Wednesday, January 23, 2013

SNOWBALLING PUTS OLIVER WILSON OUT OF GAME FOR SIX WEEKS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
The latest in a long line of bizarre injuries to professional golfers was revealed when England's Oliver Wilson tweeted that he would be out of the game for six weeks following a snowballing incident.
Wilson was meant to be on a plane to Dubai this week, but a bizarre injury to his wrist after slipping to avoid a "deadly snowball" put paid to that.
"Did it avoiding a deadly snowball, slipped in the snow. If I'd known I'd get injured at home, might as well have gone skiing!" tweeted Wilson.
It left him with a broken wrist and six weeks on the sidelines.
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Spanish golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez broke a leg in a ski-ing accident recently and is expected to be out for at least five months. The 48 year–old, who became the oldest winner in European Tour history when he won in Hong Kong in December, was in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalucia in southern Spain on when he broke his right leg in a fall. 
"I lost control and fell," Jiménez said. "I felt a huge stab of pain and I knew straightaway I had broken something."
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Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell suffered a freak injury in December when he caught his right hand in a Chinese hotel door. He blamed it on sleep walking, revealing: “I woke up out of this dream, standing in a hotel-room door, in my boxer shorts, and three seconds later I had the most searing pain in my right hand. I have no idea what happened.”
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Thomas Levet pulled out of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January after falling and breaking a rib at the Volvo Champions event. Six months earlier the Frenchman broke his shin jumping into a lake to celebrate winning a French Open.
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Another Frenchman, François Calmels, a Challenge Tour player, badly cut four fingers last April when he attempted to snap his dog's leash as the animal rushed out of a lift with the doors closing behind it.
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Lucas Glover, a former US Open winner, was forced to pull out of the season-opening Tournament of Champions in 2012 after suffering a sprained kneed while paddle-boarding in the ocean. Glover sprained his right knee. 
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And just to complete the snow-led injuries to top golfers, Paul Casey dislocated his right shoulder snow-boarding in Colorado last January and was sidelined for two months.

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GOT ANY OLD PHOTOGRAPHS OF STONEHAVEN GOLF CLUB?

FROM STEVE WINSTANLEY
I am trying to get hold of any old photographs of Stonehaven Golf Club to display either in the clubhouse or on the web site to celebrate its 125th year this February. 

If you have any or know somebody who has, please get in touch. 

Steve Winstanley
Senior convener
Stonehaven golf club

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SPANISH GECKO TOUR SCOREBOARD AT MARBELLA

Check out the scores in the Spanish Gecko Tour event which teed off today at the Marbella Club Golf Resort on the Costa del Sol.

CLICK HERE

END OF FIRST DAY SCOREBOARD
(event over 36 holes)
Par 72
68 Gabriel Canizares
69 Joakim Lagergren
70 Andrew Cooley
71 Joey Lamb (am)
72 Luke Johnson (am), Carlos Rodrigues

SELECTED SCORES
76 Callum Trahan (Scotland) (T13)
81 Stuart Ballingall (Scotland) (T24)

Starting field of 43 players     

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SANTOS SETS PACE WITH 65 IN QATAR MASTERS

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Portugal’s Ricardo Santos outshone the star names in the first round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters with a superb seven-under-par 65 today.


The 2012 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year leads by one at Doha Golf Club from Frenchman Alex Kaleka, Englishman Anthony Wall and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford, while Simon Khan, the 2010 BMW PGA Champion, is one of six players a further shot back at five under.


World Number Four Justin Rose opened with a four under par 68, which was matched by playing partner Martin Kaymer. The third player in that group, World

Number Five Louis Oosthuizen, signed for a 71 after a double bogey at the final hole.

Santos, however, finished birdie-birdie to sit top of the pile at the end of a calm, warm day in Doha.
“I just played really well, especially my short game,” said Santos, who became Portugal’s first home winner on The European Tour when he claimed the 2012 Madeira Islands Open – Portugal. “My short game today was really amazing, especially the putts.


“It's really important for me and for Portugal as well. We need to welcome more players and I think was really important to play my first season on the main

Tour (in 2012) and win a tournament, especially in your home country.”

Rose’s day would have been better had it not been for a one-shot penalty on the 17th green, applied for his ball moving after he had grounded his putter.


