UNITED STATES LEAD G B AND I BY FIVE POINTS IN PGA CUP MATCH

Greig Hutcheon and Scott Henderson get their heads together to chalk up two PGA Cup wins today.

 

The United States lead Great Britain and Ireland 10 1/2 to 5 1/2 after two days of the three-day PGA Cup match at De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland.
Home skipper Russell Weir's team trailed 6-2 at halfway. They shared the Saturday morning foursomes 2-2 but lost the final set of singles 2 1/2 to 1 1/2
The North-east pairing of Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) and Scott Henderson (Kings Links) won their foursome by one hole and then scored a 6 and 5 victory in the four-balls.

SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES
Fox and Barnes (GBandI) lost to Anderson and Mitchum (USA) 5 and 4.
Hutcheon and Henderson (GBandI) bt Dobyns and Polzin 1 hole.
Greenwood and Barham (GBand I) halved with Perry and Sorensen (USA).
Wallis and Wright (GBandI) halved with Sowards and Small.

AFTERNOON FOUR-BALLS
Henderson and Hutcheon (GBandI) bt Anderson and Mitchum (USA) 6 and 5.
Fox and Callaway (GBandI) lost to Sullivan and Sheftic (USA) 3 and 2
Brennan and Wright (GBandI) lost to Perry and Sorenson (USA) 3 and 2.
Greenwood/Barham (GBandI) halved with Dobyns and Polzin (USA).

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

Great Britain and Ireland will have to produce their own ‘Miracle of Medinah’ if they are to deny the US retaining the PGA Cup at De Vere Slaley Hall on Sunday.
After a day of epic battles, four of the day’s matches went to the wire, the US edged within sight of taking the Llandudno Trophy back across the Atlantic, requiring just 2.5 points from tomorrow’s 10 singles matches.
The US lead 10.5 to 5.5 at the end of the second day, in which GBandI showed greater resilience but were unable to get enough breaks or the putts needed to put a halt on the cup holders, who have been urged ‘don’t stop’ by captain Allan Wronowski.
“As soon as we get to 13 and then 13 and half to win I’ll relax and feel good,” he said,
“Look at the history of Medinah. We (the United States' Ryder Cup team)  only needed four out of 12 and we didn’t get to that. We’ll keep grinding, keep finding pins, keep playing hard.”
Licking their wounds after being whitewashed in Friday’s fourballs, GBandI, urged to be aggressive by captain Russell Weir, provided a stiffer test once again in the foursomes – sharing the points.
The morning’s only winners, Scott Henderson and Greig Hutcheon, who triumphed on the last, picked up where they left off in the afternoon fourballs as they steamrollered the previously undefeated American duo of JC Anderson and Kelly Mitchum 6 and 5.
The Scots, particularly Hutcheon, were untouchable, as they sank eight birdies without reply in the opening nine holes to be eight up at the turn. 
The record books were been scoured with the prospects of a victory on the 10th. However, the US pair delayed the celebrations with birdies at 10 and 11 before two shared holes curtailed the match.
Hutcheon, who sank six birdies in the stunning front nine, said: “It was probably one of the best nine holes of the year and it was good.
“The Americans came back and we wanted to finish it off after a commanding position. Once we had it six, seven up we felt we had it in the bag it was just a matter of time.
“Winning on the last in the morning was huge as it gave me a massive spring in my step. It was a little bit like the abyss in the morning, I was tired and played a lot of golf and I needed to get over it mentally.”
As with the morning, Hutcheon and Henderson were GB&Is only winners, with Dan Greenwood (below) and Benn Barham denied victory on the last.
They were two up after just three holes in their match with Matt Dobyns and Ryan Polzin but were back to all square by the turn. Barham birdied the 10th to put GB&I one up once more but the Americans were back level by the 15th. The US had an opportunity to increase the pressure go one up on the 17th but Dobyns missed his short putt.
Down the last, all four players made a mess of their approach shots, Barham being forced to take a drop while the rest all missed the green. Greenwood’s opted to putt rather than chip but his putt fell well short leaving another 20 feet to reach the hole. The Americans, both off the green to the left, upped the ante chipping close to the pin. Dobyns, as on the 17th, had a four foot putt to seal the match, but missed the cup. It left Greenwood a nervy three-footer to tie the match, which he duly sunk.
Nick Brennan and Gareth Wright showed resilience in their battle with Rod Perry and Jeff Sorenson. They recovered from two-down against their US rivals to bring it back to all square by the 11th. But the American duo found their range as three successive birdies from the 14th guided them to a 3 and 2 win.
It was a similar story for Graham Fox and David Callaway in their battle with the experienced duo of Chip Sullivan and Mark Sheftic. The Americans struck early and eased to two up but by the 12th the match was all square. But the experience of the pair told as they also sunk successive birdies from the 14th to win 3 and 2.
GB and I vice captain Jon Bevan said: “This afternoon’s play was, for the majority, the standard of golf I know our guys can play – certainly for a dozen holes in all the matches.
“But I know what the Americans bring and they will never go away in a hurry so they were always going to come back but it was holes being won as opposed to holes being lost.
“We just said to the guys, they can look at themselves today and be quite proud of their performance, much more like Russell and I expected them to play but they need to play better again tomorrow.
“I didn’t need to say a lot to them in the team meeting, they don’t like being put upon or bullied in a golfing sense. The Americans have been strong for two days, we have been strong in patches but and tomorrow we need four hours from them where each of them show us how good they are.
“I used Medinah as an incentive for them. They don’t need motivating, the longer this week has gone on the more they have understood, as rookies, what the PGA Cup means.
“I have just been into the room and told them that I have total faith they will win 10-0 because all ten of them are exceptional talents. They are here for a reason, they’ve earned their right, anyone of them could be tomorrow’s hero and we’re looking forward to it.”

