Saturday, January 31, 2015

Gordon Hay's 80 good enough to win at windy Spey Bay

The first North Scottish Golfers' Alliance fixture of the year, at Spey Bay on Saturday, was marred by a wind gusting at 50 to 60mph. 
Gordon Hay from Grantown was able to win the main scratch award despite returning a nine-over-par 80 which included only one birdie, at the sixth.

LEADING SCRATCH
80 G H Hay (Grantown)
81 J S D Campbell (Grantown), N McWilliam (Elgin)
83 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten)
84 R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p.
85 A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), G Mackenzie (Moray), S Wilson (Inverness)
86 A Casey (Moray)
87 W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)
88 R H Stewart (Torvean);
89 I Hamilton (Elgin)
90 D R Mackellar (Grantown), R G Macpherson (Moray), W Rusk (Nairn), R Kinnaird (Grantown)

91 K Barnett (Torvean), A Waterson (Grantown)
92 S Duncan (Moray)
93 D Ross (Boat of Garten); S Taylor (Boat of Garten)
94 R Innes (Torvean)
96 A Thom (Grantown), L Hutchison (Inverness)

97 W Hutchison (Inverness), D McWilliam (Elgin), L Duncan (Elgin)
98  J Macdonald (Inverness)
99 D Thom (Grantown)


LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1
77 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) (6)
82 G Mackenzie (Moray) (3), S Wilson (Inverness) (3)
83 R G Macpherson (Moray) (7)
84 W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (3), R Kinnaird (Grantown) (6)
Class 2

76 A Casey (Moray) (10)
79 D Ross (Boat of Garten) (14)
80 I Hamilton (Elgin) (9), W Rusk (Nairn) (10)
82 S Taylor (Boat of Garten) (11), D R Mackellar (Grantown) (8)

Labels:

McILROY, LAWRIE BOTH SCORE SIX-UNDER 66

Rory McIlroy and Paul Lawrie both shot six-under-par 66s in the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today, writes Colin Farquharson.
McIlroy has gone four shots clear of the field - Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen is the new second after Marc Warren slipped back - on 20-under-par 196.
Lawrie's clickety-click put him into the top 20 - T19 to be precise) on 10-under-par 206.
Paul had seven birdies in all, six of them in a 10-hole span from the eighth to the 17th. Great shooting! He had one bogey, at the sixth, in halves of 34-32.
Stephen Gallacher, bidding for a third successive win in this tournament, is hanging on in there in joint fourth place after a70 for 203 - seven shots to make up on "SuperMac" over the final 18 holes.
Warren shot a one-over-par 73 and lost a lot of ground in this low-scoring tournament. He is now back in T8 position with a 204 tally.
Scott Jamieson is T54 on 212 after a 70 and Chris Doak is T70 on 215 following a 73.
The wheels came off for Richie Ramsay who sank to last of the 75 still in the field. The Aberdonian had a 75, bogeying the 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th in a inward half of 40. He's on level par 216

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
196 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 66 64 66
200 Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark) 71 63 66
202 Lee Westwood (England) 65 65 69
203 Andy Sullivan (England) 65 68 70, Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 66 67 70, Danny Willett (England) 67 66 70

REST OF SCOTS' SCORES
204 Marc Warren 66 65 73 (T8)
206 Paul Lawrie 69 71 66 (T19)
212 Scott Jamieson 74 68 70 (T54)
215 Chris Doak 72 70 73 (T70)
216 Richie Ramsay 72 70 75 (75th)
 +SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS, QUOTES, ALL THE SCORES

           Rory McIlroy in action today. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images (c). 

RORY HEADING FOR RECORD LOW AGGREGATE

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy displayed why he is currently golf’s dominant force by cruising into a four-shot lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to edge closer to a first victory of the 2015 season.
In just his second tournament of a year in which he chases a career Grand Slam of Majors, the 25 year old barely broke sweat as he birdied five holes to reach the turn at the Emirates Golf Club in just 30 strokes. A further birdie on the 17th ensured a third round of six under 66 and a 20 under par, 54-hole total.
Entering moving day one shot clear of a star-studded chasing pack, McIlroy threw down the gauntlet early on with an opening birdie before picking up four shots in his next seven six holes and, while he struggled to maintain that momentum on the back nine, he still moved into position to beat Thomas Bjørn and Stephen Gallacher’s shared 72-hole tournament record score of 22 under.
Of those queuing up in the hope of overthrowing the in-form Northern Irishman, Morten Ørum Madsen of Denmark was the closest as the 2013 South African Open Champion carded a 66 of his own to add to his brilliant nine under second round 63.
Eight-time Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood was two shots further back on 14 under par courtesy of a 69, while Gallacher retained some hope of making it three successive wins at Emirates Golf Club after a two under 70 saw him join the English duo of Andy Sullivan and Danny Willett, as well as Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, on 13 under par.

