GREIG MARCHBANK WINS PLAY-OFF TO 

BE TOP SEED IN SOUTH AFRICA
By LALI STANDER
TSHWAN – Scotland's Greig Marchbank defeated South Africa's top-ranked Tristen Strydom in a sudden-death playoff to claim the Proudfoot Trophy as the leading qualifier for the match-play stages of the  Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate. 

Marchbank registered rounds of 67 and 71 and Strydom returned rounds of 72 and 66 to tie at six under par 138 in regulation play in the rain-interrupted 36-hole qualifier. 
The title was decided in fast-fading light and the pair quickly set off to the 10th, but a pair of 4s meant a trip to the par five 18th. Marchbank found the green in two, but Strydom’s tee shot disappeared in the reeds. The Scot sealed his victory with a par, while the South African eventually signed off with a bogey 6. 
 “It was bit crazy playing in the dark,” said the delighted 20-year-old Marchbank. “Tristen and I were both happy to finish it. The light on 10 wasn't too bad, but up the 18th we were struggling to see. We agreed that it was good to get it over and done with.”
 Marchbank admitted he had no idea where his ball was going on his second shot into the par five. 
 “I managed to knock it on the green in two, even though I didn't see any of the ball. It felt good when I didn't hear a splash. I was delighted when they told me it was on the green.”
 The Thornhill golfer said his main focus is on the Match Play, but winning the Proudfoot Trophy was still a significant confidence booster.
 “It means a lot, obviously,” he said. “The main trophy is the Match Play, but it's definitely good to win the Stroke Play. It's like a notch in the belt and I'm delighted to have won it. 
“I'm playing well, so there's no reason why I can't go places in the Match Play, but it’s a funny game. You've really have to be on the ball. For me it doesn't change; I just try and make as many birdies as I can.” 
By contrast, Strydom said it would have been a huge achievement to win the trophy. 
 “It would have meant the world to me, because the Proudfoot Trophy has a lot of history,” he said.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE STORY ABOUT SEVEN SCOTS
QUALIFYING FOR THE MATCH-PLAY ... AND THE TOTALS

CHRIS ROBB T8 WITH ROUND TO GO IN MOROCCO

Banchory's Chris Robb is inside the top 10 with a round to go in the Dar Es Salam Open at Rabat, Morocco.
Last year's Scottish amateur champion had had rounds of 73 and 70 for a one-under-par tally of 143, three strokes behind the German leader David Heinzinger (67-73 for 140).
Robb raised his number of birdies to 11 over 36 holes with sub-par figures at the fourth, sixth, 14th, 16th and 17th. Bogeys at the ninth, 11th and 15th pushed him down to a share of eighth place.
Paul Lawrie Golf Centre trio Philip McLean from Peterhead, Portlethen's Sam Kiloh and Ross Cameron from Ellon missed the cut.
Ted Innes-Ker from Roxburghe also failed to make it to the final round.
McLean was one shot over the limit mark with rounds of 75 and 73 for 148.
Kiloh improved from a 77 to a 72 for 149.
Innes-Ker had scores of 75-77 for 152.
Cameron shot 76-78 for 154.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
140 David Heinzinger (Ger) 67 73
141 Nicolas Meitinger (Ger) 70 71
142 Manuel Quiros (Spa) 73 69,  Heinrich Arkenau (Ger) 69 73, Sebastian Heiselle (Ger) 73 69.
SCOTS'  TOTALS
143 Chris Robb 73 70 (T8)
Missed the cut (147 and better qualified)
148 Philip McLean 75 73
149 Sam Kiloh 77 72

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Russell Knox ties for 3rd with Paul Casey, Ian Poultger