“Unfortunately I was on the wrong end of it, but that's the good thing about golf, you sort of self-police out there and nobody else saw it in the group,” said the Englishman. “I knew that the ball had moved when I had addressed it.”

  FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
  Par 72
65 R Santos  (Por)

66 A Kaleka  (Fra), P Whiteford (Sco), A Wall (Eng)

67 A Sullivan (Eng), B Rumford (Aus), M Wiegele  (Aut), G Lockerbie  (Eng), S Khan (Eng), C Wood  (Eng)

68 A Hansen (Den), P Hanson (Swe), M Kaymer (Ger), M Campbell (Nzl), J Rose (Eng); M Fraser (Aus), D Horsey (Eng), T Olesen (Den), L Gagli  (Ita), V Dubuisson  (Fra), A Hartø (Den), D McGrane (Ire), R Green (Aus)

69 D Howell (Eng), S Webster (Eng), M Warren (Sco), R Gonzalez (Arg), G Coetzee (RSA), M Manassero (Ita), J Sjöholm (Swe), S Garcia  (Esp), G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp); S Henry  (Sco), G Mulroy (RSA), F Aguilar (Chi)

70 F Zanotti (Par), T Lewis (Eng), H Stenson (Swe), B Grace (RSA), J Kruger (RSA), B Wiesberger  (Aut), G Havret  (Fra), P Casey (Eng), M Hoey  (NIr), L Slattery (Eng), S Chowrasia (Ind), T Jaidee (Tha)

71 C Lloyd (Eng); J Gonnet  (Fra); G Bourdy (Fra); R Cabrera-Bello (Esp); T Aiken (RSA); S Dyson  (Eng); E Molinari  (Ita); P Meesawat  (Tha); M Foster (Eng); A Noren  (Swe); M Ilonen  (Fin); R Bland (Eng); C Cévaër (Fra); D Fichardt (RSA); T Levet (Fra); E Goya (Arg); O Fisher  (Eng); R Derksen (Ned); S Wakefield (Eng); I Garrido (Esp); L Oosthuizen  (RSA); J Dufner (USA)

72 J Parry (Eng); S Kjeldsen (Den); M Lafeber (Ned); E Kofstad (Nor); C Doak (Sco); C Lee (Sco); A Cañizares  (Esp); T Fleetwood  (Eng); H Otto (RSA); K Horne (RSA); J Walters (RSA); R Wattel  (Fra); T Björn (Den); D Drysdale (Sco); J Edfors (Swe); S Gallacher (Sco); E Els (RSA); P Lawrie (Sco); G Maybin (Nir); J Lara (Esp); J Singh (Ind); M Lundberg (Swe); P Lawrie (Irl); C Montgomerie  (Sco); M Siem  (Ger); M Williams (am) (Eng)

73 P Price (Wal); N Fasth (Swe); P Waring  (Eng); M Baldwin (Eng), J Hansen  (Den); A Tadini (Ita); A Dodt (Aus); G Storm  (Eng); T Hamilton (USA); K Broberg (Swe); R Jacquelin (Fra); P McGinley (Irl)

74 R Goosen (RSA); R Finch  (Eng); R Coles (Eng); J Campillo (Esp); S Jamieson  (Sco); P Erofejeff (Fin)

75 F Andersson Hed (Swe); P Larrazábal (Esp); C Paisley  (Eng); M Kieffer (Ger); D Foos (am) (Ger)

76 M Lampert (Ger); G Al Kuwari (am) (Qat)

77 J Busby (Eng); J Olazábal (Esp); E Grillo (Arg)

78 E Pepperell (Eng)

81 S Al Kaabi (am) (Qat)

83 J Thornton (Eng)

 

 

 

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CRAIBSTONE RE-ADMITTED TO ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE



ABERDEEN

PENNANT

 LEAGUE


(Sponsored by the Cults Hotel)

Last night the APL held their first meeting of the new season under the convenorship of this year’s secretary, Northern Captain, Derek Johnstone.

First on the agenda was an application from Craibstone GC for re-admittance to the Pennant League. This was unanimously approved bringing the number of participating Clubs to fifteen.   
As a consequence, the League structure – which is presently two leagues of seven – was changed to three leagues of five clubs.  This format (as per the Rules) will remain in place for a two-year period to allow the rotation of home advantage.



