A COURSE record-equalling 63 from Victorian Jarrod Lyle has him tied for the lead with Tasmanian Mathew Goggin on the second afternoon of the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.
With the course at their mercy in the morning thanks to benign conditions and greens softened by Thursday’s thunderstorms and subsequent overnight rain, Lyle and Goggin (68) capitalised to share top spot on a packed leaderboard at nine-under.
Only one stroke back in outright third place though is equal round-one leader Paul Sheehan, who followed the six-under 66 that he completed on Friday morning with a 70 to stay in contention.
Wayne Perske carded a 66 to move within two shots of the lead along with Sportsbet Masters champion Rod Pampling, two-time winner Peter Senior, Michael Curtain and David Lutterus, who all added 67s, and Peter Wilson (69) who had led at eight-under.
And Sheehan’s fellow round-one leader Tim Wilkinson was also at minus eight late in his front nine before dropping back to seven-under and level with 2006 Australian Open champion John Senden, who is also still on the course.
Nathan Green had a mixed round that featured the shot of the tournament so far, a hole in one at the par-three 11th, as well as three bogeys, as he moved to minus six and level with Matthew Ballard, who also shot 68.
Another handful of players share 14th place on five under, including American Paul Goydos (67), Peter O’Malley (67) and Michael Long (72), as well as Kiwi Richard Lee and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, who has regained two earlier dropped shots.
While Lyle, Goggin and co. were out in the best conditions of the day, the wind has strengthened in the afternoon and more thunderstorms are expected later in the day.
One-over when the suspension of play came on Thursday after he had just birdied the 12th, two-time 2008 Nationwide Tour winner Lyle picked up another shot at 15 after resuming at 5:30am (AEST) to sign for an even-par 72.
Having given no indication of what was to come, Lyle then picked up successive birdies at 12 and 13 and 16 and 17 to kick-start his charge, before picking up further shots at the 2nd and then four in a row from the 5th to go close to breaking the course record.
“It’s been kind of weird my golf game, I’ve been playing good but just not scoring and just not taking advantage of the easy holes,” said Lyle. “I sat down with Dad last night over dinner and pretty much had an argument with him about everything that I’m doing.”
“Something kind of snapped in me and today was just one of those days that I hit it really good. I hit it just as good as yesterday but holed some putts and got some momentum going.”
Goggin didn’t start his day as well as Lyle, dropping an early shot at the 12th before recovering with a birdie at 16, but he bogeyed 16 playing it again several hours later before a much better front nine that included an eagle and three birdies got him going.
“I didn’t do much through the really still part of the day … but it’s a tricky little golf course and now with the wind up in the afternoon nine under will probably be around about at the end of the day,” Goggin said.
“Yeah it felt alright. I putted well yesterday for nine holes and then came out this morning and wasn’t feeling it at all but then felt a little bit better towards the last four or five holes.”
After players were forced off the course just after 3pm (AEST) on Thursday, half the field returned at 5:30am on Friday morning to finish the first round, with Sheehan joining Wilkinson at the top.

