Sunday, June 08, 2014

BEN LEADS FROM START TO FINISH, EVEN WITH BIRDIE-LESS FINAL ROUND

  • Ben Crane earned his first title since the 2011 McGladrey Classic on Sunday. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) Ben Crane earned his first title since the 2011 McGladrey Classic on Sunday. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CRANE LIFTS FIRST US PGA TOUR WIN

SINCE 2011 .. AND THANKS GOD

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) -- Ben Crane estimates he slept less than three hours in a night spent praying and thanking God that his game finally has come back around.
Then he played 30 holes Sunday in winning the FedEx St. Jude Classic for his first US PGA Tour title since 2011, setting off a celebration that included hugging his caddie and high-fiving a reporter. 
Crane also choked back some tears as he looked at text messages filling his phone.
"Oh my gosh, it just keeps going," Crane said, looking at his phone. "How many can a phone hold? This is so much fun"
Crane closed with a 3-over 73 for a one-stroke victory, going wire-to-wire for his fifth career TOUR triumph. Rain delays forced him into the marathon session Sunday at TPC Southwind, finishing 12 holes in the morning in a third-round 69 to take a three-shot lead into the final round.
He two-putted for bogey on the final hole to finish at 10-under 270, days after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open. 
That marked a low point for the 38-year-old player who spent the past six months reworking his swing to protect his back wondering if his career was over. He spent time with a coach picturing the right way to hit shots.
Everything clicked Thursday with an opening 63.
"I did not expect the hole to open up like that and just start making putts from everywhere," Crane said. "Just hit a lot of quality shots and obviously built a nice lead to start out with."
Troy Merritt was second after a 71. Webb Simpson (65), Matt Every (70) and Carl Pettersson (69) were 8 under, and Ian Poulter had a 64 to tie for sixth at 7 under.
Merritt credited the best finish of his career to an improved short game.
"Ben played great," Merritt said. "Hats off to him. Well deserved. He's been struggling for a little while. Very happy for Ben."
Phil Mickelson, among those tuning up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, left winless in his 20th event since the 2013 British Open. He tied for 11th at 6 under after a 72.
Consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 put Mickelson at 8 under. But he bogeyed the next two, including the par-3 14th where he hit a 7-iron into the water in front of the green. He still finished much better than his tie for 49th at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance last week.
"The way I drove the ball last two rounds I had an opportunity to shoot really low," Mickelson said. "My iron play was poor, and my putting was pathetic. I'll have to make some changes and to get ready for next week. But the game is not far off because I'm driving the ball very well and putting it in play."
Wind, thunderstorms, lightning and fog had delayed play each of the first three days. With more storms forecast, players started the final round almost immediately after concluding the third. They finished without single delay Sunday as the sun even came out as this tournament finished its 57th year without being shortened because of weather.
Crane had three bogeys in the final round, one more than he had through 54 holes. He became the first winner on tour without a birdie in his final round since Justin Leonard did it at Southwind in 2005.
He cruised along before two-putting for bogey on No. 6, dropping his lead to two strokes over Brian Harman and Merritt. Crane bogeyed No. 9 after hitting his tee shot into the rough. He couldn't clear the rough with his next shot, and his third bounced to the rough behind the green.
Crane said he only glanced at the leaderboard a couple times.
"I just knew I was leading, and I knew Phil Mickelson was out there so," Crane said. "And Phil's a good friend, and he kind of gave me that, `I'm coming after you.'"
Merritt was the closest, within a stroke for six holes before putting his tee shot on the par-4 15th into the rough. He couldn't roll the ball in from 15 feet to save par.
Crane strung together eight straight pars before going to the par-4 No. 18 with a two-stroke lead needing to avoid the water down the left side of the fairway. He did, though he did find the greenside bunker. Crane two-putted from 12 feet for the win. He earned 500 FedExCup points to move from 150th to 41st in the latest standings.
Divots: Crane is the eighth player in this event's history to win after having at least a share of the lead after every round. Lee Westwood was the last in 2010. ... Crane also won the 2010 CIMB Classic before it became an official TOUR event.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70) Players from USA unless stated
270 Ben Crane 63 65 69 73
271 Troy Merritt 67 66 67 71
272 Webb Simpson 71 66 69 66, Matt Every 69 68 65 70, Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 67 67 69 69
SELECTED TOTALS
273 Ian Poulter (England) 69 68 72 64 (T6)
274 Phil Mickelson 67 68 67 72 (T11)
277 Paul Casey 70 67 70 70, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 69 68 70 70 (T24)
281 Gonzalo Fernandez Castano (Spain) 67 70 71 73 (T46)
284 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 67 76 71, Greg Owen (England) 70 70 70 74 (T60)
286 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 68 67 79 82 (T63).

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WEB.COM TOUR 11-hole PLAY-OFF MAKES US PGA HISTORY

GUNN DOWN THE FIELD IN CLEVELAND 
OPEN AFTER 146 FOR LAST 36 HOLES

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn finished joint 50th in the Web.com Tour's Cleveland Open at Lakewood Country Club, Westlake, Ohio. The Arizona-based Scot had scores of 69, 67, 72 and 74 for a two-under-par total of 282.
He finished 12 shots behind American Steve Alker (70-70-65-65) and South African Dawie Van der Walt (70-69-65-66) who were still locked together in a sudden-death play-off after seven holes.
It eventually was won by Alker at the 11th extra hole.

LONGEST PLAY-OFF IN US PGA HISTORY

FROM THE WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE
MORE: Rd. 4 Wrap-up | Leaderboard | Photos | Winner's bagHighlights | THE 25 standings
WESTLAKE, Ohio – Everyone was getting a little loopy around Lakewood Country Club as sudden death evolved into never-gonna-end.

Fans in a grandstand behind the 18th hole chanted “hip, hip, hooray” as they saw Steven Alker and Dawie van der Walt for a third, fourth, fifth time. The groans around the property got a little louder, a little longer with each burned-edge putt.

Van der Walt even said to Alker at one point, “is anybody going to win here?”

A fair question when you’re in the midst of an 11-hole playoff.

That’s not a misprint. Alker, a New Zealander, and South Africa’s van der Walt played 11 holes of sudden death at the Cleveland Open, trading pars the entire way until Alker stuffed one tight on the 18th hole and made a 3-footer.

“Very satisfying at the end,” said Alker, who bogeyed the last two holes of regulation to lose a late lead. “I wasn’t expecting to play that many holes today.”