The draw resulted as following:



League A           League B           League C

Banchory           Portlethen            Peterculter

Northern           Hazlehead             Stonehaven

Auchmill           Caledonian          Deeside

Murcar Links    Royal Aberdeen   Craibstone

Newmachar       Bon Accord         Nigg Bay



The winners of the respective leagues along with the best overall runner-up will contest the semi-finals.


MAITLAND SHIELD DRAW

In addition, the draw for this year’s Maitland Shield that will be contested at the Kings Links from Monday, 20th May to Friday, 24th May was as follows:



ROUND 1



Stonehaven – bye



Monday 20th May

Royal Aberdeen v Hazlehead

Nigg Bay v Murcar Links

Auchmill v Portlethen

Craibstone v Bon Accord


Tuesday 20th May
Caledonian v Northern

Deeside v Peterculter

Banchory v Newmachar

 Stonehaven v Royal Aberdeen or Hazlehead, Nigg Bay or Murcar Links v Auchmill or Portlethen, Craibstone or Bon Accord v Caledonian or Northern, Deeside or Peterculter v Banchory or Newmachar

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ASIAN TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL REPORT AND SCORES

  NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin, Thailand: Thailand’s Donlaphatchai Niyomchon is excited with the prospect of playing alongside his idol, Thaworn Wiratchant on a regular basis after he set the early pace with an opening seven-under-par 64 at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
Compatriot Sattaya Supupramai carded a 65 to stay one shot back in tied-second alongside Canada’s Richard Lee, Australia’s Anthony Choat and Sweden’s Thomas Petersson.
China’s Hu Mu and Indonesia’s Benny Kasiadi are among the nine players bunched in equal sixth place after they signed for matching five-under-pars.
The first two rounds of the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage are staged at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club where the course is played at par-72 and par-71 respectively.
Donlaphatchai hogged the opening limelight when he marked his card with seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
The 22-year, who joined the play-for-pay ranks last year, believes he is ready to compete against the region’s best players and is looking forward to play more often with Thaworn, a 15-time Asian Tour winner.
“Thaworn is my hero and I always look up to him for what he has achieved not only for himself but for Thailand. He has done everyone proud and I hope that I’ll get the opportunity to play with him on the Asian Tour once I earn my Tour card,” said Donlaphatchai.
Sattaya also got off to the best of starts when he opened with four birdies starting from his par-four 10th.
The Thai parred holes 14, 15 and 16 before continuing his birdie blitz on the 17th and 18th holes to turn in 30.
Sattaya seemed poised for a grandstand finish when he birdied four of his five holes after the turn but was pegged back after dropping four shots in his last three holes.
“I was unlucky on the last three holes probably because of the bad lie where I made double-bogeys,” said Sattaya.
Sattaya, who often relied on his country exemption status for playing opportunities on the Asian Tour, is now yearning for full playing rights following his opening round exploits.
“Earning my Tour card would mean a lot as that will give me a lot of opportunities to play on the Asian Tour,” said Sattaya.
Having played four events on the Asian Tour last year, Hu is looking forward to extend his playing opportunities this season.
The Chinese is also determined to secure his full status so that he can earn those crucial world ranking points that are vital for Olympic qualification.
“I like the environment on the Asian Tour, especially where all the players try to get better and really work on their game. There’re also a lot of world ranking points to be played out here,” said Hu.
“I was coming into the tournament trying to get inside the top-40 and get my status. But with my good start today, I’m hoping to build on that and win,” added the Chinese.
A bronze medallist at the 2007 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, Benny is eager to reproduce his good amateur form now that he has progressed to the professional ranks.
The Indonesian turned in 33 after carding three birdies on holes 11, 15 and 16 in his opening back-nine.
He dropped his only shot of the day on the par-four second but made up grounds by marking his card with another three birdies on holes three, eight and nine.
“It was an amazing day as I managed to keep my focus throughout the day and my putting and driving were all excellent,” said Benny.
“I’ve always wanted to play on the Asian Tour and I hope that I can make it by earning my Tour card this week,” said Benny, who hails from a golfing family where his father was the only local player to have won the Indonesia Open, an event which will be featured on the 2013 Asian Tour schedule.
 The cut will be made after 36 holes with the top 100 and ties progressing to the final two rounds at the Springfield Royal Country Club. Following that, only the top-40 and ties will earn playing privileges for the 2013 Asian Tour season. 
Scots Jack Doherty (T144 on 73) and James Byrne (T173) on 74 in a field of 247 players will need to go some to make the top 100 and ties cut after Round 2.

TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD

 

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ROSS McGOWAN SHARES LEAD ON SUNSHINE TOUR


 FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE

Matthew Carvell found it easy to relax with his long-time friend Will Taylor on the bag, and shot a confident 64 at Centurion Country Club today to share the Telkom PGA Pro-Am lead.
“It’s enjoyable having a buddy on the bag. We had a laugh out there and enjoyed it, because we go a long way back. That really helps you relax and accept that whatever happens, happens,” he said.
The 27-year-old, who finished 35th on the 2012 Order of Merit, showed no signs of struggling to regroup after the festive break and coasted to eight-under-par, joining England’s Ross McGowan at the top of the leaderboard.
“I was nervous at the start, because I was worried I’d forgotten how to play golf,” joked Carvell. “But I hit the ball better than I expected to and I putted really well today – no three-putts on these greens is pretty good. I didn’t have any expectations, although I have been working hard and didn’t take much time off during the break.”
The Kyalami Country Club professional had a sterling day on the 6700-metre layout, avoiding bogeys and penciling in eight birdies during the round.
Low rounds have become the norm for Carvell, who missed only three cuts during the second half of last year. The consistency in his results is directly connected to hard work.
“I do feel comfortable being up there. It’s great to start this way, because you want to get back near the top of the leaderboard straight away. I’m going out to try for a win this week, but I know that if I keep playing the way I am it will eventually come. It takes away from all of the hard work when you try to force a win.
“I’m already into the Joburg Open, so I’m not looking too far ahead. We’ll take it from here and hopefully do some damage in the co-sanctioned events,” he said.
Morning starter McGowan, who won the 2009 Madrid Masters, looked every inch the European Tour champion as he set the clubhouse lead on eight-under-par. Having lost the majority of his playing privileges due to a wrist injury, the 30-year-old has chosen the Sunshine Tour as the foundation upon which to rebuild his career.
“First tournament of the year and it’s nice to get off to a good start,” he said. “I’ve still got to get into Joburg Open, so the main goal is a top-five finish here. But if we can lift the trophy at the end of the week then it’s even better!”
Steven Ferreira also got the year off to a good start and shot 65, which included an eagle at the par-five third. His seven-under-par haul was enough for sole second at the close of round one.
“I definitely got it going today, just hitting all of the right shots. I only had 23 putts, with nine on the front nine, but I actually stayed calm out there and took it one shot at a time.
"I’m looking forward to the season, because my game is where it needs to be. All of the preparation is done and now it’s time to play,” he said.




TO VIEW THE SCOREBOARD

CLICK HERE 

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MICKELSON SORRY FOR RANT OVER CALIFORNIA TAXES

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By JAMES CORRIGAN

Tiger Woods has sided with Phil Mickelson revealing that California’s tax rules forced him to quit his home state.
Mickelson felt obliged to issue an apology on Tuesday after causing controversy at the weekend with his threat to make “drastic changes” because of increases in the federal and California tax rates.
Some experts even speculated that the 42-year-old was about to retire from the game, although as he is estimated to have earned more than $45m in 2012 that must be doubted. Following Woods to Florida, where there is no state income tax, is a far more likely move.
Mickelson claimed he would be paying more than 60 per cent of his income. “If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate’s 62, 63 per cent,” Mickelson said at the Humana Challenge, where he finished 37th.
“There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and, you know, it doesn’t work for me right now.” Inevitably, Mickelson came in for criticism from sections of the media. The four-time major winner indicated he would go into further depth about what these “changes” may amount to in his scheduled press conference at the Farmers Insurance Open near his home in San Diego. But the statement from his PR team specified this would not now be the case.
“Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public,” Mickelson said. “I apologise to those I have upset or insulted and assure you I intend to not let it happen again.”
The world No 2 does not understand why Mickelson should apologise. “I moved out of here [California] back in ’96 for that reason,” Woods said at his own press conference.
Woods tees it up at the scene of his famous 2008 US Open win after missing the cut last week in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile the Qatar Masters begins today in Doha, where the field includes Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and last year’s winner Paul Lawrie

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AAM SCOTTISH OPEN 2013-2014 TO BE SHOWN LIVE ON AMERICAN TV

NEWS RELEASE
The 2013 and 2014 editions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will become the first regular European Tour events to be shown live on a major United States TV broadcast network following the signing of an historic agreement with NBC which will complement the existing coverage on the Golf Channel.
 
