DOWNFIELD SENIOR PRO IN CRACKING FORM

KENNY HUTTON WINS MIDLAND 

ALLIANCE AT SCOTSCRAIG

Downfield professional Kenny Hutton, pictured, who recently failed to gain pass marks at the European Senior Tour Final Q School, was back in form with a two-under-par 69 to win the Midland Golfers' Alliance fixture at Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife.

Hutton, originally from Muir of Ord, won by three shots from four players on the 72 mark.

Winners of the Hi Tech Accoustic Services Ltd pro-am, with a better inward half, were unattached pro Steve Martin and amateurs Drew Herd (Scotscraig) (13), Jack Cree (Scotscraig) (12) and Jim Brown (Kirkcaldy) (7) with a net total of 127.

LEADING SCRATCH

69 K Hutton (Downfield) p.

72 N Cameron (Blairgowrie), G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), G Forrester (St Andrews Golf Academy) p, P Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
73 C Armstrong (Burntisland) ap.
74 G Tough (Edzell), S Craig (Germany) p, P Jamieson (Dunblane New) p.
75 R Walker (Lundin) p, A Webster (Edzell) p, W Hutton (Pitlochry), T McLevy (Blairgowrie), N Anderson (Monifieth).
LEADING TEAM SCORES 

127 (bih) S Martin (unatt) p, D Herd (Scotscraig) (13), J Cree (Scotscraig) (12), J Brown (Kirkcaldy) (7).

127 A Webster (Edzell) p, S Baker (Crail) (5), J Watt (Edzell) (3), I Milne (Edzell) (14).

129 R Stewart (Tulliallan) (1), R Barton (Alloa) (11), D Sim (Panmure) (5), P Rhind (Grange) (9).

 

Next Meeting

Thursday, February 27

Montrose (Caledonia Golf Club)

Tee reserved: 8.30am - 12.30

 

Lee Sutherland

US COLLEGE WIN RESULTS IN PROMOTION FOR SCOT

GRANT FORREST NOW RANKED IN TOP 50

Grant Forrest's recent victory on the US college golf circuit has resulted in

him going up to No 49 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Forrest, from North Berwick and a member at Craigielaw Golf Club, is a third-year student at San Diego University, California.
He won the Scottish amateur championship at Royal Dornoch in 2012 and qualified to play in last year's Open at Muirfield.

