EPD TOUR TEES OFF 2013 WITH THREE EVENTS IN TURKEY

The German PGA's EPD Tour tees off in January with three tournaments in Turkey.
If you are pro golfer, and you want to find out more details about the EPD Tour - on which Paul O'Hara played with some success last year - and the cost of playing in the Turkey events

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RUSSELL KNOX HAS IT ALL TO DO IN FINAL FLORIDA ROUND

Russell Knox had a third-round par 72 in the Children's Hospitals Classic over the Magnolia Course at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Par rounds, unfortunately, are not what the Inverness-born player wants to improve his chances of keeping his US PGA Tour playing rights for next season.
He needs more rounds like his opening-day six-under 66.
Back to back 72s have left Russell in joint 32nd place at six-under-par 210. That's not a bad effort in such highly competitive company but the fact of the matter is that the Jacksonville Beach-based Scot needs to win in excess of $220,000 from this last counting tournament of the year towards the money table to headed the man currently in 125th place - Billy Mayfair who has won over $600,000 this year.
Knox is in 156th position in the money table and only the top 125 will keep their players' cards for another year.
Russell has won $399,784.
His stats in this tournament are interesting.
Round 1 - 6 birdies, 0 bogeys
Round 2 - 1 birdie, 1 bogey.
Round 3 - 2 birdies, 2 bogeys.
At the sharp end of the tournament, Charlie Beljan, who ended up in hospital overnight Friday-Saturday for a heart check-up - he's only in his late 20s - after feeling so unwell during his second round he "thought he was dying."
Well, Beljan is still alive and kicking after a third-round 71 to following scores of 68 and 64. He is on 13-under-par 203 and leads by two from Brian Gay, Josh Teater and Charlie Wi.

 SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216
203 Charlie Beljan 68 64 71
205 Brian Gay 69 69 67, Josh Teater 71 67 67, Charlie Wi 654 71 70
206 Vaughn Taylor 70 68  68, Robert Garrigus 68 68 70, Camillo Villegas 65 71 70, Matt Every 67 69 70, Tommy Gainey 65 71 70, Daniel Chopra 69 67 70, Henrik Stenson 68 67 71

SELECTED SCORE
210 Russell Knox 66 72 72 (T32)          

ONLY THREE SCOTS MAKE IT THROUGH TO EUROPEAN TOUR SCHOOL FINAL STAGE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Only three from a total of 15 Scots spread across the four European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 venues in Spain have made it through to the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya later this month.
They are Jamie McLeary, Callum Macaulay and Wallace Booth. 
Jamie McLeary topped the 18 qualifiers from the El Saler venue
McLeary book his place in the Final Stage at PGA Catalunya with a briliant 10-under-par total of 278, make up of rounds of 72, 73, 67 and 66.
For heading the El Saler field he earned £1,439.
The play-off on the limit mark of 288 eliminated one of the five players on that level par mark.
Scots who failed to make the grade at this venue were Graham Fox (292), Ross Kellett (307) and Craig Matheson (315).
Lloyd Saltman did not play the final round. Thirteen over par after three rounds, he withdrew from the tournament.

EL SALER SCOREBOARD
Par 288 (4x72)
278 Jamie McLeary (Sco) 72 73 67 66 (winner)

SCOTS' NON-QUALIFIERS
292 Graham Fox 73 75 72 72 (T25)
307 Ross Kellett 81 77 72 77 (T63)
315 Craig Matheson 80 80 80 75 (68th).
Withdrew: Lloyd Saltman 79  72 78 WD

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One former Scottish amateur champion, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) qualified from the European Tour Q School Stage 2 eliminator at El Valle, Murcia but another, David Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) failed to make it through to the Final Stage later this month at PGA Catalunya.
Macaulay, with rounds of 69, 72, 67 and 68 for a total of eight-under-par 276 finished joint third. On the same mark were Englishmen Sam Little and Sam Hutsby.
Only one of the four players on 281 figured in the 18 qualifiers from El Valle.
David Law was undone by his third-round 76. He had started brightly with 70 and 69 but that 76 was the killer. He finished with a 68 for a total of one-under 283 and T26 position.
Tartan Tour campaigner Neil Fenwick from Dunbar ended on 284 with scores of 78, 68, 68 and 70 for T29 position.

