AUSSIE KENNEDY'S JAPAN WIN SENDS HIM TO THE OPEN

KASAOKA, Japan -- Australian Brad Kennedy shot a 6-under 66 today to win his first tournament in Japan at the Mizuno Open while earning a place at next month's Open at Royal Lytham, Lancashire.
The 38-year-old Kennedy carded four birdies on the front nine at the JFE Setonaikai Golf Club and added three more after the turn against a lone bogey on the par-4 No. 12. He finished at 17-under 271, three strokes ahead of Japanese golfers Toshinori Muto and Toru Taniguchi.
Kennedy's previous best finish on the Japanese tour was a tie for second at last year's Canon Open.

BRIAN DAVIS FINISHES JOINT FOURTH BEHIND AUSSIE WINNER MARC LEISHMAN

Londoner Brian Davis, pictured, finished joint fourth in the US PGA Tour's Travelers Championship at 
at Cromwell, Connecticut where the temperature on Sunday was up in the 80s!
Australian Marc Leishman, who played in the Tennant Cup, etc in years gone by when he toured Britain as an amateur, won the top prize with a total of 14-unde-par 266. 
TO READ A FULL SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S PLAY ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

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LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 280 (4x70)
266 Marc Leishman (Australia) 68 6670 72
267 Bubba Watson (US) 66 71 65 65, Charley Hoffman (US) 67 67 67 66
268 Tim Clark (South Africa) 66 69 66 67, John Rollins (US) 68 67 65 68, Brian Davis (England) 67 67 64 70, Roland Thatcher (US) 66 67 65 70.

SELECTED TOTALS

270 Padraig Harrington (Irealnd) 69 67 65 69 (T11)
272 Gary Christian (England) 66 68 72 66 (T18)
278 Ian Poulter (England) 68 71 68 71 (T62)


TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS



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CASEY WITTENBERG WINS US NATIONWIDE TOUR EVENT

Casey Wittenberg won the US Nationwide Tour event, the Wichita Open. TO read the US PGA Tour website's full summary of the final day and view all the final totals:


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MARK CALCAVECCHIA WINS MONTREAL SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP BY FOUR

Former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia has won this weekend's US Seniors Tour event in Canada - the Montreal Championship - by four strokes from Brad Bryant

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

200 Mark Calcavecchia (US) 69 67 64
204 Brad Bryant (US) 71 68 65
205 Russ Cochran (US) 66 71 68, Bob Tway (US) 70 65 70.

SELECTED TOTALS

211 Peter Senior (Australia) 69 72 70 (T11)
213 Mark Mouland (Wales) 71 68 74(T2o)
217 Roger Chapman (England) 69 77 71(T44)
220 Sandy Lyle (Scotland) 73 74 73 (T65)


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HOWIE WINS COOPER JUNIOR MASTERS BY FIVE

Peebles' Craig Howie, winner of the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish boys' match-play championship at Murcar Links in April, demonstrated today in winning the prestigious Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters that he is also a mighty fine stroke-player. The four-round event at Nizels Golf and Country Club, Kent was reduced to 54 holes because of rain but the way Howie was playing it made no difference.He would have won whatever the length of tournament. Howie shared the halfway lead with scores of 69, 70 before a marvellous closing 65 (seven under par) for a professional-class total of 12-under-par 204 put him in the clear. Howie won by five strokes from a highly-rated England prospect Max Orrin, whose North Foreland club is also in Kent.  "I'm over the moon," said Howie. "It continues a great year for me." Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) finished joint third overall on 212 with scores of 73, 71 and 68, which earned him the Under-16s trophy.   SIR HENRY COOPER JUNIOR MASTERS Nizels Golf and Country Club, Kent LEADING FINAL TOTALS reduced to three rounds because of rain 204 Craig Howie (Peebles) 69 70 65 209 Max Orrin (North Foreland) 71 68 70 212 Josh Hayes (East Sussex National) 73 71 68, Bradley Neil (Blairgowrei) 73 71 68. OTHE SCOTS TOTALS 222 Alan Waugh (Cowglen) 74 73 74, Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 73 70 78 (T18) MISSED THE CUT (149 and better qualified) 152 Angus Carrick (Douglas Park) 75 72 153 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 76 77, Lawrence Allan (alva) 73 80]156 Alexander Wilson (Renaissance) 80 76 162 Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 81 81.

