Sunday, May 10, 2015

Why Johnny Miller usually does his TV 

broadcasts in bare feet

GOLF DIGEST.COM
By Alex Myers

We're spending the week embedded with NBC/Golf Channel at the Players Championship. It's a rare commercial break and the lights inside the 18th-hole broadcast booth come on to give our photographer a chance to take a few photos. Johnny Miller is visibly startled. 
"Are we going on camera?" he says ashe sits up in his chair. "I have my tie loosened."

blog-johnny-dan-0510.jpg
Miller quickly tightens it up, but is told he is not going on camera at this point. The exchange makes you realise how little Miller and play-by-play partner Dan Hicks are actually on screen throughout the broadcast despite their continuous dialogue throughout the coverage.


What's something else viewers at home don't realise?
"The first thing that pops into my head is Johnny more than half the time broadcasts in bare feet," Hicks says with a laugh after the two are off the air for the day.
Miller is quick to add a sombre reason for this. He has Compartment Syndrome in his legs, which he says is one of the reasons he stopped playing golf professionally. 
He has to ice each of his legs twice a day for half an hour, and it makes sitting for long periods of time very uncomfortable. Miller even shows off he's wearing really loose shoes with no socks to help combat the problem.

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Players Championship

Rickie Fowler beats Garcia and Kisner in play-off
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida -- Nothing was overrated about Rickie Fowler at The Players Championship.
Not the way he rallied from a five-shot deficit with the greatest finish in the 34-year history of the TPC Sawgrass. Not the two tee shots he smashed down the daunting 18th fairway Sunday when a miss to the left or right spelled trouble. And certainly not the three tee shots -- yes, three -- he stuffed on the island-green 17th hole for birdie each time. The last one made him a winner, the best answer to that anonymous player survey that he was an underachiever.
At a tournament that dresses up like a major, Fowler sure looked the part in beating the strongest field in golf.
"I'd say this was a pretty big one," Fowler said.


THE PLAYERS: Results, points | Playoff recap | Tournament video | Tiger's game 'progressing' | FedExCup standings


It certainly wasn't easy. Fowler's record-setting finish -- birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on the last four holes for a 5-under 67 -- looked like a winner until Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner delivered big shots of their own.
In the first three-hole playoff at The Players Championship, Kisner hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th to 10 feet and rolled in a breaking birdie putt to keep pace with Fowler, who had hit his tee shot to 6 feet and converted the birdie. 
Garcia, who in regulation made a 45ft birdie to give him new life, failed to repeat the putt from about the same range in the play-off. All three players made par on the final hole, which eliminated Garcia.
Fowler and Kisner, who closed with a 69 and is now 0 for 102 in his US PGA Tour career, headed back to the 17th hole for the third time. The great shots kept coming. Kisner barely cleared the mound and the ball settled 12 feet away. Fowler answered by taking on the right side of the green and sticking it just inside 5 feet.
Kisner finally missed.
Fowler never seemed to miss over the final two hours, and he calmly clutched his fist to celebrate his first US Tour victory in three years.
Garcia, who had a two-shot lead heading to the back nine, closed with a 68. He had a 20-foot birdie putt to win in regulation that missed badly to the right.
And it would set the stage for Fowler.
One of the questions in Sports Illustrated Golf's annual player survey -- players do not give their names -- was to pick the most overrated player on the US PGA Tour. Fowler and Ian Poulter shared first place at 24 percent. 
Fowler has never faced this level of criticism, a favourite among fans and most players for his considerate behaviour.
He tried to play it down, though he said on more than one occasion this week that it would motivate him.
He was at 6 under, five shots behind Garcia, when he hit a 9-iron to 12 feet on the 13th hole and "hit the button."
What he hit was warp speed.
Fowler made a 15-foot birdie on the 15th hole. He took on the water at the par-5 15th with a shot into a slight breeze to 30 inches for eagle. Not at all daunted by an island green, he went at the flag and made it for 6 feet to take the lead for the first time. 
And then he blasted a tee shot 331 yards and made a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole to be the first player to reach 12-under 276. And then he had to wait.
The Stadium Course has rarely lacked for greater theater over the last three decades.
This topped them all.
Over the final hour, six players had hopes of winning the richest prize in golf. Four of them were tied for the lead.
Ben Martin raced into the picture with three straight birdies, the last one an 8-footer after taking on the corner of the island on the par-3 17th. But he pushed his tee shot into the woods on the 18th, pitched out and missed his par putt for a 70 that knocked him out of the playoff.
Bill Haas had a chance to tie for the lead twice -- first with a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th that just missed to the left, and then with a long birdie putt on the 17th that stopped one turn from falling in on the left side.
Needing a birdie on the 18th to join the playoff, he had to play a runner to the green because he was blocked by trees. It came up short and he made par for a 70.
Fowler was the most sensational.
The finish by Garcia and Kisner would have been talked about for years. On this day, thanks to Fowler, it was nearly an afterthought.
Garcia two-putted from 70 feet from the fringe for a birdie at the 16th, and then rolled in his improbable birdie at the 17th. He missed from 20 feet on the 18th. Kisner, who twice made big putts in a losing effort to Jim Furyk at Hilton Head last month, got up-and-down for birdie on the 16th and holed a 10-footer for birdie on the 17th.
He had a 10-foot birdie putt for the win, and it touched the right side of the cup.
Tiger Woods had a 72 and tied for 69th, his worst position ever in the Players Championship. Rory McIlroy, who started the final round four shots behind, didn't get going until it was too late. He closed with a 70 and tied for eighth, four shots behind.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZE MONEY
 
