Record-breaking Ruangkit romps to Thailand victory

By SCOTT CROCKETT
Chief Press Officer, European Tour
Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit rewrote the European Senior Tour history books when he romped to a stunning 11 shot victory in the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS.
The 53 year old was simply in a different class to the rest of the field at the picturesque Royal Gems Golf Club in Nakhonpathom, rounds of 64-66-65 giving the host nation favourite a whopping 21 under par winning total of 195.
Fellow countryman Jamnian Chitprasong, Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori shared a distant second place on ten under par 206 but, as with the rest of the field in the third European Senior Tour event of the 2010 season, they were all merely bit part players in the Boonchu master class.
Ruangkit – who won The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters seven days ago and is now 35 under par for his last six competitive tournament rounds – became the first player to win consecutive European Senior Tour events since England’s Peter Mitchell won the Scottish Seniors Open and the Italian Seniors Open in October 2008.
In addition to that, he also carded the lowest 54 hole score to par in European Senior Tour history – beating the 18 under par 198 posted by David Good in the 2003 Tunisian Seniors Open and Bob Lendzion in the 2005 Jolie Ville Sharm El Sheikh Open – and also claimed the biggest 54 hole winning margin in Tour history, topping the nine shot victory Tommy Horton achieved in the El Bosque Open in 1998.
“I am extremely pleased with my performance today and very proud of what I have achieved here this week,” said Ruangkit who moved to the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit. “My putting was just right and my whole game just came together.
“Last night I wasn’t certain that I could win it as Chiprasong and several other players were playing very well. But I went out and played the best I could and fortunately everything fell into place for me.
“To be honest, I didn’t know that there was a chance to break some Senior Tour records but I am delighted that I have managed to get my name in the history books and extremely proud to have done it in my home country as well.”
Leading by three shots overnight, Ruangkit laid down a marker to the rest of the field with a birdie four at the opening hole. Although six par figures followed to give the chasing pack a glimmer of hope, the Thai star ended the tournament as a contest around the turn with five birdies in a row from the eighth.
Another birdie followed at the 15th and although he dropped only his third shot of the entire tournament at the testing 440 yard 16th, Ruangkit made amends and ensured he finished in style with a closing birdie four at the 18th.
Of the three players in second place, Tomori – who won the 2006 Scandinavian Senior Open – produced the best round with a 69. Minoza challenge never truly ignited after a double bogey six at the second and he had to settle for a 71 while consecutive bogeys at the 11th and 12th and another at the 17th accounted for Chitprasong’s 73.
Further down the final leaderboard, England’s Kevin Spurgeon - the winner of the Senior Tour season opener in Mauritius and who Ruangkit replaced at the head of the Order of Merit – finished in a tie for 24th place on one under par 215 alongside the winner of the 2009 Order of Merit, Scotland’s Sam Torrance.
Although satisfied with his own performance in the stifling heat, the former European Ryder Cup Captain paid tribute to the new champion. “Boonchu is amazing,” he said.”I know him very well and he has been a great player for a long time. He showed that once again this week.”
FINAL TOTALS
Royal Gems Golf Club, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
Par 216 (3x72)
195 B Ruangkit (Tha) 64 66 65,
206 J Chitprasong (Tha) 66 67 73, F Minoza (Phi) 70 65 71, K Tomori (Jpn) 66 71 69,
208 A Sowa (Arg) 67 70 71, G Brand (Eng) 70 70 68, M Saengsui (Tha) 65 71 72, S Ebihara (Jpn) 68 70 70,
209 D Russell (Eng) 67 68 74,
210 C Williams (RSA) 72 69 69,
211 H Carbonetti (Arg) 69 71 71, R Chapman (Eng) 71 69 71, M Williams (Zim) 68 74 69, J Rhodes (Eng) 68 69 74
212 J Quiros (Esp) 68 74 70
213 T Johnstone (Zim) 69 69 75, S Lyle (Sco) 70 71 72, B Cameron (Eng) 70 72 71, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 69 74 70, D Merriman (Aus) 70 72 71
214 C Rocca (Ita) 71 70 73, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 73 72, B Lincoln (RSA) 68 75 71
215 P Harrison (Eng) 67 71 77, J Chillas (Sco) 72 77 66, M Clayton (Aus) 75 70 70, J Bruner (USA) 68 71 76, M Farry (Fra) 68 76 71, K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 73 72, S Torrance (Sco) 73 71 71
216 N Job (Eng) 71 70 75, J Rivero (Esp) 70 73 73, P Mitchell (Eng) 71 75 70
217 S Bennett (Eng) 69 74 74, G Banister (Aus) 71 74 72, S Taylor (USA) 74 73 70, M Harwood (Aus) 69 74 74, N Meesom (Tha) 67 76 74, B Boyd (USA) 71 71 75, G Ralph (Eng) 72 71 74, J Heggarty (Nir) 71 73 73, F Mann (Sco) 70 71 76,
218 S Saengsui (Tha) 71 73 74, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 72 71, L Yong-Kun (Kor) 69 77 72, G Ryall (Eng) 70 73 75, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 74 72,
219 P Oakley (USA) 75 70 74,
220 B Longmuir (Sco) 73 74 73, M Ramayah (Mas) 71 72 77, S Bunpimuck (Tha) 71 73 76, G Gunn (Can) 70 72 78, G Cali (Ita) 70 76 74,
221 J Hall (Eng) 74 76 71, L Stephen (Aus) 72 73 76, M Cunning (USA) 69 78 74, J Hawkes (RSA) 76 70 75,
222 T Chen (Tpe) 76 73 73, M Gray (Sco) 78 68 76, D Cambridge (Jam) 74 77 71,
223 B Hardwick (Can) 72 76 75, M Poxon (Eng) 72 77 74, S Owen (Nzl) 72 74 77, D Johnson (USA) 76 75 72,
224 A Tapie (USA) 75 73 76, K Nam (Kor) 73 77 74, M Miller (Sco) 75 73 76, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 77 76,
225 I Mosey (Eng) 76 75 74,
226 T Gale (Aus) 73 73 80, T Burgoyne (Sco) 77 75 74, M Piñero (Esp) 75 79 72, P Allan (Eng) 74 75 77,
227 P Teravainen (USA) 74 70 83,
230 A Johnsson (Swe) 77 75 78, B Smit (RSA) 74 77 79,
233 I Palmer (RSA) 75 79 79,
234 A Garrido (Esp) 75 83 76,

CHANG THAILAND SENIOR MASTERS

Local hero Boonchu leads by three after three rounds

By SCOTT CROCKET
European Tour Chief Press Officer
Home hero Boonchu Ruangkit kept on course for back-to-back victories on the European Senior Tour when he fashioned a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS.
England’s Peter Mitchell was the last man to notch successive Senior Tour victories back in October 2008 when he won in consecutive weeks in Scotland and Italy but now Ruangkit is poised to follow him into the record books after another stirring showing in front of his adoring Thai public.
The 53 year old followed his stunning opening 64 on Friday with a second round 66 at the Royal Gems Golf Club in Nakhonpathom for a 14 under par total of 130, three shots clear of his fellow countryman Jamnian Chitprasong who kept the Thai flag flying at the head of affairs with a 67 for 133.
England’s David J Russell and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines share third on nine under par 135 in the third European Senior Tour event of the 2010 season but, as with last week when he captured The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, the tournament so far has been all about Boonchu.
“I am very happy with my form right now although I must admit I’m a little tired,” he said. “But if I get a good night’s rest I am sure I’ll be up for the challenge tomorrow.
“To win two weeks in a row would be a fantastic achievement for me and one I’ll be going all out to accomplish although I know it won’t be easy as there are a lot of good players behind me, especially Jamnian who played really well today and who I know will be difficult to beat.”
Certainly if Ruangkit produces similar form to his first two days, he will be tricky to topple from pole position. Four birdies in a flawless opening half to his second round saw him to the turn in 32 and while his momentum was halted slightly with a bogey six at the tenth, he recovered in style with further birdies at the 12th, 13th and 18th.
Second placed Chitprasong continued his fine week’s showing with a flawless second round 67 to add to his opening 66, the highlight of the round for the 51 year old coming at the 523yd 10th where he notched an eagle 3.
Leading European challenger, England’s David J Russell finished in style with an eagle three at the 507 yard 18th hole for a 68 to see him share third place with Frankie Minoza whose flawless 65 was the best round of the second day’s play.
“I was hitting some good shots but I didn’t really feel I was getting the reward for them which is why it was nice to finish with the eagle at the end there,” said Russell.
“To have a chance tomorrow I’m going to have to go out and shoot low because Boonchu and Jamnian ahead of me are obviously playing very well. But I’m just going to go out and try and play the best I can and if I can shoot in the mid to low 60s then it might worry them a little.”
Further down the leaderboard, current European Senior Tour Order of Merit leader, England’s Kevin Spurgeon, is in a share of 28th place on one under par 143 following his second round 73 while last season’s Number One, Scotland’s Sam Torrance, is one shot further back on level par 144 after his second round 71.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Royal Gems Golf Club, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
Par 144 (2x72)
130 B Ruangkit (Tha) 64 66,
133 J Chitprasong (Tha) 66 67,
135 D Russell (Eng) 67 68, F Minoza (Phi) 70 65,
136 M Saengsui (Tha) 65 71,
137 J Rhodes (Eng) 68 69, A Sowa (Arg) 67 70, K Tomori (Jpn) 66 71,
138 P Harrison (Eng) 67 71, S Ebihara (Jpn) 68 70, T Johnstone (Zim) 69 69,
139 J Bruner (US) 68 71,
140 G Brand (Eng) 70 70, R Chapman (Eng) 71 69, H Carbonetti (Arg) 69 71,
141 S Lyle (Sco) 70 71, C Rocca (Ita) 71 70, F Mann (Sco) 70 71, C Williams (South Africa) 72 69, N Job (Eng) 71 70,
142 B Cameron (Eng) 70 72, B Boyd (USA) 71 71, M Williams (Zim) 68 74, J Quiros (Esp) 68 74, D Merriman (Aus) 70 72, G Gunn (Can) 70 72, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 73,
143 G Ryall (Eng) 70 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 73, G Ralph (Eng) 72 71, S Bennett (Eng) 69 74, B Lincoln (South Africa) 68 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 69 74, J Rivero (Esp) 70 73, M Harwood (Aus) 69 74, N Meesom (Tha) 67 76, M Ramayah (Mas) 71 72
144 S Bunpimuck (Tha) 71 73, P Teravainen (US) 74 70, M Farry (Fra) 68 76, S Saengsui (Tha) 71 73, S Torrance (Sco) 73 71, J Heggarty (N Ireland) 71 73
145 G Banister (Aus) 71 74, L Stephen (Aus) 72 73, P Oakley (US) 75 70, M Clayton (Aus) 75 70
146 J Hawkes (South Africa) 76 70, M Gray (Sco) 78 68, P Mitchell (Eng) 71 75, T Gale (Aus) 73 73, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 74, G Cali (Ita) 70 76, S Owen (Nzl) 72 74, L Yong-Kun (South Korea) 69 77,
147 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 72, S Taylor (US) 74 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 74, M Cunning (US) 69 78
148 A Tapie (US) 75 73, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 77, B Hardwick (Can) 72 76, M Miller (Sco) 75 73,
149 J Chillas (Sco) 72 77, M Poxon (Eng) 72 77, P Allan (Eng) 74 75, T Chen (Tpe) 76 73,
150 K Nam (Kor) 73 77, J Hall (Eng) 74 76
151 B Smit (South Africa) 74 77, D Johnson (US) 76 75, I Mosey (Eng) 76 75, D Cambridge (Jam) 74 77, 152 T Burgoyne (Sco) 77 75, A Johnsson (Swe) 77 75
154 M Piñero (Esp) 75 79, I Palmer (South Africa) 75 79
158 A Garrido (Esp) 75 83

