MIDLAND ALLIANCE GOLF CANCELLED

Today's Midland Golfers' Alliance competition at Charleton
Golf Club, Collinsburgh was cancelled/postponed because the course was closed due to the wintry weather.

The next two Midland Alliance scheduled fixtures are:

January 15 - Anstruther

January 20 - Lundin Links

MARSH, STOW AND HOWARD WILL BE BUSY

Leading England trio set for action in five week trip to Australia next month English champion Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) and English Stroke Play champion Ben Stow (Rushmore, Wiltshire) have been selected in an international trio to contest the key events in Australia early in 2015. They will be joined by reigning South American Amateur champion Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) for the five-week trip Down Under. The trio will be seeking to follow in the footsteps of a number of former internationals who have produced a string of successes in Australia over the years. Marsh, 20, (image © Leaderboard Photography), a full international for the past two years, won the English title at Saunton in August, having lost a play-off for the Portuguese Championship and tied second in the Scottish Open Stroke Play. These top level performances saw him finish runner-up on the Titleist/FootJoy England Golf Men’s 2014 Order of Merit. Howard, 24, who has also worn England colours for the past two years, won the South American title last January in Colombia. The Lancastrian has enjoyed a string of top finishes this year including second place in the Hampshire Salver, third in the St Andrews Links Trophy, fourth in the Hampshire Hog and seventh in the Lytham Trophy and Welsh Open Stroke Play. He also reached the quarter finals of the Amateur Championship and finished the season in third place on the Titleist/FootJoy England Golf Men’s 2014 Order of Merit. Stow, 23, currently at the University of Kentucky, won the Brabazon Trophy in a nail-biting finish at Seaton Carew in June. A full England international since 2011, he won the individual title in the European men’s Challenge Trophy in Iceland in 2012 and this year helped England finish third in the European Men’s Team Championships in Finland. The trio’s first serious action in Australia will be in the Masters of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne on 6th – 9th January followed by the Lake Macquarie International at Belmontfrom January 14-17. Then it’s on to the Australian Amateur Championship at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs from January 20-25, before the New South Wales Medal at Monash and Killara from January 28-30. The field for the Medal will play one round each over each course after which there will be a cut with the leading 60 players plus ties playing the final 36 holes. The leading 32 players go forward to the New South Wales Amateur Championship, a match play event, at Monash and Killara from February 1-3. Among the successes gained by English players in Australia recently, Tommy Fleetwood had three top ten finishes in 2010 including runner-up in the New South Wales Amateur, while in 2011, Jack Senior won the New South Wales Amateur, beating Andy Sullivan in an all-English final, and tied second behind Sullivan in the New South Wales Medal, a title won by Neil Raymond in 2012. Also in 2011, Sullivan tied second in the Masters of the Amateurs while Laurie Canter finished joint fourth in the New South Wales Medal along with Stiggy Hodgson. The long-established 72-hole Lake Macquarie International at Belmont has seen several English winners such as Roger Chapman, Russell Claydon, Ricky Willison, Nick Dougherty and Adam Gee, while Ryan Evans (Wellingborough, Northamptonshire) triumphed last year and also won the 36-hole Avondale Medal.   Press Office England Golf pr@englandgolf.org01526 354500

UNPARALLELED WORK ETHIC

                    Bradley Neil in action in the Junior Ryder Cup match

BRADLEY NEIL BOUND FOR THE TOP, 

SAYS COACH KEVIN HALE

PGA NEWS RELEASE 

British amateur champion Bradley Neil is en route to the top thanks to an 
unparalleled work ethic according to the PGA pro who helped put him on 
track for success. 

 PGA coach Kevin Hale has worked with the 18 year old for four years, taking
 him from boy’s champion to the grandest stage of them all, the Open 
Championship.

 The pair will be almost 9000 miles apart come Sunday evening – but the 
venues the pair will be gracing demonstrates just how far the teenager 
has come.

