Thursday, February 28, 2013

WOODS ESCAPES FROM WATER TO POST OPENING 70

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
reporting from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 
Tiger Woods showed here on Thursday that he can play from water, even if he does not walk on it any more. He also proved he still has his competitive spirit.
When the world No 2 drove his ball into the lake on the par-four sixth (his 15th) a backmarker number in the first round of the Honda Classic seemed inevitable.
 Woods never has accepted “inevitable”.
He took off his shoes and socks, put on his waterproof trousers, jumped in, advanced the ball to within 80 yards of the hole and made par courtesy of an eight-footer. He then birdied the next and half an hour later was signing for a far-from-disastrous level-par 70.
“I’ve had to do it before unfortunately,” Woods said. “But it was only half submerged, so I could play some kind of explosion shot and get it back in the fairway. I was looking at making a six, going three over, but all of a sudden I’m even.”
The moment reminded one of a Woods advertisement which featured him strolling across a lake. That was in 2008 when he was considered without fault. The statistics seemed to highlight his faults on Thursday.
Woods took 32 putts, seven more than South Africa’s Branden Grace (who, alongside the Canadian Graham DeLaet, shared the early lead on five under). But putt after putt went to the brink of the cup for Woods. “I hit the ball well today and on top of that I hit good putts; but I didn’t get the feeling of this grain,” Woods said.
 “I hit so many putts that were solid but went right around the edge. I’ll just stick with what I’m doing because it’s not very far off.”
Woods said something similar after last week’s first-round loss to Charles Howell in the World Matchplay. What these huge crowds would give for the 14-time major champion to be up there this weekend.
Rarely can a regular tour event boast such an attendance on a Thursday morning; but they love their golf in Palm Beach and it appears the majority still love Tiger. One fan had ‘TW’ shaved not only on the back of his head, but also on the back of his two children’s heads. On the side they had carved out the figure ‘75’, in honour of their hero’s number of wins on the PGA Tour.
Last year was a sponsors’ dream as Woods shot a final-round 62 to push Rory McIlroy. The Ulsterman hung on to claim the title and the world No 1 spot. McIlroy was an afternoon starter today and it says much about his popularity that the Woods crowd stayed to watch the acclaimed heir.
By then, Justin Rose was in the clubhouse wondering why he was feeling indifferent after a two-under 68. The answer was obvious – the Englishman had dropped three shots in the last four holes. On his 14th green (the fifth) it had seemed so easy.
“I was sure that putt was in and it would have taken me to six under,” said Rose, reflecting on the 12-footer which swung around the cup. “But now here I am on two under. So yeah, I’m disappointed. But it’s a good start in the context of the tournament.”
Rose has been one of the game’s most consistent ball-strikers for the past 18 months and, when his putter consents, his world No 6 ranking can appear almost as an insult. After yanking a two-footer on the 11th (his second) the flat-stick relented with a 10-footer on the 13th, two 15-footers on the 14th and 15th, a 20-footer on the 16th and a 25-footer on the first.
“I’m really pleased with where my putting is,” said Rose, who has been working with David Orr since last June. A good putter rescues bogeys as well as it conjures birdies. And Rose’s six-footer on the last, after visiting a wretched spot at the back of a greenside bunker, was an example of that.
Rose was but three off the pace, with Dustin Johnson looming ominously near the top of the leaderboard after a four-under 66.
Camilo Villegas (Colombia) came in with a six-under 64 to take over the top spot from Grace, DeLaet and Rickie Fowler.
Lee Westwood posted a 66, one fewer than Graeme McDowell.
Rory McIlroy matched Tiger's 70.
Martin Laird and Ross Fisher are both on the 71 mark.
Paul Casey had a sad 78.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 70
Players from US unless stated
64 Camilo Villegas (Colombia).
65 Branden Grace (S Africa), Graham  DeLaet (Canada), Rickie Fowler, Robert Streb.
66 Boo Weekley, Sean O'Hair, Dustin Johnson, Fabian Gamez (Argentina), Billy Horschel, Lee Westwood (England). Seung-Yul Noh (S Korea), Ben Kohles, Doug Labelle.
SELECTED SCORES
67 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) (T16).
68 Justin Rose (England) (T30).
69 Ernie Els (S Africa), Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) (T40).
70 Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) (T61).
71 Martin Laird (Scotland), Ross Fisher (England), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (T81).
72 David Lynn (England) (T102)
73 Greg Owen (England), Jamie Donaldson (Wales) (T117).
78 Paul Casey (England), Brian Davis (England) (T140).