ends

ACCENTURE WORLD MATCH-PLAY - McILROY, ROSE GO OUT

McDOWELL SURVIVES TO PLAY MAHAN 

IN ROUND OF  THE LAST SIXTEEN


FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

For the second day running Graeme McDowell, pictured, left it late to progress at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, setting up a last-16 clash with Hunter Mahan, the player he famously beat in the decisive match of The 2010 Ryder Cup.
The Volvo World Match Play Champion had been four down in the opening round to Gary Woodland and still trailed by three with three to play before winning four holes on the bounce to set up a second-round showdown with Hideki Matsuyama.
The former US Open Champion again looked to be heading for the airport when he went three down after six holes against his Japanese opponent.
The Northern Irishman birdied the seventh and eighth to get within one, only to then lose the 14th to be two down with four holes to play.
A long birdie putt at the 15th kept the Ryder Cup star’s hopes alive, and he took the 17th after a stunning approach before a ten foot putt on the final green sealed a one up win.
Afterwards McDowell joked: “Why do it the easy way when the hard way will do?
“I just got off to a slow start again, probably less so today. I was quite proud of myself when I got a half on three, so I was only two down after three, as opposed to three down.
“I tried to go out there today and execute my game plan and try not to give him any room, try not to make any mistakes, try not to give him anything - and he kind of played the same kind of golf back. He played very, very well.
“I made big putts on 15 and 16. The 16th especially was a massive putt to give me the opportunity.
“I feel very fortunate again today. I've certainly expended all my energy and emotions the last couple of days, but thankfully it's early in the season and I've plenty left in the tank.”
Asked about facing Mahan for a quarter-final spot, McDowell added: “There's a decent chance he might be out for a shade of revenge tomorrow, who knows. It's been a long time and there's a lot of water under the bridge since 2010. 
“He's a quality player, he's got a great record around this golf course, and he's going to be a tough nut to crack.
“I certainly feel I've had a pretty good workout the last couple of days, and I should be in good shape going into tomorrow.”
The news was not so good for McDowell’s friend and compatriot Rory McIlroy, who was beaten on the 19th hole by American Harris English.
World No 7 McIlroy appeared to have victory in his second-round match at Dove Mountain within his grasp as he hit form on the back nine, winning four out of five holes to lead by one after 16.
But English, an impressive winner over another former World No 1 in Lee Westwood in round one, replied to take the contest to sudden death.
It was at the first extra hole that McIlroy's touch deserted him as he failed to recover from a poor tee shot.
He went wide to the left and could then only pitch into desert rough between a bush and a tree. From there he overshot the green and there was no way back.
It was a disappointing end to a high-quality contest in which few other holes had been settled by mistakes.
In-form South African George Coetzee needed a stunning tee shot at the third extra hole to finally get past Patrick Reed, and his reward is a third-round tie against Australian World Cup winner Jason Day.
The other Friday match in the Bobby Jones bracket will see Coetzee’s compatriot Louis Oosthuizen face Webb Simpson after the former Open Champion overcame European No 1 Henrik Stenson.
The Swede’s departure means the top seed has now failed to reach the third round for five successive years.
Sergio Garcia came from behind to beat Bill Haas 3 and 1 - the Spaniard losing the second and seventh as he fell two holes behind only to win three of the next five to turn the contest on its head.
The Ryder Cup star lost the 13th but again bounced back with a birdie at the 14th and par at the 16th leaving him two up with two to play.
Garcia birdied the 17th to secure a match up with Rickie Fowler in the last 16, the American overcoming the US PGA Tour’s form player Jimmy Walker one up.
“It was good fun,” said Garcia. “We both played hard. We both tried to play as well as we could to beat our opponent and I was fortunate to be just a little bit better than him today.”
In one of the day’s closest matches, Ernie Els had to birdie both extra holes to see off Justin Rose.
Els looked to be in control when he raced two up through four holes, but by the time Rose got up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the 16th the US Open Champion was one up despite not having carded a birdie.
Els took the 17th with a par after Rose missed the green, but his approach to the last rolled off the false front of the green after his opponent had leaked right into another sand trap, and both did well to save par and force extra holes.
Both players hit fine approaches to within eight feet at the first and made the putts, but at the long second Rose needed two goes at getting out of a greenside bunker leaving the South African with three feet for victory and a Friday contest against Jason Dufner.
France’s Victor Dubuisson continued to impress on his World Golf Championships debut as he overcame Peter Hanson 3 and 1 to progress to face former Masters Tournament winner Bubba Watson, who saw off Jonas Blixt at the 17th when the Swede lost his ball under a bush.
That meant six European Tour Members progressed to the last 16, but having been kept apart in the draw, they could all reach Saturday’s quarter-finals.

SECOND-ROUND RESULTS
Sergio Garcia bt Bill Haas 3 and 1.
Rickie Fowler bt Jimmy Walker 1 hole.
Victor Dubuisson bt Peter Hanson 3 and 1.
Bubba Watson bt Jonas Blixt 2 holes
Jason Day bt Billy Horschel at 22nd.
 George Coetzee bt Patrick Reed at 21st.
Matt Kuchar bt Ryan Moore 1 hole.
Jordan Spieth bt Thomas Bjorn 5 and 4.
Harris English bt Rory McIlroy at 19th
Jim Furyk bt Charl Schwartzel 3 and 2.
Hunter Mahan bt Richard Sterne 2 holes.
Graeme McDowell bt Hideki Matsuyama 1 hole.
 Louis Oosthuizen bt Henrik Stenson 4 and 3 Webb Simpson bt Brandt Snedeker 4 and 3.
Ernie Els bt Justin Rose at 20th.
Jason Duffner bt Matteo Manassero 2 and 1.

THIRD-ROUND TIES
local Arizona times
Players from USA unless stated

12:55 pm: Harris English v Jim Furyk
1:07 pm: Sergio Garcia (Spain) v Rickie Fowler
1:19 pm: Hunter Mahan v Graeme McDowell (N Ireland)
1:31 pm: Victor Dubuisson (France) v Bubba Watson
1:43 pm: Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) v Webb Simpson
1:55 pm: Jason Day (Australia) v George Coetzee (S Africa)
2:07 pm: Ernie Els (S Africa) v Jason Dufner
2:19 pm: Matt Kuchar v Jordan Spieth

PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN DUBLIN WEEK AFTER NEXT

McGINLEY EXPECTED TO NAME RYDER 

CUP VICE-CAPTAINS ON MARCH 6

Europe's Ryder Cup team captain Paul McGinley is expected to announce his choice of vice-captains for the Gleneagles match at a Press Conference in the Irish Goverment Buildings on March 6 at 11.30am.
The Press Conference will be covered live by Sky Sports.