 Neil will be in South Africa having just competed in the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.His pro Hale, meanwhile, will be at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 
Awards in Glasgow, where Neil is among the nominees for the junior 
award. 

St Andrews Links pro Hale, a former coach at the Belfry, will have donned 
his tuxedo twice by the end of this month – his protégé was victorious 
at Scotland’s equivalent only last week. 

And he admitted the Blairgowrie boy deserves every accolade passed his way 
after a year in which he has gained his first tour starts and 
represented his continent in the Junior Ryder Cup.
“He’s unbelievable to work with,” Hale explained. “His feet are firmly on the
 ground and he wants to work hard and achieve all of the goals we set 
him.“Ultimately it’s a coach’s dream when your player thinks about what 

you’re asking them to do and comes back with more ideas.
“That’s what Bradley does. He doesn’t just go off and mindlessly do 

what I tell him to, he’s always thinking, always challenging things, 

always coming up with ideas.” 

Hale is the latest in a succession of top-level pros who have helped to 
mould Neil’s game. Ian Rae, Spencer Henderson and PGA rules official 
Charles Dernie, the Blairgowrie Golf Club head professional,  all sculpted 

their own pieces of the finished product along the way. “It’s difficult to point 

out a weak area that we’ve had to improve,” Hale considered.“He was already

 a very good player, it was just about tweaking a few aspects of his game. 

“He’s now lowering his scores simply because he’s getting the ball into 
better positions around the green, and when he’s there he’s being more 
professional and clinical

 “The best golfers work extremely hard and get themselves prepared mentally 
too. Bradley understands that these things are vital if he wants to reach the top 

of the game.
“There’s no substitute for hard work and enthusiasm in golf.”
What does Hale reckon the future could hold for the young Scot?                     
“We’re trying not to get too carried away,” Hale stated

 “It’s difficult to predict exactly what he’ll go on to achieve, but I can 
tell you we have some high aspirations and lofty goals.”“It  would be amazing 

to see him playing on tour regularly and also playing in the sport’s biggest 

events – I know he has his eyes on the Masters and the US Open

 “Bradley  knows how important it is that he continues as he is. He needs to

 carry on preparing himself properly to ensure that he goes forward, makes 

the most of his ability, and achieves everything he wants to achieve.”

 

CUPAR MAN AGAIN MGR FIFE GOLFER OF WEEK

The MyGolfRanking Fife Golfer of the Week is, again, George Lorimer (Cupar) who, in only his second week in the MGR Fife Men’s Ranking Top 15, has jumped from No 15 to No 4.
Colin Campbell (Aberdour) leads the men's rankings.
Linda Dalrymple (Cupar) leads the women's rankings.
Dunfermline leads the club rankings.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.