CLICK HERE



LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
276 Rickie Fowler 69 69 71 67 (won play-off at third extra hole) ($1,800,000)
276 Sergio Garcia 69 72 67 68 ($880,000)
276 Kevin Kisner 73 67 67 69($880,000)
277 Ben Martin 68 71 68 70 ($440,000)
277 Bill Haas  72 67 68 70 ($440,000)
279 Rory Sabbatini 70 71 69 69 ($347,500)
279 Kevin Na 67 69 72 71 ($347,500)
280 Rory McIlroy 69 71 70 70 ($270,000)
280 Jamie Donaldson 70 72 71 67 ($270,000)
280 Brian Harman 71 69 70 70 ($270,000)
280 John Senden  73 70 67 70 ($270,000)
280 Ryo Ishikawa 71 69 69 71 ($270,000)

SELECTED TOTALS
282 Russell Knox 72 70 72 68 (T17) ($130,857)
282 Henrik Stenson 72 69 73 68 (T17) ($130,857)
284 Ian Poulter 71 69 70 64 (T30) ($58,125)
285 Stephen Gallacher 72 70 70 73 (T38) ($44,000)
285 Adam Scott 72 69 69 75 (T38) ($44,000)
286 Padraig Harrington 71 73 75 67 (T42) ($31,400)
288 Graeme McDowell 69 71 72 76  (T56) ($22,200)
291 Tiger Woods 73 71 75 72 (T69) ($20,000)

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Campbell's 70 best at Dunkeld and Birnam
  FROM P AND K SECRETARY TOM McLEVY
Well done to all the players who braved the weather at Dunkeld and Birnam Golf Club to play in the Spring Meeting today.
Results were:
CSS 70 (Reduction only)
Best Scratch
70 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie)
71 Mark Cameron (Alyth)
Handicap
Class 1 (0 to 9)
69 Craig Brown (Dunkeld and Birnam) (6)
71 Ron Lambie (Dunkeld and Birnam) (7) bih
71 Charlie Gallagher (Blairgowrie) (1) bih
Class 1 (10 to 28)
73 Colin Nisbet  (Dunkeld and Birnam) (10)
76 Scott Campbell (Blairgowrie) (18) 
77 Dave Macdougall (Dunkeld and Birnam) (19) bih

Today saw only 41 players from P and K’s 38 clubs and societies take part in our Spring Meeting which means that the competition is run at a loss.  
As we are responsible for how the county money is spent the executive feel that the Spring, Summer and Autumn Meetings are no longer viable unless our club players support them. 
 Prizes of vouchers and trophies are available for players of all abilities, not just the low handicappers as many think.  
The Summer Meeting is due to be played at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, July 19 and if an acceptable number of entries are not received, then future competitions will be cancelled.
Please support your county competitions as it would be a great shame to see them fold.
 
Tom McLevy
Secretary
Perth and Kinross C G U.
Tel. 07736 77153

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 Rhys Davies comes in from the cold with 

Turkish win on Challenge Tour

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS


Rhys Davies proved that form is temporary but class is permanent as the Welshman marched to a first title in five years, courtesy of a four-shot victory at the Turkish Airlines Challenge today.
A two under par 70 at the pristine Gloria Golf Resort in Belek was enough to secure his first win since overcoming Louis Oozthuizen in an epic duel at the 2010 Trophée Hassan on The European Tour.
The 29 year old started nervously, driving into the trees from the first tee but saving par, and then bogeying the par three second, but he steadied the ship thereafter.
Four more birdies and just one more dropped shot meant he carded a two under par 70, elevating him to a 14 under total and bringing him a third career European Challenge Tour title.
“It’s a bit of a surprise to be honest”, said Davies, a two-time former Walker Cup player who beat Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler in the singles of the 2007 edition.
“I knew it would be tough today, I never doubted that. I was really nervous to start with but again, I expected that. I hit a few dodgy shots, but I holed a freakish long putt on the second and even though it was for a bogey, that got me going.
“After that I settled fairly well. I wasn’t playing that well but I was scrambling really well and my golfing brain was in gear – hitting it in all the right places and not putting myself under too much pressure.
“If I’m brutally honest, I probably had a few good breaks this week. I hit a few strange shots at times that I got away with but I hit some fantastic ones too, my wedge and putter were excellent, especially at the weekend.
“The two guys I was playing with didn’t get off to a great start either so in that respect, I didn’t feel a huge amount of pressure. I just thought today, if I can shoot three under and get to 15 I’d be tough to catch, so that was my goal. I was one short and I came close to holing my chip on the last so I almost got there.”
It has been a difficult couple of years for the Bridgend player, having reached the heady heights of 44th in the Official World Golf Ranking and finishing 18th in The Race to Dubai in 2010.
But he never lost the faith in his own ability and knew that, when the opportunity of another victory presented itself, he would click into winning mode and the confidence and determination would all come flooding back.
“Sometimes it’s been really horrible in the last couple of years, I’m not going to pretend,” he said. “It’s been quite dark sometimes. But I always felt that if I could get in the mix I could win again, I didn’t doubt that to be honest.
“But I couldn’t see it happening any time soon at various moments. Sometimes it was so bad I didn’t know where the next good round was going to come from. That’s all I’ve been looking for, one good score. I know that seems crazy but it was as simple as that.
“It does feel like a long time since I’ve won, but it’s strange that when you get in the mix, everything floods back to you. I’ve been very fortunate that a number of people have been very supportive of me, during my tough times.
“Phillip Price is one in particular. He’s been exceptionally supportive and he always said to me that if I got in contention again, then all the feelings would come back, so I drew on that a bit today and in a strange way it felt like I been playing in contention regularly for the last few years. 

