Saturday, June 01, 2013

MATT KUCHAR LEADS MEMORIAL BY TWO AFTER ROUND 3

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Matt Kuchar couldn't think of conditions more difficult than Saturday in the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, and he had plenty of evidence.
The swirling wind that made it difficult to pull the right club. Fast greens that led to 65 three-putts in the third round alone. And a 44 on the back nine for Tiger Woods, the highest nine-hole score of his professional career.
"I think most of us would tend to be surprised any time Tiger shoots a number like that, but a lot more understandable in these conditions," Kuchar said after hanging on for a 2-under 70 that gave him a two-shot lead.
"If you're not on good form, these conditions are really going to beat you up."
Woods rallied on the front nine to salvage a 79, matching his second-worst score on the PGA TOUR as a professional. And that wasn't even the highest score on a tough day at Muirfield Village. Spieth shot 45 on the front nine for an 82, while Zach Johnson and Justin Hicks each had an 81
.
Kevin Chappell matched the best round of the day with a 4-under 68, leaving him two shots out of the lead, along with Kyle Stanley, who had a 70. Chappell loves having a chance to win his first PGA TOUR event, which isn't to suggest it was fun getting to that position.
"I guess it's like a prize fighter," Chappell said. "He enjoys winning, but I don't know if he enjoys getting hit that much."
Kuchar was at 8-under 208, among 10 players separated by four shots.
"It was a bit of survival," Kuchar said. "I was fortunate to make a handful of birdies. I think anytime you make a birdie in these conditions, you feel like you're really up on the field here. Most of these holes, you're looking at just getting out with a par."
Woods didn't get away with anything.
Going for his sixth win at the Memorial, and his fourth victory in his last five tournaments, Woods had two double bogeys and a triple bogey on the back nine for a 44, and he did that without a penalty shot.
"The conditions were tough and when I missed it cost me," Woods said through a PGA TOUR media official. "I caught the wrong gusts at the wrong time, made a couple bad swings and all in all, it just went the wrong way."
He wound up 16 shots out of the lead. Woods will tee off late Sunday, but on the opposite side of the course in the two-tee start because of weather.
The tournament was happy just to complete 54 holes with mid-afternoon storms that avoided Muirfield Village. >Bill Haas, the 36-hole leader, ran off three straight bogeys late in his round for a 76, and he wasn't all that upset about it. Haas was still only three shots back, and it wasn't hard to determine that par was a good score.
Like so many other players, Chappell wasn't sure which way the wind was blowing. On the 14th hole, with a wedge in hand from 105 yards, he felt the wind coming into him from the right, yet the flag was blowing in the opposite direction.
"I kept saying, `Wow, this is tough here.' You hit a good shot and end up in a bad spot," Chappell said. "What can I do? You've just got to keep doing it, put one foot in front of the other and finish each hole."
Past winner Justin Rose had a 71 and joined Haas and Matt Jones (70) at 5-under 211. Masters champion Adam Scott had a 69 and was in the group at 4 under that included Charl Schwartzel, who was within one shot of the lead after completing the second round Saturday morning. The South African bogeyed both par 5s on the back nine and took double bogey on the 14th. He had a 41 on the back for a 76.
That was still better than Woods, whose round was somewhat of a mystery -- not only because the world's No. 1 player was in great form coming into a course where he has won five times, but because he was in good position off the tee. Woods, who started the round on No. 10, missed only one fairway on the back nine.
He took double bogey on the par-3 12th when he was in such a bad spot in the front bunker that he had to play out sideways to the wrong side of a long green, and then he three-putted. 
On the par-5 15th, he pulled his second shot well to the left, and then took two chips to get onto the putting surface only for the ball to run through the green. He really was fooled on the 18th, with a chip that spun back down the hill and a three-putt from short range.
He had three birdies on the front nine to avoid his worst score as a pro. That was an 81 at another Muirfield -- the real one -- in the third round of the British Open that cost him his best shot at the calendar Grand Slam in 2002.
Kuchar surged into the lead with two birdies on the front nine and didn't drop a shot until the ninth hole, when he missed the green to the left. The wind got him on the 15th when his high fairway metal drifted beyond the bunker and into a hazard that Kuchar didn't know existed, leading to bogey.
He saved par with a 10-foot putt on the par-3 16th, and made regulation pars coming in to give himself the 54-hole lead for the second straight week. He also was atop the leaderboard at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, only to finish second to Boo Weekley.
"If you're not hitting the ball solid, you don't have a chance," Kuchar said.
Rory McIlroy had a 75, and part of him was happy to do that. He was safely inside the cut line when he returned Saturday morning to finish his round, and he birdied the 15th hole. He followed with back-to-back bogeys, and then came up short of the green and had to get up-and-down to avoid missing the cut. He made a 4-foot par save.
Pat Perez and former Masters champion Bubba Watson were among those at 3-under 213, still with a chance but needing some help. Tee times were pushed back for Sunday in case of early storms that might require time to clean up the course.
Perez was asked whether he wanted more wind.
"I'd like it to be dead calm," he said. "But I haven't hit a shot when it's not blowing 40 mph."

