Sunday, November 02, 2014

MISSING RYDER CUP REALLY HURT ENGLISHMAN

LUKE DONALD GOES BACK TO OLD 

COACH GOSS TO REVIVE FORTUNES

FROM SKY SPORTS.COM
Luke Donald admits he had only himself to blame for missing out on a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team in September.

The Englishman endured a frustrating season as he managed only three top-10 finishes in 17 starts on the US PGA Tour, slipping to 34th in the world rankings after starting the year in the top 10.
Donald, pictured, failed to secure an automatic place in Europe's Ryder Cup team, and his superb record in the event was not enough to earn a captain's pick as Paul McGinley opted for Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher.
McGinley guided Europe to a comfortable five-point victory at Gleneagles, and Donald has expressed his anger at not being part of the team for the first time since he missed out in 2008 due to injury.
"It was disappointment mixed with anger," Donald told The Telegraph. "I could have been picked ahead of Lee, Stephen or Ian and feel I could have justified the wild card.

"But it was not anger directed at Paul or anyone, just at the fact I'd put myself in that situation. Let's face it, but for a few instances during the season I would have qualified by right.
"The last few months I did not play well at all and you realise you can't blame anyone but yourself. Not to say the disappointment didn't sit with me for a few weeks. It did."
Donald was gracious enough to send a message of congratulations to McGinley, and he paid tribute to the Irishman for leading Europe to a third successive Ryder Cup victory.
"He had a job to do and did it amazingly," Donald said. "I have nothing for Paul but admiration.
"Of course, you always want to play in the Ryder Cup. It's provided probably my most enjoyable moments in the game.
"When I saw the guys on TV, I did feel a bit jealous. It was hard to watch the last day, but I couldn't tear myself away. It's great theatre, there's nothing like rooting for the guys."
Donald is now focused on climbing back up the world rankings next season, and he has started by going back to his former coach Pat Goss after his swing change under the guidance of Chuck Cook failed to pay off.
"I lost sight of what made me successful," he said. "I focused too much on my what I perceived as my weakness and forgot about my strength, which is from 150 yards and in.
"When I was world No 1, I probably wanted that major too much. I came close to winning majors under Pat but figured I needed to be a better ball-striker, figured there had to be an overhaul of the whole package.
"But I'm not a 'big picture' sort of guy. I prefer making small improvements each day. Pat understands that and for the first few weeks we didn't talk about swing, just did some really good work on my wedge play and putting. I'm ready to compete again."

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FIFTEEN EVENTS ON ALGARVE WINTER PRO TOUR


ALGARVE PRO GOLF TOUR SCHEDULE 
2014/15

www.algarveprogolftour.co.uk


Jamega Golf Tour in association with Your Golf Travel and PGA Portugal

  

NOVEMBER
7-8: Alamos
10-11: espiche
14-15: PALMARES
26-27: palmares
29-30: PALMARES

 december
3-4: BOAVISTA
january
14-15: SALGADOS
17-18: MORGADO
21-22: SALGADOS

FEBRUARY
7-8: morgado
10-11: almaos
13-14-15: MORGADO

MARCH
6-7: castro marim
9-10: QUINTA DO VALE
13-14: CASTRO MARIM
FIELDS LIMITED TO 50 ENTRIES.
 TOP 15 GUARANTEED PRIZE MONEY.
 1 - 2,000 euros
 2 - 1,250
 3 - 1,000
 4 - 800
 scaling down to 100 euros for 15th place. 

LINK TO JAMEGA TOUR NEWS RELEASE
ON ALGARVE PRO TOUR

CLICK HERE 

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TWENTY-YEAR-OLD PAST WALKER CUP PLAYER WINS IN OMAN



Have you room for that in your suitcase, Max? Winner Orrin pictured with the trophy (picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c).
WINNER ORRIN IN CONTENTION FOR


PROMOTION TO EUROPEAN TOUR

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Max Orrin produced one of the stories of the European Challenge Tour season as the young Englishman completed a stunning victory at the penultimate event of the year, the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, to move into contention for European Tour graduation.
The 20-year-old clinched a two-shot victory over friend and compatriot Jason Palmer after a nerveless, one-under-par final round 71 which belied his years, battling strong winds and overcoming the severest of pressure to soar to a career-changing triumph.
As a result, Orrin climbed 51 places in the Challenge Tour Rankings, from 68th to 17th, to secure his place in next week’s season-ending Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club.
The former Walker Cup player is now just one big result away from earning his place among the world’s elite on The European Tour, having started the season with no category and just seven Challenge Tour invites.
Orrin was visibly shaking after his round and admitted that despite producing a rock solid back nine which comprised nine pars, he was extremely nervous throughout but was delighted with how he dealt with the pressure cooker situation.
“I’m speechless,” said the Kent player, who won with total score of seven under 281. 

