Fraser Mann 4th behind winning senior debutant Peter Baker

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Carnoustie's Fraser Mann finished joint fourth behind former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker who made a winning debut on the Senior Golf Circuit for 48-year-olds and over in the Aguilon Stakes at Aguilon Golf Club, Almeria in Spain today (Sat)

Mann had a pair of 72s for level par 144 - four shots behind Baker who won by one shot with two rounds of 70 for 140. Stephen McNally (70-71) was runner-up on 141.

David James from Dumfries, the organiser of the Senior Golf Circuit, finished eighth on 150 with two scores of 75.

SENIOR GOLF CIRCUIT - AGUILON STAKES

Aguilon Golf Club, Almeria, Spain.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

140 Peter Baker 70 70

141 S McNally 70 71

142 G Bannister 72 70

144 D Hospital 74 70, F Mann 72 72.

SELECTED TOTAL

150 D James 75 75 (8th)

Gunn loses ground at Web.com Tour Q School

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn, now based in Arizona, dropped back to joint 48th position with a third-round 73, after earlier scores of 71 and 68, for a 54-hole tally of 212 at the Web.com Tour Final Qualifying School at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida today

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NEWS RELEASE FROM WEB.COM TOUR
 

By Kevin Casey

He's made it clearer and clearer in each successive round at Web.com Tour Q-School: This is Adam Svensson's week.
The Canadian fired a third straight 7-under round Saturday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to stretch his overnight five-shot lead to eight. Svensson, 21, surprisingly went bogey-free for the first time all week during the third round, but all in all he has just as many eagles (two) as blemishes on the scorecard this week between PGA National's Champion and Fazio courses.
His closest pursuer with one round to go is Ryan Brehm at 13 under.
"I've been playing some pretty nice golf, and I attribute that to my putter," said Svensson after his Saturday 65 on the Fazio Course. "I've got a new putter and I seem to be rolling it pretty nicely."
Svensson only turned pro earlier in 2015, and showed some promising results with a ninth-place showing on the Mackenzie Tour money list in just six events. But nothing had signaled a performance quite this grand.
Svensson is outright lapping a field in a pressure-packed event where much is at stake. While all players who made it to this week already have conditional Web.com Tour status next year, that would be very minor to the (virtually) full 2016 card they would earn with a top-45 finish.
The breakdown goes as such: The winner or joint winners earn fully-exempt cards, with finishers 2-10 (and ties) susceptible to the third reshuffle and finishers 11-45 (and ties) susceptible to the second reshuffle of 2016.
In the lead and knowing what a win could get him, Svensson only opened the third round with an eagle and then played flawless golf in somewhat windy conditions.
The fully-exempt spot looks like it may not be much of a battle, but the Nos. 2-10 is a whole different story. Twenty-six players are crunched between 13 under (solo second) and 6 under (T-17). Ollie Schniederjans sits T-14 at 11 under after a third-round 70 and 2015 American Walker Cupper Denny McCarthy is 6 under and T-17.
The notables in serious danger of not earning their full card include: Kyle Jones (5 under, T-28), Austin Cook (5 under, T-28), Cheng-Tsung Pan (3 under, T-48), Steven Fox (2 under, T-58), Brandon Hagy (Even Par, T-76), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (2 over, T-88) and Jack Maguire (6 over, T-126).

