US TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT AND LINK TO SCORES

BILLY HORSCHEL REPEATS 66 TO GO 

TWO CLEAR AT HALFWAY

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Billy Horschel played his last 10 holes in four under par in today's second round  to open up a two-shot advantage in the US Tour Championship by Coca-Cola.
Horschel, who entered this week at No. 2 in the FedExCup standings following his BMW Championship triumph, is in the driver's seat at East Lake for both the tournament and golf's richest prize -- the FedExCup. 
A pair of 66s have the former Florida Gator on top at 8 under.
Overnight co-leader Chris Kirk, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are two back at 6 under. Kirk (No. 1) and McIlroy (No. 4) are also among the top 5 players who would automatically win the FedExCup with a victory at East Lake. 
Day (No. 10) needs a win and some help from the top 5.
Another four players check in four off the pace at 4 under. 2010 FedExCup winner Jim Furyk is joined by Kevin Na, Ryan Palmer and Cameron Tringale at that number.
Horschel started the day with two birdies on his first three holes but gave those shots back with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7. He made birdie putts of 13 and 25 feet on Nos. 11 and 14 before draining possibly his biggest putt of the day -- a 7-foot par-saver on the par-3 18th.
For the week, he's 6-under on the back nine and just 2 under on the front.
"That's the way it's been lately," said Horschel, who has a win and a runner-up finish in his last two starts. 
"I've been playing one side better than the other. I probably should have shot a little lower on the front side today ... But I'll take those two nines again for two more days and see where that gets me."
The way things are shaping up, it would get Horschel the FedExCup, and make him just the second player to win both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola in the same play-offs. 
Camilo Villegas also pulled off the feat in 2008, but couldn't overtake Vijay Singh and claim the FedExCup.
 SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70) Players from USA unless stated
132 Billy Horschel 66 66
134 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 69 65, Jason Day (Australia) 67 67, Chris Kirk 66 68
136 Kevin Na 70 66, Ryan Palmer 69 67, Cameron Tringale 68 68, Jim Furyk 67 69.
137 Rick Fowler 69 68

138 Justin Rose (England) 72 66, Russell Henley 70 68
SELECTED SCORES
140 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69 71
141 Adam Scott (Australia) 69 72


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CHRIS ROBB AND GRANT FORREST BOTH REURN 69s IN JAPAN

AMERICANS TAKE A THREE-STROKE 

LEAD: SCOTS IN JOINT NINTH PLACE

United States have taken a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the men's world amateur team golf championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in Japan.

Scottish champion Chris Robb (Meldrum House) and former title-holder Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) both shot 69s and Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil slipped back from a second-round 65 to a more pedestrian 71 on Day 3.

So high is the standard of play that the Scots slipped down a peg to joint ninth on 409, one shot behind England and Ireland.

For England Ben Stow had a 68, Ryan Evans a 69 and Ashley Chesters a 69.

For Ireland Gavin Moynihan, the Scottish open amateur stroke play champion, had a 64, Paul Dunne a 68 and Gary Hurley a 74.

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD

397 United States 136 133 128

400 Sweden 134 135 131

403 Spain 138 133 132

403 Canada 134 136 133

404 Argentina 135 133 136

405 Australia 137 136 132

408 England 136 135 137

408 Ireland 138 138 132

409 Scotland 138 133 138

409 France 140 134 135

409 Switzerland 134 135 140

409 Taipei 137 137 135

409 Mexico 138 136 135

OTHER SCORE

419 Wales 138 145 136

CHEERS FOR ABERDONIAN = AN ACE AT KLM OPEN

RICHIE RAMSAY WINS A YEAR'S SUPPLY

OF BEER FOR A HOLE IN ONE!
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Pablo Larrazábal fired a course record 62 after starting his second round with six consecutive birdies to lead by two shots at the halfway mark of the KLM Open at Kennemer Golf and Country Club in the Netherlands.