YOUNG LIAM BREAKS RECORD TO WIN TENNANT CUP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Dumfries teenager Liam Johnston, pictured, played the round of his life today - an eight-under-par, course record of 62 - at Killermont to win the Glasgow Golf Club's prestigious Tennant Cup. Johnston, 19, who has just completed his freshman year at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, shaved a shot off the course record to win with a one-under-par total of 281 for the 72-hole tournament of which the first two rounds were played on Saturday in wind and rain at Glasgow Gailes. RUNNER-UP TWICE LAST YEAR Johnston, who was runner-up last year in both the Scottish boys' match-play championship (beaten at the 38th) and stroke-play events, was in joint 19th position after opening rounds of 76 and 75, 11 shots behind the halfway leader, Scott Crichton (Aberdour). But Crichton could do no better than rounds of 73 and 74 in the warmer, drier weather at Killermont.  After three rounds, Crichton still led on 213, two shots ahead of Matthew Clark(Kilmacolm) who had had a 68 for 215 with Johnston still six shots off the pace on 219.  Crichton, Cameron Corbett Vase winner in Glasgow last year, had shot his bolt with his two very good, weather-beating rounds on the Saturday. He finished joint third on 287 alongside Fraser McKenna (Balmore), who set the low-scoring ball rolling with a third-round 65 on Sunday morning after Saturday scores of 76-79, and Michael Daily (Erskine). Johnston covered his Sunday best 36 holes in 10 under par with a third-round 68 which moved him up to joint seventh and then that marvellous final round of 62 for 281 which pipped Matthew Clark by a single shot. Clark's scores were: 71, 70, 68 and 67 for 282. Defending champion James White (Lundin) finished joint seventh on 289. FINAL TOTALS Par 282 (2x71, 2 x 70) CSS 75 74 70 69 281 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 76 75 68 62. 282 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 70 68 67 287 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 71 69 73 74, Michael Daily (Erskine) 76 74 71 66, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 79 65 67. 288 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 74 72 72 70. 289 James White (Lundin) 74 75 68 72, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 74 71 69, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill)B 78 77 68 66. 290 Brad Moules (Australia) 75 76 72 67, Ross Bell (Downfield) 75 76 71 68. 291 Heath Riches (Australia) 74 70 72 75, Sam Davis (NZ) 71 71 75 74, Benjamin Weilguni (Austria) 71 71 75 74, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 81 71 68 71 293 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 75 74 73 71. 294 Kit Holmes (Hunstanton) 75 75 75 69, Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) 70 80 70 74, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 75 72 72, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 75 74 70. 295 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 80 74 71 70, Alisdair McDougall (Elderslie) 82 73 73 67. 296 Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 75 69 75 77, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 77 73 73 73, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 77 77 74 68. 297 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 79 72 75 71, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 81 73 71 72, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 79 76 71 71. 298 Stephen Spence (Irvine) 80 73 72 73, Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's) 78 74 72 74 300 Scott Davidson (US) 80 71 72 77, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 77 78 69 76' 301 Craig Hamailton (NZ) 75 76 79 71, Graham J Gordon (Newmachar) 75 80 75 71. 302 Stephen Speirs (Australia) 72 76 76 78, Jamie Lamb (Lanark) 75 77 75 75. 303 David Booth (Rotherham) 76 73 77 77 306 Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry) 79 75 76 76, Richard Doherty (Bearsden) 81 73 76 76, Oliver Roberts (Hong Kong) 79 74 77 76 307 Paul Gault (Westerwood) 77 77 78 75 309 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 74 80 78 77.

JAPANESE PLAYER WINS NETHERLANDS SENIOR OPEN

By STEVE TODD

European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Japan’s Massy Kuramoto called on his love of links golf to claim his second European Senior Tour victory in the Van Lanschot Senior Open, finishing two shots clear of Andrew Oldcorn in The Netherlands.
The diminutive 56 year old, who is 5ft 4in tall, carded the lowest round of the week, a superb closing 69, as the wind made playing conditions difficult for a third consecutive day at Royal Haagsche Golf and Country Club.
Kuramoto finished tied fourth in The Open Championship at Royal Troon in 1982 and he used that links experience to full effect in The Hague to hold off the determined challenge of Oldcorn, who had to settle for second place for the second tournament in a row.
“I love links golf but this was an up and down links course,” said Kuramoto. “When I came to Holland I thought it was flat. It was so tough playing in this wind but I’m so small, I think the wind blows straight over my head.