TO VIEW THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

CLICK HERE

Labels:

SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR SCOREBOARD

TO VIEW TODAY'S SCORES IN THE SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR
EVENT

CLICK HERE

Labels:

SPANISH MEN'S INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

VENUE: LA MANGA
Par 146 (2x73) 

32 MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
1 CASEY, HARRY ENG 73 72 145
O´DONOVAN, RICHARD IRE 71 74 145
3 RUTHERFORD, JAMIE ENG 73 73 146
4 KINHULT, MARCUS SWE 76 71 147
CHESTERS, ASHLEY ENG 75 72 147
JONES, WILL WAL 73 74 147
7 CANTERO GUTIERREZ, IVAN ESP 76 72 148
ORRIN, MAX ENG 76 72 148
RAYMOND, NEIL ENG 76 72 148
SARASTI BERNARAS, JUAN FRANCISCO ESP 75 73 148
WHITSON, REEVE IRE 75 73 148
MCELROY, DERMOT IRE 73 75 148
MORENO LINARES, EDER ESP 73 75 148
14 MARSH, NICK ENG 77 72 149
15 SZMIDT, JAN POL 80 70 150
SMITH, JORDAN ENG 78 72 150
GALIANO AGUILAR, MARIO ESP 76 74 150
SADDIER, ADRIEN FRA 76 74 150
BARTLETT, JACK ENG 74 76 150
FERRER MERCANT, ANTONI ESP 73 77 150
21 GRIFFITHS, CURTIS ENG 79 72 151
22 TARNSTROM, VICTOR SWE 82 70 152
VIRTO ASTUDILLO, BORJA ESP 79 73 152
MCNAMARA, RORY IRE 77 75 152
DI NITTO, ENRICO ITA 76 76 152
PARATORE, RENATO ITA 75 77 152
CARR, OLIVER ENG 75 77 152
BERGMAN, HAMPUS SWE 74 78 152
AMACHER, EDOUARD SWI 74 78 152
30 OSTERBY, VICTOR DEN 81 72 153
VEGA DE SEOANE SAEZ, SANTIAGO ESP 79 74 153
HINTON, CRAIG ENG 79 74 153



FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR MATCH-PLAY
MATLARI, ALEXANDER GER 78 75 153
SAUNDERS, MICHAEL ENG 78 75 153
LANGASQUE, ROMAIN FRA 77 76 153
CASEY, BRIAN IRE 77 76 153
KIMSEY, NATHAN ENG 77 76 153
RÖHRIG, MAXIMILIAN GER 77 76 153
SHINKWIN, CALLUM ENG 75 78 153
MORAGO AYRA, DAVID ESP 73 80 153
41 GIRRBACH, JOEL SWI 80 74 154
DE POYEN, JULIEN FRA 80 74 154
PASTOR RUFIAN, VICTOR ESP 79 75 154
COLEGATE, JACK ENG 78 76 154
MAROT, JULIEN FRA 78 76 154
DECOTTIGNIES LAFON, MATHIEU FRA 77 77 154
VENTURA, KRISTOFFER NOR 77 77 154
SELFRIDGE, CHRIS IRE 75 79 154
HUME, JACK IRE 74 80 154
50 MAZIER, PIERRE FRA 82 73 155
SCHWEIZER, PHILIPPE SWI 80 75 155
GRANT, NICHOLAS IRE 78 77 155
ELISSALDE, THOMAS FRA 77 78 155L
VAN WEST, ROBBIE NET 76 79 155
STROM, ADAM SWE 74 81 155
56 BONDIA GIL, JOSE ESP 83 73 156
GALLEGOS MARSAL, JAVIER ESP 81 75 156
HILUTA, JACK ENG 80 76 156
FEATHERSTONE, HENRY ENG 79 77 156
MANIFACIER, NICOLAS FRA 78 78 156
ROBERTSHAWE, SAM ENG 78 78 156
RUUSKA, LAURI FIN 77 79 156
CARLOTA, JOÃO POR 76 80 156
PORTEOUS, GARRICK ENG 74 82 156
PITONI, STEFANO ITA 74 82 156
66 LARRAZABAL COROMINAS, ALEJANDRO ESP 81 76 157
MILLER, MIKE USA 80 77 157
DE FILIPPI, GIORGIO ITA 80 77 157
LOUGHREY, BEN ENG 80 77 157
KOLBERG, FLORIAN TUR 79 78 157
LEANDRO RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS ESP 79 78 157
SCHOEB, GRÉGOIRE FRA 77 80 157
MCCORMICK, JAMES ENG 75 82 157
74 UTRILLA BURGAZ, JORGE JOSE ESP 82 76 158
JAMES, HENRY WAL 82 76 158
ELLIS, HARRY ENG 80 78 158
TURLAN, KEVIN FRA 79 79 158
GRADECKI, MATEUSZ POL 79 79 158
CASTAGNARA, GIULIO ITA 78 80 158
TURNER, ASHTON ENG 78 80 158
PINTO, GONÇALO POR 75 83 158
82 CAMPIGLI, FILIPPO ITA 87 72 159
PAEZ WEINBAUM, FEDERICO ESP 84 75 159
JOHNSON, LUKE ENG 80 79 159
EDÉN, TOBIAS SWE 80 79 159
GRAU TOMAS, NOEL ESP 78 81 159
87 HEDBERG BERTRAND, ERIK ESP 83 77 160
KRISTENSEN, NICOLAI DEN 79 81 160
FOOS, DOMINIC GER 76 84 160
KELLY, PATRICK ENG 74 86 160
91 PLANT, ALFIE ENG 85 76 161
LILJA MOYANO, LEONARDO AXEL ESP 83 78 161
LESPINASSE, LEO FRA 83 78 161
SUBREGIS, KENNY FRA 78 83 161
95 LOPEZ FERRER, SIGOT ESP 82 80 162
KEARNEY, AARON IRE 82 80 162
BOTTA, LUIGI ITA 78 84 162
OHORN, MARCEL GER 78 84 162
VAN DEN DUNGEN, DAVID NET 76 86 162
100 FERNANDEZ LOPEZ, ALBERTO ESP 84 79 163
ZUCCHETTI, FEDERICO ITA 81 82 163
DE STEFANI, CORRADO ITA 80 83 163
WHITE, JOSHUA ENG 80 83 163
104 COSTA, GONÇALO POR 85 79 164
BALLESTEROS BOTIN, JAVIER ESP 84 80 164
NOERGAARD MOELLER, NIKLAS DEN 84 80 164
DAUX, FRANCK FRA 83 81 164
108 SAINZ DELGADO, JAVIER ESP 83 83 166
VAN MEIJEL, LARS NET 83 83 166
DIAMOND, HARRY IRE 83 83 166
GRAN, MARCUS SWE 82 84 166
112 BERNA MANZANARES, DANIEL ESP 82 85 167
113 MATESANZ LARRAÑAGA, PABLO ESP 86 82 168
GARCIA MARTINEZ, IVAN ESP 84 84 168
115 PELLICCIA, VALERIO ITA 90 80 170
SHUFFLEBOTHAM, JASON WAL 89 81 170
117 ROUILLON, HUGO FRA 88 83 171
118 BOSHART, DYLAN NET 87 88 175
119 SCHWIND, SEBASTIAN GER Ret
120 MARCHBANK, GREIG SCO N.P


