FRASER AND LINDSAY MANN FINISH

 TIED FIFTH IN SOUTHERN SPAIN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie professional  brothers Fraser and Lindsay Mann finished tied fifth in an a 36-hole greensomes competition run by the Senior Golf Circuit, for players aged 48 and over, at Arcos Golf Cardens, near Cadiz in southern Spain today (Friday).

The Manns had scores of 69 and 66 for 135, nine shots behind the Spanish winners, Juan Quiros and Roque Bazan who shot a pair of 63s for 126.

The competition was the curtain-raiser to the Senior Golf Circuit's 54-hole conventional stroke play tournament at the same venue, teeing off on Saturday.

The Senior Golf Circuit are the organisers of the £50,000 Aberdeen Senior Masters, to be held at Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire from June 12 to 14.

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Forrest and McDonald both lose but Europe 

cruise to Bonallack Trophy victory in Portugal

Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald both lost their singles ties 4 and 3 on the final day of the Bonallack Trophy match between Europe and Asia-Pacific at Vidago Palace golf course in northern Portugal.
But Europe cruised to a 21.5 to 10.5 victory, a record winning margin and their fifth success in a row in the biennial contest.
Forrest, four down after 12, was beaten by Takumi Kanaya (Japan).
McDonald was only one down after 10 to Zach Murray but the Australian pulled away from the Scot over the next few holes.
Playing together in foursomes and four-ball ties on Days 1 and 2, Forrest and McDonald won twice, halved once, and lost once.
Europe led 7-3 over Asia-Pacific at the end of the first day and by 13.5 to 6.5 once the Day 2 ties were completed on Friday morning.
The home team clinched their overall victory in the biennial contest by taking the final singles 8-4.
On the final day, Mario Galiano (Spain), Italy's Luca Cianchetti and Stefano Mazzoli, Ashton Turner (England), Ireland's Jack Hume, David Boote (Wales), Robin Petersson (Sweden) and Netherland's Jeroen Krietemeijer all added points to Europe’s scoreboard.
Asia-Pacific, under the captaincy of Australian Matt Cutler, had no chance to come back on the final day after the Europeans dominated the first two days.
Whereas Boote, Cianchetti and Galiano had to accept one defeat each, Jack Hume, Robin Petersson and Jeroen Krietemeijer won all of their matches. Hume played four; Petersson and Krietemeijer, three

 

Jason Day sets pace with a 66 to lead by one 

 

at Arnold Palmer Invitational

 

FROM GOLFWEEK.COM

By Adam Schupak

ORLANDO, Florida – There is a banner at the entrance to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and hanging in the tournament media center that shows a young Arnold Palmer at the height of his powers. To the left of the image are the words: “The road to success is always under construction.”
Words for all to live by, especially for another young buck on the verge of achieving greatness. Having reached the pinnacle last season with his first major title and World No. 1 status, Jason Day is trying to pave a new route back to the top. He took a step in the right direction Thursday, recording eight 3s on his scorecard en route to shooting an opening-round 6-under 66, his lowest round in 15 trips around Bay Hill, for a one-stroke lead over fellow Aussies Adam Scott and Marc Leishman and three other competitors.
“I killed the par 5s, which was fantastic,” said Day, who played them in 5 under.
Day carried momentum from his last start at Doral two weeks ago and raced to three birdies in his first eight hole until he snap-hooked his tee shot out of bounds and made double bogey at the ninth. But Day didn’t let it derail his round. He bounced back by touring the second side in 5-under 31.
“Earlier in the season,” he said, “I wouldn’t have moved on as well.”
In seeking to regain the form that propelled him to five victories last season, Day sought advice from Tiger Woods, who won this event eight times.
“Almost this close to asking, ‘Have you got any advice for me (for this event)?’ ” Day said.
The 28-year-old Aussie did just fine on his own. He birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 15 before he canned an 11-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th.
Day said he gains confidence through his practice and claims he’s been “working his butt off.” The biggest difference in his game this season has been a lack of focus. But not in Round 1.
“The lines that I see when I visualize, they're starting to come out kind of similar to what I'm actually hitting,” he said. “So, it's coming around nicely. I wouldn't say it's kind of midseason form like it was last year, but it's getting closer and closer every time I play.”
Day’s best finish so far in four starts in the 2015-16 season is a share of 10th at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Day was encouraged by his show of mental toughness and his sharper focus but refused to let himself jump ahead. He’s savvy enough to know that Friday is another day.
“This is one good round,” he said, “one good round in the right direction, and that's something I just have to build on, and if I can build on that, that would be great, especially with obviously the upcoming tournament that everyone is talking about at Augusta.”

SCROLL DOWN FOR A REPORT ON RORY
McILROY'S 75 AFTER DRIVING OOB AT HOLE 1

SC

Rory McIlroy felt he played better than his score (75) suggested on day one at Bay Hill

By Keith Jackson

Rory McIlroy described his opening 75 as a "big surprise" as he prepared for a battle to make the halfway cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

McIlroy got off to a poor start when he pulled his first tee shot out of bounds and ran up a double-bogey six, and he put three balls into the water at Bay Hill while making only two birdies on the first day.
The world No 3 was looking to bounce back from a disappointing final-round 74 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, where he led by four shots before being overtaken by the in-form Adam Scott down the stretch.

