Gemma and Michele only Scots in NSW field

Aberdeen-born Gemma Dryburgh and Ellon's Michele Thomson (Meldrum House) are the only two Scots in a field of 84 professionals for the Mulpha Norwest Ladies pro-am, which tees off over a par-74 course at Castle Hill Country Club, Sydney in New South Wales on Tuesday.
England's contingent is three-strong - former Curtis Cup player Charlotte Thomas, Sophie Walker and Felicity Johnson.

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Gallant effort by Craig Lawrie but pipped for Algarve first prize

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Craig Lawrie covered his last 10 holes in five-under-par with birdies at the ninth, 10th and 11th, capped by and eagle 3 at the 18th but was pipped for first prize in the Algarve Pro Tour's Quinta North Classic by England's Jamie Abbot.

Paul Lawrie's son had a pair of 69s for a six-under-par total of 138 but he finished runner-up, one shot behind Abbot whose closing bag of five birdies included the 18th for rounds of 69 and 68 and a winning total of seven-under 137.

Abbot earned $1,746, Lawrie £1,135.

Algarve-based Scot Jay Taylor finished seventh on 140 (69-71). After a double bogey 6 at the fifth in his final round Taylor birdied the sixth, 12th and 18th. He earned £437.

Wallace Booth from Comrie finished out of the money in T26 position on 148 with rounds of 77 and 71.

Deeside amateur Benjamin Henderson finished on 178 (88-90) in a field of 67 players.

 

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

par 144 (2x72)

137 J Abbot (Eng) 69 68.

138 C Lawrie (Sco) 69 69

139 H Jan (SKo) 72 67, C Sharvin (Ire) 71 689, G Bloor (Eng) (am) 70 69, D Whitnell (Eng) 69 70.

140 J Taylor (Sco) 69 71.

SELECTED TOTALS

141 A Turner (Eng) 71 70, W Brown (Eng) 70 71 (T8)

148 W Booth (Sco) 77 71 (T26)

178 B Henderson (Sco) (am) 88 90.

Field of 67 players.

 

And a great night was held by all at Deeside Golf Club Curtis Cup Celebration Dinner

Pictures from the Deeside Golf Club Friday night function at The Marcliffe at Pitfodels hotel to celebrate honorary member and junior convener Elaine Farquharson-Black's capture of the Curtis Cup from the USA, the GB and I side winning the biennial match at Dun Laoghaire GC, near Dublin in June, 2016

Top picture: Deeside GC captain Scott Kelman and Elaine at the top table.

Picture 2: The Aberdeenshire Ladies Country Golf Association table.

Picture 3: Ladies Golf Union president Diane Bailey (left), herself a former winning Curtis Cup captain, and Elaine with the trophy.

Picture 4 The juniors' table, generously sponsored by The Marcliffe owner and proprietor Stewart Spence who, unfortunately, could not be present on Friday night.

+Every member of the 2016 GB and I Curtis Cup-winning team and manager Helen Hewlett were  invited to attend but none could make it to share the Dunlaoghaire triumph members at The Marcliffe.

Link to draw for Ayrshire Winter Golf Association fixture at Kilmarnock Barassie on Tuesday:

https://ayrshirewintergolf.com/2017/01/15/kilmarnock-barassie-draw/

Storm beats McIlroy in play-off to win BMW South African Open

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS Graeme Storm beat Rory McIlroy in a play-off today to win the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni just 84 days after he thought he had lost his European Tour card. The Englishman missed a par putt on the 18th green at the Portugal Masters in October to lose his playing privileges by just 100 euros but was handed a reprieve when Patrick Reed did not fulfil his quota of required events to retain his tour membership. Storm made the very most of his second chance at Glendower Golf Club, overcoming World Number Two McIlroy on the third extra hole after an enthralling closing round. Storm hit his approach to the heart of the 18th and made his par three times in the play-off, with McIlroy missing the green at the third attempt and leaving himself an eight-foot putt for par that missed on the low side. The 38 year old Englishman had entered the final day with a three-shot lead and got to 18 under with a closing 71 but McIlroy reeled him in with a 68 to set up the dramatic finale. Englishman Jordan Smith finished a shot out of the play-off after a 68, with Dean Burmester at 15 under, a shot clear of fellow South Africans Thomas Aiken and Trevor Fisher Jnr. The win is Storm's second on the European Tour and first since the Open de France ALSTOM, nine years and 198 days, and 274 events ago. McIlroy was playing the event for the first time since 2009 after being drawn to the City of Ekurhuleni by tournament host and great friend Ernie Els. The huge crowds that flocked to see the Northern Irishman and the rest of the field were treated to a wonderful spectacle. McIlroy did pick up a slight back injury on Friday but managed to play on and take Storm all the way to sudden-death. Rory is hopeful of being able to play in next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship but will undergo a precautionary MRI scan tomorrow Scot David Drysdale achieved a T7 finish with rounds of 70, 65, 71 and 69 for 275 Player Quotes Graeme Storm: “I am speechless. It’s been incredible and I can’t quite believe it. I was saying to Rory in the walk up the fairway in the last play-of hole that this was actually the first time we had played together and to play 21 holes with him was just incredible. "What a superb guy he is. An absolute gentleman and I think the best player in the world right now. And I have to say a few words on Jordan Smith. What a player he is going to be. He was brilliant today. “This is a dream come true, especially after what happened to me last year with my card and everything. I really took a lot from that experience and told myself to try and grasp the opportunity if getting my livelihood back with both hands and I have done that this week. " It’s an unbelievable feeling. I hung in there today and didn’t play my best stuff but I knew if I could hang in there that I might get my change and thankfully it came. “It really means everything to me to be in the winner’s circle again. I have been to hell and back to be honest with you. It’s been an absolute roller coaster over the last year and a half – especially the end of last year. " There was pressure today but not the same pressure as trying to keep your European Toru card. That’s real pressure and something I don’t want to feel for a long time.” Rory McIlroy: “Obviously it’s disappointing to finish like that but Graeme has played well all week and what a story it for him. He thought he had lost his card at the end of last year and there he is now standing with a trophy in his hands after the first event of 2017. " I’m delighted for him. I wish I could have done a little more but it’s not a bad way to start the yee and gives me something to build on in the weeks ahead. I knew that if I had a good week here then I can go to Abu Dhabi next week and win there and get back to Number One so that’s a nice goal to have going into next week. “I played well and wish I could have got a win but it’s a good start to the year. We have had an absolutely fantastic time here in South Africa over the last ten days and we are already planning to come back near the end of the year. “The back is kind of ok. I am going for a scan tomorrow. I fly to Dubai tonight and then will go for an MRI tomorrow just to see what’s up with this joint in my back. "It was manageable this week with tape and a few pills so I am fine but first and foremost I have to get fully fit and healthy again and hopefully I’ll be alright to play next week. We will see what happens. "But, like I said, it is manageable with the tape and a few anti-inflammatories but it’s not 100 per cent. Part of me really wants to make next week because there is so much to play for but at the same time there is so much to play for over the whole season and I don’t want to jeopardise long term goals for short term gain but hopefully I’ll be good to go.” FINAL TOTALS Par 288 (4x70) Players from S Africa unless stated 270 G Storm  (Eng) 69 63 67 71, R McIlroy  (NIr) 67 68 67 68, *Storm won play-off at third extra hole 271 J Smith (Eng) 67 68 68 68 273 D Burmester 67 70 67 69 274 T Fisher Jnr 66 68 71 69, T Aiken 67 70 68 69, 275 P Uihlein  (USA) 70 64 70 71, J Stalter (Fra) 69 70 65 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 70 65 71 69, M Korhonen (Fin) 72 66 67 70, A Björk (Swe) 68 71 68 68, E Molinari  (Ita) 71 70 63 71 276 J Morrison  (Eng) 70 72 66 68 277 J Winther (Den) 69 70 70 68, R Johnson (Swe) 69 70 66 72, G King (Eng) 73 68 66 70, L Canter (Eng) 69 66 71 71 278 J Van Zyl 71 65 68 74, T Lewis (Eng) 72 71 69 66, J Fahrbring (Swe) 68 71 71 68 279 J Walters 69 72 67 71, J Blaauw 72 70 67 70, J Kruger 67 67 69 76, K Horne 66 69 70 74, R Langasque  (Fra) 70 66 68 75 280 S Soderberg (Swe) 69 72 70 69, C Hanson (Eng) 71 69 66 74, D Fichardt 68 72 70 70, J Kingston 72 71 67 70, O Fisher  (Eng) 68 69 70 73, 281 B Stone 74 67 71 69, J Harding  70 70 74 67, E Kofstad (Nor) 73 67 76 65, M Foster (Eng) 68 70 73 70, A Knappe (Ger) 71 71 69 70, D Van Der Walt 71 67 70 73, 282 P Widegren  (Swe) 72 67 68 75, C Bezuidenhout 70 70 71 71, P Waring  (Eng) 70 70 74 68 283 L De Jager 77 64 67 75, R Van Der Spuy 72 70 68 73, A Da Silva (Bra) 73 69 70 71, R Echenique (Arg) 73 70 69 71, T Detry  (Bel) 72 71 69 71, J Parry (Eng) 74 67 72 70, J Agren (Swe) 73 69 68 73, U Van Den Berg 69 70 73 71, M Hollick 70 71 73 69 284 M Madsen  (Den) 75 68 72 69, R McGowan  (Eng) 72 71 70 71, S Dyson  (Eng) 69 71 71 73 285 G Mulroy 71 71 73 70, D Brooks (Eng) 69 71 70 75, S Norris 69 69 71 76 286 A Otaegui  (Esp) 71 69 70 76, D Van Tonder  73 69 72 72 287 S Tiley (Eng) 69 72 73 73, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 72 71 67 77, J Kruyswijk 73 69 70 75 288 P Angles  (Esp) 72 71 70 75 289 T Moore 70 73 69 77 290 J Kamte 70 68 77 75, P Maddy (Eng) 71 69 76 74 292 S Engell Andersen  (Ken) 72 71 70 79, A Georgiou 72 71 78 71 295 N Fasth (Swe) 70 73 74 78 297 O Strydom 72 70 73 82 TO VIEW HOW THE PRIZEMONEY WAS DISTRIBUTED CLICK HERE