 

OLDCORN GOES FOUR CLEAR IN SENIORS' RIVIERA MASTERS

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

In-form Andrew Oldcorn will take a commanding four stroke lead into the final day of the French Riviera Masters after a dramatic conclusion to the second round at Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort. 

The Scot fired a four under par 68 – his seventh consecutive under par round on the European Senior Tour – to move to nine under par 135 after late mistakes by Luis Carbonetti and Philip Golding dented their title hopes.

Argentine Carbonetti had shared the overnight lead with Oldcorn, and the pair spent most of the day on equal terms, but a double bogey five on the 16^th hole, followed by back-to-back bogeys on the 17^th and 18^th, meant Carbonetti signed for a 73 to slip five shots off the pace.

Golding was also in touch with Oldcorn until he lost his ball off the tee on the last hole and racked up a costly double bogey six to finish, as the Englishman posted a level par 72 to also end up on four over par.

Meanwhile, Oldcorn ironed out the self-confessed mental errors he made on his front nine, when he mixed bogeys on the fourth and seventh holes with birdies on the second and sixth, as he came back in 32 shots.

Oldcorn, who has finished in the top ten in each of his last three Senior Tour events, birdied the 11^th, 12^th, 14^th and 17^th holes in a flawless back nine, to open up a comfortable cushion at the top of the leaderboard.

“It was a funny day because I didn’t strike the ball as well as yesterday, and I definitely didn’t putt as well – certainly the front nine,” he said. “But I just stuck at it. I knew I was still swinging pretty good and that opportunities would come on the back nine.  I wasn’t always in control, but I came good on the back nine.”

Australian Peter Fowler (71) and South Africa Chris Williams (69) are Oldcorn’s nearest rivals on five under par, but even Oldcorn admitted he was surprised by the margin of his lead following a tight battle with Carbonetti for 15 holes.

“There was a massive swing on the 15^th when Luis had a six foot putt for birdie to go to nine under, and he missed and then he hit it into the hazard on the next and bogeyed the last two holes,” said Oldcorn.

“So there was a massive swing for me against him. Luis had dragged me along before that because he played really well. I was trying to stick with him and jockey for position. So to come out with a four stroke lead is great. It would have been inconceivable standing on the 16^th tee, but that is golf.

“That can happen on this course and I’m taking nothing for granted tomorrow. I like where I am and I know what I have to do. I have to do a few things better than I did today, certainly putt better, and hopefully I will be alright.”

Williams also enjoyed a fine back nine, with an eagle on the par five 14^th hole and birdie to finish, as he chases his first top five finish of the season. It was more a steady ride for Fowler, who closed with six straight pars, as a one under par front nine was followed by a birdie on 11 and a bogey on 12 in his round of 71. 

Carbonetti and Golding share fourth place with Paraguay’s Angel Franco (70) and Englishman Paul Wesselingh, the 2012 Rookie of the Year, who carded a 68.

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

135 A Oldcorn (Sco) 67 68,

139 C Williams (RSA) 70 69, P Fowler (Aus) 68 71,

140 P Wesselingh (Eng) 72 68, L Carbonetti (Arg) 67 73, P Golding (Eng) 68 72, A Franco (Par) 70 70,

141 G Turner (Nzl) 72 69, M Martin (Esp) 68 73,

142 S Brown (Eng) 73 69, T Elliott (Aus) 70 72, S Luna (Esp) 73 69, B Cameron (Eng) 71 71,

143 J Carriles (Esp) 72 71, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 71, J Bruner (USA) 71 72,

144 J Pate (USA) 73 71, A Sherborne (Eng) 73 71, K Tomori (Jpn) 70 74, G Manson (Aut) 73 71, M Kuramoto (Jpn) 72 72,

145 D Russell (Eng) 75 70, S Tinning (Den) 70 75, M McLean (Eng) 74 71, P Curry (Eng) 77 68,

146 N Job (Eng) 74 72, P Jonas (Can) 72 74, M Cunning (USA) 73 73, C Rocca (Ita) 71 75, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 72 74,

147 G Ralph (Eng) 71 76, P Mitchell (Eng) 72 75, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 72 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 72, M Farry (Fra) 73 74,

148 M Harwood (Aus) 75 73, A Fernandez (Chi) 74 74, R Thompson (USA) 72 76, J Gould (Eng) 74 74, P Way (Eng) 72 76, G Ryall (Eng) 75 73,

