SCOTS TRIO SHARE THIRD PLACE AT VOLVO CHAMPIONS EVENTS

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR

COMMUNICATIONS
Despite wet and windy conditions on the opening day of the Volvo Golf Champions, the locals were entertained by some superb shot-making from two of their heroes, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen.
The Major-winning duo battled through the worst of the weather in Durban to post rounds of four-under-par 68, and so end the first day of the elite 33-man event in a tie for second place – three shots off the scorching pace set by the runaway leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
In contrast to Oosthuizen, who opened with a bogey, Els started like a train, notching three successive birdies before his charge was derailed by a card-wrecking double bogey at the par three fourth hole. 
But the reigning Open Champion remained unflustered, rallying with birdies at the seventh, ninth and tenth holes to make inroads into Jaidee’s lead.
A bogey at the tough 11th hole was no disgrace – his compatriot Darren Fichardt ran up an eight, and there were two sixes on a day when the Durban Country Club bared its teeth – and a closing birdie brought a smile to the face of the 43 year old, who was also amused by the prodigious length off the tee of his playing partner, Nicolas Colsaerts.
He said: “It was my first time, and I loved playing with him. I’ve played with Bubba [Watson] and [Dustin] Johnson, and these guys just bomb it 40 yards further than any of us. It’s quite exciting when they take their driver out. These guys hit it in places you’ve never seen before.”
Despite admitting to feeling rusty after the festive break, Oosthuizen found some form late in his round, as the 2010 Open Champion mixed seven birdies with three bogeys to join his friend and compatriot on four under par.
He said: “I started hitting the ball well the last few holes, but it was tough. I just wanted to find fairways and greens and give myself some opportunities, but that was easier said than done in those conditions.”
Jaidee dropped just one shot in a remarkable round which ended with his eighth birdie of the day on the 18th green.
The former paratrooper, who is making his first trip to South Africa, said: “I enjoy the course, because you have to think a lot. I hit the driver on only two holes, and put a three-iron in my bag only 15 minutes before we teed off. It was a good decision!”
Seven players share fourth place in the race for a first prize of €350,000. Scottish trio Paul Lawrie, Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson all shot 69, as did Dane Thomas Björn, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, England’s Danny Willett and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh.

 
SCOREBOARD

(All players are from South Africa unless otherwise specified):

Par 72. Yardage 6,732
65 Thongchai Jaidee THA

68 Louis Oosthuizen,  Ernie Els

69 Jamie Donaldson WAL, Richie Ramsay SCO, Thomas Bjorn DEN, Paul Lawrie SCO, Scott Jamieson SCO, Danny Willett ENG. Jeev Milkha Singh IND

70 Shane Lowry IRE, Padraig Harrington IRE, Francesco Molinari ITA, Robert Rock ENG

72 Michael Hoey N-IRE, Rafa Cabrera-Bello ESP, Colin Montgomerie SCO, Henrik Stenson SWE, Julien Quesne FRA, Retief Goosen

73 Nicolas Colsaerts BEL

74 Paul Casey ENG; Marcel Siem GER; José María Olazabal ESP

75 Thorbjørn Olesen DEN; Darren Clarke N-IRE; Matteo Manaserro ITA; Branden Grace; Jbe’ Kruger, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano ESP

76 Bernd Wiesberger AUS; Ricardo Santos POR

78 Darren Fichardt

TO CHECK OUT THE PLAYERS' SCORECARDS

CLICK HERE

KITTIROJ LEADS BY THREE AT ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL FIRST STATE

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Hua Hin, Thailand: Thailand’s Kittiroj Chantharothai continued his grip atop the leaderboard when he posted a three-under-par 69 to take the second-round lead at the Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section A today.

Kittiroj, who held the opening round lead at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, posted a two-day total of 10-under-par 134 to take a three-shot lead over compatriot Supravee Phatam who carded rounds of 69 and 68.

At the Royal Thai Army Sports Centre, Korea’s Jeong Dae-eok also maintained his position at the top when he signed for a 66. Japan’s Tomoharu Otsuki is a single shot back in second place after he matched his opening round score of 68.

