LANGER v WOEBE PLAY-OFF WILL CONTI8NUE MONDAY MORNING

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Bernhard Langer and Mark Wiebe will resume their play-off for The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex on Monday after great drama in the dark at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
Germany’s Langer had led by two shots heading down the par four last but made a double bogey after taking four shots to get down from one of the Southport links’ famous deep bunkers meaning extra holes with Wiebe.
The pair took two trips down 18th, twice halving in pars in the near darkness before play was finally called for the day, meaning that for the first time ever The Senior Open will conclude on a Monday, starting at 0800 local time.

“It was a roller coaster day obviously,” said Langer, who also held a one shot advantage heading into the last day at Turnberry in 2012, but closed with a 75 to finish in a share of sixth place as Fred Couples took the title. 

“I had quite a nice lead and all I had to do was bogey the last hole, and I'm sorry I keep you all hanging around till tomorrow, because I usually play a little smarter, a little cleverer.

“I gave it away.  I could bogey the last hole and win the championship, and I probably chose the wrong club for my second shot.  I should have maybe played it short to take the bunkers out of play.

“I got a little unlucky that the ball got in a bunker where it was pretty deep and thought I hit a decent shot but it came out too low.  The sand is firm with the rain that we had.  I had a chance to make the putt but didn’t make it. But I made two good pars on the play-off in the dark and I have still got another chance tomorrow.”

Wiebe, who finished alongside Langer in a tie for sixth at Turnberry last year, said it was an astonishing denouement.

“It was wild,” he said. “I really thought I had great chances for birdies on 15, 16, 17 and 18, and I didn't come away with any.  And I know what kind of player Bernie is.  But I was surprised and then playing in the dark is a new one for me.

“I was hoping that one of us would bogey or something so we could move on. But, it's a never‑ending day and it's going to continue tomorrow at 8.00.

“I think it's probably pretty fair that we both made pars in the play-off, because it was dark, and we want to have a true champion here. Not that either of us aren't, but I think it's nice to play with sun out.”

Langer, who won this event at Carnoustie in 2010, had begun the day three shots clear of South Africa’s David Frost and looked in control, showing a mixture of fine play and spectacular scrambling in a front nine 32. He picked up shots at the fifth and ninth to remain clear of the field despite the best efforts of Wiebe, who found three birdies in four holes before the turn to keep the pressure firmly on.

The two-time Masters Tournament champion made a further gain at the 12^th before storms halted play for a first time, while a first dropped shot of the day came after Langer three-putted the short 14^th on his return to the course. With three holes remaining the clouds rolled in again and play was suspended for a second time.

When play resumed after an hour’s delay, Wiebe parred his way in for a four under par 66 and will have been as surprised as anyone to have gained a spot in the play-off following Langer’s unfortunate conclusion, as the German signed for a level par 70.

The pair will now come back on Monday morning to reach an outcome, while further back Frost closed out with a level par 70 to finish in a tie for third alongside Australian Peter Senior (66) and 2010 US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, who equalled the low-round of the week with a five under par 65 to continue his incredible Senior Open record having finished second in 2010, tied third in 2011 and tied third last year.

Australian Peter Fowler, the 2011 Senior Tour Order of Merit winner, was a further two shots back on four under par while Scotland’s Sandy Lyle was the highest home finisher at seventh following a level par 70.

Debutant Colin Montgomerie signed off his first Senior Open Championship with a three over par 73 for a share of 31^st position on five over par.

  LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
271 B Langer (Germany) 68 67 66 70, M Wiebe (US) 70 65 70 66 (to resume play-off at 8am Monday)
274 D Frost (South Africa) 68 68 68 70, C Pavin (US) 69 71 69 65, P Senior (Australia) 68 71 69 66.
276 P Fowler (Australia) 69 68 70 69
277 Sandy Lyle (Scotland) 70 68 69 70

SELECTED OTHER SCORE
285 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 72 71 69 73 (T21).