149 S McAllister (Sco) 73 76, R Sabarros (Fra) 74 75, G Norquist (USA) 74 75, R Gibson (Can) 75 74, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 76, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 74 75, S Cipa (Eng) 74 75,

150 P Walton (Irl) 72 78, J Sallat (Fra) 82 68, T Price (Aus) 72 78, J Rivero (Esp) 81 69, T Thelen (USA) 75 75,

151 K Spurgeon (Eng) 77 74, D Durnian (Eng) 76 75, P Linhart (Esp) 73 78, D James (Sco) 76 75, H Buhrmann (RSA) 75 76,

152 G Brand (Eng) 77 75, J Harrison (Eng) 75 77, J Laforce (Can) 78 74, R Drummond (Sco) 76 76, W Grant (Eng) 78 74,

153 D Hospital (Esp) 77 76, G Banister (Aus) 76 77,

154 D Smyth (Irl) 75 79,

155 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 78 77,

156 M Piñero (Esp) 76 80, J Quiros (Esp) 74 82,

158 S Bennett (Eng) 78 80,

163 M Bembridge (Eng) 81 82,

167 A Garrido (Esp) 84 83,

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

FRASER LEADS BY ONE AFTER THREE ROUNDS OF ITALIAN OPEN

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Marcus Fraser will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the 70° Open d’Italia LINDT, determined to spoil Francesco Molinari’s bid to win his national open around the course where he learned to play the game.

The Australian posted a third round of four under 68 to move to 11 under par and establish a one stroke lead over home hero Molinari, his Ryder Cup team mate Nicolas Colsaerts and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren at Circolo Golf Torino.

Molinari carded a one under 71 to move into that three way tie on ten under, and the Italian is hoping to go out all guns blazing I the final round as he looks to add a second Italian Open title to his CV, having won the tournament in Milan in 2006.

“I just need a couple of those putts to drop at the right time and if I can get a few putts to drop early then we will see what happens,” said Molinari. 

“I probably need to be a little bit more aggressive tomorrow with my approaches to the greens but I will be giving it everything to try and win. The support I have had has been unbelievable and I have never seen crowds like this in Italy – it has been so good to see that and hopefully everyone can have a good day tomorrow.”

Fraser, and the other leading contenders, are aware that they will be going up against a man carrying the hopes and dreams of a nation in the final round, but they are determined to spoil the party. 

“I have a great chance,” said Fraser. “It is an exciting position to be in and I feel like my game is in good shape and I am playing a course that I love so I just need to go out there and play my own game as I have done for the first three rounds.

“That will be difficult with Francesco just one shot behind and with the crowd willing him over the line, but I just have to play my game and try and spoil the party I suppose.” 

Colsaerts felt his third round 71 could have been better but is hoping he is saving the best till last.

“It felt like I had a good one in me but maybe I am saving it for tomorrow,” smiled the Belgian. “It has been a while since I have been up there and it certainly gets my juices flowing. I have always played well in Italy – it must be the pasta or something – so I am looking forward to getting out there.” 

Lagergren is the least experienced of the men at the top of the leaderboard, but, after back-to-back rounds of 67 the Swede has certainly earned his chance to secure a maiden European Tour win.

“If I can put in a good score tomorrow then we will see what happens,” he said. “I have been in this position a couple of times now and hopefully I can handle it well.” 

Chris Doak is the leading Scot on 210 - five shots behind the leader.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

205 M Fraser (Aus) 66 71 68

206 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 65 71 70, F Molinari (Ita) 68 67 71, J Lagergren (Swe) 72 67 67

207 F Aguilar (Chi) 69 66 72, S Thornton (Irl) 68 67 72

208 R Gonzalez (Arg) 65 73 70, H Otto (RSA) 71 67 70

209 R Wattel  (Fra) 71 72 66, M Manassero (Ita) 70 70 69, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 68 71, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 69 72 68, M Kieffer (Ger) 65 72 72, D Higgins (Irl) 67 69 73, S Hend (Aus) 72 71 66, S Webster (Eng) 67 69 73, R Paratore (am) (Ita) 72 66 71

210 E Grillo (Arg) 70 72 68, M Foster (Eng) 74 65 71, J Edfors (Swe) 69 70 71, F Zanotti (Par) 71 70 69, A Cañizares  (Esp) 71 67 72, S Benson (Eng) 68 70 72, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 69 71, C Doak (Sco) 74 67 69

211 M Carlsson  (Swe) 72 71 68, S Jamieson  (Sco) 72 69 70, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 67 71, J Campillo (Esp) 68 73 70, R Finch  (Eng) 68 74 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 68 72, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 73 68, R Derksen (Ned) 71 69 71, A Quiros  (Esp) 71 67 73

212 E Kofstad (Nor) 70 69 73, D Drysdale (Sco) 69 72 71, J Hansen  (Den) 68 74 70

213 G Orr (Sco) 73 68 72, K Broberg (Swe) 70 73 70, R Allenby (Aus) 71 72 70, J Olazábal (Esp) 71 68 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 70 73, R Ramsay  (Sco) 75 68 70, M Nixon (Eng) 70 69 74, M Madsen  (Den) 72 71 70,