The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

David Moir

MyGolfRanking

In League with Golf Ltd

ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP IN S AFRICA

AMAZING GRACE!  BRANDEN SHOOTS A 

10-UNDER-PAR 62 TO LEAD BY THREE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Branden Grace produced a brilliant first-round, 10-under-par 62 at Leopard Creek Country Club  today to take control of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The South African, who won all four of his European Tour titles in 2012, fired ten  birdies at the stunning Kruger National Park venue to hold a three-shot lead after the opening round.
The 26-year-old has had top-25 finishes in his last six starts, but found another gear as he raced to ten under par.
“I hit the ball superbly from the start to the finish,” said Grace, who almost holed his approach the 11th.
“I can’t remember the last time I hit 18 greens in a row, which is pretty nice, especially around this place where there are some daunting approaches. It’s a good feeling going into the rest of the tournament.”
Grace’s compatriot Jake Roos, playing his first event as a full European Tour Member, sits second after a seven-under 65, with last week’s winner Danny Willett and his fellow Englishman Matt Ford – another rookie for 2015 – tied for third on six under.
With the limited field at last week’s Nedbank Challenge, this is the first chance for those who came through Qualifying School and The Challenge Tour last term to make their mark on The 2015 Race to Dubai.
Roos took the 15th and last place available on The Race to Dubai via last season’s Challenge Tour, while Ford was set to accept a job as a postman over the winter before he successfully negotiated November’s Qualifying School.
The 34 year old Roos began the day by holing a five iron for an eagle two at the tenth, and birdied the last to claim the clubhouse lead on seven under par.
“I felt comfortable and swung quite nicely,” said Roos, who won in Kenya and Germany on last year’s Challenge Tour.
“I hit a lot of good shots and had a lot of short birdie putts on my front nine, and I was able to take advantage of a couple.
“When I holed that shot on my first hole it was an ice-breaker for me. It got me laughing and relaxed me, so it was a perfect start. It came out right on target and pitched a little short and went in."
Ford was a shot further back as he delivered a six under par 66 which contained eight birdies and two bogeys, with a 30 foot putt at the 16th among the highlights.
“I’m very happy and it was a dream start to the tournament and my season,” said Ford. “It’s the first time I’ve had my European Tour card, so I’m pleased with how today went.”
Charl Schwartzel, a three-time winner of this event and looking to become only the sixth European Tour player to win the same event three years running, carded a three under 69 which was matched by compatriot and fellow Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen.
SCOTSWATCH: Craig Lee and Scott Jamieson led the Scots with 68s for a share of seventh place, albeit six shots off the lead. David Drysdale is back in T53 position with a 71.
British amateur champion Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie is T100 after a 73 while South Africa-Scot Doug McGuigan had a disappointing 78 for T154 position.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72 Players from South Africa unless stated
62 Branden Grace
65 Jake Roos
66 Matt Ford (England), Danny Willett (England)
67 Nacho Elvira (Spain), Michael Hollick
68 Craig Lee (Scotland), Petrer Lawrie, Francesco Molinari (Italy), P H McIntyre, Magnus A Carlsson (Sweden), Carlos del Moral (Spain), Kevin Stone, Shaun Norris, Scott Jamieson (Scotland), Lucas Bjerregaard (Denmark), Jbe Kruger

SELECTED SCORES
71 David Drysdale (Scotland) (T53)
73 Bradley Neil (Scotland) (am) (T100)
78 Doug McGuigan (Scotland) (T154)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

FIVE-UNDER-PAR 67 OPENING ROUND AT VILA SOL

PAUL LAWRIE LEADS 

BY THREE ON SUNNY 

ALGARVE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Paul Lawrie carried over his recent good form in North-east Alliance competitions to shoot a five-under-par 67 in perfect, warm playing conditions at Pestana Vila Sol golf course, Vilamoura on the Algarve today  and lead his invited guests by three shots at the halfway stage of the two-round competition.
Neil Fenwick, with a 70, was the only other player to get under the testing par of 72 on a course of some 7,000 yards.

LEADERBOARD
par 72 Yardage 7,000
67 Paul Lawrie
70 Neil Fenwick
72 Alastair Forsyth, Greig Hutcheon
74 Scott Henderson
75 Ross Kellett
77 Philip McLean.
78 Kris Nicol
79 Craig Lawrie
82 Paul Shields
85 Sam Kiloh.

REPORT, SCORES FROM LA CALA, SPAIN

STEWART-CATION MAKES GOOD START 

TO ALPS TOUR Q SCHOOL STAGE ONE

The three Scots - Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's), Ross Colsh (Bearsden) and James Steven (Bothwell Castle) - in the field of 75 players at the Alps Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at La Cala Golf Resort, southern Spain, had contrasting fortunes on the opening day.
Stewart-Cation, a former Fife match-play champion and joint-runner in this year's Leven Gold Medal, shot a one-under-par 70 to be joint fifth, three shots  behind joint leaders Arthur Gabella Wenne (Switzerland) and Agustin Bardas (Italy).
But Colsh struggled to a 79 for a share of 59th place.
Steven, who had an outstanding record as a junior, retired before the
end of his round.
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 71, 5,907 metres
67 Arthur Gabella Wenne (Swi), Agustin Bardas (Italy).
69 Harry Casey (Eng), Ivo Giner (Spa).