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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JASON McCREADIE IN AMONG THE LOW NUMBERS AGAIN

     JASON McCREADIE .. Picture by Andy Forman

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
National champion in 2008, Jason McCreadie has a reputation on the Tartan Tour for scoring low when he gets the ball rolling for him.
The Buchanan Castle tour pro, who will have his 43rd birthday on Tuesday, proved it again with a seven-under-par 64 on a rain-affected first round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship over the King's Course at the Perthshire golf resort.
McCreadie had one eagle (from 30ft at the 10th) and seven birdies of which he had three in the first four holes and another three birdies in the last five holes in halves of 32-32.
"It's not a bad wee start. I played sensibly for a change, hitting lots of fairways and greens," said McCreadie who bogeyed the short fifth and 12th.
"The course is in great nick and the rain has softened it up as it was a bit fiery when I came up for a practice round."
But even a 64 gave Jason, twice winner of the Northern Open, only a one-shot lead at the end of a long day of five-hour rounds.
West Linton-based Welshman Gareth Wright, winner of the Glenmuir PGA club pros' title last year, shot a 65, thanks to a birdie-eagle grandstand finish in halves of 32-33.
Wright, who played all four rounds in this year's Open, had five birdies, three of them before the turn. His only dropped shot was at the 11th.
"I've just carried on playing nicely from last week at Muirfield. I also like everything up here - the course and the resort," said Gareth.
"I was steady all the way round and it's always nice to finish with an eagle, hitting a driver and 8-iron to around 15 feet.
"I lost to Chris Doak at the fourth extra hole in a play-off for this title in 2010 and it would be fantastic if I could win this event - it would be a great honour."
Carluke's Craig Ronald put together a 67 (35-32) by covering the last seven holes in four under par with birdies at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th.
Emma Fairnie (Gullane), only the third female to play in the championship over the last 80 years, kept her nerve to finish with a 78 which was a good effort after reaching the turn in 41 shots, thanks to a double bogey 6 at the third. She birdied the 14th and 18th in 37 for the second nine.
First prize will be in the region of £8,000 or £9,000.


FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71 (35-36)
64 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle)32-32
 
65 G Wright (West Linton) 33-33
67 C Ronald (Carluke)35-32
69 C Currie (Caldwell)36-33, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle)35-34, J Gallagher (Douglas Park)34-35.
70 S Catlin (Greenburn), S Herald (Mearns Castle), C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey), J McKinnon (Irvine).
71 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), K Hutton (Downfield), G McBain (Gamola Golf), S Henderson (Kings Links), C Kelly (Cawder), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), A Mackrell (Playsport), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy).
72 M Patterson (Kilmacolm), P Wardell (Whitekirk), D Patrick (Kingsfield), K McNicoll (Gullane).
73 G Hutcheon (Banchory), A Reid (West Lothian), C Russell (RAW golf course design), S Lamb (Cardrona), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), A Brown (Archerfield Links), J McGhee (unatt), D Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co), J Lomas (Caprington).
74 D Orr (Mearns Castle), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), P Robinson (Largs), D Wood (Hirsel), T Mathieson (Murcar Links).
75 S Savage (Dalmuir), G Paxton (Ralston), S Gray (Hayston), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), G Brown (Montrose Links), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), R Cameron (Saltire Energy).
76 M Loftus (Mearns Castle), J Cliff (Murrayfield), M Patterson (Cruden Bay), P Wilson (Cawder).
77 A Jowett (Gleneagles Hotel), C Smith (Royal Musselburgh), F Clarke (Newmachar).
78 I Taylor (Drumpellier), Emma Fairnie (Gullane0, M King (Kingsfield), A Duncan (unatt)
79 T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), G Law (Uphall), S O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), R King (Carrick on Loch Lomond).
80 M Murray (Brora), L Vannet (Carnoustie), I Lowdean (Murrayfield)
82 M Robertson (Balmore), G Robertson (Airdrie)
83 M Galley (Gleneagles Hotel).

ALLYN DICK WINS NEWLANDS TROPHY FOR THIRD TIME

Allyn Dick, flanked by John Hughes, captain of Lanark Golf Club, and his wife Mary. Picture by Willie Sharpe.

