Local lad Vanegas wins in Colombia

By SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Home favourite David Vanegas produced a dominating final day performance to win the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia, his first victory since turning professional 14 months ago.
On his home course, the Club Campestre El Rodeo Sede La Macarena, 23-year-old Vanegas carded a 67 in the fourth round to reach 12 under par for the tournament, four shots clear of American Nathan Smith, whose 69 featured a hole in one at the 195yd 11th hole.
Vince Covello, also from the United States, was six shots back in third place at the curtain-raiser for the 2010 Challenge Tour season, which was co-sanctioned with the Tour de las Americas and the Canadian Tour.
Having started the last day with a one-shot lead over Covello, Vanegas started well with a birdie at the first, then had a run of four birdies in five holes from the eighth. He bogeyed the 13th to give the chasing pack a glimmer of hope, but a birdie at the last rubber-stamped a convincing win.
“I can barely contain my tears, this is so emotional! I’m extremely happy to win, but I find it hard to explain how I feel,” said Vanegas, who collected a cheque for US $35,200 and earns playing privileges on the three tours.
“There are many opportunities for me to play internationally after this win and I intend to take full advantage of them. I’m going to enjoy this one and over the following few days I will decide where to play.”
Defending champion Peter Gustafsson closed with a 70 to be the highest-placed European in fourth, while Englishman Robert Dinwiddie took fifth spot.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
272 D Vanegas (Col) 67 69 69 67
276 N Smith (USA) 71 65 71 69
278 V Covello (USA) 68 69 69 72
279 P Gustafsson (Swe) 68 74 67 70
280 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 67 73 70 70
281 J Larsen (Nor) 68 72 68 73, J Zapata (Arg) 68 71 71 71, M Tullo (Chi) 69 69 73 70,
282 R Kakko (Fin) 71 68 72 71, B Wiesberger (Aut) 74 70 67 71
283 A Velasco (Esp) 69 69 69 76, R Sanz (Ven) 68 70 74 71, W Besseling (Ned) 71 71 69 72, C Monasterio (Arg) 68 75 69 71
284 J Garrido (Col) 69 70 71 74, J Etulain (Arg) 75 68 69 72, R Blaum (USA) 68 73 73 70, O Alvarez (Col) 71 64 72 77, J Estevez (Arg) 68 71 71 74
285 M Merizalde (Col) 71 71 69 74, F Ojeda Racioppi (Arg) 64 71 75 75, J Clément (Sui) 70 69 74 72, A Bernadet (Fra) 69 71 79 66, J Luna (Col) 73 69 71 72, G Murray (Sco) 74 68 69 74, O Floren (Swe) 76 64 73 72, L Kennedy (Eng) 75 68 71 71, A Snobeck (Fra) 71 69 70 75
286 J Morgan (Eng) 70 74 68 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 71 72 73, M Gillis (Can) 69 72 73 72, A Ahokas (Fin) 72 69 73 72, R Gomez (Arg) 73 69 74 70
287 A Gonzales (USA) 70 71 74 72, P Pinto (Arg) 75 68 71 73, F De Vries (Ned) 72 72 73 70, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 71 72 75, S Tiley (Eng) 75 68 73 71, E Herrera (Col) 71 72 71 73, M Higley (Eng) 67 69 78 73
288 R Thornberry (USA) 72 72 71 73, M Mezei (Can) 69 72 76 71, S Fernandez (Arg) 73 69 76 70, R Yip (Can) 71 72 68 77
289 A Pinedo (Col) 72 70 72 75, J Moul (Eng) 71 72 71 75, D Brooks (Eng) 72 71 76 70, M Garcia (Arg) 73 67 74 75, D Gillespie (Can) 77 67 76 69, S Acevedo (Arg) 72 72 68 77, L Di Marino (Arg) 69 75 74 71, T Olesen (Den) 71 69 74 75
290 M Guzman (Arg) 75 69 75 71, R Steiner (Aut) 73 71 75 71, M Carlsson (Swe) 68 73 74 75, H Leon (Chi) 73 71 74 72
291 J Doherty (Sco) 70 71 74 76, M Rodriguez (Arg) 74 70 69 78, M Molina (Arg) 73 71 76 71, M Quiros (Esp) 72 71 76 72
292 A Adrian (Ven) 72 72 71 77
293 C Costilla (Arg) 72 72 71 78, G Agudelo (Col) 75 69 72 77, S Saavedra (Arg) 69 73 74 77, J Habig (USA) 72 72 75 74
294 E Dominguez (Arg) 73 70 76 75
295 W Murillo (Ven) 70 74 77 74, J Abbate (Arg) 71 72 78 74, B Evans (Eng) 75 68 76 76,
296 R Carter (USA) 72 72 76 76
297 J Xanthopoulos (Fra) 68 76 71 82, P Relecom (Bel) 73 71 78 75
299 B Heaven (Nzl) 72 70 79 78
Disqualified: A Kaleka (Fra) 71 70 75 -.

Vanegas grabs the lead in Colombia

Colombian David Vanegas used his local knowledge to good effect to shoot a two under par 69 and grab the outright lead at the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia, the opening tournament of the 2010 Challenge Tour season.
Vanegas, from the Club Campestre El Rodeo Sede La Macarena where the event is being played, started the third round one stroke behind the leaders but by the end of it he was one clear of Vince Covello, the American who also carded a 69.
Another shot back in third place at the US $220,000 event co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Americas were Spaniard Alvaro Velasco, Nathan Smith of the United States and Colombian Oscar Alvarez, who led after the second round by slipped back after a 72 on day three.
Defending champion Peter Gustafsson of Sweden posted a joint best of the day 67 which left him four shots behind the leader at four under.
Vanegas had a three shot lead after nine holes but then bogeyed the par five 16th. “I was a little nervous earlier in the day, but that was something I managed to control. I started with bogeys on the first and sixthbut then I found the strength to recover and finish well,” said the 23 year old who is aiming for his first professional win.
“I was careless on my second shot at the 16th. I thought it was so easy that I lost my concentration and made a bogey. Then a parred the last two, but I’m okay, I feel good.
“I think you have to be lucky to have a tournament of this magnitude at home, on a golf course you know so well. It would be huge for me to win, but I know it’s going to be a tough final round. There are many good players here, separated by only a few strokes.”
Covello said: “I’m excited to be in this position. It’s my first time at this kind of stage and I’m looking forward to playing well tomorrow.”
One of the highlights of the third round was a hole in one for Argentinian Miguel Rodriguez, who aced the 171-yard 17th with an eight iron.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
205 D Vanegas (Col) 67 69 69,
206 V Covello (USA) 68 69 69,
207 N Smith (USA) 71 65 71, O Alvarez (Col) 71 64 72, A Velasco (Esp) 69 69 69,
208 J Larsen (Nor) 68 72 68,
209 P Gustafsson (Swe) 68 74 67,
210 F Ojeda Racioppi (Arg) 64 71 75, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 67 73 70, J Garrido (Col) 69 70 71, A Snobeck (Fra) 71 69 70, J Estevez (Arg) 68 71 71, J Zapata (Arg) 68 71 71,
211 R Kakko (Fin) 71 68 72, R Yip (Can) 71 72 68, G Murray (Sco) 74 68 69, W Besseling (Ned) 71 71 69, M Merizalde (Col) 71 71 69, B Wiesberger (Aut) 74 70 67, M Tullo (Chi) 69 69 73,
212 S Acevedo (Arg) 72 72 68, J Etulain (Arg) 75 68 69, R Sanz (Ven) 68 70 74, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 71 72, C Monasterio (Arg) 68 75 69, J Morgan (Eng) 70 74 68,
213 O Floren (Swe) 76 64 73, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 71 72, J Clément (Sui) 70 69 74, J Luna (Col) 73 69 71, M Rodriguez (Arg) 74 70 69,
214 T Olesen (Den) 71 69 74, M Garcia (Arg) 73 67 74, M Gillis (Can) 69 72 73, L Kennedy (Eng) 75 68 71, P Pinto (Arg) 75 68 71, A Pinedo (Col) 72 70 72, J Moul (Eng) 71 72 71, A Ahokas (Fin) 72 69 73, E Herrera (Col) 71 72 71, M Higley (Eng) 67 69 78, R Blaum (USA) 68 73 73,
215 R Thornberry (USA) 72 72 71, J Xanthopoulos (Fra) 68 76 71, C Costilla (Arg) 72 72 71, M Carlsson (Swe) 68 73 74, A Adrian (Ven) 72 72 71, A Gonzales (USA) 70 71 74, J Doherty (Sco) 70 71 74,
216 S Tiley (Eng) 75 68 73, A Kaleka (Fra) 71 70 75, S Saavedra (Arg) 69 73 74, G Agudelo (Col) 75 69 72, R Gomez (Arg) 73 69 74,
217 F De Vries (Ned) 72 72 73, M Mezei (Can) 69 72 76,
218 H Leon (Chi) 73 71 74, L Di Marino (Arg) 69 75 74, S Fernandez (Arg) 73 69 76,
219 B Evans (Eng) 75 68 76, M Quiros (Esp) 72 71 76, M Guzman (Arg) 75 69 75, R Steiner (Aut) 73 71 75, D Brooks (Eng) 72 71 76, J Habig (USA) 72 72 75, E Dominguez (Arg) 73 70 76, A Bernadet (Fra) 69 71 79,
220 D Gillespie (Can) 77 67 76, M Molina (Arg) 73 71 76, R Carter (USA) 72 72 76,
221 J Abbate (Arg) 71 72 78, B Heaven (Nzl) 72 70 79, W Murillo (Ven) 70 74 77,
222 P Relecom (Bel) 73 71 78,
MISSED THE CUT
145 J Clavijo (Col) 75 70 0, C Russo (Fra) 73 72 0, R Surber (USA) 75 70 0, L Posada (Col) 76 69 0, A Grenier (Fra) 75 70 0, H McGarity (USA) 71 74 0, E Gomez (Col) 70 75 0, G Frank (USA) 75 70 0, L Claverie (Esp) 74 71 0, P Acuna (Gtm) 72 73 0, J Guerrier (Fra) 73 72 0, C Del Moral (Esp) 75 70 0, P Kaensche (Nor) 73 72 0, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 75 70 0, A Perrino (Ita) 74 71 0,
146 A Hansen (Den) 77 69 0, J Berastegui (Ven) 76 70 0, J Bloomfield (Jam) 74 72 0, W Hefferman (Can) 73 73 0, L Giometti (Arg) 72 74 0, L Jensen (Den) 76 70 0, M Wiegele (Aut) 75 71 0, J Noguera (Arg) 75 71 0, B Tilley (USA) 77 69 0, D Barbetti (Arg) 73 73 0, A Matthews (USA) 72 74 0, J Amaya (Col) 70 76 0, L Kendregan (USA) 76 70 0,
147 R Goti (Arg) 76 71 0, R Kind (Ned) 75 72 0, L Lee (Bra) 76 71 0, C Brazillier (Fra) 73 74 0, M Villegas (Col) 77 70 0, R Bescansa (Esp) 73 74 0, J Im (Kor) 72 75 0, A Parr (USA) 72 75 0, J Hoyos (Col) 74 73 0, G Acosta (Arg) 72 75 0, F Colombo (Ita) 74 73 0,
148 G Rosier (Fra) 72 76 0, D Altamirano (Arg) 76 72 0, M Hurtado (Col) 78 70 0, B Chapellan (Fra) 72 76 0, A Romero (Col) 76 72 0, J Osmar (Col) 73 75 0, L James (Eng) 77 71 0, B Smith (USA) 76 72 0, J Rivas (Col) 76 72 0,
149 A Wagner (Arg) 75 74 0, J Makitalo (Fin) 78 71 0, J Deacon (Can) 74 75 0, P Dwyer (Eng) 77 72 0, M Zions (Aus) 73 76 0, R Castaneda (Col) 75 74 0,
150 J Garcia (Esp) 75 75 0, J Sjöholm (Swe) 79 71 0, O Villada (Col) 75 75 0, R Scott (Can) 73 77 0,
151 R Ruiz (Col) 79 72 0, D Im (USA) 76 75 0, A Maestroni (Ita) 73 78 0, D Vanegas (Col) 76 75 0,
152 S Jamieson (Sco) 78 74 0, D Tobon (Col) 76 76 0, F Praegant (Aut) 79 73 0,
153 T Feyrsinger (Aut) 74 79 0, F Zacarias (Arg) 77 76 0, F Cabrera (Arg) 74 79 0, P Eales (Eng) 77 76 0,
154 O Patino (Col) 75 79 0, J Rangel (USA) 78 76 0, M Johnston (Can) 77 77 0,
155 A Jauretche (Arg) 80 75 0,
156 L Dodda (Arg) 75 81 0, O Beltran (Col) 74 82 0, A Rauhut (Col) 77 79 0,
157 F Damus (Arg) 74 83 0,
158 T Argonz (Arg) 78 80 0,
160 S Ottosen (Den) 81 79 0,
161 G Vergara (Col) 82 79 0,
** D Olsen (USA) 74 DQ 0, R Fretes (Par) 77 WD 0,

