ENGLAND'S JIMMY MULLEN WINS AT 23RD

U.S. Amateur: Round of 32 Round-up

Georgia Tech senior Ollie Schniederjans had plenty of local supporters following his Round-of-32 match with Sam Burns on Thursday morning, which he won in 20 holes. (USGA/John Mummert)

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE

By Stuart Hall, Dave Shedloski and Scott Lipsky

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia— The Round of 32 is complete at the 2014 U.S. Amateur, and the following are some highlights from an action-packed Thursday morning at Atlanta Athletic Club:

Mullen Goes The (Extra) Distance
Jimmy Mullen - the only Englishman to survive the first round of the match-play - didn’t have much time to rest between his Round-of-32 victory over Justin Tereshko and his Round-of-16 meeting with Frederick Wedel. 
That’s not uncommon on a double-round competition day, but Mullen had to put even more work in on Thursday morning – 23 holes, to be exact.
Neither player led by more than one hole in a match that included no halves from the 13th hole forward in regulation. Tereshko had chances to advance, missing a birdie try from about 15 feet on No. 18 and a 9-footer for par on the 19th hole. 
An errant drive led to bogey on the par-5 fifth hole, the match’s 23rd, and would prove to be Tereshko’s undoing, as Mullen hit his third shot from a greenside bunker to about 4 feet, essentially ending the match.
“It seemed like none of us wanted to win it in the extra holes, like we were just waiting for the other one to slip up,” Mullen said afterward of easily the longest match he can ever recall playing. “I’ll take any sort of win I can get.”
LATER NEWS: Mullen lost by 2 and 1.

APL Champ Rolls On
Byron Meth is beginning to enjoy the efficiency of match play. A day after a 6-and-5 opening-round win, Meth, 21, of San Diego, Calif., dispatched Trevor Phillips, 16, of Inman, S.C., 5 and 4. 
Meth, who won the final U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month, faces four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Nathan Smith in Thursday afternoon’s round of 16.

Smith's Game Is Keeping Pace
At age 36,Nathan Smith is one of the older players in this week’s U.S. Amateur Championship field. His game, though, has never looked younger.
Smith, of Pittsburgh, defeated Brandon McIver, 20, of Billings, Montana., 4 and 3 to advance to the championship’s Round of 16 for only the second time in 14 U.S. Amateur starts.

Sigh of Relief for Schniederjans
Oliver Schniederjans of Powder Springs, Georgia, led Sam Burns, three up with four holes to play Thursday morning, but an hour later, Burns had a birdie putt on the 19th hole to eliminate the world’s No. 1 amateur player.
Burns missed, and when Schniederjans made par on the 20th hole to Burns’ bogey, the Georgia Tech senior had escaped into the Round of 16.
Schniederjans said he learned a valuable lesson about thinking clearly and playing more slowly under pressure. .”

CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN FINLAND

FORD, MADDY SHARE LEAD WITH 64s

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Englishmen Charlie Ford and Paul Maddy took advantage of the serene conditions at the stunning Kytäjä golf course in Finland to soar into a share of the lead with a pair of 64s in the opening round of the Vacon Open.
The two compatriots sat atop the leaderboard on seven under par as the overnight rain softened the greens and the wind, which whipped through the lakeside venue prior to the event, was reduced to barely a breath on day one of the sixth edition of the popular event.
For Maddy, who won the satellite EuroPro Tour Order of Merit in 2012, it was a career best round on the Challenge Tour, having carded four birdies and a bogey to reach the turn in three under par.
The 33 year old’s putter was red-hot all day and he rolled in a 25-footer at the 11th for birdie to reboot his momentum after dropping at shot before the turn.
Back to back birdies at the 14th and 15th moved him to six under par and while he fell to an uncharacteristic three-putt at the par four 17th for a second bogey of the day, he bounced back in superb style.
The Cambridge player slammed a perfect drive down right hand side the fairway at the signature lake-side 18th hole before his three-wood approach fell to within ten feet and he deftly knocked in a difficult downhill putt for an eagle and a share of the lead.
“That’s probably the best I’ve played to date on the Challenge Tour, certainly this year,” said Maddy. “It’s not an easy course but I managed to keep it in play off the tee and then just holed more than my fair share of putts.
“I had a couple from 20 feet plus which is always pleasing. I had two three-putts so the round could have been lower but I can’t complain with the rest of it.
“It’s fantastic to finish with an eagle too. I had three-putted from the same distance on 17 so it was nice to get it on the last.
“I felt like my game has been there but hasn’t quite materialised yet. I played well in a few tournaments but didn’t push on so hopefully this week will be a starting point for good things to come.
" I feel mighty confident now which is nice, so it’s just about holing putts for the rest of the week.”
“I think I had four two-putt birdies in there so it was really the ball-striking that did the damage and I managed to make a nice putt at 17, probably the only one I made that was of note. I was just really good from tee to green.
“They were absolutely perfect conditions for scoring, hardly a breath of wind, so you couldn’t ask for better conditions. But it’s a great golf course, probably one of the best we’ve played. The chances were there with it being soft too, just pitch and stop it on the greens.
“It was really solid and I made the par fives in two. I was disappointed not to birdie the last because that would have been the first time I’d have had no fives on my card.
“I'm confident and I love this golf course so I’m looking forward to playing it again, especially if we get conditions like this. I feel they probably suit me pretty well.
“I missed this event on this course a couple of years ago and everyone was telling me it was a course I’d like so I was excited to get here so it’s nice to be here now.”
Frenchman Guillaume Cambis and Dodge Kemmer of the USA shared second place on six under par, having both carded 65s.