214 A Levy (Fra) 70 72 72, J Ruth  (Eng) 69 72 73, O Floren  (Swe) 71 72 71, S Khan (Eng) 73 70 71, L Slattery (Eng) 70 73 71, M Grönberg (Swe) 71 70 73, J Walters (RSA) 70 73 71, J Kingston (RSA) 68 71 75, A Tadini (Ita) 72 71 71, T Aiken (RSA) 69 71 74, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 71 70 73, A Hartø  (Den) 69 74 71, G Storm  (Eng) 70 71 73, M Tullo (Chi) 70 70 74,

215 P Whiteford (Sco) 73 68 74, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 74 72, G Mulroy (RSA) 71 72 72, D Howell (Eng) 71 72 72, D Horsey (Eng) 72 70 73,

216 R Goosen (RSA) 70 72 74, B Åkesson (Swe) 72 69 75, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 72 73, D McGrane (Irl) 71 69 76, R McEvoy  (Eng) 73 70 73,

217 J Lucquin (Fra) 71 72 74, T Lewis (Eng) 70 72 75, G Boyd  (Eng) 74 69 74,

220 P Erofejeff (Fin) 74 69 77, E Lipparelli (am) (Ita) 69 73 78,

221 E Goya (Arg) 69 72 80

KRIS NICOLL ONLY SCOT TO MAKE CUT IN ALPS TOUR EVENT

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicoll, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, was the only Scot to survive the second round cut in this week's Alps Tour event, the Open International de Haut Poitou at Golf de Haut Poitou, France.
Nicoll shot contrasting rounds of 69-78 for 147 to qualify for the final round with two strokes to spare afer a triple bogey 7 at the 15th and a bogey 4 at the short 16th today (Saturday).
He starts Sunday's final round nine shots off the pace, being set by leader David Bobrowski (France) who has had rounds of 71 and 67 for eight-under 138 to lead by two.
Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) from Ellon and John Henry (Clydebank and District) missed out on 151 and 152 respectively.
Cameron shot 78-73 and Henry 78-74.

ROSS MUNRO WINS TOP PRO PRIZE AT ROYAL DORNOCH PRO-AM

Pictured left to right: Ross Munro, Don Greenberg (sponsor), Gemma Chalmers, Robin Wilson and Dougal Chalmers.

Duddingston assistant professional Ross Munro won the £150 top pro prize in the Sandy Pipey Young Masters pro-am at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today (Saturday).
Munro and his team of three amateurs - Dougal Chalmers (handicap 1), Gemma Chalmers (2) and Robin Wilson (6) - had a net score of 10-under-par 130.
Dougal and his daughter Gemma, an Angus county team player, come from the Tayside area. Dougal is a member at Panmure Golf Club.
Robin Wilson is Brora-based and is a golf reporter in his spare time, ie when he is not playing golf.
They won by a single shot from the teams led by professionals Stuart Morrison (Tain) (£125), Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) (£100) and Gordon Hillson (Dunbar) (£80). A card countback decided the allocation of prize money.
Individual pro scores were not recorded but it is common knowledge that Scottish Young Professional champion O'Hara's one-under-par 69 was the best round of the day.

PROFESSIONAL TEAMS' NET TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
130 R Munro (Duddingston) (£150).
131 S Morrison (Tain) (£125), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) (£100), G Hillson (Dunbar) (£80).
132 C Haugh (Linlithgow) (£60).
133 A Munro (Musaselburgh) (£50), J McBrearty (Haggs Castle) (£40), G Wright (Ladybank) (£30), E Macpherson (Auchterearder) (£25).
135 Scott Costello (Strathaven) (£20), S Fay (Royal Dornoch), P Jamieson (Dunblane New), C Robinson (Prestonfield).
136 C Marr (Musselburgh), R McConnachie (Peterculter0, M Shaw (Whitecraigs).
137 K McNicoll (Gullane).
138 P Robinson (Largs)
139 T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), F Clarke (Newmachar).
140 N Cameron (Blairgowrie).
141 A McCandlish (Kingsbarns), A Fleming (North Highland College).
144 N Christie (Carnoustie)
145 G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch)
146 C Armstrong (Burntisland)
147 D Addison (Kilmarnck Barassie), I Muir (Elie SC)
148 J Gallagher (Douglas Park)
152 J MacKay (North Gailes)
155 C Brown (Carrick on Loch Lomond). 

IAN AND EMMA TOP THE CLUBGOLF PRO-AM 
Ian Anderson (Colville Park) and Gullane's Emma Fairnie earned £50 apiece for leading their teams to head the scoreboard on 11-under-par 59 in the Clubgolf pro-am, also played over the Royal Dornoch links today (Saturday).
A comparison of the scorecards placed Ian Anderson's team of Torfinn Gray, Adam Longdon and Michael Schinkel  in first place ahead of Emma's trio who were Royal Dornoch junior girls Rebecca Riddell, Diana Stoddart and Caitlin Bon.
Individual pro scores were not recorded
PRIZE-WINNING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
59 I Anderson (Colville Park), E Fairnie (Gullane) (£50 each)
61 A McIntyre (Carrick on Loch Lomond) (£30).
62 G Nethercott (Deeside) (£30)
63 L Burnett (Meanrs Castle) (£30).
64 R King (Carrick on Loch Lomond) (£30).
 t

 Torfinn Gray (left) and Adam Longdon, two members of the winning team in the Clubgolf pro-am. The third amateur in the team, Michael Schinkel, was not available for the picture, taken by Robin Wilson.