 EL VALLE SCOREBOARD
Par 284 (4x71)
272 Nicolo Ravano (Ita) 69 68 70 65
273 Jacob Glennemo (Swe) 68 69 72 64
276 Callum Macaulay (Sco) 69 72 67 68, Sam Little (Eng) 71 66 70 69, Sam Hutsby (Eng) 79 69 68 65 (T3)

SCOTS' NON-QUALIFIERS
283 David Law 70 69 76 68 (T26)
284 Neil Fenwick 78 68 68 70 (T29)
290 Michael Stewart 76 69 70 75 (T56)
294 Paul Cormack 74 73 76 71 (T63)
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No Scots made it through from the Lumine venue at Tarragona. Steven O'Hara and Jack Doherty both well placed overnight to make the leading 18 failed to break 70 and both finished on the joint 23rd mark of five-under 279.
O'Hara scored 73, 66, 68 and 72; Doherty 70 69  69 and 71.
Only two of the six players on the limit mark of 278 made it through to the Final Stage.

LUMINE SCOREBOARD
Par 284 (4x72)
267 Liam Bond (Wal) 64 68 70 65
270 Paul Maddy (Eng) 68 65 69 68

SCOTS NON-QUALIFIERS
279 Steven O'Hara 73 66 68 72, Jack Doherty 70  69 69 71 (T23).
NR Elliot Saltman 76 73 73 NR

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Wallace Booth qualified with ease at the Las Colinas, Alicante venue. He finished joint fifth on nine-under-par 275 with scores of 72, 66, 68 and 69.
There was a play-off on 280 here to get the precise number of 18 qualifiers to the Final stage.
Tartan Tour journeyman Scott Henderson finished T57 on 289.

  LAS COLINAS SCOREBOARD
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Tim Sluiter (Ned) 67 70 65 66
269 Dan Huizing (Ned) 70 68 66 65
Also:
275 Wallace Booth (Sco) 72 66 68 69 (T5)

SCOTS NON-QUALIFIER
289 Scott Henderson 76 73 71 69 (T59)


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SPANISH GECKO PRO TOUR WINTER SCHEDULE 2012-2013

 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE FOR SPAIN'S GECKO PRO TOUR

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JAMES BYRNE FIVE SHOTS OFF THE PACE IN KUALA LUMPUR MASTERS

Kuala Lumpur: American Brian Locke edged two shots clear of the pack at the PGM-MIDF-KLGCC Masters which has been reduced to a 54-hole tournament following another day of inclement weather in the Malaysian capital on Saturday.

Locke returned to the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s East course in the morning to complete his second round in three-under-par 68 at the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.

He then played three holes of the third round in the afternoon which was subsequently suspended in the evening due to a lightning storm.
Officials later declared that the tournament would be played over three rounds, with the players resuming the third and final round at 7.20am on Sunday.

Locke, who was the first round leader, was even par through three holes in the third round to remain at seven-under-par for the tournament.

England’s Peter Richardson, who is currently second on the ADT Order of Merit, Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Mong-nan, fourth on the rankings, and Filipino newcomer Carl Santos-Ocampo were two shots back in tied second place.

Richardson, winner of the PGM-ADT Masters in A’Famosa in Malaysia earlier this year, returned in the morning to complete his second round in 68 to trail Locke by two shots after 36 holes. He is bidding to stay in the top-three of the rankings which will guarantee players with Asian Tour cards in 2013.

Hsu is also pushing hard to break into the top three as there is one event remaining on the ADT Schedule after this week’s PGM-MIDF-KLGCC Masters.

Chinese Taipei’s Chang Tse-peng was a further stroke behind in fifth place on four-under through three holes of his third round while Hong Kong’s Nick Redfern stood at two-under-par through three holes.

The ADT has grown from five events since its inauguration in 2010 and has expanded to a record of 13 events this year.

The ADT will also be afforded with Official World Golf Ranking status in 2013 which is a huge boost for the development of the game in Asia.

Banchory's James Byrne is joint seventh on 140 (71-69)

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS

Par 142 (2x71)

135: Brian LOCKE (USA) 67-68

137: Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 69-68

138: CHANG Tse-peng  (TPE) 68-70, HSU Mong-nan (TPE) 68-70, Carl SANTOS-OCAMPO (PHI) 70-68, Nick REDFERN (ENG) 69-69

140: R. Nachimuthu (MAS) 68-72, James BYRNE (SCO) 71-69, Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 70-70, Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 72-68, Iain STEEL (MAS) 68-72

141: Daniel NG (MAS) 72-69, CHIANG Chen-chih (TPE) 68-73, Mohd Hafiy (MAS) 73-68

142: KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 71-71, Kenneth DE SILVA (MAS) 75-67, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 73-69

143: LOW Khai Jei (A) MAS 73-70, Tommy MANSUWAN (THA) 73-70

THOMAS BJORN LEADS AT WEATHER-HIT SINGAPORE OPEN

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Singapore, Saturday: Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn continued to secure pole position after he held the third-round lead at nine-under-par through three holes before play was suspended due to darkness at the Barclays Singapore Open on Saturday.