“All day I was trying to stay away from thinking about it. Even on the last hole I never thought ‘I’ve got this for the win.’
“It was difficult to comprehend that it was me that was actually going to win an event. I was just a wreck down the last to be honest. I spoke to my coach last night and he said, ‘commit to every shot, it doesn’t matter where it goes, just commit to it.’
“Although I was nervous I tried to commit and make sure I got it as straight as I could.  I’ve got so many emotions. I wish my family were here but I know they’re watching back home. It’s a great thrill to be a champion.
“I played solid. I was three under through seven and cruising really. I didn’t do a lot wrong but then I hit a bad iron shot into the water on eight. Then all of sudden you’re not so comfortable.
“I hit one left into the bunker for my second shot on nine but managed to make the up and down, which I think was big for me – it calmed me down. I told myself that par was good.

"I knew the boys would make up some shots but then if I carried on making pars I knew I’d have a chance.”
Orrin - who only turned professional last year after a stellar amateur career which culminated in selection for the amateur game’s most prestigious team event, the Walker Cup – said it was difficult to comprehend how his goals have changed now that he is within touching distance of European Tour status.
“It’s crazy really,” he said. “I was 71st (on the Rankings) before the last event in China and I was just trying to get through and make my Challenge Tour card for next year.
“All of a sudden to get a win, it puts you up to a level you weren’t even dreaming of. Now I’ve got to go to Dubai next week, let it all go, and try again.
“This win will give me a lot of confidence and I’ll be confident going into next week. But this week will have gone and I’ll have had a few days to get over it, then go again next week to try and get my European Tour card.”
Palmer, meanwhile, secured his European Tour status after a four under par final round 68 moved him to outright second place on five under par.
That result elevated him to seventh place in the Rankings on €105,886, enough to secure graduation to The 2015 Race to Dubai before a ball is even hit in anger at next week’s Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club.
It was a profitable week for many of the Englishmen, including Orrin’s fellow Kent native, Jason Barnes, whose four under 68 and tied third place finish alongside Chile’s Mark Tullo (73) moved him from 25th to 14th in the Rankings heading into the season finale.
Robert Coles was the only other player aside from Orrin to climb into the top 45 and seal a spot in the crucial season-ending event next week, after the three-time Challenge Tour winner finished with a two under 70 to claim a tied ninth finish which edged him from 47th to 41st in the Rankings.