AL MADDEN OPEN AT MARRAKESH, MOROCCO

JORDAN FINDLAY'S BOGEY-FREE 67

PUTS HIM IN CONTENTION

Jordan Findlay, pictured, posted a bogey-free first round of five-under-par 67 to be sharing fourth place at the end of the first round of the Al Madden Open at the Al Madden course, Marrakesh in Morocco.
The Fraserburgh man, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, birdied the long fourth, the ninth, the 10th, the long 13th and 17th in halves of 34 and 33.
The former British boys' champion has sometimes been inclined to cancel out his birdies with bogeys but not on this occasion. 
Findlay is two shots behind joint leaders Max Kramer (Germany) and England's James Wilson. 
Stablemate Philip McLean from Peterhead is joint 13th in the field of 115 with a 69 when a par at the last would have put him alongside Findlay on the scoreboard.
But McLean, after birdieing the first, fourth, seventh, eighth, long 13th and 17th, ran up a double bogey 6 at the 18th. 
Aberdeen's David Law was another Scot to rue the last hole. He finished on par 72 after recovering from a bogey-bogey start with birdies at the short sixth, ninth, long 13th, 14th and 17th ... and then had a double bogey 6 at the 18th.
Pollok's Conor O'Neil, tied 72nd, had six birdies in his 74 which might well have been a sub-70 score but for one triple bogey and two double bogeys.
Craig Lawrie had a 75 which was not a bad effort, considering he had a bogey at the short third and a double bogey 7 at the long fourth. Birdies at the long seventh and 17th were offset by bogeys at the short 15th and 18th. He is joint 81st.
AL MADDEN OPEN
Al Madden golf course, Marrakesh, Morocco
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 70
65 Max Kramer (Ger), James Wilson (Eng)
66 Moritz Lampert (Ger)
67 Jordan Findlay (Sco), Philipp Mejow (Ger), Max Glauert (Ger), Daniel Mogensen (Den), Robin Kind (Net), Nicolo Ravano (Italy)
SELECTED SCORES
69 Philip McLean (Sco) (T13).
72 David Law (Sco), Nathan Kimsey (Eng), James Johnson (Eng) (T45)
74 Conor O'Neil (Sco), Neil Raymond (Eng) (T72)
75 Craig Lawrie (Sco) (T81).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

WELSHMAN BRADLEY DREDGE THE WINNER

NEIL HENDERSON MAKES TOP 20 

ON SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR 

Scots Neil Henderson and Paul McGhee finished joint 18th and 36th respectively in the Spanish Evolve Tour's 36-hole competition at Hacienda Riquelme Golf Club, Murcia in south-east Spain today (Thursday).
Henderson, playing out of the Renaissance Club, had rounds of 75 and 72 for three-over-par 147.
McGhee scored 76-78 for 154.
Welshman Bradley Dredge, a Walker Cup player in 1993, headed a field of 71 players with scores of 70 and 66 for eight-under 136.
He won by two shots from Englishman Marcus Armitage (72-66).

SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR
Hacienda Riquelme GC, Murcia
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 Bradley Dredge (Wal) 70 66
138 Marcus Armitage (Eng) 72 66
139 Carlos Aguilar (Spa) 70 69, Hyunmin Byun (SKor) 67 72, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 66 73
140 Jordan Gibb (Eng) 73 67, George Woolgar (Eng) 69 71.
SELECTED TOTALS
143 Liam Murray (Eng) 71 72 (T9)
144 Lee Clarke (Eng) 73 71 (11th)
145 David Dixon (Eng) 76 69, Jonathan Bell (Eng) 76 69, John Banbury (Eng) 75 70, Jamie Dick (Eng) (am) 71 74 (T12) 
146 William Harrold (Eng) 73 73, Niall Kearney (Ire) 72 74 (T16)
147 Neil Henderson (Sco) 75 72 (T18)
154 Paul McGhee (Sco) 76 78 (T36)

EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE COMPETITION

KEIR McNICOLL WINS TOM GALLOWAY 


TROPHY WITH A 67 AT CRAIGELAW

FROM ALAN GREENSHIELDS
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance 
Secretary/treasurer

It was back to East Lothain this week with 106 members contending for the Tom Galloway Trophy at Craigielaw on a course that proved a tough challenge.