"Certainly, towards the end it felt normal which I’m pleased about and I really like playing in those situations.”
Everything changes now for Davies as he moves to second in the Road to Oman Rankings and he hopes he can now push on this season and make a return to where he belongs - the highest echelons of world golf.
“It’s great to win at the start of the season,” he said. “It takes a little bit of the pressure off in some respects but I’m here to try and win again now. I’ll let this sink in over the next few days and I’ll be ready to go next week in Denmark.
“But it’s a tough slog on the Challenge Tour, it’s a long season and there are a lot of good players. You travel a lot to different types of golf courses so I know there will be tough times ahead still but hopefully I can draw on this as a real positive and use it to my advantage in the coming weeks and months.
FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72)
274 R Davies (Wal) 69 70 65 70,
278 L Gagli  (Ita) 72 69 69 68,
279 B Åkesson (Swe) 70 66 72 71, P Archer (Eng) 70 69 71 69, C Shinkwin (Eng) 71 68 70 70, S Kim (USA) 76 63 69 71, W Harrold (Eng) 71 66 70 72
280 A Hartø  (Den) 74 69 67 70, S Einhaus (Ger) 72 72 66 70, E Dubois (Fra) 66 67 73 74, R Gouveia (Por) 70 73 68 69, J Dantorp (Swe) 72 66 70 72, A Bernadet  (Fra) 70 70 70 70, G Porteous (Eng) 70 70 71 69, R McGee (Irl) 73 71 65 71,
281 J Girrbach (Sui) 74 67 72 68
282 J Guerrier  (Fra) 68 71 68 75, J Hansen  (Den) 71 69 73 69, D Im (USA) 73 71 66 72, C Ford (Eng) 73 67 76 66, J Glennemo (Swe) 69 71 68 74
283 J Rask (Swe) 71 69 72 71, J Lima  (Por) 74 70 68 71, N Geyger (Chi) 71 72 72 68, J Stalter (Fra) 71 72 70 70, P Relecom  (Bel) 71 73 71 68, R Enoch  (Wal) 71 69 74 69, E Cuartero Blanco  (Esp) 72 71 70 70,
284 G Murray  (Sco) 69 74 73 68, D Coupland (Eng) 73 71 71 69, P Widegren  (Swe) 70 72 71 71, M Lafeber (Ned) 75 69 70 70, P Whiteford (Sco) 72 66 73 73, O Stark (Swe) 72 72 69 71, C Arendell (USA) 69 69 73 73,
285 A Björk (Swe) 73 70 74 68, D Palm (Swe) 70 73 66 76, A Bruschi  (Ita) 70 72 73 70, T Bakker (Fin) 72 71 74 68,
286 E Saltman  (Sco) 69 70 73 74,
287 S Heisele (Ger) 75 68 70 74, S Manley (Wal) 71 71 73 72, M Röhrig (Ger) 71 71 74 71, C Berardo (Fra) 70 73 69 75, S Wakefield (Eng) 74 69 71 73, T Gornik (Slo) 73 68 72 74, D Ulrich (Sui) 70 68 78 71, M Ruiz (Par) 73 69 72 73,
288 S Jeppesen  (Swe) 70 72 72 74,
289 C Gloet  (Den) 73 71 72 73, C Hanson (Eng) 70 72 72 75, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 72 70 72 75, M Søgaard  (Den) 67 74 77 71, E Bertheussen (Nor) 77 67 69 76,
290 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 67 73 77 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 74 73 74, B Etchart  (Esp) 71 72 74 73,
291 R Kellett (Sco) 71 73 75 72, B Stone (RSA) 70 68 77 76,
292 H Joannes  (Bel) 68 76 74 74, A Snobeck  (Fra) 71 72 76 73,
293 T Sinnott (Aus) 72 71 70 80,
294 S Soderberg (Swe) 75 68 76 75,
295 S Walker (Eng) 69 73 74 79, N Kimsey (Eng) 70 71 73 81,
296 S Hodgson (Eng) 71 73 74 78, A Korinek (Cze) 68 74 75 79, P Figueiredo  (Por) 68 76 72 80, P Tarver-Jones (Eng) 74 68 79 75,
301 M Stieger (Aus) 74 70 80 77,


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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Lanarkshire beat Stirlingshire in W of S Boys'
League opener at Dunblane New

Lanarkshire recorded a 5-3 victory over Stirlingshire in a West of Scotland Boys League match today at Dunblane New Golf Club 
Lanarkshire seemed to be coasting to an easy victory until great comebacks by Max Miller (Falkirk Tryst), Thomas Craig of Falkirk and Craig Jackman (Dunblane New) set up a tense finish.
A one-hole victory by David Fair (Strathaven) sealed the points for Lanarkshire.
Results (Lanarkshire names first):

Under-16s

Callum Paterson (Strathaven) lost to Max Miller (Falkirk Tryst) 2 holes.
Jonathan  Torrance (Drumpellier) lost to Thomas Craig  (Falkirk) 4 and 1.
Greg Dalziel (Kirkhill) bt Scott Johnson (FalkirkTryst) 2 holes.        
Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill) lost to Craig Jackman (Dunblane New) 1 hole.

