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Sunday, August 13, 2017

Redoubtable Thomas claims maiden Major

Image of Justin Thomas, by courtesy of Getty Images

Final Report from European Tour Communications

Justin Thomas claimed a maiden Major Championship as the American soared to a two-stroke victory at the US PGA Championship in a thrilling final day, during which Francesco Molinari and Patrick Reed both made charges towards the title before finishing tied for second alongside Louis Oosthuizen.

Thomas, the longest hitter in the field, was certainly a crowd favourite at Quail Hollow Club and he undoubtedly provided the most memorable moments in a finale which was set alight when his birdie putt at the ninth hole sat on the cup for eight seconds before falling to rapturous roars from the galleries.

That took the 24 year old to the turn in one under before he followed that drama immediately with a second successive birdie at the tenth.
The momentum was with the Kentucky player at that stage as the crowds descended on the penultimate group of which he was a part, and two more birdies at the 13^th and 17^th lifted him three shots clear heading down the last.

After finding a fairway bunker with his final tee shot, Thomas’s nerveless approach left him with four putts to win and a bogey five rounded off a memorable three under final round 68 for an eight under total.

Molinari, meanwhile, put himself in the mix with a stunning 67 which began with a flawless two under par front nine before the Italian followed a disappointing bogey at the par five tenth with four birdies in five holes. Another dropped shot at the 16^th, however, put paid to his chances.

His fellow European Tour member Reed joined him in second place soon after, the American carding four birdies in six holes early on for a two under front nine before picking up a shot each at the tenth, 14^th and 15^th to move within reach, before a bogey at the last for a 67 and a six under total.

Oosthuizen holed a huge putt at the last to join them in a share of the runner-up spot. Jordan Smith’s incredible rise through the ranks reached heady new heights as the Englishman finished with a 68 to claim a top ten on his Major debut.

Player quotes

Justin Thomas

“It was a crazy day. It had to be an unbelievable watching today in terms of spectating and sitting at home watching on TV.
“I forget what hole it was, I think walking up to the 12^th green, there were maybe five of us at seven under. I had no idea it was that close. I kind of thought Hideki and I were at around 7 or 8 or whatever he wasand then some other guys.

“Then I saw Patrick Reed was playing well. I saw Rickie was kind of making a run. I saw Francesco was up there, and then obviously Kisner and Stroud behind us. To see that was kind of crazy. And then that chip-in on 13 was probably the most berserk I've ever gone on the golf course. I'm kind of interested to see how I looked for that. It was nice.

“It was something that obviously as a kid growing up, being a golf fan, you want to win all the majors. You want to win any major. For me, the PGA Championship definitely had a special place in my heart, and maybe a special drive, I guess you could say. Like I said, I want to win every tournament I play in. I want to try to win every major.”

Francesco Molinari

“It was a great day, I started very well with a birdie at the first. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the leaders. I thought maybe seven or eight under would have been the winning score. But I gave it a go. It’s a shame about 16, but I hit a really good putt and just missed on the left and I’m very, very proud of the way I played today.

“I had to look at the leaderboard on 13, and where I was at more or less, I saw that I needed at least two more birdies. Seven or eight under was looking likely to be the winning score. So I gave it my best and I'm very happy with what I did.

“It was great. Obviously yesterday I had a really bad start and it was pretty hard to recover from that. So that adds to the satisfaction after today.

“It would have been nice to start the day maybe a couple of shots closer to the leaders, but it was great getting to the last three holes tied for the lead. It's what you practice for and what you train for. Hopefully I'll get more soon.”

Patrick Reed

“Really the opening nine was a tiring one. I hit a great drive on number one and missed the green but got up-and-down for par. I feel like I hit some pretty solid shots on two and walked off with bogey. Then I went on my run where I birdied three, and almost holed out, and I almost made a hole-in-one on four and tapped in for birdie.
“It's one of those rounds, that front nine, where it's just kind of up-and-down the whole day. At the end of the day, there were just too many missed putts today. A lot of putts burned edges and really the biggest thing is Friday - to only hit five greens in 18 holes and to somehow only hit one green through 12 holes and be one-over par. I was scrambling like crazy.

“I was making a lot of great up-and-downs, but it's hard to win a golf tournament, especially a major, if you only hit five greens in one day.”