SCOREBOARD
par 71
64 C Ford (Eng) , P Maddy (Eng) ,
65 G Cambis  (Fra) , D Kemmer (USA) ,
66 A Hortal  (Esp) , W Booth  (Sco)
67 M Lafeber (Ned) , P Dwyer (Eng) , J Granberg  (Fin) , T Linard (Fra) , J Huldahl (Den) , A Rota (Ita) , H Bacher (Aut) , B Virto  (Esp)
68 J Kaske (Fin) , P Widegren  (Swe) , N Lemke (Swe) , D Perrier (Fra) , S Hutsby  (Eng) , B An (Kor) , M Tullo (Chi) , J Sarasti  (Esp) , W Besseling  (Ned) , J Edfors (Swe) , J Stalter (Fra) , J Camargo (Esp) , G Shaw (Nir) , M Trappel  (Aut) , P Roos (Fin) ,
69 S Hansen (Nor) , M Decottignies-Lafon (Fra) , M Ford (Eng) , D Law (Sco) , B Evans  (Eng) , C Shinkwin (Eng) , H Satama (Fin) , S Maurits (Ned) , B Hafthorsson (Isl) , N Nissen (Den) , R McGee (Irl) , A Perrino  (Ita) , A Björk (Swe) , C Russo (Fra) , K Kulokorpi (am) (Fin) , E Myllymaki (am) (Fin) , M Kuronen (am) (Fin) ,
70 N Ravano (Ita) , J Pastor (Esp) , P Figueiredo  (Por) , S Brown (Eng) , S Matus  (Cze) , J Barnes (Eng) , A Velasco (Esp) , L Kennedy  (Eng) , E Johansen  (Nor) , M Glauert (Ger) , S Little (Eng) , A Engell  (Nor) , T Sluiter  (Ned) , Z Scotland  (Eng) , J Moul  (Eng) , T Bakker (Fin) , M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) , P Oriol (Esp) , T Salminen (Fin) , M Rominger  (Sui) , D Stewart (Sco) , L Ruuska (am) (Fin) ,
71 T Lee (USA) , M Haines  (Eng) , T Pulkkanen  (Fin) , A Savolainen  (Fin) , M Orrin (Eng) , P Edberg (Swe) , J Gallegos  (Esp) , R Kind (Ned) , J Hiluta (Eng) , H Wen-Yi (Chn) , M Quiros (Esp) , F Praegant (Aut) , R Russell (Sco) , C Mivis  (Bel) , C Paisley  (Eng) , C Arendell (USA) , R Davies (Wal) , K Samooja (Fin) , J Howarth (Eng) , P McKechnie (Sco) , J Winther (Den) , A Eckhardt (am) (Fin) , J Girrbach (am) (Sui) ,
72 J Lando Casanova  (Fra) , T Murray (Eng) , J Rask (Swe) , J Lucquin (Fra) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , B Parker  (Eng) , B Chapellan (Fra) , D Geminiani (Ita) , K Benz (Sui) , J Harrison (Eng) , W Harrold (Eng) ,
73 O Farr (Wal) , A Dunbar (Nir) , M Wiegele  (Aut) , C Brazillier  (Fra) , P Relecom  (Bel) , R Coles (Eng) , O Stark (Swe) , L Nemecz (Aut) , J Bragulat  (Esp) , A Bernadet  (Fra) , A Ahokas (Fin) , J Mommo  (Fin) , J Palmer (Eng) ,
74 N Johansson (Swe) , S Piaget  (Mon) , J Lagergren (Swe) , M Salminen (Fin) , M Southgate  (Eng) , J Makitalo  (Fin) , P Erofejeff (Fin) , S Gros (Fra) ,
75 H Pyykola (Fin) , S Grant  (Irl) , S Fallon (Eng) , O Jarvi (Fin) , J Haglund (Fin) , R Gouveia (Por) , D Ulrich (Sui) , J Perttila (Fin) , S Arnold  (Aus) , M Veijalainen (Fin) , M Hocaoglu (Tur) , H Joannes  (Bel) , B Åkesson (Swe)
76 J Gonnet  (Fra) , R Hahn (Hun) 
77 A Korinek (Cze) , F Svanberg  (Sui) , T Hakula (Fin) , L Goddard  (Eng) , G Woolgar (Eng) , N Meitinger  (Ger) , F Becker (Ger)
78 V Bertran Crous (Esp) , M Kelly (Irl) , F Colombo (Ita) , J Gibb (Eng) , T Toivo (Fin) 
79 O Floren  (Swe) , J Kennegard  (Swe) , A Zemmer (Ita) ,
80 R Whitson (Nir)
85 K Kalafatoglu (Tur) 
** M Daley (Eng)

