SCORES FROM US PGA TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA

CHECK OUT ALL THE SCORES IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE US PGA TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL AT LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA

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POULTER LAMBASTS R AND A DECISION TO TOUGHEN UP OLD COURSE

FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE

 Already one of the most outspoken golfers on Twitter, Ian Poulter (pictured) took to the social media platform Tuesday to voice his disagreement with proposed changes to the Old Course at St. Andrews.
"If they make changes to the Old Course at St. Andrews they are insane," Poulter tweeted. 
"The course is great just leave the winning score up to mother nature."
Last week, the R and A announced changes to several holes that will take place in advance of the 2015 Open Championship. A new tee on the penultimate hole was previously put into place for the 2010 Open, a minor change with which Poulter took also took issue.
"They totally screwed up the 17th hole last time," he continued. "The might as well move the 11th green into RAF Leuchars air base, that's basically what they did with the tee box at 17 last time."
The proposed changes would mark the first significant alterations to the Old Course in nearly 70 years, according to the report. 
The changes are scheduled to take place in two phases, with the second wave completed in early 2014.
R and A chief executive Peter Dawson noted that the changes are designed to force players to be more precise with their shots moving forward.
"The championship committee felt there was an opportunity to stiffen its defenses in some places to ensure it remains as challenging as ever to the professionals," he explained according to the report.
Poulter continued to take issue however, voicing his disagreements to more than 1.4 million followers on Twitter.
"I know let's draw a moustache on the Mona Lisa I'm sure everyone would like that," he wrote. "Same as messing with a great course (like) St. Andrews."

SCROLL DOWN TO READ ANOTHER ARTICLE ON THE SAME TOPIC ... GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT TOM DOAK READY TO RAISE A PETITION TO STOP THE R AND A TINKERING WITH THE OLD COURSE.

IRONMAN STEEN TINNING MAKES DEBUT ON SENIOR TOUR

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
After a nine-year break from competitive golf, Denmark’s Steen Tinning has been busy getting into shape by competing in triathlons and ironman competitions in preparation for his European Senior Tour debut at the MCB Tour Championship next week. 
Tinning, picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c),  was a regular and consistent performer during a career which spanned almost two decades on The European Tour, capping it with wins at the 2000 Wales Open and 2002 Open de Madrid. 
But having turned 50, the Copenhagen native - who survived a serious car crash in 1990 which left one arm partly detached from his body - believes he is in the best physical condition of his career after an unorthodox period of preparation for a return to the game. 
He explained: “In 2009 I decided I wanted to get back into shape and get competitive again ahead of the beginning of my Senior Tour career. 
“Since 2003 I have done a lot of coaching on the mental aspects of the game and also some commentary work and consultancy for various golf clubs and agencies, so it was a big decision for me to get back into competitive golf. 
“When I finished on The European Tour I had struggled with a really bad back and suffered a lot of pain, so I knew I had to work really hard on my general fitness.
 “Then a good friend of mine suggested I join him in preparing for triathlons. At first I thought he was crazy but then I began to work on my body and rehabilitate completely. So I have been competing in triathlons for the past three years and also in ironman competitions. “That competitiveness has really motivated me now for the Senior Tour, no doubt about it. It has made me very focussed about my practice and my routines and I’ve been working hard on my game now so I cannot want to play in Mauritius.” 
Tinning believes there are a lot of similarities between the gruelling fitness competitions and golf. “I did a lot of training by myself for the triathlons and you have to really work to your own schedule and be disciplined with yourself,” said Tinning.
“You have to want it really badly if you want to do well, and in those ways I think it is very similar to golf.” 
Now, the seven time World Cup player is ready to compete on the Senior Tour, starting at the luxurious Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius from December 7-9. 
“My body is in much better shape now than it was when I finished playing in 2003 and I just do not get tired playing golf anymore,” he said. 
“I feel like I can play a round or two of golf now and still go and run a marathon afterwards! 
“I think that will really help on the Senior Tour and as well as playing there I also want to get back playing at the top level on The European Tour, so hopefully I can get a few appearances there too. 
“I would not have made the decision to play competitively again if I didn’t think I could win and I have played with a lot of the younger players recently in Denmark, so I think my game is in good shape. 
“I have heard Mauritius is a great tournament too and I am looking forward to seeing a lot of players I played with on The European Tour. It is going to be great to back into it.” 
American Tom Lehman defends his title in the MCB Tour Championship after finishing one stroke clear of South African David Frost 12 months ago.