PLAYER QUOTES

Rory McIlroy
-  “I didn't put a foot wrong on the front nine and when I missed that little short putt on ten, it seemed like that momentum I had just sort of went away and I had to scramble a little bit for pars coming in.
“It was nice to make birdie on 17 and then it was a great save on the last. It was nice to go out there today with no bogeys so I can't complain. It’s another good round and I’m in a great position going into tomorrow.
“The greens got firm and the wind got up a little bit so it was hard to get the ball close to the hole. You had to hit really quality shots to give yourself chances for birdies, and I didn't quite do that on the back nine like I did on the front.
“I've been in this position many times before so I know the pitfalls that are waiting out there. It's just a matter of sticking to the same game plan, being aggressive, making committed swings and giving myself as many chances for birdies as I can.”

Morten Ørum Madsen – “Obviously I felt pretty confident from the round I played yesterday. That was one of my best rounds ever. It’s hard to go out and shoot a low number again coming from yesterday.
“I felt solid and more relaxed today actually than I did yesterday. I was nice and calm all the way, putted well and hit the ball solid too. I wasn't really in any major trouble, so that was nice.
“Obviously he's going to be tough to beat. He looks like he's playing pretty solidly out there, as well. I'm just going to go out tomorrow and see if I can play some of the same golf that I played today.
“I won't be too disappointed if I don't win tomorrow. I'll be happy if I do what I set out to do and play pretty solidly.”

Lee Westwood – “Any time you're in the last group in a tournament, you feel you've got a chance to win. You never know what's going to happen.
“I was pleased with the way I played today, arguably as good as I played on the first day. I played really solid, one or two poor shots got penalised, especially nine - I took a six there. But all in all, first week of the year, I'm pleased with where all aspects of my game are at.
“I wasn't in Abu Dhabi and I didn't watch it. I know he (Martin Kaymer) had a ten‑shot lead at some stage, but I've been ten behind somebody with nine holes to play and they have made a good putt on 17 to stay one in front. Golf's a funny game and anything can happen out there.
“I'm normally a slow starterto the year. I've had six weeks off, so I wasn't sure whether my scoring would be there and whether I would be sort of match fit, but all aspects of my game have pleased me this week so far.”

Stephen Gallacher
– “On the front nine I couldn't seem to get much going at all. I had a chance at 13, hit a lovely drive in the corner and I was looking at an eight-iron and made par, so kind of stopped me a wee bit in my tracks.
“It was a tough scoring day, apart from Rory going out five-under, not much you can do when the leader goes out in five‑under. I’m still in there for tomorrow. You never know what can happen, if I get it hot on the front nine.
“I saw what he was doing but obviously we can't control what he was doing. I just had to try to get as low a back nine as I could, really, to stay in touch.
“I didn't feel like anything was sort of going for me today. I didn't feel particularly good but I hung in there and I’m still in contention with one round to go.”