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Aces high for Montgomerie in Mauritius
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS.
Colin Montgomerie opened up a commanding lead after the second round of the MCB Tour Championship on Mauritius, thanks to a course record-equalling round of 64 which included a hole in one on the 17th.
Montgomerie had trailed overnight leader David Frost by three shots after the opening day’s play at Constance Belle Mare Plage but he seized the initiative with a dominant display on day two, with the undoubted highlight his pitch perfect eight iron from 164 yards on the penultimate hole.
That ace, allied to five birdies in a flawless performance, moved Montgomerie to 12 under par, four shots clear of Frost and his fellow South African Chris Williams.
Victory on the final day in Mauritius would set the seal on another sensational season for Montgomerie, who is yet to finish outside the top three in four appearances on the European Senior Tour this term.       
He said: “When you drive the ball well on this course and keep it in play from the tee, you’re likely to have a good day out there – especially as my iron play is my strength. I think I hit 16 greens out of 18 today and managed to take a few birdie chances, then of course the 17th was a bit of a bonus.
“Normally I hit my eight iron 158 yards, so I was on the limit but the wind was helping us slightly. I struck it very nicely, then it got a kindly bounce and started tracking towards the hole, so at that point I started getting a little excited. You always hope it’s going to drop in but of course it rarely does, so it was very nice to see it disappear from view.
“That finish sets me up very nicely for tomorrow, I’ve given myself every chance of finishing the season on a high note and that’s what we’ll try to do. But it won’t be easy, we all know from past experience David is a great competitor and he loves it round here, so I’ll have to play very well to win.”
Despite a stiffening breeze, Frost had again looked in control of his game until the 15th hole, where his tee shot found the water. The resulting double bogey undid some of his good work on the front nine, which he covered in 34.
A back nine of 37 for a round of 71 and an eight under par aggregate total is not terminal to his hopes of securing a third victory in the €420,000 tournament, but the 56 year old knows he will need to be at the very top of his game on the final day if he is to catch Montgomerie.
Frost, whose opening round of 64 three years ago had set the course record, said: “I hit a couple of loose shots on the way in, maybe I got a little conservative but it’s difficult to concentrate fully in the heat. I got a little light-headed and a little dehydrated, so that’s probably cost me in the end but I’m still in with a good chance on the final day.
“I’m probably going to have to go low, but you never know what can happen in golf. I’ve got less to fear and nothing to lose, so I’ll set out aggressively and try to put some pressure on.”
Williams will partner Montgomerie in the final group after carding his second successive round of 68.
After three birdies on the front nine, he added a further gain on the 13th to move into contention to claim his first title for four years.
Barry Lane also put himself in position to win the season finale for the first time, having finished runner-up in last year and in 2012.
The Englishman, currently third on the Senior Tour Order of Merit, rounded off a 65 in fine style, chipping in on the last to climb to fourth place on seven under par.
He said: “It was very tricky in the wind, so I’m delighted with a 65. I broke my driver in the Pro-Am and drove the ball poorly yesterday, but I trusted myself a little more off the tee today, and it paid off. I also putted a lot better today, and the chip in on the last was a lovely way to finish. I’ve given myself an outside chance, but at least I’ll have something to play for tomorrow.”

SECOND ROUND SCOREBOARDpar 144 (2x72)
132 C Montgomerie  (Sco) 68 64
136 C Williams (RSA) 68 68, D Frost (RSA) 65 71, 
137 B Lane (Eng) 71 66
139 P Eales (Eng) 67 72, A Sherborne (Eng) 69 70
140 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 69 71, J Smith (USA) 70 70
141 P Broadhurst (Eng) 69 72, M Martin (Esp) 69 72, L Carbonetti (Arg) 68 73, P Fowler (Aus) 70 71  
142 D Smyth (Irl) 72 70, R Drummond (Sco) 70 72
143 A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 72, S Luna (Esp) 71 72, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 71 72, 
144 B Cameron (Eng) 70 74, T Thelen (USA) 72 72, G Rusnak (USA) 73 71
145 J Berendt (Arg) 77 68, P Wesselingh (Eng) 69 76
146 G Marks (Eng) 74 72, J Remesy (Fra) 72 74, R Chapman (Eng) 72 74, C Monasterio (Arg) 72 74, J Carriles (Esp) 73 73, 
147 S Brown (Eng) 74 73, F Lamare (Fra) 75 72, M Farry (Fra) 73 74, K Tarling (Can) 75 72
148 J Gould (Eng) 73 75, P Golding (Eng) 75 73, G Manson (Aut) 72 76, M Mackenzie (Eng) 74 74, M Mouland (Wal) 77 71, R Gibson (Can) 74 74
149 A Bossert (Sui) 74 75, L Zhang (Chn) 72 77, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 74
150 J Harrison (Eng) 77 73, J Quiros (Esp) 73 77, W Grant (Eng) 77 73
151 P Linhart (Esp) 75 76, J Sallat (Fra) 77 74 
152 P Walton (Irl) 72 80, M Davis (Eng) 74 78
153 S Tinning (Den) 76 77, A Franco (Par) 78 75, V Seeneevassen (Mri) 75 78 
155 G Emerson (Eng) 79 76 
156 R Sabarros (Fra) 79 77 
160 M McLean (Eng) 81 79

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SORDET LIVES THE DREAM BY LEADING THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Frenchman Sordet posts a 63 to take third-round lead in Thailand Championship

Chonburi, Thailand: Rising French talent Clement Sordet emerged as the surprise package when he stormed his way to the top with a third round nine-under-par 63 at the Thailand Golf Championship on Saturday.

Playing on a sponsor’s invitation, the 23-year-old stuck to his patient game plan before compiling a three-day total of 16-under-par 200 for a two-shot lead over Wales’ Jamie Donaldson, who had led the opening two rounds at the US$1 million Asian Tour event.

