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PAUL LAWRIE FALLS OUT OF LEAD IN SOUTH AFRICA

Paul Lawrie tumbled out of the lead in the Nedbank Challenge at Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa with a rash of bogeys on the outward half of his third round.
The Aberdonian bogeyed the first, third, fifth and eighth before he got his first birdie of the afternoon at the long ninth. He collected another at the 11th but dropped a shot at the 13th and could only par in from there for halves of 39 and 36 and a round of three-over-par 75.
Lawrie is now in sixth place on one-under-par 215, four shots behind Germany's Martin Kaymer who had a 70 for five-under 11 to lead by one from South African Louis Oosthuizen.
Bernard Langer won the Champions (Seniors) event which ended after three rounds.

SCOREBOARDS
NEDBANK CHALLENGE
Par 216 (3x72)
211 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 72 69 70
212 Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 71 72 69
213 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 72 71 70
214 Lee Westwood (England) 71 73 70, Bill Haas (United States) 70 73 71
215 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 71 69 75
218 Peter Hanson (Sweden) 72 73 73
221 Justin Rose (England) 73 79 69, Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 72 75 74, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 72 71 78, Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 70 78  74
223 Garth Mulroy (South Africa) 75 78 75      

SENIORS CHALLENGE FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)  
209 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 68 67 74
211 Jay Haas (United States) 71 68 72
214 Ian Woosnam (Wales) 73 69 72
217 Jeff Sluman (United States) 74 70 73
223 Sandy Lyle (Scotland) 74 72 77
224 Tom Watson (United States) 74 75 75
225 Mark Calcavecchia (United States) 71 69 85    
227 Fred Funk (United States) 76 77 74 

MARDAN LEADS BY ONE IN KING'S CUP IN THAILAND

PRESS RELEASE

Khon Kaen, Thailand:  Singapore’s Mardan Mamat kept Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant at bay when he birdied his last hole to take the outright third round lead with a six-under-par 66 for a 16-under 54-hole tally of 200 at the US$500,000 King’s Cup on Saturday.

Thaworn, a 15-time Asian Tour winner, signalled his intent of capturing his second Order of Merit crown by storming home with four birdies in his closing five holes to stay one back of Mardan with his three-day total of 16-under-par 200 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.

Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavadikul remained on course for his second Asian Tour win when he returned with a 66 to take third place while Spanish rookie Javi Colomo signed for a 65 to share fourth place with Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij, Piya Swangarunporn and defending champion Udorn Duangdecha on 202

It was the battle of the 45-year-olds as Mardan and Thaworn hogged the limelight at the King’s Cup which is the third last event of the 2012 Asian Tour Schedule.

Mardan knew that he had to remain calm after he could only manage to make the turn in one-under.

Two birdies on the 10^th and 11^th holes soon restored that much-needed confidence for Singapore’s number one golfer who then went on to birdie three of his last four holes.

“I tried to be patient in my front-nine and then I started off well with two birdies in my back-nine. That gave me lots of confidence,” said Mardan.

The Singaporean is well aware of Thaworn’s title credentials and is pleased he will head into the final round holding a slender one-shot advantage.

“I saw Thaworn who was 15-under, going into the last hole and when I heard the roars from the galleries on the 18^th, I knew he made a birdie there to go to 16-under,” said Mardan.

“It was a good round for him. It’s going to be tough to beat this old guy here. So if you can get a one-stroke advantage, you got to take it because he can shoot a low number anytime,” added Mardan.

Trailing overnight leader Supakorn Utaipat of Thailand by four shots, Thaworn showed that he can never be written off as he continued his charge for his fourth Asian Tour win this season as well as the Order of Merit title which he first won in 2005.

Starting the round in tied-11^th place, Thaworn made his move with birdies on holes two, four and eight to turn in 33.

He birdied the 10^th before dropping his lone bogey on the 13^th. After making a par on the 14^th, Thaworn then stormed home with four birdies.

“It will be a close fight till the end but I’m feeling confident. I’ve been in this position many times and I know how to handle the pressure,” said Thaworn.

“Today was the best I’ve played so far this week and so long as I believe in myself, I can win again,” added the Thai veteran.