MATCH-PLAY BRACKET

1 HARRY CASEY
08:00 Tee 1
32 CRAIG HINTON


16 JORDAN SMITH
08:08 Tee 1
17 MARIO GALIANO


9 NEIL RAYMOND
08:16 Tee 1
24 RORY McNAMARA
 

8 MAX ORRIN
08:24 Tee 1
25 ENRICO DI NITTO

5 ASHLEY CHESTERS
08:32 Tee 1
28 HAMPUS BERGMAN

12 DERMOT McELROY
08:40 Tee 1
21 CURTIS GRIFFITHS

13 EDER MORENO
08:48 Tee 1
20 TONI FERRER


4 MARCUS KINHULT
08:56 Tee 1
29 EDOUARD AMACHER

3 JAMIE RUTHERFORD
08:00 Tee 10
30 VICTOR OSTERBY

14 NICK MARSH
08:08 Tee 10
19 JACK BARTLETT

11 REEVE WHITSON
08:16 Tee 10
22 VICTOR TARNSTROM

6 WILL JONES
08:24 Tee 10
27 OLIVER CARR

7 IVAN CANTERO
08:32 Tee 10
26 RENATO PARATORE

10 JUAN Fco. SARASTI
08:40 Tee 10
23 BORJA VIRTO

15 JAN SZMIDT
08:48 Tee 10
18 ADRIEN SADDIER

2 RICHARD O’DONOVAN
08:56 Tee 10
31 SANTI VEGA DE SEOANE

 

Labels:

GRAEME BROWN WINS WITH 65 OVER HOME MONTROSE LINKS

Local assistant professional Graeme Brown won this week's Midland Golfers' Alliance competition over the Montrose Links.
After a delayed start due to overnight frost, Brown shot a fine five-under-par 65 to win the leading scratch award by three shots from a pair of amateurs, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and N Anderson (Monifieth).
The handicap section was won by S Hills (Monifieth) with a net 66 off eight of a handicap.

LEADING SCRATCH
65 G Brown (Montrose Links) ap.
68 R Stewart (Tulliallan), N Anderson (Monifieth).