Larrazábal raced out the blocks with a front nine of just 28 shots, having started on the tenth tee, and although he could not keep that breathless pace going, he picked up three further birdies on the way in, with his only bogey of the day coming on the penultimate hole.
The Spaniard, who is chasing a second European Tour title of 2014 following his victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January, shaved a stroke off the previous course record shared by seven players, and he is ten under par for the tournament, with Frenchman Romain Wattel and Italian Edoardo Molinari his nearest challengers on eight under par following rounds of 65 and 66 respectively.
Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay (pictured above) aced the 154yd par three 11th hole – his second after starting on the tenth – with an eight iron on his way to a round of 65.  Ramsay wins a year's supply of beer for that!
He shares fourth place with Denmark’s Søren Hansen (66) and American Peter Uihlein (68) on six under par.  
Not so happy was the other Aberdonian in the field, Paul Lawrie. He missed the cut by four shots with rounds of 71 and 73 but, starting at the 10th, he played well and was two under par for the day until he ran up a triple bogey 7 at a shortish par-4 hole and then bogeyed his three remaining holes.


Key player quotes
Pablo Larrazábal: “I started very fast with birdies on the first six holes and then I tried just to play golf and put myself in position to make some more, but the round cooled down a little bit in the middle.
“After starting with six birdies I was thinking, it is a par 70, I only need five more [for a first 59 on The European Tour]. The middle of the round it cooled down but it was a great shot into the last to finish with a 62.
“I was aware of the 59 more than the course record. I thought about the 59 when I started with six birdies. I thought I only need five more to make the magic number, but maybe I put pressure on a bit more. I’ve a few course records around Spain but none on The European Tour, so it is nice.
Romain Wattel: “That was a really good round. I’m really pleased with the way I played. Fortunately I was playing with Peter who had a good day as well, so that was nice. I started with a birdie and then three putted 12, but then I played really good and had a good front nine, but the wind picked up after that and made it tougher. But I’m really happy with this position. This year’s it’s not happened to me many times to be in the front after two rounds, so I’m pleased.”
Edoardo Molinari: “I didn’t play that well to be honest but my score was very good. I managed to keep the ball in play and that saved the day. I hit my irons well. I enjoyed playing here even though I didn’t play 100 per cent. My position is great, the game is not at the moment, but I’ll take eight under par.”
Richie Ramsay: “The wind was off to the right, front left flag. I hit a lovely shot, eight iron and held it up. It looked like it was close and then it just dropped in like a putt. There were a few high fives on the tee which was nice, and it was a great way to start the round and I got off to a bit of a flyer.
“Winning a year’s supply of beer from Warsteiner (for the hole in one) is fantastic. My phone is going to be ringing off the hook. I’m sure they will be put to good use, so thanks to them. It will be a good party going on in the winter time, that’s for sure.
It was a good day’s work overall and hopefully I can keep it going. I’ve been playing well the last two weeks. The back nine on Sunday is where I try to be challenging, and if I can be in contention there hopefully I will pick one off pretty soon.”
Joost Luiten: “I wasn’t as sharp today, especially in the middle part. That cost me a couple of bogeys. I couldn’t really make a worse score than I have done today. I hit some really good shots and didn’t make any putts. Hopefully the feel on the greens will be a bit better tomorrow.”

Hit it lovely today and was -3 for the day after 14 holes to be two under for the event , the 6th is a very short par 4 but I managed to take a triple bogey 7 then bogeyed all of the last three holes , incredible as it came out of nowhere but I didn't lose the plot just hit a couple of poor shots that I got punished severely for , actually hit it pretty good today but that's golf , home tonight dust myself off and get on with it next week - See more at: http://www.paullawriegolf.com/blog#sthash.zKBaRf3D.dpu

Hit it lovely today and was -3 for the day after 14 holes to be two under for the event , the 6th is a very short par 4 but I managed to take a triple bogey 7 then bogeyed all of the last three holes , incredible as it came out of nowhere but I didn't lose the plot just hit a couple of poor shots that I got punished severely for , actually hit it pretty good today but that's golf , home tonight dust myself off and get on with it next week - See more at: http://www.paullawriegolf.com/blog#sthash.v2aCpnmU.dpuf