NBC, home to NBC Sports’ stellar portfolio including the summer and winter Olympic Games, NFL’s Sunday Night Football and every Ryder Cup since 1991 through to the recent contest in Medinah, will broadcast two and a half hours of live coverage on each of the final two days’ play from Castle Stuart Golf Links in 2013 and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2014. NBC Sports’ golf coverage is presented as Golf Channel on NBC and complements Golf Channel’s season-long coverage of European Tour events, including the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
 
Until now, only Major Championships, World Golf Championships and leading team events connected to The European Tour have been shown live on American broadcast networks and so this two-year agreement between the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and NBC Sports opens up new horizons for one of the most prestigious titles on the Tour.
 
As part of the new arrangement, title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, which is eager to promote its global asset management business in the United States, will have the opportunity to advertise and engage in promotional activity around the broadcast, as will the tournament’s other principal backers, the Scottish Government.
 
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “The US is one of our most important markets and therefore we are very supportive of this new agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel. The opportunities for us to promote the Aberdeen brand in the US are fantastic. It’s a very effective way for us to reach a mass audience and showcase not only our commitment to [Scottish] golf and to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open but also raise our profile as a leading global financial institution.”  
 
The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP, Scotland’s First Minister, commented: “This historic agreement with NBC and the Golf Channel will see the Scottish Open become the first regular European Tour event to be given prime-time coverage on US network television. It is a fantastic boost for Scottish golf and an incredible opportunity for Scotland to showcase the magnificent scenery of the Highlands and the fantastic golf on offer at Castle Stuart and across the country to tens of millions of US viewers.
 
"This is an agreement brokered on the course at the recent Ryder Cup in Medinah, and I know from my time at that tournament that US golf fans have an incredible affinity for Scotland as the undisputed Home of Golf.  This deal will help feed the appetite for coverage of Scottish events across the Atlantic and cement the reputation of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as one of the jewels in the crown of the European Tour schedule.  
 
"Within the last few weeks, another US TV network - CNN - said Scotland was the must-see destination of 2013. Today's announcement will see NBC covering Scotland's premier golf tournament live on its network.  It is a great boost for Scottish golf, a great boost for Scottish tourism and a fantastic thing for Scotland."
 
Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports, said: “Showcasing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in concert on both NBC and Golf Channel is yet another example of the strength of the NBC Sports Group.”
 
Tom Knapp, Senior Vice President of Programming for Golf Channel, said: “Having the ability to seamlessly extend coverage of The European Tour between its regular home on the Golf Channel and our broadcast platform, Golf Channel on NBC, illustrates the impact our shared resources can bring to events like the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.”
 
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, added: “Following the vision and leadership of the Golf Channel, we are delighted to enter into this historic new agreement with NBC for live coverage of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the next two years. It speaks volumes for the quality of the European Tour product, and specifically the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, that one of our most prestigious championships will be shown to a new audience on one of the prime TV networks in the United States in conjunction with our already outstanding coverage on the Golf Channel.”
 
2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open’s U.S. Television Coverage:
 
Thursday, July 11:   Golf Channel – First Round Coverage
Friday, July 12:        Golf Channel – Second Round Coverage
Saturday, July 13:    Golf Channel – Lead-in Third Round Coverage
            Golf Channel on NBC – Third Round Coverage
Sunday, July 14:                Golf Channel – Lead-in Final Round Coverage
                                                Golf Channel on NBC – Final Round Coverage
 
 
 

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NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE SNOWED OFF AT MURCAR LINKS

Today's North-east Alliance competition at Murcar Links was called off shortly after 7.30am with overnight snow lying on the course and the temperature at minus 2 degrees.
So the snow eventually got through to Murcar Links which had escaped it until last night.
Next scheduled meeting is at Fraserburgh next Wednesday.
Fingers crossed.  

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