 PADRAIG HARRINGTON WINS HONDA 

CLASSIC PLAY-OFF

FROM THE R and A WEBSITE 
 Padraig Harrington won the Honda Classic after a play-off with American rookie Daniel Berger today.
It was the two-time Open Champion’s first win on the US PGA Tour since 2008 and his second at the Honda Classic after his win in 2005.
Harrington, who is a Working for Golf Ambassador for The R and A, holed a 16ft birdie putt on the last hole of regulation play at PGA National to force a play-off with clubhouse leader Berger (who shot a final-round 64) in the event which had been delayed to Monday after play was washed out on Saturday.
The Irishman won the event and the S1,098,000 top prize on the second play-off hole after Berger found water to cap a dramatic victory.
Speaking on television, a delighted Harrington said, “Hopefully this isn’t an isolated win. I hope not, I really do believe in myself. I think I’ve found that mental edge that I’ve been lacking in recent years. Hopefully I’ll be able to stick with that going forward and be consistently contending.”
“The one good thing for me is that when I get in contention I can hit the shots. The problem for me has been when I’ve started the week and had middle-of-the-road shots, I’m not able to hit them. When I’ve got tough shots I can hit them.”
Harrington won The Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and retained the Claret Jug the following year at Royal Birkdale. He went on to win the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills that year. In December, he secured his first win for four years at the BRI Bank Indonesia Open on the Asian Tour.
In a finish dominated by Europeans, Paul Casey, Russell Knox and Ian Poulter tied for third place, one shot behind the play-off participants, on 275. Each earned $317,000.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson came sixth on 276 for  a $219,000 payslip.
Luke Donald tied for seventh on 277 with Americans Jim Herman, Jeff Overton and Patrick Reed. Each earned $183,000.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZE MONEY
Par 288 (4x72)
274 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 67 66 71 70 ($1,098,000) bt Daniel Berger (USA) 68 71 71 64 ($658,000) at second hole of sudden death play-off
275 Paul Casey (England) 69 70 68 68, Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 68 70 68, Ian Poulter (England) 71 64 66 74 ($317,200 each).
276 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 68 71 71 66 ($219,000).
277 Luke Donald (England) 69 67 74 67, Jim Herman (USA) 65 72 71 69, Jeff Overton (USA) 71 68 69 69, P_atrick TReed (USA) 67 67 70 73 ($183,763 each). 

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SCOTLAND'S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 

QUALIFIERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Seven Scots have made it through to the match-play stages of the South African men's amateur golf championship at Silver Lakes Country Club, by Colin Farquharson .

The Scottish Golf Union squad, who have been in South Africa for several weeks on warm-weather practice, did exceptionally well in the 36-hole stroke-play test to decide the 64 qualifiers for the match-play.

Five were in the top 10 and six in the leading 16.

Greig Marchbank (Thornhill), pictured below, shared the lowest aggregate of six-under-par 138 with South African Tristen Strydom. Greig shot 67-71 to Strydom's 72-66.

Perth's Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) tgied for third place with 67-72 for 139.

Bearsden's Ewen Ferguson shared fifth place on 140 with rounds of 68 and 72.

Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 70-71 and Calum Fyfe (Caqwder) 68-73 tied for 10th place on 141.

Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co) qualified in joint 16th place on 142 (72-70) and Scott Gibson completed the Scots qualifiers despite a second-round 79, 10 shots more than his first round, for 148 and joint 53rd place.

Players with aggregates of 150 and better qualified for the match-play.

Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) missed the cut by one shot with rounds of 76-75 for 151. Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) had 77-76 for 153.

SOUTH AFRICAN MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Silver Lakes Country Club.

QUALIFYING TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72) Players from S Africa unless stated

138 Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) 67 71, Tristen Strydom  72 66

139 Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 67 72, Johan Germishuys 68 71.