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

MADE IN DENMARK EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT

 
GREAT DANE BJORN SHARES LEAD ON 66 ON HOME TURF

 EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Great Dane Thomas Björn produced the start the home fans were hoping for at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort, firing a five under par round of 66 to be part of a three-way tie for the lead after the opening round of Made in Denmark.
As Denmark’s most successful golfer, with 15 European Tour titles to his name, Björn is also the most decorated player in the field and he lived up to his reputation, with five birdies – two on the front nine and three after the turn - in a blemish free round.
He equalled the target set in the group ahead of him by Chilean Felipe Aguilar, who birdied four of the last five holes, before the pair were joined at the top of the leaderboard by Welshman Bradley Dredge, who carded five birdies over his closing seven holes.
Björn’s compatriot Thorbjørn Olesen is three shots behind the leading trio in fourth place following a bogey-free round of 69.
Key player quotes
Thomas Björn: “It was a tricky day today with the wind, especially on my back nine. But I drove the ball really well and that gives you opportunities on this golf course. So I’m happy with the day, happy with the start and it was pretty solid all the way round.
“I don’t think there is any added pressure this week. You are coming off some big weeks, The Open and PGA, where you feel the pressure anyway, so I don’t think you feel added pressure here. I’ve played so much big golf of late that I feel quite comfortable out there. 
"I have a lot of great support which is nice to come home to and it felt good today. Obviously if it gets to the weekend and I’m up there it might be different. You want to go all the way in your home country, but we will deal with that on the weekend.”
Felipe Aguilar: “It is a difficult golf course and you have to be very patient. I played solid today and made only one three putt and I duffed it on the 18, my ninth, but I hit my irons really well today. You have to be respectful with this course. When you think you have got it, that is when you miss some shots.
" If you hit it in the long hay you are really struggling. If you miss it on the wrong side of the greens you are struggling. So you have to be conservative and take advantage when you can.”
Bradley Dredge: “I’m pretty pleased with that. Only one bogey and six birdies. If someone offered me 66 before I went out I would certainly have bitten their hand off.
“It’s nice when you start getting your irons shots in closer and rattling some putts in. I holed a nice 30ft putt on the last, which was a nice way to finish. It’s not easy around here. Even downwind it’s not easy to get it in close.”
Thorbjørn Olesen: “The support today was incredible. Holing that putt on 16 (30ft birdie putt) was like winning a tournament with the roar. All the way round there was a great atmosphere and it is great to play in front of them. 
"It gives you a lift and it keeps you going when you play bad shots. You want to try so hard to do your best in front of that many people.”

     SCOREBOARD
    Par 71
 66 F Aguilar (Chi) , T Björn (Den) , B Dredge (Wal)
 69 T Olesen (Den)
 70 P Archer (Eng) , N Colsaerts  (Bel) , D Gaunt (Eng) , A Hartø  (Den) , R Kakko  (Fin) , S Chowrasia (Ind) , A Marshall (Eng) , P Lawrie (Irl) , S Kim (S Kor)
 71 S Wakefield (Eng) , M Warren (Sco) , M Madsen  (Den) , A Pavan (Ita) , W Ormsby (Aus) , S Jamieson  (Sco) , M Korhonen (Fin) , P Sjöland (Swe) , E Grillo (Arg) , D Drysdale (Sco) , L Slattery (Eng) , R Bland (Eng), J Carlsson (Swe), G Porteous (Eng) , S Kjeldsen (Den)
 72 S Jeppesen  (Swe) , D Lipsky (USA) , L Jensen (Den) , K Ferrie (Eng) , A McArthur  (Sco) , C Hanson (Eng) , D Im (USA) , M Lundberg (Swe) , T Lewis (Eng) , C Doak (Sco), B Henson (USA) , A Sullivan (Eng) , E Dubois (Fra) , G Stal  (Fra)
 73 G Bhullar (Ind) , B Stone (RSA) , E Pepperell (Eng) , M Foster (Eng) , M Hoey  (Nir) , S Kapur (Ind) , R Hjelm (Den) , R Wattel  (Fra) , S Walker (Eng) , M Nixon (Eng) , D McGrane (Irl) , J Campillo (Esp) , R Karlberg  (Swe) , T Levet (Fra) , S Manley (Wal) , J Singh (Ind) , R Rock (Eng) , C Lee (Sco) , V Riu  (Fra) ,
 74 M Lampert (Ger) , A Otaegui  (Esp) , J Billing (Swe) , G Havret  (Fra) , J Gaardsdal (Swe) , C Gloet  (Den) , R Santos  (Por) , J Hansen  (Den) , P Vejgaard  (Den) , A Saddier (Fra) , J Lara (Esp) , P Uihlein  (USA) , T Hatton (Eng) , R Derksen (Ned) , G Bourdy (Fra) , S Dodd (Wal) , R Finch  (Eng) , B Rumford (Aus) , J McLeary  (Sco) , J Knutzon (USA) , P Hedblom (Swe) , S Griffiths (Eng) , J Doherty  (Sco) ,
 75 M Jonzon (Swe) , M Bremner (RSA) , F Calmels  (Fra) , M Miller (USA) , G Maybin (Nir) , P Price (Wal) , R Ramsay  (Sco) , O Fisher  (Eng) , P Waring  (Eng) , D Huizing (Ned) , J Lima  (Por) , G Storm  (Eng) , J Hahn (USA) , J Parry (Eng) , J Magnusson (Swe) , I Garrido (Esp) , O Zetterwall (Swe) , E De La Riva  (Esp) , C Del Moral (Esp) , K Broberg (Swe) , N Kristensen (am) (Den) ,
 76 J Elson  (Eng) , M Søgaard  (Den) , R Green (Aus) , M Haastrup  (Den) , D Gavins (Eng) , P Gustafsson (Swe) , M Carlsson  (Swe) , S Webster (Eng) , D Horsey (Eng) , D Løkke (Den) , S Thornton (Irl) , A Gee  (Eng) , J Morrison  (Eng) , K Horne (RSA) , D Higgins (Irl) , D Howell (Eng) , J Kingston (RSA) ,
 77 E Goya (Arg) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , S Dyson  (Eng) , A Johnston (Eng) , C Wood  (Eng) , A Forsyth (Sco) , J Heath  (Eng) , R Jacquelin (Fra) , M Crespi  (Ita) , R Gonzalez (Arg) , J Quesne  (Fra)
 78 H Porteous (RSA) , J Dantorp (Swe) , A Kaleka  (Fra) , T Nørret (Den) , B Paolini (USA) , L Bjerregaard  (Den) , A Wall (Eng) ,
 79 J Glennemo (Swe) , M Baldwin (Eng) , N Elvira  (Esp) , A Hansen (Den) , J Sjöholm (Swe) , D Brooks (Eng) , T Lawrence (RSA)
 80 M Grönberg (Swe) , N Fasth (Swe) , J Walters (RSA) , M Leth Simonsen (am) (Den)
 81 P Gal  (Cze)
 82 K Phelan (Irl)
 84 K Eriksson (Swe) , O Bekker (RSA)