European Challenge Tour Scoreboard
COPA ANTIOQUIA
Club Deportivo El Rodeo, Sede La Macarena
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)
135 Oscar Alvarez 71 64, Francisco Ojeda 64 71.
136 David Vanegas 67 68, Nathan Smith (US) 71 65, Marcus Higley (England) 67 69.
Selected scores:
141 Jack Doherty (Scotland) 70 71 (jt 23rd).
142 George Murray (Scotland) 74 68 (jt 32nd).
PROJECTED CUT: 146 (+2) or better
152 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 78 74.

European Challenge Tour Scoreboard

COPA ANTIOGUIA
Club Deportivo El Rodeo, Sede La Macarena,
Colombia

FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 71
64 Francisco Ojeda.
67 Robert Dinwiddie, Marcus Higley, David Vanegas.
68 Joaquin Esteves, Cesar Monastero, Raul Sanz, Jan-Are Larsen, Magnus Carlsson, Julio Zapata, Ryan Blaum, Vince Covello, Peter Gustafsson, Julien Xanthopoulos.
Selected scores:
70 Jack Doherty, John Morgan (jt 24th).
71 Jamie Moul (jt 32nd).
72 Daniel Brooks (jt 45th).
74 George Murray (jt 86th).
75 Lloyd Kennedy, Ben Evans (jt 99th).
77 Paul Eales, Paul Dwer (jt 135th).
78 Scott Jamieson (jt 146th).

£200,000 Challenge Tour event at Aviemore starts ball rolling

Scotland leads the way for tournaments in 2010

FROM THE SCOTTISH DAILY EXPRESS
By JOCK MacVICAR
Scotland is bucking the trend at a time of severe financial constraint by promoting even more tournaments this year.
Scottish Hydro and Macdonald Hotels, together with EventScotland, yesterday announced they are backing the Scottish Challenge tournament for this year and beyond.
Over the two years, more than £1million in cash and payment in kind is going into the Scottish Hydro Challenge which will again be played at the stunning Macdonald Spey Valley course in Aviemore.
The announcement completes an enormously impressive portfolio of golf tournaments north of the border this year.
The season swings into action with the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Aviemore from June 10 to 13, followed by the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, The Open at St Andrews, the Senior Open at Carnoustie, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, the Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield, the Scottish Seniors Open at Fairmont St Andrews and the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Throw into the mix Colin Montgomerie's eagerly-awaited Ryder Cup team announcement immediately after the final round of the "Johnnie Walker " and, without doubt, Scotland has regained its position at the forefront of the game in terms of hosting events.
Only a few years ago, leading up to the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club, Ireland was being held up as an example for Scotland to follow.
This season, Ireland has no Challenge Tour or Senior Tour event. Its only tournament is the Irish Open.
England has no Challenge Tour event either, with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth its only main Tour event.
Robbie Clyde, EventScotland's project director for the 2014 Ryder Cup, is convinced Scotland will go on to cement its place as a leading tournament venue.
He said: "This is a long-term investment. When we sat down with Ryder Cup Europe, we actually suggested what we believed should be all our obligations.
"We are committed to investment in golf tournaments betyond 2014. Golf is one of those things that the rest of the world would love to have a bit of. Scotland has it but we can't be complacement. We have to keep our game ahead of the opposition.
"Only last month it was estimated that golf is worth £220million to the Scottish economy and although club membership is falling, the pay-and-play sector is booming in some quarters."
Tour official Mark Aspland admits one of the problems south of the border is that England does not have a body like EventScotland, which has invested £150,000 in the Spey Valley tournament.
It does not have a body like Iain Stoddart's Bounce Sports Management either, which acts as the Challenge Tour's commercial partner in Scotland. Prize money at Spey Valley in June will be £200,000 with £32,000 going to the winner.
Jamie McLeary became the first Scot to take the title last year when he beat Italy's Edoardo Molinari by two shots in a field that also included past Ryder Cup player Peter Baker and 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie.
The calibre of Challenge Tour events can be measured by the fact that Molinari later won the World Cup in China with his brother Francesco, and Richie Ramsay, fourth as an amateur in 2006 at Murcar Links, is now the South African Open champion.
Clyde added: "Richie is a good example of what this tournament can do for youn players."

CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT AT AVIEMORE IN JUNE

The Scottish Hydro Challenge at Aviemore will be one of only two European Challenge Tour events to be played in Britain this year.
It will have a prize fund of 200,000 Euros and will be played at the Dave Thomas-designed Spey Valley course from June 10 to 13.
The other is the Wales Challenge at Vale Hotel Golf & Spa Resort, Cardiff from August 25 to 28 with 150,000 Euros prize money.

New Challenge Tour season tees off in Colombia

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The 2010 Challenge Tour season will open with a new event, the Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia, which will be played from February 18-21 at Club Campestre El Rodeo Sede La Macarena near Medellin, the birthplace of Colombia’s favourite golfing son, Camilo Villegas.
When it formed part of the Tour de las Americas (TLA) schedule last year, the event was won by Challenge Tour Member Peter Gustafsson of Sweden, who subsequently went on to clinch the TLA Order of Merit.
The 2010 edition marks the first time the US$220,000 tournament will be co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and the TLA, whose seven-year partnership started with the 2003 Costa Rica Open.
In recent seasons, the Argentine trio of Rafa Echenique, Tano Goya and Alan Wagner have all progressed onto the Challenge Tour after winning events co-sanctioned with the TLA, with Echenique and Goya having subsequently graduated to and, in the latter’s case, won on The European Tour.
Henrique Lavie, Commissioner of the TLA, said: “This event is of great importance to us, as it maintains our relationship with the Challenge Tour. In the past, the relationship has been of great benefit to many of our members who have progressed onto the Challenge Tour and then The European Tour. Once again half the field will be made up of players from the TLA and Colombia, which gives our members another great opportunity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Governor of Antioquia, Luis Alfredo Ramos Botero, without whose efforts it would not have been possible to stage this international event.”
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are very pleased to return to South America and continue our relationship with the Tour de las Americas. With golf due to be introduced to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 the game’s popularity in the region is sure to grow even further in the coming years, and we are pleased to play our part in that process. The event also gives our Members a great opportunity to play in winter, and I am sure they will thoroughly enjoy playing the superb course at Club Campestre El Rodeo.”
The spectacular 6,792 yard, par 71 course, which opened in 1952 and is set in the foothills of the Andes mountain range, is sure to provide a true test for the 144-man field, made up of 60 Challenge Tour Members, 50 players from the TLA, 25 from the Canadian Tour and nine from the host nation.
It is also where European Tour Member Villegas – whose younger brother Manny finished tied 11th at last year’s Club Colombia Masters presentado por Samsung on the Challenge Tour – honed the technique which would later see him capture two US PGA Tour titles in 2008 en route to a career-high of seventh place on the Official World Golf Ranking.

SCOT WINS CHALLENGE TOUR GRAND FINAL

Peter Whiteford wins 51,500 Euros

prize and he's in Race to Dubai

FROM PAUL SYMES, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Scotland’s Peter Whiteford claimed the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final title and with it a place in the top five of the Challenge Tour Rankings after seeing off Andrew Tampion of Australia in a sudden death play-off today.
On a dramatic day at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, where gusting winds again caused havoc and heartache in equal measure, Whiteford, pictured above, prevailed over Tampion, courtesy of a birdie at the first extra hole after both men had finished on five under par 279.
The €51,500 winner’s cheque was the biggest payday of his career, and the Fifer, whose parents own the Wellsgreen golf range, can now look forward to joining The 2010 Race to Dubai after finishing fifth in the Rankings, which were won by Italy’s Edoardo Molinari with record earnings of €242,979.
Tampion, who started the week in 39th place in the Rankings, could at least console himself with a cheque for €34,200 which moved the man from Melbourne up 14 places to 15th and secured a return to The European Tour at the expense of Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson, who finished in the unenviable position of 21st.
There was also despair for Germany’s Christoph Günther, whose place in the all-important top 20 was taken by Whiteford’s fellow Scot Andrew McArthur, who finished in a tie for fourth place on two under par to erase the pain of his near-misses in the past two seasons.
But the day belonged to Whiteford and also Molinari, whose total earnings saw him finish the season some €108,357 ahead of Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima in second place. The top five was completed by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Welshman Rhys Davies, who had to settle for third place on four under par 280 after his birdie putt on the 18th green just shaved the hole.
In contrast, Whiteford followed up a nerveless 10ft par putt on the 72nd hole with an 8ft birdie putt in the play-off to capture his third Challenge Tour title.
The Scot, whose round of 67 included five birdies, said: “I’m obviously absolutely delighted – it’s the biggest win of my career. My aim at the start of the week was just to consolidate my place in the top 15 of the Rankings, so to finish in the top five is fantastic.

"It means I won’t have to be re-ranked next year, so I can just relax a bit more. I didn’t play well on The European Tour last year, but I’ve bounced back pretty well. I’ve been consistent all season without really looking like winning, but I suppose I’ve saved my best until last.
“I hit two great putts on the 18th in regulation play and the play-off, which has usually been my downfall in the past. So it’s nice to know I can hold it together under pressure. There were some nerves out there today, but that’s what you play the game for – to get in the hunt.