Round 1

The opening round of the Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship will be completed on Friday morning after lightning strikes at Coolum forced play to be suspended on Thursday with Tim Wilkinson and Peter Wilson leading.
Wilkinson had already completed a six-under 66 to set the clubhouse pace while Wilson had dropped back to that score to share the lead after earlier being at minus eight thanks largely to a front-nine he negotiated in just 29 strokes.
Half of the 156-man field was still on the course when thunderstorms rolled in just after 3pm (AEST) and officials made the decision at 4:45pm to resume play at 5:30am on Friday, with round-two tee times set to be pushed back by an hour and a half.
Wilson had largely defied winds that had continued to strengthen throughout the day, sizzling around the front nine with birdies at every hole except the 2nd and 8th as he looked set to threaten the course record of 63.
But after adding another birdie at the 12th a double bogey at the 13th halted his charge and he had just parred the 14th when the suspension came, leaving him level with 30-year-old New Zealander Wilkinson.
2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Wilkinson’s compatriot Richard Lee both shot 67 and have since been joined at minus five by two-time champion Peter Senior, who has played 11 holes so far.
Fresh from his first season on the US PGA Tour, which included more than $US 1 million ($AU 1,555,845) in prizemoney and three top-five finishes, Wilkinson went out in 31 after starting at the first tee and was seven-under at one point.
Wilkinson grabbed birdies at the first two holes, went to the turn with three more in a row and picked up further shots at the 12th and 14th to open up a two-shot lead, but his sole blemish for the day halved his lead at that point.
Lee had a flawless round that included five birdies while Ogilvy collected an eagle and three birdies through his first 10 holes, and conceded he could have gone even lower as he came home with eight pars.
One shot further back thanks to a 68 is Victorian Peter Nolan, and Tasmanian Mathew Goggin is also four-under at the turn, while Brett Rumford, 2006 Australian Open winner John Senden, Steve Collins, Martin Dive and Mahal Pearce all signed for 69s.
Defending champion Peter Lonard and Queenslander Steven Bowditch both shot 70, along with one of Ogilvy’s playing partners, Michael Sim, while Sportsbet Masters winner Rod Pampling and Robert Allenby are also at minus two.
The third member of group 16, American John Daly, slumped to two-over on the back nine with a double bogey and another bogey but recovered with five birdies in his last 13 holes to shoot 71 and share 18th with Craig Parry and Anthony Summers.

 Australian PGA Championship Live Leaderboard

More encouragement for top Australian male “Super Senior” Golfers (65+) and the introduction of a National Order of Merit for Australia’s senior women amateur golfers are among recently announced changes to the sport.

The men’s Order of Merit competition has been expanded to include a full set of medals for the 65 and over players and medals will now be awarded to the top three golfers in this age group.

In addition, a Super Senior Matchplay Championship for the over 65 group will be played at the same time as the Australian Senior Matchplay Championship. A field of 8 players will contest the event in 2009 which will be played at Barwon Heads Golf Club.
Among other changes Golf Australia announced for new Australian Amateur Ranking Systems was the introduction of a National Order of Merit for Australia’s senior women amateur golfers.
The system used for this competition will be the same as that for senior men, with every event played used in calculating an average points score. The minimum divisor for senior women in this introductory year is 4 events.
The first event recorded was the 2008 ACT Senior Women’s Championship and the current leader in the Women’s Order of Merit is Liz Smyth from the Royal Canberra Golf Club. She leads from Nicky Moon from Federal Golf Club and Chris Taylor also from Royal Canberra.

Golf Australia says new Amateur Ranking Systems now underway will provide players, as well as the industry, a great opportunity to monitor the movements in the standings across all age groups at the peak of men’s and women’s amateur golf.

For 2009, Australian Amateur Ranking Systems will be conducted in six categories – open men and women, boys’ and girls’ and senior men and senior women (55+).

The player with the highest points average at 31 October 2009 will be recognised as the winner of their respective Ranking System.

The Australian Amateur Ranking Systems are provided as a service to Australian golf as well as to achieve the following objectives:

• To replace the use of handicaps as the primary entry standard for national amateur championships. This will provide a fairer and better outcome for players, and Golf Australia encourages all other domestic operators of elite amateur events to consider adopting the same improved procedure.

• To be used as a supporting tool for team selection.

• To increase participation in the events which count towards a player’s Ranking Average.

Each System will be points-based, and will operate over a 12-month rolling period. All National Championships and each State’s Amateur Championships in the respective Systems will count towards a player’s average, in addition to various other major events nominated by the States, including those which have been National Ranking Events in the past.

Players’ points are determined by their finishing positions in each event and the events themselves will be weighted with the events traditionally attracting the strongest fields being awarded the most points.

Golf Australia says the Systems are sure to be highly competitive and will provide vast interest for amateur golfers of all ages and genders, in particular Girls’ and Senior Women where previously there has been no similar ranking system operating.

The Karrie Webb Series will continue to operate in conjunction with the Women’s Open Ranking System.

Full details.

