DAVID LYNN PIPPED BY DEREK ERNST IN PLAY-OFF AT QUAIL HOLLOW

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN 
England's David Lynn was denied a dream maiden victory on the US PGA Tour on Sunday after losing to the unheralded American David Ernst in a play-off at the Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow.

Ernst was fourth reserve at the start of the week and only played because of all the withdrawals, which came due to the awful state of the greens in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ranked 1,207th in the world, Ernst, a 500-1 outsider at the start of the event, was one of the most unlikely winners in golf’s history - and for that reason Lynn might be kicking himself.

Yet, in finishing runner-up in terrible conditions, the Stoke golfer ensured that he will retain his US Tour card as well as securing a berth in all the majors for the foreseeable future by re-entering the world’s top 50.

As a 22-year-old rookie who had missed five cuts out of his last seven events, Ernst is a fairytale success. Certainly when Lynn played the last on his way to a 70 for an eight-under total, he wasn’t thinking about Ernst as the danger until his partner hit to four-feet on that treacherous par-four to tie his total.

At that stage Phil Mickelson was one ahead, but the left-hander proceeded to bogey the 16th and 17th. So two of the rank outsiders went back, in the pouring rain, to the 18th tee to see who would collect the near £800,000 prize.

Lynn made a total hash of the sudden-death shoot-out, almost finding the water hazard with his drive, missing the green with his recovery and then pitching over the back of the putting surface. With Ernst safely on in two, Lynn needed to chip in. He had done so three times in the tournament, including on the 16th in regulation. But it was not to be and the wait goes on for Lynn’s first win since 2004.

He was also playing with Lee Westwood, who joined Mickelson in the lead after birdieing the 10th. But back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th essentially ended his challenge. 
Westwood, who has been suffering from a chest infection, eventually signed for a level par to emulate his finish from last year, a tie for fifth, on six-under.
Rory McIlroy endured a wretched weekend as his 73-73 finish left him down in a tie for 10th on four-under.
The Ulsterman will take great hope from his ball-striking, however, and, at the very least, will be optimistic of laying to rest his Sawgrass curse. He played The Players three times and missed the cut every time. 

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PRIZE MONEY DISTRIBUTION

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SOUTH TEAM NAMED FOR SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

South of Scotland team for the Area Team Championship

                

                   Ian R Brotherston       (Dumfries and County)

                   Michael  Grunwell      (Powfoot)

                   Clark  Riddick            (Southerness)

                   Martin Mc Nae           (Lochmaben)  

                   Rory  Thompson       (Dumfries and Galloway)

                    Kyle  McClung        (Wigtownshire County) 

 

                   Graeme Sharp

BRADLEY NEIL, LAUREN WHYTE TOP SCOTS AT FAIRHAVEN

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) and Lauren Whyte (St Andrews) did best of the Scots in the Fairhaven Trophies junior tournament in Lancashire.

Switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk for all the Scots' scores

BALLUMBIE CASTLE WIN ANGUS BOYS' TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT KIRRIE

Ballumbie Castle's winning team: left to right - Sean Colvin, Connar Cook, Marc Howie, Josh Norrie.

 

Ballumbie Castle 1 won the Angus County Golf Association boys' team championship at Kirriemuir Golf Club today (Sunday).
Their total of 304 was spearheaded by Connar Cook's 71, the best individual score of the day.
Team-mates Marc Howie and Josh Norrie both scored 75 and Sean Colvin an 83.Downfield 1. were runners up with 315.

Handicap team award was won by Montrose Caledonia with a total of 284, which included a net 61 by 22-handicapper Reece Bailey.

The CSS was 68

SCRATCH TOTALS
CSS 68

304 Ballumbie Castle 1.
315 Downfield 1.
331 Carnoustie.
333 Downfield 2.

345 Monifieth.
346 Montrose Mercantile.
349 Montrose Caledonia.
350 Arbroath.

ROBERTSON FINISHES JOINT EIGHTH IN LYTHAM TROPHY

Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) finished strongly to fill joint eighth place behind the play-off participants Irishman Jack Hume (Rathsallagh) and Finland's Albert Eckhardt in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes, Lancashire today (Sunday).
Robertson had rounds of 77, 69, 72 and 76 for a total of 14-over-par 294 against a CSS of 78-76-76-76, which reflects how difficult the Open championship links were playing.
Hume (72-77-70-68) and Eckhardt (73-72-69-73 tied on seven-over 280 and then set off in a three-round stroke-lay aggregate play-off which would go into sudden-death if not conclusive.
Later news: Eckhardt won the play-off.
Only six Scots survived the halfway cut and two of them finished in the top 20. Ewan Scott (St Andrews) finished in joint 18th place with scores of 72, 77, 75 and 74 for 298, one shot ahead of James Ross (Royal Burgess) who scored 76, 74, 75 and 74 for 299 and a share of 21st place.
Michael Smyth (Royal Troon), the leading Scot at halfway with scores of 72-763, subsided to Sunday scores of 79 and 76 for 300 and a share of 24th place
Scott Borrowman (Dollar) and Stirling University students Mathias Eggenberger and Carmac Sharvin finished joint 33rd on 303.
Last Scot among the qualifiers was Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) on 311.

