Sunday, August 19, 2012

AIRDRIE WIN LANARKSHIRE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP




Airdrie Golf Club won the Lanarkshire Team Championship today at Drumpellier Golf Club.
Highlight of their win was an excellent 66 from Graham Dalzell.
Airdrie will now represent Lanarkshire at the Scottish Finals at Arbroath on Sunday September 30th.
 Photograph caption:    John Main   Lanarkshire Vice-President   and Past Captain of Airdrie  receives trophy on behalf of Airdrie Golf Club.
Results:
1st    Airdrie
Graham Dalzell   66
Zander Carr       77
Andrew Watt     76               total    219
2nd  Drumpellier   bih
GC Stewart     75
JC Reid           70
WS Bryson      75                   total  220
3rd  Carnwath
B Shaw          77
G McArdle     70
W Steele        73                     total  220
 Willie Sharpe
 LGA    

FORSBRAND MAKES ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN


  Anders Forsbrand ... First solo win for 17 years (Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c)

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Anders Forsbrand claimed an historic wire-to-wire victory in the SSE Scottish Open, holding off a stunning charge from Philip Golding to become the first Swede to win on the European Senior Tour.
The 51 year old, who began the day with a three stroke cushion, always had a stranglehold on the tournament at Fairmont St Andrews, but Englishman Golding’s second consecutive eight under par round of 64 put Forsbrand under pressure in the closing stages.
However, the ice-cool Scandinavian held firm and a final round of 67 gave him a winning total of 17 under par 199, one shot clear of Golding, who finished runner up in just his second Senior Tour event, and three ahead of David J Russell.
It was Forsbrand’s first victory in 17 years, having claimed the last of his six European Tour titles in the 1995 German Masters, and represents the start of a new chapter for Swedish golf.
Forsbrand was one of the Swedish pioneers of on The European Tour in the 1980s and 1990s, but after seven years away from the game spent coaching the Austrian national side, he had a relatively slow start to his Senior Tour career last year, ending the 2011 season in 55th position on the Order of Merit.
However he made a brighter start to the new campaign, and finished joint runner up in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship in June, before claiming this maiden title in the 20th anniversary edition of the SSE Scottish Senior Open.
“It’s fantastic to be the first Swede to win on the Senior Tour,” said Forsbrand, who won the 1991 Dunhill Cup at St Andrews’ Old Course with Per-Ulrik Johansson and Mats Lanner. “It’s wonderful.
“This year I saw some really good signs. I’ve played really good but the putter has not been co-operating, but this week I rolled a few putts. Yesterday was great and today I holed some good ones.
“You need to hole putts to win”
He added: “This win is just as good as the first one I had as a kid in Switzerland (in 1987). It is the same feeling, but it is a new start.”
“I’ve never won in Britain individually either, so it is nice.”
Leading by three from Englishman David J Russell and four from Golding at the start of the final round, Forsbrand saw his margin reduced by one when both his rivals birdied the first and Golding picked up another on the second.
But Forsbrand hit back immediately, starting a hat-trick of birdies with a 20ft putt on the third hole.
He then picked up further shots on the eighth and ninth before the turn, and then the 13th before three putting the 16th for his only bogey of the day.
That left the door slightly open for Golding, who followed his superb start with birdies on the fourth, fifth, tenth, 13th and 15th holes.
Taking a two-shot advantage onto the last hole, Forsbrand’s approach shot finished just off the green and he pitched to eight feet, before watching Golding hole a five footer for birdie.
Forsbrand’s own birdie putt rolled past the hole, but he tapped in for a one shot victory and the first prize of €47,457, which moves him into fourth on the Senior Tour Order of Merit past Bernhard Langer, who he served under as a Vice-Captain in The 2004 Ryder Cup.
“It was incredible golf from Phil and from DJ, so it was tough but I came through,” he said. “They both started great and then I hit some good shots and holed some putts, which eased it off a bit.
“But then Phil got closer and closer. He played fantastic. When you are leading by three shots it is not a lot – it’s a double and a birdie.
“I’ve not won for 17 years so it’s hard. You remember what it is like, but you try to stay in the now and not jump ahead. I did a pretty good job of that. The three-putt on 16 hurt a little bit, then I hit a good putt which didn’t go in on 17. But I played great and did a good job of doing the right things at the right time.”
Golding , who made his debut in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex last month, was bidding to become the fourth youngest winner on the Senior Tour, but despite a remarkable final 36 holes, he came up just short, finishing on 16 under par 200.
“When you shoot two 64s on the weekend and don’t win – that doesn’t happen very often,” said the former Open de France champion. “But Anders played lovely and didn’t make any mistakes apart from the bogey on 16 and he made some big putts – particularly the one on the eighth.
“That was crucial. I had started birdie, birdie and got within a couple of shots of him, but he had a run of three birdies and then holed a very long one on eight.
“I’m delighted with the way I played though, and it has been a good start to life on the Senior Tour so far.”
Russell closed with a five under par 67 to finish on 14 under par 202 and claim his 14th top three finish on the Senior Tour.
Former World Number One and Masters Champion Ian Woosnam recorded his second consecutive top ten finish on Scottish soil, following his tied tenth place in last month’s Senior Open Championship with a share of fourth position alongside Englishman George Ryall (69), South African Chris Williams (68) and St Andrews-born Gordon Manson of Austria (70).
Woosnam closed with a five under par 67 to boost his confidence ahead of his bid for a home victory in next week’s Speedy Services Wales Senior Open.
Defending champion Barry Lane, who was chasing a hat-trick of titles, was a shot further backing tied eighth position on eight under par following a final round of 69.
Sam Torrance, who designed the course at Fairmont St Andrews, also carded a 69 to finish as the leading Scot in a share of 14th position.

  FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
199 A Forsbrand (Swe) 66 66 67
200 P Golding (Eng) 72 64 64
202 D Russell (Eng) 69 66 67
207 I Woosnam (Wal) 69 71 67, C Williams (RSA) 73 66 68, G Ryall (Eng) 72 66 69, G Manson (Aut) 69 68 70
208 B Lane (Eng) 74 65 69, M Harwood (Aus) 68 73 67
209 M Cunning (USA) 71 69 69, D Smyth (Irl) 68 74 67, M Martin (Esp) 73 70 66, G Ralph (Eng) 71 68 70,
210 T Thelen (USA) 69 74 67, M Mouland (Wal) 72 71 67, G Norquist (USA) 70 75 65, S Torrance (Sco) 72 69 69
211 M James (Eng) 68 74 69, S Cipa (Eng) 70 69 72, K Tarling (Can) 71 67 73, J Bruner (USA) 72 67 72, A Oldcorn (Sco) 67 73 71, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 70 69
212 A Sherborne (Eng) 67 71 74, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 69 73 70, G Banister (Aus) 71 72 69, C Mason (Eng) 67 73 72, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 74 71 67, M Belsham (Eng) 72 70 70
213 M Farry (Fra) 66 74 73, N Job (Eng) 75 68 70, R Drummond (Sco) 74 68 71, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 70 72
214 P Walton (Irl) 70 73 71, P Fowler (Aus) 72 72 70, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 74 73 67, B Cameron (Eng) 72 70 72, D Merriman (Aus) 71 74 69
215 T Price (Aus) 75 69 71, K Spurgeon (Eng) 69 74 72, A Fernandez (Chi) 71 72 72, P Wesselingh (Eng) 70 73 72
216 P Mitchell (Eng) 73 72 71, R Davis (Aus) 70 75 71, J Rhodes (Eng) 74 73 69, D Durnian (Eng) 73 69 74
217 C Bolling  (USA) 72 74 71
218 D Wettlaufer (Can) 72 71 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 68 76 74, Z Martinez (USA) 75 72 71, T Elliott (Aus) 74 74 70, C Elliott (Sco) 72 75 71
219 B Smit (RSA) 74 72 73, L Carbonetti (Arg) 80 72 67, P Horrobin (Jam) 74 73 72,
220 P Smith (Sco) 73 77 70, J Harrison (Eng) 76 74 70, F Mann (Sco) 74 74 72, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 76 71 73
221 J Gould (Eng) 76 73 72, R Sabarros (Fra) 76 74 71, S McAllister (Sco) 79 70 72, R Gibson (Can) 73 75 73
224 J Hall (Eng) 80 70 74, G Harvey (Sco) 78 71 75, J Chillas (Sco) 74 75 75
225 G Brand (Eng) 75 74 76
226 T Burgoyne (Sco) 78 73 75
227 M Gray (Sco) 76 71 80, M Piñero (Esp) 76 79 72, D Cambridge (Jam) 77 74 76
251 A Garrido (Esp) 82 90 79
254 T Stafford (am) (Sco) 84 87 83
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

PATRICK WALKER FOUR CLEAR AT SHOTTS


Ballumbie Castle near Monifieth's English-born pro Patrick Walker opened up a commanding four-shot lead at the end of the first round of the 54-hole Shotts Young Pros 54-hole tournament today (Sunday)
Walker shot a brilliant round of seven-under-par 63 to lead from Daniel Wood (Hilrsel) with Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway) lying third on 68 going into the final 36 holes on Monday.