HOW THEY STAND WITH A ROUND TO GO

Par 216 (3x72) Players from USA unless stated
208 Matt Kuchar 68 70 70
210 Kevin Chappell 71 71 68, Kyle Stanley 67 70 73
211 Matt Jones (Australia) 69 72 70, Justin Rose (England) 70 70 71, Bill Haas 68 67 76
212 J J Henry 72 72 68, Adam Scott (Australia) 73 70 69, Scott Piercy 66 75 71, Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 65 71 76

SELECTED OTHER SCORES
213 Bubba Watson 71 67 75(T11)
214 Brian Davis (England) 75 70 69 (T14)
217 Martin Laird (Scotland) 71 75 71, Luke Donald (England) 73 73 71 (T39).
222 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 78 69 75 (T64).
223 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 72 74 77 (T66)
224 Tiger Woods 71 74 79 (T69)

MISSED THE CUT
156 Shane Lowry (Ireland) 78 78
Withdrew: Lee Westwood (England) 76 wd. 

TO VIEW THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

CLICK HERE

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TIGER TAKES 44 SHOTS TO THE TURN AND FINISHES WITH A 79

FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE
Tiger Woods ran up the highest nine-hole score of his professional career with an outward 44 in the third round of the Memorial Tournament in Ohio today.
The world number one, who started on the 10th, leaked double bogeys on the 12th and 15th, dropped another shot on the 17th and triple-bogeyed the 18th.
He picked up three shots after the turn but made further bogeys at the sixth and ninth for a round of 79.
The 14-time major winner is eight over par, 16 shots behind the leaders. 
 “It’s not that hard to make bogeys and doubles on this golf course,.” said Woods.
This was defending champion and five-time winner Woods's highest ever round at Jack Nicklaus's Muirfield Village course.
His previous worst nine-hole score was 43 - something he fired on three occasions, most recently at Quail Hollow in 2010 when he also shot a 79.
His most ugly 18-hole score was an 81 he compiled in brutal conditions during the third round of the 2002 Open at Muirfield, which is the venue, of course, for this year's Open. 

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Rory McIlroy had to get up and down from 45 yards on the 18th hole to make the cut at the end of the rain-delayed second round.
McIlroy had opened with a 78 and knew he needed to hit a low score just to stick around for the final two rounds. He was four under for his second round through 14 holes when the third suspension of play finally brought the players in on Friday night. When he returned on Saturday morning he birdied the 15th, but then had bogeys at 16 and 17.
Needing a par to make the cut, he hit his drive on the par-four 18th into a deep bunker, then spun his approach shot off the false front and it ended up 45 yards short and below the green. 
But he chipped to four feet and made the putt to salvage par before slamming his club into his bag as he left the green.
“Bogeying 16 and 17 wasn’t really the plan,” he said. “And obviously having to make one up and down at the last. I’m happy to be in on the weekend with a couple of rounds to work on things. But I need to commit more to my shots and not guide the ball as much, I guess – just let it go.”
Charl Schwartzel made the most of an early start to move within a shot of leader Bill Haas.
Haas, who followed an opening 68 with a 67 before the heavy weather came in on Friday, was safe and secure in his hotel with a three-shot lead overnight.
First-round leader Schwartzel began play on the 16th hole on Saturday with a par, then birdied the final two holes to put the finishing touches on a 71 that left him at 136.
“I thought if I could somehow get one back and get my round back to even, I’d be very happy,” he said. “I managed to make two [birdies], coming up 17 and 18. I’m very pleased with the way it turned out.”
Kyle Stanley played his final four holes on Saturday morning and was another shot back at 137 followed by Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson at 138.