“I’m delighted to win though. It means a lot to me as my exemption ran out this year.”
It was Kuramoto’s second Senior Tour victory following his win the Handa Cup Senior Masters in his homeland last season, and the victory is likely to live long in his memory as it was the first time his wife Margie had caddied for him.
“We decided to have a bit of a holiday in Europe because the exemption was due to run out and we wanted to do some sightseeing,” he said. “She wanted to caddie for me but the bag was too heavy for her so I bought her an electric trolley and she pushed it around.
“It was the first time she has caddied for me so she brought me some luck. I think she will be getting 70 per cent of the prize money and I will only get 30!”
Kuramoto had started the final round in an eight-way share of second place, a shot behind overnight leader Gordon Brand Jnr, but it was his playing partner Englishman John Harrison who set the pace for most of the final round.
Harrison opened with two birdies and reached the turn in three under par 33, but back-to-back bogeys on the 14^th and 15^th holes, followed by double bogey six on the par four 16^th cost him his chance of a maiden Senior Tour title.
Instead it was Kuramoto who emerged from the pack, recovering from his only bogey of the day on the third hole to pick up shots on the fourth and fifth holes. The Hiroshima-born player then sank a crucial eight foot birdie putt on the tenth hole and picked up another shot on the 15^th for a winning total of level par 216.
His victory breaks the domination of English players on the Senior Tour so far in 2012, following Gary Wolstenholme’s two victories, Roger Chapman’s US Senior PGA Championship win and Paul Wesselingh’s maiden title.

IMPORTANCE OF WIN
“This is a big win for me as it means I can continue to play on the Senior Tour,” said Kuramoto. “It was nice having John to chase as it kept me focused. On this course, the last six holes are tough so I tried to keep at least one stroke behind.
“I’m so happy to win here and I’m looking forward to coming back again next year.”
In-form Oldcorn was runner up for the second time in three years after also finishing second behind George Ryall in the inaugural event in 2010.
The Scot, who was also runner up in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship a fortnight ago, was given a retrospective one shot penalty on his first round score under rule 34-1 for a correction of an incorrect ruling.

INCORRECT PROCEDURE
Oldcorn had failed to follow the correct procedure when identifying his ball in the rough on Friday, but he did not let that setback affect him as he carded four birdies and two bogeys in a round of 70 to finish on two over par 218.
Harrison and Spaniard Juan Quiros shared third place a further two strokes back on four over par 220 after both players closed with rounds of 73.
Overnight leader Brand Jnr could not recover after a double bogey on the sixth hole and the former Ryder Cup player signed for a five over par 77 to drop back to a share of ninth position. 

FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72) 

216 M Kuramoto (Jpn) 75 72 69

218 A Oldcorn (Sco) 74 74 70

220 J Quiros (Esp) 77 70 73, J Harrison (Eng) 74 73 73

221 J Hall (Eng) 73 78 70, C Williams (RSA) 75 73 73

222 R Drummond (Sco) 74 75 73, M Harwood (Aus) 74 73 75

223 G Ralph (Eng) 78 73 72, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 75 77

224 D Smyth (Irl) 74 73 77

225 P Fowler (Aus) 78 71 76, D Hospital (Esp) 73 77 75, K Spurgeon (Eng) 76 75 74, M Cunning (USA) 74 76 75

226 B Longmuir (Sco) 75 77 74, M Martin (Esp) 74 75 77, J Gould (Eng) 73 74 79, B Ruangkit (Tha) 80 74 72

227 T Johnstone (Zim) 75 72 80, A Franco (Par) 80 73 74, A Sherborne (Eng) 74 74 79

228 A Fernandez (Chi) 75 75 78, M Belsham (Eng) 76 74 78, C Mason (Eng) 77 74 77

229 S Torrance (Sco) 78 73 78, L Carbonetti (Arg) 76 82 71, J Bruner (USA) 80 76 73, B Cameron (Eng) 83 75 71, N Job (Eng) 77 74 78

230 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 78 77, K Tomori (Jpn) 75 79 76, C Rocca (Ita) 79 76 75,

231 P Smith (Sco) 76 80 75, T Price (Aus) 73 85 73, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 82 74 75, G Ryall (Eng) 80 77 74

232 M Piñero (Esp) 77 77 78, M Farry (Fra) 82 76 74, G Manson (Aut) 76 79 77, T Thelen (USA) 74 79 79

233 A Forsbrand (Swe) 80 75 78

234 J Rhodes (Eng) 81 76 77, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 78 81

235 A Saddington (Sco) 79 78 78, B Lincoln (RSA) 77 78 80, J Woof (Eng) 80 78 77, S Cipa (Eng) 74 78 83,

236 P Mitchell (Eng) 80 75 81, R Gibson (Can) 77 76 83, D Cambridge (Jam) 80 80 76, D Merriman (Aus) 81 74 81, D Russell (Eng) 80 76 80, G Cali (Ita) 79 78 79, P Walton (Irl) 76 80 80, G Norquist (USA) 78 81 77