But his score at Bay Hill could have been far worse had he not scrambled pars after finding water at both the third and 16th holes, although he could not avoid another double-bogey six at the eighth when he pulled his second from a fairway bunker into the lake.

"I felt like I was hitting it aggressively, making good swings in my short game and putting. It was a big surprise out there today to be fair," McIlroy told the PGA Tour.
The 26-year-old was clearly rattled by his mistake at the first, and he added: "It's tough. With the way the wind blows and the tee was up a little bit, the hole definitely didn't play like that in the pro-am - I was playing it a lot different and hitting a different club off the tee.
"But you make double that's fine, it's 71 holes left in the golf tournament. You try to regroup and I made a really good par on three, but I never really got into the rhythm or the grind at all. 

McIlroy got off to a double-bogey start after pulling his first tee shot out of bounds

"I kept missing shots left and I tried to correct it too much and then I started missing them right. I need to go on to the range and work on it a little bit and see if I can figure it out.
"I felt like I grinded okay out there and I scrambled well. I had some good things on the back-nine, and it probably could have been a few worse.
"But I'll get some good work done on the range and come out tomorrow and play a good round of golf to get myself into the red numbers, at least I'll be here for the weekend if I can make a charge."

McIlroy's worst shot of the round came at the par-five 16th, where his ambitious second from the left rough did not come remotely close to making the carry over the water.
Explaining his decision to go for the green in two, he added: "I only had 212 yards to the front of the green. I'm starting it at the right hand bunker, 20-25 yards right of the pin, and if it turns it turns, great. If it doesn't I'll be in the front bunker and have a lot of room to work for my up and down for birdie.
"The thing started on a good line, but it turned so much - obviously! I hit four-iron, but I got so much under it and went with the slope. I haven't hit a shot like that in a long time."
McIlroy started Friday's second round in a tie for 39th place. Martin Laird had a 69. Jason Day leads with a six-under 66. 
Paul Casey is in the mix with a sub-70 score

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Olazabal not well enough to play in Masters

 

José María Olazábal has confirmed he will not play in the Masters next month because of health reasons.
The Spaniard has been forced to decline his invitation to the season’s first Major, having not played a competitive round since the second day at Augusta National last year.
The 50 year old has won the Green Jacket twice, in 1994 and 1999, and has amassed eight top ten finishes from his 27 appearances. 

Europe men head for victory in Bonallack Trophy

Grant Forrest is four down after 12 and  Jack McDonald is one down after 10 in their ties in the final set of singles on the third and last day of the Bonallack Trophy match at Vidago Palace in northern Portugal.
Europe led 7-3 over Asia-Pacific at the end of the first day and by 13.5 to 6.5 once the Day 2 ties were completed on Friday morning.
With Europe leading in six of the final 12 singles, it looks very much as if the home side will win the Bonallack Trophy

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 Henry only Scot to survive Kenya Open 

halfway cut - and he did it on limit mark

Only one, Scott Henry, of the five Scots in the Kenya Open field, made the cut at the halfway stage of the Challenge Tour event at Karen Country Club, Nairobi.
Henry's second-round, four-under-par 68 after a lacklustre opening round of 76 got him through to the final two rounds on the limit mark of level par 144.
David Law (74-72) missed out on 146 as did Jack Doherty (72-75 for 147), Chris Doak (74-74 for 148) and Paul Shields (73-75) for 148.
South African Jacques Blaauw leads on 134 (68-66)



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Aussie Pilkadaris leads Indian Open by three

  NEWS RELEASE

Delhi: Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris fired a superb second round  of eight-under-par 64 to lead by three shots over home favourite S S P Chawrasia at the US$1.66 million Hero Indian Open today

Pilkadaris, a three-time Asian Tour winner but not since 2005, reeled in nine birdies to stay ahead of a battling Chawrasia and Nacho Elvira of Spain, who returned with a 67 and 68 respectively at the challenging Delhi Golf Club.

David Lipsky (67) of the United States, the 2014 Order of Merit winner, and Ben Evans (66) of England share fourth place on 136s in the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Lee Slattery of England produced the shot of the day when his three-wood second shot found the back of the cup for a magical albatross 2 on the par-five eighth hole. It was his career’s first albatross and the Asian Tour’s 21^st.

Pilkadaris was delighted to bounce back into form after missing four cuts in five appearances early this year due to a back injury.

“I had a trapped intercostal nerve in my back. I was moving furniture during Christmas time and hurt my back. That’s taken quite a while to recover. It was a rookie mistake and I’m no rookie so I should be shot for that one!” said Pilkadaris. 

Playing without any injury concerns, the Australian took advantage of his past experience of playing at the tree-lined Delhi course where he sank 25 putts and dropped only one shot after hitting his tee shot into the bushes on the last hole. 