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NEWCASTLE FAN PORTEOUS LEADS THE FIELD AT SOUTHERNESS

Geordie golfer Garrick Porteous is a lot more successful in his own sporting sphere than his favourite football team, Newcastle United, and he underlined that again today at Southerness on Day 2 of the 72-hole Carrick Neill Scottish men's open amateur stroke play championship at the Solway Firth venue.
Porteous, pictured, a 23-year-old member at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club, Northumberland, who played on the US college circuit for four years as a University of Tennessee student, will lead the star-studded field into Sunday's final two rounds.
Although some of the home stars,  such as last year's Scottish match-play champion Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) will not be there. He missed the cut.
Porteous, a member of the England team that won the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande earlier this year and bidding for a place in the GB and I team for the Walker Cup defence in New York State in the autumn, leads on one-under-par 137 over the par-69 course. He is the only player under par and his rounds of 68 and 69 have given him a one-stroke lead from Irishman Richard O'Donovan (Lucan) (68-70).
Chris Robb (Meldrum House), a student at the University of Chattanooga-Tennessee, the leading Scot overnight, dropped back with a 77 for 146.
The top home hopes are now Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) (74-68) and Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) (72-70) on 142, five shots off the pace.
Only players with totals of 148 and better have gone through to the last two rounds.
Australia's Brady Watt, on paper the best player in the field, just made it through on the limit mark with scores of 73 and 75. For a long time it looks as if he has missed out by one.
Same applies to one of the leading Scots hopes for a Walker Cup place, Greame Robertson (Glenbervie). His rounds of 72 and 76 got him through, only just, on 148.


SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 138 (2x69) SS 74 CSS 75 (Round 1)
137 G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 68 69.
138 R O'Donovan (Lucan) 68 70..
139 C Shinkwin (Moor Park) 71 68, Derm`ot McElroy (Ballymena) 69 70.
142 S Maxwell (Windyhill) 74 68, M Rocchi (France) 74 68, H Tomlinson (Royal Lytham) 69 73, N Holman (Woodlands) 71 71, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 70.
143 J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 72, C Sharvin (Ardglass) 69 74, D Brandt-Richrds (Australia) 71 71, N Kimsey (Woodhall Spa) 66 77.
144 B Kinsley (St Andrews) 70 74, M Moseley (Carmarthen) 71 73.
145 A McDougall (Elderslie) 71 74, S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 73 72, J Bower (Meltham) 72 73, E Scott (St Andrews) 74 71, B Neil (Blairgowrie) 73 72, J Rutherford (Knebworth) 71 74, J Smith (Bowood) 69 76, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 74.
146 N Henderson (Renaissance) 78 68, T Tree (Worthing) 72 74, J Storey (Alnmouth) 71 75, J Taylor (York) 76 70, M Eggenberger (Swi) 72 74, A Jones (Radyr) 73 73, C Robb (Meldrum House) 69 77, P Lockwood (Hessle) 71 75
147 S Gibson (Soputherness) 76 71, K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 77 70, J McDoll (Scotscraig) 74 73, P Kinnear (Formby)_ 72 75, F Moore (Glenbervie) 74 73, L Tomlinson (West Lancs) 70 77, F Moore (Glenbervie) 74 73, L Tomlinson (West Lancs) 70 77.
148 Oliver Carr (Heswall) 73 75, James Ross (Royal Burgess) 71 77, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 73 75, Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 71 77, Brady Watt (Australia) 73 75, Craig Chalmers (Cawder) 74 74, Charlie MacNeal (Prestwick) 73 75, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 72 76, B Loughrey (Wrag Barn) 74 74, D Keddie (Belton Park) 72 76.
MISSED THE CUT
149 C Howie (Peebles) 74 75, E Bradley (Mount Ellen) 76 73, A Wilson (Renaissance) 75 74, J Savage (Cawder) 73 76, M Clark (Kilmacolm) 71 78.