NEWMACHAR BEAT INVERNESS IN NORTHERN COUNTIES CUP FINAL

 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - AGAIN! Newmachar's winning quartet in the Northern Counties Cup at Nairn Golf Club. Left to right: Chris Simpson, Mark McKechnie, John Duff and Richard Barr.  Picture by Gary Abel.

                          

Newmachar have regained the Northern Counties Cup, after today's concluding day in one of the oldest golf tournaments on the Scottish amateur golf calendar.

In the double foursomes match-play competition at Nairn Golf Club, the Newmachar 1 team beat Inverness by a combined three holes in the final.

In the morning semi-finals, Newmachar 1 beat Grantown on Spey by three holes while Inverness 2 beat Nairn 1 by four holes.
The same Newmachar quartet of Mark McKechnie, Chris Simpson, John Duff and Richard Barr have now won three of the last four Northern Counties Cup tournaments - in 2010, 2011 and now 2013.
 Their only defeat in the past four Northern Counties Cup tournaments was in 2012 when they lost in the semi-finals to the eventual winners, McDonald Ellon - who could not come up with a team to defend the title at Nairn this year.
So what has been the secret of Newmachar's success?

John Duff says

"We seem to really enjoy the week which certainly helps us to play well.  Both pairings hit a lot of greens at Nairn this past week, which kept us in contention at virtually every hole and in each of our victories, we have made birdies at key times whenever we have been involved in close matches."

Next year's Northern Counties Cup will be hosted by Tain Golf Club.

DETAILS
SEMI-FINALS

Newmachar 1 bt Grantown by three holes

(M McKechnie, C Simpson 2, S Dingwall, G A Hay 0; R Barr, J Duff 1, J Campbell, G H Hay 0)

Inverness 2 bt Nairn 1 by four holes 

(L Chancellor, D Joel 0, F Fotheringham, B Watson 1; C Franssen, K MacKay 5, B Thomson, R Smith 0)

 FINAL

Newmachar 1 bt Inverness 2 by three holes

(McKechnie, Simpson 4, Chancellor, Joel 0; Barr, Duff 0, Franssen, MacKay 1 )

NOTES FROM ORGANISER GARY ABEL 

Newmachar's first pairing of Mark McKechnie and Chris Simpson were too strong for their Inverness opponents, winning by four holes, which made all the difference to the overall ouotcome of the final as the Newmachar second string of Richard Barr and John Duff lost by one hole to young Cameron Franssen and Kieran MacKay.

 

In the semi-finals Newmachar's Richard Barr and John Duff had three birdies and an eagle but only managed to beat Grantown on Spey's John Campbell and Gordon Hay by one hole. 

Inverness's Laurie Chancellor has not played in this tournament since 1973 when they were beaten by Nairn in the final. He has now got his revenge by beating them in this year's semi final, mainly due to the two young brave hearts Cameron Franssen and Kieran MacKay who showed no fear against the experienced Robert Smith and Bruce Thomson whom they beat by five holes.

PAUL LAWRIE TEAM WINS INAUGURAL FOUNDATION CUP COMPETITION

                           Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher with the Foundation Cup   

MICHAEL MACDOUGALL REPORTS
It was a 10 - 8 victory for Paul Lawrie's team in the inaugural Foundation Cup tournament at the Renaissance Club in the Lothians
Paul's team led the way 3.5 to 2.5 after the four-ball matches and went on to win the singles 6.5 to 5.5.
Paul and Stephen Gallacher did not play due to a slight sore back for Stephen - he did not want to take any risks ahead of next week's European Tour event.
The teams were made up of players who had paid for the privilege of representing the respective golfers' foundations.
All proceeds from the matdch will be split between the two foundatons.

DUNCAN STEWART IN CONTENTION FOR KAZAKHSTAN GLORY

e Duncan Stewart about to putt, picture by courtesy of  Phil Inglis (Getty Images)(c).

 

                            

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

 

Duncan Stewart launched himself into contention at the lucrative 

Kazakhstan Open as the Scot birdied his final three holes to card a 

seven under par 65 and move to within two of the lead going into 

the final day at Nurtau Golf Club.

The Grantown-on-Spey man, who is playing his first season on 

the European Challenge Tour, began the day five shots off the 

pace but his putting caught fire on moving day.

He got the ball rolling with a birdie at the par five second hold before gaining another shot at the par three fifth courtesy of a converted eighteen foot putt to reach the turn in two under par.

Things really began to come together on the back nine, though and he picked up back to back birdies at the tenth and 11^th before a 35 foot putt at the 16^th kicked off a run of consecutive birdies all the way home.

If Stewart were to claim a maiden victory in Almaty, he would be the second Scot to win the event in as many years, following Scott Henry’s dramatic play-off victory at Zhailjau Golf Club last year.