SHOTTS YOUNG PROS TOURNAMENT
Shotts Golf Club
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 70
63 Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle)
67 Daniel Wood (Hirsel)
68 Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway)
69  Fergus Smith (Paisley)
70 Mark Heyes (Dunbar), Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle)
71 Matthew Burt (Helensburgh), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links).

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GRAY AND HENDERSON TIE AT EASTER MOFFAT


Hayston's Stephen Gray and Scott Henderson (Kings Links) were joint winners of today's (Sunday) Easter Moffat pro-am at the Airdrie course.
They both shot five-under-par 66s to earn £1,018 apiece.
It was Gray's second shared win of the weekend, following his Saturday success in the Bathgate pro-am.
Five men - Christopher Currie (Caldwell), David Orr (Mearns Castle), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) and Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) - shared third place on 67 and earned £445 each.

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CHRIS ROBB WINS NE DISTRICT OPEN BY FIVE SHOTS


 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com


Chris Robb flies back to the United States tomorrow as the new North-east District Open champion.
About to start his third year at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, the 21-year-old from Banchory, a member at Meldrum House Golf Club, won the SGU Order of Merit event with an impressive six-under-par total of 210.
The event was reduced by NE District officials to 54 holes late last week because of a fear that Newmachar's very wet Hawkshill fairways and greens would churn up with the "traffic" if there was more weekend rain.
Robb, a former Scottish schoolboys champion did it in style - by a five-shot margin from former Walker Cup player and past Scottish amateur champion Graham Gordon, playing over his home course.
Robb started the final round with a three-stroke lead over Gordon but Chris bogeyed the third and had a double bogey 6 at the fourth.
That mini "slump," coupled with Gordon's birdies at the second and fourth, saw the pair exchange places at the top of the leaderboard - Gordon moving into a one-stroke lead.
But Graham, a reinstated amateur who finished runner-up in the previous weekend's Leven Gold Medal, let it slip with five bogeys in seven holes from the ninth. He finished with a 74 (35-39) for 205.
Meanwhile, Robb birdied the fourth, 12th, 16th and 18th for a 72 (38-34) to reassert himself as a worthy winner.

"I had not won a tournament since my freshman year in America so it's very nice to be a winner again. I would say the NE District Open title is my biggest win on this side of the Atlantic. I would have to place my US win ahead of it simply because I beat a stronger field over there," said Chris who feels he has learned a lot and improved his all-round game with regular exposure to high-level competitive on the US college circuit.
"I felt it was my driving and to a lesser extent my putting that were the key to my victory here at Newmachar.
"If you don't drive it straight at Newmachar, you can get in a lot of trouble and I didn't miss many fairways over the three rounds. Some of my putting wasn't so good but some of it was, so that was another plus.
"Funnily enough, when I heard that I had lost the lead to Graham Gordon (they were not playing together) in the early stages of the final round, I actually relaxed a bit. Leading the field can be a bit of a burden, so in a way, it was not bad news for me that Graham was leading.
"As I say, I relaxed, and started to play well again with four birdies and only one bogey over my last 14 holes."
Third on 216, a shot behind Gordon, was another former Scottish schoolboys champion who has played on the US college circuit for the past four years, Neil Henderson (Glen, North Berwick).
Neil actually had the best Sunday 36-hole aggregate of 140 with a pair of 70s, having begun with a 76 on Saturday.
+Steven Fox, a team-mate of Chris Robb at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, won the US amateur championship final at the 37th hole on Sunday. 