-

Chang Thailand Senior Masters Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
64 B Ruangkit (Tha)
65 M Saengsui (Tha)
66 K Tomori (Jpn), J Chitprasong (Tha)
67 A Sowa (Arg), P Harrison (Eng), N Meesom (Tha), D Russell (Eng),
68 J Bruner (US), S Ebihara (Jpn), M Williams (Zim), J Quiros (Esp), J Rhodes (Eng), B Lincoln (RSA), M Farry (Fra)
69 S Bennett (Eng), D O'Sullivan (Irl), L Yong-Gun (Kor), M Harwood (Aus), T Johnstone (Zim), M Cunning (USA), L Carbonetti (Arg), H Carbonetti (Arg),
70 S Lyle (Sco), J Rivero (Esp), G Brand (Eng), F Minoza (Phi), F Mann (Sco), D Merriman (Aus), G Gunn (Can), G Ryall (Eng), G Cali (Ita), K Spurgeon (Eng), B Cameron (Eng),
71 S Saengsui (Tha), C Rocca (Ita), M Ramayah (Mas), N Job (Eng) , R Chapman (Eng) , G Banister (Aus) , B Boyd (US) , J Heggarty (Nir) , P Mitchell (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , S Bunpimuck (Tha)
72 L Stephen (Aus) , J Chillas (Sco) , C Williams (RSA) , M Poxon (Eng) , S Owen (Nzl) , G Ralph (Eng) , B Hardwick (Can) , I Woosnam (Wal) ,
73 B Longmuir (Sco) , T Gale (Aus) , S Torrance (Sco) , K Nam (Kor) ,
74 P Teravainen (USA) , J Hall (Eng) , B Smit (RSA) , P Allan (Eng) , S Taylor (US) , D Cambridge (Jam) ,
75 N Ratcliffe (Aus) , M Miller (Sco) , M Piñero (Esp) , P Oakley (US) , I Palmer (RSA) , A Garrido (Esp) , M Clayton (Aus) , A Tapie (USA) ,
76 I Mosey (Eng) , J Hawkes (RSA) , T Chen (Tpe) , D Johnson (US)
77 A Johnsson (Swe) , T Burgoyne (Sco)
78 M Gray (Sco)

Spanish Hi5 Pro Tour event venue change for March 16-18

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR
Due to the cooler than normal weather conditions in Murcia since Christmas, the course at Mosa Trajectum has suffered and is not at the moment up to the high standard expected by the Hi5 Pro Tour.
We have therefore decided to re-schedule the next event until later in the year. Fortunately Polaris World have come to our rescueat very short notice and have offered their new Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Condado-de Alhama for the week, March 16 to 18, to enable us to hold the Tournament.
We will now hold two events back to back at this superb venue, and we hope that your travel arrangements will not be seriously affected as Mosa and Condado are quite close to each other in Murcia.
Looking forward to seeing you at one of the best new courses anywhere in Europe,and sorry for any inconvenience this change of venue may cause you.
This Hi5 Pro Tour event is open to MEN, LADIES, and SENIORS, professionals as well as amateurs.
ENTRY FEES
315 Euro MEN
265 Euro SENIORS
215 Euro LADIES
If you have not already entered and wish to play one of the best new courses in Europe, please go to our registration forms.
Hi5 Pro Tour

Fred Couples with the Toshiba Seniors Classic Trophy (image by courtesy of the US PGA Tour website). Click on it to enlarge.

Rookie senior Couples makes it two wins in a row

FROM THE US PGA TOUR.COM WEBSITE
Fred Couples won his second straight US Champions (Seniors) Tour title on Sunday, shooting a 6-under 65 for a four-stroke victory Sunday in the Toshiba Classic in California.
Couples, making his third start on the 50-and-over Tour, had an 18-under 195 total on the Newport Beach Country Club course. He won the ACE Group Classic on February 14 in Florida and finished second behind Tom Watson in the season-opening event in Hawaii.
Last week, Couples tied for 14th in the US PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix Open.
"In a good way I am full of confidence in my game," said Couples, who opened with rounds of 66 and 64. "I talked to Jay Haas a long time ago and when you are 50 you are the youngest guy out here and if you are a good player like I think I am, I thought I would have some opportunities to win out here."
Couples earned $255,000 to push his Tour-leading total to $691,000.
Ronnie Black (65) finished second. Tom Lehman (69) and Chien Soon Lu (69) tied for third at 12 under, and Watson (62) and Loren Roberts (68) followed at 11 under.
Couples played the front nine in 1 under Sunday, then had a 5-under 31 on the final nine holes -- making an eagle, four birdies and a bogey.
"I was a little off," Couples said. "I made some good swings. I started coming on on the back nine."
The 60-year-old Watson matched his best round on the Champions Tour and also tied Hale Irwin's 1998 mark for the best final round in the event.
Watson had an eagle and three birdies on the first four holes, dropped a stroke with a bogey on No. 9, then birdied five of the last nine holes. He settled for a birdie on the par-5 18th after missing a 20-foot eagle putt.
"The putter was the star," Watson said. "I kind of had an attitude going out there on the first three holes of both nines, I hadn't made any birdies. Those are short par 4s, I ought to be making some birdies there."
Watson pulled within two strokes of Couples, but ran out of holes.
"I was thinking Freddie hanging onto 13 under," Watson said. "If I get to 12 and the weather coming in, you never know what's going to happen."
Couples hit a wedge into No. 12 that stopped a foot from the hole, then made a 3-footer for another birdie on 13.
But Couples made a mistake on the par-3 14th when he missed the green and was unable to get up and down for par. Black made an eagle on No. 15, to cut the lead to two again, but wasn't able to get any closer.
"I was struggling with my swing as well as my putting," Black said. "If I had been a little sharper I think I could have come after (Couples) a little better."
Couples reached the par-5 15th hole in two and made a 12-foot eagle putt to extend his lead to four. He birdied the following hole and even birdied the 18th after his second shot hit the side of the grandstand to the right of the green. He hit a wedge to 20 feet and rolled in the birdie putt.
"The shot I hit at 18 was basically an up and down," Couples said. "I got on the green and I've been putting really well this whole year,"
In nine Champions Tour rounds, Couples hasn't had a score higher than 68 and is 56 under over 162 holes.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
195 Fred Couples 66 64 65
199 Ronnie Black 67 67 65.
201 Tom Lehman 67 65 69, Chien Soon Lu 65 67 69.
202 Tom Watson 69 71 62, Loren Roberts 67 67 68.
204 Corey Pavin 68 68 67, John Cook 70 66 68.
205 Scott Simpson 69 70 66, Tom Pernice junior 69 69 67, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68 70 67, Dan Forsman 70 68 67, David Peoples 69 68 68.
Selected totals:
206 Peter Senior (Australia) 71 68 67 (jt 14th).
207 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 70 72 65 (jt 17th).

