Knox has T17 finish in BMW Championship 

Russell Knox, in his first tournament since being overlooked by Europe's Ryder Cup team captain Darren Clarke for a place in the upcoming match, achieved a top 20 finish in the BMW championship won by American Dustin Johnson at Crooked Stick Golf Club.
Knox shots rounds of 71, 69, 69 and 71 for a total of eight under par 280 and a T17 finish,
Johnson had rounds of 67, 63, 68 and 67 for 23 under par 265.
He won by three shots from USA-based Englishman Paul Casey who scored 67, 66, 68 and 67 for 268.
American Robert Castro finished third with 65,  65, 74 and 67 for 271.

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Jason Day (back) withdraws from final round 

of BMW Championship

By Adam Schupak

GOLFWEEK.COM

Jason Day (Getty Images)

CARMEL, Indiana – World No. 1 Jason Day withdrew from the BMW Championship during the final round with a back injury, placing his status for the Tour Championship in two weeks in doubt.
Day completed eight holes at Crooked Stick and was bending over to tee up his ball at the ninth when he felt a twinge of pain in his back, reminiscent of when he experienced discomfort during The Barclays in 2015 and the WGC Dell Match Play earlier this year.
“It’s nothing he hasn’t dealt with before,” Day’s agent Bud Martin said. “Better to be safe than sorry.”
Day, the tournament’s defending champion, has battled back injuries in the past. It fact, he withdrew from the second round of the 2014 BMW with a similar injury and pulled out of the pro-am at last year’s Barclays only to win the title. In similar fashion, Day complained of back trouble at the WGC Dell Match Play in March and won that tournament, too.
After deciding that prudence is the better part of valour, Day was carted back to the clubhouse and his trainer Cornell Driessen immediately began giving him treatment.
Day, who entered the week at No. 2 in the FedEx Cup point standings, was 2 over through 8 holes on the day. He won’t receive any FedEx Cup points, but is virtually assured of remaining in the top 5 headed to the Tour Championship, and able to control his own destiny with a victory.
Martin said Day likely would get an MRI for “precautionary reasons,” and they would take a wait-and-see approach to the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
“The next 15 years are more important than the next 15 days,” Martin said.

Horsfield slips to T6 finish in Georgia

Manchester-born Florida University student Sam Horsfield, ranked second in the world amateur ratings, lost the lead and finished tied sixth on eight-under-par 208 in the Carpet Capital Collegiate 54-hole tournament at The Farm Golf Club, Rocky Face, Georgia today.
Horsfield, pictured, who withdrew from the GB and I Walker Cup teamin 2015 for "personal reasons," had rounds of 65, 72 and 71.

The winners by one shot with an 11-under total of 205 was Luke Schniederjans (Georgia Tech) with rounds of 69, 66 and 70.
Schniederjans' older brother Ollie is a former World No 1 amateur.
Joint second on 206 were Philip Knowles (North Florida) 71 68 67, Derek Bard (Virginia) 70 67 69 and Ryan Benton (Auburn) 68 67 71

Renfrewshire boys retain West League title

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

 kgmcgee@hotmail.com

In a match played in very windy but dry conditions, the Renfrewshire Golf Union boys' team retained the West League title  by defeating Glasgow Golf Union 6.5-1.5 at Ranfurly Castle

The team went through the season, again unbeaten with three wins and two draws.

The wind caused a lot of problems for the boys at Ranfurly Castle , most finding it difficult to control the ball, particularly at the first hole where over 60% of them either found the right rough or went out of bounds.

This was something to be repeated throughout the course with numerous lost or out of bounds balls

However, the Renfrewshire boys appeared to be coping better than their opponents, but at the turn the match was very much in the balance with three of the Under-16 players being well down and the Under-18s being very even.

The holes after the turn proved crucial, as first Roddy McAulay turned a three-hole deficit after nine into a two-hole lead by 15, eventually winning by 3 and 1.

Greg McCaffer, in his first outing for Renfrewshire, was four down after 10 but said “he was now coming onto his game”, and proved his point by securing a square match.

Cameron Johnstone was not at his best and poor putting saw him lose by 3 and 2.

Aidan O’Hagan, the youngest player in the Renfrewshire team, but a boy to watch out for in the future, played the anchor role for the Under-16s in the absence of Tom Mackenzie and was never in trouble, running out a 7 and 6 winner.

Angus Frood, on his home course where he is junior champion, was always in command against Jack Crawford, who admitted that his golf was a bit out of sorts. Frood won by 6 and 4.

Jamie Sinnamon, he of few words, but a great ball striker, was never down, but threw away some good leads before setting the nerves of the management by winning by two holes.

