NORMAL SERVICE TO BE RESUMED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 29

COLIN FARQUHARSON IS STILL ON HOLIDAY IN PORTUGAL

ONLY INTERMITTENT UPDATES ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 29

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION CLUB HANDICAP RANKING

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association Club Handicap Ranking, Week 41 ending 14 October 2012:

 1 C Nelson (St Michaels) 993.18 points, 2 E Davidson (Charleton) 983.69, 3 AL White (New Club St A) 975, 4 G Cramb (Canmore) 970.43, 5 M Elvin (Forrester Park) 968.75, 6 A Davidson (Charleton) 962.5, 7 B Baillie (Balbirnie Park) 956, 8 I Fleming (Auchterderran) 939.29, 9 V Taylor (Lundin) 920.83,

 10 AR Medcraf (Balbirnie Park) 912.09, 11 G Angus (Scotscraig) 911.63, 12 O McCue (Kirkcaldy) 910, 13= TW Corke (St Andrews GC) 908.33, G Lowe (Pitreavie) 908.33, 15 BAA Kinsley (St Andrews GC) 907.14, 16 A Hamilton (Balbirnie Park) 900, 17 J Henderson (Ladybank) 895.58, 18 K Russell (Dunfermline) 895, 19= A Liddle (Cupar) 893.75, J Woods (St Andrews GC) 893.75.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and National ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

2012 FIFE GOLFING ASSOCIATION BOYS ORDER OF MERIT

In association with www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk ,

 

Final Positions after 27 events:

1 Ryan Walsh (Kirkcaldy) 1075 points

2 Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 610

3 Greg Forrester (Lundin) 600

4 Niall McMullen (Lochgelly) 430

5 Alisdair McDougall (St Andrews New) 265

6 Kyle Russell (Dunfermline) 260

7 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 255

 8 Marcus Rickard (Cupar) 218.

Congratulations go to Ryan Walsh on winning the Mackay Bowl for leading the Fife Order of Merit.

Fife Golfing Association takes this opportunity to thank all the Clubs and their members who gave up their golf to allow the Counting Events in the 2012 Fife Order of Merit to take place and the Press for publishing the results throughout the year.

BROBERG MAKES IT FOUR WINS OUT OF SIX ON CHALLENGE TOUR

Final report from the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Challenge hosted by Royal Golf Club

By Sarah Gwynn, sgwynn@europeantour.com 

 Kristoffer Broberg’s sensational Challenge Tour season continued with victory in the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Challenge hosted by Royal Golf Club, where he claimed his fourth title in six appearances.

The Swede seemingly appeared from nowhere midway through the season, winning three times in four weeks in August to earn instant promotion to The European Tour, and upon rerning to Challenge Tour duty this week, rose to the top of the Rankings with another hugely impressive win.

 

A four under par 67 in the final round in Denmark was enough to seal a three stroke victory from Englishman Simon Wakefield, who finished with a 68. It was a two-horse race for most of the final day, leaving Daniel Brooks of England to share third place with Finland’s Mikko Korhonen.

 

Brooks may have slipped to a 74, but finishing tied third propelled him from 24th to 16th in the Rankings to give him an excellent chance of earning promotion to The European Tour for 2013.

 

Having led by two going into the last round, Broberg’s advantage was barely threatened as he posted birdies at the third, fifth, 12th and 14th to stay clear of Wakefield, whose only dropped shot came at the 16th.

 

“It feels absolutely amazing,” said Broberg, who came through satellite tour the Nordic League. “This is a dream and I never imagined I would be this successful so quickly.

 

“I wasn’t nervous at any point today. I knew I was playing very well and I was just having fun out there. We had a big crowd watching and it is a fantastic course, so it has been another very enjoyable week.

 

“Now I have to think about my goals. I want to finish top of the Rankings next week, but after that who knows. I would love to play in The Ryder Cup one day.”

 

Broberg is the third player to win four times in one season, following Thomas Bjørn in 1995 and Warren Bennett, who won five titles in 1998. His incredible record reads: tied ninth, first, first, tied third, first, first.

 

“It is great to be one of only three players to have done that,” the 26 year old added. “Maybe I can make it five by winning next week (in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final). I honestly don’t know how I’ve done it. I practise for ten to 12 hours a day, so that’s probably the key.”