SANTOS BECOMES FIRST PORTUGUESE TO WIN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD

RICARDO SANTOS WITH THE MADEIRA OPEN TROPHY. Picture by courtesy of Gatty Images(c).

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Ricardo Santos has created history by becoming the first Portuguese winner of The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award following a season in which he won the Madeira Islands Open at Santo da Serra, where he had played many times as a junior.

Santos celebrated the 40^th anniversary of The European Tour one week late by becoming only the second Portuguese player to win on the International Schedule – exactly 20 years after Daniel Silva became the first by capturing the Jersey Open.

Born in Faro in 1982, Santos, raised in a home adjacent to the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in the Algarve, fulfilled his boyhood dream by winning on Portuguese soil with a superb final round of 63, which was the lowest final round by a winner during the 2012 season and was watched by many of his family including brother Hugo, who also played in the Madeira Islands Open.

Santos had notched seven birdies before – to a hero’s welcome – he rattled home a 40-footer at the 17^th, then drilled an approach to two feet at the last to become, appropriately, the first Rookie winner on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule. 

Santos’ claim to succeed Tom Lewis as the winner of the award was strengthened by the fact that none of his fellow rookies subsequently won on The European Tour in 2012, which ultimately swung the vote in the 30 year old’s favour. 

Santos, who dedicated his win to his wife, Rita, and their daughter, Victoria, was naturally thrilled to learn that he had become the 48^th recipient of The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, which was launched in 1960.

He said: “It’s an honour to become the first Portuguese player to win the Rookie of the Year award. When you look at some of the players who have won the award in the past, it’s a real privilege to see my name next to theirs on the trophy. It’s been an amazing season, and to end it be winning the award is more than I could have dreamed of.

“Winning in Madeira has brought me more recognition in Portugal, and being named Rookie of the Year will get my name known even more, here at home and across Europe. But the award is not just for me – it’s also for my coach, Almerindo Sequeira; my fitness coach, David Moura; my sports psychologist, Gonςalo Castanho; and for my wife, Rita. 

"Our daughter Victoria is probably too young to understand at the moment, but when she grows up I’m sure she’ll be proud of her father for winning this award.

“The goal for 2013 is to win again on The European Tour, and to play my first Major. This award has given me the confidence to go and achieve my goals – although you only have one chance to win the Rookie of the Year, hopefully I can win many more titles in the future.”

Prior to turning professional in 2006, Santos won the Swiss Amateur International Open Championship and the Portugal Amateur Order of Merit, in addition to representing Portugal in the Eisenhower Trophy and the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy.

He graduated to The European Tour by finishing fourth in the Challenge Tour Final Rankings in 2011 – when he also played alongside brother Hugo in the World Cup for Portugal – after springing from the pack with a closing round of 66 to win his maiden title in The Princess by Schüco at the PGA of Sweden National.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We congratulate Ricardo on an outstanding season capped by becoming the first Portuguese winner of the very prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award. I’m sure Ricardo would have been a very popular choice with Sir Henry himself, as he had a great affinity with Portugal after designing the Championship Course at Penina Golf & Resort. 

“Ricardo followed success on the Challenge Tour by gaining his maiden European Tour victory. These triumphs will unquestionably increase interest in the game in Portugal and encourage other players from the country to emulate his achievements.”

Santos follows many of golf’s greatest names such as Sir Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle, José María Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie in addition to, more recently, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Matteo Manassero, Ian Poulter and last year’s winner Tom Lewis in winning The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, which is judged by The R&A, the Association of Golf Writers and The European Tour.

The judges considered four main contenders, but Santos became the 11th winner from Continental Europe ahead of England’s Matthew Baldwin and Tommy Fleetwood and Spain’s Jorge Campillo, who all also graduated from the 2011 European Challenge Tour.