Meanwhile Colomo is also determined to end his week with a flourish after carding rounds of 65, 72 and 65.

“I’m feeling positive about tomorrow and will fight for a victory. I’ve been playing really well the last three days. Only yesterday, I didn’t have much luck on the greens. But today, I hit many good shots to the flag and managed to make several long birdie putts,” said Colomo.

Colomo is also delighted with how his debut season is turning out especially after enjoying three top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour this season.

“Players usually want more and more but as for myself, it has been a fantastic season for me. The standards are very high on the Tour with many good players and to have such good results in my first year is simply fantastic,” said the 28-year-old Spaniard.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Yardage 7,418
199 Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 63-70-66.

200 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-66-65.

201 Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 66-69-66.

202 Javi COLOMO (ESP) 65-72-65, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 65-70-67, Piya SWANGARUNPORN (THA) 70-65-67, Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA) 65-68-69.

203 Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 67-68-68, Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 71-63-69, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 66-68-69.

204 Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-66-68, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 65-69-70, Elmer SALVADOR (PHI) 68-66-70.

 

Selected scores

205 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 67-69-69, Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 67-67-71
212 James Byrne (Sco) 70 69 73 (T49)
215 Ross Bain (Sco) 70 70 75 (66th) 

 

BYRNE, BAIN FALL BACK IN THAILAND

Scots James Byrne and Ross Bain lost ground on the leaders in the third round of the Asian Tour's King's Cup golf tournament at Singha Park Golf Club, Khon Kaen in Thailand today.
Banchory's Byrne is lying joint 49th on four-under 212 after rounds of 70, 69 and 73.
The former Walker Cup player had a double bogey 7 at the long 11th and a bogey 5 at the next hole but he perked u near the finish to birtdie the 16th and long 18th.
Middle East-based Bain is 66th on 215 with scores of 70, 70 and 75.
Bain had two birdies (third and long 11th) and a bogey (eighth) before he finished weakly with bogeys at the 13th, 17th and 18th. 

CHINA LEADS ASIA-PACITIC 7-5 IN NISSAN CUP

SHENZHEN, China - Team China stayed ahead of an Asia-Pacific select side in the second edition of their Ryder Cup-style Dongfeng Nissan Cup match on Saturday after sharing the honours in the foursomes round at the CTS Tycoon Club in Shenzhen.

China lead 7-5 going into Sunday's final round of 12 singles matches, having won Friday's four-ball round 4-2 and drawm Saturday's foursomes 3-3.

The Asia-Pacific side triumphed 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 on a gripping final day of singles in the inaugural OneAsia event last year after the teams were level 3 - 3 following the fourball matches and 6 - 6 following the foursomes.

"It could have been much better," said Asia-Pacific team captain Peter Thomson, the legendary five-time Open Championship winner and the first Australian to be elected to world Golf's Hall of Fame.

"At least we didn't lose any ground, and there is a lot to play for tomorrow. It should be a great day."

All square at the turn against China's Jin Daxing and Ouyang Zheng, Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung won five of the next six holes -- including four birdies -- to win 5 and 3 and guarantee the Asia-Pacific's first point of the day.

The visitors led in all six matches at one point, but unforced errors rather than a Team China fightback allowed the home team to get some red on the scoreboard.

Rory Hie and Choo Tze Huang were the worst culprits. Three up at 12, they were beaten by one hole by China's Zhang Lianwei and Yuan Hao after scoring two double bogeys and a bogey in the home stretch.

Andre Stolz and Michael Long will also be looking to make amends in Sunday's singles. After leading by two at the eighth, they lost seven in-a-row to Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun to go down 5 and 3. 

"I never thought our players could come back," said China vice-captain Cheng Jun. "After the first nine holes all the live scores were blue -- but they did it."

The members of Team China represent a modern history of the sport in the world's most populous country.

Evergreen Zhang Lianwei, 47, the oldest player in the tournament, is considered the father of professional golf in China and the inspiration for team-mate Liang Wenchong, a four-time winner on OneAsia, who was playing three groups behind him.

Liang partnered 14-year-old amateur sensation Guan Tianlang -- who next year will be the youngest ever player to take part in the Masters -- to a 4 and 2 victory over the Japanese pair of Yosuke Tsukade and Soushi Tajima.