With inclement weather forcing play to be abandoned on Friday, Bjorn, who is searching for his first victory in Asia, had to return in the morning to start his second round.

He quickly made up for lost time by signing for a four-under-par 67 to take the second round lead at the Sentosa Golf Club.

England’s Chris Wood got off to a par-birdie-par start in his opening three holes to take second place at eight-under through three holes while South Africa’s George Coetzee is in third place at seven-under after three holes.

First round leader Chapchai Nirat of Thailand birdied the second and fourth to join Italy’s Francesco Molinari on six under, while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri are among the seven players that also features three-time Barclays Singapore Open winner Adam Scott bunched in tied-sixth at five-under.

“I’ve never really played well on this course before so it’s a nice surprise that I’m doing well. I’m playing some of the best golf at the moment and I’m feeling really confident with my game.  It’s going to be a long day tomorrow and I’m just going back to recharge and get ready for it,” said Lahiri, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

World number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who had to return early in the morning to complete his remaining six holes of his second round, birdied the second hole before adding an eagle-three on the fourth hole.

He overcame a double-bogey six on the sixth hole with another birdie on the seventh hole before reaching the turn in 34 and a share of 13^th on four-under.

“I played well when we got back out there, got off to a good start then unfortunately made a mistake on the sixth but got one straight back on the seventh,” said McIlroy.

“So two under through nine was a pretty decent effort, but I probably need a few more birdies tomorrow morning to get myself within a few shots of the lead going into the fourth round,” added McIlroy.

A total of 73 players will resume their third round play on Sunday morning, 7.30am local time.

Weather permitting, the fourth and final round will now start before 10am with the same draw as the third round.

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TAIWAN TUSSLE FEATURING COOL KIM AND TERRIFIC TIM

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Jong Duck Kim of South Korea held a three-shot lead over American Tim Thelen heading into the final day of the Fubon Senior Open at Taiwan, after signing for a stunning nine under par second round of 63 despite missing a four foot putt for birdie on the 18^th hole
 at Miramar Golf and Country Club. 
Kim played alongside two-time winner on the European Senior Tour this year and joint overnight leader Thelen, and the American just could not keep up with his Asian counter-part from the get-go at the Taipei venue in Taiwan. 
Kim birdied all but three holes in an exceptional front nine as he reached the turn in 30 shots, but proceeded to card his first back to back pars at the tenth and 11^th holes.
That would not last for long, however, and he embarked on a run of four birdies in five holes from the 12^th hole, although the odd one out at the par four 13^th proved to be his first bogey of the week. 
A par at the short 17^th hole ended that streak and when the 51 year old knocked a chip to four feet at the par five 18^th, it looked for all the world that he would sign for a ten under par 62 which would have given him a four shot cushion going into the final day. 
Instead, he has the in-form Thelen close on his trail just three shots off his overall score of 14 under par as they both attempt to follow in the footsteps of Chien Soon Lu, the winner of the inaugural Fubon Senior Open last year. 
“I am really happy with my round today,” said Kim. “My irons were really good today and my putting was perfect so I am looking forward now to the final round.” 
Thelen, for one, was thoroughly impressed by the performance of his playing partner and is relishing the challenge of trying to chase Kim’s lead in what it sure to be a tense battle in the final round in the Taiwanese capital. 
“Kim shot a 63 today like it was nothing,” said the 51 year old. “He had a great round and I really have to go out there and play well tomorrow. 
“I am going to have to be a little more aggressive in the final round but that might all depend on where the pins are and how the weather is because although I want to go for it, I have to be sensible too.” 
Thelen followed up his opening round 66 with a five under par second round of 67 which included birdies at three of the four par fives - the sixth, 12^th and 18^th - and he had his game on the greens to thank for his round. “I didn’t hit my irons as well as I did on the first day,” said the man from Texas. 
“I drove it well though and I putted well and when you’re putting good it makes up for a lot of other things and it maintains your momentum. 
“Kim didn’t miss a shot today and it was fun to watch and I just had to try to keep up with him. He hit a great shot into 18 and at that point I was looking at going into the final round four shots back. 
“But I’m still there and I can still make a push and there are plenty of other guys not far behind who will fancy their chances of catching up too so it should be an exciting day.”
Frankie Minoza is one of those players in with a shot after he carded an eagle and eight birdies in an eight under par round of 64, which left him on eight under for the tournament and six shots off the lead. Thailand’s former Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Boonchu Ruangkit was joined by compatriot Ji-xiang Lin and South Africa’s Chris Williams in tied fourth place on seven under par while the best of the Taiwanese was Ter-chang Wang, who was in tied ninth place in five under. 
Defending champion Lu was two shots further back on three under par as his chances of retaining the title he claimed last year faded.
 SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)