NEWS RELEASE FROM R AND A, and THE USGA

 

THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE PROPOSED RULES CHANGE

TO PROHIBIT USE OF ANCHORED STROKES

 

Rule Would Take Effect on January 1, 2016, Allowing for Transitional Period

Belly-Length and Long Putters Would Remain as Conforming Clubs

 
28 November 2012, St Andrews: The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke.
The proposed Rule 14-1b, which follows an extensive review by The R&A and the USGA, would prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club.
The proposed new Rule would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke. The proposed Rule narrowly targets only a few types of strokes, while preserving a golfer’s ability to play a wide variety of strokes in his or her individual style.
Prior to taking a final decision on the proposed Rule, The R and A and the USGA will consider any further comments and suggestions from throughout the golf community.
“We believe we have considered this issue from every angle but given the wide ranging interest in this subject we would like to give stakeholders in the game the opportunity to put forward any new matters for consideration,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
The proposed Rule change would take effect on January 1, 2016, in accordance with the regular four-year cycle for changes to the Rules of Golf. This timetable would also provide an extended period in which golfers may, if necessary, adapt their method of stroke to the requirements of the Rule.
For more information about the newly proposed Rule, as well as additional information including videos and images of strokes that would be allowed or prohibited by the proposed changes to Rule 14-1, visit www.RandA.org/anchoring or www.usga.org/anchoring.
 
New Rule Would Define and Preserve the Nature of the Stroke
In proposing the new Rule, The R&A and the USGA concluded that the long-term interests of the game would be served by confirming a stroke as the swinging of the entire club at the ball.
“Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “The player’s challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club.”
NEW RULE WOULD ADDRESS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GAME
This proposal reflects The R&A’s and USGA’s responsibility to define how the game is to be played. Aspects of how a player must make a stroke have been addressed in past Rules changes, such as the century-old Rule codifying that the ball must be fairly struck and not be pushed, scraped or spooned and the 1968 prohibition on the “croquet” style of putting.
“As governing bodies, we monitor and evaluate playing practices and developments in golf, with our primary mandate being to ensure that the Rules of Golf continue to preserve the fundamental characteristics of the game,” added Davis.
Although anchoring the club is not new, until recently it was uncommon and typically seen as a method of last resort by a small number of players. In the last two years, however, more and more players have adopted the anchored stroke. Golf’s governing bodies have observed this upsurge at all levels of the game and noted that more coaches and players are advocating this method. The decision to act now is based on a strong desire to reverse this trend and to preserve the traditional golf stroke.
“Anchored strokes have become the preferred option for a growing number of players and this has caused us to review these strokes and their impact on the game,” said Dawson. “Our concern is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional putting strokes which are integral to the longstanding character of the sport.”
REVIEW PROCESS AND TIMETABLE
Earlier this year, The R and A and the USGA announced that they were reviewing the subject of anchoring. There has been widespread discussion of the issue throughout the international golf community which has been noted by the governing bodies. 
Each organisation is expected to take a final decision on the proposed Rule change in spring 2013. Anyone wishing to provide written comments to the appropriate governing body is encouraged to do so by 28 February 2013 as directed on the respective websites: www.RandA.org/anchoring or www.usga.org/anchoring.
(In the context of this news release, The R&A refers to R&A Rules Ltd)
 
Notes to Editors:
The proposed change would re-label current Rule 14-1 as Rule 14-1a, and establish Rule 14-1b as described below:

14-1b Anchoring the Club

In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of an “anchor point”.  

Note 1:  The club is anchored “directly” when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2:  An “anchor point” exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE TEE TIMES FOR PETERHEAD NEXT WEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 5  
(last meeting before mid-winter break up to January 9 at Inverallochy)

08.00 B Harper, C Cassie, K Watson, G Leslie.    
                                 

08.08 FOUR TIMES AVAILABLE                                                                                        

08.16 G Munro, D Macandrew, F Clarke, J Nicolson.
                                   

08.24 G Mitchell, D Mackay, A Smith, P Cornfield.       
                                                  

08.32 C Lamb, R Lamb, J Wilson, M Merchant.
                                                             

08.40 FOUR TIMES AVAILABLE
                                                             

08.48 S Dillon, J Borthwick + TWO AVAILABLE

08.56 C Dempster, R Fitzpatrick, S McNeil, E Allan.

                            