SELECTED SCORES
70 Scott Stewart-Cation (Sco) (T5)
79 Ross Colsh (Sco) (T59)
Retired James Steven (Sco)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

43 ADDITIONAL BEDROOMS WERE PLANNED

Iconic St Andrews golf view saved after 

Rusacks Hotel six-storey extension is rejected

• The Rusacks Hotel beside the Old Course.DC Thomson

FROM THE DUNDEE COURIER WEBSITE

By MICHAEL ALEXANDER

A controversial multimillion-pound extension of a landmark St Andrews hotel has been refused by councillors amid concerns it could change one of the most famous views in world golf forever.

The Rusacks Marine Hotel on Pilmour Links overlooks the 18th hole of the Old Course, the backdrop for some of the greatest stories of triumph and tragedy in the history of the game.
That instantly recognisable vista faced change as owners Macdonald Hotels sought permission for an ambitious development.
The project would have seen a six-storey extension built next to the hotel, providing an extra 43 bedrooms.
The lower ground floor of the building would have comprised car parking and service areas, managed by a valet service system.
But the proposed extension, which was expected to cost more than £5 million, was yesterday turned down by Fife Council’s North East planning committee after being recommended for conditional approval by Fife Council planners.
St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson, who was brought up in the town, successfully moved refusal.
Reflecting on his teenage years on the links where he worked as a caddie, he said the backdrop of the first and 18th fairways at the Old Course was “the most iconic setting in world golf”.
He also disputed claims by Fife Council planner Alastair Hamilton that the Rusacks car park was a “gap site”.
Mr Thomson’s motion, on the basis that the application would impact on a conservation area, have a negative impact on residential amenity and lead to a lack of sufficient parking, was seconded by St Andrews Conservative councillor Dorothea Morrison who added that the proposed scale and density was not appropriate for this area.
Howe of Fife Liberal Democrat councillor Donald Lothian moved approval of the application. He failed to find a seconder, however, and the committee refused it.

AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP HIT BY STORMS

WEEKLEY OPENS UP TWO-SHOT LEAD 

WITH A SIX-UNDER 66

AUSTRALIAN PGA NEWS RELEASE
The first round of the Australian PGA Championship being played at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast has been suspended.
With the course barraged by lightning storms the first suspension occurred at 1.30pm (local time) with players back underway at 4.30pm.
Tournament organisers were hoping to continue play until last light. However, more storm cells saw the day's play suspended until 5.30am on Friday.
Playing in the morning field, American Boo Weekley is the current clubhouse leader with a six-under-par 66 - and was thankful to have completed  his first round.
Weekley's included an eagle 2 on the par-4 17th. It's been a long time since a US player has won the Australian PGA Championship; Hale Irwin was the last in 1978.
"I played well today. I struck the ball solid, kept it in play, hit one bad drive and got away with it. It felt like it all came together today," said Weekley.
"The way the weather is right now, it's hot and steamy and feels like it's going to rain again."
Renowned for his fun loving attitude, the serious side of Weekley was on display in his post-round interview today.
"I wrote down I wanted top-20 every event, just to get myself, 'hey I done something when I was over here',  to actually try and prove myself a little bit," said Weekley who has had two tied 15th finishes.
"If I win I win, if I don't, I don't but my goal was to come over here and have a top-20 finish in every event I played"
Of those who have completed their first rounds, Weekley leads by two from defending champion Adam Scott, David Small, Wade Ormsby, James Marchesani and Craig Hancock, all on the four-under 68 mark.
South Australian Tom Bond and South Korean-born, Melbourne-based, Jin Jeong were the lowest men on course when play was suspended.
The pair are four-under-par with Jeong having completed 12 holes and Bond nine.
Meanwhile, Marc Leishman is three-under-par with four holes to play but believes  the disruption won't adversely affect his momentum.
"It's better than dodging lightning bolts out there," said Leishman of the suspension in play.
"It was getting reasonably close so I think they did the right thing. It's very easy for it (weather delays) to get to you but I feel like I've done it enough times now that it doesn't bother me."

