Spain's Nacho Elvira named Graduate 

of Year by European Tour

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Nacho Elvira, pictured below by courtesy of Getty Images(c), has been named as the Graduate of the Year by the European Tour after a breakthrough 2016 season saw him finish 44th in the Race to Dubai, six places ahead of nearest rival Brandon Stone.

The award follows the announcement of Jeunghun Wang as Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year and Elvira follows Byeong Hun An and Brooks Koepka as recent recipients of the prestigious prize.
The Graduate of the Year is awarded to the best-performing player to have graduated from the European Challenge Tour the previous season and while Stone led the way for much of 2016, it was the Spaniard’s strong finish to the season that sealed his victory.
After tying for third in the Italian Open, back-to-back top tens at the Portugal Masters and the Turkish Airlines Open earned Elvira this award, with those results taking him to 824,367 points for the year.
It also makes it two awards in two seasons for the 29 year old after his albatross on the way to victory in the Challenge de Madrid was voted the Challenge Tour’s Shot of the Year for 2015 by the public, and Elvira was quick to pay tribute to the role the Challenge Tour had played in his rise.

It’s been a great season,” he said. “I struggled a little bit at the start of the year, when I missed six cuts in a row, but after that it’s been a great year, I cannot complain – getting into the Final Series, finishing in the top 60 of the Race to Dubai, and now winning this award. I’m very happy.
“The Challenge Tour definitely prepared me for this year. Something that I always say is how great a stepping stone the Challenge Tour is onto the European Tour because you’re competing with all the guys that, sooner or later, are going to be on the European Tour as well.
“There are great players and a really good level of golf, and it prepares you mentally and physically for what comes next after you graduate.”
There is also remarkable symmetry to be found in Elvira’s nearest miss of the season at the Trophée Hassan II, where he lost in a play-off to Wang – a result that boosted the South Korean’s charge towards his Rookie of the Year award.
“Morocco left me with mixed feelings,” he said. “To finish second in a tournament is always good, but I was a little bit disappointed I didn’t get to win, especially given how well I had played.

“It did turn my season around though, and basically guaranteed that I would keep my card so the pressure was off a bit and I was a little more confident going into the end of the season.
“The way Wang finished that event was incredible and he had a brilliant year, so I would also like to congratulate him on his Rookie of the Year award.”

It’s been a great season,” he said. “I struggled a little bit at the start of the year, when I missed six cuts in a row, but after that it’s been a great year, I cannot complain – getting into the Final Series, finishing in the top 60 of the Race to Dubai, and now winning this award. I’m very happy.
“The Challenge Tour definitely prepared me for this year. Something that I always say is how great a stepping stone the Challenge Tour is onto the European Tour because you’re competing with all the guys that, sooner or later, are going to be on the European Tour as well.
“There are great players and a really good level of golf, and it prepares you mentally and physically for what comes next after you graduate.”
There is also remarkable symmetry to be found in Elvira’s nearest miss of the season at the Trophée Hassan II, where he lost in a play-off to Wang – a result that boosted the Korean’s charge towards his Rookie of the Year award.
“Morocco left me with mixed feelings,” he said. “To finish second in a tournament is always good, but I was a little bit disappointed I didn’t get to win, especially given how well I had played.
“It did turn my season around though, and basically guaranteed that I would keep my card so the pressure was off a bit and I was a little more confident going into the end of the season.
“The way Wang finished that event was incredible and he had a brilliant year, so I would also like to congratulate him on his Rookie of the Year award.”

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Nacho Elvira (Getty Images)

Nacho Elvira named Graduate of Year by 

European Tour

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Nacho Elvira has been named as the Graduate of the Year by the European Tour after a breakthrough 2016 season saw him finish 44th in the Race to Dubai, six places ahead of nearest rival Brandon Stone.

The award follows the announcement of Jeunghun Wang as Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year and Elvira follows Byeong Hun An and Brooks Koepka as recent recipients of the prestigious prize.