Westwood remains on target for his Thailand Golf Championship treble as he made his move with a 64 to take third place with Korea’s Byeonghun An a further shot back in fourth place on 204 total at the Amata Spring Country Club. 

Having only joined the play-for-pay ranks in July this year, Sordet clinched his first victory in just his fourth start as a professional in Northern Ireland the following month.

The Frenchman is continuing to make his mark abroad by eclipsing the marquee names at the Thai showpiece which he fears may now give him a sleepless night. 

“Hopefully I can sleep well tonight. I’ll try not take a nap this afternoon so I can sleep well tonight.

“It's pretty much my dream to play with the top players in the field. I’ll do that tomorrow and hopefully I'll enjoy it and just play my own game,” said Sordet.

Starting the day in eighth place, Sordet sprinted towards the turn in 31 but it was his eagle-three and birdie on 15 and 17 respectively which gave him the most satisfaction. 

“The eagle was a highlight as I made a bogey there on the first day and also the birdie on 17. It was sweet revenge after I made a stupid triple there yesterday,” said Sordet.

Donaldson stumbled with an opening bogey but did enough to hold onto his lead at the turn after making three birdies on holes two, five and seven. 

However, his fortunes changed after a double-bogey six on 12.

“I played nicely through quite a few holes, getting my momentum swinging back my way. I was cruising until 12, which was a killer. When I got onto the tee, the shot just wasn’t there. I made a double and suddenly I went from feeling great, to ‘Hang on a minute. Where’s this going?’” said Donaldson. 

The Welshman managed to steady the ship coming home and although he had to relinquish the lead he had held over the last two days, Donaldson knows the fight is far from over.

“There some tough holes coming in and I saved a few shots on the way in. It hasn’t been what I wanted today but tomorrow’s another day and I just have to get off to a quick start. 

"I’ve done enough to stay in the tournament and I’m still in it,” said Donaldson.

After rounds of 71 and 68, Lee burst into life with a sparkling 64 where his only blemish of the day came at the par-five seven where he dropped a shot. 

“I was confident and in control and it has got to do with being on a course which I’ve won twice before.

“I hit it close a lot today and I played with a new putter. It feels a lot more stable and I’m rolling the ball quite nicely with it,” said the 2011 and 2014 Thailand Golf Championship winner. 

The former world number one believes it will be a close fight till the end with the quality of the field on show this week.

“I’m still three behind and I got to shoot a really low score tomorrow,” said Westwood.

 

LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES

Par 216 (3x72) Yardage 7,498

200 - Clement SORDET (FRA) 71-66-63.

202 - Jamie DONALDSON (WAL) 63-68-71.

203 - Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 71-68-64.

204 - Byeonghun AN (KOR) 69-67-68.

205 - Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 66-69-70, Martin KAYMER (GER) 68-65-72.

206 - Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 70-68-68.

207 - Matthew FITZPATRICK (ENG) 68-67-72.

208 - Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 68-76-64, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 68-74-66, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 73-68-67, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-72-67, Sunghoon KANG (SKOR) 70-68-70.

209 - S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND) 72-69-68, Darren CLARKE (NIR) 69-71-69, JIN Cheng (CHN) 73-67-69, Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 68-71-70, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 70-66-73.

210 - Jacques BLAAUW (RSA) 70-69-71, Brett MUNSON (USA) 67-72-71, Joost LUITEN (NED) 69-70-71.

211 - Thomas BJORN (DEN) 73-69-69, Arjun ATWAL (IND) 73-69-69, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-71-69, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 72-70-69, Shingo KATAYAMA (JPN) 71-70-70, Berry HENSON (USA) 70-70-71, Nicolas COLSAERTS (BEL) 70-70-71.

 

