RUSSELL MAKES STRONG START TO GRAND FINAL

Raymond Russell led the Scottish charge at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, boosting his chances of gaining a European Tour card with a five under par 66 in the first round.

At 22^nd place in the Rankings, Russell is one spot away from promotion, and he opened his account in Italy with six birdies and a bogey to lie tied seventh, two shots off the lead held by Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Italian Marco Crespi.

“It was nice to finish with two birdies,” said the 40 year old. “It was a very solid round. I hit a bad tee shot off the first and went into a bunker, but apart from that it was stress-free golf.

“There are a lot of chances out there. With the greens being this soft, it’s very scoreable. If you’re on the fairway you can really have a go. It’s trickier from the rough, obviously, but it’s not very thick.

“This is my sixth week in a row, but I’m feeling fine. I knew I was going to play this stretch so I’ve tried to manage my practice accordingly to make sure I’m fresh. I’ve maybe not played practice rounds but instead walked the course. I’ve tried to conserve my energy as much as possible.”

Fellow Scot Chris Doak, currently tenth in the Rankings, signed for a two under par 69, while Scott Henry and Andrew McArthur were further back after posting rounds of 70 and 72 respectively.

Doak said: “There is still plenty of time to go. A few seven under rounds would do nicely now. I’m just happy to be here because my back was sore on Monday, but the physio sorted it out for me.

“I am not too bothered about Rankings positions this week. I just want to play the golf and see what happens.

“Nothing really went my way today. I didn’t get in any bother all day but the ball just didn’t drop.”

Henry had two eagles and three bogeys in a turbulent round, and said: “It was lazy, sloppy golf with the odd moment of magic thrown in. To have no birdies and two eagles is a strange one.

“I was really ill last week in Copenhagen and I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from that. Mentally I’m very tired as well.”

The top 45 players in the Rankings qualified for the €330,000 season-ending tournament, at the end of which the top 21 players earn a card for the 2013 European Tour campaign - with Magnus A Carlsson’s European Tour ranking meaning will retain his card via The Race to Dubai and drops out of the Challenge Tour Rankings for those purposes.

First round scores:

64 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) , M Crespi  (Ita) ,

 65 W Besseling  (Ned) , D Vancsik (Arg) , C Lloyd (Eng) , E Kofstad (Nor) , M Delpodio  (Ita) ,

 66 E De La Riva  (Esp) , R Russell (Sco) , H Bacher (Aut) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) , J Busby (Eng) , M Korhonen (Fin) ,

 67 J Hansen  (Den) , G Stal  (Fra) , M Tullo (Chi) ,

 68 J Parry (Eng) , S Benson (Eng) , L Jensen (Den) , M Kieffer (Ger) ,

 69 C Doak (Sco) , R Kakko  (Fin) , K Broberg (Swe) , J Huldahl (Den) , A Levy (Fra) , P Uihlein  (USA) , A Tadini (Ita) , C Aguilar  (Esp) , S Kim (Kor) ,

 70 S Henry  (Sco) , N Dougherty  (Eng) , E Pepperell (Eng) ,

 71 B Koepka  (USA) , S Wakefield (Eng) , M Carlsson  (Swe) , J Walters (RSA) , B Åkesson (Swe) , C Paisley  (Eng) , M Madsen  (Den) , P Archer (Eng) ,

 72 A Hartø  (Den) , S Walker (Eng) , A McArthur  (Sco) , A Kaleka  (Fra) ,

 74 D Brooks (Eng) ,

 

RAYMOND RUSSELL HOPING FOR GRAND FINAL DEJA VU

CHALLENGE TOUR PREVIEW

Raymond Russell is hoping to draw on past success at the Challenge Tour’s finale, the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, this week as he enters the tournament just one place outside the cut-off point for qualification to The European Tour for next season.

The Edinburgh-born man was in an almost identical position two years ago when he entered the season-ending event in 21^st place and in need of a good finish to earn one of the golden tickets to The Race to Dubai.

Having opened with rounds of 74 and 72 in Italy, Russell looked to have played his way out of the reckoning for a top 20 spot, but he carded a third round of 69 before bettering that with a 68 on the final day to creep inside the mark and secure a European Tour category for 2011.

Having struggled since with injury, Russell is hoping that experience can drive him on to further success this week.

“I have been in this position before so I just have to try and draw on that,” said the 40 year old. “I did well that time around. I had a bad first day so I did well to come back from that. There is probably a bit more pressure involved come Saturday but that is why you play the game.

 “It’s good that I have moved one spot closer to a card but you just have to play well this week and that is all it comes down to.

“You try to win every week, that’s why you practise. Your performance will give you the results so that’s all I will be trying to do this week.”

Russell’s maiden Challenge Tour victory came on Italian soil this year at the Challenge Provincia di Varese in June.

“I enjoy Italy,” he said. “It is different here course-wise but I love the country. It’s a nice tournament and a good golf course so I am just looking forward to getting going.

 “Obviously, there are some differences this week from any other week. There is a big prize fund but you try not to make it any different from any other event. You try to go about what you need to do as well as you can, and if you perform everything else comes after that.”

END

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ERNIE ELS SIGNS WITH I M G

ERNIE ELS SIGNS WITH IMG

 

One of the world’s most recognised professional golfers, South Africa’s Ernie Els, announced today that he has signed with IMG, the world’s leading sports, fashion and media company, for worldwide management and marketing representation.

 

Els, a four time Major Champion, former World Number One and winner of over 65 international titles, is one of golf’s truly global stars. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2011 and is today known as much for his  charity work as for his golfing prowess, both in aiding underprivileged children in South Africa and more recently for his work for Autism through his charity, Els for Autism. He also has burgeoning golf course design and wine businesses.

 

Els enjoyed a fairytale return to the Major league when he won the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in July, proving he is still competing at the very highest level.

Els explained his decision to join IMG commenting, “IMG has a global network of offices, loads of experienced and dedicated golf staff operating in every aspect of the game so really is best equipped to help me achieve everything I want to do on and off the course.”

 

Ernie’s management at Pros Inc will be moved to IMG who will work closely with Phil Cotton and Ernie’s existing team of staff. Vinny Giles of Pros Inc commented, “I am delighted to be part of transitioning Ernie to IMG where he will be in the most capable of hands.”

 

Guy Kinnings of IMG commented, “Ernie has had an amazing career to date and his influence on the game is extraordinary. We are delighted to be working with Ernie and his team and know that IMG’s offices and staff situated all around the world will be excited to have the opportunity to work with one of golf’s most inspiring figures. IMG is ideally placed to showcase both what Ernie has achieved and to assist with the exciting times ahead of him as one of the world’s iconic golfers.”

 

www.ernieels.com