09.04 M Brown, R Brown, L Roger, S Davidson

09.12 C Carnegie, J Duncan, G Milne + ONE AVAILABLE.
                               

09.20 C Nelson, Claire Prouse, L Prouse, J Dalgarno.

09.28 D Lawrie, P Leech, M Smith, I Grant
                                                                                    

09.36 B Mitchell, J Duff, K Duncan, G Lafferty.
                

09.44 N Stewart, J Forrest, P McLean, K Nicol.
                                                                                             

09.52 D H Clark, A Gall, L Fowler, J Emslie
                                                                                          

10.00 P Cheyne, D Wright, B Lumsden, E Adams.

10.08 C Lawrie, K Zeynalov, D Law, L Vannet.

10.16 M Winton, S Thomson, S Finnie, D McKay.

10.24 S Mann, S Dunn, A Stewart + ONE AVAILABLE

10.32 J Jessiman, A Petrie, J Murray, D Randall.

10.40 D Leslie, G Homer, W Shaw, H McNaughton.

10.48 J Hopwood, R O'Donnell, A Graham, N K Parker.

10.56 G Hutcheon, C Brindley, F Bisset, I Taylor.

11.04 T Collie, M Lawrie, P Murray, C Moir.

11.12 W Skene, R Duncan, R McConnachie, M Lawrence.

11.20 D Wilson, M Booth + TWO AVAILABLE.

+Players are requested to play as quickly as possible in this the final fixture of the year because the light will be fading fast from about 3.30pm.

KRIS NICOL, DAVID LAW TIE FOR NE ALLIANCE WIN WITH 68s AT BRUTALLY COLD FRASERBURGH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Fraserburgh tour pro Kris Nicol, playing over his home course, and David Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) tied for victory with two-under-par 68s in brutal weather of heavy rain and temperatures as low as 2 degrees in today's North-east Alliance competition over the Buchan links today. Seasoned pro campaigner Colin Nelson said he could not remember ever being as cold on a golf course as he felt at one stage during today's round. Nicol and Law were playing partners so they knew the score in more ways than one. Law holed two 15ft putts to birdie the fourth and short fifth and he also birdied the 11th, the short 15th where he reckoned his four-iron tee shot to within 5ft of the stick was his best of the round, and also the long 15th. Nicol birdied the second and third with 6ft putts dropping for him and also the 12th where he holed a 30-footer from off the green.   In the end they earned £135 apiece after Nicol three-putted the 17th - his only bogey - to give Law the edge only for David, who had dropped shots at the eighth, and 12th, to bogey the last with a bunkered drive to restore equality. Carnoustie's Lee Vannet (pictured today) finished third with a 69 which included an eagle 2 at the 458yd, par-4 ninth where he drove the ball well over 300yd downhill and downwind and capped that by holing out with a wedge from 98yd range. Out in 32 to Nicol's 33 and Law's 34, Vannet, a former European Tour campaigner and a one-time British boys champion, bogeyed the 15th and 16th in the wintry conditions. In the first wintry conditions of the season, Nicol was never going to get near a repeat of last Wednesday's 10-under 59 in balmy weather at Montrose, but he did birdie the second, third and 13th. It was Nicol's fifth win, albeit shared on this occasion, in the past nine Alliance fixtures. Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), who had three 2s on his card, finished fourth with a 71 after running up a double bogey 6 at the last. He sets off on Friday to the warmer climes of Turkey and next week's PGA play-offs. Today's field at Fraserburgh was 91 strong - and it was indicative of the brutal weather that there were 22 No Returns.