"The adrenaline was really flowing – my chip on the last in regulation was a bit heavy, and then in the play-off I hit my drive miles. If only I could hit it that far all the time! My professional play-off record before today was played two, lost two, so it was nice to get that monkey off my back.
“It’ll give me a lot of confidence to take into next season. I’ve got experience of playing on the main Tour before so I know what to expect, and hopefully I’ve learned my lessons from last time. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are, so hopefully I can make the most of my strengths and iron out the flaws in my game. I can’t wait to get out there again now.”
Those sentiments were echoed by three-time winner Molinari, who finished seventh to secure his 12th top ten finish of a phenomenal season. The Italian’s next visit is to China, where he will hope to partner his brother Francesco to glory at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, before beginning his quest for a maiden European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
He said: “Obviously I would’ve liked to keep my 100 per cent record in Italy on the Challenge Tour this season, but I’m not too disappointed. It’s still been a great season, and now I can’t wait for the next one to start.”
Davies will also be a force to be reckoned with next season, having won twice and finished in the top ten a further three times in just 13 appearances on the Challenge Tour.
The former British boys' champion and Walker Cup player, who was a star on the US college circuit as an East Tennessee State University student, said:

“Right now I feel a bit disappointed, because I had a great chance of winning, or at least getting into the play-off. But it wasn’t to be, and I’ve still got to be pretty pleased with two third place finishes in the last two weeks. It was a nice way to round off the season. The main goal at the start of the year was to get my European Tour card, and I’ve achieved that so it’s mission accomplished.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
279 P Whiteford (Sco) 70 73 69 67, A Tampion (Aus) 70 66 75 68 (Whiteford won sudden-death play-off at first hole)
280 R Davies (Wal) 71 69 69 71,
282 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 73 68 69, A McArthur (Sco) 70 70 70 72,
283 A Kaleka (Fra) 70 69 73 71,
285 E Molinari (Ita) 74 71 69 71,
286 A Wagner (Arg) 74 72 69 71, G Boyd (Eng) 72 73 69 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 71 71 72,
288 O Floren (Swe) 72 71 72 73, C Gane (Eng) 70 75 72 71, R Steiner (Aut) 75 72 73 68, F Calmels (Fra) 71 74 72 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 75 73,
289 S Walker (Eng) 76 71 74 68,
290 J Morrison (Eng) 76 70 74 70, J Parry (Eng) 76 73 75 66,
291 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 73 72 69, M Wiegele (Aut) 72 70 76 73, M Zions (Aus) 75 72 75 69, J Guerrier (Fra) 70 75 72 74, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 72 70 73,
292 A Butterfield (Eng) 70 74 73 75, R Coles (Eng) 76 67 75 74,
293 A Hansen (Den) 72 72 75 74, S Bebb (Wal) 68 73 78 74, C Günther (Ger) 77 66 75 75,
294 L James (Eng) 73 76 74 71, Å Nilsson (Swe) 75 71 69 79,
295 S Manley (Wal) 71 80 74 70, J Colomo (Esp) 74 71 74 76,
296 J McLeary (Sco) 75 78 72 71, A Marshall (Eng) 71 78 77 70,
297 C Rodiles (Esp) 76 72 77 72, F Fritsch (Ger) 77 79 70 71, L Gagli (Ita) 76 74 78 69,
298 J Lima (Por) 72 80 72 74,
299 M Tullo (Chi) 73 81 77 68, R McEvoy (Eng) 78 72 76 73,
300 J Quesne (Fra) 73 76 77 74,
301 P Baker (Eng) 76 76 75 74,
302 G Paddison (Nzl) 80 72 78 72,
305 F Praegant (Aut) 77 74 80 74,
307 A Gee (Eng) 77 78 75 77

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

Battle of the Brits set for final day in Italy

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
The final day of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final is all set for a battle of the Brits, with Welshman Rhys Davies and Scotland’s Andrew McArthur occupying the top two places on the leaderboard.
After another day of high winds which made for equally high scoring at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, just five players in the 45-man field remained under par.
Davies leads on four under par 209 after a round of 69, despite a double bogey 6 on the first hole. The same fate befell McArthur, who staged a late rally to sign for a round of 70 which moved the Scot to three under par 210.
A round of 75 saw overnight leader Andrew Tampion of Australia drop back to third place on 211, one stroke ahead of Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford, who enjoyed contrasting fortunes with respective rounds of 73 and 69.
Of the quintet it is perhaps Davies who will sleep the soundest tonight, having long since secured his European Tour card, courtesy of victories in Wales and Spain earlier in the season.
In contrast, 29th placed Kaleka, 21st placed McArthur and 39th placed Tampion will all be desperately hoping to claim enough of the €300,000 prize fund to secure their spots in the top 20 of the Rankings, while Whiteford will be seeking to consolidate his place in the top 15.
Davies said: “Perhaps I’m under less pressure to perform than some of the other guys around me, but there’s always a little bit of pressure if you’re playing in the last group on the final day of any event, let alone the Grand Final. So I’m sure I’ll be just as focused on winning as they are. "It’s great to win any event, but to win the Grand Final would be that little bit extra special. There’s a lot of guys up there in contention, and I’m sure the course and the weather will play a part again. So I’ll have to stay patient, but if I manage to do that I’m sure I’ll have a great chance.
“My game’s coming together and seems to be getting stronger all the time, which is great. I’m always trying to improve my game, and I’ll need to if I’m going to do well on The European Tour next season. But I’m not thinking about that just yet – there’s one round of the Challenge Tour season left, and my aim is to try to go as low as I possibly can and hopefully end the year with another win.”
McArthur’s mission is to try to erase the pain of previous seasons, having finished 22nd in the Rankings in both 2007 and 2008.
The Scot, who racked up four birdies in his last six holes, said: “It was a bit of a slog for the first 12 holes. I’d created a few birdie chances, but nothing seemed to drop. Then I missed a couple of greens with some calamitous mistakes, and all of a sudden I was three over for the round. But after my birdie at the 13th I had a quick look at the leaderboard, and I knew I was still in with a fighting chance as long as I kept it steady – and that’s exactly what I did.
“There’s obviously a lot on the line on the final day, for me and a lot of the other guys. I’m going to be trying to win to get into the top ten of the Rankings, whilst second or third would probably get me into the top 15, and if I play terribly I’ve got no chance of making it into the top 20.
"Then I’d have to go to the Qualifying School Final and try to earn my card that way but that’s probably even more pressurized, so there’s a lot riding on the final round. I’m sure I’ll be excited and nervous in equal measures, but hopefully all the practice I’ve been putting in will pay off and my game will hold together.
“I don’t know if it’s a help or hindrance, having come so close in previous years. I’m just going to try to keep it simple – it’s all about hitting fairways and greens, and then hopefully holing a few putts. I’ll know not to panic if I do drop a few shots, because I’ve been over par in all three rounds but have managed to get it back. A fast start would be great, but if my game doesn’t click into gear straight away, it’s not the end of the world.”
A top five finish would in all probability hand McArthur a European Tour card for the first time, potentially at the expense of the man directly above him in the Rankings Peter Gustafsson of Sweden, who started the day in a tie for third but fell seven places after his round of 75.
England’s James Morrison, who currently occupies 17th place in the Rankings, is also in danger of slipping out of the top 20 after he dropped back to tied 25th with a round of 74. Sion E Bebb, one place above Morrison in the Rankings, is another who will be staring nervously over his shoulder, having slipped back to 22nd place after a round of 78 which included a triple bogey seven at the 14th.
Home hero and Challenge Tour Number One Edoardo Molinari leapt back in contention with a round of 69 to take a share of seventh place on one over par. Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed, currently 32nd in the Rankings, shot the lowest round of the day – a 68 which included five birdies – to climb to sixth place on level par, raising the seemingly remote prospect of a late surge into the top 20.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
209 R Davies (Wal) 71 69 69,
210 A McArthur (Sco) 70 70 70,
211 A Tampion (Aus) 70 66 75,
212 P Whiteford (Sco) 70 73 69, A Kaleka (Fra) 70 69 73,
213 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 73 68,
214 S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 71 71, E Molinari (Ita) 74 71 69, G Boyd (Eng) 72 73 69,
215 Å Nilsson (Swe) 75 71 69, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 75, O Floren (Swe) 72 71 72, A Wagner (Arg) 74 72 69,
217 F Calmels (Fra) 71 74 72, J Guerrier (Fra) 70 75 72, C Gane (Eng) 70 75 72, A Butterfield (Eng) 70 74 73,
218 M Wiegele (Aut) 72 70 76, C Günther (Ger) 77 66 75, R Coles (Eng) 76 67 75, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 72 70,
219 J Colomo (Esp) 74 71 74, A Hansen (Den) 72 72 75, S Bebb (Wal) 68 73 78,
220 J Morrison (Eng) 76 70 74, R Steiner (Aut) 75 72 73,
221 S Walker (Eng) 76 71 74,
222 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 73 72, M Zions (Aus) 75 72 75,
223 L James (Eng) 73 76 74,
224 J Lima (Por) 72 80 72, J Parry (Eng) 76 73 75,
225 S Manley (Wal) 71 80 74, J McLeary (Sco) 75 78 72, C Rodiles (Esp) 76 72 77,
226 F Fritsch (Ger) 77 79 70, R McEvoy (Eng) 78 72 76, J Quesne (Fra) 73 76 77, A Marshall (Eng) 71 78 77,
227 P Baker (Eng) 76 76 75,
228 L Gagli (Ita) 76 74 78,
230 G Paddison (Nzl) 80 72 78, A Gee (Eng) 77 78 75,
231 F Praegant (Aut) 77 74 80, M Tullo (Chi) 73 81 77