Other Scots qualifiers

140 Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) 68 72 (T5)

141 Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 70 71, Calum Fyfe (Cawder) 68 73 (T10)

142 Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co) 72 70 (T16)

148 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 69 79 (T53)

Missed the cut (150 and better qualified for match-play

151 Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 75

153 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 77 76

STEWART-CATION, HENRY SHARE SIXTH PLACE IN 

EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS OPEN

Scott Stewart-Cation from Kirkcaldy and John Henry (Clydebank and District) were tied for sixth place in a field of 79 players at the end of the first round of this week's Alps Tour event, the 54-hole Dreamland Pyramids Open at Dreamland Golf Resort, Cairo, Egypt.
The Scots both returned two-under-par 70 scores and  are three shots behind the Italian leader, ~Federico Colombo.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
67 Federico Colombo (Ita)
69 Joon Kim (Ita), Liam Harper (Eng), Luca Fenoglio (Ita), Federico Maccario (Ita)

SELECTED SCORES
70 Scott Stewart-Cation (Sco), John Henry (Sco) (T6)

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WARDELL AND MANN FLYING WITH THE EAGLES AT SCOTSCRAIG

Paul Wardell (North Berwick) and Fraser Mann (Carnoustie), tied third in last week's event at Crail GS, stepped up to first place in today's PGA in Scotland's fifth Winter Series Four-ball 18-hole competition at Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife, writes Colin Farquharson
They shot a five-under-par, better-ball 66 to win by a shot from joint runners-up Christopher Currie (Caldwell) and Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), and Alan Reid (West Lothian) and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), winners of the first two events.
Wardell and Mann made their score at three par-5 holes with an eagle 3 at the ninth, a birdie 4 at the 14th and another eagle 3, this time at the 16th.
With a smaller field than usual, only 13 pairs, the winners' financial reward amounted to £300.


SCOREBOARD
par 71
66 Paul Wardell (North Berwick) and Fraser Mann (Carnoustie)
67 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) and Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), Alan Reid (West Lothian) and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf).
68 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links) and Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), Ross McCnnachie and Dean Vannet (Peterculter)
70 Michael Braidwood (CMA Europe) and Sandy Smith (Ladybank), Matthew Laughtland (Bishopbriggs) and Robert Collinson (Bearsden), Ronan Rafferty (Monte Rei) and Billy Marchbank (Crieff). 
71 Christopher Billows (Gleneagles) and Rory Tinker (Piperdam)_
72 Gary Lister (Alness) and Stephen Gray (Hayston), Brian Marchbank (unatt) and Alan White (Lanark)
73 Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) and Craig Everett (Caldwell).
74 Chris Kelly (unatt) and Kevin McNiven (Gleneagles).

Final Reminder for Scottish Boys Entries for Dunbar

SGU NEWS RELEASE
Young golfers across the country are reminded the closing date for entries to the Scottish Boys' Championship at Dunbar is this Thursday, March 5.
The match-play tournament for Under-18s will be played at the East Lothian venue from April 6 to 11.
The event is open to any young male golfer aged 18 or under on 1 January 2015, with this year’s handicap limit for entry 7.4.

SOUTH AFRICAN JOINS SCOTS IN FIRST-ROUND LEAD

From Lali Stander
TSHWANE– Pretoria Country Club golfer Keegan de Lange vaulted into a share of the lead at five-under-par 67 at the completion of the rain-affected first round of the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate today.
Lighting and thunder brought a premature close to play on Sunday, but after play resumed at 6.30am local time, the 18-year-old Gauteng North golfer finished off his round in fine fashion with two birdies and an eagle on the par five 18th.
 De Lange began his round with three birdies on his opening nine, but bogeyed both par threes down the home straight. The drops were offset by his fast finish, though, and De Lange joined early pacesetters Greig Marchbank and Daniel Young from Scotland in pole position.
 The 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier for the Proudfoot Trophy will determine the top 64 players that advance to the Match Play championship.

POULTER SHARES LEAD WITH CASEY 

FROM GOLF CHANNEL.COM
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida – Drama didn’t race into Sunday at PGA National with quite the dizzying speed of one of Ian Poulter’s Ferraris, but it was close.
With Poulter’s stunning shank at the fifth tee, the Honda Classic went from a yawner to a thriller in a heart-thumping hurry.
After Poulter hooked his drive into the very same lake off the sixth tee, the leaderboard looked as bunched as an IndyCar race running under a caution flag.

For better or worse, Poulter (pictured) steered the frenzied action in the suspended final round on the Champion Course.
Somehow, some way, when darkness finally suspended play, Poulter marched off the seventh green tied for the lead with Paul Casey, who was through nine holes.