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
130 P Larrazábal (Esp) 68 62
132 E Molinari  (Ita) 66 66, R Wattel  (Fra) 67 65
134 R Ramsay  (Sco) 69 65, S Hansen (Den) 68 66, P Uihlein  (USA) 66 68
135 T Aiken (RSA) 67 68, B Koepka  (USA) 69 66, J Luiten (Ned) 65 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 67 68, A Sullivan (Eng) 67 68, T Hatton (Eng) 68 67, M Ilonen  (Fin) 69 66
136 J Heath  (Eng) 69 67, A Pavan (Ita) 66 70, T Pieters  (Bel) 70 66, J Kruger (RSA) 73 63, M Warren (Sco) 68 68, O Fisher  (Eng) 70 66, C Wood  (Eng) 69 67, S Dyson  (Eng) 70 66 
137 G Stal  (Fra) 66 71, J Hahn (USA) 71 66, J Carlsson (Swe) 70 67, J Lima  (Por) 70 67, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 70 67, D Howell (Eng) 68 69, D Im (USA) 67 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 69 68, M Foster (Eng) 70 67, S Thornton (Irl) 68 69
138 N Elvira  (Esp) 71 67, R Karlsson (Swe) 69 69, C Lee (Sco) 69 69, R Kakko  (Fin) 69 69, E Grillo (Arg) 72 66, P Casey  (Eng) 68 70, J Hansen  (Den) 72 66, R Saxton (Ned) 71 67, P Harrington (Irl) 70 68, R Derksen (Ned) 71 67
139 I Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 70, A Gee  (Eng) 69 70, M Carlsson  (Swe) 68 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 68, T Lewis (Eng) 70 69, D McGrane (Irl) 71 68, G Bhullar (Ind) 70 69, S Lowry  (Irl) 70 69, C Doak (Sco) 69 70, A Kaleka  (Fra) 72 67, J McLeary  (Sco) 67 72, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 69, W Ormsby (Aus) 70 69
140 M Crespi  (Ita) 71 69, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 72 68, D Clarke (Nir) 73 67, E Goya (Arg) 67 73, J Morrison  (Eng) 73 67, J Parry (Eng) 71 69, R Rock (Eng) 73 67, R Bland (Eng) 70 70, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 71, M Jiménez (Esp) 71 69, B An (SKor) 72 68, J Singh (Ind) 72 68, G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 71 69, P Waring  (Eng) 69 71, D Huizing (Ned) 72 68, W Besseling  (Ned) 68 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 73 67, T Olesen (Den) 69 71, M Korhonen (Fin) 71 69, N Fasth (Swe) 70 70, J Krietemeijer (am) (Ned) 71 69