Kingsknowe's Allyn Dick added to his list of victories in Lanark Golf Club's Newlands Trophy event - reduced from 72 to 36 holes this year, but only after a three-way play-off.
Dick (74-68), Kevin Loughrie (Cambuslang) (72-70) and Ryan McKenzie (Erskine) (70-72) finished three shots clear of a smaller field than usual, the rain kept many of the entrants way, with two-over-par totals of 142.
Dick won a three-hole aggregate play-off with a birdie-birdie-par sequence. It was the third Newlands Trophy success for the Kingsknowe GC member. His previous wins were in 2010 and 2011 when the tournament was over four rounds.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70) CSS 74 72
142 A Dick (Kingsknowe) 74 68, K Loughrie (Cambuslang) 72 70, R McKenzie (Erskine) 70 72 (Dick won three-hole aggregate play-off).
145 Jamie Lamb (Lanark) 76 69
146 S Wylie (Mount Ellen) 75 71, S Henderson (Hamilton) 71 75.
147 G Wilson (Lanark) 71 76
149 D Dougan (Airdrie) 76 73
150 C Girvan (Lanark) 79 71.
152 J Rooney (Marriott Dalmahoy) 78 74, S Rennie (Drumpellier) 75 77
153 A Scott (Lanark) 79 74
154 C Duguid (Strathaven) 79 75, C Malone (Baberton) 78 76
156 B Murphy (Lanark) 81 75
157 J Ralston (Shotts) 84 73, C Boyd (Lanark) 80 77
158 D Cameron (Braid Hills) 79 79
160 W Thomson (Carnwath) 80 80.
162 K Prentice (Lanark) 84 78
163 S Ronald (Lanark) 81 82, M McDonald (Lanark) 80 83
167 M Brown (Colville Park) 87 80
169 C Rae (St Boswells) 83 86

AMERICAN PAOLINI SCORES FIRST PRO WIN ON CHALLENGE TOUR

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT
FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Brinson Paolini fired four rounds in the 60s en route to claiming a maiden professional victory at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, in just his third start on the Challenge Tour.

The American kept his cool in the heat of the final day at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, carding a solitary bogey in his final 54 holes en route to an impressive score of 19 under par, at the end of a week disrupted by the weather. 

For much of the final day it had looked like Sihwan Kim would be the recipient of the trophy at the inaugural staging of this event. However the South Korean's four-shot lead with 18 holes to go evaporated after the turn, and a three putt bogey on the last cost him a place in a play-off, as he fell into a share of second place alongside Spain's Adrian Otaegui.

Paolini was clearly overjoyed with his victory though, and it comes as no surprise for a man who has enjoyed great amateur success the other side of the Atlantic. 

"It is an incredible feeling, I don't think it will sink in until tomorrow to be honest," explained Paolini. "To get a win in my third start as a professional is something that I could not have even dreamed of happening, so I'm very happy.

"Switzerland was my first event and I finished second and was in contention there, which did a lot for my confidence, to know that I can play and compete out here at the highest level. I always enter tournaments trying to win, but it is whether you believe that you can win or not, which is a different battle. But I believed I could this week, and I'm just very grateful and fortunate to be here."

"I have no idea what my schedule will be going forward, as before I was just trying to get a few starts here and there, so it is an amazing feeling to know that I have status here and have somewhere to play. I've got a good chance now of perhaps getting my European Tour card too, which would be incredible, so I'll sit down tonight and figure it all out." 

Through nine holes of the final round, and for much of the second and third days, it had looked like the trophy would end up in the hands of Kim, who led by at least four strokes at numerous points.

However five shots dropped round the turn saw the Korean fall a couple of shots behind the leading players, and although he bounced back with birdies at the 15th and 17th, a costly bogey at the last saw him lose out.

Alongside Kim in a share of second place was Otaegui, who carded three birdies on his front nine en route to the top of the leaderboard as Kim dropped back. However a card bereft of red numbers on the final nine holes, as well as a bogey at 14, saw him finish one shot shy of a play-off. 