“All day the putter was just red-hot,” said the 29 year old. “I played really solid as well, got two really good up and downs at the seventh and the 15^th which are probably the two hardest holes, and then holed some really good putts to keep things going.

“It will be really nice to be in the final group. Anything can happen out there. There are low scores but it’s tricky enough that you can quite easily shoot 74 or 75.

“It is a timely putting streak alright, coming at such a big event. I just put a new putter in the bag a few weeks ago and it’s taken a while to get used to it to be honest. I have changed my set up a little bit this week and I just got the pace of the greens.

“I'm getting the line quite well and everything has been quite good. If my putter is as hot as that and I play half decent tomorrow then I have got a chance, no doubt.”

Currently placed 40^th in the Challenge Tour Rankings, Stewart knows a good week this week could go a long way in helping him follow Craig Lee (2011), Scott Henry and Chris Doak (both 2012) onto The European Tour via the second tier.

“I need a good week here to get into the third-last event in China,” he said. “A win would open up different doors but we’ll just see what happens to be honest.

“I won a few times last year on the satellite tour. One was nip and tuck, one I won by two and the other I won by eight, but I've been playing well since summer and this course sets up nicely for me so it doesn’t faze me. We all play for this feeling. There will always be nerves but good nerves. Hopefully things will go my way tomorrow but if they don’t it’s still been a good week.”

Meanwhile, Johan Carlsson took inspiration from his compatriot and one of the European Challenge Tour’s most famous graduates, Henrik Stenson, as the Swede marched into a two shot lead heading into the final day of the €400,000 event.

The 27 year old signed for a five under par 67 over the challenging 

Nurtau Golf Club lay-out in Almaty to move to the top on 13 under 

par and into contention for a maiden Challenge Tour title in his 

rookie season.

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) 

203 J Carlsson (Swe) 69 67 67

205 D Stewart (Sco) 70 70 65, T Hatton (Eng) 68 72 65

206 A Otaegui  (Esp) 67 70 69

208 J Huldahl (Den) 63 72 73, S Arnold  (Aus) 67 67 74

209 F Praegant (Aut) 71 69 69, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 71 68 70, P Maddy (Eng) 69 69 71

210 N Elvira  (Esp) 69 73 68, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 73 69, S Tiley (Eng) 74 65 71, A Pavan (Ita) 70 71 69, V Riu  (Fra) 73 64 73,

211 B An (SKor) 70 68 73, S Kapur (Ind) 71 71 69, O Wilson (Eng) 70 66 75,

212 C Kim (USA) 65 74 73, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 70 71 71, L Claverie (Esp) 70 67 75, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 72 71 69, G Stal  (Fra) 70 74 68,

213 S Kim (SKor) 69 69 75, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 71 70, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 70 74, N Lemke (Swe) 73 68 72, A Gee  (Eng) 68 75 70, D Brooks (Eng) 71 69 73, J Guerrier  (Fra) 71 70 72, J Elson  (Eng) 74 68 71, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 72 70 71, A Velasco (Esp) 69 74 70, R Steiner (Aut) 69 69 75,

214 A Rota (Ita) 74 70 70, C Del Moral (Esp) 71 71 72, M Brier (Aut) 70 73 71, C Ford (Eng) 72 70 72,

215 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 71 72, B Stone (RSA) 69 72 74, W Booth  (Sco) 71 72 72, G Cambis  (Fra) 69 71 75, D Huizing (Ned) 73 69 73, L Kennedy  (Eng) 69 71 75, A Johnston (Eng) 70 74 71, C Hanson (Eng) 71 73 71, 

216 J Barnes (Eng) 71 74 71, P Oriol (Esp) 71 71 74, T Sluiter  (Ned) 66 79 71, D Im (USA) 70 73 73, D Gaunt (Aus) 69 70 77, H Porteous (RSA) 76 67 73, M Ford (Eng) 70 75 71, E Dubois (Fra) 73 71 72, F Calmels  (Fra) 73 70 73

217 P Archer (Eng) 71 70 76, A Bernadet  (Fra) 70 73 74

218 C Brazillier  (Fra) 73 72 73, R McGowan  (Eng) 73 69 76, R Davies (Wal) 73 72 73, J McLeary  (Sco) 73 72 73

219 P Edberg (Swe) 71 74 74, A McArthur  (Sco) 74 71 74, J Heath  (Eng) 75 70 74, P Widegren  (Swe) 69 70 80, M Haastrup  (Den) 74 71 74, D Kemmer (USA) 70 73 76,

220 S Hutsby  (Eng) 72 72 76, G Houston (Wal) 72 72 76, J Senior (Eng) 73 72 75,

221 J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 70 75 76, C Aguilar  (Esp) 71 72 78,

223 N Ravano (Ita) 72 73 78, P Figueiredo  (Por) 70 75 78,

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR FRANKIE MOLINARI

EUROPEAN TOUR REPORT

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS 

Francesco Molinari set up the prospect of a dream victory at the golf club he learned to play  the game after a fine second round of five under par catapulted him to a share of the halfway lead at the 70° Open d’Italia LINDT.