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

McArthur lying joint third in Italy Grand Final

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
Andrew Tampion’s improbable search for a European Tour card took flight with a round of 66 today which saw him establish a three-shot lead at the midway stage of the European Challenge Tour's Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
The Australian, currently 39th in the Rankings and without a top 10 finish for four months, sits on six under par, three shots clear of Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka, who, like his playing partner, closed with a birdie in his round of 69.
Welshman Rhys Davies and Swede Peter Gustafsson also signed for rounds of 69 to take a share of third place on two under par alongside Scotland’s Andrew McArthur, who is hoping to climb one place into the top 20 of the Rankings after a series of agonising near-misses in recent seasons.
Needing at least a top three finish this week to stand any chance of securing a return to The European Tour, which he last graced in 2007, Tampion set about his task with relish by collecting birdies at the second, third and fifth holes.
The man from Melbourne shrugged off the disappointment of his only bogey of the day at the sixth hole at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, to collect a further three birdies after the turn and sign for the joint lowest round of the day.
Tampion said: “I didn’t do anything wrong and managed to hole some putts for a change. I’ve been playing pretty well for the past month or so but haven’t been getting my rewards, so I feel like I’m due. I’ve been hitting 15 or 16 greens most weeks, but only shooting level par or one under. So it was nice to see a few putts drop today, and it’s also just nice to see someone other than Edoardo [Molinari] at the top of the leaderboard – he’s giving us all a chance this week!”
In contrast to Tampion, Davies has enjoyed a hugely impressive campaign, and with his confidence sky high after finishing third at last week’s Italian Federation Cup, he will now seek to round off his first full Challenge Tour season in some style with a third title.
The Bridgend boy opted to spurn the chance of playing at the Barclays Singapore Open on The European Tour in favour of improving his final position in the Challenge Tour Rankings, and the decision looks to have been a wise one.
He said: “It was definitely a bit easier today with less wind, but it’s still a tricky course. You won’t get a much tougher opening hole – I flushed my three wood off the fairway and only just reached the green, so a par there felt like a birdie. After that I just played very solid golf, so hopefully I can keep it going for another two days and round off the season with another win.
“Once I made the decision to come here I didn’t have second thoughts, so I’m fully committed to playing well. It was obviously tempting to play in Singapore instead because of the money on offer, but that can wait for another day. Hopefully there will be plenty of chances to play in big tournaments next season.”
Gustafsson and McArthur, respectively 20th and 21st in the Rankings, will both be hoping to join Davies in The 2010 Race to Dubai, and the duo seem set to carry their private battle into the final two rounds of the season. Just €155 separate the pair in the Rankings, though neither man is tying himself in knots trying to work out the various permutations.
McArthur said: “It was much the same as yesterday – I just tried to give myself as many chances as possible, although I didn’t putt as well. Unfortunately I got off to a slow start again – I only seem to get going once I’m two over! For both of my bogeys I only had a wedge in my hand, which was pretty unforgivable because I should’ve been looking at making birdies, not dropping shots.
“But other than that I played pretty well and drove the ball particularly well, which you have to round here. So that gives me confidence for the final two days. I haven’t given much thought to what might or might not be good enough, because I’ll just end up with a headache.”
Perhaps the most significant move of the day came from Germany’s Christian Günther, who had looked in danger of relinquishing his place in the top 20 after opening with a round of 77. But a round of 66 pulled him right back into contention, as he climbed 31 places into a tie for eighth.
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
136 A Tampion (Aus) 70 66,
139 A Kaleka (Fra) 70 69,
140 P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69, A McArthur (Sco) 70 70, R Davies (Wal) 71 69,
141 S Bebb (Wal) 68 73,
142 M Wiegele (Aut) 72 70,
143 C Günther (Ger) 77 66, O Floren (Swe) 72 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 70 73, S Jeppesen (Swe) 72 71, R Coles (Eng) 76 67,
144 A Butterfield (Eng) 70 74, A Hansen (Den) 72 72,
145 C Gane (Eng) 70 75, E Molinari (Ita) 74 71, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 73, F Calmels (Fra) 71 74, J Guerrier (Fra) 70 75, G Boyd (Eng) 72 73, J Colomo (Esp) 74 71,
146 J Morrison (Eng) 76 70, A Wagner (Arg) 74 72, Å Nilsson (Swe) 75 71,
147 S Walker (Eng) 76 71, R Steiner (Aut) 75 72, M Zions (Aus) 75 72,
148 C Rodiles (Esp) 76 72, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 72,
149 J Quesne (Fra) 73 76, A Marshall (Eng) 71 78, J Parry (Eng) 76 73, L James (Eng) 73 76,
150 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 73, R McEvoy (Eng) 78 72, L Gagli (Ita) 76 74,
151 F Praegant (Aut) 77 74, S Manley (Wal) 71 80,
152 G Paddison (Nzl) 80 72, J Lima (Por) 72 80, P Baker (Eng) 76 76,
153 J McLeary (Sco) 75 78,
154 M Tullo (Chi) 73 81,
155 A Gee (Eng) 77 78,
156 F Fritsch (Ger) 77 79,

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

Bebb blows cold - and hot - to lead by

two shots with an opening 68

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
On a brutally tough opening day, in which only eight of the 45-man field broke par, Welshman Sion E Bebb established a two-shot lead at the European Challenge Tour's season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
With high winds and even higher rough making life tough for the European Tour hopefuls at the €300,000 event, which is being played at San Domenico Golf in Puglia, Italy, for the fifth consecutive season, Bebb’s three under par round of 68 shone like a beacon.
Bebb, who was forced to move hotels after his room-mates Stuart Manley and Sam Walker were diagnosed with suspected swine flu, is currently 16th in the Rankings, but has set his sights on breaking into the top 15 to ensure greater playing opportunities next season.
The Welshman’s closest pursuers include the English duo of Andrew Butterfield and Chris Gane, the French pair of Julien Guerrier and Alexandre Kaleka, the Scottish duo of Andrew McArthur and Peter Whiteford, and Australian Andrew Tampion, all of whom signed for rounds of 70.
Bebb, who closed with two birdies to cancel out his double bogey at the 14th hole, said: “I played really well on the front nine, but then suffered a setback with the bogey at the 12th, and then again with the double two holes later. I actually thought I’d hit a decent approach shot, but it came up short and ended up in the rocks by the lake. I tried to play it out but only ended up hitting it into the water, so from being four under par, suddenly I was only one under.
“My head was still spinning on the 15th tee and I didn’t play the hole very well, but I sank a 15 feet putt for par, and that helped settle me down. So I was really pleased to get it back with a good finish because I could’ve easily let the round get away from me, which would’ve been a shame after playing so well on the front nine.
“I’m probably slightly surprised to be leading by two, but with the wind, the deep rough and the narrow fairways, the course is playing very tough. It’s often difficult to find your ball in the rough, and when you do you just have to take your medicine and get it out of there with a wedge. But it’s the final event of the season, so it probably should be that way.
“It’s obviously a big week for everyone, me included. You try not to take notice of what the guys around you in the Rankings are doing, but it’s difficult not to sometimes. On the face of it there’s not too much difference between 15th and 16th place, but in reality there’s a lot of difference in terms of my category for next season. So that was the aim at the start of the week, and I’ve obviously made a good start.”
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
68 S Bebb (Wal) ,
70 C Gane (Eng) , A McArthur (Sco) , A Kaleka (Fra) , J Guerrier (Fra) , A Tampion (Aus) , P Whiteford (Sco) , A Butterfield (Eng) ,
71 S Manley (Wal) , A Marshall (Eng) , P Gustafsson (Swe) , F Calmels (Fra) , R Davies (Wal) ,
72 G Boyd (Eng) , M Wiegele (Aut) , O Floren (Swe) , J Lima (Por) , F Andersson Hed (Swe) , A Hansen (Den) , S Jeppesen (Swe) ,
73 J Quesne (Fra) , M Tullo (Chi) , L James (Eng) ,
74 A Wagner (Arg) , J Colomo (Esp) , E Molinari (Ita) ,
75 Å Nilsson (Swe) , R Steiner (Aut) , J McLeary (Sco) , M Zions (Aus) ,
76 J Morrison (Eng) , N Colsaerts (Bel) , R Coles (Eng) , P Baker (Eng) , C Rodiles (Esp) , J Parry (Eng) , S Walker (Eng) , L Gagli (Ita) ,
77 C Günther (Ger) , F Praegant (Aut) , E Ramsay (Sco) , A Gee (Eng) , F Fritsch (Ger) ,
78 R McEvoy (Eng) ,
80 G Paddison (Nzl)

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

More Molinari magic lands him

Italian Federation Cup triumph

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
Edoardo Molinari captured his third Challenge Tour title of the season in gripping fashion, with a 30ft birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the Italian Federation Cup which saw him to maintain his 100 per cent record on home soil this year.
Trailing overnight leader Nicolas Colsaerts by one stroke with one hole to play, Molinari knew he needed something special to delight the home crowds at Olgiata GC in Rome, Italy. Hope seemed to be fading when he could only find the left edge of the green with his approach, but Molinari rose to the occasion with a perfectly-weighted putt which snaked into the hole for a flawless round of 66 and a 21 under par total.
Behind him, Colsaerts had found the fairway but was impeded by overhanging branches for his second shot, which fell short of the green to leave him a testing chip. The Belgian failed to get up the up and down he needed to force a play-off and so the title went to Molinari, whose €24,000 winner’s cheque took his season’s earnings to an incredible €231,879.
The 28 year old from Turin will now head to the season-ending Apulia San Domenico intent on capturing his fourth title of the campaign and his third on home soil, having already triumphed at the Piemonte Open and Kazakhstan Open earlier in the year.
Molinari, who recently treated himself to a new Audi sports car as a reward for his record-breaking season, said: “Finally I managed to win a tournament in the last couple of holes, which makes up for Denmark and Colombia, where I lost on the last day. It was a fantastic moment when that putt dropped on the last hole. I’d had that exact same putt in the practice round, so I knew the pace and how it would break. I hit it on the right line, and once it rolled down the small tier I knew it had a great chance.
“Today was probably the most difficult of the four days, because the wind was very strong at times. So after the first few holes, I thought 18 under would have a good chance, but then when I reached that with a birdie at the 12th, I just pressed on. I didn’t look at any leaderboards until the 18th green, when I saw Nicolas was on 21 under par. So I knew I needed to make the putt, and when it dropped in I was pretty happy to say the least.
“There were a lot of people following is today, so it felt extra special to win. That putt on the last was the cherry on the cake, and I hope everyone went home happy. It’s nice to come from behind to win, although I feel a little for Nicolas. He played fantastically well – to shoot under par today was a great score in the conditions. He bought me dinner last night to say thank you for giving him a lift to the golf course every day, so it’ll be my turn to treat him next week!”
Colsaerts could console himself with a runner’s up cheque for €16,500, which moved him closer in the Challenge Tour Rankings to third-placed José-Filipe Lima of Portugal.
He said: “I gave it a great go, and in the end it wasn’t quite enough. I was obviously disappointed with the finish, but I’m still happy with how I played over the four days. Hopefully I’ll get Edoardo back by winning the Grand Final next week!”
A round of 71 saw Welshman Rhys Davies finish third on 16 under par to climb to sixth place in the Rankings, but perhaps the most significant move was made by his compatriot Stuart Manley, who climbed from 48th to 36th to secure a berth in the season finale.
In contrast to the Welshman’s joy, Norwegian Jan-Are Larsen could only despair after his missed cut meant he fell two places to 47th position. England’s Adam Gee took the 45th and final place, as he finished just €1,574 ahead of unlucky “loser” Carl Suneson of Spain.
Wales’ Llewellyn Matthews also had reasons to celebrate after he became the second Challenge Tour player this season to record an albatross, as he holed his second shot on the fifth hole.
Scott Jamieson was the leading Scot in joint 11th place on 278 with steady rounds of 68, 70, 69 and 71 to finish 11 shots behind the winner.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
267 E Molinari (Ita) 66 67 68 66,
268 N Colsaerts (Bel) 68 66 66 68,
272 R Davies (Wal) 66 68 67 71,
273 S Manley (Wal) 70 70 67 66,
274 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 64 73,
275 B Hebert (Fra) 74 67 67 67, S Thornton (Irl) 65 69 70 71,
276 P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 66 70 70,
277 A Mellor (Eng) 72 69 66 70, T Olesen (Den) 70 68 66 73,
278 J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 69 67 73, C Russo (Fra) 70 66 72 70, S Jamieson (Sco) 68 70 69 71, J Quesne (Fra) 71 69 67 71,
279 R Coles (Eng) 69 68 73 69, A Tampion (Aus) 68 68 71 72, J Caldwell (Nir) 69 70 71 69,
280 M Haastrup (Den) 66 70 71 73, J Parry (Eng) 71 70 69 70, C Gane (Eng) 69 71 69 71,
281 J Morrison (Eng) 73 68 68 72, I Pyman (Eng) 71 70 66 74, G Boyd (Eng) 70 70 69 72, P Kaensche (Nor) 73 70 70 68,
282 K Sullivan (Wal) 74 69 72 67, R Santos (Por) 69 70 69 74, A Kaleka (Fra) 69 74 68 71, F Colombo (Ita) 73 67 70 72, O Floren (Swe) 71 70 71 70, V Riu (Fra) 67 72 73 70,
283 M Wiegele (Aut) 73 70 68 72, C Moriarty (Irl) 69 71 70 73, J Guerrier (Fra) 72 70 70 71, G Molteni (Ita) 69 74 72 68,
284 D Denison (Eng) 71 68 70 75, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 72 67 75, F De Vries (Ned) 74 69 71 70, G Houston (Wal) 72 68 70 74, P Whiteford (Sco) 67 73 74 70, J Grillon (Fra) 68 74 69 73, S Bebb (Wal) 69 72 69 74,
285 R Saxton (Ned) 70 71 67 77, B Mason (Eng) 70 73 72 70, B Pettersson (Swe) 69 71 69 76, N Bertasio (am) (Ita) 71 70 68 76,
286 A Bernadet (Fra) 70 70 72 74, C Suneson (Esp) 72 71 73 70,
287 J McLeary (Sco) 68 73 74 72, L James (Eng) 71 70 76 70, C Monasterio (Arg) 71 70 70 76, A Bossert (Sui) 72 70 74 71, P Terreni (Ita) 74 69 70 74,
288 F Praegant (Aut) 72 70 73 73, L Matthews (Wal) 71 71 74 72, A Maestroni (Ita) 72 70 74 72,
289 J Moul (Eng) 73 68 74 74,
290 M Crespi (Ita) 72 70 71 77, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 70 70 77 73, E Lattanzi (Ita) 70 73 75 72,
292 M Bernardini (Ita) 72 70 74 76, M McGeady (Irl) 71 69 73 79, L Gagli (Ita) 72 71 73 76