Peter Senior will make golfing history when he fronts up for his 30th Australian Masters event this week but the 49 year old has lost none of his passion for the game.

Senior is a two time winner of the Masters and will line up as the only player to have played in all thirty Australian Masters tournaments since the first event was played at Huntingdale in 1979.

“It has been a long trip and I have enjoyed every one of them,” Senior, who won the title in 1991 and 1995, said this week. “Thirty years sounds like a long time but I’ve still got a few left in me.”

Senior feels he has been playing well lately with good finishes in the Western Australian PGA and a second at the NSW PGA.

He was feeling confident when talking to media about the upcoming big three Aussie tournaments, including the Open, the PGA and the Masters, and even suggesting that “if I can putt a little better than I have been” anything could happen.

“Or you could do a Robert Allenby and win all three of them,” he said.

The putting would have to be going exceptionally well for that to come to pass but it is a measure of the competitive spirit Senior has displayed in 30 years travelling the globe.

Whatever has been happening for him overseas, Senior is a household name in Australian golf because he has returned home every summer to play in front of home crowds. The fact hasn’t been lost on his legions of fans, making him a crowd favourite and the name ‘Senior’ synonymous with the Australasian Tour.

“One thing I always said was that I would come back to support the Australian Tour, no matter where I was or what I was doing. I have foregone some really good tournaments to come back and play our events, but I wanted to do that.”

Senior said that whilst his thirty years sounded a lot, he has lost none of the desire that has brought him so much success and popularity in the game since he first turned professional in 1978. Whilst he plays less tournament golf these days, he intends to continue with his career on the senior’s circuit when he turns 50 next July.

“I love the game. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I am doing, corporate days, pro-ams, I still enjoy being on the course. The main reason I stopped tournament golf was to spend time with my kids in their school years.

“I figured that when I turned 50 I would still have the opportunity to play. Sitting at home and doing nothing for the first couple of years was really hard, but deep down the desire is still there.”

Senior is keen to try his luck on the Seniors tour in the US next year but knows it will be tough with “about 500 guys” competing for the eight available spots.

If anyone can do it, Peter can.

The First Round of the 2008 Sportsbet Australian Masters starts on Thursday with the first groups teeing off at 7am.

The morning groups include Craig Parry, John Daly and Finland’s Mikko Ilonen teeing off the tenth tee at 7:10am – now that will be a sight to behold.

There will be free to air television coverage on all four days of the tournament on the Seven Network, check your local guides.

JOHN DALY could be more than just a sideshow when he arrives on Australian shores this week to spice up the start of the summer golf season.

Daly, who artfully manages to combine being a highly gifted two time major winner while keeping up a train wreck of a personal life, shot his best round of golf in three years on the final day of the Hong Kong Open yesterday (Sunday).

He had eight birdies to finish one off the course record on the tight Hong Kong Golf Club course.

He was already out of tournament contention having followed up opening round consecutive 68’s with a deflating 73 on Saturday.

Without a US PGA Tour card for two years, Daly says one of his problems of late has been not playing in enough consecutive big time tournaments.

With a tendency to go to Hooters rather than practice, Daly needs the consistent big game play to keep his game together.

“I can’t remember the last time I had three weeks in a row that I could play,” Daly says. “That’s probably why I’m hoping to get a lot of invites in the European tour and play four, five, six in a row. That’s the only way I can play good golf.”

First, we have the 30th Australian Masters kicking off in Melbourne on Thursday. The following week we have the Australian PGA (Dec 4-7) at Coolum and then the Australian Open at the Royal Sydney Golf Course from December 11-14.

 

 

Apart from ably demonstrating in Hong Kong that despite being rated World No 788, he can still put an exceptional round together, Daly also proved his public pulling power.

If he keeps his shirt on, his putter out of the water and his nights in reasonable order, he could be something to watch.

But whatever Daly’s golfing performance over the next two weeks in Australia (his schedule didn’t allow staying for the Australian Open), his inclusion has already served to further heighten interest in what should be a fascinating summer of golf.