England's Philip Archer (67) finished in a tie for fourth in France, thanks in part to two consecutive eagles from the seventh on Sunday, the same mark as Dylan Frittelli (68), Daan Huizing (68) and Duncan Stewart (68), all of whom finished at 17 under par.

 

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72)

 

269 B Paolini (USA) 69 66 66 68

270 S Kim (SKor) 65 64 67 74, A Otaegui  (Esp) 68 65 67 70

271 D Frittelli (RSA) 64 66 73 68, D Huizing (Ned) 61 72 70 68, P Archer (Eng) 70 67 67 67, D Stewart (Sco) 66 66 71 68

272 J McLeary  (Sco) 68 69 71 64, A Velasco (Esp) 66 71 69 66, 

273 C Kim (USA) 67 65 73 68, L Kennedy  (Eng) 68 68 69 68, E Espana (Fra) 64 66 71 72, J Barnes (Eng) 63 71 69 70, A Johnston (Eng) 64 69 70 70

274 M Haastrup  (Den) 71 68 66 69, J Lima  (Por) 65 69 72 68, S Fallon (Eng) 69 70 66 69, J Gibb (Eng) 71 65 68 70, P Maddy (Eng) 67 70 67 70

275 G Cambis  (Fra) 71 69 68 67, H Joannes  (Bel) 67 70 69 69, L Weber (Fra) 64 70 67 74, S Tiley (Eng) 71 68 70 66, F Calmels  (Fra) 64 72 69 70, J Fahrbring (Swe) 66 70 69 70, J Carlsson (Swe) 68 67 68 72, G Stal  (Fra) 70 70 65 70, C Sordet (am) (Fra) 70 69 71 65

276 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 67 67 70, J Jeong (Kor) 71 68 67 70, B Evans  (Eng) 69 69 66 72, B Hebert  (Fra) 66 70 70 70, R Quiros  (Esp) 66 71 70 69, M Jonzon (Swe) 68 68 71 69

277 J Dantorp (Swe) 70 70 72 65, S Piaget  (Mon) 70 69 68 70, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 66 71 69 71, S Hutsby  (Eng) 69 69 69 70, T Murray (Eng) 69 70 66 72, R Steiner (Aut) 69 69 69 70

278 J Legarrea (Esp) 69 69 70 70, R Marguery (Fra) 65 74 70 69, J Abbott (Eng) 70 69 71 68, M Ford (Eng) 71 67 69 71, L Goddard  (Eng) 69 70 69 70, B An (Kor) 68 70 70 70

279 N Kearney (Irl) 67 68 74 70

280 J Howarth (Eng) 70 68 71 71, M Rominger  (Sui) 70 68 68 74, M Zions (Aus) 69 69 72 70, B Chapellan (Fra) 69 70 62 79, J Heath  (Eng) 69 67 72 72, R Russell (Sco) 69 71 71 69

281 G Murray  (Sco) 71 69 69 72, J Gressier (Fra) 70 66 72 73, W Besseling  (Ned) 68 68 70 75

282 C Russo (Fra) 67 70 73 72, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 72 68 71 71, 

283 A Bernadet  (Fra) 69 71 72 71

285 M Bey (Fra) 69 69 75 72

286 L Canter (Eng) 69 71 73 73

287 O Whiteley (Eng) 68 71 73 75

289 D Ulrich (Sui) 69 71 72 77

290 T Haylock  (Eng) 70 70 75 75

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

MICHAEL HOEY WINS RUSSIAN OPEN BY FOUR STROKES

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

 

Michael Hoey, pictured above by courtesy of Getty Images(c), produced a commanding four shot victory at the M2M Russian Open after a final round of two under par 70 at the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club helped the Northern Irishman to his fifth European Tour career victory.

Hoey finished the week on 16 under par – four clear of France’s Alexandre Kaleka and England’s Matthew Nixon.