"Langlang played very well today," said Liang, calling his teenage partner by his nickname. 

"Maybe he struggles with distance, but he is a mature player and his short game is so good. I just told him 'play your own game, don't care about anything'."

The South Korean pair of Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho were never behind in their match against China's Yuan Tian and Han Ren before prevailing by one hole. 

Asia-Pacific vice-captain Scott Laycock, who partnered Mark Brown to a 3 and 2 victory against Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu, said he expected a close result.

"None of us like to lose -- I hate losing -- and this is the message we will be thinking about tonight," he said.

"It isn't over by a long shot."

 

  SCOREBOARD

|

CHINA leads ASIA-PACIFIC 7-5

Foursomes 

China 3, Asia-Pacific 3

Team China names first 

Zhang Lianwei and Yuan Hao bt Rory Hie and  Choo Tze Huang 1 hole.

Jin Daxing and Ouyang Zheng lost to Wisut Artjanawat and Nicholas Fung 5 and 3

Liang Wenchong and Guan Tianlang bt Soushi Tajima and Yosuke Tsukada 4 and 2

Yuan Tian and Han Ren lost to Jason Kang and Choi Jin-ho 1 hole.

Wu Weihuang and Zhou Guowu lost to Scott Laycock and Mark Brown 3 and 2

Zhang Xinjun and Wu Kangchun bt Michael Long and Andre Stolz 5 and 3

 

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ROSS FISHER IS NOT DOING TOO BADLY!

TIRED BUT HAPPY, GRAEME McDOWELL LEADS BY THREE IN CALIFORNIA

FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE
By JASON SOBEL 


THOUSAND OAKS, California – Graeme McDowell has the weary, weathered look of a marathoner sweating his way into Mile 26. Or a prizefighter trying to avoid a standing eight count in the 12^th round. Or a triathlete stumbling off his bike and starting to pound the pavement.
You get the picture. The dude is wiped out.
McDowell’s itinerary the past five weeks could’ve racked up enough frequent flier miles to buy a yacht. He started in Shanghai, then traveled to Shenzhen, Melbourne and Dubai before finally landing in Greater Los Angeles this week.
Forget jet lag. He doesn’t even know what day it is.
And so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that with two rounds left in his 2012 season, McDowell is most looking forward to an upcoming 10-week vacation during which he insists his major goal is to “try and stay out of the bar as much as possible” before admitting that he’ll be “working on my 12-ounce curls.”
What is surprising is that despite such exhaustion, he currently owns a three-stroke lead entering the final 36 holes at the World Challenge following a second-round 6-under 66.
“I would love to compete and play well this weekend, really to kind of put a little icing on what's been a mediocre year,” said McDowell, who’s seen his world ranking drop from 13^th at the beginning of the year to 24^th right now.
 “Despite the fact that I feel like I've played some decent golf this year, I really don't have a lot to show for myself, and this would be a nice way to finish. Putting no pressure on myself, like I say.”
If there’s ever an event where pressure goes to die, it’s this one, which features an 18-man field and last-place pay-out of $120,000. If there’s ever a time when pressure isn’t a factor, it’s right before a 10-week vacation, which for McDowell gives this tourney a feel of last day of school before summer break.
Pint-sized jokes aside, he is looking forward to life after Sunday. For a professional golfer who plies his craft on two separate major tours, time away from the game is a precious commodity.
“These next 10 weeks are going to be very important to me to recharge and refocus and reset,” continued McDowell, who will next tee it up at the Northern Trust Open in February. 
“I know I'm in a good place, both on and off the course from where I'm going, and I feel very positive about next season, regardless of what happens this weekend – but it would be nice to play well.”
Mission accomplished so far.
On Friday, McDowell opened with three consecutive birdies then added four more on the back nine to open up an impressive lead. It may be the best golf he’s played in this long stretch, a string of appearances that includes finishes of T-8, T-11, T-42 and T-52.
It wouldn’t be the first time he used this tournament as a springboard to bigger and better things. Three years ago, McDowell’s name was pulled off the alternate list and added to the field. 
He finished in second place, which qualified him for the 2010 U.S. Open, a tournament he won in a delicious display of the domino effect. 
Just for good measure, he concluded a career year by winning here at season’s end, sinking lengthy putts on the final hole of regulation and first playoff hole to defeat Tiger Woods.
Since then, McDowell has played very good golf at times, but not good enough to again find the winner’s circle, something he’d like to change come Sunday.
“It's an 18-man field here and it's not like beating 156 guys, but there's 18 pretty good players here,” he said. “This event has always got good memories for me. Like I say, I have a very relaxed approach to this week generally. I've really enjoyed my last couple days of golf. But let's be honest, I love to win. Winning is difficult.”
It’s even more difficult coming off a whirlwind, worldwide tour and with one eye – if not both – already peeking ahead to a lengthy respite.
“It's been a long three years, four years for me, and I'm looking forward to some time off,” he said. “Ten weeks off will be interesting. We'll see.”
We’ll also see whether he can prepare for those upcoming 12-ounce curls by hoisting a trophy come Sunday afternoon.
EDITOR'S NOTE: What's a "12-ounce curl?"