First, we have the 30th Australian Masters kicking off in Melbourne on Thursday. The following week we have the Australian PGA (Dec 4-7) at Coolum and then the Australian Open at the Royal Sydney Golf Course from December 11-14.

Most of Australia’s big name players will be appearing at some stage.

Nick O’Hern has just been ruled out for the duration with a thumb injury, Aaron Baddeley has a new baby to contend with, and Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott will miss the first week but not the next two.

Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Matthew Goggin, Nathan Green, Richard Green, Peter Lonard, Craig Parry, Rod Pampling, John Senden and Peter Senior will be among the other starters.

The Australian contingent at the Masters will be further strengthened with the participation of Scott Strange, winner of the 2008 Wales Open and fellow West Australian, Rick Kulacz who won the Brunei Open in his rookie year on the Asian Tour.

In addition, Jarrod Lyle, Greg Chalmers, Aron Price and Marc Leishman, all winners on the Nationwide Tour en route to progressing to the 2009 PGA TOUR will play. 

The home grown talent will be challenged by a strong international line up including 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell from New Zealand, dual PGA TOUR winner Daniel Chopra from Sweden along with two time member of the International Team at The Presidents Cup and three time European Tour winner, Tim Clark from South Africa.  These proven champions will be joined by one of the games brightest young stars in Danny Lee from New Zealand.  Danny is the current United States Amateur Champion and the #1 ranked amateur in the World.

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, regarded as one of the game’s best ball strikers, will be the main overseas draw for the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

The 2009 Australian Men’s Mid Amateur Golf Championship, open to golfers aged 30 to 54 with a handicap less than 7.4, will be played from January 20 - 22 at The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

The 2008 event was a huge success with Victoria’s Jason Perry finishing strongly to take the title.

As Perry discovered, winning the championship gives a direct exemption to the Australian Open, and next year’s winner will have the opportunity to play in the 2009 Australian Open at the New South Wales Golf Club.

All three courses at the National Golf Club - The Old Course, Moonah and Ocean Courses - will be utillised for the 54 hole event in January.

Golf Australia says the National is a fantastic golfing facility and a one of its kind in Australia that will provide a fantastic challenge for players from all parts of the country.

Trevor Herden, Golf Australia Director of Championships, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the golfers in this demographic to test their skills against their peers over three championship courses at one of the best facilities in the country.”

What: 2009 Australian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
When: 20 – 22 January 2009
Where: The National GC, Victoria
Format: 54 holes stroke play (max 120 players)
Courses: The Old Course, Moonah and Ocean Courses ( 1 round on each)
Handicap Limit: 7.4
Location: 10 The Cups Drive, Cape Schanck (Mornington Peninsula), Victoria
Entry Fee: $150.00 (on-line); or $170.00 (mail, fax, or e-mail)
Entries Open: 28 October 2008
Entry Close: 5 January 2009

Golf Australia Championship Entry Form

Local favorite Aaron Townsend has claimed the NSW Open by seven shots whist Michael Long has been crowned the 2008 Von Nida Tour Money List winner.  

Townsend and Long accepted their trophies at the final Von Nida Tour event held at The Vintage Golf Club in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Sunday.

Townsend,  27, wrapped up his maiden Von Nida Tour victory with a final round three under 68 to win by seven shots from runner up Victorian Steve Jones.

Last week’s Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship winner Tim Wood finished in third place on eight under par while Sydney’s Jamie Arnold and newly turned pro Matthew Griffin were tied fourth a further two shots back. 

For Townsend, who is now heading for the second stage of US Tour School, the win comes after he previously finished second three times, the most recent this year at the OG Roberts South Australian PGA Championship.

“I can say enough about how special this is”, said a delighted and exhausted Townsend. “My first one, to win the NSW Open is tremendous.”

“I tried not to look at the leaderboard or too much that was going on around me and just tried to think if I play well and just try to take care of what I do then it will make it hard for anyone to try to catch me so I was really happy with how I played.”

“My confidence is at a high now and that’s what you need at this time of year so its an excellent time to be flying this high!”