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

ONE ROUND TO GO AT SLALEY HALL

 ELEVEN SCOTS MAKE THE CUT IN

PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

Eleven Scots, headed by Ross Kellett, Elliot Saltman and Neil Fenwick,  survived the second-round cut in the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Slaley Hall, Northumberland.
But Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay who improved 15 shots between rounds - 84 in the first and 69 in the second - was among the 18 Scots who paid a £275 entry fee  and missed out.
Kellett and Saltman are sharing sixth place on 138 - four shots off the pace - with Fenwick a shot behind them. If one of them produces something special in the final round he could win the £10,000 winner's jackpot prize.
The North-east trio of Craig Lawrie, Ross Cameron and Greg McBain are sharing 25th place on 141.

LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
134 J Colegate (Eng) 71 63
135 M McGeady (Ire) 66 69
136 G Grout (Spa) 70 66, S Grewal (Eng) 69 67
SCOTS' SCORES
138 R Kellett 66 72, E Saltman 69 69 (T6)
139 N Fenwick 70 69 (T15)
141 C Lawrie 69 72, R Cameron 74 67, G McBain 72 69 (T25)
142 L Saltman 74 68 (T34)
143 N Henderson 71 72 (T40)
144 F McKenna 73 71, S Crichton 72 72, J McColl 74 70 (T46)
MISSED THE CUT
145 P Doherty 74 71, C Macaulay 75 70, S Binning 76 69, C Currie 73 72
146 J Hamilton 73 73, M Isaacs 70 76
147 P Shields 77 70, P Robinson 74 73, C O'Neil 74 73
148 G Forbes 79 69, E Ramsay 74 74
149 G Wright 77 72
152 Z Saltman 79 73
153 P Wilson 78 75, G Rankin 75 78, J Findlay 84 69
154 J Dick 79 75
157 K Nicol 77 80
161 I Redford 81 80 

Kent man Colegate shoots recprd 63 to lead

 by one shot at De Vere Slaley Hall

NEWS RELEASE 

Jack Colegate shot a new Priestman Course record nine-under-par 63 to lead the Break90 Classic by one stroke ahead of the final round of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event at De Vere Slaley Hall.

The Kent golfer’s remarkable second round saw him make nine birdies and nine pars as he raced up the leaderboard to take control on ten under par ahead of the final round of the event, which carries a £40,000 prize fund with £10,000 going to the winner.

Ireland’s Michael McGeady is second after rounds of 66 and 69 took him to nine under, just one behind Colegate. Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Grout is third on eight under – two behind the leader -while South African Darryn Lloyd and Merseyside’s Sandeep Grewal share fourth on seven under par.

“I didn’t hit it amazingly today but I holed a lot of putts,” said Colegate, who is chasing his first win on Europe’s third-tier tour.

 “We were lucky with the weather looking at the forecast from the start of the day; we only had a few rain showers in the end.

“I feel I have enough experience of final rounds to go and do well tomorrow. I had last week off through injury and I think that has turned out to be the best thing.

“I had played seven weeks on the spin and to have a rest was really good I think. I was injured so I didn’t do any practice at all, I just chilled out for ten days and it has worked out because I have played well this week.

“I will go and take it one shot at a time tomorrow. I will set myself a number in the morning and try and get to that and see if it is good enough.”

A cut to the leading 50 players plus ties has now been made, with the 56 golfers whose 36-hole score is level par or better proceeding to play the final 18 holes, which will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 26. 

Spectator entry is free and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com. 

BRITISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP AT PRESTWICK

FOUR OUT OF SEVEN SCOTS ADVANCE


Seven Scots started the match-play stages of the British boys championship and at the end of the day, four were still standing at the ancient links of Prestwick Golf Club, the birthplace of the Open championship.
Top qualifiers Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and Christopher Curran (Harburn) were both pushed to their limits.
Fyfe won at the 19th against Clement Charmasson (France). Curran had to go even further. He won at the 20th over Teodoro Soldati (Italy).
Defending champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) was taken to the 18th green but was a winner by two holes over England's Matthew Jordan.
Anglo-Scot Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon) did not have to ask for "new balls" as he won by 3 and 2 against England's Jack Floydd.
The Scots losers were Conor Toal (Old Ranfurly), Will Porter (Carnoustie) and George Burns (Williamwood).
Toal lost by 2 and 1 to Federico Zuckermann (Italy) and Burns went down by one hole to Jarand Yarnoy (Norway).
Porter lost by 5 and 4 to Kristoffer Reitan (Norway). 
 TITLE-HOLDER FERGUSON CLEARS 