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Honda Classic: Articles, videos and photos

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At 7 under overall, they were a shot ahead of Patrick Reed (through 7 holes) and three ahead of a pack of five players that includes Phil Mickelson (through 10 holes).
The field will be back in place at 8 a.m. Monday (local time) to conclude the final round.
From three shots up at the fifth tee to a shot down walking off the sixth green, Poulter was beyond frustrated with himself.
You could almost see tendrils of smoke coming off his head.
Asked what he was muttering to himself internally walking to the seventh tee, Poulter’s eyes widened to that saucer-like intensity so familiar to golf fans.
“You don't really want to know,” Poulter said. “Trust me, you don't. It's not newspaper or Internet worthy. I was p-----. I was seriously p----.”
Poulter appeared in total control of this tournament, making one wonderful swing after another in shooting 64 in the second round and 66 in the third. His rhythm went south at that fifth tee, where he shanked an 8-iron sideways, off a cart path and into a part of the lake that no player in Honda’s nine-year history at PGA National may ever have reached before.
“It was a lack of concentration,” Poulter said. “I tried to take too much off an 8-iron and hit a beautiful shank.”
Poulter made double bogey. Adding to the dizzying turn of events, Reed holed out from off the green for birdie, putting up a steep slope and a winding  turn from 34 feet away.
The three-shot swing was a blow to Poulter, leaving him briefly tied with Reed.
“I didn't even realize that I had a three-shot lead,” Poulter said. “I was in cruise control, shall we say, not making bad swings. You take your foot off the accelerator for one second, all of a sudden, you find yourself completely out of position, making an easy double bogey.”
Poulter, 39, has never closed out a 54-hole lead in a US PGA Tour event, but that’s because, surprisingly, he never held a 54-hole lead, until Sunday at PGA National. He has won 16 times around the world, with his two US PGA Tour titles including the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions in China, where he came from behind in the final round.
On Sunday, Poulter’s lead was gone after he hooked that tee shot at the sixth into the lake and made bogey.
That led to the scolding he gave himself, some self-talk that actually got him back a share of the lead at the seventh hole, where he stiffed a 6-iron to 3 feet to make birdie.
“Yeah, I was internally very angry, shall we say,” Poulter said. “And when I do that, obviously, my heart rate goes up slightly, and, obviously that sometimes is what needs to kick in, to kick in the adrenaline. So the shot on seven was fueled with adrenaline, because I was so p----- off.”
How important was that birdie to end his day?
“Massive, massive,” Poulter said. “It was a bit of a body blow, shall we say, five and six, coming out of nowhere.
“It was some pretty good golf today, I've got to be honest, and that (shank) just came out of left field.”
With Poulter in trouble, fellow Englishman Casey, playing two holes in front,  quietly climbed the leaderboard. 
Casey, 37, is seeking to add to his lone US PGA Tour title, the 2009 Shell Houston Open. He’s a 13-time European Tour winner who is devoting himself solely to the US Tour this season.
“I'm eager to win,” Casey said. “I feel like I'm playing good golf, and there are no obstacles in the way. Everything's great on and off the golf course. No two tours to worry about. There's just nothing standing there, nothing that's distracting me, which is a great feeling to have.
“It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean I'll win, but I hope I win this year. I'd love to win tomorrow."
While Poulter has never held a 54-hole lead on the US PGA Tour, he has proved himself a formidable closer on the European Tour. He has closed the deal seven of nine times taking a lead into the final round on that tour.
At day’s end, Poulter rode into the clubhouse sitting alongside his 10-year-old son, Luke. Despite all the adventure, Poulter is still very much in the running for his first stroke-play title on U.S. soil.
“I'm playing well,” Poulter said. “So, I just need to be patient, keep making the swings I've made.”
With the Honda Classic feeling like it will open under a caution flag with Monday’s conclusion of the final round, Poulter will be looking to lead the race with a steadier hand.