Townsend played an impressive tournament, establishing what was to become an unbeatable lead on Day two. He finished the second round with a five shot lead, extending that to six by the end of the third round and finished off with a seven shot buffer.

Perth based New Zealander Long clinched the 2008 Von Nida Money List Trophy by $760.00 over Townsend. The 40 year old finished the year on a high with a win at the Oceanique WA PGA Championship two weeks ago and immediately backed up with a runner up finish at last week’s Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship, finishing on a total of $27,650.

“I’m very happy. There’s a lot great talent and great players on this Tour and it’s a great privilege to have won this trophy. It’s the first Order of Merit Trophy I have ever won!”

“It’s been a great three weeks”, said the semi retired New Zealand born WA resident. “I intend to enjoy my golf a lot more now and am enjoying the break. It’s really refreshing to be able to have a week off now, have a few drinks and then start again!”

Belmont teenager Brendan Smith finished as the leading amateur.

Final leading scores at the NSW Open at The Vintage.

1, Aaron Townsend, -17, 63, 67, 69, 68, 267

2, Steven Jones, -10, 65, 71, 70, 68, 274

3, Timothy Wood, -8, 73, 67, 68, 68, 276

T4, Jamie Arnold, -6, 62, 73, 70, 73, 278

T4, Matthew Griffin, -6, 67, 71, 71, 69, 278

6, Bradley Andrews, -5, 69, 74, 68, 68, 279

T7, Benjamin Burge, -3, 71, 68, 71, 71, 281

T7, Brad Lamb, -3, 69, 72, 68, 72, 281

T7, Peter Nolan, -3, 71, 71, 72, 67, 281

T10, Aaron Black, -2, 68, 70, 70, 74, 282

T10, Ryan Hammond, -2, 66, 72, 73, 71, 282

T10, Brendan Smith, -2, 71, 73, 67, 71, 282

T13, Michael Brennan, -1, 72, 69, 72, 70, 283

T13, Leigh McKechnie, -1, 70, 68, 73, 72, 283

T13, James Nitties, -1, 72, 70, 73, 68, 283

T13, Jason Norris, -1, 69, 72, 74, 68, 283

T13, Peter Wilson, -1, 75, 69, 69, 70, 283

T18, Matthew Ballard, E, 69, 70, 72, 73, 284

T18, Craig Scott, E, 70, 74, 69, 71, 284

T18, Tim Stewart, E, 69, 73, 71, 71, 284

T18, Michael Williams, E, 67, 74, 70, 73, 284

The Australian team has recorded a resounding victory at the 2008 Asia-Pacific Senior Golf Championship played in Sabah, Malaysia.

Current Australian Senior Amateur Champion Stefan Albinski compounded the win, taking out the individual championship.

The six man Australian team of Rick Oliver (captain), Denis Dale, Ross Percy, Brian Sams, Nigel Goodall and Albinksi finished 23 strokes ahead of the New Zealand team, with The Philippines third.
With the best four rounds counting each day, the Australian team finished on 23 over par - averaging better than 74 for each scoring round on the tricky par 72 Nexus Golf Resort course at Karambunai.
In the individual championship, Stefan Albinksi (73-75-73) and Brian Sams (74-76-71) featured in a play off for the title.

Albinksi was the winner with a birdie on the second sudden death play off hole.

Australia was the dominant team at the event this year with all six Australian team players finishing in the top 20 positions with four players finishing in the top ten.

12/11/08, Round 2: Aussies strengthen lead

Australia has taken a commanding lead after round two of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Senior Championship in Sabah, Malaysia.

Quality rounds of 74 from Nigel Goodall and Brian Sams set the pace with Stefan Albinski (75) and Denis Dale (76) making up the four scores that counted in the teams event.

Rick Oliver (80) could not repeat his opening two under par 70. Ross Percy (80) struggled with his game today but looks forward to the final round on Thursday.
Australia now leads New Zealand by 17 shots and The Philippines by 19 and are hoping for another good day of consistent scores on the final day to take home the team trophy.