MISSED THE CUT
141 J Olazábal (Esp) 69 72, K Broberg (Swe) 72 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 71 70, A Quiros  (Esp) 69 72, M Nixon (Eng) 71 70, R Kind (Ned) 72 69,
142 P Lawrie (Irl) 72 70, A Forsyth (Sco) 70 72, D Horsey (Eng) 72 70, M Lampert (Ger) 71 71, D Foos (Ger) 68 74, S Manley (Wal) 72 70, A Wall (Eng) 74 68, A Hansen (Den) 71 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 70 72, V Riu  (Fra) 69 73, M Baldwin (Eng) 70 72, M Manassero (Ita) 68 74, D Van Driel (am) (Ned) 73 69
143 J Knutzon (USA) 71 72, R Santos  (Por) 72 71, G Storm  (Eng) 73 70, A Otaegui  (Esp) 72 71, M Madsen  (Den) 71 72, S Jamieson  (Sco) 71 72, L Slattery (Eng) 72 71, D Fichardt (RSA) 69 74, B Collier  (Sco) 73 70
144 P Lawrie (Sco) 71 73, M Lafeber (Ned) 73 71, C Arendell (USA) 72 72, M Hoey  (Nir) 73 71, S Walker (Eng) 78 66, D Stewart (Sco) 70 74, G Havret  (Fra) 75 69, K Phelan (Irl) 73 71, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 73 71, S Wakefield (Eng) 75 69, G Maybin (Nir) 72 72, B Rumford (Aus) 73 71
145 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 72, R Green (Aus) 71 74, T Björn (Den) 71 74, S Prins (am) (Ned) 77 68
146 S Kapur (Ind) 75 71, J Campillo (Esp) 75 71, J Blixt  (Swe) 70 76, B Paolini (USA) 75 71, P Sjöland (Swe) 74 72, S Kim (SKor) 75 71, D Higgins (Irl) 72 74, T Remkes (Ned) 75 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 73 73
 147 R Fisher (Eng) 75 72, J Billing (Swe) 73 74,
 148 D Lipsky (USA) 74 74, D Brooks (Eng) 75 73, M Lundberg (Swe) 73 75, F De Vries  (Ned) 71 77
 149 L Bjerregaard  (Den) 73 76, H Otto (RSA) 77 72
 150 F Calmels  (Fra) 74 76, E De La Riva  (Esp) 73 77
 151 J Lara (Esp) 76 75, J Kingston (RSA) 77 74, J Jeong (SKor) 76 75, V Van Veen (am) (Ned) 74 77
 152 T Sluiter  (Ned) 76 76, A Hartø  (Den) 75 77
 153 S Strüver (Ger) 76 77, E Dubois (Fra) 76 77
 155 J Dantorp (Swe) 77 78
 157 L Keunen (am) (Ned) 78 79, K Reints (am) (Ned) 79 78
 ** A Saddier (Fra) 82 WD, T Levet (Fra) RT  0, R Gonzalez (Arg) RT  0, F Aguilar (Chi) RT  0, F Zanotti (Par) RT  0, D Lynn (Eng) 75 wd
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SOUTH AFRICAN'S GOOD START TO SENIOR PORTUGAL OPEN

WILLIAMS' RED-HOT PUTTER GIVES 

HIM THREE-SHOT LEAD
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
South Africa’s Chris Williams had a hot putter to thank as he carded a superb nine under par 63 to race into a three-shot lead after the first round of the Senior Open de Portugal at Vidago Palace.
The 55 year old from Edenvale holed a 40 footer and six more putts outside ten feet en route to posting his lowest score since joining the European Senior Tour at the start of 2009.
Williams goes into the second round with a healthy advantage over the second placed Carl Mason and Gary Wolstenhome, while he is some four in front of Andrew Murray, Boonchu Ruangkit, Gary Rusnak, Des Smyth and Steen Tinning who are all tied for fourth after carding five under par rounds of 67.
Phil Golding, Cesar Monasterio, Juan Quiros, Tim Thelen, and Greg Turner are in a share of ninth after opening rounds of 68, while Michael McLean, Jose Rivero, DJ Russell and Jerry Smith are a shot further adrift on a day when 37 players broke par.
Williams sank an 18ft putt for birdie on the first that set the tone for the rest of the day, swiftly following it with successful efforts from 15 feet on the second and from 40 for an eagle on the fourth, before three successive gains from the seventh completed a five under front nine of 31.
He holed from ten feet for birdie on the 12th, and again from a similar distance on the 13th, before a miss from short range for eagle on the penultimate hole. He put that disappointment behind him though as he headed down the last, rolling in for a closing birdie that set a formidable first round target for the field to aim at over the weekend.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
63 Chris Williams (South Africa)
66 Carl Mason (England), Gary Wolstenholme (England)
67 Andrew Murray (England), Des Smyuth (Ireland), Steen Tinning (Denmark), Gary Rusnak (USA), Boonchu Ruangkit (Thailand). 
67 Philip Goulding (England), Tim Helen (USA), Juan Quiros (Spain), Cesar Monasterio (Argentina), Greg Turner (New Zealand)
SCOTS' SCORES
71 Bill Longmuir (T27)
73 Andrew Oldcorn (T43)
74 Stephen McAllister (T52)
75 David James (T55)
81 Brian Marchbank (69th)



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FRASER AND McBAIN TIE FOR MURRAYFIELD PRO-AM VICTORY

GREG RUNNING INTO FORM FOR 

PAUL LAWRIE INVITATIONAL

Jamie Fraser (Renaissance) scored his first win and Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) his third of the season in today's (Friday) Streetwork/AWG pro-am at Murrayfield Golf Club, Edinburgh.