Over at the Banyan Golf Club, Japan’s Hirohito Koizumi, who opened with a 73, made up grounds by firing a 66 to take over the lead which had been held by Sweden’s Thomas Pettersson.

Pettersson slipped to second place when he returned with a 73.

Due to the record number of entries which hit an all-time high of 761 players, the First Stage Section B will be played next week at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club to accommodate the additional players.

After four rounds, the top 15% players from each venue will qualify for the all-important Final Stage which will be held at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club from January 23 to 26.

The top-40 and ties from the Final Stage will earn their playing rights on the new 2013 Asian Tour season.

IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW SCOREBOARD

SCORE			COMPETITOR		ROUNDS
Pos.	Score	-Par+	Name	Nat.	R1	R2
1	134	-10	Kittiroj CHANTHAROTHAI	THA	65	69
2	137	-7	Supravee PHATAM	THA	69	68
3=	138	-6	LEE Jun-hak	KOR	67	71
3=	138	-6	James BOWEN	USA	69	69
5=	140	-4	Keishiro NAKATA	JPN	70	70
5=	140	-4	Elias BERTHEUSSEN	NOR	67	73
7=	141	-3	Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN	THA	68	73
7=	141	-3	Ryan David MCCARTHY	AUS	70	71
7=	141	-3	Richard LEE	CAN	71	70
10=	142	-2	LEE Jun-hyuk	KOR	68	74
10=	142	-2	Matt JAGER	AUS	73	69
10=	142	-2	Brad SMITH	AUS	71	71
10=	142	-2	Kazumi TAKAHASHI	JPN	69	73
14=	143	-1	Kouki KAWAKAMI	JPN	72	71
14=	143	-1	Quinton HOWE	AUS	68	75
14=	143	-1	Konosuke NAKAZATO	JPN	70	73
14=	143	-1	Andrew CURLEWIS	RSA	72	71
14=	143	-1	James MCMILLAN	AUS	71	72
14=	143	-1	Aadil JEHANGIR	PAK	75	68
14=	143	-1	Ryoma YAMAGATA	JPN	71	72
14=	143	-1	UH Hyun-gon	KOR	70	73
14=	143	-1	PARK Seong-je	KOR	72	71
14=	143	-1	Glenn JOYNER	AUS	74	69
24=	144	Par	Jochen LUPPRIAN	GER	73	71
24=	144	Par	Isao OHMOTO	KOR	73	71
24=	144	Par	Francois HAUGHTON	RSA	74	70
24=	144	Par	Senroku ISA	JPN	74	70
24=	144	Par	LEE Seung-yun	KOR	71	73
24=	144	Par	Masaaki KATO	JPN	72	72
30=	145	1	Danie-Van TONDER	RSA	74	71
30=	145	1	FAN CHIANG Hao Chuan	TPE	72	73
30=	145	1	Niall KEARNEY	IRL	74	71
30=	145	1	KIM Sang-ki	KOR	76	69
30=	145	1	Ryuji MIYAZAKI	JPN	71	74
30=	145	1	Andrew S. COOPER	AUS	72	73
30=	145	1	DO Eun-an	AUS	73	72
37=	146	2	CHUN Il-jin	CAN	73	73
37=	146	2	Worrasorn SUWANPANANG	THA	73	73
37=	146	2	Terence COUTINHO	POR	76	70
37=	146	2	Robert FISHER	USA	75	71
37=	146	2	Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON	THA	74	72
37=	146	2	Masao NAKAJIMA	JPN	73	73
37=	146	2	Shotaro NEDA	JPN	73	73
44=	147	3	Billot J. NICOLAS	FRA	73	74
44=	147	3	KIM Kook-Hyan	KOR	74	73
44=	147	3	Tatsuya MIYAKI	JPN	74	73
44=	147	3	Rafael LEE	CAN	75	72
44=	147	3	YOON Sejun	USA	71	76
44=	147	3	Akinori TANI	JPN	71	76