Louis Oosthuizen

“I didn't really make any putts the whole round. The only putt I made was on the last hole. Two loose shots on ten and 11 probably cost me one, maybe two shots.

“I gave it everything I had coming in. I left myself with an impossible first putt on 16 and could have done better than that, but three-putted. And then I hit it close on 17, trying to make birdie. I hit one good putt on 18 though. My arm was tight this morning and we worked that out and it was fine.”

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)

276 Justin Thomas 73 66 69 68
278 Francesco Molinari 73 64 74 67, Louis Oosthuizen 70 67 71 70, Patrick Reed 69 73 69 67.
279 Rickie Fowler 69 70 73 67, Hideki Matsuyama 70 64 74 67.
280 Graham DeLaet 70 73 68 69, Kevin Kisner 67 67 72 74.
283 Jason Day 70 66 77 70, Matt Kuchar 71 74 70 68, Jordan Smith 70 75 70 68, Chris Stroud 68 68 71 76
284 Scott Brown 73 68 70 73, Paul Casey 69 70 74 71, James Hahn 73 70 71 70, Brian Harman 79 75 71 69, Dustin Johnson 70 74 74 67, Brooks Koepka 68 74 74 69, Marc Leishman 75 71 71 67, Ryan Moore 71 71 73 69, Henrik Stenson 74 70 70 70
285 Rory McIlroy 72 72 73 68, Grayson Murray, Ian Poulter 75 72 72 69, Chez Reavie, Robert Streb, Gary Woodland
286 Byeong Hun An, J B Holmes, Pat Perez, Jordan Spieth, Richard Sterne
287 Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Bud Cauley, Kevin Chappell, Bryson DeChambeau, Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak, Jamie Lovemark, Sean O'Hair, Webb Simpson, Chris Wood 72 72 70 73
288 Tony Finau, Jim Herman, Sung Kang, Thorbjørn Olesen
289 Charley Hoffman, Billy Horschel, Zach Johnson, Satoshi Kodaira, Shane Lowry 74 69 74 72, Charl Schwartzel
290 Ryan Fox, Bill Haas, D A Points, Steve Stricker
291 Jason Dufner; Kelly Kraft; Jon Rahm
292 Tommy Fleetwood 70 75 73 74, Adam Scott
293 Dylan Frittelli, Cody Gribble, David Lingmerth
294 Vijay Singh
295 K T Kim, Alex Noren, Hideto Tanihara, Lee Westwood 73 72 75 75
296 Russell Henley, Daniel Summerhays
297 Charles Howell III, Omar Uresti
299 Anirban Lahiri

TO VIEW ALL THE INDIVIDUAL ROUNDS

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EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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Labels: US PGA

Hannah Darling three shots clear in Scottish

U14 girls' open championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe), youngest winner of the Scottish U18 girls' championship a few weeks ago, is leading the girls' field by three strokes while South African Casey Jarvis and Rory McDonald-O'Brien (Lilleshall) are sharing the boys' lead in the Loretto School Under-14 girls and boys' open tournament at Crail Golf Club, Fife.

Hannah, pictured, posted an very good round of 73, one-under-par for the Craighead course. She had four birdies and three bogeys in halves of 39 and 34.
Her nearest rivals on 76 are Anna McKay, playing over her home course and the youngest winner of the Fife women's county championship earlier this season, and Wales' Ffion Tynan (Minchinhampton).
Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) is in fourth place with a 76.
In boys' championship, being staged over the Balcomie Links, Casey Jarvis, winner of the English U14s' title last week, and Rory McDonald-O'Brian are sharing the pole position on two-under 70.
They are a shot ahead of Aidan O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly) and two Continental players, Riccardo Roberto (Italy) and Theo Boulet (France).
T P F Smith (St Andrews) is tied sixth with a 72.
Outstanding Nairn prospect Calum D Scott is T12 with a 74 and C G Daun T20 on 75.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
GIRLS
Crail GS Craighead course (par 74)
73 H Darling (Broomieknowe).
76 A McKay (Crail GS), F Tynan (Minchinhampton).
77 C Griffiths (Aboyne).
78 D Harry (Vale Resort, Wales).
79 R Fowlie (Edzell), E Henderson (Loretto School).

