LAW FINISHES 2ND TO SCOTLAND FOR SECOND WEEK IN A ROW

For the second week in a row, David Law was pipped for first prize by England's Zane Scotland in a MENA Tour event today (Wed).
Overnight leader Law followed earlier rounds of 67 and 68 with a final effort of 73 for a total of eight-under-par 208 in the Ras Al Khaimal Classic at Tower Links Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimal.
Scotland scored 70, 70 and 67 for 207 to notch back-to-back vitories at the 22-year-old Aberdonian's expense.
"My putting wasn't as good as it had been over the first two rounds but it was another positive week for me so I am quite happy," said Law who had 11 birdies over rounds one and two but only two in the third and final round.
The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player bogeyed the first and eighth to be out in 38 to Zane Scotland's 37. But whereas Law came home in 35 with birdies at the 13th and 14th plus a bogey at the 17th, Scotland came charging over the inward nine in six-under-par 30 with birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 Zane Scotland (Eng) 79 70 67
208 David Law (Sco) 67 68 73
209 Tyler Hogarty (SAfr) 65 72 72, Andreas Finn (Swe) 67 70 72, Ian Keenan (Eng) 68 73 68.
OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
213 Tom Buchanan 73 71 69 (T13)
217 Clarke Lutton 73 72 72 (T20)
MISSED THE CUT (147 and better qualified)
149 GregNicolson 76 73
152 Fraser McKenna 77 75
152 Ted Innes Ker 78 75

FROM THE MENA TOUR WEBSITE

RAS AL KHAIMAH, Oct 16 – Zane Scotland rode on a blistering performance on the back nine to win the MENA Golf Tour's Ras Al Khaimah Classic on Wednesday.

A good five shots off the pace overnight, the Englishman made the turn at one over, but exploded on the final stretch, reeling off six birdies without dropping a shot to close with a 67 for a total of nine-under par 207, one ahead of Scotland's David Law.

First round leader Tyler Hogarty of South Africa, Adreas Finn of Sweden and England's Ian Keenan shared the third place on a seven-under 209.

Welsh ace Stephen Dodd, who carded a final round 67, settled for a tie in the sixth along with South Africa's MG Keyser and England's Craig Hinton.

England's James Yeomans emerged the best amateur on one-over 217, two ahead of his compatriot James Allan and three of Morocco's Mustapha El Maouas.

It was Scotland, who provided the major twist to the script, coming from behind to win the title -- his fourth this season and sixth overall since the inception of the MENA Golf Tour in 2011.

"To be honest I surprised myself with the result," said Scotland after receiving the winner's trophy and a cheque for $9,000 from Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, Adel Zarouni, vice chairman of the federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, were also present.

"I played pretty aggressively on the back nine and count myself lucky for holing some clutch putts. I took a big risk on the closing 18th hole, hitting my second from behind the trees," said Scotland, who is also a 'golf in DUBAi' ambassador.

"Luckily, it landed on the green and I two putted for a birdie, which, in the end, made the difference," said the Englishman, who has now taken his earnings from the first six events on the tour to $45,000.

Scotland's Law had his chance to force to playoff, but missed a three-footer for a birdie on the final hole.

So was the case with South Africa's Hogarty, who led the field at nine-under after the 16th hole on Wednesday, but received a two-shot penalty for an incorrect drop from a hazard on the 17th resulting in a triple bogey.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Hamza Amin, by his own reckoning played his heart out, and produced the best round on the final day. His seven-under 65, which matched Hogarty's first-round effort, pole vaulted him to five-under for a share of the ninth.

"I am really proud of my effort today. I drove well and smashed my iron close to the pins. In short, everything clicked for him," said Amin, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday.

"I hit 17 greens and made the longest birdie putt on the sixth when I holed out from 15 feet. But, twice I three-putts and that were the only blemish on the card," said Amin, who is playing on the MENA Tour for the first time.

The MENA Golf Tour travels to the UAE capital next week for the Abu Dhabi GOLF CITIZEN Open, starting on Monday.