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
196 R McIlroy  (Nir) 66 64 66,
200 M Madsen  (Den) 71 63 66
202 L Westwood (Eng) 65 68 69
203 B Wiesberger  (Aut) 64 69 70, S Gallacher (Sco) 66 67 70, A Sullivan (Eng) 65 68 70, D Willett  (Eng) 67 66 70
204 G McDowell  (Nir) 67 65 72, R Paratore (Ita) 68 66 70, R Rock (Eng) 68 67 69, E Grillo (Arg) 67 68 69, M Warren (Sco) 66 65 73, P Uihlein  (USA) 65 69 70, A Noren  (Swe) 68 67 69, P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 66 69
205 S Benson (Eng) 66 66 73, G Stal  (Fra) 69 69 67, T Aiken (RSA) 68 71 66
206 P Lawrie (Sco) 69 71 66, H Stenson (Swe) 70 66 70, B An (SKor) 70 70 66, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 65 74 67
207 M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 71 65, M Kieffer (Ger) 66 68 73, D Lipsky (USA) 68 71 68
208 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 66 72, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 69 70, J Luiten (Ned) 68 70 70, P Waring  (Eng) 69 67 72, R Green (Aus) 70 68 70, K Broberg (Swe) 69 69 70, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 69, D Van Der Walt (RSA) 69 73 66
209 A Hansen (Den) 66 72 71, M Kaymer (Ger) 67 69 73, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 67, M Foster (Eng) 73 69 67, D Howell (Eng) 71 69 69, G Bourdy (Fra) 69 71 69, G Havret  (Fra) 68 71 70, H Otto (RSA) 66 73 70
210 B Dredge (Wal) 71 71 68, A Cañizares  (Esp) 72 69 69, E Espana (Fra) 70 70 70, R Fisher (Eng) 71 68 71, A Levy (Fra) 72 68 70
211 F Aguilar (Chi) 70 71 70, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 70 71, Y Yang (SKor) 67 73 71, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 70 72, A Wall (Eng) 69 70 72, T Lewis (Eng) 68 73 70, A Johnston (Eng) 68 72 71,
212 T Hatton (Eng) 71 69 72, J Campillo (Esp) 67 70 75, M Ilonen  (Fin) 67 71 74, R Bland (Eng) 71 69 72, S Jamieson  (Sco) 74 68 70, A Quiros  (Esp) 73 69 70
213 D Brooks (Eng) 69 73 71, M Hoey  (Nir) 72 70 71, M Lampert (Ger) 71 67 75, T Pieters  (Bel) 69 69 75, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 70 71, B Grace  (RSA) 73 69 71, O Farr (Wal) 73 68 72
214 J Palmer (Eng) 74 68 72, D Foos (Ger) 71 71 72, E Els (RSA) 72 70 72
215 C Doak (Sco) 72 70 73, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 71 73, P Lawrie (Irl) 73 69 73, E Molinari  (Ita) 70 72 73, D McGrane (Irl) 71 70 74
216 R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 70 75


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Labels:

MARTIN LAIRD LEADS PHOENIX OPEN BY TWO

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Rain wasn't the only thing that put a damper on the Phoenix Open on Friday (from CBS Sports.com).
The rowdiest event on the US PGA Tour goes into Super Bowl weekend without Tiger Woods, who had the worst score of his career and missed the cut by 12 shots. 
Also gone is Phil Mickelson, who had his worst round on the TPC Scottsdale in six years, and another past Major champion in Padraig Harrington who had a second-round 78 for 149 and was offiically T120 after 36 holes.
Martin Laird carried on nicely without them, shooting a five-under 66 for a two-shot halfway lead on 10-under 132.
Compatriot Russell Knox is T27 on 140 after a 71.