FINAL TOTALS
Newmachar Hawkshill course.
Par 216 (3x72) CSS 75 75 75 Yardage 6,730
210 Chris Robb (Meldrum House) 67 71 72
215 Graham Gordon (Newmachar) 72 69 74
216 Neil Henderson (Glen) 76 70 70
217 David Morrison (Duff House Royal) 70 74 73
218 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 72 72 74
219 Adam Dunton (McDonald) 73 74 72, Clark Brechin (Murcar Links) 67 76 76, Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 70 73 76
220 Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 74 73 73
221 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 74 74
222 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 74 71 77, Euan Kennedy (Newmachar) 73 77 72
223 Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) 72 74 77
224 Tom Spencer (Meldrum House) 76 75 73, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 75 74
225 Paul McPhee (King James VI) 73 73 79, Jeff Wright (Forres) 70 75 80
226 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 78 75 73
227 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 77 78 72, Darren Watson (Peterhead) 80 75 72, Chris Lamb (Newmachar) 75 76 76, Jake Scott (Buckpool) 74 77 76, John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 76 72 79
229 Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 81 74, Kenny Gunnyeon (Murcar Links) 73 78 78, Chris Gilbert (McDonald Ellon) 75 76 78, Mark McKechnie (Newmachar) 75 77 77, Paul Simpson (Aboyne) 80 75 74.
230 Ben Murray (Portlethen) 77 75 78
232 Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 79 75 78, Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) 75 80 77
234 Richard Barr (Newmachar) 80 77 77, Neil Melvin (Newmachar) 77 76 81, John Duff (Newmachar) 77 77 80, Jack Harling (Banchory) 76 82 76
235 Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo) 75 80 80
237 Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) 80 76 81, Andy Campbell (Murcar Links) 77 77 83, Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 76 78 83,
238 Ian Welsh (Nigg Bay) 81 78 79, Joel Westwell (Inchmarlo) 86 80 72, Sam Kiloh (Portlethen) 79 82 77, Mark McLean (Fraserburgh) 76 79 83
239 Jonathan Mullaney (Dundonald Links) 78 80 81
240 Sean Lawrie (Portlethen) 79 77 84, Ritchie Manson (Kemnay) 83 74 83, Sam Thain (Inchmarlo) 83 78 79
241 Sam Griffiths (Cullen) 83 77 81, Andrew Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 85 77 79
242 Stewart McCulloch (Cruden Bay) 82 79 81, John Godward (McDonald Ellon) 84 77 81
243 Corin Stewart (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 79 80 84
246 Sam McNeil (Aboyne) 80 83 83
248 Ewen Matthew (Kirriemuir) 80 87 81
249 Greg Kennedy (Hazlehead) 84 83 82, Andrew Carrell (Royal Aberdeen) 80 85 84
250 Jack Walker (Fraserburgh) 88 78 84
251 Stuart McIntosh (Ballater) 81 86 84, Dylan Smith (Alford) 82 82 87
256 Evan Robertson (Inchmarlo) 90 84 82

No Returns: Robert Lamb (Newmachar) 87 93 NR, Ian Wilson (Dalmahoy) 75 81 NR
Retired: Matty Greig (Bon Accord) 74 71 ret.
Withdrew: Greg Watson (Meldrum House) 77 80 wd, Dave McDowell (Portlethen) 79 79 wd

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LIVE SCORING FROM THE US PGA TOUR EVENT

Sergio Garcia is leading this week's US PGA Tour event, the Wyndham Championship.

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MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association



Week ending 12 August 2012:
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NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN - SECOND ROUND TOTALS