150 A Sutherland (Ladybank) 75 75, J Hendrick (Pollok) 76 74, K Godsman (Moray) 78 72.
151 S Spence (Irvine) 74 77, J Mathers (Haggs Castle) 70 81, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 70 81, G Forrest (Craigielaw) 74 77, D Kay (Dunbar) 73 78.
152 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 77 75.
153 S Brown (Turnberry) 76 77, L Allan (Alva) 78 75, M Pennycott (Isle of Arran) 77 76, S Crighton (Aberdour) 73 80.
154 G Marchbank (Dumfries and Co)  81 73, E Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74 80, H Porteous (South AFrica) 70 84.
155 J Aitken (Alloa) 83 72, J Duff (Newmachar) 79 76, M Smyth (Royal Troon) 78 77.
156 S Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 80 76.
158 F McKenna (Balmore) 82 76, D Thompsett (Aboyne) 76 82, J Bunch (Prestwick) 79 79.
159 J White (Lundin) 79 80
160 C Farrell (Cardross) 84 76, T Spencer (Meldrum House) 84 76, L Johnson (Dumfries and Co) 74 86.
161 A Culverwell (Dunbar) 79 82. 
162 N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 76 86.
164 J Rhind (Kingsfield) 81 83.
166 D Wilson (Troon Welbeck) 80 86.
171 S Stewart-Cation (Duke's) 82 79.
176 B Shamash (Kirkcudbright) 88 88.

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DUNCAN STEWART'S 63 TAKES HIM INTO LEADING 10 IN CANARIES

Duncan Stewart, pictured above, shot one of the lowest rounds of his golfing career - an eight-under-par 63 to force his way into the top 10 with one round to go in the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana tournament at La Gomera on the Canary Islands today (Saturday).
The Inverness-born 29-year-old had nine birdies and one bogey in halves of 33-30 following efforts of 68 and 73. He is on nine-under-par 204, tied seventh, 10 shots behind the American Leader, Brooks Koepka who has scored 64, 66 and 64 for 19-under-par 194 and a four-shot lead from Frenchman Edouard Dubois.
Edinburgh-based Jamie McLeary is joint 46th on 212 after rounds of 72, 68 and 72.
Ross Kellett has had three scores of 71 for level par 213 and joint 55th place. 

REPORT AND SCORES FROM 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Challenge Tour Number One Brooks Koepka continued to stamp his dominance on the Fred Olsen Challenge de España after a brilliant third round of seven under par 64 saw him race clear of Frenchman Edouard Dubois with 18 holes to play at Tecina Golf in the Canary Islands. 
Koepka began the day alongside Dubois on the leaderboard but quickly established himself as the man to catch with birdies at his opening two holes. Both players bogeyed the fifth before Koepka hit back instantly with a birdie on the sixth.
Realising he was about to be left behind, Dubois matched Koepka’s next birdies on the seventh and ninth, and from there managed to hold onto the American’s coat tails and finish the day on 15 under par, four behind playing partner. 
The 23 year old from West Palm Beach is generally pleased with his outstanding level of performance, but is fully aware that even a four shot lead of 19 under par cannot be taken for granted.
“Overall I am playing well and shootoing another low score out there today really helps to build confidence and keep the momentum going in the right way,” said Koepka who leads the Challenge Tour Rankings thanks, in the main, to his victory in the Montecchia Golf Open presented by POLAROID three weeks ago. 
“I still feel like I could be holing more putts, though. I have had three three-putts this week and if I can eliminate that then I have a chance to win because I am playing really well.
“I have to go out there and play my best because someone can shot a 59 on this golf course if they really get it going out there.”
  THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
194 B Koepka  (USA) 64 66 64
198 E Dubois (Fra) 63 67 68
202 B Ritthammer (Ger) 67 70 65
203 N Meitinger  (Ger) 64 72 67; A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 70 65 68; P Relecom  (Bel) 67 68 68
204 R Steiner (Aut) 69 67 68; L Claverie (Esp) 69 66 69; T Pilkadaris (Aus) 67 69 68; C Devlin (Nir) 69 68 67; S Kim (Kor) 69 68 67; D Stewart (Sco) 68 73 63
205 D Brooks (Eng) 69 66 70; D Wuensche  (Ger) 70 65 70; B An (Kor) 70 69 66; J Guerrier  (Fra) 64 70 71; D Im (USA) 74 65 66;
206 V Riu  (Fra) 67 69 70; C Russo (Fra) 70 71 65; A Pavan (Ita) 70 68 68
207 J Legarrea (Esp) 65 70 72; M Pastor (Esp) 67 69 71; D Ulrich (Sui) 67 68 72; G Shaw (Nir) 70 70 67;
208 L Bjerregaard  (Den) 67 74 67; A Bernadet  (Fra) 69 72 67; S Manley (Wal) 71 69 68; S Hutsby  (Eng) 68 71 69;
209 J Abbott (Eng) 71 69 69; A Maestroni  (Ita) 73 68 68; J Watts (Eng) 70 67 72; S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 69 71 69; P Herreria (Esp) 66 76 67; M Haastrup  (Den) 71 66 72;
210 J Timmis (Eng) 69 69 72; B Hafthorsson (Isl) 71 71 68; S Walker (Eng) 72 68 70; E Johansen  (Nor) 72 69 69; S Fallon (Eng) 72 67 71;
211 P Archer (Eng) 71 69 71; M Ford (Eng) 70 67 74; D Palm (Swe) 70 72 69; I Korvenmaa (Fin) 67 72 72; E Espana (Fra) 71 70 70; D Frittelli (RSA) 70 69 72;
212 L Goddard  (Eng) 70 70 72; A Velasco (Esp) 76 65 71; M Haremza (Ger) 70 69 73; O Whiteley (Eng) 69 70 73; D Geminiani (Ita) 71 70 71; A Otaegui  (Esp) 68 74 70; T Fournier  (Fra) 71 70 71; J McLeary  (Sco) 72 68 72; C Kim (USA) 73 68 71;
213 E Bertheussen (Nor) 68 72 73; J Fahrbring (Swe) 72 70 71; G Piris Mateu (Esp) 73 69 71; R Kellett (Sco) 71 71 71; R Mattila (Fin) 72 70 71; J Bragulat  (Esp) 71 68 74;
214 J Maurer  (Aut) 68 72 74; M Quiros (Esp) 70 69 75;
215 P Edberg (Swe) 75 66 74; T Nørret (Den) 72 70 73;
216 K Ferrie (Eng) 75 65 76; D Kemmer (USA) 75 67 74; J Barnes (Eng) 72 68 76;
 