Under-18s

Graeme Greer (Carluke) bt Ben McKenzie (Dunblane New) 4 and 3.
David Fair (Strathaven) bt Jamie Hunter (Falkirk Tryst) 1 hole.
Fraser Kane (Kirkhill) bt Stuart Murray (Falkirk) 3 and 2.
Andrew Thomson (Lanark) bt Callum Bauchop (Glenbervie) 5 and 3.


Willie Sharpe 
LGA Press Officer  
                                    Lanarkshire boys team


Donaldson wins Angus Champion of Champions


Campbell Donaldson (Downfield), captain of the men's county team, won the Angus county Champion of Champions 36-hole competition at Letham Grange.
Donaldson, pictured by Gary Tough, had an excellent score of two under par 139, made up of a  70 on the shorter  Glens course, then a four-under  69  on the Old course.
Runner-up on 141 was last year's Angus match-play champion Danny Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle).
Third place on 143 went to Carnoustie's Will Porter, the current Scottish boys champion


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Ratho Park draw gives Fife a boost for Blairgowrie

Fife gave themselves a boost for next weekend's Scottish men's area team championship at Blairgowrie by drawing 3.5-3.5 with Lothians in a friendly golf match at Ratho Park GC, Edinburgh today.
Lothians won the first three matches but the Fife tail wagged to good effect, winning three of the latter four ties and halving the other.
Details:
LOTHIANS 3.5, FIFE 3.5
Allyn Dick (Kingsfield) and Jordyn Rhynd (Kingsfield) bt Alex Moir (Thornton) and Ally Hain (St Andrews) 2 holes.
Ben McLeod (Musselburgh) bt Greg Forrester (Lundin) 1 hole.
Mark Napier (Turnbhouse) bt David Mitchell (Leven Thistle) 3 and 1.
Chris Curran (Harburn) lost to Chris Bradley (Pitreavie) 1 hole.
Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry) lost to Fraser Carr (Crail) 1 hole.
Alan Crawford (Deer Park) lost to Keith Anderson (Charleton) 1 hole.
Ross Thomson (Gullane) halved with Andrew Davidson (Charleton)

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David Morrison regains NE District m/play

title by beating Anthony Bews in final 

David Morrison (Duff House Royal) is this year's North-east District match-play champion.

He won the title for a second time by beating Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) by 4 and 3 in  the final at Fraserburgh today to win the Jaffray Cup.
Morrison, whose previous success in the tournament was at Royal Tarlair in 2013, was three under par for the holes played in a very strong wind although fortunately the rain stayed away.
In the morning semi-finals, Morrison beat Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 2 and 1 while Bews beat Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) at the 20th. .
All four semi-finalists are previous winners of the Jaffray Cup and three of the four  are in the N E team for the Scottish area team championship at Blairgowrie next weekend.

The Jaffray Cup is contested by the four lowest scorers in the team championship for the Journal Cup, played the day before.
Results:
Semi-finals - David Morrison (Duff House Royal) bt Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 2 and 1, Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) bt Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) at 20th.
Final - Morrison bt Bews 4 and 3.

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Deeside's Junior Pennant League line-up today: Back row (l to r) Aaron Ritchie, Finlay Symon, Harry McLeod, Henri Charles, Ross Nicholson
Front row (l to r) Chloe Henderson, Connor Forbes, Benjamin Henderson, Nicholas Black, Michael Black.


Deeside go 2 and 0 by beating Stonehaven 4-1

Deeside are now 2 and 0 in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Aberdeen and District Junior Pennant League after a home win today by 4-1 over Stonehaven.
Details (Deeside pairings first):

Benjamin Henderson and Henry Charles bt Kiefer Brown and Cameron Davidson 1 hole.
Finley Symon and Connor Forbes lost to Ewan Wheat and Mason Jenkins 1 hole.
Nicholas Black and Ross Nicholson bt James Armandia and Lewis Mitchell 5 and 4.
Aaron Ritchie and Chloe Henderson bt Fraser Eslie and Callum Stewart 2 holes.
Michael Black and Harry McLeod bt Ross Kenedy and Thomas Dingwall 3 and 2.

Calling all Junior Pennant League officials. If your teams were playing today, E-mail the results and details to Colin@scottishgolfview.com and we'll put the information up on the website.
We are also ready to display any team pictures.

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Ferguson shares third place behind Irish title 

winner Moynihan

Bearsden's Ewen Ferguson finished joint third behind Irish open amateur stroke-play championship winner Gavin Moynihan (The Island) at Royal Dublin Golf Club today.
Moynihan, winner last year of the Scottish open amateur stroke play championship at Panmure, regained the Irish title he won in 2012 years ago with an aggregate of four-under-par 284, good scoring in a weekend of mixed weather.
A 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, Moynihan had rounds of 69, 76, 65 and 74 to book a  place in the GB and I team for the Walker Cup match against the United States at Royal Lytham St Annes later this year.
Moynihan, whose third-round 65 lowered Lloyd Saltman's course record by a stroke, won by three shots from Stirling University student Cormac Sharvin, a former Irish amateur champion, who scored 72, 71, 72 and 72 for 287.
Ferguson, winner of the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven and the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh last month, shot 76, 70, 71 and 71 for level par 288, the same mark as last year's R&A Junior Open winner,  17-year-old Kevin LeBlanc (The Island) who had scores of 71, 71, 68 and 78
Youngster LeBlanc and Moynihan were four shots clear of the field in joint leadership with a round to go.
Only three other Scots survived the third-round cut.
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) tied for 11th place on 290 (72-75-69-74).
Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) shared 13th palce on 291 (72-77-72-70) while Craig Ross (Kirkhill), the highest placed Scot with only 18 holes to play, had a nightmare last round of 81, after good earlier rounds of 71, 72 and 73. He finished in joint 29th place  on 297. 
A second Stirling Uni student among the leading finishers at Marco Iten from Switzerland. He tied for fifth place on 289, his closing 70 being one of the lowest rounds of the windy last day.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
284 Gavin Moynihan (Ire) 69 76 65 74
287 Cormac Sharvin (Ire) 72 71 72 72
288 Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) 76 70 71 71, Kevin LeBlanc (Ire) 71 71 68 78
289 Marco Iten (Swi) 72 76 71 70, Stuart Grehan (Ire) 72 74 72 71

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
290 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 72 75 69 74 (T11)
291 Greig Marchbank (thornhill) 72 77 72 70 (T23)
297 Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 71 72 73 8 (T29).