No one ever does when going to a playoff. Indeed, this one was the longest in the history of PGA TOUR-sanctioned golf to crown a winner. Two previous Web.com Tour playoffs had lasted nine holes, and a Champions Tour event once went 10 holes. In 1949, the PGA TOUR’s Motor City Open lasted 11 holes until darkness hit in Michigan and Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff agreed to be co-champions.

There would be no co-champions here, not with so much at stake. Alker finished 26th on the Web.com Tour regular-season money list last year, one spot shy of a PGA TOUR card. He had a slow start to this year, withdrawing from the season opener with a wrist injury and only having a T19 and T20 to show for seven starts.

But this was a season-turning week, starting on Monday when he survived 36-hole sectional qualifying in California to make next week’s U.S. Open. In Cleveland, he fell in love with the 1921 A.W. Tillinghast layout and got into contention with a Saturday 65.

On Sunday he went out in 31 and was 8 under for his round going to 17, but Lakewood’s rough -- thick all week and then thick and soaked following a Sunday morning shower that delayed play for 79 minutes – snagged his last two tee shots.

A bogey-bogey finish put him in the clubhouse at 14 under and in danger of a playoff – if van der Walt could birdie the 72nd hole.

Sure enough, the affable South African (who looks like a cross between Ernie Els and Randy Quaid) sank a 20-footer to complete a birdie-birdie finish.

“I had nothing to lose, everything to gain,” van der Walt said.

And then the real fun was on.

The rotation of holes turned out to be 18-18-16-17-18-16-17-18-16-17-18, though both players had multiple chances to end the playoff before it reached record territory.

Alker missed two putts under 20 feet on the third and fourth playoff holes. Van der Walt came within inches of an ace on the ninth playoff hole, the par-3 16th, when he spun a 9-iron off a backstop behind the flag. The crowd tried to root it in and it just missed, settling 15 feet under the hole.
“Pretty scary,” Alker said. “I thought it was closer than it was.”
But it was just another par-par after both missed birdie tries, and a return to the 17th. There, van der Walt narrowly missed a chip from off the left side of the green, tossing his wedge in agony as his caddie fell to the ground.
“I thought there’s no way it’s missing (at 16), then (the chip) missed again. I thought I made it,” van der Walt said.
Both players hit the fairway again at the tough 18th hole, then after van der Walt hit a solid approach to 20 feet right of the pin, Alker stepped up with his best shot of the playoff, a 7-iron from 170 yards.
Jon Curran, who tied for fourth and played with Alker on Sunday in regulation, called him a “cool customer” who wasn’t rattled even during his bogey-bogey finish. That same customer bore no emotion as he walked up to the green and went through his routine.
After the putt went in, Alker finally allowed himself a fist pump.
He earned it.  

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SWEDE SUCCESS AT LYONESS OPEN IN AUSTRIA


LUNDBERG BEATS WIESBERGER WITH 

BIRDIE PUTT IN PLAY-OFF

REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS 
Sweden's Mikael Lundberg holed a 40ft birdie putt on the first play-off hole to deny Bernd Wiesberger a second win on home soil and capture the Lyoness Open in Austria.
The pair finished tied on 12 under par at Diamond Country Club after Lundberg surged through the field with a closing 65 and Wiesberger returned a 69, having let slip a one shot lead with three holes to play.
The players returned to the par three 18th for the play-off, and it was advantage Wiesberger after the tee shots – only for Lundberg to hole for an unlikely birdie.
Despite being willed on by large crowds in Atzenbrugg, Wiesberger was unable to match it from 18 feet, and was therefore left with an anxious wait to see if he had done enough to move up to 60th place in the Official World Golf Ranking to qualify for his US Open Championship debut.
A victory would have guaranteed his place at Pinehurst, but the 28 year old is now left to rely on results going his way in the FedEx St Jude Classic on the US PGA Tour.Final scores:

 FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
276 M Lundberg (Swe) 67 68 76 65, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 71 70 66 69
277 J Luiten (Ned) 72 67 66 72

278 L Slattery (Eng) 70 66 76 66
280 M Jiménez (Esp) 70 75 68 67, F Zanotti (Par) 69 68 72 71,2
281 E De La Riva  (Esp) 73 69 70 69, D Im (USA) 70 73 74 64
282 D Horsey (Eng) 73 73 65 71, S Kim (SKor) 70 68 73 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 70 71 70 71,
 283 M Baldwin (Eng) 68 73 70 72, A Gee  (Eng) 67 73 70 73,
 284 A Marshall (Eng) 72 71 75 66, S Thornton (Irl) 71 74 67 72, J Knutzon (USA) 74 72 69 69
 285 F Fritsch  (Ger) 74 69 74 68, R Wattel  (Fra) 76 69 71 69, T Hatton (Eng) 72 74 71 68, J Roos (RSA) 73 73 70 69, B Henson (USA) 68 72 73 72, A Wall (Eng) 70 73 75 67, R Davies (Wal) 68 71 77 69
 286 M Korhonen (Fin) 75 67 74 70
 287 G Stal  (Fra) 73 74 69 71, S Henry  (Sco) 69 75 68 75, R Karlberg  (Swe) 73 73 66 75, S Hansen (Den) 74 70 74 69, K Ferrie (Eng) 71 77 71 68, P Hedblom (Swe) 74 74 70 69, R McGee (Irl) 73 70 69 75

288 B Rumford (Aus) 73 70 71 74, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 70 76 68 74, E Goya (Arg) 77 69 74 68, J Morrison  (Eng) 73 70 74 71, S Dodd (Wal) 70 73 75 70, D Gaunt (Eng) 75 73 72 68, R Finch  (Eng) 68 73 75 72, A Hansen (Den) 73 73 73 69, G Porteous (Eng) 74 69 72 73, J Smith (am) (Eng) 71 72 74 71
 289 F Praegant (Aut) 70 73 76 70, L Nemecz (Aut) 74 71 73 71, R Bland (Eng) 69 75 74 71, V Riu  (Fra) 69 74 71 75, L Kennedy  (Eng) 72 74 72 71, A Haindl (RSA) 72 69 75 73
 290 J Kingston (RSA) 72 71 75 72, M Nixon (Eng) 70 76 73 71, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 70 75 74 71, R McGowan  (Eng) 69 74 70 77, M Hoey  (Nir) 73 74 71 72, J Heath  (Eng) 76 72 71 71, J Doherty  (Sco) 75 71 76 68
 291 T Lee (USA) 71 73 76 71, R Rock (Eng) 75 70 75 71, G Bhullar (Ind) 70 78 72 71, T Levet (Fra) 69 73 75 74, L Astl (Aut) 73 72 74 72, B Dredge (Wal) 72 73 75 71, J Hansen  (Den) 73 71 74 73 

