sixth place
Defending champion Peter Smith (Deeside) is well down the field afer a 76 which leaves him sharing 66th place and fighting to avoid the second re
A hat-trick of birdies from the eighth paved the way to the top for former Midland Order of Merit winner King, who insisted he was back in the Midlands with one aim – to take the title.
“My target for the week is to win,” he boldly declared. For the majority of the 144-players that teed off, a top 20 place is normally the overall target as this will secure a spot in next month’s £250,000 ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall.
But King is ready to be crowned having sent a clear message out to his rivals following his opening gambit. “I just had a very consistent round with a lot of good shots,” he said.
“I didn’t have one bogey and was disappointed not to end with a birdie to finish the round off in style.
“I missed a couple of putts early on, had a couple of good up and downs and then hit three birdies on the trot which really gave my round momentum.
“I didn’t make any mistakes so it was a stress free round, if you can call it that.
“I haven’t played a lot but I am striking the ball well and this is just one of those rounds where everything slotted into place.”
But fellow leaders Stokes and Hoskison are more content to see how the next two days pan out. Stokes, whose round comprised five birdies and two bogeys, said: “It’s a pretty good start,” he said. “I battled through the day and I’ve just got to keep grinding it out.
“This was the first time I played it. I came up for a practice round a couple of weeks ago but due to weather it was closed. I got to walk the course.
“Top 20 was the goal and top 20 still is the goal. There’s a long way to go. I’ve been leading before and the wheels have fallen off so I won’t get too carried away.”
Hoskison was also refusing to get carried having revealed this was his first competitive round in almost a year, having torn the cartilage in his knee in last year’s tournament – resulting in an operation and then end of 2011.
“I had a knee operation in December and this is my first competitive round since the Senior Open last year – so I don’t know what’s gone on today,” he said.
“I holed a couple of good putts and just kept it going but it was all a bit foreign out there. I was absolutely tentative out there and didn’t expect anything, it was just a case of turn and see what happens.
“Obviously, now it’s a great start and I’ll be under the cosh a bit so it’s a case of see what happens, but it is all very experimental again. “It’s almost a year to the day since I injured the knee here.
"I was playing the third round when my knee locked tearing the cartilage which resulted in an operation in December. “So this is the first time since then I am playing with a card in my hand and so I am very tentative.” A shot further back in a share of fourth place is fellow debutant Gary Stubbington of Hockley Golf Club and Nicholas Mitchell of Newbury Golf Range.
Five players are locked at one-under-par 69 including last year’s runner-up Richard Green (Bramhall) and last year’s PGA Cup captain Russell Weir (Cowal). The top 40 players and ties following the second round will contest the final day.

 .
LEADERBOARD
67 Mark Stokes (Rayleigh), John King (Lindrick), John Hoskison (Newbury).
68 Gary Stubbington (Hockley), Nicholas Mitchell (Newbury).
SCOTS SCORES
67 Russell Weir (Cowal) (T6)
71 Iain Parker (Royal N Devon), Garry Harvey (Kinross) (T15)
73 Bill Lockie (North Gailes) John McTear (unatt), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Murray White (Penfold Park) (T30).
74 Graham Laing, Jim Farmer (R and A, Terry Burgoyne (Glencruitten), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) (T44).
75 John Heggarty (Royal Liverpool), Albert Mackenzie (Saunton), Iain Clark (unatt), Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) (T57)
76 Peter Smith (Deeside), Roddy Watkins (Solent), Keith Baxter (Buchanan Castle), Stephen Marr (Withington), Stephen Craig (Weinberg) (T66).
77 Alan Hemsley (Barnham Broom), Frank Kiddie (Hawkstone Park), Jim Christine (Worplesdon) (T81)

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