 

Wakefield was gracious in defeat, safe in the knowledge that he consolidated his position in the Rankings’ top ten and is guaranteed to return to The European Tour next season.

 

“I’m delighted,” he said. “I knew it was going to be difficult to catch Kristoffer given his record this season. It was always going to be a tough day and I’m glad I was able to keep my position.

 

“I made one mistake by hitting it in the water on the 16th, but apart from that I played very nicely.”

 

Royal Golf Club had less than three weeks to prepare for the event after stepping in at short notice following the cancellation of the Mugello Tuscany Open, whose course was damaged by the drought in Italy.

 

Wakefield added: “Overall the tournament has been an absolute credit to Royal Golf Club. The course has been a dream to play, and everyone has gone above and beyond to get everything sorted in a very short time, from the marshals and spectators to the transport – everything has been excellent.”

 

The top 45 players in the Rankings now qualify for next week’s season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, after which the top 20 players earn a European Tour card for the 2013 campaign.

 

 

FINAL TOTALS 
Par 284 (4x71)

270 K Broberg (Swe) 67 70 66 67,

 273 S Wakefield (Eng) 69 66 70 68,

 279 M Korhonen (Fin) 75 70 67 67, D Brooks (Eng) 68 69 68 74,

 280 R Kakko  (Fin) 68 70 72 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 71 69 67 73, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 73 71 69 67,

 281 J Lima  (Por) 70 72 72 67,

 282 S Buhl (Ger) 70 70 72 70, J Garcia  (Esp) 69 71 71 71, M Ford (Eng) 69 70 74 69, B Ritthammer (Ger) 72 70 67 73, M Nixon (Eng) 70 74 67 71,

 283 J Dantorp (Swe) 71 68 72 72, P Archer (Eng) 73 70 70 70,

 284 A Domingo (Esp) 71 74 73 66, J Huldahl (Den) 70 69 73 72, J Hansen  (Den) 67 74 69 74, A Bernadet  (Fra) 71 69 76 68,

 285 R Russell (Sco) 76 69 69 71, C Paisley  (Eng) 73 69 69 74, C Doak (Sco) 72 68 71 74, M Madsen  (Den) 70 74 67 74, D Vancsik (Arg) 68 69 78 70, A Levy (Fra) 75 64 71 75, M Kieffer (Ger) 73 73 69 70, A Otaegui  (Esp) 72 70 69 74, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 76 68 71 70,

 286 P Oriol (Esp) 70 73 75 68, A McArthur  (Sco) 70 73 69 74, G Houston (Wal) 76 70 69 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 72 70 70 74, Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 71 71 70,

 287 D Gaunt (Aus) 70 70 72 75, M Southgate  (Eng) 71 70 70 76, L Saltman (Sco) 72 74 68 73, R Hjelm (Den) 68 73 70 76, L Kennedy  (Eng) 75 69 73 70,

 288 J Doherty  (Sco) 74 71 68 75, S Tiley (Eng) 71 74 70 73, F McGuirk  (Eng) 73 70 73 72, C Macaulay  (Sco) 71 74 76 67, A Hartø  (Den) 69 74 72 73,

 289 S Benson (Eng) 74 66 78 71, W Besseling  (Ned) 73 72 76 68,

 290 G Lockerbie  (Eng) 73 69 76 72, J Parry (Eng) 74 71 72 73,

 291 G Stal  (Fra) 73 72 73 73, M Delpodio  (Ita) 74 69 72 76, P Dwyer (Eng) 69 74 73 75, J Senior (Eng) 74 68 75 74, S Henry  (Sco) 69 73 74 75, A Kaleka  (Fra) 71 74 72 74,

 292 P Uihlein  (USA) 74 71 73 74, A Velasco (Esp) 71 75 72 74,

 294 J Heath  (Eng) 76 69 74 75, J Walters (RSA) 77 68 73 76,

 295 M Haines  (Eng) 75 71 78 71, L Jensen (Den) 74 71 78 72,

 296 S Hutsby  (Eng) 76 69 76 75,

 298 B Evans  (Eng) 77 69 77 75,

 299 B Barham (Eng) 73 73 77 76, C Gane (Eng) 73 72 75 79,

MISSED THE CUT

147 N Johansson (Swe) 76 71 0 0, A Jacobsson (Swe) 75 72 0 0, C Brazillier  (Fra) 76 71 0 0, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 75 72 0 0, V Riu  (Fra) 73 74 0 0, E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 75 0 0, S Tinning (Den) 73 74 0 0,