293 E Dubois (Fra) 74 73 71 75, J Singh (Ind) 71 76 72 74, P Archer (Eng) 69 73 75 76, T Nørret (Den) 71 75 76 71 
294 R Santos  (Por) 75 71 79 69, M Mayrhauser  (Aut) 75 72 74 73
296 L Lipold (am) (Aut) 77 71 77 71 

297 D Vancsik (Arg) 71 75 73 78 
305 J Lagergren (Swe) 73 72 84 76
 ** R Kakko  (Fin) 75 70 DQ 

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FINAL ROUND OF 63 BY GERMAN WINS ON CANARY ISLANDS


LAMPERT LIGHTS UP THE CHALLENGE 

SCENE WITH 2nd WIN IN THREE WEEKS


REPORT BY EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Germany’s Moritz Lampert won his second Challenge Tour title in the space of three weeks with a superb round of 63 on the final day of the Fred Olsen Challenge de España.
Having prevailed in last month’s Kärnten Golf Open with a 19 under par aggregate total, Lampert duly doubled his tally of Challenge Tour titles with another feat of low scoring at Tecina Golf, on Spain’s Canary Islands.
Lampert’s 20 under par score earned him a two- shot win from Belgian Hugues Joannes and a cheque for €25,600, which moved the 22 year old to second place behind Spaniard Jordi Garcia Pinto in the Challenge Tour Rankings and within sight of sealing a swift return to The European Tour.
Lampert started the day two shots adrift of Italian Matteo Delpodio, but swiftly wiped out the deficit with a hat-trick of birdies from the first hole.
His only bogey of the day at the sixth was sandwiched between further gains at the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes, and with Delpodio struggling to build on his third round of 66, Lampert took a firm grip on proceedings when he holed a huge putt for birdie on the 11th green.
When Joannes, who had earlier eagled the ninth hole for the second day in succession, bogeyed the 13th, the trophy appeared destined to end in Lampert’s hands. But to his credit, the Belgian rallied with birdies at the 14th and 17th holes to sign for a round of 64 and set the clubhouse mark on 18 under par.
However, by firing a five-iron to the heart of the 17th green and two putting to bring up his ninth birdie of the day, the man from Sandhausen established a two-shot cushion which he held on to with a par at the last hole.
Lampert said: “I played really well, especially on the front nine. I decided to play aggressively, there were many good guys there with chances to win, so I knew I had to go low and it worked out.
“It’s funny, the week didn’t start very well at all when I almost missed my boat here, and it was a very long trip to get here. But then as soon as I got here, everything went well. I like the course, the place, the facilities – it’s amazing. You can’t get upset, even if you hit a bad shot.
“My game feels good at the moment, I have learned a lot, and I feel I will be better prepared for The European Tour if I get back there.
“I’m good friends with Max Kiefer, Marcel Siem and Martin Kaymer. We play a lot together and I get good advice from them. They tell me to stay humble, practise and work hard, so that’s what I do.
“I worked very hard during the winter, and my work is starting to pay off. The goal now is to win a third event on the Challenge Tour, and get onto The European Tour. Hopefully I can do it in Germany in a few weeks’ time!”
Joannes’ consolation for missing out on his debut Challenge Tour title was a cheque for €17,600 which moved the young Belgian, who had missed the cut in his previous two appearances this season, up to 20th place in the Rankings.

FINAL TOTALS 
 par 284 (4x71)
264 M Lampert (Ger) 69 66 66 63
266 H Joannes  (Bel) 68 67 67 64
 268 L Claverie (Esp) 67 69 68 64, M Delpodio  (Ita) 66 67 66 69,
 269 A Johnston (Eng) 69 66 66 68, J Sjöholm (Swe) 67 62 72 68,
 270 A Velasco (Esp) 71 66 66 67, D Suazo  (Esp) 70 69 67 64, A Domingo (Esp) 68 66 68 68, N Ravano (Ita) 68 67 65 70
 271 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 69 66 66
 272 M Southgate  (Eng) 70 69 64 69, N Raymond (Eng) 71 70 66 65, A Tadini (Ita) 70 69 68 65, J Palmer (Eng) 66 68 69 69, D Law (Sco) 72 66 66 68
 273 D Perrier (Fra) 65 72 67 69, S Hutsby  (Eng) 66 68 71 68
 274 L Jensen (Den) 72 64 69 69, A Hortal  (Esp) 68 68 70 68, P Oriol (Esp) 68 66 69 71, W Harrold (Eng) 72 65 70 67
 275 J Senior (Eng) 67 70 68 70, D Borda (Esp) 68 70 68 69, M Orrin (Eng) 66 69 73 67
 276 O Lieser (Cze) 65 70 70 71, J Bragulat  (Esp) 66 71 67 72, O Stark (Swe) 72 67 69 68, J Garcia Del Moral (Esp) 72 67 69 68, J Barnes (Eng) 74 65 67 70
 277 O Farr (Wal) 67 72 69 69, G Watremez (Bel) 69 71 68 69, C Aguilar  (Esp) 70 69 67 71, A Rota (Ita) 67 67 69 74, N Kimsey (Eng) 70 67 67 73, D Stewart (Sco) 70 67 69 71, H Satama (Fin) 68 69 71 69
 278 G Houston (Wal) 74 66 67 71, A Gutierrez (Esp) 72 69 69 68, R Enoch  (Wal) 68 65 72 73, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 69 71 66,
 279 A Engell  (Nor) 66 69 72 72, F De Vries  (Ned) 73 66 71 69, M Wiegele  (Aut) 68 73 72 66, S Grant  (Irl) 74 67 70 68
 280 A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 70 69 70 71, P McKechnie (Sco) 69 69 70 72, M Pastor (Esp) 73 68 67 72, J Sarasti  (Esp) 69 71 69 71, S Tiley (Eng) 69 69 72 70
 281 C Russo (Fra) 70 67 72 72, C Kelly (Sco) 70 66 73 72,
 282 M Glauert (Ger) 72 68 69 73, T Murray (Eng) 72 69 71 70, R Steiner (Aut) 72 69 67 74, J Harrison (Eng) 75 65 69 73
 283 A Maestroni  (Ita) 71 69 75 68, L Goddard  (Eng) 75 65 74 69, N Thommen  (Sui) 72 68 73 70, A Dunbar (Nir) 71 70 69 73
 284 F Bergamaschi (Ita) 71 70 73 70, C Macaulay  (Sco) 67 71 72 74, M Haines  (Eng) 68 72 74 70, C Shinkwin (Eng) 71 67 75 71, F Adarraga (Esp) 72 68 76 68, S Hansen (Nor) 70 70 70 74, J Moul  (Eng) 70 71 72 71
 285 P Figueiredo  (Por) 70 68 79 68, D Gavins (Eng) 72 67 74 72,P Martin Benavides (Esp) 71 70 77 67, S Brown (Eng) 67 74 70 74
 286 C Balmaseda  (Esp) 70 71 69 76
 287 N Meitinger  (Ger) 72 69 73 73, B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 70 75 72,
 141 G Murray  (Sco) 73 68 WD  0