237 T Elliott (Aus) 78 77 82, R Davis (Aus) 78 79 80, S McAllister (Sco) 80 79 78, P Wesselingh (Eng) 77 83 77

238 G Banister (Aus) 77 78 83

239 B Smit (RSA) 76 83 80, B Gee (Ned) 78 81 80

240 I Woosnam (Wal) 75 82 83

242 G Brand (Eng) 83 80 79,

243 Z Martinez (USA) 77 84 82,

245 B Lane (Eng) 88 77 80,

246 D Thomson (Sco) 82 83 81,

253 A Garrido (Esp) 81 84 88,

262 T Burgoyne (Sco) 89 85 88,

275 R Van Blankers (Ned) 92 90 93,

 ** J Rivero (Esp) 80 78 RT,

-        

 

WILLETT WINS FOR FIRST TIME - AFTER FOUR-HOLE PLAY-OFF

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
After 19 top-ten finishes Danny Willett finally claimed his first European Tour title with a nail-biting play-off victory over Marcus Fraser.
Conditions in Cologne may have been wet and windy for the final round, but there was nothing dull about the golf on an absorbing day at Gut Lärchenhof.
In the end Willett required a four-hole play-off down the testing 18th to shake off Fraser, after a final round 73 left him level with the former Ballantine’s Championship winner.
“It’s amazing,” said the former Walker Cup star. “It was a tough day - it was brutal with the wind whipping and it was raining.
“Marcus had a great round today and I hung in there nicely. Hopefully I gave people a good show.
“This week has been strange, I’ve been working really hard with support from my family and my girlfriend. I’ve had some ups and downs in the last 18 months as everyone knows but I’m injury free now and back to playing well and I’d like to thank everyone back home for supporting me.
“I’ll keep working hard and hopefully we can do it again.”
HOME FAVOURITE
Overnight leader Willett was caught by Fraser and home favourite Marcel Siem early in the day, but responded with a couple of birdies at the third and fourth as his nearest challengers struggled around the turn.
But the 24 year old from England drifted back towards the pack with bogeys at the ninth, 11th and 15th in wet and windy conditions, and Fraser got his nose in front with a birdie at the 16th.
The two-time European Tour winner from Australia found trouble at the last, however, and did well to rescue a bogey and set the clubhouse target at 11 under.
Willett needed two pars to force a play-off at that stage, and that appeared unlikely when he drove down the right at the 18th and the ball bounced off a cart path and behind a tree.
But the former Alfred Dunhill Links runner-up swung a remarkable long hooked iron onto the green, and although he left his first putt from 25 feet well short, he converted a four footer for par to force extra holes.
Fraser was 15 feet away in three at the first extra hole but made it to force another trip down the 18th.
WILLETT CHANCE MISSED
When Willett chipped to five feet and Fraser left his effort 20 feet short and missed the par putt it looked like game over, but Willett’s putt somehow stayed up, and so the players returned to the tee.
Both players converted five footers at the third time of asking, and on their fourth visit Willett almost ran a flop from the rough in for birdie and Fraser’s 25 foot putt lipped out.
But Fraser missed his return from three feet, leaving Willett to tap in for victory.
Earlier Willett had knocked in a five footer at the third and struck a precise tee shot to five feet at the short fourth to double his one shot overnight lead.
Siem had begun the final round with a hattrick of birdies, but came unstuck approaching the turn.
The 31 year old from Mettmann – less than an hour’s drive from Gut Lärchenhof – holed an eight footer at the first, a 30 foot putt at the second and chipped to two feet at the long third.
But after three straight pars he went in the hazard twice at the short seventh and ran up a triple bogey six before going in the water again on the eighth and bogeying.
AUSSIE IN WATER
Australian Fraser was also in the water there and bogeyed, having began well with an approach to five feet at the first and two-putt birdie at the third.
Willett’s par putt lipped out at the ninth as he turned in 35, but Fraser also bogeyed there so he was still two clear.
Fraser, looking for his third European Tour title, halved the deficit again with a brilliant 50 foot putt at the 12th, but the Australian was left to rue straying down the right on the 18th in regulation as he took three to reach the green.
Paul McGinley recovered brilliantly from his disappointing third round 77 with a 66 to share third place with England’s Chris Wood and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño on ten under, while Siem fought back brilliantly only to three-putt the last and finish alongside Henrik Stenson on nine under. 

SCOTSWATCH: Paul Lawrie, after trailing his compatriots most of the tournament, finished strongly wiht a 69 for five-under 283 to be the top Scot in T23 place and earn Euros 20,50.

Alistair Forsyth 75 for 290), Peter Whiteford (78 for 291 and Steven O'Hara (80 for 292) all finished disappointingly.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS 
Par 288 (4x72) PRIZEMONEY IN EUROS
277 Danny Willett (England) 65 70 69 73 (333,330) bt Marcus Fraser (Australia) 64 74 68 71 (227,220) at fourth hole of sudden death play-off.
278 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 71 69 69 69, Paul McGinley (Ireland) 65 70 77 66, Chris Wood (England) 65 70 70 73 (103,333).
279 Marcel Siem (Germany) 68 71 68 72, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 68 71 70 (65,000).