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
(Several players still to complete rounds)
par 72. players from Australia unless stated
66 Boo Weekley (USA)
68 David Small (NZ), Adam Scott, Wade Ormsby, James Merchesani, Craig Hancock
69 Jarrod Lyle, Brad Kennedy, Scott Strange, Nathan Green, Neven Basic, Ratchapol Jantavara (Thailand) 

To view all the scores

CLICK HERE

 .

McILROY WILL PLAY FOR IRELAND, NOT BRITAIN

IRELAND NAME McGINLEY TO BE GOLF 

TEAM LEADER AT 2016 OLYMPICS

FROM BBC SPORT.COM

Winning Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley is set to join up again with world number one Rory McIlroy as Ireland golf team leader at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

McGinley was among the team leaders announced by the Olympic Council of Ireland this morning.
Holywood, Belfast player McIlroy, who starred in Europe's win over the US in September, has opted to represent Ireland instead of Great Britain in the Olympic Games.
McIlroy praised McGinley's leadership after the victory at Gleneagles.
"He has just been the most wonderful captain," said the four-times major winner.

In both the men's and women's event, the top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for selection, regardless of the number of players from a given country
Outside the top 15, players will be eligible based on world ranking with a maximum of two players from each country.
The competition will follow a 72-hole individual stroke-play format and, in the event of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole play-off will determine the medal winners.

"I think I speak on behalf of all the 12 players and say he couldn't have done anything else. He was fantastic," said McIlroy about McGinley's Ryder Cup captaincy
"From the first day we got here, the speeches that he gave, the videos he showed us, the people that he got in to talk to us, the imagery in the team room, it all tied in together.
"It was all part of the plan, all for the cause of trying to win this Ryder Cup, and he was meticulous in his planning. He left no stone unturned."
McIlroy is eligible to play for Ireland or Great Britain and at one stage said he might not participate to avoid offending anyone.
However, he ended speculation in June by announcing that he intends to play for Ireland.
"It's a decision I feel comfortable with and I'll be proud to represent Ireland in 2016," added McIlroy.
"I'm 100% sure it's the right decision for me and I hope people respect my decision."
.

THAILAND CHAMPIONSHIP

WESTWOOD ONE OFF PACE AS

CLARKE, WATSON STRUGGLE

ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE 

Chonburi, Thailand: Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha, Australia’s Marcus Fraser, Richard T Lee (Canada) and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih stole the early limelight by returning with matching three-under-par 69s to share the first round lead at the Thailand Golf Championship today.

Lee Westwood of England, winner of the Thailand Golf Championship in 2011, trailed by one shot in tied fifth place alongside Scott Hend of Australia and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand who had to battle through the blustery conditions at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Title-holder Sergio Garcia of Spain and Martin Kaymer of Germany fired identical 71s for tied eighth place alongside Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States and Anirban Lahiri of India at the US $1 million Asian Tour event.

Former Open champion Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland), Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson (France) and American Bubba Watson, the US Masters champion, have fallen behind the leaders over the first 18 holes.

Clarke had a 74, Dubuisson a 75 and Watson a 76

The talented Thanyakon was denied his first Asian Tour win in Jakarta last week but he bounced back brilliantly with a morale-boosting 69 to eclipse several of the tournament’s heavyweights.

“I hit good drives and putted very well. I must continue to do that. I wasn’t worried about my score because the conditions were tough. I like the greens here. I know where the slopes are and I don’t find it tough to putt on these greens,” said Thanyakon.