44=	147	3	Aaron HWANG	USA	72	75
51=	148	4	Paul BRYANT	AUS	76	72
51=	148	4	Yuta SAKAMAKI	JPN	81	67
51=	148	4	KO Dong-woo	CAN	73	75
51=	148	4	Steve PARRY	ENG	76	72
51=	148	4	Brandon RAVE	AUS	72	76
51=	148	4	Ryuichi KONDO	JPN	77	71
51=	148	4	ANG Chin Ling	SIN	74	74
51=	148	4	NAM Jae-sung	KOR	74	74
59=	149	5	Takeshi FUCHIGAMI	JPN	77	72
59=	149	5	CHAE Sung-duk	KOR	76	73
59=	149	5	Yoshihito KAWAI	JPN	72	77
59=	149	5	Edward REYES	PHI	75	74
59=	149	5	Jordan SHERRATT	AUS	75	74
59=	149	5	LEE Chin-chou	TPE	75	74
59=	149	5	Anders ENGELL	NOR	77	72
59=	149	5	Thanakorn JIROTTANASAN	THA	77	72
67=	150	6	Jani PERTTILA	FIN	77	73
67=	150	6	Jimmy Ko	HKG	73	77
67=	150	6	HO Hao-ching	TPE	74	76
67=	150	6	LEE Chieh-po	TPE	72	78
67=	150	6	Masashi MIYAZATO	JPN	78	72
67=	150	6	Dale WHITNELL	ENG	72	78
67=	150	6	Sebi GARCIA	ESP	73	77
67=	150	6	Lerd BHAKDIBUMI	THA	77	73
67=	150	6	Masatsugu FUJISHIMA	JPN	78	72
76=	151	7	Ross CANAVAN	ENG	77	74
76=	151	7	Justin K. YU	USA	72	79
76=	151	7	Larry PETRYK	CAN	76	75
76=	151	7	Kitdanai SUPHASIRISES	THA	77	74
76=	151	7	JUNG Joon-ki	KOR	75	76
76=	151	7	Narinrit TANTRAKUL	THA	77	74
	MISSED THE CUT
82=	152	8	Ethan SHANAHAN	AUS	76	76
82=	152	8	Jay CHOI	AUS	75	77
82=	152	8	Steven SHARP	ENG	76	76
82=	152	8	KWON Hyuk-koan	KOR	75	77
82=	152	8	Patrick SIMARD	ESP	75	77
82=	152	8	CHOI Jong-min	KOR	76	76
82=	152	8	Jack HARRISON	ENG	77	75
82=	152	8	Pinyo PIROMRUEN	THA	76	76
82=	152	8	Gary KNIGHT	USA	73	79
82=	152	8	Masataka MORI	JPN	74	78
82=	152	8	LEE Yun-tack	KOR	70	82
82=	152	8	LEE Ju-heon	KOR	74	78
94=	153	9	Rory BOURKE	AUS	78	75
94=	153	9	Yohei SHINNO	JPN	76	77
94=	153	9	PARK Eun-bi	KOR	77	76
94=	153	9	Eiji YAMASHITA	JPN	77	76
94=	153	9	KIM Jae-young	KOR	77	76
94=	153	9	Prasertsak PONGSAWALEESRI	THA	77	76
100=	154	10	Prin SOW	THA	75	79
100=	154	10	Hideya OKUDA	JPN	79	75
100=	154	10	KO Dong-jin	CAN	80	74
100=	154	10	Teruki TAKEUCHI	JPN	78	76
104=	155	11	CHEN Tsung Wei	TPE	79	76
104=	155	11	Sirapong MAITREEYEUNYONG	THA	77	78
106=	156	12	LEE Do-won	KOR	78	78
106=	156	12	CJ GATTO	USA	78	78
106=	156	12	PARK Yeong-hu	KOR	76	80
106=	156	12	Alan HUANG	TPE	75	81
106=	156	12	Sam HAJRI	TUN	80	76
106=	156	12	KIM Jae-woo	KOR	81	75
106=	156	12	Pongdej TEJAVIBULYA	THA	78	78
113=	157	13	LEE Jong-hwi	KOR	80	77
113=	157	13	Kazuki IMURA	JPN	78	79
113=	157	13	RYOO Dong-ho	KOR	75	82
116=	158	14	Bill KIM	KOR	81	77
116=	158	14	Bobby PARK	KOR	77	81
118=	159	15	Keisuke ITO	JPN	81	78
118=	159	15	Pree HIRUNWIWAT	THA	80	79
118=	159	15	Eakapat CHUARATANAPHONG	THA	78	81
121	160	16	Tazio OTSUKA	JPN	78	82
122	161	17	Shintaro MASAI	JPN	82	79
123=	162	18	Joseph SUAREZ	USA	84	78
123=	162	18	Jeffrey WANG	HKG	83	79
125	163	19	Konstantin LIU	GER	81	82
126=	164	20	Sandy MITCHELL	SCO	85	79
126=	164	20	JANG Yong-jun	KOR	81	83