The Graduate of the Year is awarded to the best-performing player to have graduated from the European Challenge Tour the previous season and while Stone led the way for much of 2016, it was the Spaniard’s strong finish to the season that sealed his victory.

After tying for third in the Italian Open, back-to-back top tens at the Portugal Masters and the Turkish Airlines Open earned Elvira this award, with those results taking him to 824,367 points for the year.

It also makes it two awards in two seasons for the 29 year old after his albatross on the way to victory in the Challenge de Madrid was voted the Challenge Tour’s Shot of the Year for 2015 by the public, and Elvira was quick to pay tribute to the role the Challenge Tour had played in his rise.

It’s been a great season,” he said. “I struggled a little bit at the start of the year, when I missed six cuts in a row, but after that it’s been a great year, I cannot complain – getting into the Final Series, finishing in the top 60 of the Race to Dubai, and now winning this award. I’m very happy.

“The Challenge Tour definitely prepared me for this year. Something that I always say is how great a stepping stone the Challenge Tour is onto the European Tour because you’re competing with all the guys that, sooner or later, are going to be on the European Tour as well.

“There are great players and a really good level of golf, and it prepares you mentally and physically for what comes next after you graduate.”

There is also remarkable symmetry to be found in Elvira’s nearest miss of the season at the Trophée Hassan II, where he lost in a play-off to Wang – a result that boosted the Korean’s charge towards his Rookie of the Year award.

“Morocco left me with mixed feelings,” he said. “To finish second in a tournament is always good, but I was a little bit disappointed I didn’t get to win, especially given how well I had played.

“It did turn my season around though, and basically guaranteed that I would keep my card so the pressure was off a bit and I was a little more confident going into the end of the season.

“The way Wang finished that event was incredible and he had a brilliant year, so I would also like to congratulate him on his Rookie of the Year award.”

Nacho Elvira makes an albatross on the way to victory in Madrid

“

Craig Lawrie's 3rd place on Algarve Tour

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Craig Lawrie finished third in a field of 41 at the Algarve Pro Tour's third event, the Palmares Classic II at Lagos.
On a windy second day, only three players got under the par of 72.
Lawrie had rounds of 69 and 73 for two-under-par 142. He birdied the first, sixth and 16th, dropping shots at the fourth, 10th, 11th and 15th. 

Craig, pictured, earned 1,000 euros (£851). The other Scot in the field, Jay Taylor, shot 69-77 for 146 and 11th place which earned him 400 euros (£341).
Winner of the 2,000 euros (£1,703) first prize was Swedren's Felix Aberg who had contrasting rounds of 64 and 74 for six-under 134. He won by three shots from England's Jamie Abbot (68-73 for 141) who earned 1,300 euros (£1,107).

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 F Aberg (Swe) 64 74.
141 J Abbot (Eng) 68 73
142 C Lawrie (Sco) 69 73
143 S Whitehead (Eng) 74 659, T Santos Silva (Por) 72 71, H Casey (Eng) 69 74, R Bentham (Wal) 69 74, J Taverner (Eng) 67 76
144 T Hayward (Eng) 73 71
145 C Crowley (Ire) 73 73
146 J Taylor (Sco) 69 77
147 W Fox (Eng) 74 73.
148 T Rodrigues (Por) 73 75, M Fichmeier (Ger) 73 75, D Garner (Eng) 73 75.
Field of 41 players
THE COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