The 6,601yd course played its full length and more following some overnight rain.Thankfully wind and rain were absent during play.

Comfortable winner of trophy and top scratch prize was Gullane assistant pro Keir McNicoll with an excellent four-under-par round of 67 (33-34).

Second scratch prize was split two ways betweeen trainee pros Louis Gaughan (Bathgate) and Cameron Marr (Mussellburgh), two shots behind McNicoll on 69.

Top Handicap prize headed to Niddry Castle via Alex Webster with a great net 68 (73 less 5) and much helped by Alex's one under par 34 on the front nine.

Second handicap prize was secured by James Silvestro (Musselburgh) on 69 (76 less 7) with third place going to Grant Skinner (Glencourse) on 71 (75 less 4).

Order of Merit places are now taking shape with events nearing an end.

Ross Neill retains his lead in Scratch Order with Louis Gaughan still close on his heels:

1 Ross Neill (Drumpellier) - 502.5 points

2 Louis Gaughan (Bathgate) - 491.0 points

3 Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) - 457.5 points

James Silvestro reclaims the lead in the Handicap Order and swaps places with Martin Renni:

1 James Silvestro (Musselburgh) - 153.0 points

2 Martin Rennie (Uphall) - 150.0 points

3 Walter Forsyth (Peebles) - 129.0 points

Gordon Bell secured an ace at the Glen last month and the feat was repeated at Craigielaw's eighth (186yds) by Craigielaw member David Nicolson, thanks to an accurate 5 iron.

Next outing is in two weeks at Broomieknowe but next week we head to Eyemouth for a re-scheduled Invitational Better Ball event where members bring along a guest and compete for the Richardson and Brownlee Salver.

CRAIGIELAW PRIZEWINNERS
Overall Winner		Keir McNicoll (Gullane)			67
Scratch	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Score
1st	£100	McNicoll	Keir	Gullane	67
2nd=	£70	Gaughan	Louis	Bathgate	69
2nd=	£70	Marr	Cameron	Musselburgh	69
4th	£40	Buckley	Ryan	Unattached	70
5th=	£10	Grieve	Scott	Turnhouse	71
5th=	£10	Saltman	Lloyd	Archerfield	71
5th=	£10	Saltman	Zack	Archerfield	71
Handicap	Prize	Surname	Forename	Club	Net
1st	£100	Webster	Alex	Niddry Castle	68
2nd	£80	Silvestro	James	Musselburgh	69
3rd	£60	Skinner	Grant	Glencorse	71
TOP 50 SCRATCH SCORES 1    Keir McNicoll  (Gullane)Trnee 67 2 Louis Gaughan (Bathgate)Trnee 69 3 Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) Trainee 69 4 Ryan Buckley (unatt) pro   70        5 Scott Grieve pro (Turnhouse) 71        6 Gordon Hillson (Dunbar)Trnee 71 7 Lloyd Saltman (A/field) pro 71 8 Zack Saltman (A/field) pro 71       9 Andrew Erskine (Ratho Pk) pro 73   10  Craig Gordon (Ebgh GC) pro 73   11 Norman Huguet (M/burgh) pro 73    12 Richard Johnston (G/bervie) am 73 13  Andrew Munro (M/burgh) Trnee  73 14  Andrew Oldcorn (KingsAcre)pro 73 15  Alex Webster (Niddry C) am 73 16  Ross Neill (D/pellier) pro 74 17 Sandy Strachan (Deer Pk) pro 74 18  Alan Reid (West Lothian) pro 75 19  Grant Skinner (G/corse) am 75 20  Gordon Law (Uphall) pro 76 21 Graham MacKay (Melville) pro 76     22  Chris Morris (K/knowe) pro 76 23  James Silvestro (M/burgh) am    76 24  Daniel Wood (Hirsel) pro 76 25  Neil Bain (H/ington) am 77 26Steven Dunsmore (Falkirk T) pro    77 27 Andrew Marshall (Houston) pro 77     28  Ross Munro (D/ingston)Trne 77  29  Martin Rennie (Uphall) am 77        30  Iain Wilson (L/niddry) am 77 31  Scott Catlin (G/burn) pro 78 32  David Nicolson (Craigielaw) amateur     78 33    Cockburn    Robin    Harburn    Amateur    79 34    Rothney    Andrew    Bathgate    Amateur    79 35    Stavert    Iain    Duddingston    Senior    79 36    Fish    Derek    Glenbervie    Amateur    80 37    Jeavons    Ian     Dunbar    Amateur    80 38    Lamb    Jordan    Peebles    Amateur    80 39    Lees    Steven     Dalmahoy    Amateur    80 40    Morton    Wilson    Dunbar    Senior    80 41    Allison    Liam    Bathgate    Amateur    81 42    Dick    James     Duddingston    Professional    81 43    Laing    William     Prestonfield    Amateur    81 44    MacKay    Alan     Kingsknowe    Amateur    81 45    Yaguez    Antonio    Kingsknowe    Professional    81 46    Fyfe    Derek    Duddingston    Amateur    82 47    Leggate    Philip    Musselburgh    Amateur    82 48    Louden    Michael     Glencorse    Senior    82 49    Bootland    Hinton     Duddingston    Senior    83 50    Brydon    David    Torwoodlee    Amateur    83 51    Porteous    Paul    Uphall    Amateur    83 52    White    Justin    Harrison (Braids)    Amateur    83 53    Wither    George     Duddingston    Amateur    83 54    Wyse    Ian    Falkirk Tryst    Amateur    83