 Moynihan books his place in Walker Cup team

FROM THE IRISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
As the wind whipped across the Dollymount strand, Gavin Moynihan stood tall and true, a champion astride Royal Dublin once more. Pictured with trophy by courtesy of Pat Cashman
Second time around, winning the Irish Amateur Open Championship was a sweeter success for the 20-year-old member of The Island Golf Club and second-year student at the University of Alabama as well as being the winner of the Scottish open amateur stroke-play title at Panmure GC last season..
In 2012 he came from the blind side to become the youngest ever champion. This time he led from the front.
"The first time I was just trying to make the cut. I wasn't even thinking about winning. This is definitely better, the last one was tougher to win but this felt tougher," said Moynihan, who finished with five straight pars to sign for a 74 that gave him a three-shot win on four under 284
Level with 17-year-old clubmate Kevin LeBlanc at the start of play, Moynihan began birdie-birdie to edge ahead. LeBlanc kept in touch until the seventh when a bogey put him two behind but it was to and fro throughout a fascinating finale

Both players faltered as the wind got over 25mph -- at one stage Moynihan had to back off a putt as gusts of up to 40mph swept across the links.
Moynihan dropped three shots in four holes at the start of his back nine and had to hole a 10-footer for bogey on the 10th. LeBlanc failed to capitalise, his putter going cold for the first time this week.
"If I held a few putts today it would have been the difference," said the 17-year-old, RandA Junior Open winner of 2013. who had good looks at birdie on 14 and 17 but couldn't convert. As Moynihan played smart, pars were enough to keep his closest challenger at bay. No one had emerged from the chasing pack either so he headed to 18 knowing a 4 would suffice.
"I told my caddy if he's (LeBlanc) not on the green, I'm winging it left, I don't care," said Moynihan, who was safely in the fairway with a three-wood while LeBlanc found rough on the right. His approach came up short so Moynihan played left of the green, leaving himself a 67-yard pitch for his third. While LeBlanc closed with a double bogey, a three-putt from close range dropped him into a tie for third, Moynihan coolly rolled in his par putt.
"I think it is a bit more special," Moynihan said of his second Irish Amateur Open victory. "I couldn't wait to get back here the start of the year. It was in my mind the whole year. I've played here four times, missed the cut once, won twice and lost in a playoff."
With this victory, Moynihan is a certainty for September's Walker Cup match and it gives him a licence to thrill for the rest of the summer. His next chance comes at the end of May when he tees it up alongside the professionals at the Irish Open in Royal Co Down. And he's predicting big things for LeBlanc.
"Kevin is going to win this, definitely, it suits him. He's playing way ahead of his years. Nothing fazes him," said Moynihan.
LeBlanc, who turned 17 last Wednesday, had plenty of positives to reflect upon.
"I played well all the week, I did everything I wanted to do," he said. "I'll learn a lot."
Apart from Moynihan, the biggest winner of the week was Stirling University student Cormac Sharvin. The rising star from Ardglass birdied the 18th to sneak into second place, which gives his Walker Cup credentials a huge boost.
"It doesn't do my Walker Cup selection any harm," said Sharvin, who birdied three of his last six holes to finish at one under.
"I got off to a slow start. I was three over through 11 so didn't have much going. The front nine was there to be taken, straight downwind. You needed to be two or three under and then hold onto it on the back nine. I did it in reverse which is nice I suppose."


ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) CSS 75 76 75 76
284: Gavin Moynihan (The Island) 69 76 65 74
287: Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) 72 71 72 72
288: Ewen Ferguson (Scotland) 76 70 71 71, Kevin LeBlanc (The Island) 71 71 68 78
289: Marco Iten (Switzerland) 72 76 71 70, Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/MU) 72 74 72 71, Jonathan Yates (Naas) 72 71 71 75, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 70 76 74 69, Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 70 76 71 72, Evan Griffith (Wales) 69 72 75 73
290: Jack McDonald (Scotland) 72 75 69 74, Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth) 69 75 71 75
291: Greig Marchbank (Scotland) 72 77 72 70, Marco Penge (England) 71 73 73 74
292: Aaron Grant (Dundalk) 75 72 70 75, Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 74 76 73 69, Tom Gandy (Isle of Man) 71 72 72 77, Lukas Lipold (Austria) 70 73 73 76, Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 69 77 70 76
293: James Allan (England) 74 72 73 74, Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 72 73 70 78, Gary Collins (Rosslare) 70 77 71 75, Jack Hume (Naas) 69 70 78 76
294: Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 74 74 73 73
295: Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 78 68 73 76, Gary Hurley (West Waterford/MU) 71 76 72 76
296: Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 73 77 71 75, Tomas Bessa (Portugal) 72 72 76 76
297: Michele Cea (Italy) 78 76 68 75, Axel Boasson (Iceland) 77 70 75 75, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 73 77 71 76, Christian Braeunig (Germany) 72 75 76 74, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell) 71 74 76 76, Craig Ross (Scotland) 71 72 73 81
298: Nicholas Poppleton (England) 77 72 71 78, Damon Coulson (England) 75 72 75 76, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 74 72 76 76, Luke Trocado (South Africa) 69 79 73 77, Richard James (Wales) 69 74 71 84
299: Declan Loftus (Castlebar/MU) 77 72 74 76, Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little.) 75 77 71 76
300: Jake Whelan (Newlands/MU) 76 72 69 83
301: Alex Gleeson (Castle) 76 73 74 78, Conor O'Rourke (Naas) 73 75 74 79
302: Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo/MU) 76 71 75 80, Tim Harry (Wales) 71 74 77 80
303: Matthew Jordan (England) 74 75 74 80
306: Eugene Smith (Ardee) 77 74 71 84