Fraser, who had seven birdies in holding the clubhouse lead for much of the day with a splendid, six-under-par 64 (31-33), was joined in the pole position very late in the day by McBain (pictured) .

Aberdonian McBain, running into form in time for next week's £40,000 Paul Lawrie Invitational at Deeside, of which he is a previous winner, got it out in four-under 30 but a bogey at the 16th meant he had to birdie the last to share the spoils, which he did, with his eighth birdie of the day.

McBain and Fraser earned £787 apiece for finishing one shot ahead of Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle). They earned £459 each, Taylor adding £105 to that by leading the Metcalfe Contracts team of amateurs to victory in the pro-am with a 17-under score of 53
The amateur trio were Dave Metcalfe (handicap 10), Jim Rae (15) and Darren Campbell (8).

STREETWORK/AWG PRO-AM

Murrayfield Golf Club, Edinburgh

PRO SCORES
Par 70
64 J Fraser (Renaissance), G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC) £787 each
65 G Wright (West Linton), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) £459 each.
66 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC) £315
67 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), C Gordon (Edinburgh GC), P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), S Henderson (Kings Links) £212 each
68 C Kelly (unatt), C Ronald (Carluke), C Currie (Caldwell) £134 each.
69 J McGhee (Bishopbriggs) £111
70 I Lowdean (Murrayfield), I Stoddart (U;phall), A Reid (West Lothian), D Orr (Meanrs Castle) £91 each
71 M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), S Herald (Mearns Castle) £61 each
72 R Smith (Renaissance), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs)
74 P Wardell (Whitekirk), O Leslie (Piperdam).

SIX SCOTS ADVANCE AT KELSO TO TOUR SCHOOL STAGE 2 IN SPAIN

  Left to right: Jamie Moule, Scott Borrowman and Neil Fenwick (picture by Hugh Hunter).

SPLENDID EFFORTS BY NEIL FENWICK

AND AMATEUR SCOTT BORROWMAN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Six Scots were among the 20 players to advance from the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 event over the Roxburghe course, Kelso today.
They go forward to one of the Stage 2 events at four venues in Spain from November 7 to 10.
Dunbar tour pro Neil Fenwick, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, topped the qualifiers with a splendid, sustained performance for a 15-under-par total of 288. His worst score was a two-under 70 in the third round.
Almost equally meritorious was the effort of Dollar amateur Scott Borrowman to fill second place on 275. He also broke part in all four rounds.
The other Scots to qualify were the Saltman brothers from Archerfield, Elliot in seventh place on 280 and Lloyd tied eighth on 281
Last year's Scottish amateur champion Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) made it on 282. The last of the six Scots was Paul Shields (Kirkhill) who made it with nothing to spare after a closing 75 for the maximum mark of five-under-par 283.
Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) missed out by a single stroke on 284.
Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) finished on 286.
Tartan Tour regular Stephen Gray (Hayston) totalled level par 288.

EUROPEAN TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL STAGE 1

Roxburghe course, Kelso

QUALIFIERS FOR STAGE 2

Par 288 (4x72)

273 N Fenwick (Sco) 68 66 70 69

275 S Borrowman (Sco) (am) 68 71 65 71

276 J Moule (Eng) 69 72 66 69

277 T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 70 71 67

278 T Murray (Eng) 69 74 67 68

279 G Porteous (Eng) 71 68 69 71

280 E Saltman (Sco) 74 70 65 71

281 A Wrigley (Eng) 69 71 72 69, Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 64 73 73 71, M Young (Eng) (am) 69 69 69 74