McCREADIE WINS WEST ALLIANCE AT W KILBRIDE

GOLF COPY AND SCORES
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY
QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON
TEL 01224 869782

McCREADIE WINS WEST ALLIANCE AT WEST KILBRIDE

Buchanan Castle's Jason McCreadie won this week's West of Scotland Alliance top scratch prize with an excellent round of four-under-par 67.
He was six under par (30) for the first nine holes but came home in 37 and  won by only one stroke from joint runners-up David Orr (Mearns Castle), home in 32, and young Williamwood amateur George Burns, back in 33.
Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) was fourth on 69 in a field of 15 professionals and 46 amateurs.
 
LEADING SCRATCH
67 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle)
68 David Orr (Mearns Castle), George Burns (Williamwood).
69 Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood).
71 Christopher Currie (Caldwell)
72 Gerry Reilly (Lochwinnoch), Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes), Paul Wilson (Bonnyton).
73 James Smallwood (Affordable Golf)
74 Paul Reilly (Kilmacolm), Barry Campbell (Vale of Leven), Hugh Burns (Troon Welbeck).
75 Jordan Gallagher (Dullatur), Matthew Burt (Helensburgh), Bill Lockie (North Gailes), John McDonald (Cowglen), Greg O'Neill (Dullatur), Robert King (Carrick at Cameron House), Alan Caig (Bonnyton), Andy Ellison (Hamilton).

LEADING HANDICAP
70 Allan Keith (Cathkin Braes (10), Alan Caig (Bonnyton) (5), Andy Ellison (Hamilton) (5).
71 Kenny Cochrane (Dullatur) (13).
       
LEADING SENIORS
75 Peter Kinloch (Cardross) (6), Hugh McCartney (Cardross) (8), Drew Wilson (Hamilton) (5).

Next event: Lanark on Wednesday, March 5.

FORMER WALKER CUP PLAYER'S FIRST WIN AS A PROFESSIONAL

KELLETT TOP SCOT BEHIND WINNER 

BROWN IN EGYPT

Former Walker Cup player Steven Brown, pictured, from Wentworth won the Alps Tour's 30,000 Euros Red Sea El Ein Bay Open at the Sokhna Golf Club, Egypt.
He shot rounds of 70, 70 and 66 for a 10-under-part total of 206 to win by a shot from Spain's Borja Virto.
Motherwell's Ross Kellett finished the top Scot in a share of seventh place on 212 with scores of 73, 68 and 71.
Michael Stewart from Troon finished joint 15th on 215 with rounds of 74, 71 and 70.
Ross Cameron from Ellon made the top 20 with scores of 73, 71 and 73 for 217.
Making his pro debut, Lundin's James White finished joint 26th on 219 with rounds of 72, 73 and 74.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Steven Brown (Eng) 70 70 66
207 Borja Virto (Spa) 70 67 70
208 Clement Berardo (Fra) 72 67 69
SELECTED TOTALS
212 Ross Kellett (Sco) 73 68 71 (T7)
213 Tom Shadbolt (Eng) 73 72 68 (T9)
214 David Corsby (Eng) 71 71 72 (T12)
215 Michael Stewart (Sco) 74 71 70 (T15)
217 Ross Cameron (Sco) 73 71 73 (T20)
218 Jack Senior (Eng) 76 70 72 (T24)
219 James White (Sco) 72 73 74 (T26)

ends

ALL-AMERICAN GATEWAY TOUR EVENT

GUNN SHOOTS A 63 BUT SHIELDS 

MISSES CUT AT WIGWAM, ARIZONA

FROM WILLIE SHARPE

Paul Shields shot 75 yesterday  for a two-over-par 36-hole total of 142 and missed the cut by four shots in the All-American Gateway Tournament  at Wigwam Golf Club in Arizona. 