SCOTS' TOTALS

283 Paul Lawrie 72 70 72 69 (T23) (20,500).
285 Stephen Gallacher 67 73 72 73 (T33) (15,000)
287 David Drysdale 69 70 73 75, Colin Montgomerie 69 74 72 72, Marc Warren 73 70 70 74 (T44) (10,400 each).
290 Alistair Forsyth 69 71 75 75 (T54) (6,500).
291 Peter Whiteford 70 73 70 78 (T60) (5,300)
292 Steven O'Hara 69 72 71 80 (T64) (4,700).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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CLARK BRECHIN MAKES NORTH-EAST GOLF HISTORY

 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Murcar Links' Clark Brechin made North-east golfing history today when he won the district match-play championship for the third year in a row. No player in the past has ever achieved the hat-trick.
Brechin retained the Jaffrey Cup by beating Aberdeen Links championship finalist Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) by 4 and 3 in the final at Oldmeldrum Golf Club, after winning by 3 and 1 over US college student Sam Strachan (Inverallochy) in the morning semi-finals.
Edmond beat Russell Ord (Oldmeldrum) 4 and 2 in the other semi-final.
The four semi-finalists qualified for the Jaffrey Cup by being the leading four players in the Journal Cup district team competition at the same venue on Saturday.

RESULTS
Semi-finals - Clark Brechin (Murcar Links) bt Sam Strachan (Inverallochy) 3 and 1, Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) bt Russell Ord (Oldmeldrum) 4 and 2.
Final - Brechin bt Edmond 4 and 2.

NICOL AND KELLETT FINISH IN ALPS TOUR TOP 20 IN FRANCE

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol and Ross Kellett from Motherwell both finished in the top 20 today (Sunday) in this weekend's Alps Tour competition in France, the Open International du Haut Poitou.
Nicl tied for 13th place on 220 with scores of 72, 74 and 74. He was one over par for his last six holes.
Kellett finished joint 19th on 222 with rounds of 75, 68 and 79. He had a bad last nine holes which cost him 41 strokes, compared with 33 for the same stretch in his second round. He had a double bogey 7 at the 17th.
Philip McLean (Peterhead) failed to survive the halfway cut.
Winner was Frenchman Sebastien Gros with rounds of 70, 65 and 76 for 11 under par 211.

ALPS TOUR OPEN INTERNATIONAL DU HAUT POITOU
France
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73)
211 Sebastien Gros (Fra) 79 65 76
212 Carlos Garcia Simarro (Spa) 69 71 72
213 Tom Sherreard (Eng) 77 70 77

SELECTED TOTALS|
220 Kris Nicol (Sco) 72 74 74 (T13)
221 Steven Brown (Eng) 69 76 76 (T17)
222 Ross Kellett (Sco) 75 68 79, Ricki Neil-Jones (Eng) 73 72 77 (T19)
224 Andrew Cooley (Eng) 75 73 76, Richard Kilpatrick (NIre) 74 70 80 (T32).


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SCOTT CRICHTON MAINTAINS TENNANT TROPHY TWO-STROKE LEAD

Scott Crichton (Aberdour) leads the field by two strokes with one round to go at Killermont in Glasgow Golf Club's prestigious Tennant Trophy.
Today's warm and dry conditions were in contrast to  Saturday's wind and rain for the first and second rounds at Glasgow Gailes links yesterday and several players got under the par of 70.
Crichton was not one of them but a 73 for 213 was good enough to see him maintain a clear advantage at the top of the 54-hole aggregates.
New Zealander Sam Davis, Crichton's closest challenger overnight, faded with a 75 for 217.
Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), who struggled to an opening round of 77 in Saturday's bad weather, came surging through to second place with a 68 for 215 and defending champion James White (Lundin) also improved his prospects with a 68 for 217.
Lowest third-round score was a five-under-par 65 for 220 by Fraser McKenna (Balmore), winner of the Scottish champion of champions opening event at Leven followed by the Battle Trophy at Crail.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 212 (Glasgow Gailes 71+71, Killermont 70)
CSS 75 74 70 
213 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 71 69 73.
215 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 70 68
216 Heath Riches (Australia) 74 70 72
217 James White (Lundin) 74 75 68, Sam Davis (New Zealand) 71 71 75.
218 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 74 72 72 
219 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 76 75 68, Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 75 69 75
220 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 79 65, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 81 71 68, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 74 71
221 Michael Daily (Erskine) 76 74 71

SAM WALKER WINS AVIEMORE PLAY-OFF AFTER FOURTH ROUND IS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF RAIN

 PLAYING IT AGAIN, SAM .... Sam Walker who repeated his Challenge Tour win of Murcar Links in 2006. This time the financial reward was 35,200 Euros

By NEIL AHERN

European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Birmingham’s Sam Walker became the first multiple winner of the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts as he beat Simon Wakefield in the third play-off hole after heavy overnight rain forced the tournament to be reduced to 54 holes.