The Thai put aside his disappointment of missing out on his first win on the region’s premier Tour last week where he made a double bogey on the last hole but remains confident of putting on another good show on home soil.

Having been side-lined by a wrist injury for a large part of the year, Fraser, who is playing on a sponsor’s invitation this week, repaid their faith with a noteworthy performance.

“I've been out injured all year. I started playing again in Hong Kong and I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things.

“I’m playing on a sponsors invite this week, so it was nice of them to do that. I enjoyed my time here last year. It's a great golf course and a great tournament,” said the Australian.

Lee meanwhile rushed straight to the Thailand Golf Championship from Japan and was especially delighted after ending his previous week on a sour note.

“I just finished Japan Qualifying School. I had one bad round in Japan and that put me out of the tournament.

Westwood began with a confident birdie and picked up two more at the seventh and ninth either side of his first bogey of the day, and he got to three under with a well-crafted 4 at the long 11th.
He gave the shot back at the next and blotted his card again at the 16th, but he rolled in his fifth birdie putt of the day on the final green to earn a share of fourth with Hend and local player Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, who holed his second shot for an eagle at the ninth - his final hole.
"It's much tougher this year. If you find the rough you almost certainly drop a shot." said Westwood. "But I played pretty solid overall.
"There was a bit of breeze as well, tricky flag positions, greens were quite firm - it was a tough test. It's important to hit the fairways."
Hend's compatriot Marcus Fraser was one of only four players to break 70 after he mixed two bogeys with five birdies, including a chip-in for a 3 
"That was a nice way to finish the round," said Fraser, who has been sidelined for the majority of the year with a wrist injury. "It was pretty tough out there. That rough is penal."
They were later joined at the top by Richard T Lee and Lu Wei-chih, who also handed in five-birdie 69s on a day where nobody in the 126-player field managed to keep a bogey off his  card.
Kaymer endured an erratic start with two birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey over his first five holes, but he managed to find some consistency and got himself to two under before closing with a bogey at the ninth.
"It was a tough day at the office," said the US Open champion. "The wind made it very difficult, and anything under par here is a good score.
"It took me a little while to get used to the greens, and I will also have to make adjustments to my tee shots as I haven't got my yardages quite right."

Defending champion Garcia, who has former tennis ace Juan Carlos Ferrero on his bag this week, also found the going tough as he offset four birdies with three dropped shots.
The Spaniard echoed the views of Westwood, Fraser and Kaymer as the entire field struggled to combat the strong winds and the punishing rough.
"With the windy conditions the course was much tougher than before," Garcia said. "I just tried to minimise mistakes."
Rising English star Tommy Fleetwood and current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader David Lipsky were among the other notable names at one under, but headline acts Bubba Watson and Victor Dubuisson both have their work cut out to make the weekend.
Dubuisson, who has been troubled by a back injury over the last month, was level par with five to play before he dropped three consecutive shots from the 14th and returned a scrappy 75.
Masters champion Watson closed out a front-nine 40 with three straight bogeys, although he hit back with birdies at 10 and 11 before giving them back at the 14th and 16th in his opening 76.

Watch day two of the Thailand Golf Championship live on Sky Sports 4, coverage resumes at 6am.

:

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72. Yardage 7,488

69 Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA), Marcus FRASER (AUS), Richard T. LEE (CAN), LU Wei-chih (TPE).

70 Scott HEND (AUS), Lee WESTWOOD (ENG), Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA).

71 Anirban LAHIRI (IND), Martin KAYMER (GER), Sergio GARCIA (ESP), Kieran PRATT (AUS), Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG), David LIPSKY (USA), WU Ashun (CHN), Jonathan MOORE (USA), Paul PETERSON (USA), Chris GAUNT (AUS), Nathan HOLMAN (AUS).