“I have absolutely loved the golf course this week,” said Hoey. “It is a great Nicklaus design and one of the best we will play on Tour for the whole year. The greens are just so pure and when you have surfaces like that to putt on then you can make a lot of putts.

“The putting was the key for me this week. I have been working hard on that a lot recently and the improvement is really showing because I making a lot of birdies.

“That is the main difference at this level - you have to be able to make a lot of putts because the standard is so high these days that it usually comes down to who makes the most putts.

“It’s pretty amazing to think that I have won five European Tour titles. It is a great feeling to win and every time you do it you just want more and more. Hopefully I can get at least another one before the end of the season.

“It has given me a great boost. I am not the most consistent player in the world but when I get into these positions I usually do ok. But the next aim for me has to be to become a bit more consistent because that is the only way I will be able to get back among the best players in the world and stay there.”

The 34 year old - who had not finished better than 25th on The European Tour this season and missed seven of his last ten cuts coming into the event – began his final round with six consecutive pars but birdies at the seventh and eighth saw him advance to 16 under par and turn five clear.

His only dropped shot of the day came at the 12th, and Kaleka – who won this event of the Challenge Tour last year – and Dane JB Hansen closed the gap to two before Hoey birdied the 17th, with both his nearest challengers dropping shots on the last.

“It was tough for me today because when you have a five shot lead your natural instinct is to defend the lead,” added Hoey, who won a cheque for €166,660 and moved to 81^st in The Race to Dubai. 

 “I was trying to be more aggressive because that is usually the best form of defence but it is tough in the final round when you know you are so far ahead.

“I did feel the pressure a bit today because I wasn’t swinging it as freely as I had done yesterday but I got the job done in the end. Making my first birdie of the day on the seventh was a bit of a turning point because I had burned a few edges before that and you start to wonder if it is going to be your day.”

Kaleka had five birdies before bogeying the 18th for a 68, while Nixon came home in 33 for a 69, finishing with a spectacular birdie putt on the 18^th from around 80 feet.

Hansen finished alone in fourth after dropping two shots on the 18th for a 68, with China’s Liang Wen-chong, France’s Gregory Havret and English pair James Morrison and Mark Foster a shot further back on ten under.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72)

272 M Hoey  (Nir) 70 67 65 70

276 A Kaleka  (Fra) 70 67 71 68, M Nixon (Eng) 69 70 68 69

277 J Hansen  (Den) 72 70 67 68

278 L Wen-Chong (Chn) 67 70 75 66, M Foster (Eng) 69 69 72 68, G Havret  (Fra) 72 70 70 66, J Morrison  (Eng) 68 71 70 69

280 S Dyson  (Eng) 67 74 71 68

282 M Korhonen (Fin) 69 70 70 73, A Levy (Fra) 72 72 71 67, M Baldwin (Eng) 68 69 73 72

283 M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 72 69 71, J Gonnet  (Fra) 70 71 70 72, R Karlberg  (Swe) 67 68 72 76, A Hartø  (Den) 70 71 76 66

284 J Lagergren (Swe) 74 74 68 68, M Delpodio  (Ita) 69 74 69 72, R Finch  (Eng) 73 74 69 68, R McEvoy  (Eng) 74 71 69 70, S Little (Eng) 69 72 74 69, D Horsey (Eng) 70 72 71 71, C Paisley  (Eng) 72 71 68 73

285 J Sjöholm (Swe) 78 69 70 68, M Lafeber (Ned) 69 73 71 72, O Floren  (Swe) 76 69 66 74, M Campbell (Nzl) 70 73 72 70, J Campillo (Esp) 72 71 67 75, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 71 70 73

286 S Hansen (Den) 77 67 70 72, S Hend (Aus) 70 69 74 73

287 S Chowrasia (Ind) 72 72 72 71, R Wattel  (Fra) 72 72 72 71, A Tadini (Ita) 68 73 73 73, J Roos (RSA) 70 71 74 72, P Hedblom (Swe) 73 74 70 70, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 70 69 76

288 J Kingston (RSA) 71 69 68 80, P Meesawat  (Tha) 71 74 73 70, A Snobeck  (Fra) 70 73 73 72, E Kofstad (Nor) 74 73 70 71