Fred Couples in driving seat back for another Senior win

Long-hitting rookie senior Fred Couples is hot favourite to chalk up his second straight US Champions (Seniors) Tour victory after notching an impressive seven-under-par 64 in Saturday's second round to take a two-stroke lead in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, California.
Couples, making his third start on the 50-and-over tour, has a 12-under 130 total.
Laid-back Fred won the ACE Group Classic on February 14 in Florida and finished second behind Tom Watson in the season-opening event in Hawaii. Last week, Couples tied for 14th in the US PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.
Tom Lehman (65) and Taiwan’s Chien Soon Lu (67) are tied for second. Loren Roberts (67) and Ronnie Black (67) followed at 8 under, and defending champion Eduardo Romero (69), John Cook (66), Bob Gilder (66) and Mark Wiebe (71) were 6 under.
Couples and Lehman are first and second in driving distance for the event, though they are vastly different in driving accuracy. Lehman is tied for eighth, while Couples is 73rd out of the 78 players, which means he misses more than the odd fairway!
Apparently, Couples didn’t need to hit them to score in the Toshiba Classic to score. He hit five of 14 fairways, but only made birdies on two of those holes, Nos. 2 and 7.
“I drove it in the rough several times,” Couples said. “I wasn’t blasting them all over the golf course, but yes, I was three or four steps in the rough several times.”
Play started two hours early to try and avoid rain, but there was still a suspension of 71 minutes because of a downpour early in the day.
That actually helped the leaders because the delay was before they teed off and when they began play, the greens were noticeably softer and much more receptive.
The softer greens, though, were tempered by gusty wind.
“It was hard, it was cold,” Couples said. “You are trying to draw them into the wind, then I just started hitting them hard. I was driving it so good yesterday.”
Couples began the second round a stroke behind but was tied by the second hole after a 1-foot birdie putt. He took the lead with an eagle on the 549yd, par-5 second, reaching the green with a 2-iron for his second shot and making a 12ft putt.
His birdie on No. 9 was set up by probably his best shot. He found the rough on the right off the tee and had several trees between him and the green. Couples then hit an 8-iron through a small gap in the trees that came to rest 4 feet from the cup.
Couples’ driver cost him on 10, leading to his lone bogey of the day.
That allowed the field to creep closer and when Couples reached the 14th hole, there was a four-way tie with Lu, Lehman and Roberts. Couples broke the logjam with a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th and extended his lead to two when he made a 20-footer from above the hole on No. 16.
Couples kept the margin at two when he made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. It was one of only 12 birdies on the hole that yielded 41 birdies in the first round.
Couples is 50 under par on the Champions Tour and every one of his eight rounds has been 68 or lower.
Lehman’s first full year on the Champions Tour is going equally well. He has eight rounds in the 60s and is 40 under through eight rounds, but catching the tour’s hottest player will be difficult.
“I know he is going to be 20 or 30 yards past me on every tee shot,” Lehman said. “It’s good to see him playing well.”
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) 6,591yd. First prize: $255,000
Players from US unless stated
130 Fred Couples 67 65, Chien Soon Lu 65 67.
134 Loren Roberts 67 67, Ronnie Black 67 67.
136 John Cook 70 66, Bob Gilder 70 66, Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 67 69, Mark Wiebe 65 71.
137 Corey Pavin 678 69, David Peoples 69 68, Gary Hallbergt 67 70, Bob Tway 65 72.
138 Hale Irwin 71 67, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68 70, Russ Cochran 79 68, Dan Forsman 70 68, Tom Pernice junior 69 69, Bobby Wadkins 67 71, Lonnie Nielsen 66 72, Mike Goodes 66 72.
Selected scores
139 Peter Senior (Australia) 71 68.
142 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 70 72 (jt 40th).

Ex-kick boxer Ruangkit wins Brunei Senior Masters

By PAUL SYMES, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit continued the trend of first-time winners on the 2010 European Senior Tour Schedule with today's maiden victory at The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.
Following Englishman Kevin Spurgeon’s maiden victory at the season-opening Mauritius Commercial Bank Open, Ruangkit entered the winner’s enclosure on a day of high drama at The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei.
After the Thai ace and joint overnight leader Frankie Minoza of the Philippines – also seeking his maiden Senior Tour debut – had both signed for rounds of 66 to finish level on 14 under par, Ruangkit must have feared history was about to repeat itself.
At the same venue twelve months previously, Ruangkit had lost out in a play-off at the Brunei Open on the Asian Tour. But on this occasion, the 53 year old held his nerve to see off Minoza at the second extra hole and collect the €44,332 first prize.
He said: “I’m very happy to win my first Senior Tour title – it has given me great confidence. Even though I lost the Brunei Open here last year I still really like this course, because it’s been good to me. I really like Brunei, because I play well every time I come here. Maybe it’s because of the hot weather, which I’m used to!
“I was very nervous for the play-off, and it didn’t help that the wind started to blow a little. But I managed to control my nerves, and I’m just so happy to have won – although I feel a little sorry for Frankie, because he played very well today. I didn’t think I could beat him, to be honest. On most of the par fives he was only using a four or five iron for his second shot, whilst I was using a three wood. But I got the job done, and it feels great.”
Despite his initial reservations, Ruangkit got off to a flying start with a birdie at the first and an eagle three at the next hole, where Minoza also picked up his first shot of the day. The duo continued to trade birdies until the 14th hole, where a bogey from Minoza handed Ruangkit the initiative.
The former kick boxer, who turned to golf after being knocked out in his third bout, then appeared to land a telling blow on the 17th hole, where a birdie 3 handed him a two-shot advantage going down the last.
But a costly bogey combined with a birdie for Minoza led to the first play-off of the 2010 Senior Tour season, which Ruangkit won with a par at the second extra hole after both men had parred the first.
A round of 68 saw South African Chris Williams finish in a tie for third place on 11 under par, with Roger Chapman a further two shots back on nine under after the Englishman compiled a round of 66. The lowest round of the day was provided by Scotland’s Sam Torrance, who shot a 65 to finish alongside American Jerry Bruner in a tie for fifth place on seven under par.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
199 B Ruangkit (Tha) 64 69 66, F Minoza (Phi) 67 66 66
202 C Williams (RSA) 68 66 68
204 R Chapman (Eng) 67 71 66
206 J Bruner (USA) 70 66 70, S Torrance (Sco) 73 68 65
207 M Clayton (Aus) 69 70 68, D Merriman (Aus) 64 71 72, K Tomori (Jpn) 67 69 71,
208 B Lincoln (RSA) 67 71 70
209 A Sowa (Arg) 72 68 69, M Cunning (USA) 70 68 71,
211 J Hall (Eng) 71 69 71, A Franco (Par) 69 71 71, G Ryall (Eng) 70 70 71, B Cameron (Eng) 70 71 70
212 S Ebihara (Jpn) 70 72 70, B Longmuir (Sco) 68 72 72, D Cambridge (Jam) 70 70 72, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 69 71
213 D Johnson (USA) 69 73 71, R Drummond (Sco) 72 68 73
214 K Spurgeon (Eng) 76 72 66
215 L Stephen (Aus) 71 71 73, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 72 74, J Heggarty (Nir) 75 67 73, J Chillas (Sco) 73 68 74
216 T Chen (Tpe) 73 70 73, S Taylor (USA) 71 71 74, P Oakley (USA) 73 72 71, C Rocca (Ita) 77 69 70, D Russell (Eng) 73 69 74
217 S Choi (Kor) 71 72 74, P Mitchell (Eng) 71 72 74, J Sallat (Fra) 74 70 73, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 70 73
218 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 73 73 72, S Lyle (Sco) 73 72 73, B Boyd (USA) 71 74 73,
219 M Harwood (Aus) 76 74 69, J Quiros (Esp) 68 73 78, G Ralph (Eng) 74 76 69, F Mann (Sco) 74 73 72, B Smit (RSA) 76 67 76
220 G Brand (Eng) 73 71 76, M Piñero (Esp) 73 75 72, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 75 74, P Harrison (Eng) 73 72 75
221 N Job (Eng) 70 79 72, M Ramayah (Mas) 74 73 74, I Mosey (Eng) 70 74 77, G Gunn (Can) 73 77 71, S Owen (Nzl) 73 75 73, T Burgoyne (Sco) 69 75 77, A Tapie (USA) 70 76 75, T Chen (Tpe) 77 73 71
222 T Johnstone (Zim) 74 73 75, I Palmer (RSA) 71 76 75
223 J Hawkes (RSA) 72 78 73, P Teravainen (USA) 72 79 72, M Gray (Sco) 78 72 73, M Williams (Zim) 78 74 71, A Johnsson (Swe) 76 71 76
224 M Farry (Fra) 72 76 76
225 M Poxon (Eng) 75 74 76, G Cali (Ita) 73 76 76, B Hardwick (Can) 72 77 76, J Rhodes (Eng) 74 75 76, C Nirat (Tha) 75 76 74
226 M Miller (Sco) 75 76 75, P Allan (Eng) 75 76 75
228 T Gale (Aus) 78 76 74
229 G Banister (Aus) 82 73 74, A Garrido (Esp) 76 76 77
230 R Willison (Eng) 76 74 80
233 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 84 74
234 R Metherell (Aus) 78 77 79
235 G Davies (Wal) 74 81 80
** S Bennett (Eng) 76 disqualified