oynihan wins the Irish Amateur

​​As the wind whipped across the Dollymount strand, Gavin Moynihan stood tall and true, a champion astride Royal Dublin once more.
  • 10 May 2015
  • -
As the wind whipped across the Dollymount strand, Gavin Moynihan stood tall and true, a champion astride Royal Dublin once more.
Second time around, winning the Irish Amateur Open Championship was a sweeter success for the 20-year-old. In 2012 he came from the blind side to become the youngest ever champion. This time he led from the front.

Gavin Moynihan The Island-2.jpg"The first time I was just trying to make the cut. I wasn't even thinking about winning. This is definitely better, the last one was tougher to win but this felt tougher," said Moynihan, who finished with five straight pars to sign for a 74 that gave him a three shot win on four under.

Level with clubmate Kevin LeBlanc at the start of play, Moynihan began birdie-birdie to edge ahead. LeBlanc kept in touch until the seventh when a bogey put him two behind but it was to and fro throughout a fascinating finale. Both players faltered as the wind got over 25mph -- at one stage Moynihan had to back off a putt as gusts of up to 40mph swept across the links.

Moynihan dropped three shots in four holes at the start of his back nine and had to hole a 10-footer for bogey on the 10th. LeBlanc failed to capitalise, his putter going cold for the first time this week.

"If I held a few putts today it would have been the difference," said the 17-year-old, who had good looks at birdie on 14 and 17 but couldn't convert. As Moynihan played smart, pars were enough to keep his closest challenger at bay. No one had emerged from the chasing pack either so he headed to 18 knowing a four would suffice.

"I told my caddy if he's (LeBlanc) not on the green, I'm winging it left, I don't care," said Moynihan, who was safely in the fairway with a three-wood while LeBlanc found rough on the right. His approach came up short so Moynihan played left of the green, leaving himself a 67-yard pitch for his third. While LeBlanc closed with a double bogey, a three-putt from close range dropped him into a tie for third, Moynihan coolly rolled in his par putt.

"I think it is a bit more special," Moynihan said of his second Irish Amateur Open victory. "I couldn't wait to get back here the start of the year. It was in my mind the whole year. I've played here four times, missed the cut once, won twice and lost in a playoff."

With this victory, Moynihan is a certainty for September's Walker Cup and it gives him a licence to thrill for the rest of the summer. His next chance comes at the end of May when he tees it up alongside the professionals at the Irish Open in Royal Co Down. And he's predicting big things for LeBlanc.

"Kevin is going to win this, definitely, it suits him. He's playing way ahead of his years. Nothing fazes him," said Moynihan.

LeBlanc, who turned 17 last Wednesday, had plenty of positives to reflect upon.

"I played good all the week, I did everything I wanted to do," he said. "I'll learn a lot."

Kevin LeBlanc The Island.jpgApart from Moynihan, the biggest winner of the week was Cormac Sharvin. The rising star from Ardglass birdied the 18th to sneak into second place, which gives his Walker Cup credentials a huge boost.

"It doesn't do my Walker Cup selection any harm," said Sharvin, who birdied three of his last six holes to finish at one under.

"I got off to a slow start. I was three over through 11 so didn't have much going. The front nine was there to be taken, straight downwind. You needed to be two or three under and then hold onto it on the back nine. I did it in reverse which is nice I suppose."

Royal Dublin's Jeff Hopkins and Dundalk's Caolaon Rafferty both carded 69s, the best rounds on the final day. Hopkins finished in a tie for fifth at one over alongside Jonathan Yates (Naas), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) and Stuart Grehan (Tullamore). Rafferty climbed into a share of 15th on four over. Co Louth teenager Thomas Mulligan finished in a tie for 11th on his championship debut. The 16-year-old carded a 75 to end the week at two over.

Tonight Gavin Moynihan is the king of Royal Dublin once more.

Photos: Top and middle, Gavin Moynihan. Bottom, Kevin LeBlanc. Photos by Casman Photography