click on player's name if you want to look at his scorecard

Clique no Hyperlink do Nome para ver o cartão de resultados Pos. Nome Clube To PAR Total Dia 1  Dia 2  1  Felix Aberg SWE -6 138 64  74  2  Jamie Abbott ENG -3 141 68  73  3  Craig Lawrie SCO -2 142 69  73  4  Sam Whitehead ENG -1 143 74  69  5  Tomás Santos Silva POR -1 143 72  71  6  Harry Casey ENG -1 143 69  74  7  Richard Bentham WAL -1 143 69  74  8  James Taverner ENG -1 143 67  76  9  Tom Hayward ENG PAR 144 73  71  10  Colm Crowley IRL +1 145 73  72  11  Jay Taylor POR +2 146 69  77  12  Will Fox ENG +3 147 74  73  13  Tiago Rodrigues POR +4 148 73  75  14  Max Eichmeier GER +4 148 73  75  15  Daniel Garner ENG +4 148 73  75  16  Santiago Ruiz COL +5 149 74  75  17  Miguel Gaspar POR +5 149 73  76  18  George Morris ENG +6 150 75  75  19  Kevin Flack USA +6 150 73  77  20  Robbie Busher ENG +6 150 72  78  21  Ryan Thomas WAL +7 151 73  78  22  Emil Sorebo SWE +9 153 80  73  23  Tom Speyer ENG +9 153 78  75  24  Jonny Hewitt UK +9 153 75  78  25  Patrick Blunt UK +9 153 74  79  26  Sam Robertshawe ENG +10 154 79  75  27  Oliver Guisset BEL +11 155 76  79  28  Daniel Scourfield ENG +13 157 77  80  29  Toby O`Connor WAL +13 157 76  81  30  Adam Forster UK +13 157 75  82  31  Felix Norderhaug SWE +14 158 77  81  32  Rhys Pugh WAL +15 159 81  78  33  Steve Tooth ENG +15 159 80  79  34  Jack Hiluta ENG +17 161 76  85  35  Clemens Dvorak AUT +18 162 80  82  36  Jess Dixon (am) ENG +19 163 84  79  37  Kipp Poppert (am) ENG +22 166 80  86  38  Alexandre Abreu POR +27 171 83  88  -  Tyler Hogarty RSA -3 - 69  NDev  -  Louis Farrelly POR +4 - 76  NDev  -  Rui Pedro Morris Mendes POR +11 - 83  NDev  -  Gareth Blease ENG PAR 0 NShow  NShow  -  Yeong Bin Lee KOR PAR 0 NDev  NShow  -  Miles Duffy ENG PAR 0 Desq.  NShow

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THE R and A OPENS NEW ASIA-PACIFIC

 OFFICE IN SINGAPORE

NEWS RELEASE: The R and A today opened its new Asia-Pacific office at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore which will help further the organisation’s commitment to the growth and development of golf in the region.

The Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Keith Macintosh, officially opened the new office at a reception for guests from the Singapore golf industry ‎and other bodies that work with The R and A.

A traditional lion dance was held to mark the opening of the new office and Mr Macintosh performed the ‘eye-dotting’ ceremony to begin the dance.

“I’m delighted to officially open the new Asia-Pacific office for The R and A in Singapore,” said Mr Macintosh. “Singapore is a hugely important centre in the region and is an ideal location for the new office. It will be central to The R and A’s efforts to support the development of golf throughout Asia-Pacific.”

Danes Kjeldsen, Olesen lead after World Cup four-balls

Knox and Stewart combine for a 65 but 

Scotland still trail in T23 position


EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS 
Søren Kjeldsen and Thorbjørn Olesen combined for a sensational 60 to fire Denmark to the top of the leaderboard on day two of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Melbourne.
Just six teams fired under par in the first-round foursomes and despite increased winds at Kingston Heath Golf Club, all 28 teams managed that feat in the four-balls.
Scotland's Russell Knox and Duncan Stewart's better-ball, seven-under-par 65 was one of the best scores of the day but they have a a lot of ground to make up after their 78 in the opening foursomes and are tied 23rd on one-under-par 143.
The Danes turned a three-shot first round deficit into a three-shot second round lead, thanks to two eagles and eight birdies in a brilliant bogey-free effort.
That moved them to 12-under par 132 as they went in search of a maiden World Cup title, with second-placed China (135) also looking to lift the trophy for the first time.
Wu Ashun and Li Haotong have both won on the European Tour this season, and the duo are in a strong position to finish their campaigns in fine style after a second round 65.
Overnight leaders Rafa Cabrera Bello and Jon Rahm of Spain are in third place on eight-under 136.
Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan of England, Italian pair Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero, Frenchmen Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque, and Americans Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker are sharing fourth place on 147.