Once the rain stopped, Laird played his best golf and he doesn't think that was a coincidence. He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch until making his first bogey of the tournament on his final hole for a second straight 5-under 66.
That gave him a two-shot lead over Daniel Berger (69), with Justin Thomas (68) another shot behind. Both 21-year-old rookies received sponsor's exemptions. A trio of Masters champions -- Bubba Watson (71), Zach Johnson (70) and Angel Cabrera (69) were in the group four shots behind.
That's not who the crowd came to see.
Woods was playing the Phoenix Open for the first time in 14 years. ''Welcome back!'' the gallery shouted to him on Thursday. ''Thanks for coming!'' was the refrain on Friday as he walked off his final green with an 11-over 82.
It was his highest score in 322 official tournaments in his career.
''We all have days like this,'' Woods said after a day unlike any other he has had in his career.
Mickelson had a 76, his highest score in this event since he opened with a 76 in 2009 and missed the cut. Neither are going to the Super Bowl. Mickelson flew home to San Diego, Woods to Florida, and both will meet up next week in Torrey Pines.
It was the first time since The Greenbrier Classic in 2012 that they missed the cut in the same event.
''Hopefully, we will be able to get it turned around for next week,'' Mickelson said.
Laird would seem to thrive in such wet, chilly conditions based on his birth certificate alone. He was born in Scotland, though he played college golf at Colorado State and has been living in Arizona for the last 14 years. He didn't even play a European Tour event until he had his PGA Tour card.
But living in Scottsdale, surely he has experience the occasional cold, steady rain like Friday.
''The weather is so good here, when the weather is like this we don't play,'' Laird said. ''I really don't remember a day where it's just been that kind of drizzle. It was a very Scottish day today. We get rain, but it's not sort of an all-day thing.''
Laird was at 10-under 132.
Look a little further down the leaderboard, and the absence of golf's two biggest names - Woods and Mickelson - was another reminder that the sport is in the midst of a generational shift, assuming it hasn't already happened.
Berger and Thomas are proudly part of the class of `11 - that's high school, not college.
They played often together as juniors and at college - Berger at Florida State, Thomas at Alabama. Berger made it through Q-school after two years of college and easily earned his card through the Web.com Tour. Thomas did the same after leaving Alabama.
Not too far back is Jordan Spieth, another 21-year-old who already is among the top 10 players in the world ranking and a Ryder Cupper
 He scrambled his way to a 68 and was six shots behind. Spieth put on a clinic with his short game playing in the same group as Woods, and it makes Woods' shortcomings stand out even more.
Woods either stubbed his chips or bladed them, the worst of it coming from behind the fourth green. He had 35 feet to the flag, tried to hit a baby flop shot and sent it 47 yards away, leading to a double bogey.
Mickelson steadily dropped shots, tried to rally with a birdie on the 15th that put him one birdie away from making the cut, and then hit his tee shot in a bunker on the 17th that led to bogey. That bunker wasn't even in play for Mickelson on Thursday, but the weather was such that players were hitting two or three clubs more.
Laird was part of the pack until his late run. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 13th, hit wedge to a foot for birdie on the par-5 15th, and then made 7-foot birdie putts on the next two holes to give himself a little separation.
Ryan Palmer (72) and Ryan Moore (67) were in the group at 136, while Geoff Ogilvy (69) was among those five shots behind.
Fifteen players failed to finish the round before darkness. That included Arizona club pro Michael Hopper, who had no chance of making the cut. With two holes to play, he was at 12 over and needed to finish two pars to beat Woods.
And that would be another personal-worst for Woods. He has never finished last in a US PGA Tour event.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71) Players from USA unless stated
132 Martin Laird (Scotland) 66 66
134 Daniel Berger 65 69
135 Justin Thomas 67 68
136 Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 67 69, Zach Johnson 66 70, Ryan Moore 67 67, Ryan Palmer 64 72, Robert Streb 66 70, Bubba Watson 65 71.

SELECTED SCORES
140 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 (T27)
141 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 68 73 (T43)
142 Brian Davis (England) 74 68 (T55)

MISSED THE CUT 
145 Phil Mickielson 69 76
149 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 71 78
155 Tiger Woods 73 82

Labels:

Arie is Local Hero on Asian Development Tour


                                    
Sungai Petani, Malaysia: Local hope Arie Irawan survived a late scare to win his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title after shooting a four-under-par 68 at the PGM Sime Darby Harvard Championship today.
The 24-year-old made a crucial par save on the 16th hole from the rough after a poor drive to win by one-shot with an 18-under-par 270 total at the  US $60,000)  event.
Newcomer Sean Riordan of New Zealand and overnight leader Sukree Othman of Malaysia settled for tied second after returning with a 67 and 70 respectively to finish on 271 at the Harvard Golf and Country Club.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
Leading final round results:
Par 288 (4x72)
270 - Arie IRAWAN (MAS) 63-71-68-68
271 - Sean RIORDAN (NZL) 70-68-66-67, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 70-65-66-70
273 - Mathiam KEYSER (RSA) 70-65-69-69
274 - Oskar ARVIDSSON (SWE) 69-66-70-69
275 - Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS) 70-70-69-66, MJ DAFFUE (RSA) 70-68-70-67, Danny CHIA (MAS) 69-68-67-71, Kemarol BAHARIN (MAS) 70-69-64-72
276 - Terumichi KAKAZU (JPN) 66-74-67-69, Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN) 69-69-67-71
277 - Grant JACKSON (ENG) 68-71-69-69, Casey O'TOOLE (USA) 71-68-69-69, Shaifubari MUDA (MAS) 69-69-68-71, Steve HAN (USA) 71-68-66-72

Labels:

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google