LEADING HANDICAP
66 S Hills (Monifieth) (8)
67 J Gilchrist (Dunnikier Park) (6), G Pendrich (Downfield) (10).

Qualifiers for the JTC Kitchen Express Midland Golfers Alliance Championship in April at Crieff are 

S Hills
R McDonald
W McColl
M Fraser

 Qualifiers for the JTC Kitchen Express McQueen Shield at Crieff in April 

G Pendrich

C Westland
D Vicary
G Wilkie 

NEXT MEETING
Wednesday, March 6
BURNTISLAND PRO-AM
Sponsored by E. Sherry

Tee reserved: 8.30 - 1.30

Regards 

Steven Paterson

Labels:

HIGHLIGHT FOR LADY PROS AND LOW-HANDICAP AMATEURS

NORTH-EAST DANDY DOUBLE-HEADER:TRUMP INTERNATIONAL LINKS AND
DEESIDE ON MAY 6 AND 7


Trump International Links Scotland, 12 miles up the coastline from Aberdeen, and Deeside Golf Club, in the western suburbs of the Granite City, will form the North-east of Scotland double-header on the new Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour.
  
A meeting today between Christopher Campbell, the Grantown-on-Spey born head professional at Trump International Links Scotland, and Colin Farquharson, co-organiser with Nicola Melville of the PLGC SLOT, confirmed that the Hawtree-designed links masterpiece on the Menie Estate, Balmedie would be the venue for the third event on the fledgling tour, over 18 holes on the afternoon of Monday, May 6. 
Twenty-four hours later the spotlight will switch inland to Bieldside and the picturesque, parkland Deeside club's Haughton course on the banks of the River Dee.   
Christopher Campbell, pictured,
 said:
“We are pleased to support Paul Lawrie and the local businessmen behind this initiative aimed at developing Scottish female professionals and the top amateur golfers in the country.

“What Paul has done for Scottish junior golf, especially in the North-east of Scotland is great for the game of golf and the well-being of children growing up in the area. 
"He has now put his name  to a Scottish Ladies Open Tour which will further enhance the game in Scotland so we were happy to offer the required tee times for the competitors on Monday, May 6.”
The Trump International Links Scotland venue has five-star practice facilities - a driving range (hitting off grass!) and a large short-game, bunker and practice putting area. 


Competitors in the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour event will be able to use all these facilities free of charge on the morning of the competition.
The following morning, it will be open house at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre on Aberdeen's South Deeside Road for those who are playing at Deeside Golf Club in the afternoon's 18-hole PLGC SLOT competition.
There is a nine-hole par-3 course and excellent practice facilities there as well.
    
     The temporary clubhouse at Trump International Links Scotland. Image by Cal Carson Agency.

Labels: ,

THAT MAN FICHARDT AGAIN LEADS IN TSHWANE OPEN

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Pretoria native Darren Fichardt is once again handily placed at the top of the leaderboard after an opening round of seven under par 65 gave him a one stroke lead at the Tshwane Open.

This comes less than a fortnight after he won the Africa Open, and thanks to eight birdies and a solitary bogey today, he leads the way on home soil once more.

“I always play well at the beginning of the year,” explained the South African. “All of my European wins besides France (2012 Open de Saint Omer) have been early in the year. Sao Paolo in Brazil (2001) was in February, and then I won in Qatar (2003) in February and this year the Africa Open, which was in February, so it’s a good month for me!

 “It’s funny, because I birdied all of the tough holes and then the easiest hole on the golf course I bogeyed – that’s how this game is.”

Björn Åkesson had challenged his advantage at the top of the leaderboard late on Thursday after a birdie-birdie-eagle run from the 13th saw him draw level, but a bogey at the 17th left him with a six under par 66.

Six players are another shot back at five under including Englishman David Howell, while it was also a productive day for 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, who signed for a 69.



First Round Scores:

65 D Fichardt (RSA) ,

 66 B Åkesson (Swe) ,

 67 D Howell (Eng) , J Hugo  (RSA) , J Singh (Ind) , M Tullo (Chi) , C Coetzee  (RSA) , G Lockerbie  (Eng) ,

 68 M Korhonen (Fin) , S Wakefield (Eng) , J Ahlers (RSA) , D Willett  (Eng) , K Horne (RSA) , J Sjöholm (Swe) , D Horsey (Eng) , V Groenewald (RSA) , D Burmester (RSA) , S Smith (RSA) , D McGrane (Irl) , M Bremner (RSA) , P Uihlein  (USA) , D Van Der Walt (RSA) , J Harding  (RSA) , S Arnold  (Aus) ,