  FIRST HURDLE AT PRESTWICK

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE RandA
Glasgow's Ewen Ferguson is a step closer to successfully defending his Boys' Amateur Championship title after defeating England’s Matthew Jordan at Prestwick Golf Club today.
The 18-year-old from Bearsden, pictured by Kenny Smith with the Scottish boys' stroke play trophy, advances to the third round after overcoming a two-hole deficit early on in the match when he bogeyed four of the first six holes. 
“I got off to a pretty slow start and was two down after six, said Ferguson. “He (Jordan) had a putt to go three up so I thought to myself I need to keep hitting fairways and keep making pars and let him make mistakes but he didn’t. I had to win holes with birdies. He is a really good player.”
With Ferguson leading by one after Jordan dropped shots on the 7th, 10th and 11th holes, the Englishman answered back with a birdie on the par four 13th to square the match. 
On 16, Ferguson chipped from 20 yards to a few inches from the hole and when Jordan failed to hole his putt from the fringe Ferguson regained the lead.
On the 17th, both players found the rough on the right from the tee. Jordan found the green with his second shot but Ferguson’s approach came up short in the famous Sahara  bunker short of the green. From close to the face the Scot played a wonderful bunker shot to two feet and Jordan missed his 12 foot putt and the hole was halved.
Both players reached the green from the tee on the 18th. Jordan missed a 20 footer for eagle but Ferguson holed an eight foot putt from the fringe for an eagle to win the match by 2 holes.
“There is a lot of pressure on me being defending champion and people expect me to win. Down the stretch under the real pressure I handled it really well and an eagle at the last to win was just amazing.”
Ferguson is aiming to become the first player since 1930 to win successive Boys' Amateur titles and is feeling confident about his game as he moves into the last 32. 
“Last year I seemed to get better as the week went on, getting to know the course and the nooks and crannies, getting to know where to miss and where not to miss. I have been hitting it well for a while now so I am just going to try to hit the best shot I can on each shot and if it is enough to win it then it is enough to win it but then fair play to whoever beats me.”
Other Scots advancing include Christopher Curran and Calum Fyfe who shared the lead after the qualifying stroke play at Prestwick and Dundonald Links. 
Both players needed extra holes to secure their places in round three; Curran fended off a charging Teodoro Soldati and won on the 20th while Fyfe managed to edge out Frenchman Clement Charmasson on the first extra hole. 
Curran had a four-hole advantage over Soldati by the ninth hole but the Italian found his stride after the turn with a string of birdies down the stretch.
“I bogeyed ten and was back to three up but then he just had the momentum,” said Curran. “He made three birdies in a row and holed a twenty-footer on the last to take it into extra holes. He’s a good player so I just had to go for it and try and beat him.”
After the pair halved the first extra hole, Soldati pulled his approach shot well left of the target on the 20th. When Curran placed his ball eight feet from the pin, Soldati conceded the match. 
Also through is Italy’s Guido Migliozzi, who is the field’s highest ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™. The 2014 European Nations Cup individual winner and world number 87 defeated England’s Kelsey March by 2 and 1.
“I played very well with the wind and I had the match under control. I enjoy playing links golf here but I prefer parkland courses. There are many bunkers here, and I hate bunkers,” he laughed. 
“I hope I can continue to play great golf tomorrow like I did today.”
Other players set to start in the last 32 include Irish boys' open amateur champion Bradley Moore of England, who lost in the semi-finals to Ferguson in 2013, and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, the 2012 and 2013 Suzann Junior Challenge winner. 
Moore birdied three of his last four holes to beat compatriot Oliver Farrell by one hole, while Reitan had an easier time of it, sending Carnoustie’s Will Porter home in a 5 and 4 victory.
The third round will commence at 7:30 am tomorrow with the round of the last 16 set to begin at 1:10pm. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday and the 36-hole final will be played over morning and afternoon sessions on Sunday. Parking and admission is free for spectators. 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE RESULTS
Match play leaderboard

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CULVERWELL and EASINGWOOD

Left to right George Freeland (captain, Dunbar Golf Club), Alexander Culverwell, Stephen Easingwood and Billy Legget (president, Dunbar Golf Club).

DUNBAR GOLF CLUB HONOUR TWO MEMBERS

Dunbar Golf Club has recognised the achievements of two of its members, Alexander Culverwell and Stephen Easingwood, by granting them honorary membership. Culverwell was the 2013 Scottish amateur champion at Blairgowrie while  Easingwood was the 1988 cottish amateur stroke play champion at Cathkin Braes and East Kilbride.

To mark the achievements they received a certificate and print from the club during the recent Captain's Day.

ends

ONE-POINT LEAD FROM FOURSOMES IS DECISIVE

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES! 

SCOTLAND BEAT ENGLAND 8-7

Scotland clawed their way back from a 10-5 opening defeat by Ireland to score a gritty 8-7 win over England on Day 2 of the men's home internationals at Southerndown GC, South Wales The Scots got their heads down in the best possible way to take a 3-2 lead from the foursomes.
Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald, Daniel Young and Jamie Savage, and Adam Dunton and Craig Ross were the three winning partnerships for Scotland.
Honours were shared 5-5 in the singles, leaving the Scots the overall match winners by a single point, 8-7.
Double winners on the day for Scotland were Robertson, McDonald, Savage, Craig Ross and Daniel Young.
Craigie Hill, Perth's Young has won all four of his ties so far in the tournament.
Ireland are favourites to take the title after being Wales 8-7. They top the table with 2pt. Scotland are lying second with 1pt while Wales and England share third place with half a point apiece.