CSS: Rd 1 = 75; Rd 2 = 76; Rd 3 = 75; Rd 4 = 76

284: Gavin Moynihan (The Island) 69 76 65 74
287: Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) 72 71 72 72
288: Ewen Ferguson (Scotland) 76 70 71 71, Kevin LeBlanc (The Island) 71 71 68 78
289: Marco Iten (Switzerland) 72 76 71 70, Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/MU) 72 74 72 71, Jonathan Yates (Naas) 72 71 71 75, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 70 76 74 69, Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 70 76 71 72, Evan Griffith (Wales) 69 72 75 73
290: Jack McDonald (Scotland) 72 75 69 74, Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth) 69 75 71 75
291: Greig Marchbank (Scotland) 72 77 72 70, Marco Penge (England) 71 73 73 74
292: Aaron Grant (Dundalk) 75 72 70 75, Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 74 76 73 69, Tom Gandy (Isle of Man) 71 72 72 77, Lukas Lipold (Austria) 70 73 73 76, Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 69 77 70 76
293: James Allan (England) 74 72 73 74, Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 72 73 70 78, Gary Collins (Rosslare) 70 77 71 75, Jack Hume (Naas) 69 70 78 76
294: Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 74 74 73 73
295: Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 78 68 73 76, Gary Hurley (West Waterford/MU) 71 76 72 76
296: Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 73 77 71 75, Tomas Bessa (Portugal) 72 72 76 76
297: Michele Cea (Italy) 78 76 68 75, Axel Boasson (Iceland) 77 70 75 75, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 73 77 71 76, Christian Braeunig (Germany) 72 75 76 74, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell) 71 74 76 76, Craig Ross (Scotland) 71 72 73 81
298: Nicholas Poppleton (England) 77 72 71 78, Damon Coulson (England) 75 72 75 76, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 74 72 76 76, Luke Trocado (South Africa) 69 79 73 77, Richard James (Wales) 69 74 71 84
299: Declan Loftus (Castlebar/MU) 77 72 74 76, Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little.) 75 77 71 76
300: Jake Whelan (Newlands/MU) 76 72 69 83
301: Alex Gleeson (Castle) 76 73 74 78, Conor O'Rourke (Naas) 73 75 74 79
302: Sean Flanagan (Co. Sligo/MU) 76 71 75 80, Tim Harry (Wales) 71 74 77 80
303: Matthew Jordan (England) 74 75 74 80
306: Eugene Smith (Ardee) 77 74 71 84
- See more at: https://www.golfnet.ie/news/gui/269/Moynihan%20wins%20the%20Irish%20Amateur#sthash.urYm1u5b.dpuf

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Hutch back in form to win Portpatrick pro-am

Greig Hutcheon quickly recovered from his last-round slump in the cold and wet at the Gleneagles Scottish professional championship earlier in  the week by winning the first prize of £1,250 in the £6,750 Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club pro-am at the weekend.
The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player shot a bogey-free, seven-under-par 63 to finish two shots clear of four players on 65 - Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Sam Binning  (Mearns Castle).
Hutch birdied the third, ninth, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th, coming  home in only 30 strokes.
Joint runner-up Brown also reduced the inward half to 30 shots but he had taken 35 for the first nine.The joint runners-up earned £690 each.

LEADING SCORES
Par 70
63 G Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie GC)
65 G Brown (Montrose Links), N Fenwick (Dunbar), S Gray (Hayston), S Binning (Mearns Castle)
66 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), C Kelly (unatt), C Currie (Caldwel)
67 C Ronald (Carluke), P McKechnie (Braid Hills)
68 G McBain (Paul Lawrie GC), S Henderson (Kings Links), J Lomas (Caprington)
69
P Shields (Kirkhill), G Hardy (Ayr Belleisle), P Rob inson (Largs), J McCreadie (Largs), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), G Paxton (Ralston), C McMaster (Panmure)
71 C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey), D Stein (Ranfurly Castle), A Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy)
72 D Andrews (Bonnyton), C Gillies (unatt0, I ~Colqunhoun (Loch Lomond), A Marshall (Houston GR), J Fraser (Renaissance).
73 R Dixon (Renaissancde), R Leeds (Turnberry Hotel), M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy)
74 D Nicol (Dundonald Links), A Reid (West Lothian)
75 C Tierney (Bishopbriggs), V Brown (Logos Golf).
77 N Sinclair (Prestwick).

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Coetzee beats Olesen in Mauritius Open at 

second hole of play-off


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
George Coetzee prevented Thorbjørn Olesen from making a dream return after three months out injured by defeating the Dane on the second hole of a play-off to win the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open today.
Olesen, who has not played since the start of February after surgery to his left hand, had set the clubhouse target of 13 under par with a three under par final round of 68.
But South African Coetzee, who had led for the majority of the final day until a bogey on the 17th hole, birdied the closing hole for a round of 69 to match that total and take the tournament to extra holes.
After his eagle attempt lipped out on the first extra hole and both players made birdies, Coetzee then took advantage second time round with another four, compared to Olesen’s par five, to claim his third European Tour title.
The victory, Coetzee’s second of the season on The European Tour after March’s Tshwane Open, moves him into the top ten on The Race to Dubai, and with the campaign only 19 events old, he is the fifth multiple European Tour winner so far in 2015, joining Branden Grace, Anirban Lahiri, Andy Sullivan and Rory McIlroy.
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat birdied two of the closing three holes for a final round of 67 to finish third on 12 under par. Fittingly, it meant the Sunshine, European and Asian Tours were all represented in the top three in the first tournament to be tri-sanctioned by the three Tours.
Key player quotes
George Coetzee – 69 (-13 total)
“I felt nervous during the day but I’m happy to have pulled through it and posted a good number. Thorbjørn did unbelievable well to put pressure on me the whole day and I had to work hard to catch him. I’m just happy the job is done, it doesn’t matter how many holes it takes, you just get it done.
“I would have love to have won it on the first play-off hole with an eagle and do it in style, but I’m obviously happy just to have won.
“They’ve done a fantastic job with the tri-sanctioning of this event and bring us to a fantastic place like Mauritius. It is great to get another victory on the European Tour and obviously it counts towards my Sunshine Tour ranking as well so I’m pleased with that too. I actually played on the Asian Tour in 2009 and I couldn’t make a cut – I was living on scraps – so it is nice to finally get an Asian Tour win as well.
“I definitely thought about the fact I had two play-offs at the Match Play last week. I definitely felt more comfortable because of that and I thought about it in the play-off here. I thought I was ready for it and just wanted to play my game.”
Thorbjørn Olesen – 68 (-13 total)
“It’s disappointing, of course, when you are in a play-off and you don’t win. There were a couple of key moments out there where I hit a bad tee shot on the tenth andf the 14th, and those two holes cost me today. It’s difficult to play that 18th with a three wood,  but I’ve been hitting my driver pretty bad so I had to. George hit some great shots there in the play-off to get two birdies, as it’s not an easy hole. So big congratulations to him and he’s played really well.
"I hit a great five iron on 17 and walked it up there. I knew it was going to be good and hit a nice putt. A birdie on that hole is one of the good birdies. I had the chance on 18 also but hit it right, and it was a difficult bunker shot. I’m pretty pleased with the way I hadnled things today though. I had a bad start again and fought my way back. It was a lot of fighting out there and George just played a little better.
"I didn’t expect this before the tournament so to be in a play-off is unbelievable when I haven’t been in a tournament for three months. I’m very pleased with that and I can take it with me. It’s a good start."