BANYAN GOLF CLUB SCOREBOARD
Pos.    Score    -Par+    Name    Nat.    R1    R2

1    139    -5    Hirohito KOIZUMI    JPN    73    66
2    140    -4    Thomas PETERSSON    SWE    67    73
3    141    -3    James SHEFFIELD    ENG    72    69
4=    143    -1    Varan ISRABHAKDI    THA    71    72
4=    143    -1    Manuel QUIROS    ESP    72    71
6=    145    1    KWON Ki-taek    KOR    74    71
6=    145    1    MOON Tae-yang (1138)    KOR    72    73
8=    148    4    Shaun MALONE    ENG    75    73
8=    148    4    Hisho NAKAYAMA    JPN    73    75
10=    149    5    CHOI Gwang-taek    KOR    75    74
10=    149    5    Yoshikazu HAKU    JPN    75    74
10=    149    5    Katsuyoshi ARATANI    JPN    76    73
10=    149    5    Marcus WARENIUS    SWE    74    75
14    152    8    Tye ALEXANDER    USA    77    75
15    153    9    Miro VEIJALAINEN    FIN    77    76
16    155    11    Kenichi SAWADA    JPN    82    73
17=    156    12    Ryoya GOTO (A)    JPN    74    82
17=    156    12    Hiroaki NEGORO    JPN    79    77
17=    156    12    MOON Tae-yang (4944)    KOR    79    77
MISSED THE CUT                    
20=    160    16    Timothy GALVAN    USA    84    76
20=    160    16    Nathan PARK    AUS    79    81
22    162    18    Panu KYLLIANEN    FIN    80    82
23    163    19    Michael PEARCE (A)    AUS    88    75
24=    165    21    Andrew SCAIFE    ENG    80    85
24=    165    21    LEE Do-hyun    KOR    76    89
26    166    22    Kyohgo YOSHINAKA    JPN    87    79
27    171    27    Rick HANSEN (A)    AUS    87    84
28    Withdrew -    Simon FORSSTROM    SWE    81    wd