Not everybody was delighted with the final round.
Glasgow's Andrew McArthur had a bad last round of five-over 77 and dropped down to a jt 15th place finish on 290 when he must have been eyeing a top three of four placing after 54 holes.
George Murray slipped past him to be the leading Scot in joint seventh place with a 70 for one-under 287.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
281 M Orrin (Eng) 71 71 68 71
283 J Palmer (Eng) 69 72 74 68
285 M Tullo (Chi) 73 73 66 73, J Barnes (Eng) 65 75 77 68
286 B An (SKor) 72 65 73 76, M Jonzon (Swe) 74 69 75 68
287 N Quintarelli (Ita) 72 71 73 71, G Murray  (Sco) 70 73 74 70
288 R Gouveia (Por) 69 76 75 68, R Coles (Eng) 75 68 75 70, N Dougherty  (Eng) 74 70 76 68
289 O Farr (Wal) 73 71 73 72, C Hanson (Eng) 70 73 74 72, B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 71 75 73
290 D Coupland (Eng) 73 72 72 73, E Espana (Fra) 73 73 73 71, A McArthur  (Sco) 69 71 73 77, P Widegren  (Swe) 70 69 77 74, D Gaunt (Eng) 72 75 73 70, J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 74 71 72, C Paisley  (Eng) 69 77 73 71, P Figueiredo  (Por) 70 75 78 67, T Sluiter  (Ned) 71 70 79 70,
291 P Edberg (Swe) 69 70 77 75, W Harrold (Eng) 73 70 76 72, M Delpodio  (Ita) 72 74 73 72, A Tadini (Ita) 73 74 73 71, J Roos (RSA) 73 72 77 69, S Hutsby  (Eng) 72 73 75 71, P Maddy (Eng) 70 71 76 74, J Winther (Den) 75 73 73 70, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 73 73 74 71, J Stalter (Fra) 74 73 72 72,
292 J Guerrier  (Fra) 74 73 73 72, L Jensen (Den) 66 73 77 76, S Henry  (Sco) 70 77 71 74,
293 M Lafeber (Ned) 71 72 74 76, P Relecom  (Bel) 72 76 75 70, P Oriol (Esp) 69 68 83 73, O Stark (Swe) 73 72 72 76, J Rask (Swe) 72 74 76 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 73 75 70 75, B Hebert  (Fra) 73 75 71 74,
294 R Davies (Wal) 71 73 77 73, A Hortal  (Esp) 76 69 76 73, R Kind (Ned) 71 71 79 73, J Edfors (Swe) 74 73 74 73,
295 N Ravano (Ita) 71 71 75 78, J Sjöholm (Swe) 70 76 75 74,
296 J Huldahl (Den) 77 71 72 76,
297 A Bernadet  (Fra) 74 73 72 78, G Shaw (Nir) 68 79 78 72,
298 T Linard (Fra) 74 73 75 76, A Björk (Swe) 75 73 75 75, M Lampert (Ger) 74 74 77 73,
299 C Ford (Eng) 72 74 78 75, C McDonnell (Eng) 70 74 80 75, T Murray (Eng) 73 75 78 73, S Brown (Eng) 74 74 78 73,
300 L Kennedy  (Eng) 72 76 73 79
301 W Booth  (Sco) 71 73 83 74, N Lemke (Swe) 75 72 81 73
302 A Rota (Ita) 75 72 77 78



EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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CLARKE LUTTON LEADING SCOT AT AL AIN VENUE


CORFIELD MAKES A WHIRWIND START
 

TO MENA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE MENA TOUR WEBSITE
By Viren Varm

AL AIN - Lee Corfield, pictured above, made a fast start with five birdies in the first five holes to card a sizzling eight-under 63 and establish a healthy three-shot lead going into Monday's  second and penultimate round of the MENA Tour Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, United Arab Emirates.
Defying blustery conditions, the defending champion wasted no time in seizing the initiative when he charged out of the blocks with a stunning birdie run and then kept the momentum rolling all the way through, picking up four more shots coming home.
A bogey on the par-four, 11th, however, prevented the Englishman from equalling the course record 62 posted by his compatriot Joshua White last week at the GOLF CITIZEN Masters, but he wasn't complaining.
White himself kept his hopes of catching Professional Order of Merit leader Luke Joy, with a five-under 66, which was matched by Spain's Toni Ferrer as Jake Shepherd, the winner of the Order of Merit title in 2011, occupied solo fourth a further shot back on a day when 27 of the 47 man field returned a score of par or better.
The dominant Corfield was more than satisfied with his day's work. "I am really very pleased with my efforts. It's never a bad thing to start with a good round," said the 32-year-old - it was his birthday on October 30 - who defeated Morocco's Faycal Serghini in a play-off last year to win the MENA Tour Championship.
"I gave myself plenty of chances and holed some key putts, even though it was very windy out there. There is still a long way to go, but I feel comfortable on the course, which is in fantastic condition. If you hit the fairways, you stand a good chance of making birdies," he added.
Spain's Ferrer attributed his solid round to good putting. "I hit some good putts. Used a lot of three woods to find the fairways and it feels great to come away with a bogey-free round," said the 23-year-old Spaniard. Equally pleased with his round was White.
"I picked up right where I left off last week. Just played solid golf," said White, who finished runner-up his countryman Zane Scotland in the penultimate event on this season's MENA Golf Tour.
Switzerland's Michael Harradine, who made the turn at three-under, returned a 69 to move atop the amateur division, one ahead of Amateur Order of Merit leader James Allan of England, Scottish amateur Daniel Kay and Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco.
Morocco's Ahmed Marjane produced the best performance of the day in the MENA Division for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, carding a 70 while the experienced duo of Faycal Serghini and Younes El Hassani both settled for five-over 76.
England's Luke Joy, who is currently leading the Professional Order of Merit, is in a tie for the fifth after opening with a 68 while Zane Scotland and Welshman, Stephen Dodd shot matching 71s to stay in the hunt.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 71
63 Lee Corfield (England)
66 Tony Ferrer (Spain)
67 Jake Shepherd (England)
68 Matt Turner (England), Ashley Rees (England), Peter Stojanovski (Macedonia), Juan Salcedo (Mexico), Luke Joy (England)
69 Clarke Lutton (Sco), Christopher Cannon (England), Xavier Puig (Spain), Michael Harradine (Spain)
70 Ayoub Lguirati (Morocco) (am), Ahmed Marjane (Morocco), Stuart Archibald (England), Daniel Kay (Sco) (am), Ahmed Marjane (Morocco)
71 Patrick Simard (Spain), Luke Towler (England), Yasin Ali (England), Tom Buchanan (Scotland), Tyler Hogarty (South Africa), Stephen Dodd (Wales), Mehdi Saiddi (amateur-Morocco), Paul Doherty (Sco), Zane Scotland (England)