282 S Connor (Eng) 71 69 73 69, A Culverwell (Sco) (am) 69 72 71 70, L Joy (Eng) 68 74 70 70, B Melton (USA) 69 67 72 74

283 M Murphy (Ire) 70 69 73 71, D Lloyd (SAf) 72 70 70 71,  C Corbin (Eng) 69 71 71 72, S Fallon (Eng) 71 75 65 782, K Gray (Eng) 68 74 75 66, P Shields (Sco) 66 73 69 75

FAILED TO QUALIFY

284 P McLean (Sco) 70 73 69 72, P Doherty (Sco) 71 68 77 68, F McKenna (Sco) 70 69 73 72

286 K Nicol (Sco) 71 69 75 71

288 S Gray (Sco) 70 78 73 73, A Dunbar (NIre) 72 77 69 71.

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JAMES WHITE MISSES ALPS TOUR CUT BY SEVEN STROKES

Lundin's James White missed the second-round cut by seven strokes today at the Alps Tour's Citadelle Trophy International 54-hole tournament at Golf de Preisch on the French border with Luxembourg.
White shot 77-76 for 153.
Leading British player among the qualifiers is Englishman Andrew Cooley, in fourth place on 139 (67-72), three shots behind the French leader, Thomas Elissalde (69-67)

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SCOTTISH SENIORS' INTER-AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

TITLE-HOLDERS GLASGOW STRONG

 

AGAIN FOR DEFENCE AT DUNBAR

The Scottish Seniors Golfing Society season draws to a conclusion on Wednesday, September 17 when the  inter-area team championship takes place at Dunbar.

Eleven areas, each fielding a team of six players, are chasing the title which Glasgow won last year at Murcar Links. 

Predicting a winner in this form of golf is always difficult but Glasgow have a strong team again and will be looking for a third win in an event which was first held in 2008.

Lothians will fancy their chances on home ground  but are without John Fraser and David Gardner, who are on senior international duty along the coast at North Berwick. 

Angus and Stirlingshire, who came close last year, will also have high hopes of taking the title.

SCOTT HARVEY WINS US MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

By David Shefter, USGA

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania. – Scott Harvey, 36, of Greensboro, North Carolina, defeated fellow stroke-play co-medalist (joint leading match-play qualifiers) Brad Nurski, 35, of St. Joseph, Missouri, 6 and 5, in Thursday’s 36-hole championship match of the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, conducted on the par-71, 7,076-yard Old Course at Saucon Valley Country Club.
Harvey, a real estate property manager competing in his seventh consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur, was the equivalent of 3 under par over 31 holes, with the usual match-play concessions.
The victory earns Harvey, No. 109 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, custody of the Robert T. Jones Memorial Trophy for one year, a gold medal, a 10-year exemption from qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateurs and a likely invitation to the 2015 Masters in April. He also receives an exemption from local qualifying for the U.S. Open for the next three years. “I just can’t really put it into words,” said Harvey. “This tournament has been my No. 1 goal every single year. I can’t even put it into words.”
Nurski, a railroad conductor and switchman who was playing in his second U.S. Mid-Amateur, but first in six years, is exempt for the next three U.S. Mid-Amateurs and next year’s U.S. Amateur. He also is exempt from U.S. Open local qualifying next year.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur is for golfers aged 25 and older.

$10million BONUS IS KEY FACTOR IN PLAYER'S DECISION

 HORSCHEL SHARES LEAD - AND WILL 

STAY EVEN IF WIFE GOES INTO LABOUR

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By HELEN ROSS
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Phil Mickelson famously carried a beeper during the 1999 U.S. Open in case his wife Amy, who was on the verge of delivering their first child, went into labour.
And just last year, Hunter Mahan withdrew and flew back to Texas to be with his wife Kandi for Zoe's birth, even though he was leading the RBC Canadian Open at the time.
Billy Horschel finds himself in a similar situation this week at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola where he holds a share of the first-round lead with Chris Kirk.
Horschel's very pregnant wife, Brittany, is back home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Her due date is Sept. 27 but if their daughter, who will be named Skylar Lillian, decides to arrive early, Horschel still plans to be at East Lake on Sunday when the final putt drops.
Not that he doesn't want to be there for the birth of his first child. He really, really does. But at the same time, Horschel and his wife, who also played collegiate golf at Florida, know that there's a $10 million bonus on the line -- and he's one of five players guaranteed the game's biggest prize with a win on Sunday.
"My wife is totally on board," Horschel said. "... She's a golfer. She understands what this victory and FedExCup Playoffs and what it all means. I've probably got the greatest wife out here. ...
"There wasn't much discussion. I brought up the question. She said: You're staying." 