Three share lead on six-under 65 in Toshiba Seniors Classic

REPORT FROM US CHAMPIONS TOUR
Bob Tway, Chein Soon Lu and Mark Wiebe shared the first-day lead with six-under-par 65s in the US Champions (Seniors) Tour's Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club, California.
Over-50s rookie Fred Couples was a shot off the pace.
Olin Browne, Lonnie Nielsen and Mike Goodes matched Couples at 66, and defending champion Eduardo Romero was another stroke back along with Tom Lehman, Loren Roberts, Wayne Levi, Ronnie Black, D.A. Weibring, Bobby Wadkins and Gary Hallberg.
Wiebe, bothered by a head cold, had his first bogey-free round of the season, making five birdies on his first nine holes – the back nine.
“I didn’t know it was bogey-free until my caddie told me on the last hole after I picked my ball out of the cup,” Wiebe said. “I had no idea, which kind of tells me that my head was in the right place.”
Tway missed from a foot on No. 11 for his lone bogey.
“I hit a very good second shot and I hit my first putt about a foot by,” Tway said. “It was kind of in a footprint and I missed about a foot putt, so that was disappointing.”
Wiebe was thrilled with his round, especially because of the way he was feeling.
“Your expectations are pretty low when you don’t feel well,” Wiebe said. “I thought if I can just focus and keep my focus it would be great.”
Wiebe had 12 one-putt greens and only 24 putts overall.
“I putted really well,” Wiebe said. “I had a great feel with my putting. The pace was really good. I didn’t let anything good get too far away from me.”
Lu has conditional status on the Champions Tour and earned a spot in the field with a top-10 finish – a ninth-place tie – two weeks ago in the Allianz Championship.
It was Tway’s first competitive round on the course.
“You kind of get to know it,” said Tway, who played one practice round and two pro-am rounds. “I had a couple of local guys, members here in the pro-ams. They helped me a little bit about some of the breaks, the tendencies, so that was good.”
Couples is making his third Champions Tour start. He won the ACE Group Classic on Feb. 14 in Naples, Fla., and finished second behind Tom Watson in the season-opening event in Hawaii. Couples tied for 14th last week in the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.
The long-hitting Couples, leading the tour’s driving distance stat at 300.2 yards, overpowered the 6,584yd course set for the seniors. He used driver on every par 4 and 5 except two holes and had nothing more than a 9-iron for his second shot.
“I hit a wedge on my first hole,” Couples said. “I made a 20-footer, which was a great start. ... I feel good about the round. I probably couldn’t have gotten much more out of it.”
Wiebe was just happy to get through his round.
“When I made my last putt I looked at my caddie, he said, ‘Nice playing,’” Wiebe said. “I said, ‘I’m glad it’s over. I want to go lay down.’”
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 71
65 Bob Tway, Mark Wiebe, Chien Soon Lu.
66 Olin Browne, Lonnie Nielsen, Mike Goodes, Fred Couples.
67 Bobby Wadkins, Loren Roberts, D A Weibring, Eduardo Romero, Gary Hallberg, Tom Lehman, Wayne Levi, Ronnie Black.
Selected score:
70 Bernhard Langer

Flying Filipino Minoza bids for glory in Brunei

By PAUL SYMES, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Flying Filipino Frankie Minoza joined joint overnight leader Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand at the top of the leaderboard on day two of The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by the Stapleford Forum.
On another day of soaring temperatures at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei, Senior Tour debutant Minoza carded a joint lowest of the day 66 to move to nine under par, level with Ruangkit.
Minoza, who won the 2007 Philippines Open aged 46 to claim his maiden Asian Tour title, notched three birdies either side of the turn, with the only blip coming at the par four eighth hole. The 50 year old will now bid to become the first player to triumph on his Senior Tour debut since American Michael Allen won the 2009 US Senior PGA Championship.
He said: “I’m obviously happy to be in the lead. My all-round game was good today, particularly my driving. The course is really good – it’s just the humidity that’s the problem. It’s lucky we’re using buggies between holes! Tomorrow I just need to play my normal game and take it shot by shot, hole by hole. I’m confident I can win the title, but this game is crazy so you never know until it’s finished.”
Minoza will be paired in the final round by Ruangkit, who would have held the lead outright were it not for a bogey on the final hole. The Thai ace was unable to reproduce the fireworks of the opening day, when he shot a 64, but three birdies in a round of 69 have still put him in sight of his maiden Senior Tour title.
He said: “I lost in the play-off during last year’s Brunei Open, so I know this course well and it suits my game. Obviously it was disappointing to bogey the last hole, but apart from that I played well. I’m happy with my game, but I think Frankie could shine tomorrow. He’s a big hitter, whereas my driving wasn’t so good today. So I’m not very confident of winning, because Frankie’s playing so well! But we’ll see.”
South African Chris Williams is hot on the leaders’ tails after carding six birdies in a round of 66 to move to eight under par, whilst overnight leader David Merriman slipped back to fourth place on seven under par after signing for a level par round of 71.
A round of 66 saw American Jerry Bruner join Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori in a share of fifth place on six under par, with England’s Roger Chapman, defending champion Mike Cunning of America and South African Bobby Lincoln a further two shots back in tied seventh.
European Tour champion Chapman, who shot a level par round of 71, said: “I’m coping ok with heat, drinking about 15 bottles of water and the buggies definitely help. I’ve been in South Africa for three weeks on holiday and did a bit of practising out there, so I got used to the heat. I also played in Asia on The European Tour so know what to expect, and I also believe that next week in Thailand is meant to be even hotter, so that should be interesting!”
Further down the field, Scotland’s Sam Torrance and Wales’ Ian Woosnam – who between them have won the John Jacobs Trophy in four of the last five years – enjoyed better days, carding respective rounds of 68 and 69 to finish on one under par.
Woosnam said: “I played a little bit nicer today – I think I only missed about three greens. In the end it could’ve been a little bit better than a 69, but I was just really pleased to play a little bit better than yesterday and hopefully tomorrow I can get a little bit more confidence and go even lower. When you’re struggling a little bit with your game you keep trying different things, and then when something works you get a get a bit more confidence and start playing well again, so hopefully that’s what’ll happen on the final day.”
His fellow Masters Tournament winner Sandy Lyle of Scotland carded a round of 72 to finish on three over par.
SCOREBOARD
SECOND ROUND
Par 142 (2x71)
133 F Minoza (Phi) 67 66, B Ruangkit (Tha) 64 69
134 C Williams (RSA) 68 66
135 D Merriman (Aus) 64 71
136 J Bruner (USA) 70 66, K Tomori (Jpn) 67 69
138 M Cunning (USA) 70 68, B Lincoln (RSA) 67 71, R Chapman (Eng) 67 71
139 M Clayton (Aus) 69 70
140 A Franco (Par) 69 71, B Longmuir (Sco) 68 72, J Hall (Eng) 71 69, G Ryall (Eng) 70 70, D Cambridge (Jam) 70 70, A Sowa (Arg) 72 68, R Drummond (Sco) 72 68
141 I Woosnam (Wal) 72 69, J Chillas (Sco) 73 68, B Cameron (Eng) 70 71, S Torrance (Sco) 73 68, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 72, J Quiros (Esp) 68 73
142 L Stephen (Aus) 71 71, S Ebihara (Jpn) 70 72, D Johnson (USA) 69 73, J Heggarty (Nir) 75 67, S Taylor (USA) 71 71, D Russell (Eng) 73 69
143 P Mitchell (Eng) 71 72, T Chen (Tpe) 73 70, B Smit (RSA) 76 67, S Choi (Kor) 71 72
144 T Burgoyne (Sco) 69 75, I Mosey (Eng) 70 74, G Brand (Eng) 73 71, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 70, J Sallat (Fra) 74 70,
145 S Lyle (Sco) 73 72, B Boyd (USA) 71 74, P Oakley (USA) 73 72, P Harrison (Eng) 73 72,
146 C Rocca (Ita) 77 69, A Tapie (USA) 70 76, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 73 73, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 75,
147 M Ramayah (Mas) 74 73, A Johnsson (Swe) 76 71, F Mann (Sco) 74 73, I Palmer (RSA) 71 76, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 73,
148 S Owen (Nzl) 73 75, M Farry (Fra) 72 76, M Piñero (Esp) 73 75, K Spurgeon (Eng) 76 72,
149 G Cali (Ita) 73 76, J Rhodes (Eng) 74 75, M Poxon (Eng) 75 74, B Hardwick (Can) 72 77, N Job (Eng) 70 79,
150 J Hawkes (RSA) 72 78, G Ralph (Eng) 74 76, T Chen (Tpe) 77 73, R Willison (Eng) 76 74, M Gray (Sco) 78 72, G Gunn (Can) 73 77, M Harwood (Aus) 76 74,
151 C Nirat (Tha) 75 76, P Teravainen (USA) 72 79, P Allan (Eng) 75 76, M Miller (Sco) 75 76,
152 A Garrido (Esp) 76 76, M Williams (Zim) 78 74,
154 T Gale (Aus) 78 76,
155 G Davies (Wal) 74 81, R Metherell (Aus) 78 77, G Banister (Aus) 82 73,
159 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 84,
Disqualified: S Bennett (Eng) 76 -.

Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters

Merriman and Ruangkit sizzle in the Brunei heat

By PAUL SYMES, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Sparkling rounds of 64 saw Australian David Merriman and Thai ace Boonchu Ruangkit grab the lead on the first day of The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum, with England’s Roger Chapman in a group of players three shots behind.
Merriman, winner of the Senior Tour Qualifying School in 2006, got off to the perfect start at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei, hitting his approach shot to the first green to 15 feet and holing the birdie putt.
The man from Sydney, who has a cult online following due to his trick shot repertoire, proved it was no fluke by rattling off another three birdies on the front nine and adding a further three after the turn to sign for a flawless seven under par round of 64.
He said: “It was my putting that really saw me through today – I think it’s the best I’ve putted in the last 18 months. It helps that the greens are fast and very true. It’s just a great course, the kind of course where you have to use every club in the bag. It’s not a particularly long course or short course – it’s just perfect.”
Merriman will be partnered in the second round by Ruangkit, who won the US Champions Tour Qualifying School the same year the Australian won the European Senior Tour equivalent. Ruangkit, a former kick boxer, won five times on the Asian Tour, including the Thailand Open in 2004 aged 48. The 53 year old has never won on the Senior Tour before, but eight birdies have given him every chance of breaking his duck over the next two days.
He said: “The only hole I bogeyed was the 16th, which was annoying. But other than that it was a good round, and I’m very happy with the way I’m playing. Everything was working well. I drove the ball well, and when I got onto the greens my putting was also good. The course is very good, and the greens are so smooth and fast – maybe too fast in places! But hopefully I can play as well tomorrow.”
European Tour champion Chapman leads the chasing pack, having opened with a round of 67. Chapman cancelled out his opening birdie with a bogey at the second hole, but picked up a further four shots to finish on four under par, level with South African Bobby Lincoln, Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori.
Minoza, making his first Senior Tour debut, at times struggled to cope in the conditions, saying: “I’m used to playing in hot conditions, but not this humidity. It’s quite difficult to keep your momentum when you have to stop every hole to mop up all the sweat!”
Another player to struggle in the heat was Welshman Ian Woosnam, who signed for a one over par round of 72 to sit in a tie for 32nd place.
He said: “I really struggled in the conditions – it was really hard work. I’m not sure whether it’s because of jet lag or the heat, but I felt really shaky when I was out there. The course is good but it’s tough, and if you’re not playing too well it’s very tough because once the ball ends up in the rough, it’s really difficult to get your game back on track. It’s a good test though – I think the more I play it, the better I’ll get.
“The main thing is to build up my confidence. I changed my grip on the last few holes and it seemed to work, so that has boosted my confidence a bit going into tomorrow. I’m not going to practice this afternoon, as this heat just wears you out. But I’m feeling ok about tomorrow – those last few holes have helped.”
One stroke further back is Woosnam’s fellow former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance, who said: “I was actually fairly happy with the way I played, but seven bogeys probably speaks for itself. It was really tough out there in the conditions, not helped by the jet lag and tiredness. But I don’t actually think I played that badly, and hopefully I’ll have a better day tomorrow.”
Torrance was joined on two over par by his fellow Scot Sandy Lyle, whose round was blighted by lost balls on the 11th and 17th holes.
He said: “This course is dangerous. It’s a great course if you’re playing well, but if you miss the fairway and end up in the rough there’s no way back. I was really disappointed with the end of the round, especially as I’d started quite positively.”
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 D Merriman (Aus), B Ruangkit (Tha)
67 K Tomori (Jpn), F Minoza (Phi), B Lincoln (RSA), R Chapman (Eng)
68 J Quiros (Esp), B Longmuir (Sco), C Williams (RSA)
69 L Carbonetti (Arg), A Franco (Par), T Burgoyne (Sco), M Clayton (Aus) , D Johnson (USA)
70 I Mosey (Eng) , M Cunning (USA) , D Cambridge (Jam) , N Job (Eng) , S Ebihara (Jpn), A Tapie (USA) , J Bruner (USA) , B Cameron (Eng) , G Ryall (Eng)
71 P Mitchell (Eng) , B Boyd (USA) , S Choi (Kor) , S Taylor (USA) , L Stephen (Aus) , J Hall (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , I Palmer (RSA) ,
72 P Teravainen (USA) , B Hardwick (Can), R Drummond (Sco), J Hawkes (RSA), A Sowa (Arg) , M Farry (Fra) , I Woosnam (Wal)
73 S Torrance (Sco) , J Chillas (Sco), T Chen (Tpe) , G Gunn (Can) , S Owen (Nzl) , G Cali (Ita) , P Oakley (USA) , D Russell (Eng) , P Harrison (Eng) , N Ratcliffe (Aus) , M Piñero (Esp) , G Brand (Eng), S Lyle (Sco)
74 J Sallat (Fra), F Mann (Sco), G Ralph (Eng) , M Ramayah (Mas) , J Rhodes (Eng) , T Johnstone (Zim) , G Davies (Wal) , H Carbonetti (Arg)
75 M Poxon (Eng) , M Miller (Sco), D O'Sullivan (Irl) , J Heggarty (Nir) , P Allan (Eng) , C Nirat (Tha)
76 S Bennett (Eng), A Johnsson (Swe) , R Willison (Eng) , M Harwood (Aus) , K Spurgeon (Eng), B Smit (RSA), A Garrido (Esp)
77 T Chen (Tpe), C Rocca (Ita)
78 M Williams (Zim), M Gray (Sco), T Gale (Aus) , R Metherell (Aus)
82 G Banister (Aus)

GOLF TOURNAMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE

£1million jackpot on offer at Archerfield

Links from August 3 to 6

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ED HODGE, CAPITAL CITY PRESS
A unique high-stakes golf event, where the winner will walk off with a mouthwatering £1m jackpot, has been announced.
The eagerly-awaited tournament will be held/hosted at Archerfield Links, the private members' club in East Lothian.
Organisers hope to attract a star-studded worldwide field to the exclusive venue for the lavish 'Cool Million Challenge' which will combine golf and gambling for a prize fund in excess of £2m.
It is hoped former Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam will take part in pursuit of the largest first prize in an unsanctioned event in the world this year.
Big-name US-based seniors have also been earmarked to compete over the Dirleton Links from August 3-6, along with leading ladies such as Laura Davies.
Promoter David Copeland, an entrepreneur in the online gambling industry and a keen golfer, is behind the concept to mix a high-stakes wager with an exciting pro tournament, two weeks after The Open at St Andrews.
Restricted to 60 talented golfers around the world meeting a strict criteria, commercial or individual sponsors - the gamblers - face the ultimate challenge to place their bet on a chosen player to win the £1m.
The professionals will compete over two rounds of stroke play, with the top 16 playing straight match play to establish the champion. The entry fee for the competition - poised to be televised - is set at £50,000 per golfer, representing the sponsor's bet.
Copeland said: "I'm a gambler so I wanted to launch a golf competition with a high level of entry fee for a relatively small field. That gives everyone a chance of a top prize, namely the £1 million figure.
"I had to find a venue that was really exclusive, really private and there are not many clubs like Archerfield. I'm using my contacts globally in the gambling industry and commercial world, in terms of sponsorship, to drive together 60 teams.
"We didn't just want a Tour event. We're not looking for golfers in the top 500 of the world rankings, or those with a current European or US PGA Tour card. We're looking for guys off the Nationwide Tour, the Challenge Tour and the Seniors.
"There are also people around the world gambling extremely high stakes whom you have never even heard of, professionals in Las Vegas who don't need to play on Tour but can win big money in gambling games.
"Over a course that is not overly long, we have also decided to include female golfers of any ranking and standard. We are hoping to have some of the world's top 10 playing in it.
"Could they beat a guy off the Challenge Tour over Archerfield, or a leading Senior? So you start to have a dilemma and peak the interest of the gambler of where they think the value lies."
Archerfield Links, designed by David J Russell, continues to grow in stature, having already hosted Gary Player's European Invitational, as well as Sir Ian Botham and Ronan Keating's Celebrity Challenge.
The Ladies Scottish Open will also make a welcome return to the calendar at Archerfield from August 18 to 20 this year.
For more information, contact David Copeland on 01355 588 970 or go to www.coolmillionchallenge.

Aussie 1-2-3 in New Zealand Senior Masters

Australian Mike Harwood won the inaugural Handa New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook with a final round of 70 and a ten under par total score of 206.
Harwood really won the event with his second round 66, and when he played through the first nine on the last day in three under par 33 the event was his to lose. He gave the chasers a glimmer of hope when he bogeyed 11 and 12, but a birdie on the par five 15th locked it up.
Another player from Melbourne, Michael Clayton, finished strongly with a 69 for second place on 210. He also made a couple of bogeys coming home but offset these with five birdies.
Queenslander Wayne Grady was third alone, a shot further back after a final round 72, three birdies offset by three bogeys.
Simon Owen was the leading New Zealander, tied fourth with Noel Ratcliffe. Sir Bob Charles finished in 12th equal placing after a final round of 74.

Langer holes bunker shot for US seniors' event victory

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
By Craig Dolch
Bernhard Langer briefly lost the lead Sunday before a birdie on the last hole of regulation forced a play-off that he won by holing a bunker shot.
The ball was buried in the bunker. So, too, appeared to be Bernhard Langer's chances of finally winning his home town event, the Allianz Champion at Boca Raton, Florida.
But with a stroke of brilliance, Langer watched as his ball left its tangled dirt, rolled across the green and disappeared into the hole for an unlikely eagle. Langer did his best Bob Tway impersonation, jumping up and down in the bunker three times before high-fiving his caddie.
Langer's eagle enabled the Boca Raton resident to defeat John Cook on the first hole of Sunday's sudden-death play-off in front of family and friends at Broken Sound. The finish came just 30 minutes after Langer appeared to have blown the tournament when he missed a 4ft par putt at the 17th hole.
"I didn't want to make it that exciting," Langer said. "It's very emotional because I was able to win in front of my family. When I saw the lie was plugged, I was just trying to get it within 4 feet. You could probably put me in there 50 times and I probably wouldn't hole it again."
He doesn't have to, of course. Langer (67-199) made the shot when it counted, and he was still giddy an hour later.
"I've won a lot of tournaments around the world," he said, "but this probably ranks in the top three in my career."
It's kind of hard to crack the first two -- his two Masters titles.
This also marked the second consecutive victory for Langer when he holed a shot at the final hole (he also chipped in at last year's 3M Championship). That's how you claim consecutive Player of the Year titles on the Champions Tour.
"Hall of Famers do things like that," Cook said. "That's why they're Hall of Famers. I've now played in three play-offs in my career. I've shot one under and I'm now 0-3. As much as I've won in my career, I can tell you it's no fun to lose in a play-off."
Cook (67) appeared to be in control of the play-off when he reached the par-5 18th hole - the designated play-off hole - in two shots. He was looking at a 30ft eagle try.
"I saw he had a buried lie, so I'm thinking I might just have to two-putt this to win," Cook said. "When I saw his ball come out, I'm thinking, 'Well, this is going to be close, so I'll just two-putt and we'll go to the next hole.' All of a sudden it goes in the hole and now I have to make it."
Cook almost matched Langer's heroics, but his eagle try lipped out on the high side. Cook had run backward, thinking the putt was going in, but quickly walked toward Langer and shook hands with the winner.
"He said, 'You were unlucky,' " Cook said. "I told him, 'No, I wasn't.' "
It was a dramatic ending to an intriguing day of golf where at one point eight players were tied for the lead.
Langer birdied the 13th hole to become the first player to get to 17 under. Cook, who's now 0-for-105 in Florida on the US PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, was the only one to join him, though, at 17 under when he birdied the 18th hole in regulation.
Langer dropped to 16 under with the bogey at No. 17, but made a short birdie putt at No. 18 to force the playoff.
"I felt like I had a good putt at 17, so it didn't bother me that much," Langer said. "I knew what I had to do at 18, and I was able to do that."
Joey Sindelar, playing just three months after he suffered a pulmonary embolism, challenged for his first career Champions Tour title, but came up one shot short after a 67. Gene Jones (66) finished alone in fourth.
Marquee names such as Hall-of-Famer Nick Price (70) and Tom Lehman (69) were also in contention, until they both double-bogeyed the difficult par-4 15th hole.
Sunday's finish marked the third consecutive Champions Tour event this year that has been decided by a shot. The winners have been stout: Tom Watson, Fred Couples and now Langer.
"Our tour is very strong," Cook said. "It takes great golf to win out here. For anyone to think otherwise, they're very misguided."
First prize was worth $247,500 to Langer who was the leading money-winner - again - on the US Over-50s Tour last season. He's off and running again ...