 69 D Van Den Heever (RSA) , A Da Silva (Bra) , C Nel (RSA) , D Clarke (Nir) , G Mulroy (RSA) , J Roos (RSA) , D Botes (RSA) , R De Smidt (RSA) , M Williams (RSA) , J Campillo (Esp) , J Luiten (Ned) , J Kamte (RSA) ,

 70 J Kingston (RSA) , G Van Der Merwe (RSA) , T Maseko (RSA) , M Nixon (Eng) , A Snobeck  (Fra) , R Wattel  (Fra) , M Madsen  (Den) , J Blaauw  (RSA) , R Cairns (Zim) , M Baldwin (Eng) , S Kjeldsen (Den) , G Storm  (Eng) , G Muller (RSA) , O Fisher  (Eng) , E Pepperell (Eng) , A Pistorius (RSA) , J Busby (Eng) , R Finch  (Eng) , M Warren (Sco) , A Haindl (RSA) , C Basson (RSA) ,

 71 M Lampert (Ger) , M Southgate  (Eng) , M Wiegele  (Aut) , D Frittelli (RSA) , L De Jager  (RSA) , M Carvell (RSA) , C Lloyd (Eng) , T Van Der Walt (RSA) , J Walters (RSA) , R Rock (Eng) , P Erofejeff (Fin) , A Sullivan (Eng) , S Webster (Eng) , P Whiteford (Sco) , L Ndwandwe (RSA) , J Kruger (RSA) , M Delpodio  (Ita) , T Fisher Jnr (RSA) , C Paisley  (Eng) , D McGuigan (RSA) , O Bekker (RSA) , H Otto (RSA) ,

 72 T Baumann (Ger) , M Campbell (Nzl) , K Broberg (Swe) , S Henry  (Sco) , L Rowe  (RSA) , P Karmis  (RSA) , C Del Moral (Esp) , T Ferreira  (RSA) , O Strydom (RSA) , P Larrazábal (Esp) , G Stal  (Fra) , D Greene (RSA) , N Fasth (Swe) , E Kofstad (Nor) , D Gaunt (Aus) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , H Buhrmann (RSA) , M Kieffer (Ger) , C Swanepoel (RSA) , E Molinari  (Ita) ,

 73 A Curlewis (RSA) , C Doak (Sco) , D Drysdale (Sco) , J Lara (Esp) , R McGowan  (Eng) , O Floren  (Swe) , R McEvoy  (Eng) , T Sefatsa (RSA) , E Goya (Arg) , D Van Tonder  (RSA) , L Jensen (Den) , W Abery (RSA) , T Lewis (Eng) , S Norris  (RSA) , P Lawrie (Irl) , M Jonzon (Swe) , B Easton (RSA) , A Versfeld (RSA) , T Spangenberg (RSA) ,

 74 D Higgins (Irl) , L Canter (RSA) , A Georgiou (RSA) , B Pieters (RSA) , M Hollick (RSA) , K Davidse (RSA) , J Quesne  (Fra) , B Smith (RSA) , A Michell (RSA) , P Waring  (Eng) ,

 75 S Little (Eng) , A Levy (Fra) , M Hoey  (Nir) , J Lagergren (Swe) , U Van Den Berg  (RSA) , N Schietekat (RSA) , J Van Zyl (RSA) , T Aiken (RSA) , T Moore (RSA) , P McIntyre (RSA) , D Hewan (RSA) ,

 76 J Parry (Eng) , M Lundberg (Swe) , J Van Tonder (RSA) , B Vaughan (RSA) , M Carlsson  (Swe) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , W Coetsee (RSA) , J Olazábal (Esp) ,

 77 K Dube (RSA) , S Dyson  (Eng) , E De La Riva  (Esp) , M Bothma (RSA) , I Hutchings (RSA) , T Thimba Jnr (RSA) , C Macaulay  (Sco) ,

 80 J Claassen  (RSA) , T Chabangu (RSA)

Labels:

RITTHAMMER WINS IN MOROCCO BY EIGHT SHOTS

Germany's Bernd Ritthammer gave a brilliant display with rounds of 64, 67 and 65 for 20-under-par total of 196 to win the German PGA#s Pro Golf Tour Amelkis Open by eight shots at Amelkis Golf Club, Marrakesh, Morocco.
He won 5,000 Euros in an event in which not one Scot survived the 36-hole cut.
Runner-up and fellow German Alexander Knappe shot 69-65-71 for 204 to collct the 3,000 Euros second prize.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE  

Labels:

STEWART LOSES PLAY-OFF AT FIFTH EXTRA HOLE

Englishman Andrew Cooley beat Scot Michael Stewart at the fifth extra hole of a sudden death play-off to win the Alps Tour's Red Sea Bay Open at Sokhan Golf Club, Egypt.
Stewart, pictured, a 2011 Walker Cup player and past Scottish amateur champion, posted the clubhouse target of seven-under-par 209 after a brilliant final round of six-under 66, the best of the last day.
He had a bag of seven birdies, four of them over his last seven hole.
The play-off, watched by all the British players in the field, lasted an hour and ended when Stewart hit his second shot into a water hazard and missed the green with his fourth.
Cooley, from Woking, Surrey, played on the US college circuit for four years.
Fellow Scot Ross Kellett, ahead of Stewart with one round to play, slipped to a 75 on the last circuit for a share of 11th place on 215.
Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol finished joint 22nd on 217 after closing with a 72.
Ross Cameron from Ellon closed with a 73 for joint 32nd position on 221.  

ALPS TOUR - RED SEA BAY OPEN
Sokhna GC, Egypt 
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
209 Andrew Cooley (Eng) 69 69 71, Michael Stewart (Sco) 67 76 66 (Cooley won play-off at fifth extra hole).
210 Andrew Maestroni (Ita) 73 69 68
211 Phlip Kelly (Eng) 70 71 70, Fernando Adarraga (Spa) 69 69 73, Andrew Rota (Ita) 66 71 74
SELECTED TOTALS
215 Ross Kellett (Sco) 71 69 75, Jason Palmer (Eng) 70 71 74 (T11)
217 Kris Nicol (Sco) 70 75 72 (T22)
221 Ross Cameron (Sco) 75 73 73 (T32).  

COOLEY BEAT STEWART AT FIFTH EXTRA HOLE ON ALPS TOUOR

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Andrew Cooley, finally ended his Egyptian story after the fifth extra hole of a sudden-death play-off against Scotland's Michael Stewart. The Englishman from Chobham, Woking in Surrey won the inaugural Red Sea Ain Bay Open. 
Italy's Andrea Maestroni is third and certainly regrets dropping one shot on last hole to miss the play off.

Overnight leader Andrea Rota dropped three shots on his first four holes of the final round and eventually finished joint fourth.
Meanwhile, former Walker Cup player Stewart, from Troon, who teed off one hour before last group was leading at the clubhouse as he signed for best score of the day, 66 for -7 total. 
Maestroni was -7 tie with one to play but failed to save par on the 18th.

Italy's hope rested upon Rota's shoulders. He holed for birdie on 12th and again on 15th. He had two holes to play and had to made another birdie to join Cooley and Stewart. He hit the 17th par 5 in two but his 3 putts stunned him. He made the same mistake on last hole and slipped for joint fourth.
The final battle took place on the 18th hole, a par 4 with water in play on the right on second shot. Many British players sat next to the green to attend the show and it worth it. Micheal Stewart and Andrew Cooley played more than one extra hour to decide who was the winner.
The first two extra holes was without suspense, tee shot, green, 2 putts, next. Then Cooley, at the third extra hole, hit the green and haf a putt of around five feet to win as his opponent missed the green and had par. Cooley missed and his supporters felt disappointed and started to be impatient. 
On the fourth extra hole, both flew over the green but managed to halve the hole in par.
Finally the water played its role of justice of the peace on 5th and last hole. Both players hit their second shot from waste area but Stewart ended in the water hazard and missed the green with fourth shot. Cooley was less then 40cm to the cup and holed for maiden win and become first "Alps Tour Pharaoh".

"I led twice last year in the last group and it really helped me today. I stayed calm. I played really solid. It is my maiden win as pro and I am very happy, obviously," said Cooley who played for four years on the US college circuit.
Stewart had put in a great final round of 66 with a total bag of seven birdies, four of them over his last seven holes - at the 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th.
Fellow Scot Ross Kellett, ahead of Stewart with one round to play, slipped to a 75 on the last circuit for a share of 11th place on 215.
Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol finished joint 22nd on 217 after closing with a 72.
Ross Cameron from Ellon closed with a 73 for joint 32nd position on 221.  

ALPS TOUR - RED SEA BAY OPEN
Sokhna GC, Egypt 
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
209 Andrew Cooley (Eng) 69 69 71, Michael Stewart (Sco) 67 76 66 (Cooley won play-off at fifth extra hole).
210 Andrew Maestroni (Ita) 73 69 68
211 Phlip Kelly (Eng) 70 71 70, Fernando Adarraga (Spa) 69 69 73, Andrew Rota (Ita) 66 71 74
SELECTED TOTALS
215 Ross Kellett (Sco) 71 69 75, Jason Palmer (EWng) 70 71 74 (T11)
217 Kris Nicol (Sco) 70 756 72 (T22)
221 Ross Cameron (Sco) 75 73 73 (T32).  