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FINAL ROUND OF SEVEN-UNDER 64 WINS TITLE FOR SPANIARD



SANTIAGO LUNA SWOOPS TO CONQUER 

IN PGA SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
A stunning final round of seven under par 64 helped Santiago Luna charge through the field to lift the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship on a dramatic final day at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa.
Luna started his final round two strokes behind leader Steen Tinning of Denmark but he finished the day at the top of the pile after a masterful performance saw him put together an eagle, six birdies and just a single dropped shot to take the €46,304 first prize.
“It feels very nice to have won today,” smiled Luna. “I played so good today – I was relaxed and happy on the golf course and that is what helped me a lot today, along with a very well behaved putter!”
Tinning looked likely to run away with the title as the final round got underway and the Dane birdied the fourth and fifth to race four shots clear. But as the round progressed the chasing pack roared with Welshman Mark Mouland making a great charge at the lead with three birdies and an eagle in his closing 11 holes to post his own 64 and set the clubhouse target at ten under.
As Tinning made back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th, Luna birdied the 12th and then the 14th to take the lead for the first time, but Tinning responded brilliantly by following Luna’s birdie with an eagle on the par five 14th to level the scores.
The tournament was now a two-horse race not dissimilar to the battle these two players enjoyed at last year’s English Senior Open where Tinning emerged the victor. This time, it was to be the Spaniard’s day as he made the only eagle three of the day at par five 16th to land what would be the decisive blow.
That moved Luna two clear and when Tinning birdied the same hole, the Dane needed to find a birdie or hope for a mistake from his rival to keep his hopes alive. Luna was solid as a rock, making two pars and leaving Tinning no option but to chase the final pin which resulted in a bogey at the last.
It was undoubtedly Luna’s day, and who could deny the affable Spaniard after such a brilliant final round.
“I tried not to look at what Steen or the other guys were doing – I always feel that if you cannot control what the other people are doing then there is no point in knowing what they are doing,” said Luna, who moves to fifth in the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
“It means a lot to win such a big title on the Senior Tour and I have to be honest and say that I probably did not expect to win because everyone else at the top of the leaderboard were playing very good golf.
“But when you shot 64 in the final round then you are going to have a chance and thankfully it was my day. It’s also very nice to win this week because my wife is here to enjoy it with m – she wasn’t with me when I won in Scotland last year so it has been a special week for us both.”
FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71)
270 S Luna (Esp) 68 71 67 64;
272 S Tinning (Den) 67 68 68 69;
274 M Mouland (Wal) 68 71 71 64;
275 C Monasterio (Arg) 71 68 69 67; A Oldcorn (Sco) 73 67 66 69;
276 P Eales (Eng) 68 69 74 65; M Farry (Fra) 72 70 66 68; P Golding (Eng) 73 70 67 66; A Murray (Eng) 68 71 68 69;
277 G Emerson (Eng) 70 68 71 68; J Smith (USA) 68 70 71 68; B Lane (Eng) 71 69 71 66; C Williams (Eng) 69 67 70 71; A Bossert (Sui) 73 68 68 68;
278 M James (Eng) 68 66 71 73; R Rafferty (Nir) 70 70 68 70; J Spence (Eng) 70 68 68 72; T Thelen (USA) 70 72 67 69;
279 D Smyth (Irl) 66 75 71 67; P Fowler (Aus) 68 74 71 66; G Manson (Aut) 71 67 71 70;
280 L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 68 73 69;
281 P Walton (Irl) 72 72 69 68; C Mason (Eng) 71 70 69 71; J Remesy (Fra) 72 73 70 66;
282 P Curry (Eng) 75 66 72 69; P Linhart (Esp) 71 72 71 68; G Bell (Eng) 70 71 71 70;
283 M Martin (Esp) 72 71 71 69; G Brand Jnr (Sco) 72 72 71 68;
284 R Gibson (Can) 71 68 72 73; B Cameron (Eng) 70 72 72 70; A Sherborne (Eng) 73 70 70 71; J Bruner (USA) 72 71 67 74; P Wesselingh (Eng) 72 70 71 71; W Grant (Eng) 70 73 70 71; G Rusnak (USA) 74 70 70 70;
285 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 73 70 72 70;
286 J Sallat (Fra) 68 70 75 73; G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 73 71 70; G Ryall (Eng) 68 75 72 71;
287 T Lawrence (Eng) 72 70 73 72; R Williams (Wal) 77 67 73 70; R Ellis (Eng) 76 70 69 72; S Cipa (Eng) 74 69 74 70; Z Martinez (USA) 74 72 72 69;
288 A Franco (Par) 73 70 74 71; P Mayo (Wal) 71 73 71 73; J Mathews (Eng) 76 70 68 74;
289 J Harrison (Eng) 73 73 73 70; M Mackenzie (Eng) 72 71 73 73; D Russell (Eng) 73 72 75 69;
290 J Gould (Eng) 77 68 72 73; J Quiros (Esp) 69 72 74 75; T Price (Aus) 75 71 67 77;
291 A Webster (Sco) 73 73 75 70;
292 T Johnstone (Zim) 70 71 82 69; M Cunning (USA) 71 74 70 77;
293 J Carriles (Esp) 73 71 76 73;
300 F Illouz (Fra) 76 69 78 77;
 


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NORTH-EAST RUNNERS-UP FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW



 North-east boys' team who finished second. L to R: Michael Lawrie, Sam Locke, Adam Fisher and Calvin Cheyne. Picture from the NE District website.
 