Molinari first became a member of Circolo Golf Torino when he was an eight year old kid and he used every ounce of his extensive local knowledge to move up the leaderboard and join Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Ireland’s Simon Thornton on nine under going into the weekend. 

Roared on by an impressive and impassioned Italian crowd, Molinari struck the ball beautifully as he set-up the chance to claim a second Italian Open, having won the event in 2006.

“On days like today everything feels pretty easy does but there is a lot more effort going into it thsan it look,” said Molinari. 

“Playing here certainly adds a little bit of pressure but it also helps you focus and concentrate more too so it has good points too because I am enjoying the week so far. I said at the start of the week that I didn’t want to think too much about the circumstances and just to try and enjoy it as much as I can and make some birdies.

“When I won in Tolcinasco in 2006 it was great but this is a very, very special week for me. Playing your national open where you learned the game might only happen once in your lifetime so I am trying to make the most of it. 

“I was emotional yesterday on the tenth tee at 8 o’clock in the morning with about 50 people watching, so today with the huge crowds this afternoon was just an amazing feeling. It has been brilliant so far – I just want to try and keep going.”

Aguilar and Thornton are currently best placed to ruin Molinari’s homecoming party on Sunday, but the Italian will also be aware of a chasing pack that includes his 2012 Ryder Cup team mate Nicolas Colsaerts, Ireland’s David Higgins and Englishman Steve Webster, all of whom are just a single stroke back on eight under. 

While Molinari has the majority of the home support, there was a huge gallery following the super talented 16 year old amateur Renato Paratore, who carded a brilliant six under 66 to move into a tie for ninth place.

Paratore’s friend Matteo Manassero is also by no mean out of the championship either after a two under 70 took the 20 year old to four under heading into the weekend.

 

SECOND ROUND SCOREBOARD

  Par 144 (2x72)

135 F Aguilar (Chi) 69 66, F Molinari (Ita) 68 67, S Thornton (Irl) 68 67

136 D Higgins (Irl) 67 69, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 65 71, S Webster (Eng) 67 69

137 M Kieffer (Ger) 65 72, M Fraser (Aus) 66 71

138 S Benson (Eng) 68 70, R Gonzalez (Arg) 65 73, A Cañizares  (Esp) 71 67, H Otto (RSA) 71 67, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 68, A Quiros  (Esp) 71 67, R Paratore (am) (Ita) 72 66

139 J Olazábal (Esp) 71 68, J Edfors (Swe) 69 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 70 69, J Kingston (RSA) 68 71, J Lagergren (Swe) 72 67, M Nixon (Eng) 70 69, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 68, M Foster (Eng) 74 65

140 M Manassero (Ita) 70 70, D McGrane (Irl) 71 69, M Tullo (Chi) 70 70, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 67, R Derksen (Ned) 71 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 70, T Aiken (RSA) 69 71

141 B Åkesson (Swe) 72 69, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 71 70, S Jamieson  (Sco) 72 69, J Ruth  (Eng) 69 72, G Storm  (Eng) 70 71, G Orr (Sco) 73 68, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 69 72, F Zanotti (Par) 71 70, E Goya (Arg) 69 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 69 72, M Grönberg (Swe) 71 70, J Campillo (Esp) 68 73, P Whiteford (Sco) 73 68, C Doak (Sco) 74 67

142 D Horsey (Eng) 72 70, T Lewis (Eng) 70 72, A Levy (Fra) 70 72, R Finch  (Eng) 68 74, J Hansen  (Den) 68 74, R Goosen (RSA) 70 72, E Grillo (Arg) 70 72, E Lipparelli (am) (Ita) 69 73

143 M Carlsson  (Swe) 72 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 72, R McEvoy  (Eng) 73 70, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 73, P Erofejeff (Fin) 74 69, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 74, G Boyd  (Eng) 74 69, K Broberg (Swe) 70 73, J Walters (RSA) 70 73, O Floren  (Swe) 71 72, R Allenby (Aus) 71 72, R Wattel  (Fra) 71 72, R Ramsay  (Sco) 75 68, A Hartø  (Den) 69 74, S Khan (Eng) 73 70, G Mulroy (RSA) 71 72, M Madsen  (Den) 72 71, S Hend (Aus) 72 71, L Slattery (Eng) 70 73, A Tadini (Ita) 72 71, J Lucquin (Fra) 71 72, D Howell (Eng) 71 72

144 A Bruschi  (Ita) 72 72, M Wiegele  (Aut) 73 71, A Marshall (Eng) 72 72, J Sandelin (Swe) 72 72, A Maestroni  (Ita) 73 71, S Hansen (Den) 76 68, R Coles (Eng) 70 74, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 74, P Hedblom (Swe) 73 71, P Lawrie (Irl) 73 71, R Karlberg  (Swe) 72 72, D Geminiani (Ita) 73 71, R Green (Aus) 72 72, R Santos  (Por) 72 72, G Molteni (Ita) 72 72, A Kaleka  (Fra) 75 69

145 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 73, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 74, D Duval (USA) 75 70, O Fisher  (Eng) 75 70, S Henry  (Sco) 74 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 74 71, G Maybin (Nir) 74 71, T Levet (Fra) 74 71, C Lloyd (Eng) 70 75,