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72).
Players from US unless stated.
199 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 67 65 67, John Cook 66 66 67 (Langer won play-off at first hole).
200 Joey Sindelar 68 65 67.
201 Gene Jones 68 67 66.
202 Mike Reid 65 69 68, Loren Roberts 66 67 69, Tom Lehman 66 67 69, Tim Simpson 66 65 71.
Selected scores:
215 Mark James (England) 72 72 70 (jt 50th).
216 Ian Woosnam (Wales) 71 74 71(jt 55th).

Carton House, Co Kildare to host 2010 Irish Senior Open

NEWS RELEASE
The Handa Irish Senior Open presented by Fáilte Ireland returns to the European Senior Tour schedule this year when Carton House, in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, hosts the 14th edition of the tournament from June 11-13.
Fáilte Ireland, which has supported the Senior Tour event since its inception at St Margarets Golf Club in 1997, continues its long term association with the tournament and is joined by a new title sponsor for 2010, the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), represented by Founding Chairman, Dr.Haruhisa Handa.
In addition to the Irish Senior Open, Fáilte Ireland also supports The 3 Irish Open on The European Tour, which Carton House hosted in 2005 and 2006, tournaments won by Stephen Dodd and Thomas Björn respectively.
The leading Senior Tour players will tackle the stunning Montgomerie Course at the Kildare venue, designed by 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, which is one of two Championship courses at Carton House created in conjunction with European Golf Design.
They will be looking to join an illustrious roll call of former champions, including Tommy Horton, winner of the inaugural event in 1997, two-time winner Seiji Ebihara (2001 and 2002), Carl Mason (2004), Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance (2005) and Costantino Rocca (2007).
Ian Woosnam, who led Europe to victory in The Ryder Cup in Ireland in 2006, returned to the Emerald Isle last year to add his name to the list, staging a remarkable comeback to defeat American Bob Boyd in a play-off at Ballybunion Golf Club having started the final round six shots off the pace.
The 2010 edition of the Irish Seniors Open sees , Japanese philanthropist Dr Handa, the Chairman of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) - the title sponsor - extend his growing relationship with the Senior Tour.
It is the third tournament so far on the 2010 Senior Tour schedule to receive the backing of Dr Handa and ISPS; the other two being the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum and the Chang Thailand Senior Masters 2010 presented by ISPS.
Charles Perring, Deputy Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “The Irish Senior Open is one of the cornerstones of the European Senior Tour and I’m delighted that its legacy continues in 2010 with the patronage of Dr Handa and our long term partner Failte Ireland, with Carton House hosting us for the first time at their wonderful facility.
"The honour roll of former champions speaks volumes of the player quality on show and with close proximity to Dublin, we hope to showcase the best of Senior golf to an enthusiastic Irish gallery.”

De Vere Collection extends PGA Seniors sponsorship to 2013

NEWS RELEASE
One of Europe’s most prestigious golf championships has been given a major boost by the De Vere hotel group agreeing a three-year sponsorship extension.
The deal will see the luxury golf resort company sponsor the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship until 2013.
The announcement comes ahead of this year’s £250,000 event, which will be contested over the Hunting Course at Northumberland’s Slaley Hall from June 24-27.
It will the third successive year the European Senior Tour’s longest-running event has been staged at the venue and Carl Mason, who won the title for a third time last summer, is expected to defend his crown.
The tournament was first staged in 1957 and, except for its four majors, is the only 72-hole event on the Senior Tour.
Past winners include former Open champions Max Faulkner and Kel Nagle, the legendary Christy O’Connor and, more recently, the reigning Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Sam Torrance who triumphed in 2005 and 2006.

New Zealander seniors lead at home against Aussies

New Zealand take a commanding lead into the final day of the Trans Tasman seniors golf international against Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The New Zealand combination lead 8-1/2 matches to 3-1/2 after two rounds of foursomes and fourball play at Clearwater Resort.
New Zealand made a powerful start when they dominated the morning foursomes, winning 4-1/2 to 1-1/2.
New Zealand, who won the Sanctuary Cove Cup across the Tasman last year, rammed home their advantage with a 4-2 advantage in the afternoon four-balls.
The contest will be decided today with 12 singles matches, made in a special draw by Sir Bob Charles, with Australia requiring eight wins to take the cup back across the Tasman.
First day results (NZ names first)
Foursomes: New Zealand 4-1/2 Australia 1-1/2
Owen Kendall and Barry Shannon lost to Ross Percy and Brian Sams 2 holes.
John Sanders and Ron Olivecrona bt John Beaumont and Grahame MacDonald 1 hole.
Rodney Barltrop and Frank Borren halved with Stefan Albinski and Greg Corben.
Ian Donaldson and Eric Brodie bt Bill Banks and Ian Read 5 and 4.
Arthur Parkin and Andrew McKechnie bt Chris Coats and Denis Dale 5 and 4.
Phil Mosley and Murray Martin bt Tony Gover and Chris Tatt 2 and 1.

Fourball: New Zealand 4 Australia 2:
Sanders and Barltrop bt Beaumont and MacDonald 2 and 1.
Kendall and Borren lost to Percy and Sams 2 and 1.
Olivecrona and Shannon lost to Albinski and Corben 4 and 3.
Parkin and Martin bt Dale and Coats 2 and 1.
Mosley and Brodie bt Gover and Tatt 6 and 4.
Donaldson and McKechnie bt Banks and Read 1 hole.

End of First Day scoreline: New Zealand 8-1/2 Australia 3-1/2

Couple's first seniors win as he holds off charging Armour

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
Fred Couples gave the attention-starved US Champions Tour a big boost.
The 50-year-old star won the ACE Group Classic on Sunday for his first victory on the 50-and-over tour, holding off Tommy Armour III by a stroke.
Couples closed with an 8-under 64 to finish at 17-under 199 at The Quarry, while Armour -- making his Champions Tour debut -- matched the tour record for lowest score in relation to par with an 11-under 61.
Couples made a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and a tap-in par on 18 to wrap his first official victory since the US PGA Tour's 2003 Shell Houston Open.
"That's a long time," Couples said. "I am very excited that I won and I'll keep trying to win out here. I have a couple chances on the US PGA Tour to make the cut. That's really not the idea of fun."
Couples and Armour, friends since college, had some fun earlier in the week, exchanging text messages.
"I wasn't all that thrilled about the text when he was 11 under par after 53 holes," Couples said.
Armour started his charge with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, and birdied Nos. 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
"I wish he would've shot two shots higher," Armour joked about Couples.
Armour tied Couples with the birdie on No. 17.
"I hit an iron on the 15th green and I looked at the leaderboard and I was tied and seriously was shocked," Couples said.
After the second round was halted due to darkness Saturday night, Couples came back to play five holes Sunday morning to complete a 67 and take a two-stroke lead over Dan Forsman. Couples birdied four of the first five holes in the final round to push his advantage to five strokes -- six over Armour.
"I thought that would easily be enough," Couples said.
Armour's 11-under round tied Walter Hall (2002 AT&T Canada Senior Open) and Tom Purtzer (2004 Toshiba Senior Classic) for the lowest in tour history.
"Birdied half of them and then one more," said Armour, who made the decision to move to the Champions Tour this year after undergoing back surgery last June.
Armour said he never looked at the leaderboard, but had a number in mind.
"I figured 15 under was as high as he was going to shoot, so I figured I had to get below 15, and I did, but he's a pretty awesome player."
Couples was in contention in his Champions Tour debut last month in Hawaii, but Tom Watson birdied the last two holes to beat him by a stroke.
"I got to watch that," said Couples, who was in the same group as Watson. "That was easier, I think even easier to take."
Couples earned $240,000.
Scott Hoch, the 2008 champion, shot a 69 to finish third at 9 under. Bernhard Langer and Mike Goodes tied for fourth at 8 under. They also shot 69s.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
199 Fred Couples 68 67 64
200 Tommy Armour III 69 70 61
207 Scott Hoch 70 68 69
208 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 73 66 69, Mike Goodes 71 68 69
209 Dan Forsman 68 69 72, Ronnie Black 69 69 71
212 Joey Sindelar 73 70 69, David Frost (Rsa) 73 70 69, Hal Sutton 73 70 69
213 Loren Roberts 72 69 72, Tom Kite 70 74 69, Nick Price (Zim) 70 70 73, Peter Senior (Aus) 71 71 71, Eduardo Romero (Arg) 72 70 71, Larry Mize 71 73 69
214 Joe Ozaki (Jpn) 72 68 74, John Harris 73 72 69, Olin Browne 70 73 71, Bob Tway 76 68 70
215 Paul Azinger 71 74 70, Walter Hall 72 73 70, Fred Funk 70 73 72, Jay Haas 75 70 70, Bobby Wadkins 74 72 69
216 Bruce Fleisher 73 71 72, Gil Morgan 73 73 70, John Cook 73 70 73, Mike Reid 77 71 68, Mark McNulty (Irl) 72 72 72
217 Tom Jenkins 75 71 71, Des Smyth (Irl) 71 76 70, Craig Stadler 72 75 70, Jeff Sluman 74 69 74, Keith Fergus 75 73 69, Dana Quigley 71 76 70, Don Pooley 71 73 73
218 Steve Haskins 72 74 72, Fulton Allem (Rsa) 69 73 76, Peter Jacobsen 70 76 72, Tom Purtzer 76 71 71, Hale Irwin 73 71 74, Wayne Levi 73 74 71
219 Phil Blackmar 74 71 74, Bruce Vaughan 73 73 73, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 74 73 72, Bob Gilder 75 73 71, Tim Simpson 75 75 69
220 Gene Jones 72 72 76, Robin Freeman 81 69 70
221 D A Weibring 78 74 69, Russ Cochran 71 75 75, Morris Hatalsky 78 72 71, David Eger 77 72 72
222 Andy Bean 74 73 75, R.W. Eaks 73 77 72, Mark Wiebe 73 77 72, Scott Simpson 80 71 71
223 Robert L Thompson 73 78 72, Fuzzy Zoeller 75 76 72, Blaine McCallister 76 74 73
224 Mark James (Eng) 72 78 74
225 Bruce Lietzke 77 73 75
226 Graham Marsh (Aus) 75 77 74, Mike Hulbert 77 77 72, Gary Koch 79 78 69
227 Gary Player (Rsa) 77 78 72, Jay Sigel 76 77 74, Ben Crenshaw 76 75 76, Terry Burke 78 74 75
228 Bruce Summerhays 77 75 76, Curtis Strange 72 77 79, Larry Nelson 81 69 78
229 Allen Doyle 76 80 73
231 Jim Colbert 75 82 74, Jim Roy 78 77 76
234 Lanny Wadkins 81 77 76, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 77 79 78
236 Lee Trevino 82 77 77
240 J.C Snead 82 81 77