 148 B Chapellan (Fra) 71 77 0 0, A Snobeck  (Fra) 74 74 0 0, A Perrino  (Ita) 76 72 0 0, F Praegant (Aut) 78 70 0 0, J Busby (Eng) 76 72 0 0,

 149 T Remkes (Ned) 77 72 0 0, L Goddard  (Eng) 78 71 0 0, J Abbott (Eng) 77 72 0 0, B Parker  (Eng) 74 75 0 0, C Russo (Fra) 75 74 0 0, A Hansen  (Den) 73 76 0 0,

 150 H Bacher (Aut) 77 73 0 0, F Delamontagne  (Fra) 72 78 0 0, T Hatton (Eng) 74 76 0 0,

 151 C Ford (Eng) 74 77 0 0,

 152 K Eriksson (Swe) 74 78 0 0,

 155 N Meitinger  (Ger) 73 82 0 0, M Cryer (Eng) 76 79 0 0, S O'Hara  (Sco) 80 75 0 0,

 156 A Gee  (Eng) 73 83 0 0,

 157 J Guerrier  (Fra) 77 80 0 0,

 158 J Gibb (Eng) 79 79 0 0,

 160 M Vibe-Hastrup  (Den) 77 83 0 0,

 163 A Engell  (Nor) 84 79 0 0,

 169 J Sundberg (am) (Den) 88 81 0 0,

 ** R Echenique (Arg) RT  0 0 0,

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

RICHIE RAMSAY BEATENIN PLAY-OFF FOR HERO INDIA OPEN AFTER THREE PUTTS AT 18TH

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

 

Bengaluru, India, October 21: Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand sensationally won his third Asian Tour title this season at the Hero Indian Open by defeating Richie Ramsay of Scotland on the first play-off hole on Sunday.

Thaworn, who was playing one flight in front of Ramsay, birdied the last hole in regulation play when his seven iron approach shot landed about one feet from the hole as he closed with five-under-par 66 at the approximately US$1.25 million Asian Tour event.

Overnight leader Ramsay needed a par putt on the last to win but made a three-putt bogey for a 68 as the duo returned to the par four 18^th hole at the Karnataka Golf Association course.

On a day filled with drama, Ramsay blasted his tee shot into a watery creek and was penalized. His third shot landed in the back of the green and he chipped to about 10 feet past the hole as he two-putted for double bogey.

 

Meanwhile Thaworn, who won the Hero Indian Open in 2005, made a two putt bogey for the win after hitting his second shot into the greenside bunker. He was stunned by his victory which propelled him to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

 

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to win with the way I was driving the ball this week. It means a lot that I’ve won a second Hero Indian Open title and that I’m now leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit,” said Thaworn, who totalled 14-under-par 270 and won US$198,125.

Thaworn, who was two shots off the lead at the start of the day, struggled with his driver but rallied with acute iron play and a sharp short game in a round of six birdies against one bogey.

 

“I think I only found two fairways in regulation and I didn’t see where Richie was on the 18^th hole until the crowd started shouting. It was a huge surprise to me but I’m glad I won,” he smiled.

 

Ramsay, who was playing on a sponsor’s invitation, tipped his hat to Thaworn but rued an unlucky break in the play-off as his remarkable third shot, which he hit over the trees, landed in a pitch mark just after the green.

 

“I stayed committed to every shot but Thaworn played good. It was mine to win and a very strange thing happened on the last because I’ve been excellent under pressure the whole week,” said Ramsay.

 

“I had a great third shot in the play-off which landed at the back of the green. If there was a good lie, I would have fancied knocking that in. I could have gotten a very easy up-and-down but it was lying in a bad pitch mark. Some days, things just don’t go your way,” he added.

 

Thai rising star Panuphol Pittayarat bogeyed the last hole to finish one shot from the play-off while Shiv Kapur was the best Indian golfer as he shot a 66 for fourth place on 272.

 

Anirban Lahiri of India, a two-time Asian Tour winner, Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand and Jaakko Makitalo of Finland were a further two shots back in fifth place.