Leading scores after the final round (par 72):

Professionals:

207 – Zane Scotland (England) 70 70 67
208 – David Law (Scotland) 67 68 73
209 – Tyler Hogarty (South Africa) 65 72 72, Andreas Finn (Sweden) 67 70 72, Ian Keenan (England) 68 73 68
210 – Stephen Dodd (Wales) 72 71 67, MG Keyer (South Africa) 68 72 70, Craig Hinton (England) 69 70 71
211 – James Housby (England) 72 72 67, Chris Hanson (England) 71 71 69, Hamza Amin (Pakistan) 73 73 65
212 – Joshua White (England) 74 70 68


Amateurs:

217 - James Yeomans (England) 
219 - James Allan
220 - Mustapha El Maouas (Morocco)

GAVINS CLOSES IN ON PGA EUROPRO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA EUROPR0 TOUR

Daniel Gavins will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Championship and will play the final round with Oliver Farr - whom he lost out to in a play-off at Montrose last month – after both shot second-round 65s at Prince’s.

Farr (Worcester Golf & Country Club) shares second with Irishman Michael McGeady (69, 67) on eight under with Simon Lilly (Wellingborough, 67, 70) and Paul Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey, 65, 72) seven under, two behind leader Gavins on the par-72 course.

The 22-year-old, who is attached to De Vere Oulton Hall, is second on the Order of Merit and has already guaranteed himself a top five finish along with George Woolgar (Capitalservices). He won the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Dale Hill in August and finished second in the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose and in the Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton, losing in a sudden-death play-off in both events.

A victory for either Gavins or Farr tomorrow would see them crowned 2013 Order of Merit champion, provided Woolgar finishes outside the top two. The Chesterfield golfer is tied 36^th on level par ahead of Thursday’s final 18.

“I hit the fairways and holed some nice putts,” said Gavins of his second round. “At the start of the day it was pretty calm but the wind picked up as my round went on.

“It would mean an awful lot to win this week but I am not really thinking about winning the Order of Merit. I already have Challenge Tour through the top five so anything else this week is a bonus.”

Joint second-placed Farr said: “I hit seven birdies and played some really good golf, it was probably one of the best rounds I have ever played and in some tricky conditions coming down the stretch.”

Woolgar leads the Tour rankings, with Gavins, Farr, Dave Coupland (-1, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-4, T14) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour. The top five on the Order of Merit at the conclusion of Tour Championship will earn a card on next season’s Challenge Tour.

Spectator entry to Tour Championship is free of charge throughout the week and a two-hour highlights package will be broadcast at 8pm on Tuesday, October 29 on Sky Sports 2 HD, repeated four times the following day.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
135 Daniel Gavins (Eng) 70 64
136 Oliver Farr (Wal) 71 65, Michael McGeady (Ire) 69 67
137 Simon Lilly (Eng) 67 70, Paul Grannel (Eng 65 72

SCOTS' SCORES
139 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 68 71, Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 67 71 (T9)
140 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 71, Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 69 71 (T14)
141 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 67 74 (T20)
144 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 72 72 (T36)

ROSE IS BLOOMING IN PGA GRAND SLAM OF GOLF

FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE

US Open champion Justin Rose took a two-shot lead after round one of the PGA Grand Slam in Port Royal, Bermuda.

The 33-year-old Englishman fired a four-under 67 to head US PGA champion Jason Dufner in the exhibition event for the year's four major winners.

Justin Rose career highlights

• Won 2013 US Open
• Third at 2012 US PGA
• Fifth at 2007 Masters
• Fifth at 2003 US Open
• European Tour Order of Merit winner 2007
• Five PGA Tour wins. six European Tour wins
• Fourth at 1998 Open as 17-year-old amateur

Masters champion Adam Scott shot 70, while Ireland's Padraig Harrington, playing in place of Open winner Phil Mickelson, carded 74.

The 36-hole tournament, won last year by Harrington, ends on Wednesday.
Rose became the first Englishman to win a major since Nick Faldo in 1996 with victory at Merion in June.
Mickelson, who won his first Claret Jug and fifth major in all at Muirfield in July, opted not to take part in Bermuda.