146 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 75, R Rock (Eng) 72 74, J Sjöholm (Swe) 74 72, S Chowrasia (Ind) 76 70, G Havret  (Fra) 74 72, M Hoey  (Nir) 77 69, L Gagli  (Ita) 74 72, J Kruger (RSA) 74 72, R Michelini (am) (Ita) 72 74,

147 S Little (Eng) 74 73, J Lara (Esp) 75 72, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 77, P Sjöland (Swe) 75 72, E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 75, B Koepka  (USA) 73 74, K Horne (RSA) 77 70, N Fasth (Swe) 71 76, S Pitoni (am) (Ita) 73 74,

148 R Bland (Eng) 75 73, J Singh (Ind) 73 75, M Lundberg (Swe) 77 71, E Amacher (am) (Sui) 76 72

149 M Jonzon (Swe) 73 76, M Miloro (Ita) 76 73, S Jin-Oh (Kor) 75 74, S Dodd (Wal) 75 74, F Laporta (Ita) 75 74

150 L Ruspa  (Ita) 72 78, J Morrison  (Eng) 76 74, M Delpodio  (Ita) 72 78, E Canonica (Ita) 73 77

151 L Jensen (Den) 75 76, C Macaulay  (Sco) 75 76

152 M Lampert (Ger) 75 77, A Zemmer (Ita) 74 78

153 L Scotto (Ita) 77 76, A Romano  (Ita) 77 76, A Snobeck  (Fra) 75 78

155 T Haylock  (Eng) 77 78, J Gonnet  (Fra) 78 77, I Garrido (Esp) 73 82,

156 L Guanti (Ita) 76 80, D Dixon (Eng) 75 81,

177 C Stumpo (am) (USA) 94 83,

 ** G Lockerbie  (Eng) 80 WD,

 

Michael Gibbons

Deputy Chief Press Officer

European Tour

STENSON LEADS BY FOUR AT HALFWAY IN US PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

US PGA Tour Championship Round 2 leaderboard

• -10: H Stenson (Swe)
• -6: A Scott (Aus)
• -5: J Spieth (US)
• -4: J Rose (Eng), D Johnson (US), B Horschel (US)
• -3: K Bradley (US), N Watney (US), G Woodland (US), Z Johnson (US), S Stricker (US)
• -2: P Mickelson (US), J Furyk (US), R Castro (US)
• Selected others -1: S Garcia (Sp)
• level: L Donald (Eng)
• +4: T Woods (US)

Sweden's Henrik Stenson is on course for the $10m FedEx Cup bonus as a 66 gave him a four-shot halfway lead at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The 37-year-old resumed a stroke clear and sank five birdies to end 10 under.
Masters champion Adam Scott remains second after a 69 - and he and Stenson are two of five players who can claim the bonus with a victory.
World number one and FedEx leader Tiger Woods had five birdies, but six dropped shots in four holes left him four over.
That 73 put him in a tie for 26th place but Woods - who has won five times this season and is seeking to land the FedEx Cup for a third time - could still claim the big prize by finishing as low as 29th in the 30-man field.
In the opening round, the 37-year-old failed to make a birdie for the first time since the 2010 US Open but began well on day two and was two under through 13 holes.

Previous FedEx Cup winners

2012: B Snedeker (US)
2011: B Haas (US)
2010: J Furyk (US)
2009: T Woods (US)
2008: V Singh (Fij)
2007: T Woods (US) 

However, Tiger's tee shot settled amid the Georgia pines left of the 14th fairway leading to double bogey, another shot went at the 16th and he found the water on the 17th for a triple bogey.

It added up to Woods returning consecutive over par rounds in a US PGA Tour event for the first time time since the 2011 PGA Championship.
"I put everything I had into that start and didn't have much at the end," he said. "Just ran out of gas. My legs were just tired. It's been just a long, long grind.
"I'm still in contention," he added. "There's 36 holes. This is not a sprint, it's tournament golf. It's a marathon. You've got to keep plugging around."
Stenson, who won the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, the second of the four FedEx Cup play-off events, made a superb start to round two at the East Lake Golf Club.
His opening approach finished within six feet and he put his tee shot at the par three second to a similar distance for another birdie.
A third birdie arrived at the fourth when he holed from the edge of the green - and even when his tee shot came within inches of the water at the island green par-three sixth, the world number six was still able to salvage par.
He chipped up to four feet to birdie the par-five ninth, added another from 20 feet at the 16th, and dropped only one shot at 10.
Scott, winner of this year's opening FedEx play-off event, The Barclays in New Jersey, bogeyed the first after a wayward drive but had three birdies.
"I'm in good shape," he said. "There's only one guy ahead of me, I know it's four shots but it's not that much over 36 holes. I feel I can reel him in."
Of the two other players for whom victory would secure the bonus, former Masters champion Zach Johnson had a bogey-free 68 to share seventh at three under, while Matt Kuchar slipped to three over and 25th place after five dropped shots in a 74.
US Open champion Justin Rose - who needs to win the tournament and see Woods and Stenson finish outside the top two to claim the $10m - shot a second successive 68 for four under