 

Kapur, who has four top-five finishes on the Asian Tour this season, was delighted to continue his solid form where he posted a flawless round highlighted by five birdies.

 

“I’m happy but not satisfied. I just wanted to go out there and shoot my heart out. This is my national open and Hero is my sponsor. Obviously I would have liked to win but fourth is not bad. My streak of top-five continues,” said Kapur.

  LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71) Yardage 7,068

270 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-68-67-66, Richie RAMSAY (SCO) 66-66-70-68 (Wiratchant won play-off at first extra hole).

271 - Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 67-68-69-67.

272 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 67-71-68-66.

274 - Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 70-71-66-67, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 71-67-67-69, Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN) 67-68-68-71.

275 - Peter HANSON (SWE) 70-71-68-66, Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 69-71-67-68.

276 - Angelo QUE (PHI) 68-68-69-71, James MORRISON (ENG) 66-71-67-72.

277 - Nils FLOREN (SWE) 74-71-67-65, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 69-71-71-66, Scott BARR (AUS) 70-68-72-67, Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN) 67-72-69-69, Scott HEND (AUS) 71-69-67-70, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 72-68-67-70.

278 - Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 72-70-69-67.

279 - Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 69-70-72-68, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 72-68-71-68, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 75-65-70-69.

280 - Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 70-70-72-68, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 70-68-72-70, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-69-70-73, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 67-68-70-75.

 

ALLAN CAMERON WINS NORTH ALLIANCE AT GRANTOWN ON SPEY

 

FROM ALAN COWIE

Allan Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) with a three under par 67 won Saturday's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance fixture at Grantown-on-Spey. He recorded birdies at the 1st, 7th, 10th, and 15th with a closing eagle and bogeyed the 3rd, 6th, and 14th.. Andrew Rollo assistant Pro at Moray needed to birdie one of the final two holes to force a tie but his drive at the 17th was not found and the 6,3 finish left him in a tie for second with John Campbell from the host Club.

 

Lowest inward half of the day came from Paul Masson from Rothes who came home in four under par 30 (having played the opening six holes in five over) enabling him to win Handicap One off 7.

 

Leading Scratch Scores:

67 R.A.L. Cameron (Fortrose & Rosemarkie);

69 A.G. Rollo (Pro)(Moray), J.S.D. Campbell (Grantown), R.H. Stewart (Torvean);

70 B. Cruickshank (Spey Bay), S. Wilson (Inverness), D. Hector (Elgin), P. Masson (Rothes),;

71 S. Johnston (Elgin), K. Barnett (Torvean), K. Thomson (Moray), R. Harrower (Pro)(Boat of Garten);

72 D. Thom (Grantown), R. Mckerron (Forres);

73 G. Hay (Grantown), J. Simpson (Forres);

74 N. Mcwilliam (Elgin), A.J. England (Moray), J.A.G. Innes (Elgin), D. Macleod (Grantown);

75 T. Dingwall (Pro)(Nairn Dunbar), G. Mackenzie (Moray), L. Macbean (Boat of Garten);

76 A. Hutchison (Torvean), F. Hutchison (Inverness), A.A. Lees (Moray);

77 M. Douglas (Pro)(Inverness), M. Lyall (Torvean), K. Williamson (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), W. Hutchison (Inverness), A. Jackson (Rothes);

78 A. Waterson (Boat of Garten), M. Windsor (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), J.K. England (Moray), W. Donnelly (Fortrose & Rosemarkie);

79 S. Duncan (Moray), S. Mullen (Elgin), V. Tilman (Muir of Ord), A.P. Thomson (Pro)(Inverness);

 

Handicap Section One (7 and under)

63 P. Masson (Rothes)(7);

65 R.H. Stewart (Torvean)(4);

66 K. Barnett (Torvean)(5);

67 S. Johnston (Elgin)(4), D. Macleod (Grantown)(7), D. Thom (Grantown)(5);

 

Handicap Section Two (8 to 14)

65 M. Lyall (Torvean)(12);

66 L. Macbean (Boat of Garten)(9);

67 A. Jackson (Rothes)(10), F. Hutchison (Inverness)(9), M. Windsor (Fortrose & Rosemarkie)(11), A.A. Lees (Moray)(9);