Peter Whiteford finishes 17 under par

to be joint sixth behind winner Parry

Peter Whiteford finished joint sixth in the latest European Challenge Tour event with a 17-under-par total of 271. His rounds were 65, 68, 70 and 68.

REPORT BY CHALLENGE TOUR PRESS OFFICER PAUL SYMES
A career best round of 63 helped former Walker Cup player John Parry of England seal his maiden Challenge Tour title at the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse in France today.
Parry, who started the day four shots off the lead in 14th place, posted eight birdies in a flawless round of golf to finish on 21 under par 267, two strokes clear of Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima.
The 22 year old collected €24,000 to move to 12th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings and within sight of a place on The European Tour, where his 2007 Walker Cup team-mates David Horsey, Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett currently ply their trade.
Parry got off to the perfect start with a birdie at the first hole at Golf de Toulouse-Seilh, in south west France, and promptly added a further four to reach the turn in just 31.
He picked up four more shots after the turn to move out of sight and so claim his first professional title in his maiden season on the Challenge Tour, having gained his card last year through the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit.
Parry, who made just two bogeys across the four days, said: “It’s the lowest round of my professional career, and I picked quite a time to do it! To be honest, I’ve probably played as well on the first three days, but I didn’t hole any putts from ten feet or more. Today, everything seemed to drop – I only had 26 putts. I knew I wasn’t making many mistakes, so when the putts started to fly in, I just grew in confidence. When I woke up this morning, I knew that if my putter was working I would have a chance of winning, even though I was four shots back.
“I set out to attack from the start, and when I was six under through ten, it was going pretty well. I thought I’d be leading by one, but when I glanced up at the leaderboard on the 11th green, there were five or six guys on 18 under par. But in a funny way that probably helped, because it made up my mind for me – I knew I had to keep making birdies. My target was to get to 20 under par, but then when I got there on the 15th hole, I thought I might need one more, so I was really pleased to birdie the 17th. As it turns out I didn’t need it, but it was still a nice cushion to have coming down the last hole.
“It’s good that I’ve got a week off to relax and recover for the next event, and obviously I’ll go there with my confidence sky high. I still need a couple of decent weeks to be sure of my card, but at least I’ve put myself in with a great chance. It’s mine to lose now. Hopefully I can join the likes of David, Danny and Rory on The European Tour. Seeing what they’ve achieved this year is obviously inspiring, and has given me the confidence to believe I’m good enough to compete with the guys on the main Tour. I just need to get there now.”
Lima has already guaranteed his card for next season, but the Portuguese cemented his second place in the Rankings behind leader Edoardo Molinari courtesy of a round of 67 which earned him €16,500, taking his winnings to €132,542.
Lima had briefly shared the lead after a birdie at the 13th hole, but a bogey at the 15th – combined with a birdie from Parry at the same hole – put pay to the Portuguese’s chances.
A round of 67 helped former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker of England to a share of third place on 18 under par, alongside Italian Federico Colombo and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who moves up to third place in the Rankings.
Overnight leader Antti Ahokas of Finland dropped back to a share of ninth place after he could only manage a level par round of 72.
FINAL TOTALS TO COME
Par 288 (4x72)
267 J Parry (Eng) 66 68 70 63
269 J Lima (Por) 68 68 66 67
270 N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 62 74 65, F Colombo (Ita) 67 65 71 67, P Baker (Eng) 69 68 66 67,
271 P Whiteford (Sco) 65 68 70 68, R Steiner (Aut) 67 65 69 70, C Russo (Fra) 64 69 69 69,
272 R Coles (Eng) 68 67 67 70, L Bond (Wal) 67 67 71 67, A Ahokas (Fin) 64 69 67 72, J Quesne (Fra) 68 66 71 67, C Suneson (Esp) 70 67 66 69, S Walker (Eng) 66 70 67 69, S Manley (Wal) 65 71 69 67, V Dubuisson (am) (Fra) 69 69 66 68,
273 M Wiegele (Aut) 65 72 65 71, O Floren (Swe) 70 67 68 68, J Caldwell (Nir) 67 72 66 68,
274 M Zions (Aus) 64 67 72 71, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 67 71 68, J Clément (Sui) 72 64 66 72, R McEvoy (Eng) 67 71 70 66,
275 A Butterfield (Eng) 67 71 69 68, Å Nilsson (Swe) 67 66 72 70, J Moul (Eng) 67 69 72 67,
276 E Moreul (Fra) 67 71 71 67, B Pettersson (Swe) 69 69 70 68, N Meitinger (Ger) 68 70 68 70, A Kaleka (Fra) 68 69 70 69, S Bebb (Wal) 65 74 65 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 67 68 73 68, S Davis (Eng) 69 69 70 68, F Calmels (Fra) 67 72 70 67,
277 C Monasterio (Arg) 66 68 72 71, J Morrison (Eng) 69 69 72 67, A Bossert (Sui) 68 66 71 72, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 70 72 66, C Günther (Ger) 69 67 71 70, A Tampion (Aus) 69 66 74 68,
278 A McArthur (Sco) 65 71 71 71, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 68 71 72, S Jeppesen (Swe) 69 70 71 68, B Hebert (Fra) 68 69 73 68, I Pyman (Eng) 71 68 72 67, R Muntz (Ned) 67 70 71 70, G Boyd (Eng) 68 69 73 68,
279 L James (Eng) 70 68 73 68, A Wagner (Arg) 67 64 75 73, B Teilleria (Fra) 69 68 70 72, F Fritsch (Ger) 65 73 69 72,
280 C Menut (Fra) 69 70 71 70, R Saxton (Ned) 67 72 69 72, J Guerrier (Fra) 69 68 73 70, S Thornton (Irl) 71 68 70 71, J Larsen (Nor) 67 68 73 72, D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 70 70 71,
281 M Higley (Eng) 70 69 71 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 69 71 71,
283 M Reale (Ita) 66 72 70 75,
284 A Hansen (Den) 68 70 71 75, B Mason (Eng) 70 69 71 74, G Molteni (Ita) 69 68 75 72, M Haastrup (Den) 67 71 74 72,
287 M Tullo (Chi) 64 74 73 76,
288 G Paddison (Nzl) 67 69 74 78,

PETER WHITEFORD JT EIGHTH IN FRANCE

Burning Coles hopes to turn up head on Ahokas

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
On a day when the overnight leaders either stood still or went backwards, flamboyant Finn Antti Ahokas made great strides forward to go into the final round of the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse as the man to catch.
Ahokas, who is easy to spot with his bright blond locks and even brighter trousers, sets the clubhouse target on 16 under par, one stroke clear of Austrian Ronald Steiner, who dropped back to second place with a bogey on the last hole at Golf de Tolouse-Seilh, in south west France. But the big dangers could be the in-form Portuguese José-Filipe Lima and the rejuvenated Englishman Robert Coles, who lurk two shots behind the leader in a group which also includes Switzerland’s Julien Clément, Frenchman Charles-Edouard Russo and Austria’s Martin Wiegele.
Coles might feel aggrieved not be back on The European Tour by now, having looked on course to capture his third Challenge Tour title of the season in Geneva two months ago, only for injury to strike on the third day and force him to withdraw from the event.
The physical injury took around a month to heal but the mental scars lingered a while longer, although Coles feels he is getting back towards the sort of form which saw him win in Morocco and Ireland earlier in the season.
Coles, currently ninth in the Challenge Tour Rankings and all but guaranteed a return to The European Tour, said: “I’ve hit some shots this week which I haven’t hit for a while – probably since my injury. My game hasn’t felt quite right for a while now, but it’s slowly coming back. I’ve been hitting a lot of bad shots and not many good ones recently, which isn’t a great combination!
"But this week has been a different story. I’ve been working hard since I got back from my injury, but I haven’t been quite at the races until the last couple of days. We’re still not quite there, but the signs are definitely better.”
Coincidentally, one of the men who has taken advantage of Coles’ enforced absence through injury is Lima, whose ball the Englishman was running to retrieve when he suffered his calf strain.
In the meantime Lima has climbed to second in the Rankings thanks largely to his victory at last week’s ECCO Tour Championship, and he will now bid to become the first player to win back to back titles on this season’s Challenge Tour.
Lima, whose round of 66 included seven birdies and a solitary bogey, said: “I’m playing well, although I’ve still made some stupid mistakes this week. I set myself the target of shooting ten under, which might sound ridiculous but it’s possible on this course. I was going well today without making many putts, but then I made a mistake on the 15th which set me back a bit. But I came back with a birdie on the 17th, and I have to be happy with a round of 66, because it gives me a real chance for tomorrow."
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3s72)
200 A Ahokas (Fin) 64 69 67,
201 R Steiner (Aut) 67 65 69,
202 J Clément (Sui) 72 64 66, J Lima (Por) 68 68 66, R Coles (Eng) 68 67 67, C Russo (Fra) 64 69 69, M Wiegele (Aut) 65 72 65,
203 F Colombo (Ita) 67 65 71, S Walker (Eng) 66 70 67, M Zions (Aus) 64 67 72, C Suneson (Esp) 70 67 66, P Baker (Eng) 69 68 66, P Whiteford (Sco) 65 68 70,
204 J Parry (Eng) 66 68 70, S Bebb (Wal) 65 74 65, V Dubuisson (am) (Fra) 69 69 66,
205 A Bossert (Sui) 68 66 71, J Quesne (Fra) 68 66 71, J Caldwell (Nir) 67 72 66, L Bond (Wal) 67 67 71, Å Nilsson (Swe) 67 66 72, N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 62 74, O Floren (Swe) 70 67 68, S Manley (Wal) 65 71 69,
206 A Wagner (Arg) 67 64 75, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 68 71, N Meitinger (Ger) 68 70 68, C Monasterio (Arg) 66 68 72, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 67 71,
207 A Kaleka (Fra) 68 69 70, C Günther (Ger) 69 67 71, A Butterfield (Eng) 67 71 69, B Teilleria (Fra) 69 68 70, A McArthur (Sco) 65 71 71, F Fritsch (Ger) 65 73 69,
208 J Larsen (Nor) 67 68 73, J Moul (Eng) 67 69 72, A Snobeck (Fra) 67 68 73, B Pettersson (Swe) 69 69 70, R Muntz (Ned) 67 70 71, M Reale (Ita) 66 72 70, R McEvoy (Eng) 67 71 70, S Davis (Eng) 69 69 70, R Saxton (Ned) 67 72 69,
209 A Hansen (Den) 68 70 71, D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 70 70, F Calmels (Fra) 67 72 70, S Thornton (Irl) 71 68 70, A Tampion (Aus) 69 66 74, E Moreul (Fra) 67 71 71,
210 C Menut (Fra) 69 70 71, P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 69 71, J Morrison (Eng) 69 69 72, G Boyd (Eng) 68 69 73, B Mason (Eng) 70 69 71, S Jeppesen (Swe) 69 70 71, M Higley (Eng) 70 69 71, B Hebert (Fra) 68 69 73, J Guerrier (Fra) 69 68 73, G Paddison (Nzl) 67 69 74,
211 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 70 72, M Tullo (Chi) 64 74 73, L James (Eng) 70 68 73, I Pyman (Eng) 71 68 72,
212 M Haastrup (Den) 67 71 74, G Molteni (Ita) 69 68 75