ANSWER from Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen):
"It's the act of lifting a bottle of lager to the mouth. It's what these crazy kids use instead of saying they are going drinking!" 
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device


SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,023
Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks,
California
Graeme McDowell 69-66-135Bo Van Pelt 70-68-138
Jim Furyk 69-69-138
Keegan Bradley 69-69-138
Tiger Woods 70-69-139
Rickie Fowler 73-67-140
Nick Watney 67-73-140
Jason Dufner 73-68-141
Dustin Johnson 74-68-142
Matt Kuchar 73-69-142
Brandt Snedeker 75-68-143
Webb Simpson 70-73-143
Zach Johnson 74-70-144
Steve Stricker 73-71-144
Hunter Mahan 71-73-144
Ian Poulter 73-72-145
Bubba Watson 71-74-145
Jason Day 71-75-146
 

AMATEUR O'REILLY LEADS NSW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
Pennant Hills Golf Club amateur Callan O’Reilly has today upstaged his more experienced rivals at Mt Broughton Golf and Country Club to lead the NSW PGA Championship into the final round.
O’Reilly, who gained a spot in this week’s PGA Tour of Australasia field after pre-qualifying at Highlands Golf Club on Monday, shot a near flawless third round of 6-under 66 to take a one shot lead into the final day.
He leads rookie professionals Matthew Stieger (-11) and Daniel Nisbett (-9), while New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (71) sits in fourth position alongside Sweden’s Thomas Petersson (73) and Adam Stephens (71) at 8-under par.
Having previously played two NSW Opens, this week’s tournament is only O’Reilly’s third PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.
However with a spot in next week’s Emirates Australian Open and the successive Australian PGA Championship awaiting the victor, the 22-year-old says he’s hoping to focus on the job at hand, and hopefully follow in the footsteps of last week’s BMW NZ Open amateur winner, Jake Higginbottom.
“Jake’s a great player and I’ve played a lot of golf with him. Seeing a guy like him go out and win like that makes you think ‘why can’t I?’” said an ecstatic O’Reilly, trying not to think too much about what’s at stake.
“I think I’ll just go home and calm down a bit and try not to think about it. But with some of the players that are coming out to play next week – it would be absolutely unreal to get a start,”
Originally from Toronto, O’Reilly had his first look at the Mt Broughton course on Tuesday and has signed for rounds of 71, 67 and 66.
Having won the 2012 Avondale Amateur and contested the British Amateur, he says his focus this year has been solely on gaining experience.
“At the start of the year the first goal was to make the state team and the inter-state series, but since then it’s just been about trying to get to the next step, which is National Team level. Obviously it’s a long way to go to there, but you’ve got to set a goal.”
Overnight Round 2 leader Matthew Stieger rallied from a slow start through his front nine, to finish in second one shot behind O’Reilly.
Intending to pre-qualify for next week’s Emirates Australian Open, Stieger kept his hopes for an automatic start in his national title alive through his back nine, two birdies on 16 and 18 keeping him in touch.
In third position Daniel Nisbet struggled for consistency today, the 22 year old's round made up of two eagles, five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Finishing with a round of 4-under 68, the 2012 US Players Amateur Champion, sits only three back from O’Reilly.

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