LYTHAM TROPHY
Royal Lytham and St Annes GC, Lytham St Annes
Lancashire
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70). CSS 78 76 76 76
287 Jack Hume (Rathsallagh) 72 77 70 68, Albert Eckhardt (Finland) 73 72 69 73 (Eckhardt won three-hole aggregate stroke-play play-off).
291 Julie Marot (Fra) 75 74 70 72, Kristian Johannessen (Nor) 70 74 73 75.
292 Reeve Whitson (Murne) 75 72 72 73
293 Paul Kinnear (Formby) 72 72 76 73, Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa) 68 74 77 74.
204 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 77 69 72 76, Jack Hiluta (Chelmsford) 76 71 74 73, Tobe Tree (Worthing) 75 72 72 75.

SELECTED TOTALS
298 Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 72 77 75 74 (T18).
299 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 76 74 75 74 (T21).
300 Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 72 73 79 76 (T24)
303 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 77 74 76 76, Mathias Eggenberger (Stirling U) 74 77 73 79, Cormac Sharvin (Stirling) 75 75 74 789 (T33)
311 Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) 77 74 79 81 T48th).

ends        
    

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2013 FIFE ORDER OF MERIT FOR THE MACKAY BOWL

Positions after 3 events.

	NAME	CLUB		Points
1=	Ewan Scott	St Andrews		140
	Alan Sutherland	Ladybank		140
3	Scott Crichton	Aberdour		60

The next counting events for the 2013 FIFE ORDER OF MERIT are

THE SCOTTISH STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP at SOUTHERNESS from 31 May to 2 June and the LADYBANK 36 HOLE OPEN on 2 June.
 

2013 FIFE BOYS ORDER OF MERIT

Positions after 3 events

	NAME	CLUB		Points
1	Ben Kinsley	St Andrews		170
2	Greg Forrester	Lundin		150
3	Ewan Scott	St Andrews		130
4	Niall McMullen	Lundin		120
5	Marcus Rickard	Cupar		70
6=	S Grant	St Andrews		50
	Conor McCallum	Elie GH		50
	David Paterson	Leven GS		50
9	Alasdair McDougall	St Andrews New		40

The next counting events for the 2013 FIFE BOYS’ ORDER OF MERIT is THE FIFE BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP at BURNTISLAND on 12 May.

GRAEME ROBERTSON JT THIRD WITH A ROUND TO GO IN LYTHAM TROPHY

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
214 Albert Eckhardt (Finland) 73 72 69
217 Kristian Johannessen (Norway) 70 74 73
218 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 77 69 72, Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) 69 78 71 

SELECTED SCORES

224 Mathias Eggenberger (Stirling U) 74 77 73, Cormac Sharvein (Stirling U) 75 75 74, Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 72 77 75, Matthew Smyth (Royal Troon) 72 73 70 (T20)

225 James Ross (Royal Burgess)  76 74 75

227 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 77 74 76

230 Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) 77 74 79. 

BRETT RUMGFORD STRIKES AGAIN TO WIN VOLVO CHINA OPEN

                  BRETT RUMFORD ... Back-to-back wins
 
NEWS RELEASE 
TIANJIN, China, May 5 - Australian Brett Rumford romped to his second title in as many weeks on Sunday with a final round four-under-par 68 that gave him a four-shot victory at the 20 million yuan (U.S. $3.2 million) Volvo China Open at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club. 

Rumford added the OneAsia and European Tour co-sanctioned title to the Ballantine's Championship he won in South Korea last week, capping a remarkable fortnight that has seen him bank over a million dollars and soar up the world rankings from 253 to the mid 80s.

The 37-year-old Australian finished at 16 under par, with Finland's Mikko Ilonen (71) alone in second place and hard-charging Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (68) third. 