Despite the tireless efforts of the greenkeeping staff at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club, the final round of the tournament had to be abandoned with Simon Wakefield and Sam Walker tied for the lead at the top of the leaderboard.

They proceeded to play three tense play-off holes at the 18^th, where, after carding two safe pars each in the first two attempts, Wakefield’s third drive found the rough on the right hand side of the fairway.

Walker split the fairway with his drive and after Wakefield’s second shot rolled off the side of the green and into the semi-rough, Walker capitalised by striking a gap wedge which finished seven feet past the pin.

SECOND WIN IN SIX YEARS
Wakefield failed in his attempt to hole out with his chip, leaving Walker to roll a perfectly-weighted downhill birdie putt into the cup to claim the title for the second time in his career, having won the inaugural tournament at Murcar Links in 2006.

“I actually thought I’d missed it,” said Walker, referring to his winning putt. “I actually thought it would stay up but thankfully it fell in.

“It’s unlucky for Simon because he’s played well all week. He played fantastically yesterday and my work was cut out. It’s a shame but you have to have a winner and I'm delighted to have won.”

Now a three time winner on the Challenge Tour, Walker put his cool demeanour in the testing circumstances down to the work he did on the range prior to the play-off, as he hit wedge after wedge in preparation for what was ultimately a decisive approach on the final play-off hole.

“I just stood on the range and was told I had an hour,” said the 34-year-old Birmingham man, 12 years a pro, who moved from 134^th to sixth in the Challenge Tour Rankings thanks to the €35,200 winner’s prize.
 “I hit the club I thought I was going to hit into the last (52 degree wedge) and got a feel for it.

LESSON FROM COLLEGE DAYS

“I think it was the best thing I could do really. I hit three good shots into the last so I think it paid off. I more or less played the play-off hole on the range.

“It’s a thing I've been taught to do since college, just to relax myself. I just had to keep my head down then and focus on certain things, which I did.”

Wakefield, meanwhile, had turned down an invitation to the BMW International Open on The European Tour to play in Aviemore and he felt his decision was justified, despite the disappointment of not being able to play the final round before losing the play-off.

“It would have been nice to go and play the final round but I was happy to play a play-off this afternoon,” said the 38 year old, who is now third in the Challenge Tour Rankings. “You can’t expect anything more when the weather is like that.

“The guys did a tremendous job trying to get the course back into shape. As Kevin Feeney (Tournament Director) said in the presentation, Mother Nature just beat us and sometimes you have to take a step back and accept it and move on.

WONDERFUL WEEK AT AVIEMORE

“Despite the weather, we’ve had a wonderful week here in Aviemore though and it’d be nice to come back. If it was ever on The European Tour schedule, it would be great. Overall it’s been a great week.”

Swede Magnus A Carlsson’s third place finish means that he now moves to the top of the Rankings on €86,462 while England’s Daniel Brooks, who finished tied fourth, moves into the top ten in seventh place.

Chris Doak also finished in tied fourth, in the process claiming the Douglas Brodie Lowe Memorial Trophy, awarded to the highest Scot, for the second time in a row.

FINAL TOTALS (Fourth round cancelled)

201 S Walker (Eng) 64 67 70, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 66 66 (Walker beat Wakefield at fourth hole of sudden-death play-off).

202 M Carlsson  (Swe) 67 69 66

203 C Doak (Sco) 70 67 66, D Brooks (Eng) 64 72 67, J Parry (Eng) 69 67 67

204 C Lloyd (Eng) 73 62 69, M Madsen  (Den) 69 70 65

205 N Dougherty  (Eng) 69 69 67, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 69 65, S Lilly (Eng) 71 68 66

206 M Tullo (Chi) 67 68 71

207 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 68 70 69, P Baker (Eng) 69 69 69, J Lima  (Por) 69 68 70, S Kim (Kor) 69 71 67

208 L Burns (Eng) 70 66 72, E Kofstad (Nor) 71 67 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 67 71 70, N Meitinger  (Ger) 71 68 69, E Pepperell (Eng) 68 72 68, N Fenwick (Sco) 69 69 70, L Canter (Eng) 69 70 69, A Bossert (Sui) 67 70 71, G Houston (Wal) 69 66 73, L Goddard  (Eng) 71 68 69, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 71 68 69,