Newmachar Hawkshill Course
Par 144 (2x72) CSS 75 75 Yardage 6,730
138 Chris Robb (Meldrum House) 67 71
141 Graham Gordon (Newmachar) 72 69
143 Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 70  73, Clark Brechin (Murcar Links) 67 76.
144 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 72 72, David Morrison (Duff House Royal) 70 74.
145 Matthew Greig (Bon Accord) 74 71, Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 74 71, Jeff Wright (Forres) 70 75.
146 Neil Henderson (Glen) 76 70, Paul McPhee (King James VI) 73 73, Bryan (Innes (Murcar Links) 72 74.
147 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 74 71, Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 74 73, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 73 74.
148 John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 76 72.
150 Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 75, Euan Kennedy (Newmachar) 73 77.
151 Tom Spencer (Meldrum House) 76 75, Chris Gilbert (McDonald Ellon) 75 76, Chris Lamb (Newmachar) 75 76, Jake Scott (Buckpool) 74 77, Kenny Gunnyeon (Murcar Links) 73 78.
152 Ben Murray (Portlethen) 77 75, Mark McKechnie (Newmachar) 75 77.
153 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 79 74, Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 78 75, Neil Melvin (Oldmeldrum) 77 76.
154 Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 79 75, Andy Campbell (Murcar Links) 77 77, John Duff (Newmachar) 77 77, Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay).
155 Paul Simpson (Aboyne) 80 75, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 77 78, Mark McLean (Fraserburgh) 76 69, Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo) 75 80, Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) 75 80, Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 81
156 Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) 80 76, Sean Lawrie (Portlethen) 79 77, Fraser Thain (West Linton) 78 78, Ross McKen (McDonald Ellon) 77 79.
157 Ritchie Manson (Kemnay) 83 74, Richard Barr (Newmachar) 80 77, Greg Watson (Meldrum House) 77 80, Iain Wilson (Dalmahoy) 76 81.
158 David McDowell (Portlethen) 79 79, Jonathan Mullaney (Dundonald Links) 78 80, Jack Harling (Banchory) 76 82.
159 Ian Welsh (Nigg Bay) 81 78, Corin Stewart (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 79 80.
161 Sam Griffiths (Cullen) 84 77, Sam Thain (Newmachar) 83 78, Stewart McCulloch 82 79, Sam Kiloh (Portlethen) 79 82.
162 Andrew Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 85 77.
163 San McNeil (Aboyne) 80 83.
164 Dylan Smith (Alford) 82 82.
165 Andrew Carrell (Royal Aberdeen) 80 85, Jack Walker (Fraserburgh) 88 77
165 Jack Walker (Fraserburgh) 88 77
166 Joel Westwell (Inchmarlo) 86 80.
167 Greg Kennedy (Hazlehead) 84 83Stuart McIntosh (Ballater) 81 86, Ewen Matthew (Kirriemuir) 80 87.
174 Evan Robertson (Inchmarlo) 90 84 
180 Robert Lamb (Newmacchar) 87 93.

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ROBERT MACINTYRE WINS ARGYLL AND BUTE STROKE PLAY TITLE


Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) yesterday won the Argyll and Bute men's amateur stroke-play championship at Machrihanish Dunes with a birdie 3 at the first extra hole (10th) after tying Craig Pirie (Millport) on a two round total of one under par 143.
The course, in magnificent condition for the event. proved a stern test for the county’s top players. Pirie led after the 1st round with a one over par 73 in a fresh breeze which saw the css rise to 76. MacIntyre carded a first round 76.
Drawn together the players drew the best from each other in the afternoon sunshine. The wind dropped and MacIntyre was on fire, surging to 5 under through 14 holes and one shot clear of Pirie on 1 under. Pirie drew level with a birdie at 17 and the players remained tied after 36. MacIntyre had shot an incredible 67 to Pirie’s 70 against a css of 74.
The great golf continued in the playoff with MacIntyre hitting his approach from 60 yards to within a foot of the hole. Pirie narrowly missed from 15 feet to extend the playoff and MacIntyre was the champion.
The Scottish Under 16’s cap now has a clean sweep of County titles after capturing the Under 16’s and Under 18’s last month. He has also added the Youth’s trophy to yesterday’s triumph.
 In a gracious speech, Robert thanked his friend Craig for a great battle, the Area Executive for organising the event and Machrihanish Dunes for the use of their beautiful links.
Area President Les Pirie, clearly delighted that Argyll & Bute’s investment in junior golf was starting to bear fruit, congratulated Robert on his fantastic season and also thanked his Executive for the efficient running of the event. He also expressed a debt of gratitude to Head Green Keeper Keith Martin and his team for preparing the links to such a high standard,  and also to Greg Sherwood of Southworth Developments for their continued support of golf in Argyll & Bute.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
143 R MacIntyre (Glencruitten)  76  67, C Pirie (Millport) 73 70 (MacIntyre won play-off at first extra hole).
149 B Willan (Carradale) 76 73, R Currie (Machrihanish)  76 73 
150 A McKie (Glencruitten) 76 74
152 S Campbell (Machrihanish) 79 73, S Renfrew (Port Bannatyne) 76 76