"It's surreal," said Rumford. "I'm more than pleased, but its not my doing completely -- I have a great team around me."
Rumford started the day a shot ahead of playing partner Ilonen, and they went at it hammer and tongs until the tournament was effectively settled in a three-hole stretch starting at the 12th.
Rumford made three birdies on-the-trot while Ilonen -- perhaps pushing too hard -- had a pair of bogeys that left him resigned to second place.
"The one on the 12th, well that was one of the best shots of my career," said Rumford, of the tricky up-and-down he had to pull off from the edge of a bunker.
The margin of victory could not have contrasted more with his effort in South Korea, when he broke a near six-year victory drought only after enduring a nail-biting three-way playoff that he forced his way into after a birdie on the last following a 17th hole double bogey.
"Mikko certainly put the pressure on me through the turn there, and obviously he was driving well … but it's amazing this game, how quickly it can turn," said Rumford.
Chinese teenager Dou Zecheng put in another credible effort with a 73 that saw him finish the tournament in the middle of the field at one under par -- the same as defending champion Branden Grace.
The 16-year-old amateur qualifier, the youngest player ever to make the cut in the tournament's 19-year-history, immediately set his sights on even greater glory.
"I want more … I want to play in Majors," he said, three weeks after 14-year-old compatriot Guan Tianlang stunned the golf world by making the cut at the U.S. masters.
On Thursday another qualifier, 12-year-old Ye Wocheng, became the youngest player ever to start a European Tour or OneAsia event -- shattering Guan's record set last year when he was 13. Ye missed the cut by 14 after shooting a pair of 79s.

 

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 7,667

272 Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 68-67-69-68.

276 Mikko ILONEN (FIN) 69-63-73-71.

277 Victor DUBUISSON (FRA) 71-72-66-68.

278 Robert-Jan DERKSEN (NED) 66-70-73-69.

279 Ricardo SANTOS (POR) 70-72-68-69, Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 71-66-69-73.

280 Andreas HARTO (DEN) 72-71-70-67.

281 Felipe AGUILAR (CHI) 71-73-68-69, Paul CASEY (ENG) 71-68-72-70, Thomas BJORN (DEN) 70-73-68-70, Joost LUITEN (NED) 73-67-68-73.

282 Ricardo GONZALEZ (ARG) 73-71-67-71, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 68-67-72-75.

283 Raphael JACQUELIN (FRA) 68-72-75-68, Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 72-69-73-69, Andy SULLIVAN (ENG) 74-68-72-69, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-70-74-70, Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 72-70-71-70, Lee SLATTERY (ENG) 69-68-74-72, Paul LAWRIE (SCO) 69-72-70-72.

284 Emiliano GRILLO (ARG) 73-71-70-70, Paul WARING (ENG) 72-68-73-71, Steve WEBSTER (ENG) 73-67-71-73.

285 Johan EDFORS (SWE) 73-69-73-70, Mark FOSTER (ENG) 70-69-75-71, Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) 70-71-71-73, Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) 70-71-70-74, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 69-70-71-75.

286 Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) 71-70-72-73, Soren HANSEN (DEN) 72-69-72-73, Richie RAMSAY (SCO) 71-68-73-74, Damien McGRANE (IRL) 73-66-73-74.

287 AN Byeong-hun (KOR) 73-68-74-72, Markus BRIER (AUT) 71-71-73-72, Moritz LAMPERT (GER) 72-72-71-72, Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) 70-68-76-73, Soren KJELDSEN (DEN) 72-68-74-73, DOU Ze-cheng (am, CHN) 70-72-72-73, Branden GRACE (RSA) 74-67-72-74, Graeme STORM (ENG) 70-68-74-75.

288 Nick CULLEN (AUS) 72-69-78-69, Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) 75-68-75-70, Richard BLAND (ENG) 72-71-75-70, Estanislao GOYA (ARG) 70-74-74-70, Kristoffer BROBERG (SWE) 74-67-75-72, Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) 75-68-73-72, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 74-69-72-73, Alexander NOREN (SWE) 70-73-71-74.

289 Andrew DODT (AUS) 72-71-77-69, Magnus A CARLSSON (SWE) 71-73-72-73.

290 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 76-68-76-70, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 74-70-75-71, Fabrizio ZANOTTI (PAR) 71-69-77-73, Rafael CABRERA- BELLO (ESP) 72-70-72-76.

291 Michael HENDRY (NZL) 74-67-75-75, Richard FINCH (ENG) 71-70-75-75, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 69-73-74-75, JB HANSEN (DEN) 73-69-71-78.

292 Niclas FASTH (SWE) 73-68-78-73, Garrett SAPP (USA) 70-74-74-74.

293 Joel SJOHOLM (SWE) 74-65-76-78, Peter WHITEFORD (SCO) 73-69-73-78.