209 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 70 69 70, J Walters (RSA) 72 68 69, G Hutcheon (Sco) 69 68 72, A Tampion  (Aus) 68 70 71, C Gane (Eng) 66 74 69, F Calmels  (Fra) 69 70 70, M Cryer (Eng) 70 69 70, A Levy (Fra) 69 71 69

210 K Eriksson (Swe) 68 72 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 70 70, S Davis (Eng) 74 66 70, N Lemke (Swe) 71 69 70, P Uihlein  (USA) 71 69 70, A Kaleka  (Fra) 70 68 72, J Abbott (Eng) 66 69 75, S Henderson (Sco) 72 68 70

211 E Bertheussen (Nor) 72 68 71, D Vancsik (Arg) 67 70 74, C Kelly (Sco) 69 70 72, S Strange (Aus) 73 65 73, J Dantorp (Swe) 70 66 75, O Whiteley (Eng) 68 70 73, B Barham (Eng) 68 68 75, A John (Ger) 72 68 71, D McKenzie (Aus) 70 70 71

212 S Piaget  (Mon) 66 73 73, A Hartø  (Den) 67 70 75, R Russell (Sco) 67 72 73, S Gray (Sco) 70 69 73, P Erofejeff (Fin) 70 69 73

213 F Fritsch  (Ger) 68 71 74

214 G Clark (Eng) 68 72 74

216 G Dear (Sco) 70 70 76, M Bothma (RSA) 72 67 77,

218 B Chapellan (Fra) 69 71 78

 

FOUR-HOUR DELAY IN SUNDAY START AT AVIEMORE

The start of Sunday's final-round play at the Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts has been delayed by four hours due to course conditions after heavy overnight rain at Aviemore.
All tee times are now plus four hours.

LEE IN-WOO SCORES HOME WIN IN SOUTH KOREA

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

Jecheon, South Korea: South Korea’s Lee In-woo fended off the challenge from 13-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and compatriot Lee Sang-hee by closing with a four-under-par 68 to win the inaugural Volvik Hildesheim Open J Golf Series.

With a winning total of 12-under-par 276, Lee has immediately set his sights on more glory in the region by taking up membership with the Asian Tour. 

Thaworn’s quest for his 14^th Asian Tour title ad to be put on hold after he signed for a 69 to take a share of second place with Lee Sang-hee at the US$300,000 event that is jointly sanctioned with the Korean Golf Tour.

Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdik, who was nominated as one of the Volvik Best Dressed Players this week, signed for a 69 to take fourth place while Spanish rookie Javi Colomo had to settle for fifth place alongside Korea’s Byun Jin-jae on 279 at the Hildesheim Country Club.

ON TOP OF HIS FORM

In-woo, who was among the six players tied for the overnight lead, knew that he had to be on top of his game given the quality of his closest rivals.

The 40-year–old demonstrated that with a flawless round of 68 that was highlighted by four birdies on holes two, five, nine and 12.

“When I took a share of the third round lead yesterday, I told myself that this was my chance of winning again and I cannot waste it. My only victory came in 2005 on the Korean Golf Tour and I badly wanted to win again,” said Lee

“What made this victory even sweeter was that I managed to win against a strong field that included players from the Asian Tour,” added the South Korean.

While it was a welcome relief for In-woo after he ended a seven-year title drought, the South Korean is looking forward to repeat his success on the Asian Tour.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

 Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,188 Players from South Korea unless stated

276 LEE In-woo 71-68-69-68.

277 LEE Sang-hee 66-73-71-67, Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-71-68-69.

278 Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 68-70-71-69.

279 BYUN Jin-jae 69-71-69-70, Javi COLOMO (ESP) 69-70-69-71.

280 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-71-71-67, Makoto INOUE (JPN) 70-71-70-69, PARK Boo-won 69-69-70-72, PARK Jun-won 69-71-68-72.

281 KANG Kyung-nam 71-71-70-69, SONG Young-hoon 70-70-71-70, Stephen LEWTON (ENG) 69-73-69-70, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 70-71-68-72.

282 LEE Dong-min 73-71-69-69, KIM Gi-whan 72-71-69-70, BAE Sung-chul 70-72-68-72, KIM Dae-hyun 67-70-72-73, MA Soo-kil 66-75-68-73.