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LONG-TIME LEADER LEVY FINISHES WITH A 78



GERMANY'S MARCEL SIEM WINS 3-MAN

PLAY-OFF AT BMW MASTERS

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Marcel Siem, pictured above, courtesy of Getty Images(c), with the trophy, won the BMW Masters in thrilling fashion at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, chipping in for a birdie at the first hole of a three-man play-off, having missed a five-foot putt for the title in regulation play.
The German bogeyed the last two holes to sign for a one over par 73 and a 16 under total of 272, level with overnight leader Frenchman Alex Levy, who struggled to a 78, and Englishman Ross Fisher, who had a 67 – the lowest round on a windy day.
The trio returned to the 18th tee for a sudden-death play-off, and when Siem’s approach came up just short into thick rough, it seemed the advantage was with Fisher and Levy, who both had birdie putts from about 20 feet.
However, the 34 year old showed a deft touch to send the ball into the hole, and when the other two missed, he was confirmed the champion of the US$7million tournament, the first event of the Final Series.
It is Siem’s fourth European Tour title and as we
ll as the 1,666,600 points he earns towards The Race to Dubai, he earns a spot in next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions, also in Shanghai.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson (75) and England’s Justin Rose (72) shared fourth spot, one shot shy of the play-off.

Quotes
Marcel Siem
“Alex unfortunately didn't have his best day, and I played very solid the front nine. Then the back nine was really, really tough. The golf course was the total opposite to the first three days. It was a real monster, so I'm super pleased. 

"The putt I had to win the tournament was left to right and I read it as straight. It was actually an okay putt and I felt pretty cool when I was standing over it. 
"A chip‑in is always cool, but to have one in a play-off is even cooler. It's the third tournament I’ve won in a play-off so far. The only problem I have now is that my wife flew to Thailand because I wanted to have a little holiday with her there, so now I have to get her to China.
"Hopefully I can get a visa. I don’t mind having this problem though!”
“I came here with a very, very low expectations because of my two surgeries this year. Now I'm on the right track again to get back in the top 50 in the world. 

"Playing the tournaments with the best players in the world is really the goal I have. I'm really over the moon to have the chance to compete next week with the guys.”

Alex Levy
“I made a few mistakes, but I didn't miss a lot of shots. I just hit some wrong shots in the wrong places and I putted badly in the wind. I need to work on that. Marcel deserved to win today because he played fantastic in the wind. It's nice for him, and I'm not too disappointed because I played three days of amazing golf and I think I need to keep that in my mind.”

Ross Fisher
“I can only walk away from here very delighted and pleased with the way I played. To have a chance to win was great but this week just unfortunately wasn't my week. But there are definitely positive strides and I’m looking forward to Turkey and Dubai.” 