130 J Kim (SKor) 67 63

133 T Thelen (USA) 66 67

136 F Minoza (Phi) 72 64

137 B Ruangkit (Tha) 70 67, C Williams (RSA) 69 68, J Lin (Tha) 70 67

138 A Franco (Par) 72 66, A Murray (Eng) 67 71

139 G Ralph (Eng) 72 67, D Merriman (Aus) 70 69, T Wang (Tpe) 68 71, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 68 71

140 P Wesselingh (Eng) 71 69, G Ryall (Eng) 72 68, G Norquist (USA) 71 69

141 M Cunning (USA) 70 71, P Dahlberg (Swe) 66 75, B Longmuir (Sco) 68 73, K Tomori (Jpn) 72 69, R Drummond (Sco) 69 72, C Lu (Tpe) 72 69

142 C Chung (Tpe) 72 70, K Tarling (Can) 73 69, M Kierstenson (Eng) 73 69, N Job (Eng) 72 70, T Price (Aus) 73 69

143 M Harwood (Aus) 71 72, T Chen (Tpe) 71 72, Z Martinez (USA) 70 73, T Charnley (Eng) 72 71, R Gibson (Can) 72 71, M Kuramoto (Jpn) 70 73, G Manson (Aut) 71 72

144 P Smith (Sco) 75 69, A Gilligan (Aus) 74 70, J Gould (Eng) 73 71, G Banister (Aus) 74 70, T Elliott (Aus) 71 73, M Belsham (Eng) 73 71,

145 M Briggs (Eng) 73 72, J Bruner (USA) 76 69, S Bennett (Eng) 74 71, S Hsu (Tpe) 77 68, D Cambridge (Jam) 75 70, L Carbonetti (Arg) 73 72, C Chang (am) (Tpe) 75 70

146 J Murphy (Eng) 73 73, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 70 76, H Chang (Tpe) 70 76, G Brand (Eng) 72 74

147 B Stevens (Eng) 74 73, J Harrison (Eng) 72 75, S McNally (Eng) 76 71, T Chen (Tpe) 73 74, C Shen (Tpe) 74 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 74, C Chang (Tpe) 74 73, C Yu (Tpe) 74 73, S Ebihara (Jpn) 72 75, J Chen (Tpe) 71 76, B Hardwick (Can) 74 73, T Chen (Tpe) 72 75

148 D Ishii (USA) 72 76, G Davies (Wal) 75 73, C Ko (am) (Tpe) 74 74

149 T Lin (Tpe) 72 77, T Hsu (Tpe) 76 73

150 S Cipa (Eng) 76 74

151 M Hsieh (Tpe) 76 75, M Deboub (Alg) 77 74, T Kao (am) (Tpe) 78 73,

152 M Chang (Tpe) 75 77, K Olsen (Aus) 79 73, T Gale (Aus) 76 76, S McAllister (Sco) 78 74, N Clarke  (RSA) 75 77,

153 L Chen (Tpe) 77 76,

154 K Chang (Tpe) 77 77, J Hall (Eng) 74 80, W Chou (Tpe) 76 78, C Lin (Tpe) 77 77,

155 S Liao (Tpe) 77 78,

156 Y Chiang (Tpe) 78 78, S Hsu (Tpe) 75 81,

157 C Linstead (Eng) 80 77, D Young  (Eng) 76 81

158 W Chan (Tpe) 83 75, S Huang (Tpe) 79 79, C Lai (Tpe) 79 79, J Sallat (Fra) 78 80

159 L Chang (Tpe) 80 79, A Saddington (Sco) 78 81

161 S Cheng (Tpe) 80 81

162 S Huang (Tpe) 82 80, C Chen (Tpe) 82 80

168 T Liao (Tpe) 86 82, S Chi (Tpe) 84 84

170 C Lien (Tpe) 85 85

** H Chang (Tpe) 85 WD

 