Jack Currie, a bit of an enigma at times, played the worst shot of the day off the first tee. While his opponent was clearly in trouble out right, Jack hit his tee shot further right into a garden neighbouring the course. Neither found his ball, and the hole was halved in 7! This was a bit of an up and down game and while Jack never lost the lead, mistakes kept the game close. Currie eventually ran out winner by 3 and 1.

In the top match Ibrahim Hussain, looking for his first win for Renfrewshire, came up trumps and put in a great performance. Never behind, he built a comfortable early lead which he never gave up and ran out a comfortable winner by 6 and 4.

The Renfrewshire Golf Union are delighted to have retained the league trophy despite the fact that boys who played earlier in the season were no longer available as the have gone to University in both Scotland and the USA, or in the case of one other, is  now living in Holland.

This does show the strength in depth of the RGU Boys, and is a great reflection on the coaching programme driven by David Orr at Eastwood Golf Club and Mark Loftus at Mearns Castle and the support of the clubs with in the RGU who nominate their players into the coaching programme. We look for their continued support to promote Junior Golf in Renfrewshire

 RENFREWSHIRE 6.5, GLASGOW 1.5

Venue: Ranfurly Castle.

Renfrewshire players named first

Roddy McAulay (Fereneze) bt Alistair Harris (Ralston) 3 and 1

Greg McCaffer (Whitecraigs) halved with Nick Branney (Cathcart Castle)

Cameron Johnstone (Eastwood) lost to Alan Murphy (Ralston) 3 and 2.

Aidan O’Hagan (Old Course Ranfurly) bt Chris McMillan (Bishopbriggs) 7 and 6.

Angus Frood (Ranfurly Castle) bt Jack Crawford (Williamwood) 6 and 4.
Jamie Sinnamon (Greenock Whinhill) bt Alex Melrose (Haggs Castle) 2 holes.
Jack Currie (Greenock) bt Jack Savage (Cawder) 3 and 1.

Ibrahim Hussain (Eastwood) bt Jack Williams (Sandyhills) 6 and 4                                          

Graham McGee

 President

 Renfrewshire Golf Union

                       

             

Fraser Carr wins Fife Champion of Champions' title at Leven

Fraser Carr, club champion of Crail Golfing Society and Pitreavie Golf Club, today won the Fife Champion of Champions title in windy weather at Leven links.

He had rounds of 71 and 66 for a total of 137.

That gave him a five-stroke winning margin from runner-up Greg Wishart (Lundin) who had scores of 74 and 68 for 142.

James Bunch (St Andrews) also totalled 142 but, after a first round of 72, he shot a 70 in the afternoon and was placed third with a poorer second round than Wishart.

The CSS for both rounds was 73.

Other scores:

144 Stuart Hill (Leven) 72 72

146 Greg Forrester (Balbirnie Park) 71 75.

147 Ross McDonald (Dunnikier) 69 78.

Catherine and Alice are the pride of their English counties Lancashire’s Catherine Roberts and Suffolk’s Alice Barlow are the pride of their counties after they became the first winners of the new English women and girls’ county champion of champions’ tournament.  “It’s brilliant,” said Roberts (Pleasington), who took the women’s title in dramatic style on the Bracken course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club in Lincolnshire.  She holed a 25ft putt on the last for one-over 73, to edge past Cornwall’s Georgia Price, who had just chipped in for her birdie, and Dorset’s Melissa McMahon who both scored 74.  “It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever won and it’s great for Lancashire and my club,” said Roberts, who became county champion for the third time this year.  Barlow (Newton Green), also won by a shot in the girls’ event scoring 76 to finish ahead of Devon’s Chloe Howard (Boringdon Park) and Oxfordshire’s Amy Boote (Tadmarton Heath). In addition she finished fifth in the women’s event.  It’s the biggest win of Barlow’s career and, as her last major event before leaving junior ranks, it crowns her years as a girl golfer. The 17-year-old knew the omens were good when her tee shot on the short fifth ended up in a ditch and she had to play off a slope with one foot in the water – and popped the ball out to 2ft on her way to a par. “I knew it was going to be a good day!” she said.  However, she gave herself a few nervous moments after she three-putted both 17 and 18 for bogeys. “I thought the last couple of holes might cost me,” she said, but she was cushioned by a comfortable lead. Roberts had no such luxury as she battled down the closing holes against Price (Bude and North Cornwall), her playing partner, and against McMahon (Lyme Regis), who was playing in the group in front.  But she had a strong finish, playing the back nine in two-under par – benefitting from a putting lesson which she took last Friday. “I knew I had been hitting it well but you can’t play well if you’re not putting well and my putting had been off in the run-up to this.”  Both players welcomed the new event, which involves the women and girls in County Champions weekend alongside the boys, men and senior men. When Barlow she heard about the new competition she was very keen to take her place in the field, saying: “It was the thought of playing here at the home of golf in England,” she said. Roberts added: “It’s great.”  Click here for full scores Caption: Alice Barlow (left) and Catherine Roberts (image © Leaderboard Photography) Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