ROYAL THAI SCOREBOARD
 

SCORE			COMPETITOR		ROUNDS
Pos.	Score	-Par+	Name	Nat.	R1	R2
1	135	-9	JEONG Dae Eok	KOR	66	69
2	136	-8	Tomoharu OTSUKI	JPN	68	68
3=	137	-7	Merrick BREMNER	RSA	69	68
3=	137	-7	PARK Ji-woon	KOR	72	65
5=	139	-5	Christiaan BASSON	RSA	69	70
5=	139	-5	Borworn CHAISRI	THA	71	68
5=	139	-5	Sam BRAZEL	AUS	69	70
5=	139	-5	Pariwat PINSAWAT	THA	72	67
9	140	-4	Tepphatud SANAWONG	THA	71	69
10=	141	-3	Ryuzo SAKASHITA	JPN	71	70
10=	141	-3	Phiphatphong NAEOSUK	THA	67	74
10=	141	-3	Yoshinobu TSUKADA	JPN	67	74
10=	141	-3	Vincent JOHNSON	USA	70	71
10=	141	-3	Jacques BLAAUW	RSA	68	73
10=	141	-3	Naoto NAKANISHI	JPN	71	70
16=	142	-2	KIM Hyung Jun	KOR	74	68
16=	142	-2	Putter NAVISTHRIRA	THA	71	71
16=	142	-2	Masashi NAKAMURA	JPN	72	70
16=	142	-2	Josh ANDERSON	USA	69	73
20=	143	-1	Masaru TAKAHASHI	JPN	74	69
20=	143	-1	Ross WELLINGTON	RSA	70	73
20=	143	-1	Shinji YOSHIHARA	JPN	73	70
20=	143	-1	Steven JEPPESEN	SWE	69	74
20=	143	-1	Shinji TOMIMURA	JPN	72	71
20=	143	-1	Masaki SAKATA	JPN	71	72
20=	143	-1	Eric CHUN	KOR	71	72
27=	144	Par	JUNG Taek Lim	KOR	69	75
27=	144	Par	Sebastian Garcia RODRIGUEZ	ESP	69	75
27=	144	Par	Yuichiro NISHI	JPN	73	71
27=	144	Par	PARK Joung Whan	KOR	71	73
27=	144	Par	PARK Gil-Yong	AUS	74	70
27=	144	Par	Daniel BRUNSON	USA	74	70
27=	144	Par	Kyohei TAKAHASHI	JPN	70	74
27=	144	Par	Brett MUNSON	USA	70	74
35=	145	1	Jocke RASK	SWE	73	72
35=	145	1	Motonari NAKAGAWA	JPN	71	74
35=	145	1	Chris HARTAS	AUS	71	74
35=	145	1	Hirotaka IWASE	JPN	73	72
35=	145	1	Robert DINWIDDIE	ENG	71	74
35=	145	1	Sam CHIEN	USA	72	73
35=	145	1	Chirat JIRASUWAN	THA	74	71
35=	145	1	Pierre CARLSSON	SWE	73	72
35=	145	1	Teemu PUTKONEN	FIN	70	75
44=	146	2	Liam LOGAN	USA	72	74
44=	146	2	Yuichi YAMAZAKI	JPN	72	74
44=	146	2	Adam SHAW	MAS	72	74
44=	146	2	Simon VITAKANGAS	AUS	69	77
44=	146	2	Takashi YOKOYAMA	JPN	76	70
49=	147	3	KIM Seong-keun	KOR	70	77
49=	147	3	Purilarp EUAMMONGKOL	THA	76	71
49=	147	3	Katsuhiro SARUTA	JPN	72	75
49=	147	3	Jake SHEPHERD	ENG	73	74
49=	147	3	Yoshimasa TOYA	JPN	75	72
49=	147	3	Joe MONTE	USA	76	71
49=	147	3	Derek MCKENZIE	SCO	73	74
49=	147	3	Grant LEWIS	AUS	72	75
49=	147	3	Prin SIRISOMMAI	THA	73	74
58=	148	4	Matthew GARCIA	USA	74	74
58=	148	4	Yosuke TSUKADA	JPN	73	75
58=	148	4	PARK Chan-kyu	KOR	74	74
58=	148	4	PARK Sung-Pil	KOR	75	73
58=	148	4	Philip MATSSON	THA	72	76
58=	148	4	Glenn DE LEON	PHI	76	72
64=	149	5	Matthew TWEDDELL	ENG	72	77