Franklin Templeton Shootout

SECOND ROUND Place Team Score Thru Round 1 2 3 1 Daniel Berger & Charley Hoffman -20 18 -12 -8 - T2 Jason Dufner & Brandt Snedeker -19 18 -11 -8 - T2 Harris English & Matt Kuchar -19 18 -14 -5 - 4 Billy Horschel & Hunter Mahan -17 18 -13 -4 - T5 Graeme McDowell & Gary Woodland -15 18 -13 -2 - T5 Cameron Tringale & Camilo Villegas -15 18 -12 -3 - T7 Charles Howell III & Rory Sabbatini -14 18 -10 -4 - T7 J.B. Holmes & Patrick Reed -14 18 -11 -3 - 9 Zach Johnson & Patrick Rodgers -13 18 -8 -5 - T10 Sean O’Hair & Mike Weir -12 18 -7 -5 - T10 Kenny Perry & Steve Stricker -12 18 -7 -5 - 12 Retief Goosen & Danny Lee -9 18 -9 E - Last Updated: December 11, 2015, 4:02 pm EST First Round, Scramble - Each player hits a drive on every hole and the best drive is selected. Each player then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected drive lays, and the best second shot is selected. This process is repeated until the hole is completed. Second Round, Modified Alternate Shot - Each player hits a drive on every hole and one drive is selected. The player whose drive is NOT selected hits the second shot, and they alternate shots until the ball is holed. Final Round, Better Ball - Each player plays through every hole using his own ball. The player whose score is the lowest on each hole will be the team score for that hole.

Jack Nicklaus finds joy in playing with

 sons in post-professional life

Gary Nicklaus listens as his dad, Jack, answers questions during the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz Carlton Golf Club. ( Tracy Wilcox ) 

 

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM 

By Adam Schupak

ORLANDO – There's a banner near the entrance to the driving range at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club this week with a quote from Jack Nicklaus.
It says, "People ask me all the time what my dream foursome would be, and I tell them it would have to be a fivesome. So I could get all four of my sons in there. I don't play golf any more, but whenever one of my boys wants to play, I will be there. They enjoy playing and because of that, I do too. It's a special time each year when we can play a little golf together, but more important, we have a lot of fun together."
That is a perfect summation of why the PNC Father-Son Challenge continues to thrive. Nicklaus, making his 14th appearance in the event, and his son, Gary, headline a 20-man field of Hall of Famers (12), major champions (63 collective titles), and Ryder Cup captains (10). The 36-hole, scramble-format competition begins in earnest on Dec. 12.
Nicklaus, 75, said he hadn't prepped much but he played nine holes earlier this week with his son and shot a 39 to Gary's 32.
"I think we're going to ride you," Jack told Gary.
"Hopefully you can make some putts," Gary replied. "I’ll get it on the green and you make the putts."
When asked the best part of his game, Nicklaus pointed to the ground. "Right here, after it’s over telling you how good I used to be," he kidded. "Not much is good right now. I just don’t play."
Since hanging up the sticks at age 65, Jack has found other outlets to keep his competitive juices flowing, Gary said.
"I think whether he’s playing gin, tennis, golf, fishing, it’s competitive and it always has been," Gary said.
"That’s my life," Jack said. "My life has always been about competition and that’s what I’ve really enjoyed. I lost my vehicle to it through golf. That used to be my vehicle. 
"I play a lot of tennis now, but my expectations at tennis are not real high. Fish don’t know how old I am and I throw a fly all right.  
"Unfortunately, golf is the one thing that I don’t have the strength to be as competitive. This type of event is a good event for me to play...I swing as hard as I can and smash it out there about 220 yards, then we go play his ball and I pick mine up."
Team Nicklaus won this event 16 years ago, and Jack still wants to win, though he tempered his expectations. At this stage in his life, the camaraderie and chance for father-son time provides ample satisfaction. 
When someone deigned to ask if the Father-Son should continue, Jack quickly shot down what he considered to be an inane question, but did so in such a way that he made clear he'd be coming back for years to come.
"Why wouldn’t it? Why would that even be a question? You have the smallest purse of the year with the best field of the year. Why? Because fathers are playing with their sons," he said. 
"They don’t care what the purse is. They want to come out and play and be part of what we’re doing. This tournament will continue as long as fathers have sons who want to play golf with them."
Sounds like the perfect quote for next year's banner.

US  PGA Tour consider moving WGC event from Trump's Miami resort

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM 
By Andy Swales

Next year's WGC-Cadillac Championship will remain at Doral but, according to the US PGA Tour, may have to be moved to another venue in the future.

The Blue Monster course is one of a number of venues at the Doral Resort in Florida owned by presidential candidate Donald Trump who earlier in the week controversially called for a "total and complete" ban on Muslims entering America.
The Cadillac Championship will be played at Doral in March 2016 but the US PGA Tour were quick to distance themselves from Trump's comments.

A statement from the US PGA Tour read: "We continue to stand by our earlier statement, and the statement of other golf organisations, that Mr Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf.
"The PGA Tour has had a 53-year commitment to the Doral community, the greater Miami area and the charities that have benefited from the tournament.
"Mr Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf.
"Given this commitment, we are moving forward with holding the 2016 event at the Blue Monster.
"Immediately after the completion of the 2016 tournament, we will explore all options regarding the event's future."