GLASGOW RETAIN SCOTTISH BOYS'

AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Glasgow won the Scottish boys' area team golf championship for the second year in a row with a combined foursomes-singles total of 375 at Machrihanish Dunes today (Sunday).
And it was the same 1-2 as 12 months ago with North-east (379) holding off Renfrewshire (384) and Lothians (385) to fill the runner-up spot again.
The Glasgow quartet were George Burns (Williamwood), Fraser Davren (Williamwood), Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and Glen Burrett (Haggs Castle).
Burns won the Niagara Cup for the best individual performance, a round of 69, a great score in a fierce wind. .
North-east's team was Michael Lawrie, Adam Fisher, Calvin Cheyne and Sam Locke.

FINAL PLACINGS
375 Glasgow foursomes 155, singles 220 (G Burns, F Davren, C Fyfe, G Burrett).
379 North-east 151-228 (M Lawrie, A Fisher, S Locke, Cheyne.
384 Renfrewshire 149-235 (C Edgar, M Dalrymple, P Dornan, J Currie).
385 Lothians 151-234 (M Naysmith, C Good, C Curran, S McCandless).
393 Fife 155-238 (N McMullen, R Brown, A McDougall, K Bowman).
394 South 161-233 (D McNeill, R Brunton, A Chalk, M McCulloch).
404 Lanarkshire 159-245 (I Ferguson, A Thomson, F Kane, M Ronald);  North 166-238 (C Franssen, R Franssen, A Ross, S Scott).
409 Dunbartonshire 175-234 (C Black, P Delaney, J Wilson, R Kemsley).
411 Perth and Kinross 168-243 (R White, R Watson, C McGuigan, M Brodie).
415 Angus 159-256 (W Porter, G Petrie, J Beedie, D Hutton).
416 Stirlingshire 167-249 (S Irving, C Bauchop, S Murray, J Yarnell).
421 Ayrshire 167-254 (S Eaton, J Thomas, S Hedger, M McCrone).
432 Argyll and Bute 167-265 (C Richmond, L Glancy, W MacCrone, A Wallace).
436 Borders 174-262 (A Fortune, C Sweenie, D Howie, D Murdoch).


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DRAMA-PACKED FINAL DAY OVER THE OLD COURSE

         And the winner is .... GRANT FORREST, after a play-off!
                         Picture by courtesy of Kenny Smith

GRANT FORREST WINS ST ANDREWS 

LINKS TROPHY THE HARD WAY

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Calcarsongolf@btinternet.com
Scotland's top man in the world amateur rankings, Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), lived up to his billing by winning the St Andrews Links Trophy in a drama-packed finish at the Old Course today.
And, in a great advert for Scottish amateur golf, Forrest and young Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), who is the second highest Scot in the WAGR, contested the play-off at the end of a day of fluctuating fortunes.
San Diego University student Forrest, who celebrates his 21st birthday on the 19th of this month, made it difficult for himself to score the biggest win of a career which includes victory in the 2012 Scottish amateur championship at Royal Dornoch and four wins on the US college circuit.
The North Berwick man looked to be on cruise control when he led by two strokes at the halfway stage and still had that clear-cut lead after the third round.
But Forrest took his foot off the accelerator for the first half of the final 18 holes and could manage only 10 pars and a bogey for his first 11 holes.
That opened the gates for players of the calibre of Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), Tom Rowland (Prudhoe), Federico Zucchetti (Italy) and the  18-year-old rising star Bradley Neil, Scottish U18 boys champion last year.
They moved into a share of the lead at eight under par with six or seven holes to play.
But it was young Neil who showed his class by shooting a 68 - four under par for the Old Course - for a clubhouse target of nine-under-par 278.
The Blairgowrie teenager birdied the third, long fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th, long 14th, and 16th in halves of 33 and 35. 
He wasn't perfect, though, and shots dropped at the fourth, short 11th and 17th gave Forrest a chance to breathe new life into his victory bid.
Forrest, after his long spell in the doldrums, lit the blue touch paper with a birdie at the 12th ... then another at the long 14th. Standing on the 16th tee he needed three pars to figure in a play-off with Neil, two pars and a birdie to win the title over 72 holes.
Forrest bogeyed the 16th and was really under self-imposed pressure after that.
He needed to birdie the 17th or 18th to force a play-off.
Forrest could "only" get a par at the par-4 Road Hole 17th. All or nothing on the 18th now - and Grant responded to the challenge. He birdied the last hole for a 71 to match Neill's nine-under total of 278 - one stroke ahead of a quartet who tied for third place.
On to the play-off and Neill, who had been back in the clubhouse about an hour before Forrest finished, finished second best to Forrest but still enhanced his growing reputation.
Forrest won at the first extra hole by holing a 25ft birdie putt. 
Jack McDonald (280) and Jame Savage (281) gave Scotland four players in the top 10.
A great performance. Alex Salmond would have been proud of them. 
+Forrest's victory was the first by a Scot in the St Andrews Links Trophy tournament since Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) won it in 2008. In all, there have now been 13 Scottish victories since the tournament was inaugurated in1989. Some Scots such as Craig Watson and the late Barclay Howard won it twice.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY LATE DRAMA

GRANT FORREST WINS PLAY-OFF
AGAINST BRADLEY NEIL

Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), leader after the second and third rounds, birdied the 18th for a final round of 71 to force a play-off with the clubhouse leader at nine-under-par 278, Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil.
Forrest then won the sudden-death play-off at the first extra hole.

ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY
New and Old Courses
FINAL TOTALS
Par 287 (1x71, 3x72) CSS 73 75 73
278 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 68 71 71 68, Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 66 68 73 71 (Forrest won the play-off)
279 Thomas Rowland (Prudhoe) 69 74 71 65, Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) 70 70 69 70, Daniel Wasteney (Lindrick) 71 69 71 68, Federico Zucchetti (Ita) 64 73 73 69
280 Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon (Fra)     68 73 70 69, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 70 69 71
281 Antonio Murdaca (Aus)  68 70 74 69, Teremoana Beaucousin (Fra) 68 72 69 72, Jamie Savage (Cawder) 65 72 73 71
282 Mathias Eggenberger (Swi) 70 73 70 69, Julian Taylor (York) 66 74 75 67
283 Clément Sordet (Fra) 66 71 73 73
284 Gary Hurley (Ire) 69 73 70 72, Paul Kinnear (Formby) 71 70 72 71, Geoff Drakeford (Aus) 64 76 73 71, Lars van Meijel (Net) 69 68 74 73, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 68 73 74
285 Harry Casey (Enfield) 70 73 70 72, Adam Chapman (Windermere) 68 74 73 70, Edward Richardson (Rye) 69 72 73 71, Reeve Whitson (Mourne) 72 69 75 69, Tae Koh (NZ) 67 69 74 75
286 Jamie Bower (Meltham) 71 72 71 72, Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 69 73 74 70, Jack Hume (Ire) 67 74 76 69, Ben Westgate (Trevose) 68 73 71 74, Grégoire Schoeb (Fra) 60 79 74 73
287 Robbie Van West (Net) 69 74 72 72
289 Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 70 73 74 72, Mathieu Fenasse  (Fra) 69 73 76 71, Mark Geddes (Prenton) 67 75 77 70, Adrian Meronk (Pol) 68 74 75 72, Daniel Brown (Bedale) 70 72 75 72, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 66 71 78 74
290 Ben Stow (Rushmore) 71 72 72 75
291 Seb Crookall-Nixon (Silloth) 74 69 76 72, Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) 71 71 77 72, Lawrence Allan (Alva) 72 71 73 75
293 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SAf) 70 72 76 75
294 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 72 76 75
295 Alastair Jones (Radyr) 71 71 75 78, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 69 71 76 79.   
299 Javier Sainz (Spa) 70 73 76 80, João Girão (Por) 69 72 79 80


SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT
144 D Young (Craigie Hill) 72 72, J Ross (Royal Burgess) 71 73, S Borrowman (Dollar) 69 75, C Robb (Meldrum House) 69 75
146 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 72 74, C Ross 9Kirkhill) 72 74, B Kinsley (St Andrews) 71 75, C Syme (Dumfries and Co) 69 77
147 C Macneal (Prestwick) 73 74, E Ferguson (Bearsden) 72 75
149 J Bunch (Prestwick) 71 78
150 G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 72 78, L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 72 78
151 E Scott (St Andrews) 75 76, S Gibson (Southerness) 69 82
152 C Hill (Tantallon) 75 77

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THIRD-ROUND TOTALS AT ST ANDREWS


ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY
New and Old Courses
Par 287 (1x71, 3x72) CSS 73 75 73
207 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 66 68 73
209 Paul Howard (Southport) 70 70 69
209 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 70 69
209 Teremoana Beaucousin (Fra) 68 72 69
210 Tae Koh (NZ) 67 69 74
210 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 68 71 71

210 Clément Sordet (Fra) 66 71 73
210 Federico Zucchetti (Ita) 64 73 73
210 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 68 73

210 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 65 72 73

211 Lars van Meijel (Net) 69 68 74211 Daniel Wasteney (Lindrick) 71 69 71
211 Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon (Fra)     68 73 70
212 Antonio Murdaca (Aus)  68 70 74
212 Gary Hurley (Ire) 69 73 70
212 Ben Westgate (Trevose) 68 73 71
213 Paul Kinnear (Formby) 71 70 72

213 Grégoire Schoeb (Fra) 60 79 74
213 Geoff Drakeford (Aus) 64 76 73
213 Harry Casey (Enfield) 70 73 70
213 Mathias Eggenberger (Swi) 70 73 70
214 Edward Richardson (Rye) 69 72 73

214 Thomas Rowland (Prudhoe) 69 74 71
214 Jamie Bower (Meltham) 71 72 71
215 Ben Stow (Rushmore) 71 72 72
215 Robbie Van West (Net) 69 74 72
215 Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 66 71 78
215 Adam Chapman (Windermere) 68 74 73
215 Julian Taylor (York) 66 74 75
216 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 69 71 76.
216 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 72 71 73  
216 Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 69 73 74
216 Reeve Whitson (Mourne) 72 69 75
217 Adrian Meronk (Pol) 68 74 75

217 Daniel Brown (Bedale) 70 72 75
217 Jack Hume (Ire) 67 74 76

217 Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) 70 73 74
217 Alastair Jones (Radyr) 71 71 75

218 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (SAf) 70 72 76
218 Mathieu Fenasse  (Fra) 69 73 76

219 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 71 72 76

219 Javier Sainz (Spa) 70 73 76
219 Mark Geddes (Prenton) 67 75 77
219 Seb Crookall-Nixon (Silloth) 74 69 76
219 Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) 71 71 77
220 João Girão (Por) 69 72 79

LAST HOLE IS DECISIVE AT THAILAND TOURNAMENT

Thaworn Wiratchant with the Queens Cup

THAWORN SCORES 17th ASIAN TOUR 

VICTORY IN QUEEN'S CUP

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Samui, Thailand: Thai veteran star Thaworn Wiratchant came from five shots back to win an unprecedented 17th Asian Tour victory with a classy one-stroke triumph at the Queen’s Cup today.
The 47-year-old Thaworn holed a 5ft birdie putt on the closing hole to pip overnight leader Poom Saksansin with a final round of five-under-par 66 at the Santiburi Samui Country Club to lift the Queen’s Cup for the second time in three years.
Thai rookie Poom, who had led since the opening day, had to be content with the runner-up spot in the US$300,000 tournament after a closing 72.  
Bangladeshi star Siddikur Rahman, who briefly held the lead on the back nine, signed off with a disappointing 72 to share third place with Thailand’s Donlapatchai Niyomchon (68).
“It is so meaningful to me, whether it’s a small or big tournament. At every tournament, I am always trying my best. There was pressure this morning as I wanted to go out there and play some good golf,” said a delighted Thaworn, whose winner’s cheque of US$54,000 lifted his career earnings on Tour to over US$4 million.
The unorthodox swinging Thaworn surged into a one-shot lead with a birdie on 14 but made life difficult for himself by dropping a bogey on 17 after missing a four-foot par attempt. 
With Poom, who was wobbly with an outward 39, fighting back with birdies on 16 and 17 to make it a three-way tie going into the final hole, Thaworn’s experience came through in the end.
The home hero found the green in two at the par five 18th hole and with Siddikur and Poom both struggling after hitting wayward approach shots, Thaworn duly rolled in a five-foot putt, much to the delight of his adoring fans.
 LEADING FINAL TOTALS
 Par 284 (4x71) Yardage 6,823
272 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 71-68-67-66.
273 Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 66-67-68-72.
274 Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA) 68-68-70-68, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 68-70-64-72.
276 BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 69-66-71-70.
278 CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 67-72-71-68, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 69-71-69-69, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 72-69-68-69.
279 Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 77-68-68-66, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-71-69-68, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 73-70-68-68, Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 69-71-70-69, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 72-67-69-71.
280 Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 71-74-71-64, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 71-73-68-68, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-71-70-70.
281 Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 74-68-71-68.