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DOHERTY, ELLIOT SALTMAN MAKE TOP 10 ON EUROPRO TOUR

Former Scottish boys champion Paul Doherty and Elliot Saltman just made the top 10 on the last day of the PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Kerry London Championship, at Burhill Golf Club, Surrey today (Saturday).

Doherty, pictured, had scores of 72, 72 and 71 for one-under-par 215, the same total as Saltman (Archerfield Links) who had rounds of 72, 71 and 72.
Both collected £725 which could have been more as Doherty covered the last four holes in one over par and Saltman bogeyed the 17th and 18th in his final round.
Tartan Tour player Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) earned £365 for finishing joint 21st on 217 with scores of 76,70 and 71. He took bogeyed the 18th.
Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) also bogeyed the 17th and 18th in finishing with a 77 for four-over 220, having scored 73 and 70 in his earlier rounds. He earned £270 for a joint 35th place finish.
The £10,000 jackpot prize was won by Englishman Richard Wallis (Walmer and Kingsdown) who shot 66-70-65 for 15-under-par 201 and won by seven shots from Nick McCarthy (Moortown) (68-68-72) who collected £5,000.



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NICOL AND STEWART TOP 20 FINISHES IN ALPS TOUR EVENT

Kris Nicol and Michael Stewart both finished in the top 20 in the Alps Tour's Fiuli Venezia Giulia Open at Grado Golf Club, near Venice in Italy today (Saturday).

Fraserburgh's Nicol, pictured, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, shot rounds of 70, 72 and 67 for a seven-under-par total of 209 which earned him 797 Euros and a share of 12th place.
Former Walker Cup player Stewart from Troon earned 649 Euros which could have been a couple of hundred Euros more had he not bogeyed the 17th and 18th in his final round of 69. His earlier scores were 68 and 73.
He finished joint 16th on 210 - nine shots behind the winner of the 5,800 Euros first prize, Englishman Jason Palmer from Kirby Muxloe Golf Club.
Palmer had scores of 70, 65 and 66 for 15-under-201, winning by two shots from compatriot Ben Evans, Lukas Nemecz (Austria) and overnight leader Rafael Marguery (France), each of whom earned 2,873 Euros.
The third Scot in the field, Ross Cameron from Ellon, missed the 36-hole cut.

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FLYING FINN GOES TWO SHOTS CLEAR IN NORDEA MASTERS

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
 Mikko Ilonen has the chance to end his six-year wait for a third European Tour title on Sunday after establishing a two-shot lead after three rounds of the Nordea Masters in Sweden.
The Finn, already a runner-up in China and Morocco this year, carded a seven under par 65 to reach 18 under for the week at Bro Hof Slott near Stockholm.

That was two clear of 2011 winner and home favourite Alex Noren, who was round in 64, with another Swede, Jonas Blixt, tied for third on 14 under with Italian halfway leader Matteo Manassero.