289 J Singh (Ind) 71 71 72 75, T Lewis (Eng) 71 74 75 69

290 S Henry  (Sco) 73 73 73 71, A Forsyth (Sco) 74 73 73 70, M Tullo (Chi) 74 69 71 76, J Elson  (Eng) 71 71 72 76, H Porteous (RSA) 71 76 70 73, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 72 73 75, S Wakefield (Eng) 73 68 74 75

291 C Lloyd (Eng) 71 73 72 75, G Shaw (Nir) 71 77 70 73, D Higgins (Irl) 71 71 76 73, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 70 77 75 69,

292 A Lahiri (Ind) 78 70 76 68, N Floren (Swe) 71 75 68 78, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 71 76 72

293 M Wiegele  (Aut) 72 72 74 75, G Bhullar (Ind) 74 73 69 77

294 J Maurer  (Aut) 71 74 75 74, J Singh Brar (am) (Eng) 77 66 81 70

295 J Colomo  (Esp) 68 79 76 72, D Brooks (Eng) 77 71 75 72, O Bekker (RSA) 74 71 74 76

299 M Southgate  (Eng) 73 74 75 77, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 76 76 75

301 C Macaulay  (Sco) 72 76 77 76 

303 S Garcia (Esp) 75 71 81 76,

 

NEW DATE FOR ABERDEEN LINKS SENIOR OPEN - FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

The Aberdeen Links Senior Open has been rescheduled from Friday, August 2 to Friday, August 16.
Players wishing to enter the event should  contact Aberdeen Links Secretary Stewart Allison on 07745906769 or at stewartallison100@btinternet.com

108th MORAY OPEN LAST-DAY RESULTS AT LOSSIEMOUTH

Players from Moray Golf Club unless stated

 

Scratch Section [Northern Amateur Cup]

Semi-finals ~ Ryan Bain bt R J  Sheils 6 and 5, J L Milne bt J D Forbes (Inverness) 2 and 1.

Final - Bain bt Milne 3 and 1.

Handicap Section 1 [Challenge Bowl]

Semi-finals - J Booth (Cruden Bay) bt A M Campbell 3 and 2, James I Hendry bt J McInnes (Westhill) at 19th.

Final - Booth bt Hendry 1 hole.

 
Handicap Section 2 [Ross Anderson Cup]

Semi-finals - S Blackburn (Heritage) bt Greg Grant 2 holes, Liam Mitchell bt Alan Duncan 2 and 1.

Final ~ Blackburn bt L Mitchell 3 and 2

 ends

SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER WAY AT GLENEAGLES KINGS

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA in SCOTLAND

Defending champion Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) is amongst eight former winners in the field for the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship which began today  over the King's Course at the Perthshire resort.
Fox staged a dramatic finish at the same venue 12 months ago as he joined a distinguished roll of honour which includes the likes of John Panton, Eric Brown, Bernard Gallacher, Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie
Three shots clear heading into the final round, Fox, who recently turned 36, holed a ten-foot eagle putt at the 72nd hole for a 15-under-par aggregate of 269 and a two-shot victory over Banchory's Greig Hutcheon.
The 1999 winner, Hutcheon heads into this year's event in good fettle, having made the cut in both the PGA Championship at Wentworth and Scottish Open at Castle Stuart this season.
West Linton's Gareth Wright did likewise in the Open Championship at Muirfield last week and will also be heading into the Tartan Tour's flagship event feeling bullish.
Former European Tour Rookie of the Year Scott Henderson, third last year, joins PGA Cup team-mates Fox, Hutcheon and Wright in a 66-strong field.
It also includes host club professional Andrew Jowett and Gullane's Emma Fairnie, pictured, only the third woman to play in the event after Meg Farquhar (1933) and Heather MacRae (2009).