Oldcorn claims top Scot honour in Algarve Senior Stroke play

Spain's Pedro Linhart birdied the final hole (on Saturday) to hold off a late surge from compatriot Miguel Angel Martin and win the fifth Algarve Senior Circuit stroke-play tournament by one stroke after 72 holes over the Pinheiros Altos and Laranjal courses.
Linhart shot 72, 69, 65 and 73 for nine-under-par 279.
Martin made up five strokes on the leader with a final round of 68, after earlier scores of 70, 69 and 73, for 280.
Englishman Stephen McNally (67-72-75-67) finished third on 281.
Compatriot Gary Wolstenholme came fourth on 284 (75-67-71-71).
The leading Scot on 294 was Andrew Oldcorn with rounds of 70, 74, 76 and 74.

5th ALGARVE SENIOR CIRCUIT STROKE-PLAY
Pinheiros Altos and Laranjal courses
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 288 (4x72)
279 P Linhart (Spain) 72 69 65 73
280 M A Martin (Spain) 70 69 73 68
281 S McNally (Eng) 67 72 75 67
284 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 75 67 71 71
285 J Quiros (Spain) 71 71 68 74

SELECTED OTHER TOTALS
287 J Cheetham 75 69 74 69, M Ashworth 71 73 75 68.
292 P Wesselingh 68 68 81 75, G Brand 71 70 79 72.
294 A Oldcorn (Sco) 70 74 76 74
295 S Savage (Sco) 68 74 78 75, S Brown 78 71 74 72, D Hospital (Spain) 72 72 75 76
297 S McAllister (Sco) 74 74 77 72, F Mann (Sco) 76 71 73 77.
300 S East 76 72 78 74
313 A Ross (Sco) (am) 77 84 77 75
332 G Ross (Sco) (am) 86 94 77 75

Kelly Grassell wins The Sally at Oceanside Country Club

Leading final totals in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur Championship (The Sally) at Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Florida were:

280 Kelly Grassell 68 69 74 69

281 Maria Torres 69 71 72 69

283 Ashley Holder 71 72 74 66, Alex Pano 72 70 68 72, Samantha Wagner 71 67 72 73

288 Nicolette Donovan 70 74 74 70

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

http://www.occ1907.com/documents/10180/f2d6c165-1ce2-4b30-af08-45928f5adad3;jsessionid=9F025F2A7870DB922D0BED1E11E2BF9E


Kelly came from behind to win "The Sally"

ORMOND BEACH, Florida -- For the first time all week in "The Sally" at Oceanside Country Club, Florida University senior Kelly Grassel didn't begin a round in the lead. What is the solution to that? Rally on the final day and take the only lead of the week that matters, the one that ensues the final round.
Grassel began the round one-stroke back, before rallying to an 8-under finish with a 3-under 69 final day. On Wednesday Grassel jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a 4-under 68 and she continued to hold the lead through 36-holes with a Friday 3-under 69 that pushed her to 7-under. Grassel had to play catch up on Saturday because of a 2-over 74 that dropped her to 5-under.Fellow Gator senior Maria Torres ended up second at 7-under and one shot short of forcing a play-off. Torres, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, closed with a 3-under 69.

UCF senior Ashley Holder, 12-year-old Alexa Pano and Florida sophomore Samantha Wagner all shared third at 5-under. Wagner had held the lead at the start of the final round.

 

Justin Thomas equals lowest US PGA Tour

record for 54 holes, Kisner just misses a 59

HONOLULU -- For the second time this week at Waialae Country Club someone came to the final hole with a chance to shoot 59.
This time Kevin Kisner's eagle putt on the par-5 ninth slid just right of the hole and stayed out.
Considering how Kisner played the first two days, he was more than happy to settle for a 60 in Saturday’s third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
A day earlier, it took a birdie-par-eagle finish on the same stretch of holes for the 32-year-old just to reach the weekend. After making the cut on the number, he took advantage of prime scoring conditions, making 10 birdies and no bogeys.
Kisner moved into a tie for sixth on 13-under 197 with Russell Knox (66)  and Jamie Lovemark (65)  with a career-best score but is nine back of the seven-shot leader Justin Thomas, who shot 65 to tie for the lowest 54-hole total in PGA Tour history at 22-under-par 188.
Still, Kisner was more than pleased with the turnaround.
“The first day, I hit it great, and I was minus four strokes in putting, which I can't do with my game,” he said. “So the second day I putted better as the round went on but I hit it worse. So it's kind of one of those deals that I had to make putts.
“And then today I hit it like the first day and putted great.”
Kisner made 12 of 14 putts from inside 10 feet in the third round and added three more from beyond that range, including a 12-footer for birdie on the fifth and another at the par-4 eighth, where he rolled in a downhill 25-footer to give himself a chance going to the last.
Only seven players, including Thomas in the opening round, have shot 59 on the US PGA Tour.
One hole later, Kisner’s 8-iron from 156 yards in the middle of the fairway settled nine feet below the flag, giving him a good chance to add his name to the list.
A few players, including Jordan Spieth, came out to watch.
“When I first looked up, I said dead centre, that's the first thought in my mind to tell you the truth,” Kisner said of the putt. “Those greens get a little grainy like I'm used to at home, and the grain was going right, but I still thought it would go left.
“Can't be that upset. I hit a good putt, hit a good shot and then it was fun coming down the stretch. Almost felt like you were in kind of the heat to win. That was fun.”
Justin Rose, after rounds of 66, 64 and 66, is tied for third place on 196

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70)
players from USA unless stated otherwise
188 Justin Thomas 59 64 65
195 Zach Johnson 69 61 65
196 Justin Rose (England) 66 64 66, Gary Woodland 64 64 68, Hudson Swafford 62 68 66.
197 Jamie Lovemark 64 68 65, Russell Knox (Scotland) 64 67 66, Kevin Kisner 70 67 70
198 Jordan Spieth 65 67 66

SELECTED SCORE
202 Seamus Power (Ireland) 69 66 67 (T38)

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