Paul Symes
Press Officerreat chance for tomorrow.”
None of the overnight leaders managed to break par, as Matthew Zions’ round of 72 saw the Australian remain on 13 under par, whilst Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts dropped back to 11 under par after his 74, with Argentina’s Alan Wagner one shot further back after he signed for a three over par round of 75.
SCOREBOARD TO COME

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

Tight at the top in Toulouse after

62 by on-the-rise Colsaerts

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
On a day when it was announced that golf will return to the Olympics in 2016, Nicolas Colsaerts, whose great grandfather represented Belgium in basketball and water polo at the 1920 Games, grabbed a share of the lead at the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse.
A stupendous morning round of 62 – the lowest of a career which has undergone a recent renaissance – moved Colsaerts to 13 under par, level with Argentine starlet Alan Wagner and joint overnight leader Matthew Zions of Australia.
On the same course where he had won the French international boys' championship in 2000, beating a young Italian by the name of Francesco Molinari into second place, Colsaerts carded eight birdies and an eagle at the 17th hole in a flawless round.
The Belgian, who in 2000 became the second youngest player to graduate onto The European Tour through the Qualifying School, is bidding to capture his third Challenge Tour title of a remarkable campaign, having already won the SK Golf Challenge and the Dutch Futures.
With a return to The European Tour already assured next year – he currently sits fourth in the Rankings with earnings of €99,630 – Colsaerts can afford to relax and enjoy the remaining three events.
And the 27 year old, who did not even have a Challenge Tour category at the start of this season after a wretched run of results last year, has already started to plan for his first steps in The Race to Dubai.
He said: “I’m really excited about getting back onto The European Tour – I’ve been counting down the weeks for a while now. At the start of the season, my main goal was just to get into for the Qualifying School Final. But as the season’s gone on, I’ve had to keep setting new goals. Hopefully I’ll be setting some more on Sunday night.”
Zions’ need is perhaps greater, as he currently sits two places outside the top 20 which earn promotion to The European Tour. But the Australian will adopt the tried and tested method of taking one shot at a time in his bid to secure the result he craves.
He said: “It’s never easy to follow up a good round with another one, so I was pleased to go low again. I just tried to forget about yesterday and go out there as if it was the first day of the tournament. If I can keep that attitude over the weekend, I should be ok. I just need to stay nice and free, and forget about everything else. I need to try to stay fresh, physically and mentally. But I’m excited about the weekend.”
At the other end of the experience spectrum is Wagner, who earlier this season followed in the footsteps of his close friend Tano Goya in winning an event co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Americas.
Since then he has slowly slipped down the Rankings, but a second success would put him on the threshold of joining Goya on The European Tour.
Wagner, whose round of 64 included a birdie-eagle-birdie finish, said: “It was a very good day. I drove the ball straight and found nearly all the greens with my second shot, so I’m very happy. I had a great finish, which will give me a lot of confidence going into tomorrow. I will probably need to play very well over the next two days, but I believe I can do it. I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’ll try to ignore the leaderboards and just focus on my game. If I can do that, I have a good chance of getting back into the top 20 in the Rankings.”
Federico Colombo shares fourth place on 12 under par with Roland Steiner, who matched the Italian’s round of 65.
Finland’s Antti Ahokas, Sweden’s Ake Nilsson, Frenchman Charles-Edouard Russo and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford are all one shot further back on 11 under par.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
131 M Zions (Aus) 64 67, N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 62, A Wagner (Arg) 67 64
132 F Colombo (Ita) 67 65, R Steiner (Aut) 67 65
133 Å Nilsson (Swe) 67 66, A Ahokas (Fin) 64 69, P Whiteford (Sco) 65 68, C Russo (Fra) 64 69
134 A Bossert (Sui) 68 66, L Bond (Wal) 67 67, J Parry (Eng) 66 68, J Quesne (Fra) 68 66, C Monasterio (Arg) 66 68
135 R Coles (Eng) 68 67, A Tampion (Aus) 69 66, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 67, A Snobeck (Fra) 67 68, C Brazillier (Fra) 67 68, J Larsen (Nor) 67 68
136 S Manley (Wal) 65 71, A McArthur (Sco) 65 71, J Clément (Sui) 72 64, J Lima (Por) 68 68, C Günther (Ger) 69 67, G Paddison (Nzl) 67 69, S Walker (Eng) 66 70, J Moul (Eng) 67 69
137 P Baker (Eng) 69 68, A Kaleka (Fra) 68 69, R Muntz (Ned) 67 70, O Floren (Swe) 70 67, M Wiegele (Aut) 65 72, J Guerrier (Fra) 69 68, G Boyd (Eng) 68 69, B Hebert (Fra) 68 69, G Molteni (Ita) 69 68, C Suneson (Esp) 70 67, B Teilleria (Fra) 69 68
138 F Fritsch (Ger) 65 73, R McEvoy (Eng) 67 71, M Reale (Ita) 66 72, J Morrison (Eng) 69 69, A Butterfield (Eng) 67 71, B Pettersson (Swe) 69 69, S Davis (Eng) 69 69, A Hansen (Den) 68 70, N Meitinger (Ger) 68 70, E Moreul (Fra) 67 71, M Tullo (Chi) 64 74, M Haastrup (Den) 67 71, L James (Eng) 70 68, V Dubuisson (am) (Fra) 69 69
139 D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 70, F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 70, S Jeppesen (Swe) 69 70, B Mason (Eng) 70 69, M Higley (Eng) 70 69, J Caldwell (Nir) 67 72, C Menut (Fra) 69 70, P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 69, F Calmels (Fra) 67 72, I Pyman (Eng) 71 68, S Bebb (Wal) 65 74, S Thornton (Irl) 71 68, R Saxton (Ned) 67 72
MISSED THE CUT
140 M McGeady (Irl) 69 71, J Grillon (Fra) 72 68, F Schoettel (Fra) 70 70, R Kakko (Fin) 69 71, S Delagrange (Fra) 71 69, R Santos (Por) 69 71
141 J Remesy (Fra) 70 71, J Billot (Fra) 70 71, J Colomo (Esp) 72 69, N Smith (USA) 71 70, C Carranza (Arg) 70 71, P Relecom (Bel) 73 68, L Gagli (Ita) 70 71, M Cobo Arrayas (Esp) 71 70, M Hill (Fra) 70 71, C Gane (Eng) 68 73
142 A Marshall (Eng) 66 76, O David (Fra) 70 72, B Lecuona (Fra) 71 71, G Rosier (Fra) 72 70, S Robinson (Eng) 69 73, J Sjöholm (Swe) 67 75, N Joakimides (Fra) 71 71, S Jamieson (Sco) 71 71, G Gresse (Bel) 71 71
143 P Rowe (Eng) 72 71, P Golding (Eng) 72 71, J Arruti (Esp) 73 70, T Feyrsinger (Aut) 71 72, F Praegant (Aut) 71 72, B Wiesberger (Aut) 74 69, G Houston (Wal) 72 71, R Russell (Sco) 73 70
144 E Ramsay (Sco) 73 71, B Evans (Eng) 75 69, R De Sousa (Sui) 71 73, R Sabarros (Fra) 70 74, C Farrelly (Eng) 72 72
145 V Riu (Fra) 70 75, J McLeary (Sco) 69 76, R Eyraud (Fra) 72 73, A Willey (Eng) 72 73
146 T Whitehouse (Eng) 72 74, M Mauret (Fra) 74 72, A Bernadet (Fra) 75 71
147 A Högberg (Swe) 69 78, J Forestier (Fra) 75 72, N Beaufils (Fra) 72 75
148 A Grenier (Fra) 69 79, J Van Hauwe (Fra) 71 77, N Pamard (Fra) 74 74
151 D Küpper (Ger) 77 74
153 A Mandonnet (Fra) 72 81,
163 T Benslimane (Mar) 81 82,