 DAY 2 DETAILS

   ENGLAND  7, SCOTLAND 8
   Foursomes 2-3
England names first
R Evans and B Sow lost to G Robertson and J McDonald 2 and 1.
A Chapman and S Crookall-Nixon lost to D Young and J Savage 5 and 3.
T Anderson and A Chesters bt J Ross and C Robb 6 and 5.
L Johnston and P Kinnear lost to A Dunton and C Ross 7 and 6
D Wasteney and N Marsh bt M ~Clark and S Gibson 7 and 6.
SINGLES 5-5
Stow lost to Robertson 2 holes.
Evans lost to Savage 2 and 1.
Chesters bt Robb 4 and 3.
Chapman lost to Young 3 and 2.
Wasteney bt J Ross 2 and 1.
Anderson lost to McDonald 1 hole
Marsh bt Gibson 1 hole
Crookall-Nixon lost to C Ross 2 and 1.
Kinnear bt G Marchbank 2 and 1.
Johnson bt Clark 2 holes

IRELAND 8, WALES 7
Foursomes 2-3
Ireland names first
J Hume and G Moynihan lost to M Hearne and D Boote 1 hole.
J R Galbraith and C McElroy lost to B Westgate and M Moseley 6 and 5t.
C Campbell and C Selfridge bt Z Galliford and E Griffith 4 and 3.
R Bridges and R Dawson lost to O Edwards and L Jones 4 and 3.
P Dunne and G Hurley bt J Bush and  James 3 and 1.
SINGLES
Moynihan lost to Hearne 2 and 1.
C Sharvin lost to Boote 6 and 5.
McElroy bt Griffith 4 and 3.
Hume bt Westgate 4 and 3
Galbraith bt R Davies 3 and 1.
Campbell lost to Moseley 2 holes.
Selfridge bt James 6 and 4
Bridges lost to Bush 2 and 1.
Dunne bt Jones 2 and 1.
Hurley bt Galliford 3 and 2.



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OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY STRATHMORE 17-YEAR-OLD

 JUNIOR MICHAEL WINS P and K MEN'S

STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP 

Michael Brodie, 17-year-old Strathmore junior member, is making his mark in his last year as a junior.
Michael Brodie, pictured, has become Perth and Kinross men's stroke-play champion at Pitlochry, winning by two shots from Blairgowrie’s former Scottish amateur champion Glen Campbell. 

This follows young Brodie's success earlier this year when he won the Perth and Kinross boys' match-play title at Muckhart.

ST ANDREWS AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY

NO SCOTS LEFT ON LAST DAY 

AT EDEN TOURNAMENT

Hopes of a first Scottish triumph in the Eden Tournament at St Andrews for the first time since it
was won by a Downfield, Dundee player in 2004, were snuffed out on the penultimate day.
Only one Scot, Jackson Berry (Torwoodlee) reached the quarter-finals and he was beaten 3 and 2 by Adam Stone (Lancaster).
Neither have any Scots reached the last four of the handicap competition for the Eden Tankard.
The last survivor, Gary Porteous (Kilspindie) lost 6 and 5 to Irishman Jim Hary in the quarter-finals.

EDEN TOURNAMENT
Eden Course, St Andrews
THIRD ROUND
Lucas Becht (Belgium) bt Paul Johnston (Hawick) 2 holes
Benjamin David (Colchester) bt John Dougall (Caldwell) 4 and 3.
Martin Betts (Vicars Cross) bt Justin Lamb (Glencorse) 2 and 1.
Richard Storey (Forest Pines) bt Reece Blair (Leighton Buzzard) 2 and 1.
Adam Stone (Lancaster) bt Douglas Waugh (Baberton) 2 and 1.
Jackson Berry (Torwoodlee) bt Darren Humphries (Ludlow) 3 and 1
George Whitbread (Colchester) bt Allan McDonald (Crow Wood) 2 holes
Alex Collman (West Herts) bt Murray Saunders (Gullane) 2 and 1.
QUARTER-FINALS
David bt Becht 3 and 2.
Storey bt Betts 4 and 3.
A Stone bt Berry 3 and 2.
Whitbread bt Collman 1 hole

EDEN TANKARD (Handicap)
SECOND ROUND
Kenny Donaghy (Puckup Hotel) bt Vincent Walden (Twekesbury Park) 4 and 2.
Michael McGrath (Ireland) bt Stuart Green (Worcestershire) 4 and 2.
Calum Dawes (Tewkesburgy Park) bt Clive Appleby (Fairhaven) 4 and 2.
Richard Rodgers (Ludlow) bt David Bible (Ashford, Kent) 2 and 1.
Gary Porteous (Kilspindie) bt Carl James (Blundell Hills) 2 holes
Jim Harty (Ireland) bt Andy Crawford (Hallamshire) 2 and 1.
Russ Steib (USA) bt Liam Troy (Ireland) 4 and 3.
Russell McNamara (Tewkesbury Park) bt Alan Meyrik (Ludlow) 5 and 4. 
QUARTER-FINALS
Donaghy bt McGrath 5 abnd 4.
Rodgers b Dawes 2 and 1.
Harty bt Porteous 6 and 5.
McNamara bt Steib 5 and 3.