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TOUR Championship: Leaderboard |  Earlier Friday tee times | Join the Converstaiton | Daily Wrap-up | Rory not bothered by slow start
FedExCup: Home | Projections | Winning scenarios | Update: Kirk on top

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After all, the TOUR Championship features a limited 29-man field. That means sleeping late each morning, and thanks to an Atlanta contact, Horschel can be on a private plane almost immediately after his round is over for the 1-hour flight back to Jacksonville. Ditto for a return trip the next day.
So if Brittany goes into labour, Horschel has told his inner circle he doesn't want to find out until he comes off the 18th green to sign his scorecard. 
Then he'll set a land speed record, if necessary, getting back home to greet his daughter.
"I won't find out on the course, because my focus may be taken away from the task at hand," Horschel explained. "But after the round's over with, I will be flying home, spend a few hours and then flying back later that day or the next morning before the round of golf."
After all, Horschel gave himself a great opportunity to win the FedExCup when he captured last week's BMW Championship six days after tying for second at the Deutsche Bank Championship. To say the excitable Floridian, who entered the Playoffs finale ranked No. 2 in the FedExCup, is on a roll would be an understatement.
"Having a chance to win $10 million and our first child on the way -- it's pretty amazing, especially the time of year that it's happening," said Horschel, who described himself as anxious rather than nervous about both prospects.
Besides, that $10 million bonus would certainly buy a lot of diapers -- and maybe something really special for such an understanding wife.
"Listen, Hunter Mahan did a great thing last year pulling out," Horschel said. "But I would think if he was in my position with winning, having a chance to win, roughly $10 million more, if you had the TOUR Championship winner's cheque and everything, I think it would be maybe a no brainer to stay put and keep playing and go home in between rounds." 
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 70 Players from USA unless stated
66 Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk
67 Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Jason Day (Australia), Patrick Reed
68 Bill Haas, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Cameron Tringale.
SELECTED SCORES
69  Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Adam Scott (Australia), Sergio Garcia (Spain) (T11)
72 Justin Rose (England) (T23)

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ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR REPORT AND SCORES

 THAI TWO SHARE LEAD AT SARAWAK

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert fired a superb five-under-par 67 to share the third-round lead with countryman Tirawat Kaewsiribandit in the US$80,00) PGM MNRB Sarawak Championship today.

The 25-year-old Pavit, ranked third on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit, had six birdies against a lone bogey at the Sarawak Golf Club to tie overnight leader Tirawat on 11-under-par 205.

Rookie Tirawat enjoyed a glorious start by recording his career’s first hole-in-one with an eight iron on the par three third hole and led comfortably for most of the third round before slipping up with a bogey and double bogey on 16 and 18.

Another Thai, Pasamet Pogamnerd, battled to a 72 for third place, three behind the co-leaders, while England’s Grant Jackson posted a 73 to lie a further stroke back. Arie Irawan (71) and Sukree Othman (74) are the best Malaysians in tied sixth place on 211.

    THIRD-ROUND LEADERS

         Par 216 (3x72)

205: Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-69-67, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 67-68-70

208: Pasamet POGAMNERD (THA) 68-68-72

209: Grant JACKSON (ENG) 66-70-73

210: Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 72-72-66

211: Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 72-71-68, Shaun MALONE (ENG) 68-74-69, Arie IRAWAN (MAS) 71-69-71, Michael MOORE (AUS) 68-71-72, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 69-68-74,

212: Annop TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 76-67-69, Tirto TAMARDI (INA) 75-70-67, Brett MUNSON (USA) 72-70-70