Australia’s consistency sees five of their players in the top ten individual scores with Stefan Albinksi the best in second place.

11/11/08, 1st Round: Rick Oliver helps Aussie team take lead

A two under par 70 by Rick Oliver has helped Australia to the lead after round one of the 2008 Asia-Pacific Senior Championship at the Karambunai Golf Resort in Sabah, Malaysia.

He shares the individual lead while Australia leads New Zealand by 5 shots in the team competition.

Sydney’s Stefan Albinksi was the next best Australian with a very tidy 73 followed by Brian Sams who worked hard for his four over par 76.

Denis Dale and Nigel Goodall both reported a struggle on the greens when they finished with 77’s. Ross Percy was not at his usual consistent best with 82. The best four scores count each day.

The Australian team includes Rick Oliver (NSW), Denis Dale (NSW), Ross Percy (VIC), Brian Sams (NSW), Nigel Goodall (WA) and Stefan Albinski (NSW).

(Original Reports Courtesy of Denis Dale and AUSOOM)

2008 Asia Pacific Seniors – Live Scoring

Geoff Ogilvy has finished in a tie for third place at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a two-under par 70 in his final round.
The former US Open champion had an up-and-down round with three bogeys and five birdies to finish at 13-under overall, just one stroke behind leaders Sergio Garcia and Oliver Wilson.
New world No.2 Garcia edged out his Ryder Cup team-mate in a play-off to win a thrilling rain-affected tournament.
With the win, Garcia claimed a career-high in the world rankings, while the $US833,300 (AU$1,214,397) first prize sends the 28-year-old top of the inaugural Race to Dubai.
“It feels great,” said Garcia after claiming his eighth European Tour victory.
“I am so proud, to win and become world number two, it’s been a great week.”
SAS Masters winner Peter Hanson shot a six-under-par 66 to share third place alongside Ogilvy.
Adam Scott capped off a good tournament for the Aussie contingent with a sixth-place finishing, while Andrew Bonhomme faded in his final round to finish at even-par in a tie for 31st.
Crazy Phil Mickelson could only manage a one-over par 73 in his final round to finish in a tie for eighth place at nine-under.

Wood wins NSW PGA Championship

RIVERSIDE OAKS: CATTAI, NSW, Sunday November 9: In a thrilling finish today, Victorian Tim Wood held off a late charge from Peter Senior and Michael Long to win the 2008 Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Riverside Oaks.
The 27 year old Victorian took the match to the wire bogeying the final two holes to win by just a a shot over last week’s Oceanique WA PGA Championship winner Long and the evergreen Senior.
Wood, a regular on the Canadian Tour for the past two seasons claimed his maiden Von Nida Tour victory after entering the final day with a one shot lead over Long and held a two shot lead at the 16th. Both he and Long then bogeyed the 17th as Senior knocked in a 30 foot birdie putt, but the young Victorian’s lead gave him enough to come home with the win.
He finished the tournament on a total of 16 under 272, with Long and Senior in equal second place on 15 under 273.
Pymble trainee pro Brent McCullogh came home with a final round 68 to finish outright third on 11 under followed by New Zealander Brad Shilton and Newcastle’s James Nitties who sailed home with rounds of five under 67 to finish T7 on 11 under alongside Sydney’s Dean Kinney and Tristan Lambert.
Former US Tour winner Andre Stolz finished at 10 under and T11 alongside defending champion Scott Draper.
For Wood, he picked up the first prize of $15,000 and will head to The Vintage GC in the Hunter Valley to contest the season ending NSW Open starting on Thursday.

Four Aussies secure 209 US PGA Tour cards

Four Australians have secured their 2009 US PGA TOUR cards after finishing in the Top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money List for 2008.

At the conclusion of the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship on Sunday (US time) Jarrod Lyle, Greg Chalmers, Aron Price and Marc Leishman booked their tickets to the big show and the chance to win a prized US PGA Tour event next season.