SKIPPER TOM WATSON SPARED HAVING TO MAKE DECISION

TIGER WOODS RULES HIMSELF OUT

OF US RYDER CUP LINE-UP

FROM THE BBC WEBSITE 
By IAIN CARTER

Tiger Woods has done the American Ryder Cup team a big favour by withdrawing from September's match at Gleneagles .

Skipper Tom Watson has been spared a difficult decision, one that could easily have undermined the US effort to regain the trophy.
The uncertainty over whether Woods would receive a wild card was already starting to have a corrosive effect on the captain's authority.
Watson's position on Woods had been shifting with each setback during the 14-time major champion's now aborted return from back surgery.

The nine automatic qualifiers for 12-man US Ryder Cup team are:
Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson.

Form and fitness were the skipper's pre-requisites but, although Woods showed neither at any of his four comeback events, Watson still kept open the possibility of a pick. This left the captain under pressure and the subject of Woods' fitness, or otherwise, dominated last Monday's news conference at Valhalla.
The media event was supposed to provide an opportunity to discuss the players who are in the US team, not one who might or might not be.
Watson appeared indecisive as he told reporters that he would, effectively, leave the decision up to Woods. It also suggested he was prepared to give special treatment to a special player.
"He is Tiger Woods and he brings a lot to the team," Watson said. "If he has the ability to play and he's healthy, I'd be a fool not to consider him."
The worst case scenario would have been for Woods to let the situation linger. Watson would have been left in a no-win situation heading towards the wild card announcement on September 2.

On one hand he would have been weighing up whether to risk picking a player with serious fitness issues, while on the other he would question how he could leave out the greatest golfer of the modern era.

Woods has now ensured this dilemma has been removed and in good time. Watson can spend the upcoming PGA Tour play-offs assessing his three potential wildcards without Woods clouding the issue.
"It was a big decision for him to place a call to Tom and take himself out of consideration," Woods agent, Mark Steinberg, was quoted by ESPN.com.
"Often times people have questioned Tiger's commitment to the Ryder Cup, to team events. Nobody should question his integrity when it comes to playing for his country. I think this says a lot about his feelings toward the event and team competition."
Woods can concentrate on the pressing need to make a full recovery. He came back too soon when he returned to action in June following his 31 March back operation.
According to his website he is targeting his return for his own World Challenge tournament in December. This means foregoing lucrative exhibition events he was scheduled to play in Argentina and Asia.
Woods' bank balance will hardly miss those appearance cheques, but what the 38 year-old cannot afford is to rush another comeback and compromise his fitness.
It is a shame for the Ryder Cup that the game's biggest name will be absent but the compelling nature of these contests should ensure that he will not be missed.
US fans should not be too downhearted either. Woods has only been on one winning Ryder Cup team in seven appearances.
It is entirely sensible to take himself out of the firing line. He can sit back and watch the match from home.
And bear in mind that the last time he did that, in 2008, America claimed their most recent victory.

US AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY

TWO ENGLISHMEN MAKE LAST 32

University of Alabama rising sophomore Robby Shelton advanced to the Round of 32 on Wednesday, defeating Dan Stringfellow, 2 and 1. (USGA/Tami Chappell) - See more at: http://10.89.71.30/news/2014/August/Smith-Advances-In-U-S--Amateur/#sthash.3HUGN4a8.dpuf

 
By Pete Kowalski, USGA

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia – Four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Nathan Smith, of Pittsburgh, the last player to make the 64-man match-play field, defeated co-medalist Lee McCoy, of Clarkesville, Georgia to be one of the 32 winners who advanced to the second round of match play at the 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club’s 7,382-yard, par-71 Highlands Course.
“I was so excited to get into match play,” said Smith, a 36-year-old investment advisor, who last advanced to the round of 32 in 2005. “It was kind of nothing to lose and I just got lucky. I played well.”

Smith, who has also represented the USA three times in the Walker Cup, won in 19 holes by sinking a 3½–foot par-saving putt to eliminate McCoy, 20, a second-team All-American at the University of Georgia. McCoy’s co-medalist, Taylor Moore, of Edmond, Okla., was also eliminated.
Playing in his 14th U.S. Amateur, Smith squared the match with a birdie on the water-fronted par-3 17th hole and converted a critical up-and-down for par on the 18th hole to force extra holes.
“I saw the list and I saw four-time Mid-Am winner and a guy that's played in the Masters four times, and I was like, I get to play the grizzled veteran in the first round, fantastic,” said McCoy. 
“I don't think he had his best stuff today and neither did I. I didn't play nearly as well as I did the last two days. He made some incredible up-and-downs and he just scored unbelievably well, like a veteran would.”
Jesse Heinly, 22, of Bend, Ore., playing in his first USGA championship, defeated co-medalist Moore, 3 and 2.
The 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play, with the championship scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. The second and third rounds of match play are scheduled for Thursday.
Three of the four players who survived the 17-man play-off, which took place on Wednesday morning on the Riverside Course, advanced later in the day.
One of last year’s semi-finalists, Corey Conners, 22, of Canada, defeated 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Scottie Scheffler, of Dallas, 1 up.  
One down on the 12th tee, Conners birdied four consecutive holes, three for wins, that gave him a two-hole advantage. 
The Kent State All-American made a swinging 15-foot putt on No. 12 and a 30-footer on 13. He hit the ball close enough on 14 and 15 for conceded birdies.
In a matchup of USGA champions, 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur winner Will Zalatoris, 17, of Plano, Texas, outlasted 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion and USA Walker Cup Team member Jordan Niebrugge, 2 and 1.
“For the first time being in the match play in the U.S. Am, it's obviously everything from here is a learning experience,” said Zalatoris, the 2014 Trans-Miss and Texas State Amateur winner. 
“Any time you're playing a Walker Cupper, doesn't matter if they are injured or sick or whatever, it's going to be a challenge and that was an absolute blast.”
Byron Meth, 21, of San Diego, California, the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, advanced, as did the top two ranked amateur golfers in the world, Ollie Schniederjans, 21, of Powder Springs, Georgia, and Robby Shelton, 18, of Wilmer, Alabama.
No. 1 Schniederjans, a Georgia Tech All-American, defeated Matt Teesdale, 6 and 5, by birdieing the first two holes and building a four-hole lead through nine holes.
“I haven't made it past the first round in the Amateur or U.S. Junior yet,” Schniederjans said. “I've struggled to get to match play and then to win the first match, so this is the farthest I've gone already in one of these. I'm excited to get that out of the way.”
No. 2 Shelton, the NCAA freshman of the year and the Southeastern Conference player of the year for his first season at Alabama, beat Dan Stringfellow of Roselle, Illinois, 2 and 1.
Cheng-Tsung Pan, 22, of Chinese Taipei, who is a two-time U.S. Amateur quarter-finalist (2007 and 2012), also won his first-round match.
Among other notable players eliminated were: 2014 Western Amateur winner Beau Hossler and 2013 USA Walker Cup Team member Todd White.
England's Jimmy Mullen and Paul Howard advanced to the last 32 but Sam Horsfield was beaten.