ends

WEAVER v FOX FOR US MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE
By Brian DePasquale, USGA
Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – Michael Weaver and Steven Fox, who each advanced to match play following a playoff earlier in the week, each recorded semifinal wins Saturday to reach the 36-hole championship match at the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship (www.usga.org) at the par-71, 7,409-yard Cherry Hills Country Club.
Weaver, 21, of Fresno, Calif., held off Justin Thomas, 19, of Goshen, Ky., 3 and 2, while Fox, 21, of Hendersonville, Tenn., defeated Brandon Hagy, 21, of Westlake Village, Calif., 2 up.
Each semifinal winner survived a 17-for-14 playoff on Wednesday morning to make the 64-player field for match play. Weaver birdied the third playoff hole, while Fox made a par on the fourth extra hole. Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, in 2005, was the last player to advance through a playoff to win the U.S. Amateur.
The 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play, with the championship scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday starting at 7:30 a.m. MDT. NBC will televise the afternoon portion of the championship from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT.
The U.S. Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Weaver got off to a hot start in taking control against Thomas, making birdies on the opening three holes. He went 3 up when Thomas missed a 9-foot par putt on the par-4 fourth. 
Weaver, a redshirt junior at the University of California-Berkeley, made his fourth birdie on the front nine by rolling in a 35-footer on the par-3 8th to take a four-hole advantage.
Making his second consecutive Amateur appearance, Weaver, who missed the match-play cut by one stroke at Erin Hills in 2011, curled in a breaking 22-foot putt for birdie on the 10th for a 5-up lead. But Thomas, No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and the consensus national player of the year from the University at Alabama, won three out of four holes with a pair of par putts and an 18-foot birdie at par-3 15th.
Weaver steadied himself on the 16th hole. Thomas’ birdie attempt broke right of the hole and Weaver followed with a short birdie putt to close out the match.
“First three birdies to start were great, get the momentum going in my favor,” said Weaver, the No. 149 player in the WAGR. “I just kept hitting good shots and kept giving myself chances. I was nervous on (No.)14, I hit a pretty bad chip shot. When that putt didn’t go in…wow. And, then the birdie on 15, all the momentum was going his way. I tried to just put it behind me and not think about what could happen – just hit good shots.”
A rising senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Fox rallied from one hole down in the middle of the second nine. He made a 4-foot par putt at the 14th to draw all square against the long-hitting Hagy and took the lead for good on the next hole with another par. Hagy, who was bidding to join his California college teammate Weaver in the final, had a bad lie in a greenside bunker at the 15th which led to a bogey.
“(Hagy) didn’t miss a shot really,” said Fox, who upended the world’s top-ranked amateur, Chris Williams, in Friday’s quarterfinals. 
"It was tough to make up strokes. I had nine pars on the back nine. So I really needed him to mess up somewhere, and unfortunately he did. I got lucky to win those two holes to go 1 up.
Fox, who made it to the round of 16 at this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Soldier Hollow G.C. in Midway, Utah, wrapped up the victory by winning the par-4 18th. He used a 3-wood off the tee to get his ball in the fairway and then hit “one of the best shots of my life” by lifting a 4-iron onto the green to within 6 feet of the hole from 206 yards. Hagy’s long birdie try rolled well past the hole and he conceded the hole and match to Fox.
Now the 60th and 63rd seeds in this championship have come back from the brink of elimination in a playoff and won five times in match play to compete for the Havemeyer Trophy.
“It's probably the top amateur event in the world as far as the strength of this field,” Weaver said.  “And that's how match play is. Just because you're the No. 1 seed doesn't mean that you'll go all the way, because all it takes is someone to play well one day.”
By virtue of reaching the U.S. Amateur championship final, Weaver and Fox have each earned an exemption into the 2013 U.S. Open – provided they remain amateurs – and a likely invitation to next year’s Masters Tournament. The champion receives an exemption into the 2013 British Open at Muirfield

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Played at 7,409-yard, par-71 Cherry Hills Country Club.

Michael Weaver, Fresno, Calif. (143) bt Justin Thomas, Goshen, Ky. (139), 3 and 2
Steven Fox, Hendersonville, Tenn. (143) bt Brandon Hagy, Westlake Village, Calif. (137), 2 holes.

+The figures in brackets are the players' scores in the stroke-play qualifying for the match-play.