Other Scots' scores included:
81 R Foster (Turnberry).
85 G Crawford (Gullane)
86 M Docherty (Bishopbriggs).
87 L Morrison (Craigmillar Park)
88 A Gorka (Loretto School), R Mathieson (Hazlehead).

BOYS
Crail GS Balcomie Links (par 72)
70 C Jarvis (SAf), R McDonald-O'Brien (Lilleshall).
71 R Roberto (Ita), A O'Hagan (Old Ranfurly), T Boulet (Fra)

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES:
72 T P F Smith (St Andrews).
74 C Currie (Turnhouse), C D Scott (Nairn).
75 C G Daun (Inverness).
76 G Cannon (Falkirk).
77 C Adam (Royal Burgess).
78 C Sharpe (Blairgowrie), A Saleem (St Andrews New).
79 C Johnstone (Troon Welbeck), G Graham (Blairgowrie).
82 J Vogelpohl (Forrester Park).
83 J Mann (Vilamoura), A Wyatt (Loretto School), F Russell (Royal Troon).
84 L Taylor (Bearsden).
86 C Graham (Blairgowrie), P Brown (Monifieth).
88 V Hundeboll (North Berwick).

Labels: boys and girls

Banchory's Jack Harling (21) wins Carnegie

Shield at Royal Dornoch

Left to right – Garth McGimpsey (Silver Medal Winner as leading qualifier), Robert Mackenzie (E C Fraser Trophy winner), Jack Harling (Carnegie Shield winner), James Herbertson (Davidson Trophy winner), Alan Ramsey (Captain of Royal Dornoch GC). Picture by Robin Wilson

By ROBIN WILSON

Young Jack Harling from Banchory Golf Club has become the first North-east golfer to win the Carnegie Shield open tournament at Royal Dornoch in the prestigious competition's 104th year.

He beat American Andrew Biggadike at the 19th hole in the final.

It was Harling's first appearance in the event but the 21-year-old is no stranger to the world famous Dornoch links. For the past three years he has played the course while a student at the University of the Highlands and Island's campus in Dornoch, studying for a golf management degree. He got his degree this year and next month leaves to take up a placement at the Kauri Cliffs Golf Club on New Zealand's North Island.

Biggadike, from the Olympic Club, California, was seeking a fourth Carnegie triumph since 2003 and this was his sixth final.
In the semi-finals Biggadike blasted Fortrose and Rosemarkie's Alan Cameron out of the competition by 7 and 6 while Harling put out the last local hope, Ian Rennie, now a member at Hindhead GC Surrey, on the 16^th green.

The final went into an extra hole but through the stipulated eighteen both players had a share of control. Harling won three of the first four holes before fluffing a chip from below the fifth green which saw Biggadike win two of the next three holes, the 7^th and 8^th to draw level.

But from the ninth tee the three time winner pulled left beyond the posts defining the lateral water hazard and his bogey six lost the hole to Harling who from the eleventh tee excelled with fine long iron play to the 11^th and 12^th greens. Biggadike saved losing these holes with single putts from length then with another chip and single putt at the par three at the 13^th hole he squared the tie once more.

Harling took the lead for the third time with another superb iron shot to 12 feet of the pin on the 16th green for birdie but Biggadike responded with birdie on the next green before the drama of the concluding final two holes.

Both players missed the final green with second shots. Biggadike short and in the hollow, Harling long left and over the road to the beach. Biggadike to play first after a delay when Harling asked he be given relief because of one foot was on the tarred road surface. Biggadike pitched to 12th feet and Harling's drop into the rough did him no favour and he only hacked out to the fringe cut. Both halved in bogies and proceeded to the 19th tee.

Advantage swung back to Biggadike after splitting the fairway and Harling pushed wide into the rough. But if anything Biggadike was too close to the green and with the fear of over hitting his approach past the pin and over the he came up much too short. Meanwhile the Banchory student's second from the rough found the back hollow of the green and a difficult first put which he almost holed was conceded a four.

To put it simply, Biggadike, unlike the previous chip had a “rush of adrenaline” and almost went off the green with his first putt. The return was missed to hand Harling the Shield for the first time.