NORTH EAST ALLIANCE GOLF SCORES

Par 70 (35-35) 68  D Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 34-34, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 33-35 69 L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) 32-37 71 G Hutcheon (Banchory) 35-36 74 B Nicolson (Newmachar) 35-39, C Trahan (Meldrum House) 36-38, J Duff (Newmachar) 35-39 75 F Clarke (Newmachar) 37-38, C Nelson (Mackenzie Shop) 38-37, R McConnachie (Peterculter) 38-37 76 G Munro (Fraserburgh) 37-39 77 L Prouse (Hazlehead) 40-37, S Finnie (Caledonian) 38-39 78 A J Smith (Turriff) 38-40, J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 42-36, B Mitchell (McDonald Ellon) 40-38, K Zeynalov (Portlethen) 36-42, M Harling (Inchmarlo) 38-40, M Lawrence (Newmachar) 40-38 79 C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 39-40, S McNeil (Inchmarlo) 37-42, D Forsyth (Newmachar) 40-39, Z Roger (Fraserburgh) 35-44, D Nelson (Aboyne) 39-40 80 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) 39-41, D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 37-43, A Gall (Deeside) 40-40, A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) 40-40, J Duncan (Newburgh) 40-40, L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 40-40, A Stuart (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 41-39 81 C Carnegie (Kemnay), S Mann (Nevada Bob) 40-41 82 D H Clark (Duff House Royal) 39-43, B Lumsden (Northern) 40-42, G  Milne (Newburgh) 42-40 83 K Watson (Deeside) 42-41, G Mitchell (Braemar) 38-45, J Borthwick (Craibstone) 43-40, P Murray (Kemnay) 40-43 84 M Winton (Caledonian) 85 F Bisset (Banchory), D Fleming (Portlethen). 86 G Homer (Northern), S Thomson (Caledonian), M Booth (Kemnay) 87 R Brown (Newburgh), M Smith (Inverurie), C Lawrie (Deeside) 89 D McKay (Caledonian), D Randall (Banchory) 91 T Littlechild (Peterculter), P Cornfield (Auchmill), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), D Lawrie (Northern), N K Parker (Murcar Links). 92 M Brown (Newburgh), S Dunn (Deeside), J Murray (Banchory) 94 P Cheyne (Northern), C Brindley (Banchory) 95 S Dillon (Kemnay) 96 D Bisset (Banchory) 97 D Wright (Northern), R Duncan (Royal Aberdeen) 103 P Leech (Oldmeldrum) No Returns: 22 HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS Class 1 - L Prouse (Hazlehead) (6), Z Roger (Fraserburgh) (8) 71; D Nelson (Aboyne) (7) 72; C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (6), B Nicolson (Auchmill) (1) 73. Class 2 - M Harling (Inchmarlo) (11) 67; B Lumsden (Northern) (14) 68; A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10) 70; M Winton (Auchmill) (13) 71; G Homer (Northern) (12) 74. FRASERBURGH PAR SCORECARD 70 OUT: 4-4-4-4-3-5-3-4-4 - 35    IN: 4-4-4-4-3-5-4-3-4: 35  TODAY'S TOP CARDS DAVID LAW - 68 OUT: 4-4-4-3-2-5-3-5-4 -34   IN: 4-3-5-4-2-4-4-3-5: 34   KRIS NICOL - 68 OUT: 4-3-3-4-3-5-3-4-4 - 33  IN: 4-4-4-3-3--5-4-4-4 - 35  LEE VANNET - 69 OUT: 4-4-4-4-3-4-3-4-2 - 32   IN: 4-4-4-4-3-6-5-3-4 - 37  GREIG HUTCHEON - 71 OUT: 4-4-4-5-2-4-2-6-4 - 35    IN: 4-4-4-4-3-5-4-2-6 - 36