Gordon Law (1997), Chris Kelly (2003), Craig Ronald (2004), Mark Loftus (2007), Jason McCreadie (2008) and David Orr (2009) are the other former winners in the line-up.
"We are all looking forward to the week," said Brian Mair, Secretary of the PGA in Scotland.
"Gleneagles is looking magnificent and I am sure the King's Course will prove, yet again, to be a great test for the players.
"The field contains many of our ex-champions, including defending champion Graham Fox.
"In addition, we have Emma Fairnie competing, only the third female to do so in the history of the championship.
"Whoever wins will join a very distinguished roll of honour and we wish all the players every success for the week."

Roy Murray
Tournament Controller
The PGA in Scotland

RUSSELL KNOX GOES FROM 59 TO BOGEY-FREE 68 ON WEB.COM TOUR

FROM THE US WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE

In the third round of the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft, Philip Pettitt Jr. holds a one-stroke lead at 18-under.
BOISE, Idaho -- Scoring took another beating at the 24th Albertsons Boise Open.This time it came from the players in the back of the pack, not the leaders. At the end of the day, Tennessee’s Philip Pettitt Jr. stood at the top of a crowded leaderboard that has 20 players within four shots of the lead.

Full leaderboard
Round 4 tee Times
Saturday highlights 
Scorecard: Pettitt 
Scorecard: Knox

Saturday’s scoring average of 68.067 broke the tournament record of 68.129, which was established in Friday’s second round.
Pettitt fired a career-low 63 and moved to 18-under 195, one stroke better than 36-hole leader Russell Knox, who followed up a record-setting 59 on Friday with a bogey-free, 3-under 68 Saturday at Hillcrest Country Club.
“I played good, especially coming out the box with a birdie at one and then two more at two and three,” Pettitt said. “I putted great. I missed one at 17 but that was the only opportunity that I missed.”
Texan Michael Connell started the early battering of the par-71 layout with a 10-under 61 that put him at 16-under. Connell birdied three of his final four holes Friday just to make the 36-hole cut on the number. He was in the third group off the tee Saturday and took advantage of the perfect scoring conditions to vault to the top. He remained there for most of the day but was eventually joined by several others.
Will Wilcox, who shot a 59 two weeks ago, posted a 9-under 62 -- which included an ace -- to join Connell in a tie for third. Kevin Tway (63), Will MacKenzie (65), Chad Collins (67) and Bronson La’Cassie (68) are also just two shots back heading into Sunday’s finale.
“Everyone is bunched up now and tomorrow is going to be a shootout,” said Inverness-born Knox, who rolled in short birdie putts at Nos. 16 and 17 to gain a spot in the final pairing. “I’m in perfect position. They’re all going to find it difficult tomorrow to back up their good rounds.”
Pettitt, a second-year Web.com Tour member, has the edge despite the fact that he’s never been the outright leader after any single round in his previous 48 career starts on tour.
“I won three times in 2011 and it’s a different stage. I get that but winning’s winning,” said Pettitt, whose career-best tour finish is a tie for third. “I’ve done it before. I’ve got to remember that feeling that I had there.”
Pettitt had missed the cut in five of his last six starts and wouldn’t have been among the betting favourites this week.
“Numbers don’t lie but sometimes they take a while to kick in,” he said. “I’ve played significantly better the last few weeks. I knew it was a matter of time but there are only five weeks left (in the regular season) so I knew I needed to make a move somewhere along the line and I was hoping it was sooner rather than later.”
Knox played solid, patient golf after the hoopla that surrounded his day Friday – which included an evening interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter. He birdied his second hole of the day and then settled for 13 consecutive pars before a late run.
“I knew it was going to be a challenge, how can it not be? I had to regroup,” he said. “I was still close to the lead. I had a bunch of 10, 15 and 20-footers for birdie that went in yesterday but not today. I was expecting it, just like I expect them to go in tomorrow.”
Third-Round Notes:
• Weather -- Cloudy in the morning and then sunny. Overnight low of 68. Daytime high of 95. Winds increasing through the day to NW 10-20 mph.
• Will Wilcox continued his excellent play Saturday and added an ace to his recent resume. Wilcox, who shot a 59 two weeks ago at the Utah Championship, made a hole-in-one at the par-3, eighth hole. He hit a 7-iron on the 202-yard hole. It was the first ace this week
THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3x71)
players from USA unless stated
195 Philip Pettit jun 65 67 63
196 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 59 68
197 Michael Connell 68 68 61, Will Wilcoz 66 69 62, Kevin Tway 65 69 63, Will MacKenzie 69 63 65, Chad Collins 65 65 67, Bronson La Cassie 66 63 68