JIMENEZ HAS A 13 AT ONE HOLE!
Migel Angel Jimenez, the Spaniard known as the Most Interesting Man in Golf, made one of his most interesting scores ever today during the BMW Masters in Shanghai.
The Mechanic rinsed four shots on his way to making a 13 on the ninth hole:
Jimenez shot 88 in the final round, which left him in second-to-last place at +19. 
That was 13 shots better than last-place finisher Wu Tianyi of China. 
Jimenez collected €10,600 for his 77th-place finish, more than enough to cover the red wine and cigars needed to erase the memory of that 13.


FINAL TOTALS
272 M Siem  (Ger) 68 66 65 73, R Fisher (Eng) 70 67 68 67, A Levy (Fra) 65 66 63 78 (Siem won play-off at first extra hole).
 273 J Donaldson (Wal) 68 68 62 75, J Rose (Eng) 72 65 64 72
 274 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 66 64 73 71, R Wattel  (Fra) 66 67 71 70
 275 E Grillo (Arg) 66 68 69 72, R Palmer (USA) 70 67 68 70,
 276 M Ilonen  (Fin) 70 66 69 71, F Zanotti (Par) 70 68 69 69, G Coetzee (RSA) 71 67 67 71
 277 B Wiesberger  (Aut) 72 69 66 70, J Luiten (Ned) 72 69 64 72, D Fichardt (RSA) 69 68 69 71
 278 S Lowry  (Irl) 70 66 71 71, B Grace  (RSA) 68 66 71 73, R Karlsson (Swe) 69 70 66 73, G McDowell  (Nir) 67 69 68 74, R Sterne  (RSA) 68 70 70 70
 279 R Ramsay  (Sco) 70 68 68 73, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 70 70 68 71, D Willett  (Eng) 71 70 67 71
 280 D Howell (Eng) 74 71 66 69, T Bjørn (Den) 68 67 71 74
 281 E Pepperell (Eng) 72 69 70 70, E Els (RSA) 69 68 69 75
 282 E Molinari  (Ita) 70 71 69 72, O Fisher  (Eng) 71 69 70 72, T Hatton (Eng) 73 67 71 71, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 70 69 72, S Dong (Chn) 70 69 68 75, T Olesen (Den) 70 70 70 72
 283 M Hoey  (Nir) 70 68 72 73, K Seung-Hyuk (SKor) 70 71 69 73,
 284 M Carlsson  (Swe) 73 72 68 71, H Otto (RSA) 71 71 70 72, S Gallacher (Sco) 72 69 72 71,
 285 H Ze-Yu (Chn) 73 71 69 72, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 78 71 67 69, T Aiken (RSA) 72 68 72 73, R Bland (Eng) 72 68 73 72,
 286 M Baldwin (Eng) 73 71 69 73, L Hao-Tong (Chn) 69 71 74 72, P McGinley (Irl) 71 73 71 71, M Warren (Sco) 70 72 72 72, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 72 68 69 77
 287 H Shao-Cai (Chn) 71 71 68 77, C Kirk (USA) 73 72 68 74, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 72 70 73 72, I Poulter (Eng) 74 69 70 74, B Koepka  (USA) 73 72 70 72
 288 H Mu (Chn) 69 71 74 74, F Molinari (Ita) 69 74 71 74,
 289 J Olazábal (Esp) 71 70 73 75
 290 S Dyson  (Eng) 75 72 71 72, O Wilson (Eng) 68 73 69 80, O Zheng (Chn) 72 66 77 75
 291 F Aguilar (Chi) 70 74 71 76, K Broberg (Swe) 73 69 73 76
 292 G Storm  (Eng) 75 70 72 75, K Stadler (USA) 73 71 72 76, M Madsen  (Den) 69 74 71 78
 294 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 74 66 70 84, A Cañizares  (Esp) 78 71 73 72, W Ashun (Chn) 75 70 70 79
 295 C Yi (Chn) 72 71 76 76, A Sullivan (Eng) 76 72 70 77
 296 M Foster (Eng) 75 71 75 75, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 69 75 81
 297 D Horsey (Eng) 73 75 71 78, P Larrazábal (Esp) 76 72 69 80
 302 C Zi-Hao (Chn) 77 76 73 76
 303 D Chen Xiao (Chn) 78 73 70 82
 305 L Yan-Wei (Chn) 75 76 78 76
 306 M Manassero (Ita) 74 78 74 80
 307 M Jiménez (Esp) 77 70 72 88
 320 W Tianyi (Chn) 76 83 80 81




EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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CIMB CLASSIC FINALE AT KUALA LUMPUR


RYAN MOORE RETAINS TITLE AT 

KUALA LUMPUR BY THREE SHOTS

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM
American Ryan Moore successfully defended his CIMB Classic title at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia as he finished with a final round 67 to claim a three-shot victory today..
Moore finished on 17-under, having started the day tied for the lead with fellow American Kevin Na at the co-sanctioned US PGA and Asian Tour event at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Moore grabbed eight birdies against three bogeys to sign for a five-under round of 67 which was enough to see off the challenge of Na who faltered down the back nine.
It was close down the stretch as Na held a one-shot lead over his playing partner after Moore bogeyed the 12th, but Na then instantly dropped a shot on the 13th.
As Moore picked up shots on 14, 15 and 17, Na double-bogeyed the 17th which cost him his chances of lifting the title, while Gary Woodland was in amongst it as three back-nine birdied put him on 15-under, but a bogey on the last saw his challenge drop away as Moore held his nerve down the stretch.

Late birdie

After a bogey on 16 the birdie on 17 was the key as he enjoyed his walk down the 18th safe in the knowledge he would be achieving the rare feat of retaining a title on the US PGA Tour.
"It's been a great week, I'm a little bit lost for words," Moore said. "To come back and defend a title, it's something I've never done before."
Na had to settle for a share of second place, thanks to a birdie on the last giving him a two-under round of 70 to put him alongside Woodland and Sergio Garcia.
Spaniard Garcia started the day a shot behind the lead and three front nine birdies kept him right in touch, but a double-bogey seven on the 10th hole put a huge dent to his challenge.
Garcia did pick up two more birdies to finish with a three-under 69 but it was another case of what might have been had it not been for that damaging seven.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 6,967
271 Ryan Moore (USA) 68-69-67-67.
274 Gary Woodland (USA) 71-70-66-67, Kevin Na (USA) 69-68-67-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-68-68-69.
276 Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-69-69-68, Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 71-68-68-69.
277 John Senden (AUS) 72-68-69-68.
278 Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 70-72-70-66, Davis Love III (USA) 68-71-71-68, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-71-70-69, Angelo Que (PHI) 67-72-69-70, Billy Hurley III (USA) 67-67-71-73.
279 Jonas Blixt (SWE) 69-69-75-66, Danny Lee (NZL) 69-69-73-68, Brian Stuard (USA) 67-72-72-68, Lee Westwood (ENG) 72-65-74-68, Kevin Chappell (USA) 69-68-70-72, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 70-73-65-71.
280 Scott Stallings (USA) 69-76-67-68, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-70-68-68.
281 Heath Slocum (USA) 71-73-70-67, Mike Weir (CAN) 73-68-72-68, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-70-72-69
 

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SCOT SHOOTS THIRD-ROUND 66 AT SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

MONTY IN THE MIX AT FINAL EVENT

 OF CHAMPIONS TOUR 


                                          COLIN MONTGOMERIE .. two shots off the lead
FROM THE US CHAMPIONS' TOUR WEBSITE
Jay Haas' Saturday struggles opened the door for an exciting Sunday finish at the Schwab Cup Championship at Scottsdale, Arizona.
So, finally, drama at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
The final event of the Champions Tour season began with the Charles Schwab Cup competition decided. Bernhard Langer clinched the season-long $1 million bonus last week at the AT and T Championship and Colin Montgomerie had the No. 2 spot wrapped up.
Then, through two rounds this week at Desert Mountain Club, it looked like record-setting Jay Haas was poised for a runaway victory.


SCHWAB CUP CHAMPIONSHIP: Scores


"I thought he was going to be uncatchable," Kenny Perry said.
But 40 minutes into Haas' round Saturday, it all changed. Haas, with a double-bogey 6 at the fourth hole, shot 75 and opened the door for a Sunday shoot-out after starting the round with a four-shot lead over Tom Pernice Jr.,
Perry and Pernice share the lead at 8-under 202. Perry shot 68, Pernice 70.
Eleven golfers are within four shots of the lead and it is an imposing contingent. The list includes the top four on the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points list: 
Bernhard Langer (70-206), Colin Montgomerie (66-204), Haas (203) and Perry (202). Fred Couples (69-204), Michael Allen (70-205) and Pernice are 7-9 on the list.
"I think it will be exciting (Sunday), for one thing," Perry said. "It's anybody's day. You've got probably eight to 10 guys who have a very realistic shot of winning this golf tournament and it's just one hot round.