Aberdeen solicitor James Herbertson, who still regards Royal Dornoch as his home club, won the first handicap Davidson Trophy with a 17th hole success against Alister Candlish (The Wisley). They both played with handicaps of seven so it was a scratch match but Herbertson bettered his handicap on the outward half and held a four hole lead. He lost the tenth and 13^th hole, the 13^th to birdie, but with his two hole lead still intact on the seventeenth green he picked up the trophy with the required half.

The Royal Dornoch members at the previous evening's AGM gave their approval to the alterations to the seventh hole as suggested by golf course architect Tom MacKenzie. One member who gave his full support to the changes, the fairway will be move to the right to overlook the sea and the eleventh hole will be Tom's teenage son, Robert, who came out on top of the high handicap final on the last green to win the E C Fraser Trophy against Max Yates (Royal Wimbledon).

Labels: Amateur Men

Euan McIntosh clickety clicks in final round to

win Leven Gold Medal by three strokes

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse Golf Club), 48-year-old reinstated amateur, staged a strong finish to win the Leven Gold Medal with a 13-under-par total of 271 over the Leven Links in Fife today (Sunday).
McIntosh had led at halfway with a pair of 67s for 134 over the par-71 course but he lost the pole position in the third round with a 71.
But then McIntosh, who spent 20 years in Germany as a professional, returning only in April 2016, put all his experience and know-how into a brilliant last round of five-under-par 66 to finish three strokes ahead of Calum Fyfe (Cawder) who had earlier posted a 69 to take the clubhouse lead on 274.
McIntosh, who achieved six top-five finishes last season and won Scottish Golf's Order of Merit - and a place in the Scotland team for the home intervals.
He finished off last season by winning the South-east District Open so the Leven Gold Medal is his second 72-hole tournament win in his "second coming."
McIntosh gave himself the early boost he needed for his final-round task by birdieing the first three holes. He dropped a shot, his only bogey, at the sixth in 32 to the turn but he covering his inward half in three-under-par 34 with birdies at the 10th, 15th and 18th.
Fyfe strung five birdies together from the 11th to the 15th in his final round 69 which followed rounds of 72, 67 and 66.
Steven Stewart (Clydebank and District) finished third with a 70 for 275 while third-round leader Jim Johnston (72 for 276) tied with James White (Lundin) (68) for fourth place.
Tom Kerr (Shrewsbury) had a hole in one at the 15th in his second round 70. He finished on 281.

Labels: Amateur Men

LEVEN GOLD MEDAL FINAL TOTALS

LEVEN AMATEUR CHAMPION GOLD MEDAL TOURNAMENT
Leven Golfing Society
Leven Links, Fife

HOW THEY FINISHED
Par 284 (4x71). SSS 72. CSs 72 72 72 71
273 E McIntosh (Turnhouse) 67 67 71 66.
274 C Fyfe (Cawder) 72 67 66 69.
275 S Stewart (Clydebank and Dist) 66 69 70 70
276 J White (Lundin) 70 69 69 68, J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 70 66 68 72
277 S Roger (Cruden Bay) 74 68 70 65.
280 B Soutar (Leven GS) 69 69 74 68, J Keith (Inverness) 72 65 73 70.
281 M Napier (Turnhouse) 69 70 73 68, T Kerr (Shrewsbury) 68 70 69 74.
282 G Munro (Newmachar) 71 67 74 70
283 A Davidson (Charleton) 71 73 70 69, K Cantley (Liberton) 567 73 70 73, C Low (Tantallon) 72 66 76 69.
284 D Mitchell jun (Leven Th) 70 71 73 70.
285 J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 72 68 73 72
286 A Collier (Duke's) 70 75 71 70.
288 W Porter (Carnoustie) 74 70 72 72, A Carrick (Douglas Park) 67 72 75 74
289 R Brown (Dunfermline) 75 72 71 71, F McKenna (Royal Aberdeen), 74 72 73 70, M Rickard (Cupar) 74 70 72 73, M Hislop (Glenbervie) 75 68 74 72.
290 N Peoples (Royal Lytham) 74 74 73 69.
291 G Wishart (Lundin) 71 71 80 68.
292 H Gorn (Aberdour) 72 76 74 70, C Mitchell (Lundin) 70 72 75 75.
293 B Henderson (Deeside) 72 70 74 77
294 L Smart (Banchory) 7176 74 73, C Pirie (Millport) 72 73 72 77, P T Tulleth (St Andrews) 75 69 78 72.
295 M Boddie (Dunbar) 74 71 73 77.
296 P Ratcliffe (Leven Th) 72 75 74 75.
297 V Varadharajan (Royal Burgess) 72 76 78 71, J Stephen (Aberdour) 72 73 76 76
299 J Tilleczek (Canada) 69 79 79 72.
300 A Benson (West Lothian) 70 78 75 77