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JEFF WRIGHT BEATEN IN ALL-FORRES PLAY-OFF ON HOME COURSE


  HUGH STUART'S NEPHEW GRANT WINS

  MORAY COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Grant Stuart (Forres) is the new Moray county champion. After tieing with clubmate Jeff Wright on a one-under-par two-round total of 139 at the Forres course, Grant won the title at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off by rolling in a 12ft birdie putt.
Grant thus emulated his famous uncle, former Walker Cup player Hugh Stuart, who won the Moray county championship in 1960. 
Moray Golf Club youngster Graeme Bethune won the handicap prize with a 135 nett total off eight of a handicap.

LEADING SCORES
Par 140 (2x70) CSS 71 70.
139 Grant Stuart (Forres) 70 69, Jeff Wright (Forres). Stuart bt Wright in play-off (3 to a 4).
144 Kevin Thomson (Moray) 74 70, Kyle Godsman (Moray) 72 72.
145 Jordan Milne (Elgin) 73 72, Fraser Baillie (Elgin) 73 72.
146 Gary Thomson (Moray) 74 72, Darren Leith (Garmouth) 74 72,  Ian Geddes (Moray) 72 74.
147 Derek Ramsay (Elgin) 75 72, Steve Leith (Moray) 73 74.
149 Jim Simpson (Forres) 75 74, Brent MacLeman (Moray) 75 74.
 
Handicap
135 Graeme Bethune (Moray) (8)
137 Steve Leith (Moray) (5)
140 Ian Geddes (Moray) (3)
 
 
 

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PAUL FERRIER MISSES CUT IN BRITISH COLOMBIA

PAUL CORMACK LOSES GROUND

IN PGA CANADA TOUR EVEN

Paul Cormack shot a third-round 73 after earlier rounds of 67 and 68 and dropped back to joint 44th position  on two-under 208 in the PGA Canada Tour event, the Bayview Place Island Savings Open at Uplands Golf Club, Victoria, British Colombia on Saturday.
The other Scot in the field, former Scottish U18 boys champion Paul Ferrier from Baberton missed the cut by six shots with scores of 71-74 for 145.
England's Kelvin Day missed it by four with 71-72
for 143.
Another Englishman, Greg Eason who has turned pro from the US college circuit, continues  to thrive as a rookie. He has shot three sub-70 rounds, 67, 68 and 69, for 204 and is joint 12th behind the two-stroke leader, American Josh Persons (66-65-67) on 12-under 198.
LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70) Players from USA unless stated
198 Josh Persons 66 65 67
200 Garrett Sapp 68 65 67, Brock Mackenzie 63 66 71, Timothy Madigan 67 64 69

SELECTED SCORES
204 Greg Eason (England) 67 68 69 (T12)
208 Paul Cormack (Scotland) 67 68 73 (T44)

MISSED THE CUT (139 and better qualified)
143 Kelvin Day (England) 73 70
145 Paul Ferrier (Scotland) 71 74

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WEB.COM TOUR REPORT AND SCORES FROM CLEVELAND OPEN


  • Despite making double bogey on the 17th hole, Mathew Goggin retained a share of the lead on Saturday. (Shamus/Getty Images) Despite making double bogey on the 17th hole, Mathew Goggin retained a share of the lead on Saturday. (Shamus/Getty Images)

MORE: Scores | Tee times | Round 3 Notebook | Gallery: Round 3

GUNN LYING JOINT 17th AFTER DOUBLE

BOGEY 6 IN THIRD-ROUND 72
 

Arizona-based Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn ran up a costly double bogey 6 - aren't all double bogeys costly? - at the 17th hole in Saturday's third round of the Web.com Tour's Cleveland Open at Westlake, Ohio.
Gunn finished with a 72 to lose ground after earlier rounds of 69 and 67. He is on 208 and sharing 25th place going into the final round.
FROM THE WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE
WESTLAKE, Ohio – If anyone doubted that golf is a crazy game, they need look no farther than Saturday’s roller coaster ending to the third round of the Cleveland Open.

Second-round co-leaders Mathew Goggin and Jeff Curl took turns taking the third-round lead and then giving it away when they both inexplicably four-putted one of the final two holes.
When the dust settled on a bizarre ending at the Lakewood Country Club, South Korea’s Whee Kim (68) and Goggin (69) were tied for first place with 11-under 202 totals.
Local favorite Ryan Armour of nearby Akron jumped into a share of third with a 5-under 66 that put him 10 under and into Sunday’s final threesome. Jason Gore (66) and Curl are also one off the pace with 18 holes to go.
Dawie van der Walt’s 6-under 65 matched the best score of the day and moved the South African into a tie for sixth, two back, along with Brasil Champions winner Jon Curran (67).
Goggin, who posted a course-record 62 on Friday, relied on a stellar short game to slowly inch away from the field. A birdie putt at the par-3, 16th put him 4-under for the day and two ahead Kim and playing partner Curl.
“I drove the ball alright so I was in a pretty comfortable spot all day. I just wasn’t able to hit the ball close,” said the 39-year-old Australian. 
“I didn’t play terribly but when you come off a 62 and you didn’t miss a shot and then hit half a dozen bad shots, you think you’re the worst golfer in the world, even you’re playing like everyone else.”
Goggin was in control at 13-under and faced a 60-foot birdie putt at the par-4, 17th. His first putt stopped only two feet from the cup. Then it happened. Suddenly.
“I pulled the next one,” he said. “That’s one of those putts that’s going six feet by if you don’t make it.”
It was closer to seven feet when it stopped on the other side of the hole and then Goggin missed again.
“I thought I hit a perfect putt,” he admitted. “It was right to left and I hit it right-center. The putt went right to left.”
The misread cost him another shot and the resulting double bogey dropped him out of sole possession of the lead.
“The important thing is to step up on the next hole and not compound the error,” said Goggin, who piped a drive right down the middle of the ever-narrowing 18th fairway. 
“I hit a really good tee shot and then just hit a horrible wedge shot.”
Goggin’s second wound up in a left, greenside bunker and his blast from the sand settled within three feet for par. While Goggin waited to tap in for par he witnessed Curl do the same thing he’d done minutes earlier – four putt.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
 Par 213 (3x71) Players from USA unless stated
202 Whee Kim (South Korea) 68 66 68, Matthew Goggin (Australia) 71 62 69
203 Ryan Armour 69 68 66, Jason Gore 69 68 66, Jeff Curl 66 67 70
SELECTED SCORE
208 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) 69 67 72 (T25)