Labels:

EWAN SCOTT BEATEN IN S AFRICAN SEMI-FINAL

Scottish youths champion Ewan Scott (St Andrews) was beaten by 3 and 2 in the semi-finals of the South African amateur match-play championship at Johannesburg Country Club this afternoon (Thursday).Scott, fifth in the recent South African stroke-play championship and the seventh seed for the match-play event, lost by 3 and 2 to the eighth seed, South African Andrew Light.In the morning quarter-finals, Scott had a great match against compatriot Fraser McKenna (Balmore) which went to the 20th green before Scott won.The all-South African final will feature Light against the 24th seed, Thriston Lawrence.
SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPJohannesburg Country Club.QUARTER-FINALSPlayers from S Africa unless statedL Taylor bt C Mowat 6 and 5.T Lawrence bt Z Lombard 2 and 1.Light bt M Spacey 3 and 1.E Scott (Sco) bt F McKenna (Sco) at 20th.


SEMI-FINALSLawrence bt Taylor 2 and 1.Light bt Scott 3 and 2.

Labels:

FORTROSE AND ROSEMARKIE MARKS UP 125 YEAR HISTORY

NEWS RELEASE
A visit to Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club in the Highlands of Scotland is your opportunity to play on one of the most unique links courses in the United Kingdom.  With our new bar and lounge area facilities combined with the good fellowship and camaraderie of a superb club our links course is a must on your golfing calendar.  Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club is an excellent place to share time with friends, to meet new people, and to be a member as we offer fantastic benefits both for the members close to home and for any overseas members amongst you who would like to take advantage of the many benefits of being a member of a Scottish Links Golf Course.
To mark 125 years at the links, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club will be hosting three national tournaments including the Loretto Scottish Boys & Girls Under-14 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship from the 11 – 12 August 2013 in addition to two other national tournaments in what is an historic year on the links.
The course was re-designed by the five times Open Champion James Braid in 1932 and in addition to our proud history the Club offers members, their guests and visiting golfers fantastic practice facilities which includes a 300-yard long practice area, driving bays, 3-bay practice nets, golf ball machine, practice bunkers, short game practice area (with green) in addition to the real ‘gem’ in the course itself. Our unique Scottish Links Golf Course is situated amid stunning scenery being just 15 miles from the City of Inverness, 30 minutes from the nearest airport at Dalcross which is beside Castle Stuart Golf Links and only 45 minutes from the world famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Labels:

JAMES BYRNE HAS A 70 IN OPEN QUALIFIER IN THAILAND

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R AND A
Chonburi, Thailand: Siddikur is on track to make history after sharing the first round lead with Japanese amateur Hideki Matsuyama on six-under-par at The Open Championship International Final Qualifying – Asia on Thursday.             
The Bangladeshi could become the first player to represent his country in golf’s oldest Major Championship after carding seven birdies and one bogey on his way to an opening 66. The two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Matsuyama, who was the first Japanese amateur to play in the Masters Tournament in 2011, matched him after a round featuring eight birdies and two bogeys.
Banchory's James Byrne shot a two-under-par 70.
China’s Mu Hu, Australian Scott Barr and Singaporeans Quincy Quek and Zhiqun Lam were a further shot back in the two-day qualifier where the top four players qualify for the year’s third Major at Muirfield from 14-21 July.
Siddkur got off to an excellent start and was five-under-par after six holes. He said: “I’m very happy. I played very well in the beginning. I got seven birdies with one bogey so I’m really happy with the round. I’m very confident and my game is good. If I can play my game, I’m quite confident I’ll be able to qualify for The Open Championship.”
Matsuyama, who is ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, hopes to make amends for last year’s heartbreak when he dropped six shots in the last three holes to miss the play-off for the fourth and final place in The Open Championship by two shots.
“I’ve forgotten about that and have already moved on. I’m looking forward to the last day and if I can keep playing as I did, then I’ll be able to earn a place in The Open Championship,” said Matsuyama.
Singapore’s Quek, who is aiming to become the third Singaporean after Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing to play in The Open Championship, was in the lead for 17 holes but he hit his tee shot into the water on the ninth hole for a double bogey.
“I’m happy to be on five-under with a double bogey! In two-day events, you have to make as many birdies as you can. I guess my focus tomorrow is to enjoy the round and put in a low number,” said the 26-year-old.
Australian Barr mixed his round with eight birdies and one eagle against a double bogey and three bogeys as he plots a return to The Open Championship where he made his debut at Royal Troon in 2004.
“I started to hit the ball pretty well at the start and putted pretty good. I just made a couple of soft mistakes. This is a golf course where you can get in big trouble without making many mistakes. Overall I’m happy but I hope to hold it together,” said Barr.
Scotland’s James Byrne and England’s Stephen Lewton stayed in touch with the leaders after two under par rounds of 70 but Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Guan Tianlang struggled to a one-over-par 73.
:
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72. Yardage 7,419
66 SIDDIKUR (BAN), Hideki MATSUYAMA (am, JPN).
67 HU Mu (CHN), Quincy QUEK (SIN), LAM Zhiqun (SIN), Scott BARR (AUS).
68 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA), Anthony KANG (USA), Berry HENSON (USA), KIM Hyung-sung (KOR), PAN Cheng-tsung (am, TPE), WU Ashun (CHN), Rory HIE (INA), Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA).
69 Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Scott HEND (AUS), Hiroshi IWATA (JPN), Yuta IKEDA (JPN).
70 Stephen LEWTON (ENG), Nils FLOREN (SWE), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), James BYRNE (SCO), Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN).
71 Darren BECK (AUS), PARK Ju-hyuk (KOR), JOO Heung-chol (KOR), Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), LAM Chih Bing (SIN), Niall TURNER (IRL), Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN), Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA), Tomohiro KONDO (JPN), Javi COLOMO (ESP).
72 Kodai ICHIHARA (JPN), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR), Jonathan MOORE (USA), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), Ben FOX (USA), Grant JACKSON (ENG), Yosuke ASAJI (JPN).
For the draw and full hole-by-hole scores from IFQ Asia visit TheOpen.com.