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Atlanta Athletic Club. Highlands Course (7,382yd)
Upper Bracket
Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa. (145) def. Lee McCoy, Clarkesville, Ga. (135), 19 holes
Brandon McIver, Billings, Mont. (143) def. Doug Ghim, Arlington Heights, Ill. (143), 2 and 1
Trevor Phillips, Inman, S.C. (144) def. Guillermo Pereira, Chile (140), 4 and 3
Byron Meth, San Diego, Calif. (140) def. Emilio Cuartero, Spain (144), 6 and 5
Jimmy Mullen, England (139) def. Todd White, Spartanburg, S.C. (144), 1 up
Justin Tereshko, Madison, Ind. (142) def. Xander Schauffele, San Diego, Calif. (143), 7 and 6
Frederick Wedel, The Woodlands, Texas (144) def. Carson Jacobs, Hendersonville, Tenn. (139), 5 and 4
Derek Bard, New Hartford, N.Y. (142) def. Zander Lombard, South Africa (143), 3 and 2
Garrett Rank, Canada (145) def. Jimmy Beck, Columbus, Ga. (138), 1 up
Kyle Jones, Taylor, Ariz. (143) def. Logan McCracken, Oklahoma City, Okla. (142), 2 and 1
Isaiah Logue, Fairfield, Pa. (144) def. Sam Horsfield, England (139), 2 and 1
Cameron Young, Scarborough, N.Y. (140) def. Tyler Torano, Chula Vista, Calif. (144), 19 holes
Sam Burns, Shreveport, La. (138) def. Matt Nesmith, North Augusta, S.C. (144), 2 and 1
Ollie Schniederjans, Powder Springs, Ga. (142) def. Matt Teesdale, Maple Glen, Pa. (143), 6 and 5
Paul Howard, England (144) def. Gavin Green, Malaysia (139), 4 and 3
Gunn Yang, S Korea (141) def. Seth Reeves, Suwanee, Ga. (144), 1 up
Lower Bracket
Jesse Heinly, Bend, Ore. def. Taylor Moore, Edmond, Okla. (135), 3 and 2
Corey Conners, Canada (142) def. Scottie Scheffler, Dallas, Texas (143), 1 up
Jon Rahm, Spain (144) def. Beau Hossler, Mission Viejo, Calif. (140), 3 and 2
Rico Hoey, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (144) def. Taylor Funk, Ponte Vedra, Fla. (140), 3 and 2
Will Zalatoris, Plano, Texas (138) def. Jordan Niebrugge, Mequon, Wis. (144), 2 and 1
Mario Galiano, Spain (142) def. M.J. Maguire, St. Petersburg, Fla. (143), 2 and 1
Bo Andrews, Raleigh, N.C. (144) def. Chris Waters, Atlanta, Ga. (139), 5 and 4
Zachary Olsen, Cordova, Tenn. (141) def. Adam Svensson, Canada (143), 2 and 1
Cheng-Tsung Pan, Chinese Taipei (138) def. Zach Healy, Peachtree Corners, Ga., 4 and 2
Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif. (143) def. Victor Perez, France (142), 2 and 1
Robby Shelton, Wilmer, Ala. (140) def. Dan Stringfellow, Roselle, Ill. (144), 2 and 1
Roman Robledo, Harlingen, Texas (144) def. Mookie DeMoss, Duluth, Ga. (140), 1 up
Jonathan Garrick, Atherton, Calif. (138) def. Michael Gellerman, Sterling, Kan. (144), 3 and 2
Eli Cole, Los Angeles, Calif. (142) def. Will Betts, Leechburg, Pa. (143), 3 and 2
Jonathan Chang, Corona, Calif. (144) def. Taylor Pendrith, Canada (139), 4 and 2
Denny McCarthy, Rockville, Md. (141) def. Jonathan Woo, Singapore (144), 7 and 5