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US LEGENDS OF GOLF EVENT AT MISSOURI

  • Jacobsen and Haas pull ahead at Top of the Rock after six-under 48 on Par-3 course

    FROM THE US CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE
  • Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen shot 6-under 48 on the par-3 Top of the Rock course Saturday. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR) Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen shot 6-under 48 on the par-3 Top of the Rock course Saturday. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)
RIDGEDALE, Missouri – Jeff Sluman and Fred Funk were leading the Champions Tour's Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf after Friday’s first round. After Saturday’s round, they trailed Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen by one shot.
Haas and Jacobsen fired a 6-under 48 at Top of the Rock Saturday to lead the event at 15-under.
“We were talking about it today. The alternate shot format puts pressure on you,” said Haas.
Jacobsen agreed.
“Yes, we were even talking about it walking down the first hole,” Jacobsen said. “I looked over at Jay and said ‘I’m nervous.’”
 Sluman and Funk, also playing at Top of the Rock, shot a round of 4-under to go into Sunday’s final round at 14-under.
“The highlight of our round today was the bogey on 4 in alternate shot,” said Funk. “Slu hit it in the water, and then when I hit my tee shot I put it in the back bunker. When he holed that bunker shot that’s as excited as I’ve been about a shot for a while.”
Craig Stadler and Kirk Triplett made a move Saturday firing a 7-under par 65 on the Buffalo Ridge Course.  They go into Sunday’s final round trailing the leaders by three shots.
“It was windy but it was pretty consistent. So I think once we played a couple of holes, we figured out how is was affecting the shots,” said Triplett. “The greens were still receptive. This format comes down to making putts.”
Two teams are four shots back at 11-under. Tom Pernice Jr. and Bob Tway equaled the low round of the day at Buffalo Ridge at 7-under. Tom Watson and Andy North played Buffalo Ridge at 6-under to get to that number.
“We did ham and egg it pretty good today,” Watson said. “We’re 11 (under) so we’re in the hunt.”
Russ Cochran and Kenny Perry, co-leaders after round one, stumbled at Top of the Rock on Saturday shooting 2-over 56 to sit at 8-under.
The team of Bruce Fleisher and Larry Nelson led the Legends Division at 9-under after Friday’s opening round. The duo played the par-3 Top of the Rock Course on Saturday and struggled with 4 bogeys to just two birdies.
“Pin placements were hard,” said Fleisher. “And of course the weather and wind made it very difficult. There’s a lot of defense and not too much offense out there.”
Fleisher and Nelson ended the day at 7-under and tied for the lead in the 65-and-over division with partners Jim Colbert and Jim Thorpe. Colbert and Thorpe, also playing Top of the Rock on Saturday, carded 4 birdies to just two bogeys.
Both teams are three shots clear of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player at 4-under. Butch Baird and Al Geiberger also stand at 4-under.
The Legends will finish their competition Sunday with 9 holes at Top of the Rock.

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US PGA TOUR REPORT AND SCOREBOARD

MEMPHIS, Tennessee– The storyline has been the same for three days at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Ben Crane leads, while weather kept the round from being completed.
Crane will have a four-shot lead when play resumes at 7 a.m. local time Sunday, but he’ll also have 30 holes remaining. He began his third round at 4:50 p.m. Saturday, more than 24 hours after completing his second-round 65, but started where he left off, making a 20-foot birdie putt to reach 13 under.
“That was a fun surprise,” he said. “I’m thankful it hit the hole.”
Crane made par on his next five holes before play was suspended at 6:49 p.m. Groups will not be re-paired between the third and fourth rounds.
Troy Merritt, who played seven holes of his third round in 2 under, is Crane’s closest pursuer at 9 under. Rookie Peter Malnati played seven holes of the third round in 1 under and is 8 under for the tournament. Merritt and Malnati have made just three cuts apiece this season.
This has been a trying season for Crane, who’s struggled with swing changes to alleviate pain in his back. He’s 150th in the FedExCup after posting just one top-10 in 16 starts this season.
“At the beginning of the week, I never thought I would have been here,” he said. He’s seeking his first victory since the 2011 McGladrey Classic.

ABNORMAL SCHEDULE: An 18-hole day has been anything but standard for Troy Merritt this week. He played 36 holes Monday in his unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. He didn’t hit a single shot Friday, then played 26 holes Saturday and faces another 28 on Sunday.
He said that leaving the hotel at 5:30 a.m. has been the hardest part.
“Other than that, I just hope to get it all in,” he said.
And he should. This could be an important week for the 28-year-old. He started the week at No. 194 in the FedExCup after making just three of 12 cuts this season.
“I've made a lot of putts," he said. "I think I've only missed two putts inside of 10 feet. Been rolling it well. Been keeping stupid in the bag pretty well and things have gone my way for the most part."
Merritt has pledged $100 per birdie to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He led the field with 15 birdies in the first two rounds, and made two in seven holes in the third round.
“It’s a little extra incentive," Merritt said. "It’s for a very good cause for the kids over at St. Jude’s.”



ROOKIE OFF SCHEDULE BUT FITTING IN: Peter Malnati is contending in a US PGA Tour event for the first time. It’s a unique position for the  rookie at an event that’s had a unique schedule. 
Malnati, who’s in the second-to-last group, played seven holes of the third round Saturday, making one birdie and six pars. His group didn’t tee off until 4:40 p.m. local time.
“If anything, today was kind of cool because we went out there in the second-to-last group and it was kind of low-key because it was so late in the day, there wasn’t a lot going on,” Malnati said. 
“It was probably helpful, honestly. What I need to do is to stay focused on my plan, and to have these distractions is just an added reminder to do that.
Malnati shot 65 on Thursday, then didn’t hit a single shot Friday. He played his entire second-round 68 on Saturday morning, then started his third round.
“To get in this position I’m playing some good golf, so my confidence is pretty high and I believe in myself,” Malnati said. “For the first time all year, I feel like I belong there. There are some nerves, but I think that’s a good thing. I feel really composed.”

HOW THE SCOTS FARED
137 Martin Laird 70 67
MISSED THE CUT (level par 140 and better qualified)
142 Russell Knox 72 70.

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