McArthur and Whiteford like it hot in Toulouse

FROM PAUL SYMES, CHALLENGE TOUR PRESS OFFICER
Before a lightning storm brought a premature halt to the opening day’s play of the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse, Andrew McArthur and Peter Whiteford posted morning rounds of 65 to close to within one shot of clubhouse leaders Matthew Zions and Antti Ahokas.
Play was suspended just after 6pm local time, meaning the 33 players still out on the course will have to return to complete their rounds at 8.30am tomorrow morning. But McArthur and Whiteford can enjoy a sound night’s sleep after posting their lowest opening rounds of the season.
The two Scots suffered contrasting fortunes last week in Denmark, where McArthur missed the cut after being blown off course by high winds, whilst Whiteford finished in the top ten for the second successive week after he was the only player to shoot below par on the final day.
But both players took advantage of benign morning conditions at Golf de Tolouse-Seilh in south west France to move to seven under par, one shot shy of Ahokas and Zions, who both posted eagles in their rounds of 64.
McArthur and Whiteford also carded eagles, at the 11th and eighth holes respectively, which in McArthur’s case helped him come home in 30.
The Glaswegian, currently 19th in the Rankings and therefore hopeful of securing a European Tour card for the first time, credited the hot weather – and an even hotter putter – for his improved display.
His sole dropped shot came at the eighth, where he hit his drive out of bounds. But he soon recovered with a birdie at the ninth, where his approach shot actually landed in the hole, before bouncing out and stopping six feet from the pin.
He said: “I still hit a lot of bad shots today, but unlike last week you can get away with it a lot more on this course, because the rough’s not too penal. My putting was also tremendous today, so that got me out of trouble a couple of times.
"I think I probably only missed about three putts from inside ten feet all day. I putted really well here last year too, so I don’t know whether it’s just a course where you get a feel for the greens, but I can read the breaks really easily here for some reason.
“So I’m definitely enjoying here more than last week in Denmark. I’m not sure whether I’ve got bad circulation, but my hands get so cold when the weather’s bad. Because I can’t feel them properly, I can’t turn properly and my timing goes completely. I should probably be used to it living in Scotland, but if it’s cold back home I just don’t go out! So I was able to write last week of pretty quickly, and get myself ready for these last three weeks.
“Obviously I’m determined to finish in the top 20 this year, having come so close in previous years. But I can’t afford to think about it too much. I’ve just got to keep playing sensibly, attacking the flags where it’s possible, and just going for the middle of the greens where it’s not. If I can do that and not make too many mistakes here and in the last two weeks, hopefully it’ll be good enough.”
Whiteford has previous European Tour experience, having earned his card in 2008 after finishing 13th in the 2007 Challenge Tour Rankings thanks largely to two victories.
Currently 16th in the Rankings with earnings of €53,102, Whiteford has calculated he would probably need to collect another €12,000 to earn a second bit at the cherry.
He said: “I was very pleased with my final round in Denmark last week, so I carried the confidence that gave me into this week. I hit the ball very well today and only missed one green, so I never really looked in danger of dropping a shot at any point. Apart from the eagle at the eighth I didn’t take advantage of the par fives, so if I can do that tomorrow hopefully I can go low again.
“It was good to play well because it’s been a bit for a scramble for me over the past couple of weeks, although the pleasing thing is that I still managed to finish in the top ten. I set myself the goal at the start of the season of finishing in the top ten of the Rankings, but I’d definitely take top 15 now. You never know who’s going to do what, but if I can earn another €12,000 in the next couple of weeks, hopefully that should be enough. But I’m trying not to think too much about it, because you can tie yourself in knots thinking about the whys and wherefores. I’ve just got to shoot as low as possible over the next three days, and see where it takes me.”
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
64 A Ahokas, M Zions.
65 M Wiegele, P Whiteford, A McArthur, S Manley.
66 C Monastero, J Parry, A Marshall, M Reale, S Walker.
Selected scores:
73 Raymond Russell.
Also:
Jamie McLeary -2 after 15 holes completed.
Scott Jamieson -1 after 15 holes completed.

Peter Whiteford joint 6th with best last round of day

Molinari blows it - and Lima steps in to

win Challenge Tour event in Denmark

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
On a day of high drama in Denmark, Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima took advantage of an uncharacteristic late wobble by playing partner Edoardo Molinari of Italy to win the truncated ECCO Tour Championship.
With just two of the 54 holes left to play at a windswept Holstebro GK, in Jutland, Lima trailed the seemingly invincible Italian by three strokes and, by his own admission, had settled for second place.
But when Molinari followed a triple bogey 6 at the short 17th hole, where he found trees off the tee, with a bogey at the last to finish on four under par, Lima suddenly found himself with two putts from 20 feet for a level par round of 72 and a third Challenge Tour title of his career.
Despite leaving his birdie attempt some four feet short, he found the middle of the cup with his second putt to finish on five under par which, in lingering high winds and heavy rain which had caused the cancellation of third day, was an exceptional effort in the circumstances.
Lima, whose two previous titles came at the Aa St Omer Open and Challenge de España in 2004, climbed three places to second in the Rankings with earnings of €116,042 courtesy of his €28,800 winner’s cheque.
Meanwhile Molinari, who would have gained automatic promotion to the European Tour had he held on for his third Challenge Tour title of the season, had to console himself with a runner up cheque for €19,800 which saw him become the first player to break through the €200,000 barrier.
Lima will now head to Toulouse for next week’s Challenge Tour event, before preparing for the Portugal Masters on The European Tour a week later.
He said: “My heart was really beating when I was standing over that putt, because it’s been a while since I’ve won, so I can’t really remember what it feels like. But I’m so happy, because with two holes to play, I was just hoping to stay in second place. Edoardo had been so playing well, but then when he found the trees on the 17th, I knew I had a chance. I felt very sorry for him, but I’m so happy for myself, because I played really well on all three days.
“Today I just missed one drive all day, which was a really good effort in the wind. But I missed so many putts today, and short ones too. I think the longest putt I holed was about from two metres, so I really didn’t think it was going to be my day. But in the end, I got my reward for keeping going.
“I’ll take a lot of confidence from this win, not just for this season but also into next. Hopefully I can play well at the Portugal Masters and finish the Challenge Tour season on a high note by finishing second in the Rankings, then I can look forward to playing again on The European Tour next year.”
Finland’s Roope Kakko finished in third place on two under par after carding a round of 75, with Fredrik Andersson Hed a further two shots back on level par after the Swede signed for a 72.
Peter Whiteford finished joint sixth, thanks to a final-round 70, the best of the day
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
211 J Lima (Por) 70 69 72
212 E Molinari (Ita) 69 69 74
214 R Kakko (Fin) 70 69 75
216 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 75 69 72
217 J Parry (Eng) 71 69 77
218 C Suneson (Esp) 71 71 76, P Whiteford (Sco) 75 73 70, A Sjöstrand (Swe) 71 71 76, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 70 72, S Davis (Eng) 71 75 72
220 A Bernadet (Fra) 77 70 73, N Smith (US) 74 74 72, M Haastrup (Den) 75 72 73, C Monasterio (Arg) 73 74 73
221 F Fritsch (Ger) 76 73 72, R McEvoy (Eng) 72 73 76, J Quesne (Fra) 76 70 75, S Manley (Wal) 71 71 79, G Paddison (Nzl) 76 72 73, J Guerrier (Fra) 75 73 73, S Walker (Eng) 74 73 74, A Hartoe (am) (Den) 74 71 76
222 A Gee (Eng) 72 72 78, D Denison (Eng) 76 72 74, F Colombo (Ita) 73 72 77, W Schauman (Swe) 76 72 74, A Kaleka (Fra) 73 76 73, P Gustafsson (Swe) 73 74 75, A Snobeck (Fra) 78 70 74, J Hansen (am) (Den) 71 74 77
223 Å Nilsson (Swe) 78 68 77, G Boyd (Eng) 70 74 79, J Larsen (Nor) 73 75 75, A Tampion (Aus) 73 72 78
224 R Muntz (Ned) 76 74 74, R Davies (Wal) 73 77 74, R Coles (Eng) 75 72 77, M Zions (Aus) 76 71 77
225 M Jurgensen (Den) 73 76 76, L Jensen (Den) 75 74 76, P Baker (Eng) 76 71 78, A Hansen (Den) 75 71 79, T Norret (Den) 72 75 78, S Bebb (Wal) 77 73 75, A Marshall (Eng) 75 75 75, C Moriarty (Irl) 76 72 77, D Lokke (am) (Den) 76 71 78
226 C Gane (Eng) 74 74 78, A Wagner (Arg) 76 72 78, M Higley (Eng) 71 75 80, F Calmels (Fra) 78 71 77, L Bjerregaard (am) (Den) 77 71 78
227 T Olesen (Den) 77 72 78, J Moul (Eng) 72 77 78, F Henge (Swe) 77 73 77, B Wiesberger (Aut) 75 75 77, J McLeary (Sco) 77 73 77, J Bjerhag (Swe) 78 71 78
228 M Wiegele (Aut) 74 76 78, B Akesson (Swe) 73 77 78, C Rodiles (Esp) 75 71 82, F Ohlsson (Swe) 74 76 78, M Thorp (Nor) 79 71 78
229 C Carranza (Arg) 74 74 81, A Andersson (Swe) 75 74 80, B Evans (Eng) 73 75 81
231 K Nielsen (Den) 78 72 81
234 J Wahlqvist (Swe) 77 72 85

Challenge Tour event in Denmark cut to 54 holes

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
The Challenge Tour's ECCO Tour Championship has been reduced to 54 holes after the third day was washed out by torrential rain in Jutland, Denmark today.
With standing water on the fairways and greens at Holstebro GK rendering some holes unplayable, Tournament Director Thomas Waldenstadt took the decision to suspend play.
The third and final round will resume at 8.30am on Sunday morning, but with rain and high winds again predicted, further delays cannot be ruled out.
Waldenstadt said: “When we started the third round at midday, the course was playable – we wouldn’t have started otherwise. The idea was to get as many holes completed today, because the forecast for tomorrow is for more rain. We had been predicted rain today but not until later in the afternoon, so it came sooner than expected. Once it became clear the conditions were making the course unplayable, we took the decision to suspend play and return in the morning to finish the third round.
"Unfortunately the tournament has now been reduced to 54 holes, but I felt we had no alternative in the circumstances. Hopefully we will get a full day’s play tomorrow, to allow us to complete the tournament.”
Edoardo Molinari, the current Challenge Tour Number One, is currently leading the event by one stroke from Finland’s Roope Kakko and Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima, with England’s John Parry one shot further back on four under par.