Couples three ahead with 23 holes to play in one day

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
Over-50s rookie Fred Couples is in the driving seat for his first US Champions (Seniors) Tour victory. All he has to do is hold on to a three-stroke lead in the ACE Group Classic at Naple, Florida for at least 23 holes today!
Big-hitter Couples sank a 48ft putt from off the green at the 12th for eagle, then made a 12-footer for birdie at the next to get to nine under par before Saturday's second-round play was called due to darkness.
Dan Forsman was in second place, three shots back at 6 under. The two shared the first-round lead at 4 under after finishing their first rounds earlier Saturday.
Couples is one of 38 golfers who must come back Sunday morning (local time) to complete their second rounds at The Quarry. The tournament was pushed back after high wind postponed the first round Friday afternoon.
When the first round ended early Saturday afternoon, Couples and Forsman both finished 4-under 68 to share the lead.
Bernhard Langer is the only one near the top of the leader board to have completed the second round. He's shot 6-under 66 and is tied for third, four shots behind Couples, along with Mike Goodes, Scott Hoch, Tommy Armour III and Ronnie Black. Langer moved up the leaderboard with an eagle on No. 12 and a birdie on No. 17.
Paul Azinger, a 12-time winner on the US PGA Tour and captain of the victorious 2008 Ryder Cup team, is making his Champions Tour debut at The Quarry, the tournament's third site in three years. He was even par with three holes left.
The 50-year-old Couples is coming off a 37th-place tie last week in the PGA Tour's Northern Trust Open at Riviera. He made two senior starts in Hawaii last month, teaming with Nick Price to finish third in the Champions Skins, then losing to Tom Watson by a stroke in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
Click on link for scores:
Leaderboard: ACE Group Classic

Couples and Forsman lead on 68 in US seniors event

CBSSports.com wire reports
Fred Couples and Dan Forsman were tied for the lead at the end of the weather-delayed first round of the ACE Group Classic at Naples, Florida. Both completed rounds of four-under-par 68 on Saturday morning (local time).
==========================
Clink on link for scores:
Leaderboard
==========================
Play was suspended on Friday due to high winds -- gusts were measured at 40 mph and some holes were deemed unplayable. An approaching storm also played into tournament officials' decision to finish the opening round today.
Ronnie Black, Fulton Allem and Tommy Armour III were one stroke back.
Black was among nine players who finished on Friday, while Armour bogeyed his final two holes Saturday morning to finish on 69.
To make up time, the first and the 10th tee were used to get the players out again in the second round.

United States Champions (Seniors) Tour
ACE GROUP CLASSIC
The Quarry, Naples, Florida
FIRST ROUND (not completed)
Par 72
First-round play suspended due to bad weather condition and will resume at 8am local time. Round two will begin at approximately 12.30pm off two tees.
69 Ronnie Black
70 Olin Browne
71 Russ Cochran, Des Smyth (Ire), Dana Quigley, Don Pooley
73 Bruce Fleisher, Wayne Levi
75 Jim Colbert

US Tour suspend jail-bound Jim Thorpe

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By Jim McCabe
Jim Thorpe got his one-year jail sentence from a US Magistrate Judge face-to-face.The penalty from the US PGA Tour? It was issued via E-mail.
“I’m under suspension,” Thorpe said. “I got the E-mail Friday afternoon.”
Thorpe, the 61-year-old US Champions (Seniors) Tour and US PGA Tour veteran, was not allowed to enter next week’s Ace Group Classic in Naples, Florida, nor is he eligible until the Tour lifts the suspension.
Of course, in standard operating procedure in such cases, the Tour refuses to comment on anything connected to player discipline.
It’s the Tour’s reaction to the two counts of failure to pay taxes to which Thorpe pleaded guilty. Judge Karla R. Spaulding sentenced the golfer on January 22 to one year in jail, two years supervised release and 200 hours of community service. He also has agreed to pay nearly $2 million in back taxes, penalties and interest.
His attorneys have filed an appeal “and at the least I thought the Tour would let me play until the appeal is done,” Thorpe said.
Last week, Thorpe, a 13-time winner on the Champions Tour, talked of his desire to rejoin the Tour, to get back onto the golf course where he was sure he could find an escape from the recent turmoil in his life. Friday, that all changed and Thorpe is trying to get a handle on the Tour’s decision.
“I’m surprised, because it’s a misdemeanour," Thorpe said. "It’s stupidness on my part, but I didn’t think it deserved a jail sentence. I could see if I hurt someone or it was drugs or a serious felony.”
He was not, however, going to rail against a Tour that has been his home for more than 30 years.
“I don’t know the bylaws and there’s probably something in the (regulations),” he said. “I guess they feel they have to protect other players.
“I’m quite sure it’s an uncomfortable position for (PGA Tour commissioner) Tim Finchem and (Champions Tour president) Mike Stevens and the entire Tour staff, but I’m hoping we can (win the appeal), come to some sort of compromise and get back out there.
“Golf is the only thing I know. I don’t know anything else.”

Walton Heath to host 2011 Senior Open Championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
Walton Heath Golf Club will host the Senior Open Championship for the first time from July 21-24, 2011, 30 years after the Surrey venue staged a historic Ryder Cup.
The Senior Open Championship returns to the south of England for only the second time, following the success of the 2009 Championship at Sunningdale where American Loren Roberts beat Mark McNulty of Ireland and another American, Fred Funk, in an exciting play-off.
In addition to the Ryder Cup, Walton Heath has also hosted the European Open five times and has been the US Open Championship European Qualifying venue since 2005.
Walton Heath’s place in history was sealed in 1981 when it became the first European venue to host a Ryder Cup between a combined European team – rather than Great Britain and Ireland – and the United States.
Thirteen members of the European and United States Teams from that year played in The 2009 Senior Open Championship and many are expected to return to the course for next year’s Championship, including 2009 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Sam Torrance who made his Ryder Cup debut at the venue.
Major Champions Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle were also part of the European Team, while Tom Watson, runner-up in The 2009 Open Championship and three-time Senior Open Champion, represented the United States in their 18½ - 9½ victory.
Tom Kite, another member of the 1981 United States Team expected to be part of the field, won the European Open at Walton Heath in 1980, as did Senior Tour Members Andrew Murray (1989) and Mike Harwood (1991), who was crowned the 2009 Senior Tour Rookie of the Year.
As well as producing a number of famous champions and memorable performances over the years - including that of New Zealander Michael Campbell who famously came through US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath in 2005, before going on to beat World Number One Tiger Woods to the title - Walton Heath has boasted some famous members including a reigning monarch, King Edward VIII, and four serving Prime Ministers: Lloyd George, Bonar Law, Arthur Balfour and Winston Churchill.
This year’s Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard will also be played at a new venue from July 22-25, 2010 when it visits Carnoustie, where Watson won the first of his five Open Championships in 1975.

US Champions Tour on Hawaii

Tom Watson with the championship trophy on Hawaii. Image (by John Condon) by courtesy of the US PGA Tour website. Click on it to enlarge.