Kirkhill's Paul had a bad day at the office with seven bogeys, including the last three holes in a row, and only two birdies, but Jimmy Gunn  (pictured) of Dornoch surged through the field into joint fifth place - two shots off the lead - with a seven-under 63 to be nine-under-par 131 after 36 holes. 
Gunn, waiting for the next Web.com Tour event, had seven birdies bogey-free halves of 30-33.
He birdied the first, second, fourth, fifth, ninth, 14th and 15th.

Another Scot,  Andy Gunson of Irvine, California also made the cut with two 69s for  two under par 138 and made the cut on the limit mark.
Gunson, son of the former Turnberry Hotel director of golf, birdied the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh to be out in 31. He bogeyed the 10th, 16th and 17th to come home in 38.

       
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70)
129 Brock Mackenzie (USA) 62 67, Kevin Spooner (Canada) 62 67, Joel Dahmen (USA) 73 66
SELECTED SCORES
131 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) 68 63 (T5)
138 Andrew Gunson (Scotland) 69 69 (T32)
MISSED THE CUT (138 and better qualified)
142 Paul Shields (Scotland) 67 75 

TOP SEED STENSON SQUEEZES THROUGH INTO SECOND ROUND

GALLACHER LOSES TO ELS AT 19th 

AFTER BEING 2 UP WITH 3 TO PLAY



FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Stephen Gallacher, pictured, two up with three to play, lost at the 19th to Ernie Els while  Henrik Stenson overcame the curse of the top seed 
with a dramatic late fightback against Kiradech Aphibarnrat on day one of the WGC-Accenture Match Play.
The European No 1 won three holes out of four from the 14th, where his Thai opponent three putted, to progress to round two at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club – only the second time in the last five years that the number one seeded player has gone past the first round.
The win also represented a first at Dove Mountain in five attempts for the Swede, who won this event at the Gallery Golf Club in 2007.
“I'm still in shock,” said Stenson. “It was a tough match; Kiradech is a good player.
“I struggle a bit on this course to be honest - it doesn't really fit my eye. A lot of times if you fly a bunker, you're bouncing through the fairway and you have to thread it in.”
Stenson will face South African Louis Oosthuizen in the last 32, after the former Open Champion held on to beat Nick Watney one up.
Thomas Björn avenged his 2012 first round defeat to Francesco Molinari as the 2014 edition began in Arizona.
The Dane was knocked out by Italy’s Molinari at the 20th hole two years ago, but this time progressed 2 and 1 against the same opponent to reach round two for only the second time in ten years.
“It's not very nice to come into this tournament and play your good friends in the first round, but that happens,” said Race to Dubai leader Björn, who now goes on to face American Jordan Spieth. “It was obviously you go out and play golf and try to win the match you play in.
“I played nice today. I was bit rusty as I’ve been sick for a couple weeks. Coming in, I didn't have really good preparation, so it was a bit rusty early on.
“There was a little bit of trying to get over the line in the end, but I got it done. I played some really good stuff in the middle there.
“Francesco never goes away - that's one thing you have got to give him. He stuck in there; every time I got to two up, he would have a great shot on the hole after and got himself back to one, so it was a tight match and it could have swung both ways. He probably didn't putt as well as he would have liked to.”
Former champion Ian Poulter suffered his third first round exit in four years, but Graeme McDowell joined Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Peter Hanson in the last 32 thanks to an unlikely comeback against Gary Woodland.
McDowell was four down after seven holes and still three down with three to play, but won the 16th with a par, the 17th with a birdie and was conceded the 18th when Woodland went from one greenside bunker to another.
A birdie on the first extra hole then sealed victory over a shell-shocked Woodland, with whom he had shared a private jet from Florida to Arizona.
"I missed a short one on 15 to follow him in for birdie and he looked unbeatable," McDowell admitted.
 "He hit a six iron all over the flag on the 16th and I thought my manager had a plane ticket booked for me and I was going home.