South Korean Kim wins second Ladies 

European Masters in three years

NEWS RELEASE FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

Düsseldorf – In-Kyung Kim from South Korea saved her best until last as she strolled to a five-shot victory in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at Golf Club Hubbelrath in Germany.

One behind overnight, the 28-year-old closed with a bogey-free nine-under 63 - the best round of the week - to finish at 17-under par and win the 75,000 euros first prize.

The world number 75 earned her second win in three appearances in the Ladies European Tour’s showcase event, albeit at two different venues. She previously won the title in 2014 at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in England where she also shot a 63, in the third round.

Kim said: “It’s a totally different feeling because then we played in England and now we’re playing in Germany. There is such a big South Korean community in Germany because after the war a lot of people came for work and stayed here. It means a lot to be the only South Korean in the field, so I wanted to play well, but you cannot force golf; it’s four rounds.”

This was Kim’s sixth career victory, and third on the Ladies European Tour, after her win in the 2009 Dubai Ladies Masters. She now intends to take up LET membership with a winner’s exemption category in 3a. However, Belen Mozo of Spain will have to wait for another week after returning a 69 for solo second.

The 27-year-old from Cadiz aced the 13^th hole in the final round, but missed out on winning an Omega watch, as it had already been claimed by Finland’s Noora Tamminen on the same hole earlier in the day. She said: “I wasn’t paying attention to the scores however I did glimpse the scoreboard on 12 and I saw IK Kim minus 15. I knew she was a great player but I didn’t expect it.”

Home heroine Sandra Gal tied for third with Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth, while South African Lee-Anne Pace was fifth and the 2015 champion Beth Allen of the United States tied for sixth with Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom. Burnett was joint second overnight but faded out of contention with a 78 for joint 20^th place.

It was Kim, in her 10^th year as a professional, who called the shots almost at will in the final round, posting nine birdies in delightful conditions.

Kim picked up her first shot on the second hole and followed that with three birdies in a row from the fifth. After turning in four-under, she added another birdie at the 10^th and picked up three more strokes from the 12^th, finishing in style by sinking with a birdie putt of five-feet on the uphill par-4 18^th.

“I really wanted to shoot something lower than 63, because I have shot 63 before, but that is something I cannot control. I had a lot of chances today,” said Kim, who enjoyed learning German and eating the local cuisine on her first visit to Germany. 

“I did my best on every shot from the first day and today it just kind of came together with some good putts. I had 26 putts today. Yesterday I hit the ball as well but the putts didn’t fall.” 

Lennarth birdied the last three holes for a 67 and Gal, who signed off with a 69, was happy with a tie for third, saying: “In-Kyung ran away with it today. We were battling against each other in the last group and didn’t see a leader board for several holes but when we did, she was already so far ahead that we didn’t have a chance.”

Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord finished eighth while Aditi Ashok tied for ninth with fellow LET rookie Angel Yin of the United States and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, which was the Indian rookie’s best finish this year on tour.

After a week of sensational weather and world class golf in Germany, the LET remains in Europe for the Evian Championship in France next week, which will be the fifth and final Major of the year.

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY (euros)
 par 284 (4x71)