Both Ilonen’s previous European Tour titles came in 2007 – the second in this event – but the 33 year old was refusing to get complacent despite his lead.

“I need to shoot another low score and I can do it, but we’ve got 18 holes to go and lots of other guys are still hunting me,” he said.

With last week’s BMW PGA Championship winner Manassero having a rare off-day, Ilonen turned in 33 to grab a one shot lead, before pulling clear with a spectacular patch of scoring in the middle of the back nine.

He struck his approach to three feet at the 13th set up a birdie, converted another from five feet at the 14th, and then saw a sand wedge spin back in for eagle at the 15th.

“It was a bit of a funny yardage for me,” he said of the eagle. “It was raining and I just tried to squeeze it in there and got lucky with it a bit.”

Noren romped to victory by a whopping seven shots two years ago, and displayed that sort of form again as he holed putts of 80 feet and 40 feet at the fourth and 16th for two of seven birdies, as well as highlighting his long-game talents with a fairway wood to ten feet to set up an eagle on the long ninth.

“I got lucky,” said the 30 year old. “I hit a lot of good putts and I holed a lot of them – I don’t know where it came from, amazing putting.

“I’ve played here a lot; I’m from an hour away, it’s the best course in Sweden and it is a beautiful place.”

The 20 year old Manassero looked to have overcome a sluggish start with a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine, but went from rough to water at the last and double bogeyed to dent his chances of back-to-back victories with a 71.

Blixt produced a bogey-free 66, with a chip-in at the third and approach to three feet at the last among the highlights.

Bernd Wiesberger carded a brilliant eight under par 64 for 11 under par.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERS 
Par 216 (3x72)
198 Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 70 63 65.
200 Alex Noren (Sweden) 67 69 64.
202 Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 70 66 66, Matteo Manassero (Ialy) 66 65 71.
204 Rikard Karlberg (Sweden) 69 68 67.
205 Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) 69 72 64. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 70 67 68, Joost Luiten (Holland) 68 67 70.

SCOTS' SCORES
207 Peter Whiteford 71 63 73 (T11)
209 Craig Lee 72 70 67, Paul Lawrie 70 71 68 (T18).
210 David Drysdale 71 68 71 (T31)
211 Chris Doak 72 68 71, Gary Orr 68 71 72 (T30).
212 Richie Ramsay 70 70 72 (T44).

THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
198 M Ilonen  (Fin) 70 63 65;
200 A Noren  (Swe) 67 69 64;
202 M Manassero (Ita) 66 65 71; J Blixt  (Swe) 70 66 66;
204 R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 68 67;
205 T Björn (Den) 70 67 68; J Luiten (Ned) 68 67 70; B Wiesberger  (Aut) 69 72 64;
206 P Larrazábal (Esp) 66 70 70; J Quesne  (Fra) 73 67 66;
207 P Whiteford (Sco) 71 63 73; R Davies (Wal) 69 70 68; M Jiménez (Esp) 72 67 68; H Norlander (Swe) 73 67 67;
208 F Aguilar (Chi) 71 67 70; S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 69 69; D McGrane (Irl) 73 67 68;
209 G Havret  (Fra) 69 70 70; M Kieffer (Ger) 71 69 69; R Johnson (Swe) 72 66 71; R Kakko  (Fin) 71 68 70; J Donaldson (Wal) 67 70 72; A Dodt (Aus) 77 65 67; R Fisher (Eng) 72 67 70; S Benson (Eng) 70 71 68; A Quiros  (Esp) 71 68 70; J Hansen  (Den) 69 73 67; C Lee (Sco) 72 70 67; P Uihlein  (USA) 71 70 68; P Lawrie (Sco) 70 71 68;
210 E Grillo (Arg) 69 71 70; S Hansen (Den) 71 70 69; F Molinari (Ita) 70 67 73; D Drysdale (Sco) 71 68 71; A Cañizares  (Esp) 68 72 70;
211 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 67 72 72; C Doak (Sco) 72 68 71; S Dyson  (Eng) 70 70 71; G Orr (Sco) 68 71 72; P Hanson (Swe) 69 69 73; L Jensen (Den) 71 68 72; J Olazábal (Esp) 72 68 71; A Sullivan (Eng) 71 70 70;
 212 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 71 71; R Bland (Eng) 72 70 70; S Wakefield (Eng) 67 73 72; E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 70 71; P Martin Benavides (Esp) 69 72 71; R Ramsay  (Sco) 70 70 72; L Slattery (Eng) 72 69 71; M Carlsson  (Swe) 70 71 71; E Goya (Arg) 73 68 71; K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 73 69 70; J Campillo (Esp) 72 68 72;
213 J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 73 71; M Baldwin (Eng) 71 69 73; R Gonzalez (Arg) 71 71 71; C Lloyd (Eng) 67 73 73;
 24 T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 70 72; M Southgate  (Eng) 70 71 73; F Zanotti (Par) 72 66 76; J Parry (Eng) 68 73 73; M Foster (Eng) 73 68 73; S Chowrasia (Ind) 71 69 74; A Hartø  (Den) 72 68 74;
215 J Lagergren (Swe) 70 72 73;
216 A Dunbar (Nir) 72 69 75;
217 S Little (Eng) 73 69 75; M Campbell (Nzl) 75 67 75; J Edfors (Swe) 71 70 76; P Erofejeff (Fin) 70 71 76;
218 M Tullo (Chi) 70 71 77; R Green (Aus) 70 72 76;
219 P Casey  (Eng) 74 68 77;