"We've got one round left in the season, we're all going to be kind of going for it, and it just seems whoever's going to get the putter rolling going to be the guy that's going to win this golf tournament."
Perry relinquished the Charles Schwab Cup to Langer but the man from Kentucky has no misgivings.
"It's been a good defence," Perry said. "I've enjoyed being the Schwab Cup champ, being announced that on every tee box, and it's been very thrilling for me and I put up a good fight. I'm fourth in points, but Bernhard, you've just got to shake that man's hand.
"He won five times and I don't know how many second places he's had. I tell everybody I stuck the prod in him a little too much last year. I was aggravating him after I nipped him for the cup and I think he was determined not to let that happen this year. But good for him, he played great."
Pernice, in the final twosome with Haas, said neither played well enough to give the pairing any momentum.
"Jay and I both struggled a little bit today, didn't help each other out much, not much momentum going there," Pernice said. "It can happen. Two things that are tough in scoring are firm greens and wind, and we had a little bit of both.
"We're all human and things can happen. Jay may come back tomorrow and shoot 65 and win. It's a fickle game. Very seldom is it the same every day, so you're just going to have to deal with it, try to get through it. 
"We both had some struggles out there and hit some poor shots, but we both still have a good opportunity."
 THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
  Par 210 (3x70)
202 Tom Pernice jun (USA) 65 67 70, Kenny Perry(USA) 66 68 68
203 Jay Haas (USA) 66 62 75
204 Fred Couples (USA) 71 64 69, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 71 67 66

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NORTH SCOTTISH ALLIANCE REPORT, SCORES


GODSMAN WINS NORTH 

ALLIANCE AT THE BOAT

Moray Golf Club member Kyle Godsman (pictured) from Hopeman  won the top scratch prize by one stroke with a one-under-par 69 in Saturday's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance competition at the picturesque Boat of Garten golf course.
Former US college golf circuit player Godsman, who lost a play-off for the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship during the summer,  birdied the second, seventh and 10th and had bogeys at the first and sixth.

LEADING SCRATCH
Par 70
69 K Godsman (Moray)
70 B Cruickshank (Spey Bay), A J England (Moray)
71 K Thomson (Moray), J Shaw (Boat of Garten)
72 B Fotheringham (Inverness), N McWilliam (Elgin), S Dingwall (Grantown), M McDonald (Boat of Garten), R H Stewart (Torvean)
73 J A Grant  (Grantown), G H Hay (Grantown), C Gaittens (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), P Matheson (Grantown)
74 J Simpson (Forres)
75 D Johnston (Moray), R Mckerron (Forres), R Harrower (Boat of Garten), A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)
76 J Wright (Forres)
77 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), D F Sharp (Boat of Garten)
78 L Duncan (Elgin), W R Duncan (Moray), V Tilman (Muir of Ord)
79 S Wilson (Inverness), A waterson (Grantown);
81 L Stewart (Grantown), D McGrouther (Inverness), D Gordon (Inverness), P Masson (Rothes), C Small (Nairn)
82 R Innes (Torvean), M Lyall (Torvean), R Laing (Grantown), I Turner (Boat of Garten), S Rooney (Boat of Garten), A Hutchison (Inverness)
HANDICAP
Class 1 - M McDonald (Boat of Garten) (6) 66; P Matheson (Grantown) (5) 68; D Johnston (Moray) (6) 69; R H Stewart (Torvean) (2) 70; J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) (6), D F Sharp (Boat of Garten (6), V Tilman (Muir of Ord) (7), J A Grant (Grantown) (2) 71.
Class 2 - I Turner (Boat of Garten) (15) 67; C Small (Nairn) (12) 69; S Rooney (Boat of Garten) (12), L Duncan (Elgin) (8), J Macdonald (Inverness) (16) 70.

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