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES, CHECK THE CARDS

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Labels: Amateur Men

Third round scores at Leven Gold Medal

Johnston takes over lead at Leven Gold

Medal but it looks like a tight finish

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
It promises to be a dramatic final 18 holes in the Leven Amateur Gold Medal with only one stroke separating the leading four players after this morning's third round.
Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) has taken over the lead from Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse) with a 68 for eight-under-par 204. Johnston had five birdies and two bogeys on his third-round scorecard.
The Ayrshire man is one shot clear of three players - overnight leader Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse) , Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and Steven Stewart (Clydebank and District).
And let's not rule out of contention James Wilson (Balmore), lying fifth on 206 after a 71 and even Thomas White (Shrewsbury), who had a hole in one at 15th in his second-round 70. He had a 69 this morning and is sixth on 207.
McIntosh had an eagle 3 at the 12th and birdies at the second, fifth and 11th but a double bogey 6 at the 18th, which suggests he was in the infamous Scoonie Burn which guards the green. He returned a par 71 after two 67s.
Stewart had a bag of six birdies in his 70 but hd bogeyed the first, second, fifth, sixth and 18th.
Fyfe had the round of the morning, a five-under-par 77 which contained seven birdies and two bogeys

THIRD-ROUND LEADERS IN CLUBHOUSE
Par 213 (3x71) SSS 72 CSS 72 72
204 J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 70 66 68.
205 C Fyfe (Cawder) 72 67 66, S Stewart (Clydebank and Dist) 66 69 70, E McIntosh (Turnhouse) 67 67 71.
206 J Wilson (Balmore) 71 64 71
207 T Kerr (Shrewsbury) 68 70 69.
208 J White (Lundin) 70 69 69.
210 K Cantley (Liberton) 67 73 70, J Keith (Inverness) 72 65 73
212 S Roger (Cruden Bay) 74 68 70, G Munro (Newmachar) 71 67 74, M Napier (Turnhouse) 69 70 73, B Soutar (Leven GS) 69 69 74.
213 J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 72 68 73.
214 A Davidson (Charleton) 71 73 70, D Mitchell jun (Leven Th) 70 71 73, A Carrick (Douglas Park) 67 72 75, C Low (Tantallon) 72 66 76.
216 W Porter (Carnoustie) 74 70 72, B Henderson (Deeside) 72 70 74, A Collier (Duke's) 70 75 71, M Rickard (Cupar) 74 70 72.
217 M Hislop (Glenbervie) 75 68 74, C Pirie (Millport) 72 73 72, C Mitchell (Lundin) 70 72 75.
218 R Brown (Dunfermline) 75 72 71, M Boddie (Dunbar) 74 71 73.
219 F McKenna (Royal Aberdeen) 74 72 73.
221 L Smart (Banchory) 71 76 74, J Stephen (Aberdour) 72 73 76 P Ratcliffe (Leven Th) 72 75 74, N Peoples (Royal Lytham) 74 74 73.

Labels: Amateur Men

Banchory make Sam Locke an honorary

member

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Sam Locke, recent winner of the Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick, is delighted to accept honorary membership of Banchory Golf Club where he was junior champion in 2015.
Craig Lindsay, the club captain, said:

"Sam’s win in the Scottish Amateur Championship is a fantastic achievement at just 18 years of age.

"Banchory Golf Club was fortunate to have Sam as a junior member for a number of years. He was our junior champion in 2015 and was also an integral part of our successful men's team, who won the Aberdeen Pennant League in 2015. Having played a few matches with Sam myself, you could always see his potential to go on and do great things in the game.

"Sam will join the other elite members on the wall of honour at Banchory Golf Club, which includes Harry Bannerman, Paul Lawrie, Greig Hutcheon and James Byrne. We are all so proud of him for this wonderful achievement."

Labels: golf news