They join Robert Allenby (11), Geoff Ogilvy (15), Stuart Appleby (22), Adam Scott (39), Mathew Goggin (40), Rod Pampling (47), Aaron Baddeley (49), Peter Lonard (66), Nick O’Hern (75), Steve Elkington (85), John Senden (86), Tim Wilkinson NZL (92) and Nathan Green (113) as members of the 2009 US PGA TOUR after the 13 players retained their cards by finishing in the Final Top 125 on the US Tour this year, taking the total number of

Australasians who are currently members of the 2009 US PGA Tour to 19.

That number is likely to increase after the Final Stage of US TOUR Qualifying School to be held from December 3-8 in La Quinta, California.

Lyle finished at the top of the list of Australasians in 4th place after winning twice on the Nationwide Tour this season, followed by Greg Chalmers (8th), Aron Price (18) and Marc Leishman (19), all who tasted victory as the Aussies tallied up their most successful season yet with seven wins in total.

Also, winners on the Tour this season were Ewan Porter (41) and Gavin Coles (48) who finished in the Top 60 on the Money List and who have retained their Nationwide Tour cards for 2009, as has Won Joon Lee who finished 50th.

Villegas & Poulter to add flair and flamboyance to 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic

Perth, Western Australia; Tuesday, November 11, 2008; World number seven Camilo Villegas and Ian Poulter, ranked 25, will add a touch of flair and flamboyance to the 2009 JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC in Perth, Western Australia when Asia Pacific’s premier luxury golf event tees off  February 19 to 22 at The Vines Resort & Country Club.

Colombia’s Villegas, one of the most exciting young talents in the game today whose swashbuckling style has grabbed the attention of the golfing world in 2008, and Poulter, well known for his flamboyant dress sense both on and off the course, will line up alongside Englishmen Lee Westwood and Paul Casey as well as Australia’s Great White Shark, Greg Norman.

“The 2009 JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC field is shaping up to be one of the strongest and most colourful  we have ever had in the 19-year history of this prestigious tournament,” commented David Gates, Global Brand Director for JOHNNIE WALKER.

“With Villegas and Poulter joining a host of truly international golfing stars from the top echelons of the European, Asian and Australasian Tours, the action on the course in Perth is guaranteed to be highly competitive and extremely exciting. Combine this with the wonderful backdrop of Western Australia and the fantastic off-course entertainment that JOHNNIE WALKER traditionally organizes and we are in for another spectacular JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC.”

Western Australia Tourism Minister Dr Liz Constable said the strong field would be welcomed by Perth’s golf enthusiasts.

“The JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC has always been a favourite with locals and visitors alike and I’m sure, with the line-up set for 2009, it will be more popular than ever before,” Dr Constable said.

Over the past 18 years  the JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC has been played in eight different countries and 13 different golf clubs around the Asia Pacific region including China in 2005 and earlier this year, for the first time, India.

Golf legends and young guns at NSW Open

Monday, November 10. Anticipation is mounting as Australia’s golf legends and rising stars descend upon The Vintage and the Hunter Valley for the 2008 NSW Open starting Thursday.

The NSW Open is the final Von Nida Tour event for 2008 and will see the 2008 Von Nida Tour winner announced on Sunday afternoon.  

Golf legend and Seniors Order of Merit leader Rodger Davis will be arriving tonight and will be joined at The Vintage by Bob Shearer on Tuesday morning.  Rounding out the “Young Guns” entering the field and participating in The Open are 15 year old amateur qualifier Jake Higginbotton and Eisenhower Cup team members Rohan Blizard, Tim Stewart and Matthew Griffin.

Other legends participating in NSW Open week at The Vintage are World Golf Hall of Fame member Kel Nagle and 1991 British Open winner Ian Baker-Finch,

They, along with renowned Australian golfers Billy Dunk and Jack Newton will be joining other former NSW Open champions including Shearer, Davis, Terry Price and defending champion Jason Norris on Wednesday for the inaugural Legends Luncheon in the Vintage Members Lounge. 