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LEADER MAHAN LEAVES TO BE WITH WIFE, SNEDEKER NOW No 1

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

In the third round of the RBC Canadian Open from Glen Abbey Golf Club, Brandt Snedeker leads at 14-under.

OAKVILLE, Ontario -- Brandt Snedeker was on seventh tee when he noticed something wasn't quite right.
He couldn't find Hunter Mahan's name at the top of the RBC Canadian Open leaderboard.

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"I looked at my caddie, and I go, `What's going on?'" Snedeker said. "He goes, `I think Hunter had to leave because (his wife) went into labor.'"
His caddie was right.
Mahan, the second-round leader at 13 under, withdrew Saturday to rush home to Dallas for the birth of his first child Saturday, leaving a big opening for Snedeker.
"Kind of left the tournament wide open," Snedeker said. "Hunter was going to be hard to catch because he was playing so good. The way he drives the golf ball on this golf course, he was going to play really well on the weekend. For me to catch him, I knew I was going to have to shoot something really low."
Snedeker had a 9-under 63 at rainy Glen Abbey to take the lead after the third round. He won the AT and T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February for his fifth US Tour victory and sits fourth in the 2013 FedExCup standings.
"I know how to handle it and I know what to expect tomorrow especially on a golf course like this," Snedeker said. "I'm not too concerned about my number right now. I know what I have to do tomorrow."
The 2012 FedExCup champion had nine birdies in a bogey-free round, playing the front nine in 6-under 29.
"You always feel like you're exactly one swing away from hitting something off the planet or something like that," Snedeker said. "I felt like I managed my game really well today."
Mahan withdrew before he was scheduled to tee off Saturday in the round that was delayed 80 minutes because of lightning.
"I received exciting news a short time ago that my wife Kandi has gone into labor with our first child," Mahan said in a statement. "Kandi and I are thrilled about the addition to the Mahan family and we look forward to returning to the RBC Canadian Open in the coming years."
Sweden's David Lingmerth is a stroke back after a 65, and Matt Kuchar and Jason Bohn are 12 under. Kuchar had a 64, and Bohn shot 66.
"The birth of a child is a truly magical, special thing. You may get it once in your lifetime. It just doesn't happen that often," Kuchar said. "Hunter right now is playing some of the best golf in the world. It kind of gives the rest of us a chance with him not in the field."
Dustin Johnson also shot 63, good for a tie for fifth at 11 under with John Merrick (72), Greg Owen (67), Charley Hoffman (67) and Kyle Stanley (66).
Merrick, two strokes behind Mahan on Friday after matching the course record with a second-round 62, played alone in the third round after Mahan withdrew. Merrick declined to playoff alongside a non-scoring marker.
David Hearn was the top Canadian, shooting a 68 to reach 5 under. He made the cut Friday by birdieing his final three holes.
"I felt good yesterday finishing the way I did," Hearn said. "I didn't play my best getting to the weekend but it's a pretty tight leaderboard."
Mike Weir is 3 under after a 73.
"It was kind of adventurous and not very profitable at all," Weir said. "Didn't make anything again and struggled a little bit at times. Just never seemed to get in the flow of the round."

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from USA unless stated
202 Brandt Snedeker 70 69 63
203 David Lingmerth (Sweden) 67 71 65
204 Matt Kuchar 66 74 64, Jason Bohn 70 68 66
205 Dustin Johnson 75 67 63, Kyle Stanley 68 71 66, Greg Owen (England) 70 68 67, Charley Hoffman 69 69 67, John Merrick 71 62 72

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