1	In-Kyung KIM		67	70	71	63	-17	271	€ 75,000
2	Belen MOZO		74	64	69	69	-12	276	€ 45,000
T3	Camilla LENNARTH		69	71	70	67	-11	277	€ 26,250
T3	Sandra GAL		74	68	66	69	-11	277	€ 26,250.00
5	Lee-Anne PACE		65	74	68	71	-10	278	€ 18,000.00
T6	Beth ALLEN		70	73	68	68	-9	279	€ 14,750.00
T6	Ursula WIKSTROM		72	71	67	69	-9	279	€ 14,750.00
8	Marianne SKARPNORD		69	72	71	68	-8	280	€ 12,500.00
T9	Caroline HEDWALL		70	75	69	67	-7	281	€ 11,500.00
T9	Aditi ASHOK		73	69	70	69	-7	281	€ 11,500.00
T9	Angel YIN		69	71	70	71	-7	281	€ 11,500.00
T12	Laura DAVIES		74	74	67	68	-5	283	€ 9,750.00
T12	Melissa REID		71	75	68	69	-5	283	€ 9,750.00
T12	Amelia LEWIS		68	72	73	70	-5	283	€ 9,750.00
T12	Georgia HALL		70	71	71	71	-5	283	€ 9,750.00
16	Olivia COWAN		77	67	71	69	-4	284	€ 8,750.00
T17	Sophia POPOV		73	74	72	66	-3	285	€ 8,250.00
T17	Wei Wei ZHANG		74	71	73	67	-3	285	€ 8,250.00
T17	Kylie WALKER		72	73	72	68	-3	285	€ 8,250.00
T20	Justine DREHER		73	72	73	68	-2	286	€ 7,225.00
T20	Gwladys NOCERA		71	75	71	69	-2	286	€ 7,225.00
T20	Pamela PRETSWELL		68	74	71	73	-2	286	€ 7,225.00
T20	Katie BURNETT		66	70	72	78	-2	286	€ 7,225.00
24	Florentyna PARKER		70	72	73	72	-1	287	€ 6,400.00
T25	Christine WOLF		71	75	75	67	E	288	€ 5,800.00
T25	Malene JORGENSEN		75	71	71	71	E	288	€ 5,800.00
T25	Nicole BROCH LARSEN		76	69	71	72	E	288	€ 5,800.00
T28	Isabelle BOINEAU		71	72	74	72	+1	289	€ 4,900.00
T28	Isi GABSA		70	75	72	72	+1	289	€ 4,900.00
T28	Whitney HILLIER		72	73	70	74	+1	289	€ 4,900.00
T31	Gabriella COWLEY		73	73	76	68	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Kelsey MACDONALD		73	72	75	70	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Caroline MASSON		70	73	73	74	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Leticia RAS-ANDERICA		71	73	72	74	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Noora TAMMINEN		73	73	70	74	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Rebecca ARTIS		72	72	71	75	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
T31	Annabel DIMMOCK		71	69	73	77	+2	290	€ 3,700.00
38	Lauren TAYLOR		72	71	75	73	+3	291	€ 2,950.00
T39	Sophie WALKER		75	73	74	70	+4	292	€ 2,775.00
T39	Chiara MERTENS		76	71	70	75	+4	292	€ 2,775.00
T41	Nicole GARCIA		77	71	76	69	+5	293	€ 2,675.00
T41	Trish JOHNSON		78	69	72	74	+5	293	€ 2,675.00
T43	Ariane PROVOT		74	73	75	72	+6	294	€ 2,525.00
T43	Rebecca HUDSON		74	74	73	73	+6	294	€ 2,525.00
T43	Nanna Koerstz MADSEN		75	72	71	76	+6	294	€ 2,525.00
T43	Maha HADDIOUI		75	69	73	77	+6	294	€ 2,525.00
T47	Sarah KEMP		75	73	74	73	+7	295	€ 2,325.00
T47	Linda WESSBERG		73	73	73	76	+7	295	€ 2,325.00
T47	Emma GODDARD		72	72	74	77	+7	295	€ 2,325.00
T47	Minea BLOMQVIST		76	70	70	79	+7	295	€ 2,325.00
T51	Elia FOLCH		71	77	76	72	+8	296	€ 2,125.00
T51	Anne VAN DAM		72	76	74	74	+8	296	€ 2,125.00
T51	Jessica BRADLEY		68	75	78	75	+8	296	€ 2,125.00
T51	Isabella RAMSAY		75	72	74	75	+8	296	€ 2,125.00
T55	Amy BOULDEN		75	73	79	71	+10	298	€ 1,950.00
T55	Titiya PLUCKSATAPORN		76	72	77	73	+10	298	€ 1,950.00
T55	Stacy Lee BREGMAN		74	73	74	77	+10	298	€ 1,950.00
T58	Marta SANZ BARRIO		71	74	84	71	+12	300	€ 1,775.00
T58	Klara SPILKOVA		77	69	83	71	+12	300	€ 1,775.00
T58	Mireia PRAT		70	78	76	76	+12	300	€ 1,775.00
T58	Jessica KARLSSON		76	69	77	78	+12	300	€ 1,775.00
T62	Connie CHEN		75	73	75	78	+13	301	€ 1,625.00
T62	Alex PETERS		75	73	74	79	+13	301	€ 1,625.00
T64	Natalia ESCURIOLA MARTINEZ		72	76	78	77	+15	303	€ 1,525.00
T64	Elina NUMMENPAA		73	73	79	78	+15	303	€ 1,525.00