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THREE SHARE BATHGATE HONOURS


Edinburgh-based Craig Gordon and James McGhee both scored their first Tartan Tour wins of the season in the Bathgate pro-am on Saturday when they shared the spotlight on six-under-par 65 with Stephen Gray who was scoring for the seventh time.
Each earned £1,008 which boosted Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) to £4,438 for the season, McGhee (Duddingston) to £7,364 and Hayston's Gray, again chasing the money title, to £19,862.
Gordon birdied the long first, second, short eighth, ninth, 10th, loong 15th and 18th. His one bogey came at the short 13th as it did with McGhee.
The Duddingston man had an eagle 3 at the long fifth and birdies at the long first, short fourth, ninth, long 12th and long 15th.
Gray had more birdies than either of his co-winners, eight in all, at the long first, second, short fourth, long gifth, ninth, long 12th, long 15th and 16th but he had two bogeys, at the sixth and short 17th.
Banchory's Greig Hutcheon tied for fifth place with the new Glenmuir PGA professional champion Gareth Wright (West Linton) but his 67 could so easily have been a 65.
Hutcheon had an eagle at the long 12th and five birdies but was separated from the joint winners by a double bogey 5 at the short eighth. Hutcheon and Wright earned £510 apiece.
Former PGA Cup player Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) finished joint seventh on 69 but led home the Bathgate club trio of Scott McCandless (handicap 3), Austin Storrie (11) and Pierce Whelan (5) to victory in the pro-am team event with a net score of 15-under-par 56.

PRO SCORES
Par 71
65 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), James McGhee (Duddingston), Stephen Gray (Hayston) (£1,008 each)
67 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Gareth Wright (West Linton) (£510 each).
68 Robert Arnott (Bishopbnriggs) (£378).
69 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Mark Kerr (unatt), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Ross Cameron(Saltire Energy) , Jonathan Sharpe (Carrick on Loch Lomond) (£226 each).
70 Gordon Law (Uphall), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL), Jonathan Lomas (unatt), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) (£119 each).
71 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Scott Gillespie (Burntisland), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) (£25 each)
72 Andrew Marshall (Houston GR), Christopher Currie (Caldewell), Jame McKinnon (Irvine).
73 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club), Graeme Brown (Montrose GL), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL)
74 Vincent Brown (Westerwood)k Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie)
74 Mark King (Kingsfield), Greg McSporran (Kinross), Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park)
76 John Ruth (Clydeway Golf), Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS), Brian Mason (Callway Golf)
77 David Nicol (Dundonald Links)
78 Stuart Callan (Bathgate), Callum Nisbet (Bathgate)
80 Andrew Fullen (Largs).


ANGLO-SCOT WINS NORTH SENIOR TITLE

Anglo-Scot Malcolm Reid from Sonning Golf Club, Reading in Berkshire made the long trip to the North-east worthwhile when he won the North of Scotland senior open amateur championship at Cruden Bay.
Malcolm, a 53-year-old scratch player, had a pair of 76s for a total of 12-over-par 152 and a two-shot win from 56-year-old one-handicapper Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) (75-79).
Another Kilmacolm player, 62-year-old Colin Christy, secured third place with 76 and 77 for 155.
The weather was so bad that the CSS was 74 for both rounds - four over par - and there was a record number of withdrawals for a Scottish Seniors Golfing Society competition between the first and second rounds.
Only 28 of the starting field completed 36 holes.

SCRATCH TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70) CSS 74 74
152 Malcolm Reid (Sonning) 76 76
154 Brian Smith (Kilmacolm) 75 79
155 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 78 77
156 Derek Murphy (Kinross) 76 80, David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73 83.
159 Alan O'Neill (West Lothian) 79 80, Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 77 82, Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 76 83
160 Derek Sim (Panmure) 76 84, Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 72 88.
161 David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 76 83, Peter MacLeod (Braehead) 78 83
162 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 81 81
163 Keith Bruce (Edzell) 81 82
164 Ricky T Gray (Irvine) 82 82, Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 78 86
165 Iain Simpson (Craigie Hill) 78 87, Keith McAllister (South Shields) 78 87
168 Ian Jeen (Milngavie) 84 84
169 John W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 85 84, Keith Howie (West Kilbride) 82 87
170 Albert Smith (Duff House Royal) 82 88, Ian Kerr (Kilmacolm) 82 88
171 Alan Middleton (Cruden Bay) 81 90
173 Donnie Lindsay (Troon St Meddans ) 84 89
175 Craig Wright (Whitecraigs) 89 86
176 Ken Davidson (Musselburgh) 85 91
182 Michael Mather (Ballater) 95 87.

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