"I feel very fortunate to have got through that match. Just when you think you are dead and buried, [you get] a little luck from the gods. Gary is a good friend and a great player and I think he's one to watch this year."
Poulter had earlier lost 2 and 1 to American Rickie Fowler, who led from the fourth hole onwards and will now face compatriot Jimmy Walker in the second round. Walker, who has already won three times this season, secured the first victory of the day with a comfortable 5 and 4 win over South African Branden Grace.
"Disappointed with my performance today, did not deserve to move on," 2010 winner Poulter wrote on Twitter. "Congrats to Rickie Fowler."
McIlroy lost to Shane Lowry in the first round 12 months ago but had a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Boo Weekley that set up a last-32 clash with Harris English, who beat former World Number One Lee Westwood 5 and 3. Another former Number One, compatriot Luke Donald, also made an early exit as he was downed 5 and 4 by Matteo Manassero.
"I played well I guess for the first 12 holes," said McIlroy, whose wayward second shot on the 15th had spectators ducking for cover and saw one unfortunate man covered in cactus stems known as 'Jumping Cholla'.
"I might have got a bit complacent the last few holes and gave Boo a couple but I'm just happy to get through to the next round."
A total of five matches went to extra holes, Garcia beating Marc Leishman on the 22nd, Brandt Snedeker seeing off David Lynn on the 20th and Jason Dufner edging past Scott Stallings on the 19th.
And in the last match of the day, Ernie Els beat Stephen Gallacher after the Scot squandered a two-hole lead with three to play, the Dubai Desert Classic winner losing the 16th and 17th to par, missing from five feet for a winning birdie on the 18th and then making a bogey on the 19th.
Finland's Mikko Ilonen had looked like creating a shock when he led the in-form Bubba Watson by two holes with six to play, but lost the next three holes and Watson - who claimed his first win since the 2012 Masters in the Northern Trust Open on Sunday - sealed a 2 and 1 win on the 17th.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar also advanced to the second round, but only after having to 'win' his match with Austria's Bernd Wiesberger twice.
Kuchar thought he had sealed a 5 and 4 win on the 14th, only to realise he had failed to move his ball marker back to its correct position before holing a birdie putt. That cost him the hole and meant the match continued, but the World Number Ten still had a three-hole cushion and eventually won 3 and 2.
Elsewhere, Hanson beat Dustin Johnson 4 and 3 to set up a meeting with France's Victor Dubuisson, who saw off Kevin Streelman 5 and 4.
Sweden's Jonas Blixt enjoyed a 2 and 1 win over former US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley and South African George Coetzee saw off Steve Stricker 3 and 1. Stricker's participation in the event had been in serious doubt until his brother underwent a successful liver transplant at the weekend.
The biggest margin of victory belonged to American Billy Horschel, who beat Welshman Jamie Donaldson 6 and 5, while Bill Haas beat Miguel Angel Jimenez 5 and 4 and US Open Champion Justin Rose was taken to the 18th before edging past Scott Piercy.
In total 15 European Tour Members made it through to round two, with South African pair Charl Schwartzel and Richard Sterne through to face Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan respectively.
SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
(local time, Arizona)


11:20 a.m.: Sergio Garcia vs. Bill Haas
11:32 a.m.: Rickie Fowler vs. Jimmy Walker
11:44 a.m.: Peter Hanson vs. Victor Dubuisson
11:56 a.m.: Bubba Watson vs. Jonas Blixt
12:08 p.m.: Jason Day vs. Billy Horschel
12:20 p.m.: George Coetzee vs. Patrick Reed
12:32 p.m.: Matt Kuchar vs. Ryan Moore
12:44 p.m.: Jordan Spieth vs. Thomas Bjorn
12:56 p.m.: Rory McIlroy vs. Harris English
1:08 p.m.: Charl Schwartzel vs. Jim Furyk
1:20 p.m.: Richard Sterne vs. Hunter Mahan
1:32 p.m.: Graeme McDowell vs. Hideki Matsuyama
1:44 p.m.: Henrik Stenson vs. Louis Oosthuizen
1:56 p.m.: Brandt Snedeker vs. Webb Simpson
2:08 p.m.: Justin Rose vs. Ernie Els
2:20 p.m.: Jason Dufner vs. Matteo Manassero


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