64=	149	5	PARK Ju Yong	KOR	79	70
64=	149	5	Neville HOGAN	AUS	74	75
64=	149	5	LEE Dong-hyuk	KOR	74	75
64=	149	5	Antti AHOKAS	FIN	75	74
69=	150	6	Wutthipong SEEHAPUNT	THA	75	75
69=	150	6	KIM Hyung Cheol	KOR	75	75
69=	150	6	KIM Woo Hyun	KOR	73	77
69=	150	6	LEE Jae-hyeok	KOR	75	75
69=	150	6	Clement RAMCAUX	FRA	74	76
69=	150	6	Tetsurou RYU	JPN	78	72
69=	150	6	Takuji OOSAKO	JPN	78	72
69=	150	6	KIM Jin-Kyung	KOR	75	75
69=	150	6	Toru NIIDOME	JPN	74	76
78=	151	7	Yuzo ICHIKAWA	JPN	77	74
78=	151	7	Tsubasa YAMAZAKI	JPN	74	77
78=	151	7	Sean MCNAMARA	USA	72	79
78=	151	7	Masato WATANABE	JPN	74	77
78=	151	7	SEO Bum Yong	KOR	76	75
	MISSED THE CUT
83=	152	8	Ryo NARIMATSU	JPN	75	77
83=	152	8	Joe FEATHER	ENG	76	76
83=	152	8	Gary John GILLIGAN	ENG	73	79
83=	152	8	Michael Harradine	SUI	74	78
87=	153	9	Takuya SAITO	JPN	75	78
87=	153	9	James HOUSBY	ENG	72	81
87=	153	9	Tomoyo IKEMURA	JPN	74	79
87=	153	9	Takashi HATAE	JPN	75	78
91=	154	10	Peter KAENSCHE	NOR	75	79
91=	154	10	Yoshihiro KEBUKAWA	JPN	74	80
91=	154	10	Dan SUZUKI	JPN	76	78
91=	154	10	Ken SUGIYAMA	JPN	74	80
91=	154	10	Atthachai JAICHALAD	THA	76	78
91=	154	10	HWANG Hyun Seung	KOR	75	79
91=	154	10	Tokimatsu RYUKOU	JPN	76	78
98=	155	11	Kotaro MIYASHITA	JPN	75	80
98=	155	11	Takao SUGAMA	JPN	78	77
98=	155	11	Yukio GODA	JPN	76	79
101=	156	12	Yoji OKUMA	JPN	75	81
101=	156	12	Jet MATHAY	PHI	78	78
103=	157	13	Fin BULLOUGH	SCO	80	77
103=	157	13	Fumihiro KANAMORI	JPN	75	82
103=	157	13	Shinya INOUE	JPN	78	79
106=	158	14	Keita YASUO	JPN	79	79
106=	158	14	Yoshitake SATO	JPN	76	82
108=	159	15	Lion GOH	MAS	81	78
108=	159	15	Yutaro OSANAI	JPN	76	83
108=	159	15	Peter INBARAJ	IND	77	82
111=	160	16	Tadaaki MASUDA	JPN	82	78
111=	160	16	Yuki MITSUYOSHI	JPN	81	79
113	161	17	Takayuki KATSUMATA	JPN	79	82
114=	163	19	Michael PEAD	AUS	83	80
114=	163	19	KIM Hag Sun	KOR	78	85
116=	164	20	CHOI Ho Jae	KOR	85	79
116=	164	20	HO Ka Lok	HKG	80	84
118	165	21	Quino BATERNA	PHI	82	83
119	166	22	Kei KUBO	JPN	82	84
120	167	23	Mike BOSCH	CAN	81	86
121	168	24	Tom HAYWARD	ENG	84	84
122	169	25	Mervin KWAN	CAN	82	87
123	170	26	Andreas ADLER	SWE	83	87
124	172	28	Yoshiki MOROOKA	JPN	90	82
125	178	34	Tsubasa ONODERA	JPN	90	88
126	184	40	June PARK	KOR	92	92
127=	RTD	-	Faiz DAMIT	BRU	RTD	RTD
127=	RTD	-	AN Hong Ki	KOR	RTD	RTD
127=	RTD	-	Harukiyo YAMAJI	JPN	80	RTD
127=	RTD	-	Grant DOVERSPIKE	USA	66	RTD
127=	RTD	-	KIM Sang Hyo	KOR	RTD	RTD
132	DSQ	-	Peter YUM	USA	81	DSQ