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
271 G Coetzee (RSA) 70 67 65 69, T Olesen (Den) 65 68 70 68
272 M Mamat (Sin) 69 69 67 67
273 T Aiken (RSA) 69 66 68 70
274 J Parry (Eng) 67 70 71 66, M Kawamura (Jpn) 68 69 71 66, S Hend (Aus) 72 66 70 66
276 M Bremner (RSA) 71 70 66 69, O Bekker (RSA) 66 71 71 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 71 70 68 67
277 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 66 69 69, R Gangjee (Ind) 67 70 74 66
278 J Roos (RSA) 70 71 67 70, R Lee (Can) 72 68 72 66, J Janewattananond (Tha) 69 70 68 71, J Walters (RSA) 67 73 69 69, K Horne (RSA) 70 69 71 68, P Edberg (Swe) 68 66 74 70, A McArthur  (Sco) 68 70 68 72,
279 A Dodt (Aus) 72 69 70 68, S Brazel (Aus) 69 70 70 70, C Lloyd (Eng) 73 70 69 67, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 68 67 73 71, A Pavan (Ita) 73 69 68 69, D Burmester (RSA) 67 68 71 73, N Holman  (Aus) 67 73 66 73, M Lundberg (Swe) 68 71 72 68, C Pigem (Esp) 65 72 69 73
280 C Paisley  (Eng) 72 69 68 71, B Evans  (Eng) 70 70 70 70, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 69 72 68, V Riu  (Fra) 71 70 68 71, S Barr (Aus) 69 73 71 67, U Park (Aus) 72 70 69 69, J Hugo  (RSA) 73 69 69 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 68 74 69 69
281 J Palmer (Eng) 71 69 69 72, T Khrongpha (Tha) 69 72 68 72, A Groom (Aus) 71 71 68 71, A Tadini (Ita) 71 69 70 71, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 66 71 74 70, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 68 72 71 70, M Muthiya  (Zam) 67 74 67 73,
282 C Nel (RSA) 69 69 75 69, J Hahn (USA) 70 72 68 72, K Phelan (Irl) 68 73 72 69, G Bhullar (Ind) 72 71 71 68, A Da Silva (Bra) 72 69 73 68, C Hung (Tpe) 70 71 69 72
283 S Lewton (Eng) 70 69 70 74,
284 J Colomo  (Esp) 72 69 72 71, C Phadungsil  (Tha) 72 71 70 71, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 71 71 71, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 72 66 73 73,
285 K Richardson (Aus) 73 66 73 73, D Van Den Heever (RSA) 73 70 71 71, C Bouniol (Fra) 71 70 76 68, M Perera (Sri) 72 71 68 74, P Peterson (USA) 69 70 72 74, D Van Tonder  (RSA) 73 70 66 76, J Lagergren (Swe) 70 71 73 71,
286 T Wiratchant (Tha) 71 71 70 74, R Karlberg  (Swe) 68 75 72 71, E Goya (Arg) 70 71 72 73
287 P Pittayarat (Tha) 67 74 75 71, D Chopra (Swe) 70 68 77 72,
288 R McGowan  (Eng) 70 72 70 76, J Scrivener (Aus) 71 72 72 73, D Woltman (USA) 67 74 75 72, J Wang (Kor) 65 72 76 75, S Supupramai (Tha) 70 73 73 72,
289 P Oriol (Esp) 70 73 72 74, R Wannasrichan (Tha) 74 69 71 75,
290 R Cairns (Zim) 69 74 72 75


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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James White's T37 finish in Gosser Open, Austria

James White earned 416 euros for a joint 37th place finish in the Alps Tour's Gosser Open in Austria.
The Fifer had scores of 70, 72 and 72 for a total of two-under 214 - 10 shots behind the winner of the 5,800 euros top prize, England's Harry Casey with scores of 69, 70 and 65 for 12-under-par 204.
Scott Stewart-Cation (74-69 for 143) and John Henry (73-73 for 146) both missed the cut at 142.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
204 Harry Casey (Eng) 69 70 65.
205 Darius Van Driel (Ned) 69 69 67, Andrew Cooley (Eng) 67 69 69

SCOTS' SCORES
214 James White 70 72 72 (T37)


MISSED THE CUT
143 Scott Stewart-Cation 74 69
146 John Henry 73 73

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