THREE SCOTS IN QUALIFYING ZONE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Three Scots - George Murray, Gary Orr and Calum Macaulay - are within the top-25 qualifying zone with just one round to play in the 108-hole European Tour Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya in north-east Spain. Only the precise number of the leading 25 will earn playing rights on the European Tour with a play-off, if necessary, to eliminate those tieing for 25th place. Murray and Orr are sharing 18th place on six-under-par 350. Both matched the par of 72 over the Stadium Course (7,333yd) and are 11 shots behind the new leader by four, Englishman John Parry who shot a six-under 66 for 17-under 339. Macaulay had the lowest score of the remaining Scots. A three-under 69 for five-under 351 lifted him up to a share of 22nd place. But for Alastair Forsyth (354) and Andrew McArthur (358) it looks like mission impossible on the final day. At the moment, the projected cut-off point for winning players' cards is five-under-par 351. Forsyth had a 71 in the fifth round for 354 while McArthur's steady climb up the standings after a disastrous opening round of 80 came to a halt with a three-over 75 for 358. At two-over par his fate looks sealed. PARRY LEADS BY FOUR AT Q SCHOOL   NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS By NEIL AHERN European Tour Press Officer Englishman John Parry carded the joint-best round of the day, a six under par 66, to move into a four shot lead going into the final day of Qualifying School Final Stage and end Estanislao Goya’s four-day reign at the summit. As tensions rise ahead of the exciting finale in one of golf’s most gruelling contests, big moves into the all-important top 25 were at a premium, leaving it all to play for in the final round for many of the 73 European Tour hopefuls who made the cut.   Parry is well on course for a return to The Race to Dubai thanks in part to a superb run of three successive birdies from the 15th - including one of only two birdies all day at the difficult par four 17th - which moved him to 17 under par, well clear of Finn Mikko Korhonen, German amateur Moritz Lampert and England’s Matthew Southgate. “I have played better than that in the last couple of days to be honest,” said Parry. “I hit it quite poorly off the tee but I was decent for seven holes and I was just holing putt after putt. “I feel I have a lot less pressure now because for me to not get a card from this position would be horrific, so I almost feel my card is in the bag. I am playing well so I’m pretty relaxed for tomorrow.”   FIFTH ROUND TOTALS Leading 25 players at end of Round 6 will gain playing rights on European Tour Par 356 (3x72, 2x70) 339 J Parry (Eng) 71 71 64 67 66 343 M Korhonen (Fin) 74 62 66 71 70; M Southgate  (Eng) 72 70 65 68 68; M Lampert (am) (Ger) 70 67 65 71 70 344 M Lundberg (Swe) 68 68 65 73 70; A Sullivan (Eng) 71 67 65 69 72 345 A Snobeck  (Fra) 69 67 68 69 72; M Nixon (Eng) 68 72 67 68 70; B Åkesson (Swe) 70 72 66 67 70 346 R McEvoy  (Eng) 67 72 64 70 73 347 P Erofejeff (Fin) 72 67 66 73 69 348 E Goya (Arg) 64 71 64 73 76; E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 70 65 73 70; D Gaunt (Aus) 74 68 68 69 69; J Lagergren (Swe) 71 66 67 70 74; M Madsen  (Den) 78 66 64 70 70 349 M Delpodio  (Ita) 67 69 65 79 69 350 D Im (USA) 72 66 70 72 70; G Murray  (Sco) 66 71 70 71 72; O Floren  (Swe) 71 66 70 72 71; G Orr (Sco) 67 69 68 74 72 351 S Little (Eng) 70 68 67 77 69; C Macaulay  (Sco) 71 71 66 74 69; D Higgins (Irl) 73 64 68 74 72; C Del Moral (Esp) 70 71 68 72 70 PROJECTED CUT-OFF POINT FOR LEADING 25 AFTER ROUND SIX  352 B An (Kor) 69 72 66 75 70; L Jensen (Den) 70 74 65 74 69; M Sell  (Eng) 74 67 68 73 70; M Jonzon (Swe) 74 69 66 70 73; T Remkes (Ned) 71 72 68 69 72; J Lima  (Por) 76 67 64 74 71; J Timmis (Eng) 74 69 66 77 66; S Arnold  (Aus) 67 73 67 72 73 353 P Hedblom (Swe) 70 69 66 76 72; D Griffiths  (Eng) 67 72 70 75 69; A Levy (Fra) 68 72 71 67 75; O Wilson (Eng) 75 68 72 70 68 354 A Forsyth (Sco) 75 65 68 75 71; C Lloyd (Eng) 73 69 68 75 69; S Benson (Eng) 75 70 67 70 72; 355 M Glauert (Ger) 73 70 64 74 74; T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 69 71 71 74 70; A Marshall (Eng) 75 67 67 77 69; A Domingo (Esp) 70 70 69 72 74 356 C Brazillier  (Fra) 69 74 66 75 72; N Ravano (Ita) 74 70 69 72 71; G Boyd  (Eng) 76 70 73 67 70; J Huldahl (Den) 76 70 72 66 72; D Kemmer (USA) 79 66 74 66 71; S Dodd (Wal) 77 70 68 68 73 357 H Bacher (Aut) 74 68 66 75 74; O Bekker (RSA) 73 72 71 67 74; D Dixon (Eng) 72 74 73 66 72; J Ruth  (Eng) 70 71 69 76 71; T Haylock  (Eng) 74 72 71 68 72; J Barnes (Eng) 77 69 74 65 72 358 J Hugo  (RSA) 71 72 64 77 74; J Glennemo (Swe) 72 69 68 73 76; F Calmels  (Fra) 72 72 65 75 74; Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 69 68 74 73; A McArthur  (Sco) 80 67 71 65 75; M Brier (Aut) 71 69 73 70 75; S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 68 73 70 73 359 T Pilkadaris (Aus) 75 73 71 67 73; D Vancsik (Arg) 75 68 68 73 75; T Murray (Eng) 68 72 70 73 76; C Kim (USA) 73 66 69 77 74; R McGowan  (Eng) 77 71 70 66 75 360 S Kim (Kor) 78 67 77 63 75 362 W Besseling  (Ned) 69 73 70 72 78 363 J Howarth (Eng) 75 67 69 75 77; T Van Der Walt (RSA) 71 69 70 72 81 364 S Norris  (RSA) 68 72 71 73 80