“I felt really good out there and I kept going at flags. I kept giving myself chances and it was nice to take advantage of them. I’ve played about 40 rounds at least here and you got to keep it straight and on the fairway,” said Pilkadaris. 

After enjoying a successful 2015 season on the Challenge Tour where he won three times, the 29-year-old Elvira burst into contention for a first European Tour title thanks to five birdies.

The halfway cut was set on even-par 144 with a total of 74 players qualifying for the weekend. Padraig Harrington, a three-time Major champion, will miss the last two rounds after finishing one-shot outside the cutline.

 

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,983

131 - Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 67-64.

134 - Nacho ELVIRA (ESP) 66-68, S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND) 67-67.

136 - Ben EVANS (ENG) 70-66, David LIPSKY (USA) 69-67.

137 - Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) 66-71, Rashid KHAN (IND) 69-68, Alejandro CANIZARES (ESP) 68-69.

138 - Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 72-66, Chris PAISLEY (ENG) 70-68, Raphael JACQUELIN (FRA) 67-71, Julien QUESNE (FRA) 70-68, Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 68-70.

139 - Ross McGOWAN (ENG) 73-66, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 72-67, Maximilian KIEFFER (GER) 69-70, Sebastien GROS (FRA) 69-70, Sanjay KUMAR (IND) 67-72, Daniel IM (USA) 65-74, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 68-71.

140 - Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 71-69, Soomin LEE (KOR) 72-68, Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) 68-72, Paul DUNNE (IRL) 74-66, Craig LEE (SCO) 70-70, Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 71-69, Honey BAISOYA (IND) 68-72, Peter UIHLEIN (USA) 72-68, Thangaraja N. (SRI) 69-71.

SELECTED SCORES
142 Scott Jamieson (Sco) 73 69 

MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
145 Padraig Harrington (Ire) 71 74
146 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 75 71
152 Marc Warren (Sco) 75 77
Retired: Jamie McLeary (Sco) 78 ret.

 

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King's Links Golf Centre give NE District 

team free use of facilities 

 

NEWS RELEASE

Aberdeen’s Kings Links Golf Centre is pitching in with increased backing of the game in the region by supporting the North-east District men’s team’s competition preparation and extending sponsorship of a leading local tournament. 

Scotland’s largest independent golf centre will provide free practice use of its driving range and short game area as well as clothing for all members of the team.

In addition, Kings Links Golf Centre will continue its sponsorship of the North-east District amateur open championship for a second year.

Owned by global shipping and energy services firm Craig Group, Kings Links Golf Centre is a 56-bay, two-tier, floodlit driving range and 3,000sq ft superstore offering golfers everything from the fitting of specialised equipment and swing analysis, to tips on technique and advice on the latest professional brands. 

The centre provides a fully-equipped shop with the largest custom fit service in the North-east, covering a wide range of leading brands, such as TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Cleveland, Wilson, Cobra, Nike and Mizuno. The teaching academy offers lessons with qualified PGA professionals, using the latest V1 video analysis software.

 

Paul Girvan, director of golf at Kings Links Golf Centre, said: “It is a privilege to be able to support our local side as they prepare to play against other Scottish regional teams. Hopefully the backing we provide the North East men’s squad can help them fulfil the potential they all undoubtedly have.

 

“Amateur golf is at the heart of what we do at the Kings Links Golf Centre. Across all abilities, we aim to support everyone in making the most of their skills and enjoying the game.”

 

President of the SGU North-east District Association Dave Fleming said: “Having use of a facility where the team can prepare properly for golf tournaments is a huge boost. The first-class services at Kings Links Golf Centre mean players have everything they could possibly need available to them.

 

"Last year’s North East Open was a huge success with every competition spot filled and one of the strongest fields we have seen in many years. I am confident this year will be just as popular.”

 

The 72-hole North-east District Amateur Open Championship will be held at Portlethen Golf Club on August 13 and 14.

 

For more information please visit kings-links.com, find them on Facebook or follow on Twitter @kingslinksgc.

 

Europe lead Asia Pacific by 7pt going into Bonallack Trophy final singles

Latest news from the men's Bonallack Trophy match at Vidago Palace in Northern Portugal, writes Colin Farquharson

The second day's programme was completed early this morning (Friday).
So, going into the final day's programe of singles, the overall score line is:

EUROPE 13.5, ASIA PACIFIC 6.5

which looks a winning lead to me

Check out the score in the women's Patsy Hankins Trophy match at the same venue.
Switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Stuart Easton makes top 20 at Cape Fear 

Intercollegiate

Stuart Easton, a former Scotland boy international player from Irvine, Ayrshire and now a first-year student at Western Kentucky University, finished T17 in a field of 84 players at this week's Cape Fear National Intercollegiate 54-hole tournament at the fairly new golf course at Leland, North Carolina.
Stuart, pictured, had rounds of 73, 78 and 72 for 223 over a par 72 course of 6,840 yd, finishing 15 shots behind the winner by two, Patrick Cover (UNCW) who shot 71, 68 and 68 for eight-under 208.
Duke (857) won the team title from UNCW (871) with Western Kentucky (896) third of 13 teams.