Labels:

MICHAEL SIM LETS IT SLIP IN NEW ZEALAND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Aberdeen-born Michael Sim shot a one-over-par 73 and senior Hale Irwin, the only American in the field, had an 80 in the first round of the New Zealand PGA Championship at The Hills Golf Club, Queenstown.
Sim, one-time ranked the World No 1 amateur before he turned pro and had his career blighted by a back injury, was going well when he recovered from a bogey at the second to birdie the third, fifth, long 13th and 14th.
Then came the slide. He bogeyed the 15th, double-bogeyed the short 16th and also bogeyed the 18th for 38 home. Sim is lying T76 in a starting field of 144 players.  
 Irwin did not have a single birdie on his card which included double bogeys at he 12th and 14th.

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALASIA WEBSITE
Australians Adam Bland, Aaron Townsend and Matthew Ballard have taken the first round lead at the NZ PGA Championship being played at The Hills.
Firing rounds of 6-under 66 the trio lead by one from a pack of eight players including defending champion Michael Hendry.
Taking advantage of the early conditions, Townsend achieved the score with a bogey free round but believed he left some birdies out on course.
“It was very lucky to start well - we had perfect conditions this morning so it was nice just to make six birdies and no bogeys, it was a pretty stress free round.”
“I played really good on my front nine - I hit it to 10 feet probably four times that I then missed, but I was hitting good putts so I wasn’t too disappointed.”
“I just knew to stay patient and they’d eventually find the bottom.”
Townsend comes into the NZ PGA Championship in good form having finished inside the top-10 at last week’s Victorian Open Championship.
“I played good last week but the putter didn’t really get hot until the last day so it’s nice to bring a bit of that with me this week.”
“I have struggled with the course in the past so I’m hoping that will be the end of that.”
At the other end of the spectrum 35-year-old Matthew Ballard has struggled recently with his form, having missed the cut at his last four PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments.
“It’s been a little rough if I am honest,” said Ballard.
“But golf is a funny thing, you never know what’s around the corner - I keep telling myself that and the proof is in the pudding today.”
Ballard’s round has highlighted by two consecutive eagles on the par 5 17th and par 4 18th.
“Sometimes you go a few weeks or months without an eagle so two in a row certainly bolstered the scorecard,” said Ballard who started on the back nine.
“The 17th was a really good second shot to get it to the back of the green and I hit a really nice putt that went in.”
“The last hole I had a really good yardage for my 7 iron - as soon as I hit it, it just looked like it was going straight at the pin and it landed perfect, rolled up and straight in.”
Finishing late in the day Adam Bland had a dream eight hole stretch, from the 15th to the 4th, that included an eagle, six birdies and just one par.
“I had a shaky start, and then holed an eagle putt from just off the green on 15, hit a few close but other than that the putter just started working,” said Bland.
“I didn’t really give myself too many birdie opportunities coming in through the last five, it would have been nice to get a couple more but I am not unhappy with 6-under that’s for sure.”
The leaderboard is congested at the end of the first round with eight players on 5-under the card and a further 10 players, including five-time Japan Tour winner Toshinori Muto, on 4-under the card.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE 

Labels:

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google