LIVE SCORING FROM EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE IS RUNNING A TRACKER, LIVE SCORING SERVICE OVER THE LAST TWO ROUNDS OF THE FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL AT PGA CATALUNYA, NORTH-EAST SPAIN.
TO ACCESS IT

CLICK HERE

TOM DOAK TO LEAD PROTEST OVER R AND A CHANGES TO OLD COURSE

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER

A LEADING golf course architect is to petition the R and A in protest over proposed changes to 
the Old Course at St Andrews ahead of the 2015 Open Championship.
American Tom Doak, pictured, who said he was “horrified” to hear about the work planned for the historic venue over the next two winters, has written to four 
golf course and greenkeeping bodies around the world asking for them to support his bid 
to overturn the changes.
He described the Old Course as “an international treasure that should be guarded” and is disappointed that the R and A, having already played its part in stretching the course as much as possible in terms of adding new tees, has now turned its attention to bunkering and contours.
“I was horrified to read of the changes proposed to the Old Course at St Andrews,” said Doak in a letter he has sent to the presidents of the Australian, American and European societies of golf course architects as well as the Scottish regional administrator of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association.
Doak added:
“No longer content just to add back tees for championship play, the club (R and A) and its consulting architect, Martin Hawtree, have planned to move bunkers, add contouring around the greens, and soften slopes in other places prior to the next Open Championship. 
"I have felt for many years that the Old Course was sacred ground to golf architects, as it was to Old Tom Morris and C. B. Macdonald and Harry Colt and Alister MacKenzie before us.
“It has been untouched architecturally since 1920, and I believe that it should remain so. I understood this to be the feeling of many other architects who attended the World Forum on Golf Architecture in St Andrews, three years ago. I don’t believe it should be impossible to change the Old Course, or any other historic course.
"But I think it should be a lot harder than it currently is, where only the management of the club and any consulting architect they hire have to agree.
“I think that the default position should be that such an international treasure should be guarded, and that there should be a high burden of proof that changes need to be made, before they can be made.”
Doak, who designed the course at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian as well as several other courses around the world, added: “I propose to make a 
petition to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club expressing that, as a golf course architect, I feel that the Old Course is sacred ground and that architectural changes should not be made to it unless necessary for the maintenance and health of the course.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: The R and A, contrary to popular belief, does not own the Old Course. It belongs to and is administered by St Andrews Links Trust.

SCORES FROM THE GECKO PRO TOUR

SCORES FROM THE GECKO PRO TOUR IN SPAIN - THIS WEEK'S EVENT IS AT FINCA CORTESIN -

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GUNN'S PAR 72 HAS HIM DOWN THE FIELD IN ARIZONA

Jimmy Gunn from Dornoch's opening round of a par 72 was good enough only to earn him joint 44th place in a field of 117 at the end of the first day in this week's All-American Professional Golf Tour event at Papago golf course, Phoenix in Arizona.
Gunn starts the second day, seven shots behind the leader, Tom Glissmyer who has a one-shot lead from three players.

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