It's that man Molinari again setting the pace

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes
Not for the first time this season, Edoardo Molinari will go into the weekend as the man to catch after a second successive round of 69 saw him maintain his one-stroke advantage on day two of the European Challenge Tour's ECCO Tour Championship.
The Italian, whose nearest challengers are Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima and Finland’s Roope Kakko on five under par, has enjoyed a half-way lead on three previous occasions this season – at the Club Colombia Masters presentado por Samsung, the Piemonte Open, and the Kazakhstan Open.
Only once has he relinquished that lead, in Colombia, which underlines the task facing Lima and Kakko, who matched the Italian’s round of 69, as did England’s John Parry, who sits in fourth place on four under par.
In more benign conditions at Holstebro GK in Jutland, on the east coast of Denmark, Molinari again carded four birdies and a solitary bogey to move to six under par and within sight of the fifth Challenge Tour title of his career.
But with up to 30mm of rain predicted on the third day, he may have to do it the hard way.
Molinari said: “Although it saw still very cold this morning the course was playing much easier without the wind, but I didn’t hit the ball as well as I did yesterday. I drove the ball very well again today but my approach play wasn’t great, so I didn’t give myself many chances for birdie. But 69’s still not a bad round here – if I can do the same for the next two days, I’ll be in with a great chance.
“With the weather forecast not looking too good, it may come down to who plays the conditions the best. That could work in my favour, because I’m driving the ball well and you have to keep your ball in play when the weather’s bad. So whatever happens, hopefully I’ll be able to deal with it.”Welshman Stuart Manley, Sweden’s Anders Sjöstrand and Spain’s Carl Suneson are tied for fifth place on two under par after all three signed for rounds of 71 for the second successive day.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 E Molinari (Ita) 69 69
139 R Kakko (Fin) 70 69, J Lima (Por) 70 69
140 J Parry (Eng) 71 69
142 C Suneson (Spa) 71 71, A Sjostrand (Swe) 71 71, S Manley (Wal) 71 71
144 F Andersson Hed (Swe) 75 69, G Boyd (Eng) 70 74, A Gee (Eng) 72 72
145 F Colombo (Ita) 73 72, R McEvoy (Eng) 72 73, A Tampion (Aus) 73 72, A Hartoe (Den) 74 71, J Hansen (Den) 71 74
146 M Higley (Eng) 71 75, N Colsaerts (Bel) 76 70, A Hansen (Den) 75 71, S Davis (Eng) 71 75, C Rodiles (Spa) 75 71, J Quesne (Fra) 76 70, A Nilsson (Swe) 78 68
147 M Haastrup (Den) 75 72, A Bernadet (Fra) 77 70, P Baker (Eng) 76 71, T Norret (Den) 72 75, P Gustafsson (Swe) 73 74, C Monasterio (Arg) 73 74, R Coles (Eng) 75 72, S Walker (Eng) 74 73, M Zions (Aus) 76 71, D Lokke (Den) 76 71
148 A Snobeck (Fra) 78 70, J Larsen (Nor) 73 75, N Smith (USA) 74 74, W Schauman (Swe) 76 72, A Wagner (Arg) 76 72, G Paddison (Nzl) 76 72, C Gane (Eng) 74 74, C Moriarty (Irl) 76 72, J Guerrier (Fra) 75 73, D Denison (Eng) 76 72, B Evans (Eng) 73 75, P Whiteford (Sco) 75 73, C Carranza (Arg) 74 74, L Bjerregaard (Den) 77 71
149 F Fritsch (Ger) 76 73, J Bjerhag (Swe) 78 71, L Jensen (Den) 75 74, F Calmels (Fra) 78 71, A Kaleka (Fra) 73 76, A Andersson (Swe) 75 74, T Olesen (Den) 77 72, M Jurgensen (Den) 73 76, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 77 72, J Moul (Eng) 72 77
150 F Henge (Swe) 77 73, B Wiesberger (Aut) 75 75, J McLeary (Sco) 77 73, S Bebb (Wal) 77 73, R Davies (Wal) 73 77, R Muntz (Ned) 76 74, M Wiegele (Aut) 74 76, M Thorp (Nor) 79 71, A Marshall (Eng) 75 75, K Nielsen (Den) 78 72, F Ohlsson (Swe) 74 76, B Akesson (Swe) 73 77
MISSED THE CUT
151 S Jeppesen (Swe) 74 77, A Hogberg (Swe) 74 77, K Jorgensen (Den) 79 72, M Eliasson (Swe) 74 77, J Grillon (Fra) 77 74, R Eriksson (Swe) 76 75, A Ahokas (Fin) 77 74, R Hjelm (Den) 77 74, A Butterfield (Eng) 76 75
152 P Ankersoe (Den) 78 74, M Hedegaard (Den) 77 75, F Praegant (Aut) 75 77, G Murray (Sco) 77 75, J Colomo (Spa) 77 75, K Hallgren (Swe) 78 74, C Lange (Den) 81 71, L Kennedy (Eng) 74 78, D Nouailhac (Fra) 77 75
153 M Korhonen (Fin) 78 75, J Makitalo (Fin) 80 73
154 S Juul (Den) 79 75, N Meitinger (Ger) 80 74, J Morrison (Eng) 83 71, M McGeady (Irl) 75 79, M Reale (Ita) 77 77, J Zapata (Arg) 79 75
155 D Kupper (Ger) 77 78, J Arruti (Spa) 78 77, R De Sousa (Swi) 79 76, S Thornton (Irl) 77 78, A McArthur (Sco) 78 77
156 J Adarraga Gomez (Spa) 82 74, J Clement (Swi) 79 77, L Johansson (Swe) 77 79, G Adell (Swe) 81 75
157 K Edberg (Swe) 81 76, M Palm (Swe) 83 74, G Andersson (Swe) 83 74
158 L Gagli (Ita) 81 77, P Barth (Swe) 81 77, P Bocian (Swe) 80 78, A Kali (Den) 77 81
159 L Bond (Wal) 83 76, R Steiner (Aut) 83 76
160 C Gunther (Ger) 81 79, K Sorensen (Den) 85 75
161 N Bruzelius (Swe) 82 79, A Kasprzak (Den) 77 84
168 M Pilkington (Wal) 82 86
Retired:: G Houston (Wal) 80, L James (Eng) 82
Withdrew: B Mason (Eng) 79

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

Wind no problem for magnificent Molinari

REPORT FROM CHALLENGE TOUR PRESS OFFICER PAUL SYMES
Edoardo Molinari continued his dominance of the 2009 Challenge Tour season with a superb round of 69 in tough conditions to seize the lead on the opening day of the ECCO Tour Championship.
The Italian, who has already broken the record for Challenge Tour earnings in a season, would break through the €200,000 barrier and gain automatic promotion to The European Tour were he to add this week’s event to the Piemonte Open and Kazakhstan Open titles he has already collected this term.
Despite gusting winds of up to 25 mph at Holstebro GK in Jutland, on the east coast of Denmark, and despite playing for the first time with a new set of irons which he feels will take his game to even higher levels on The European Tour next season, Molinari was the only member of the 120-man field to break 70.
He currently leads the €180,000 event by one stroke from a trio of players on two under par: Finland’s Roope Kakko, who eagled the 16th hole, England’s Gary Boyd and Jose-Filipe Lima of Portugal, both of whom will join Molinari on The European Tour next season.
Molinari, who will partner younger brother Francesco at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup next month, said: “It was very tough at times out there, especially on the first few holes when it was really windy. But there are also some birdie chances out there, so you just have to concentrate hard and play more conservatively on the difficult holes. I’m using new clubs with different grooves this week, and they probably helped in the wind because the ball spins a bit less.”
The in-form Boyd finished third behind Molinari in Kazakhstan to climb to fourth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, and so secure a European Tour card for the first time.
Boyd, who became the first ever random “target” of the Challenge Tour’s new anti-doping regime when he was tested after his morning round, claimed the conditions were the toughest he had played in all year.
He said: “It’s a great course – there’s hardly a bad hole out there – but it was playing really tough. It’s always a bit of a battle on the first day anyway, but today it was brutal. I was just trying to stay patient and not to make too many mistakes, which was easier said than done at times. The wind was so strong at times. I hit a five iron with 160 yards to go on one hole and still came up short, so it’s a good two or three clubs difference – and because it’s so cold, the ball doesn’t even fly that far when you’re playing downwind. You’ve got to take advantage of the par fives which are downwind, because on the fives which are playing into the wind, I was hitting a five iron for my third shot. Level par is a decent score round there today, so I’ve got to be delighted with a round of 70.”
Since missing three cuts in the middle of the season Boyd has been in fine form, finishing inside the top 20 in five of his last six events.
The youngster – who will hope to celebrate his 23rd birthday on Sunday by lifting the trophy – credited his improved performance to a midseason break, where his only contact with the golfing world was a book by renowned sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella, who has worked with Padraig Harrington among others.
He said: “I didn’t actually played that badly from tee to green in the three tournaments where I missed the cut, but my putting had been poor. So I just threw the clubs into the garage and went away for the week. I took Putting Out of Your Mind with me, and it really made a difference. I used to hole so many putts when I was younger, but then I started becoming too technical and thinking about it too much, so that it didn’t feel natural any more. The trick is to try to free your mind, and by and large I’ve been able to do that ever since reading the book.”
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
69 E Molinari (Ita)
70 G Boyd (Eng), J Lima (Por), R Kakko (Fin)
71 S Davis (Eng), S Manley (Wal), A Sjöstrand (Swe), M Higley (Eng), C Suneson (Esp), J Parry (Eng), J Hansen (Den) (am)
72 R McEvoy (Eng), A Gee (Eng), T Norret (Den), J Moul (Eng)
73 M Jurgensen (Den), A Tampion (Aus) , P Gustafsson (Swe) , B Evans (Eng) , C Monasterio (Arg), F Colombo (Ita), A Kaleka (Fra) , J Larsen (Nor) , R Davies (Wal) , B Akesson (Swe) ,
74 C Carranza (Arg), F Ohlsson (Swe) , M Wiegele (Aut) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , M Eliasson (Swe), A Högberg (Swe), N Smith (USA) , C Gane (Eng) , L Kennedy (Eng) , S Walker (Eng) , A Hartoe (am) (Den)
75 F Andersson Hed (Swe) , A Hansen (Den) , R Coles (Eng) , A Marshall (Eng) , M McGeady (Irl), M Haastrup (Den) , P Whiteford (Sco) , L Jensen (Den) , B Wiesberger (Aut) , F Praegant (Aut) , A Andersson (Swe) , J Guerrier (Fra) , C Rodiles (Esp)
76 R Muntz (Ned) , M Zions (Aus) , D Denison (Eng), P Baker (Eng), F Fritsch (Ger) , J Quesne (Fra) , A Wagner (Arg) , R Eriksson (Swe) , N Colsaerts (Bel), W Schauman (Swe) , C Moriarty (Irl) , G Paddison (Nzl) , A Butterfield (Eng) , D Lokke (Den) (am)
77 M Reale (Ita) , S Bebb (Wal), M Hedegaard (Den), R Hjelm (Den), J Wahlqvist (Swe) , A Ahokas (Fin), D Nouailhac (Fra), D Küpper (Ger), L Johansson (Swe), F Henge (Swe), J McLeary (Sco) , J Grillon (Fra), G Murray (Sco), A Kali (Den) , J Colomo (Esp), T Olesen (Den) , A Bernadet (Fra), S Thornton (Irl), A Kasprzak (Den) (am), L Bjerregaard (am) (Den) ,
78 M Korhonen (Fin) , K Nielsen (Den), J Bjerhag (Swe) , A Snobeck (Fra) , F Calmels (Fra) , Å Nilsson (Swe) , K Hallgren (Swe), P Ankersoe (Den), A McArthur (Sco) , J Arruti (Esp) ,
79 K Jorgensen (Den) , M Thorp (Nor), S Juul (Den), J Clément (Sui) , B Mason (Eng) , R De Sousa (Sui), J Zapata (Arg)
80 J Makitalo (Fin), N Meitinger (Ger), P Bocian (Swe) , G Houston (Wal)
81 G Adell (Swe), L Gagli (Ita), C Lange (Den), P Barth (Swe) , C Günther (Ger) , K Edberg (Swe)
82 J Adarraga Gomez (Esp) , L James (Eng) , M Pilkington (Wal) , N Bruzelius (Swe)
83 L Bond (Wal) , R Steiner (Aut) , J Morrison (Eng) , M Palm (Swe) , G Andersson (Swe)
85 K Sorensen (Den) (am)