Tom Watson birdies 17-18 to pip Fred Couples

Sixty years young and two wins in a row. What a start to the year for Tom Watson. And to think that many of us thought his loss of the Open championship which was within his grasp at Turnberry last July might be a bridge too far for one of the game's most popular and successful campaigners.
But, on Sunday, at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii, "Old Tom" became the 13th oldest player ever to win on the US Champions (Seniors) Tour. He had to birdie the final two holes for a one-shot victory over the new kid on the block, Fred Couples, in the over-50s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championhip.
"This is what I live for in my career -- to do what I did today," Watson said. "I don't think I'll have too many more, but I had this one."
Following up a win with Jack Nicklaus in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Kaanapali the previous weekend, Watson signed off with a seven-under-par 65 for a 54-hole total of 22-under 194.
It is his 13th Champions Tour title and his first victory in 34 career starts on Hawaii on the two tours.
The climax to Watson's performance came after he drove into the rough on the right at the last. But he hit a great second shot with a wedge from 147yd out, the ball rolling on to the green and coming to rest 4ft from the stick. Now, if he could only have done that at the 18th hole back at Turnberry!
Couples closed with a flawless 64. His birdie putt from 15ft just missed at the last hole.
Watson calmly sank the winner and waved his cap to the roaring crowd, ending a memorable duel he dubbed "young kid versus old fart."
"I didn't win last year. That's how I judge my year," he said. "If I win a golf tournament, it's a success. So I started off the year with a success."
The 39-time US PGA Tour winner is the oldest Champions Tour winner since Gil Morgan in the 2007 Wal-mart First-Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Last year, there were no winners older than 55, something Watson early in the week said he hoped to "rectify."
Watson played the back nine brilliantly in all three rounds. On Sunday he had five birdies over that stretch, compared with six on each of the first two rounds. Couples had actually sneaked past him into the lead with a birdie at the 16th.
"I had a wonderful time. I think I was 21 under par and didn't win a tournament. That hasn't happened too many times," said Couples, who was trying to become the 16th player to win his Champions Tour debut.
The 15-time US PGA Tour winner has not won since the 2003 Shell Houston Open but the over-50s tour opens up new horizons for him.
For his victory, Watson takes home $315,000.
Michael Allen birdied the final hole for a 66 to finish third at 18 under, a stroke ahead of Tom Lehman (68). Both men played last week in the US PGA Tour's Sony Open.
The 64-year-old Irwin, a two-time champion at Hualalai, closed with a 64 to finish fifth at 14 under. It was his second top-10 finish in a row after going 41 straight tournaments without one.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
194 Tom Watson 63 66 65
195 Fred Couples 65 66 64
198 Michael Allen 66 66 66
200 Tom Lehman 65 67 68
202 Hale Irwin 67 67 68
203 Phil Blackmar 66 67 70, Keith Fergus 67 69 67, Mike Goodes 68 66 69
204 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 68 68 68, Mark Wiebe 69 68 67
205 Bruce Lietzke 67 69 69, Mark O'Meara 68 65 72
206 Loren Roberts 69 68 69, Corey Pavin 67 68 71, Andy North 71 65 70, Nick Price (Zim) 66 71 69
207 Andy Bean 71 70 66, Peter Jacobsen 67 70 70, Ben Crenshaw 72 68 67, Mark McNulty (Irl) 69 69 69, Jay Haas 70 67 70
208 John Cook 68 68 72, Jeff Sluman 71 70 67
209 Brad Bryant 68 72 69
210 D A Weibring 70 72 68, Dan Forsman 66 71 73
211 Bruce Vaughan 69 69 73, Allen Doyle 68 73 70, Tom Pernice junior 75 68 68
212 Mike Reid 71 68 73, Bobby Wadkins 71 69 72, Jerry Pate 71 69 72
213 R.W. Eaks 72 69 72
219 Denis Watson (Zim) 74 73 72, Curtis Strange 71 73 75
226 Gary Player (Rsa) 76 74 76

Tom Watson leads by two from Fred Couples

Tom Watson holds a two-shot lead over over-50s debutant Fred Couple after the second round of the Mitsubishi Electtric Championship at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii in the first event of the new US Champions (Seniors) Tour.
The 60-year-old man from Kansas, who should have won last year's Open at Turnberry had six birdies on the inward half for a six-under-par 66 and a 15-under-par tally of 129 with one round to go over the Hualalai course.
A winner already this month on Hawaii of the Wendy's Champions Skins in partnership with Jack Nicklaus, who turned 70 last week, Watson came back from a less than impressive start to finish with a bag of nine birdies to more than offset three bogeys.
Watson is averaging a driving distance of 288.5 yards in this tournament, hitting 80.6% of the greens in regulation and averaging 1.552 putts per green hit in regulation.
The scores were again on the low side over this resort course, which is just the easiest the veterans are asked to tackled all year.
Couples did not drop a shot in a second-round 66. He is making his first official Champions Tour start on a sponsor exemption to the winners-only event.
Fred is trying to increase the number of players - 15 - who have won in their Champions Tour debut. They include Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player but, a lot more recently - last year in fact, three players, including ex-Open champion and US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman achieved the not inconsiderable feat.
Lehman had a 67 to join Michael Allen (66) at 12 under par. They were a stroke ahead of Mark O'Meara (65) and Phil Blackmar (67).
The 74-year-old Player shot his age for the 29th time in his long and successful career, but was in last place at 6 over. Player got the birdie he needed to reach his age by holing a bunker shot for birdie on 16 .... "the more I practice, the luckier I get." as the South African use to say.
LEADERS WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Par 144 (2x72). First prize $315,000.
Players from US unless stated
129 Tom Watson 63 66.
131 Fred Couples 65 66.
132 Michael Allen 66 66, Tom Lehman 65 67.
133 Mark O'Meara 68 65, Phil Blackmar 66 67.
134 Mike Goodes 68 66, Hale Irwin 67 67.
135 Corey Pavin 67 68.
136 Andy North 71 65, John Cook 68 68, Bernhard Langer (Germany) 68 68, Keith Fergus 67 69, Bruce Lietzke 67 69.

It's elementary for Watson, leader with a 63

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii -- Tom Watson is still being congratulated by fellow players and fans for his magical run at Turnberry last year. All he can think about, however, is how he lost.
"I finished second in the British Open, but the way I judge a year is, if it's been a success, I had a victory," Watson said. "I didn't have a victory last year."
He hopes 2010 will be a different.
The 60-year-old Watson shot a bogey-free 9-under 63 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over senior newcomer Fred Couples and Tom Lehman in the Champions Tour's season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
Coming off a win with Jack Nicklaus in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Kaanapali, Watson attacked the pins and was near-flawless with his putter.
Watson kicked off his scoring by chipping in for eagle from 25ft on the 526yd fourth hole. He added seven birdies, five on the back nine. It was his lowest round in the event since opening with a 63 in 2006 en route to a tie for fifth.
The Hall of Famer is starting the year already with some prize money in his pocket, a trophy on his shelf and a good look at Couples from last weekend. Watson and Nicklaus finished with 10 skins and $350,000 for their second Champions Skins victory in four years.
Players enjoyed a calm day at the Nicklaus-designed Hualalai, setting up numerous birdie attempts. Without any wind, the Kona Coast was blanked by volcanic fog, or "vog," from Mount Kilauea.
The scoring average for the opening round was 68.9 with only three players above par.
"It's a quarterhorse race. It's a sprint," Watson said. "You just get on your horse and ride as fast and hard as you can and hope you don't trip."
Couples made his first official Champions Tour start, along with US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, who had a 67. They each received sponsor exemptions, making them the first players to make their tour debuts at the winners-only event.
"It was everything I thought it would be," Couples said. "Today was a lot of fun."
Couples, who turned 50 in October, started and ended the round with birdies. He was clearly one of the biggest hitters and had the largest gallery following him.
"I'm not accustomed to huge crowds any more on the US PGA Tour, but out here, it's nice to have enough people to come watch to keep the round going," said Couples, who plans to play 12 events on the US PGA Tour and 10 senior events this year.
Lehman, who tied for 16th last week at the US PGA Tour's Sony Open, overcame a triple bogey on the par-3 fifth hole. He had an eagle and eight birdies.
"I made a bunch of birdies right off the bat," he said. "The first seven holes, I made four birdies. I just happen to make that one oops right there in the middle of it all."
Lehman was cruising along with two birdies in the first four holes when he hit his tee shot into the sand on the fifth hole. He then overshot the green, with the ball bouncing into the water, which required taking a drop in the bunker.
He rebounded with birdies on the next two holes and then tore through the back nine. After making the turn, he sank a 9-foot eagle putt on the par-5 10th and birdied four of the next six holes.
Nick Price, Michael Allen, Phil Blackmar and Dan Forsman shot 66s.
Pavin was another stroke behind, along with two-time champion Hale Irwin, Peter Jacobsen, Bruce Lietzke and Keith Fergus. Defending champion Bernhard Langer, seeking his third straight player of the year title, was at 68.
This year's field of 36 has accounted for 287 US PGA Tour titles, including 38 majors. The players include seven members of the World Golf Hall of Fame and 14 major winners.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72.
Players from US unless stated.
63 Tom Watson
65 Tom Lehman, Fred Couples
66 Phil Blackmar, Michael Allen, Dan Forsman, Nick Price (Zim)
67 Bruce Lietzke, Peter Jacobsen, Keith Fergus, Corey Pavin, Hale Irwin
68 Bernhard Langer (Ger), John Cook, Mark O'Meara, Brad Bryant, Mike Goodes, Allen Doyle
69 Bruce Vaughan, Loren Roberts, Mark Wiebe, Mark McNulty (Irl)
70 D A Weibring, Jay Haas
71 Andy Bean, Jeff Sluman, Curtis Strange, Mike Reid, Andy North, Bobby Wadkins, Jerry Pate
72 R W Eaks, Ben Crenshaw
74 Denis Watson (Zim)
75 Tom Pernice junior
76 Gary Player (Rsa)