72 Chiragh KUMAR (IND), Prayad MARKSAENG (THA), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Mithun PERERA (SRI), Martin ROMINGER (SUI), Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN), LIN Wen-tang (TPE), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Hiroshi IWATA (JPN), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Javi COLOMO (ESP), Anthony KANG (USA), BAEK Seuk-hyun (SKOR), HU Mu (CHN).

73 LI Hao-tong (CHN), MO Joong-kyung (SKOR), Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA), WANG Jeung-hun (SKOR), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA), Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG), Simon Yates (SCO), HUNG Chien-yao (TPE), Berry HENSON (USA), Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA).

 

Selected scores

75 Darren CLARKE (NIR)
75 Victor Dubuisson (France)

76 Bubba WATSON (USA)

 

 Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha continued his good form with a morale-boosting three-under-par 69 to take the morning lead at the on-going first round of the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship today.
Thanyakon, who was denied his maiden victory in Jakarta last week, was a figure of consistency as he eclipsed Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Germany’s Martin Kaymer by trading four birdies against one bogey at the Amata Spring Country Club.
“I hit good drives and putted very well. I must continue to do that. I wasn’t worried about my score because the conditions were tough. I like the greens here. I know where the slopes are and I don’t find it tough to putt on these greens,” said Thanyakon.
The Thai put aside his disappointment of missing out on his first win on the region’s premier Tour last week after making double bogey on the last hole but remains confident of  another good show on home soil.
“I’m in a good form and I’ve been playing well for some time now. I’m happy with my result. I have to stick to my game plan because the rough is very long and the wind is very strong.
“Last week was the first time I played with a Major winner so if I can play with another star player this week it will be another good experience,” said Thanyakon.
Australia’s Scott Hend, who finished tied-sixth at the Thailand Golf Championship in 2012, survived the testing conditions for a 70 to put himself in a commanding position.
“It was a tough day because the conditions are very tough. I just grind it out for a good score and I’m in a good position.
“The rough is pretty brutal if you miss the fairways. The wind is obviously blowing quite hard. The greens are pretty firm and in good shape. If you get yourself out of position, you can’t really get any spin on the ball,” said the Australian, who has emerged victorious on six occasions on the Asian Tour.
Playing in his first Thailand Golf Championship, Germany’s Kaymer conceded it will be a tough test ahead in the coming days after he opened with a 71.
“To be honest when I played the first nine holes, I didn’t see a 22-under-par (referring to previous winning results). It was a tough day in the office.
“It took me a while to get used to the greens and as the tournament progresses, the greens will get a little bit more firmer which will make it tougher,” said the world number 13.
Garcia started his title defence with a 71 but was taken aback by the windy conditions.
“There was a lot of wind here and the course is firm. Every year we had rain just before the tournament and it kept the greens much softer. It was difficult to get on the greens.
At the start of the day my plan was to hit as many good shots as possible with minimal mistakes. It is quite simple really. Like I said, with this windy condition the course is playing a lot tougher,” said Garcia.

LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN HOTEL ROOM BATHTUB

Patrick's Reed's wife hospitalised after seizure

Golf Channel Digital

US pro golfer Patrick Reed's wife, Justine, was hospitalised after having a grand mal seizure on Tuesday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida
Reed withdrew from Wednesday's second day of the pro-am in the Franklin Templeton Shootout, but has not withdrawn from the tournament, which begins Thursday.
"I withdrew from today's pro-am to be with my wife, Justine, who suffered a grand mal seizure (Tuesday) afternoon while in the bathtub," Reed said in a statement. 
"We are really fortunate that she is OK and lucky that I was in the room with her to save her from drowning. I am so grateful to the paramedic team, IMG and the doctors at Naples Community Hospital for their support and care during an extremely difficult time."
Justine Reed was scheduled to caddie for her husband this week, as she has often done in the past (see picture above).
According to the Mayo Clinic, a grand mal seizure features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general.
The Reeds have a daughter, Windsor-Wells, who was born in May.