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LINK TO LIVE SCORING FROM SCOTTISH AMATEUR STROKE PLAY

TO VIEW THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE LIVE SCORING SERVICE FROM THE SECOND ROUND OF THE CARRICK NEILL SCOTTISH MEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AT SOUTHERNESS GOLF CLUB

CLICK HERE

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LINK TO US WEB.COM TOUR EVENT NEWS AND SCORES

FOR NEWS AND SCORES FROM THE US PGA WEB.COM TOUR (formerly the Nationwide Tour) EVENT THIS WEEKEND

CLICK HERE

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LEADERS' LOGJAM AT NEW COURSE FOR US SENIORS' TOUR

From the US CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Champions Tour players are used to seeing low numbers in the Principal Charity Classic. The results from the first round on the tournament's new course suggest that those days could be behind them.

Tom Lehman, Duffy Waldorf, Dan Forsman and Scott Hoch shot 3-under 69 on Friday to share the lead at the Wakonda Club. The Iowa event had been held at Glen Oaks Country Club in neighbouring West Des Moines in 11 of the last 12 years.
Hale Irwin, who turns 68 on Monday, topped a group of eight at 70. Defending champion Jay Haas opened with a 71, and Schwab Cup points leader Bernhard Langer had a 72.
Wakonda, which was built 91 years ago, has more sloping fairways, higher rough and arguably trickier greens than Glen Oaks. Even though players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways effect because of soggy conditions, low scores were hard to find.
The first-round leading score was the highest ever in Iowa -- and every player had at least one bogey.
"It's kind of a mystery course, isn't it?" Waldorf said. "You get out here on this course and you go, 'Anything under par looks good'."
The conditions led to a bunched leaderboard, which also featured four players tied for the first spot for the first time in tournament history.
Waldorf played the front nine in even par before a strong stretch put him atop the early leaderboard.
Waldorf birdied four of the next five holes -- including successive sand wedge approaches that landed within 5 feet -- to get to 3 under. Though Waldorf had to scramble for pars on the three holes, he was thrilled with his opening round.
"If you had given me 69 before the round I would have said 'Oh yeah,'" Waldorf said.
Forsman's day was defined by an adventurous birdie on the par-5 13th hole.
He hit his drive in the rough, followed by a 5-iron that whacked a tree. He punched his next shot over the green, leaving him about 70 feet from the hole. But Forsman chipped it over a ridge, down a slope and into the cup.
"It's a huge bonus," Forsman said. "And yet, when it goes in, I said to my caddie, "That's why we hit all those pitch shots this week.' It was tongue-in-cheek, but I was trying to plug that into the subconscious, so next time I'm in that position I'll have a similar outcome."
Lehman had four birdies on the back nine, including one on No. 18, to pull even with Waldorf and Forsman. Hoch also birdied the 311-yard, par-4 18th, which ranked as the course's second-easiest hole, to reach 3 under.
Haas entered play with a chance to become just the third Champions Tour player to win the same event four times. After a rough start, he put himself in position for a move on Saturday.
Haas bogeyed three of his first six holes, and a 6 on the par-5 15th put him 1 over, but he closed with a birdie.
Langer needed birdies on holes No. 17 and 18 to get to 72 after a nasty double-bogey on the previous hole.
David Frost, third in the Schwab Cup standings, picked up six bogeys en route to a 5-over 77.
Unknown Doug Garwood, who had played just three events on the Web.com Tour since 2005, stunned the field by pulling into a tie for the lead after 14 holes. But Garwood bogeyed the 15th and 16th holes and had to settle for a 70.
Des Moines avoided rain Friday, but there's a chance the course could see some light showers on Saturday.