Key quotes

Thorbjørn Olesen: “To be honest, I was thinking a little bit about that 59 with the last two holes to go, but 60 was still a great score. Søren got it going by holing his second shot on the third, and then I chipped in for eagle also. So combined, we were very good.
“I felt like yesterday we did a great job in the foursomes. It’s a tricky course, especially when it blows this much. We did well yesterday and that’s what we have to do again tomorrow.”
Soren Kjeldsen: “I was just trying to play solid. Thorbjørn was playing exceptional so I thought if I get it in play and get it on the green, I could let him do all the fireworks and it worked pretty well.
“In terms of temperament, I don’t think we’re that different. But I think game-wise we’re very different. Thorbjørn’s very flashy, he hits it very far from the tee and overall has got an amazing game; whereas I’m more like a train, I arrive on time but without too much of the flashy stuff.”
Li Haotong: “When I started playing golf, I didn’t think I could get into the World Cup one day, so it’s kind of like a dream come true. So it’s very, very proud for me to be here. Everybody back home in China will be very focused on the World Cup this week, so it’s great we are playing so well.” 
Wu Ashun: “We are very good friends because I know him very well, and we practice in the same golf course. So we know each other very well, and we played the Olympics together so I think we are the best partners for one another.”
Rafa Cabrera Bello: “I think today’s round wasn’t a great one, but it wasn’t a bad one either. It’s been decent for a day, but it wasn’t our best day. I felt that maybe we were a bit unlucky with the fact that we both played great on the same holes, and played bad on the same holes as well. So it was almost like we were just playing the one ball.”

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Round 1 foursomes; Round 2 four-balls
par 144 (2x72)
132 Denmark (Søren KJELDSEN/Thorbjørn OLESEN) 72-60
135 China (WU Ashun/LI Haotong 70-65
136 Spain (Rafa CABRERA BELLO/Jon RAHM 69-67
137 France (Victor DUBUISSON/Romain LANGASQUE) 70-67; USA (Rickie FOWLER/Jimmy WALKER) 70-67; Italy (Francesco MOLINARI/Matteo MANASSERO 71-66; England (Chris WOOD/Andy SULLIVAN) 71-66
138 Sweden (Alex NOREN/David LINGMERTH) 72-66; Japan (Hideki MATSUYAMA/Ryo ISHIKAWA) 73-65.
139 Chinese Taipei (C.T. Pan/CHAN Shih-chang) 74-65; Thailand (Thongchai JAIDEE/Kiradech APHIBARNRAT) 73 66; New Zealand (Danny Lee and Ryan Fox) 75 64; Netherlands (Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel) 75 64
140 India (S.S.P CHAWRASIA/CHIKKARANGAPPA S) 74-66; Wales (Bradley Dredge and Stuart Manley) 74 66; Ireland (Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell) 72 69; Austria (Bernd Wiesberger and Martin Wiegele) 73 68.
142 Venezuela (Jhonattan Vegas and Julio Vegas) 74 68; Portugal (Ricard Gouveia and Jose-Filipe Lima) 74 68; South Africa (Jaco Van Zyl and George Coetzee) 76 66; Belgium (Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts) 73 69; Australia (Adam Scott and Marc Leishman) 74 68;
143 South Korea (Byeong Hun An and K T Kim) 74 69; Scotland (Russell Knox and Duncan Stewart) 78 65; Canada (David Hearn and Adam Hadwin) 75 68 (T23).
144 Philippines (Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que) 77 67.
145 Germany (Alex CEJKA / Stephan JAEGER) 74 71; Malaysia (Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung) 77 68.