Selected scores

283 SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 71-71-70-71

290 Scott HEND (AUS) 68-73-72-77

291 LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 73-71-75-72.

REPORTS, SCORES FROM NATIONWIDE AND US SENIORS

TO ACCESS THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE REPORT ON THIS WEEK'S NATIONWIDE TOUR EVENT AND SCOREBOARD


CLICK HERE

TO READ THE REPORT AND SCORES FROM THE US SENIORS TOUR EVENT, THE MONTREAL OPEN

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ENGLISHMAN DAVIS LEADS IN US - BUT KNOX MISSES ANOTHER CUT

Englishman Brian Davis is joint leader after three rounds of this weekend's US PGA Tour event, the Travelers Championhsip at TPC River Highlands, Cromwell in Connecticut. Davis has shot scores 67, 67 and 64 (29-35) for a running tally of 198, matched only by American Roland Thatcher with rounds of 66-67-65.
Padraig Harrington is slowly returning to form. He is joint sixth with a round to go on 201 with scores of 69-67-65 for 201.
But it was not all good news for golfers from this side of the Atlantic.
Inverness exile Russell Knox has lost his consistency on the No 1 tour this season - and his decision not to come over for the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open at Castle Stuart is probably a wise one.
Knox missed yet another cut with rounds of 70-73 for 143. He needs to play in every US Tour event he can to try to make enough dollars to retain his card.
Changed days for Knox who was a prolific winner and dollar-earner on the Hooters Tour not so long ago. 


TO READ THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE REPORT ON THE THIRD DAY'S PLAY


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THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

198 Brian Davis (England) 67 67 64, Roland Thatcher (US) 66 67 65
200 John Rollins (England) 68 67 75, James Driscoll (US) 68 66 66, Stuart Appleby (Australia) 68 65 67
201 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 69 67 65, Matt Kuchar (US) 67 68 66, Tim Clark (South Africa) 66 69 66, Charley Hoffman (US) 67 67 67, Will Claxton (US) 65 67 69, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 65 66 70.

SELECTED SCORES

206 Gary Christian (England) 66 68 72 (T39)
207 Ian Poulter (England) 68 71 68 (T44)

MISSED THE CUT (140 and better qualified)
143 Russell Knox (Scotland) 70 73


TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES


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SCOTT CRICHTON HALFWAY LEADER IN TENNANT CUP

Aberdour's Scott Crichton returned to form to take the halfway lead in the Tennant Cup with rounds of 71  and 69 at Glasgow Gailes links on Saturday for a two-under-par tally of 140. 
That represented very good scoring in wind and rain which produced a CSS of 75 for Round 1 and 74 for Round 2.
For today's final two rounds at the Glasgow Golf Club's Killermont course, Crichton starts with a lead of two strokes from New Zealander Sam Davis (71-71) with another player from Down Under, Australian Heath Riches (74-70), sharing third place with Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) (75-69)

SCOREBOARD FOR FIRST TWO ROUNDS AT GLASGOW GAILES

Par 142 (2x71) CSS 75 and 74
140 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 71 69.
142 Sam Davis (New Zealand) 71 71
144 Heath Riches (Australia) 74 70, Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 75 69.
146 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 74 72
147 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 70
148 Stephen Speirs (Australia) 72 76
149 James White (Lundin) 74 75, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 74, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 75 74, David Booth (Rotherham) 76 73
150 Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) 70 80, Benjamin Weilguni (Austria) 72 78, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 75, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 75, Kit Holmes (Hunstanton) 75 75, Michael Daily (Erskine) 76 74, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 77 73.
151 Ross Bell (Downfield) 75 76, Brad Moules (Australia) 75 76, Craig Hamilton (New Zealand) 75 76, Laim Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 76 75, Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 79 72, Scott Davidson (US) 80 71.
152 Jamie Lamb (Lanark) 75 77, Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's) 78 74, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 81 71.
153 Oliver Roberts (Hong Kong) 79 74, Stephen Spence (Irvine) 80 73.
154 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 74 809, Paul Gault (Westerwood) 77, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 77 77, Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry) 79 75, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 80 74, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 81 73, Richard Docherty (Bearsden) 81 73.
155 Graham J Gordon (Newmachar) 75 80, Fraser McKenna (Balmore)76 79, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 77 78, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 78 77, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 79 76, Alisdair McDougall (Elderslie) 82 73.
156 Steven Higgins (Gourock) 76 80, Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 77 79, Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 79 77.
157 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 76 81, Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 79 78, James Aitken (Alloa) 82 75.
158 Charlie Macneal (Troon Welbeck) 78 80, Ronald Clark (Erskine) 80 78.
159 John Shanks ((Irvine) 79 80.
160 Joshua Jamieson (St Andrews New) 82 78, Kenneth Macaskill (Turnberry) 84 76, Stuart Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas) 85 75.
161 Nicky Bell (Eden) 81 80, Thomas Forster (Brampton) 81 80.
162 Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch) 83 79.
163 Ryan Campbell (Falkirk) 82 81
164 Steven Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 79 84.
165 Marc Smith (Troon Welbeck) 83 82
166 Al El Kordi-Hubbard (US) 81 85
No Returns: Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) 85 NR, John Duff (Newmachar) -, Calum Trahan (Meldrum House) -.
Withdrew: Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 92 -.