BRITISH PLAYERS' SCORES:
Par 72
71 Barry Lane (England).
73 Ian Woosnam (Wales)
74 Roger Chapman (England)
75 Sandy Lyle (Scotland)

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BILL HAAS CLEAR OF MEMORIAL FIELD WHEN PLAY SUSPENDED A THIRD TIME

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
 In the second round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Dublin, Ohio, Bill Haas led at 9 under when play was suspended. He is one of the few players to have completed two rounds. 
Haas played the best golf in the toughest conditions Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the rain-delayed tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance. 
When the second round was suspended as dark clouds rolled in and forced the third stoppage in play, Haas found himself three shots clear atop the leaderboard following a 5-under 67 for a two-round total of 9-under 135. 
Matt Kuchar was in second place at 6-under after his completed second round of 70, along with Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson and Kyle Stanley, who got through 15, 14 and 13 holes respectively, with the second round to be finished on Saturday morning. 
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were close to each other on the scoreboard at 1-over and 2-over respectively, but a long way behind the leaders.
Woods, the five-time Memorial winner, had a most peculiar round in wind and on fast greens. He three-putted from 5 feet for double bogey on the par-5 15th, chopped up the final hole for a bogey and wound up with a 74. 
"Tough conditions out there, and I didn't exactly play my best, either," said Woods, who had his worst 36-hole total (145) at the Memorial since he first played it in 1997. 
McIlroy was in danger of missing the cut until he fired off five birdies, looking more comfortable with his putts and attacking with his driver. He was 4 under for his round and one shot inside the cut line. 
McIlroy was in a greenside bunker in two shots at the par-5 15th when play was stopped. 
"The major goal today was to try to make it into the weekend," McIlroy said. "I'm on the right track to do that." 
Slugger White, the vice president of competition, said more storms were expected early Saturday afternoon and into Sunday morning. Ohio is on the western edge of the eastern time zone, allowing for long hours of daylight, which meant delays could be accommodated but several players have U.S. Open qualifying Monday, which meant there was no room to manoeuvre on the schedule.
Morning or afternoon, Muirfield Village was no picnic. The wind was a factor in the morning and it began to increase in strength, while the greens were firm and crispy and required caution even on the shorter putts.

Haas played through it beautifully, taking advantage of one bad tee shot that he thought was headed out-of-bounds on the par-5 11th. 

He hit a provisional, didn't need it and wound up making a birdie. He also holed a bunker shot for eagle on No. 5 and was at 9-under 135.
Haas has been playing the Memorial since 2005, and he has been coming to Muirfield Village even longer when his father, Jay Haas, was a regular. The son even caddied for the father one year, and he received a sponsor's exemption his first year out of college.
"Even though I've never really had great success her personally, I love coming back, look forward to it every year," Haas said. 

"And part of it might be I've always known how much my dad liked it and how well he did here. Hopefully, I can continue on the weekend and get a better taste in my mouth on how to play it, as opposed to just liking it."
Only six players from the morning round managed to break 70, a testament to a course that is dry and fast, especially on the greens. 

The wind was strong early and showed no sign of letting up, even after a 20-minute delay in the afternoon as storms threatened.
Woods was not making birdies and made a mess of the par-5 15th for the second straight day. From the fairway, he pulled his approach well left of the green and chipped through the green, just into a thick collar of round. He chipped out to about 5 feet, and his par putt caught the lip and spun some 8 feet away. Woods wound up three-putting for double bogey from 5 feet.
"I had a good chance to at least get to even par for my round," Woods said. "The last hole I ended up making bogey. All in all, it was a hard-fought day, and that's all I have."
Woods has never won a US PGA Tour event from 10 shots behind going into the weekend. He won at Torrey Pines in 1999 when he was nine shots behind Ted Tryba. Woods has never made up more than a six-shot deficit on the weekend at Muirfield Village.


 
COMPLETED SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72)
Players from USA unless stated
135 Bill Haas 68 67.
138 Matt Kuchar 68 70
140 Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 69 71
141 Pat Perez 72 69, Hunter Mahan 73 68, Matt Jones (Australia) 69 72.
OTHER SELECTED COMPLETED SCORES
145 Tiger Woods 71 74.

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