TOURNAMENT LEADER THOUGHT HE WAS DYING DURING ROUND

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Staff and wires

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida-- Charlie Beljan was worried about keeping his US PGA TOUR card when he showed up at Disney for the final tournament of the year. That changed Friday over five frightening hours when he felt a shortness of breath and his heart racing, and eventually told his caddie that he thought he was going to die.
His chest heaved. He called for paramedics at the turn and was told his blood pressure was not good. He sat in the middle of the fairway to rest and kneeled on the green to try to steady himself.
In one of the most remarkable rounds of the year, the 28-year-old rookie fought through it for an 8-under 64 to take a three-shot lead.
Moments after signing his card, Beljan was loaded onto a stretcher. His eyes were closed, his head tilted back -- still wearing his visor -- and his arms were folded across his stomach as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance parked beyond the 18th green at the Palm Course.
"I think he was scared," said his caddie, Rick Adcox. "He kept saying he thought he was going to die. He just had that feeling. I don't know why. But it was spooky."
A few hours later, his agent sent a text to US PGA TOUR officials from Celebration Hospital that Beljan was waiting on tests, feeling better and hopeful of being discharged from the hospital Friday evening. In a later text, agent Andy Dawson said even if Beljan remained in the hospital overnight, he still planned to play the third round.
Beljan was in the lead for the first time after any round going into the weekend at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. It could not have come at a better time because he is No. 139 on the money list, and only the top 125 keep their full cards for next year.
And yet the surreal day ended with Beljan not even sure he would be able to play on the weekend.
The TOUR said Beljan complained of an elevated heart rate, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Adcox said Beljan told him of numbness in his arms and he felt like he was going to faint. "I thought they were going to stop him on 10 when they told him what the blood pressure was," he said. "He just said, `I'm going to keep going until either I pass out or they take me off.' I kept saying, `It doesn't matter to me. It's only a golf tournament. You've got many more.'"
The struggle was painfully clear the way Beljan constantly stooped over with his hands on his knees, backed off shots and tried to take deep breaths. That he wound up in the lead at 12-under 132 was simply amazing.
"It was bizarre," said Edward Loar, who played with Beljan. "I don't know if he thought he was going to make it. It sure didn't affect his golf. I heard him call for a paramedic on No. 9. Before the round, he said he was having a hard time breathing. Hopefully, the guy was all right. He was having a hard time breathing in there."
Beljan had a three-shot lead over seven players, including Henrik Stenson, Harris English, Charles Howell III and first-round leader Charlie Wi. He likely would need to finish in about 10th place to move into the top 125 and keep a job for next year -- assuming he can even play.
Golf didn't seem to be a big priority across from the Magic Kingdom, and there were concerns Beljan would not even finish his round.
"I thought a lot of times he was going to stop," Adcox said. "I didn't even think he was going to start. He asked me to go find a doctor at the beginning, and I did. The paramedics ... were on No. 10 waiting on him. Blood pressure wasn't good then. For him to go on, that was pretty much his decision.
"He hit four of the best iron shots I've seen on the par 5s," Loar said. "It was awesome to watch."
Adcox realized something wasn't right when Beljan called for a doctor on the practice range. He drilled his long second shot onto the green at the par-5 first hole, and when the caddie handed him a putter, he said Beljan told him, "I don't feel very good."
"He got up there and made the eagle and still said he didn't feel good," Adcox said. "It's been not good all day. The score was good."
The caddie said they didn't pay attention to the score Beljan was putting together, and because they were playing on the Palm Course that doesn't have many leaderboards, they didn't even know Beljan was in the lead until the round was over.
They simply started a countdown -- one more hole, one more shot.
Beljan had two eagles and played the par 5s in 6 under. He struggled to finish, picking up a bogey on the 17th and missing the green to the right on the 18th. Facing a difficult chip, made even tougher that he looked wobbly over the ball, he hit a beautiful shot to 4 feet to save par.
The final two rounds move to the tougher Magnolia Course, which effectively feels like the final stage of Q-school for some of the players. 
Matt Jones and Mark Anderson, in that group at 9-under 135, can avoid going to the second stage of q-school. Wi needs a win to have any hope of getting into the Masters. English is going for his first win.
Rod Pampling will have to sweat out his future at home in Dallas for the second straight year. He is No. 124 on the money list, made bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes and missed the cut by one shot. All that helps Pampling is that Billy Mayfair, who is No. 125 on the money list, also missed the cut, as did Gary Christian at No. 127.
Kevin Chappell was at No. 123, but he put together another solid round and suddenly is only four shots out of the lead. His card would appear to be safe.
Inverness-born, Florida-based Russell Knox is another fighting to save his card. He has made the cut with east on six-under 138 with scores of 66-72 and is lying T21.

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