Friday14th November will be the NSW Open Championship Gala and will feature the Team Challenge Pro-Am. Draw. The Team Challenge Pro-Am. is a Pebble Beach-style pro-am that is run alongside the Open. This year’s Team. Challenge Pro-Am. will be held during the final two rounds of the NSW Open – on Saturday and Sunday, 15 – 16 November. 

Featured amateurs for the Team Challenge Pro-Am. are legendary tennis professional John Newcombe and former Wallabies star Matt Burke.  Rod McGeoch will be the host and emcee for the special evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres under the stars.

Events NSW Proud Sponsor of NSW Open.

With just two events to go on the 2008 Von Nida Tour, New Zealander Michael Long has jumped to the top of the Money List with a three shot victory at the Oceanique WA PGA Championship. In Florida, Robert Allenby narrowly missed claiming his first US Tour title in seven years bogeying the final hole at the Ginn sur Mer Classic to finish two shots behind winner Ryan Palmer. See all the latest results in Aussies in Action.  

VON NIDA TOUR: LONG CLAIMS OCEANIQUE WA PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Perth based New Zealander Michael Long has moved to the number one spot on the Von Nida Tour Money List after claiming the 2008 Oceanique WA PGA Championship by a convincing three shots on the weekend.

Shooting rounds of 68-69-69 & 69, the former US Tour player and two-time winner on the Nationwide Tour finished on 13 under for the tournament, three shots clear of Victorian Matthew Griffin in second place and Peter Wilson a further shot back in outright third.  

Long led from start to finish and claimed his first professional tour victory since the 2003 Virginia Beach Open on the Nationwide Tour.

An equaling course record eight-under, 64 by eventual runner up Griffin put some life into the tournament setting up a thrilling finish after Long had seemingly been in control of the tournament from the outset.
Griffin was Australia’s highest ranked amateur golfer in the World Amateur Teams Championship in Adelaide earlier this month, before turning professional last week.

Defending champion South Australian Jason Norris was solid in defence of his crown, finishing in a creditable 11th position after rounds of 70-69-77 and 72.
As the Von Nida Tour heads to New South Wales this week, Scott Draper returns to the scene of his maiden professional victory at Riverside Oaks, for the $100,000 Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Riverside Oaks GC.
The Tour season will culminate with The NSW Open at The Vintage Golf Resort in the Hunter Valley, from 13-16 November where the Money List Champion for 2008 will be revealed. Long leads the Money List by $1,600.50 from Victorian Heath Reed.

US PGA TOUR: ALLENBY FALLS SHORT OF VICTORY

Robert Allenby finished two strokes behind Ryan Palmer at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Florida on the weekend, narrowly missing out on his first US Tour title in seven years.
The Victorian had an opportunity to take the outright lead on the last hole but could only watch as his approach shot found the bunker at the back of the green. The result meant Allenby - who came second to Dustin Johnson at Turning Stone a month ago - finished with a bogey six on the hole, a one-under 71 for the day and five-under overall. A birdie would have seen him into a playoff with Palmer.

The American drained a 10-foot birdie putt at the final hole to break out of a six-way tie and finished with a total of seven under 281 and a second career victory that guarantees his US Tour playing privileges for two more years.

Palmer finished one stroke in front of George McNeill, Nicholas Thompson, Vaughn Taylor, Ken Duke and Michael Letzig.

Allenby finished in a five way tie for seventh with Troy Matteson, Brian Gay, Tom Scherrer and John Huston. Fellow Australian Peter Lonard was a shot further back at four-under, while Nick O’Hern and Michael Sim were at three-under.

EUROPEAN TOUR: FAST RUN HOME FOR GREEN

Victorian Richard Green fired a final-round four-under 67 to finish in outright seventh place behind Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
Starting the day tied for 15th, Green hit five birdies and single bogey as he leapfrogged a number of players up the leaderboard to finish at two-under.
Kjeldsen, who was never headed from the moment he started the rain-hit event with a sparkling 65, won the first prize of more than 560,000 pounds by two strokes from Englishman Anthony Wall and German Martin Kaymer.

New Zealand’s Mark Brown hit a closing 74 to finish at 13-over, while Scott Strange fell away with a final round 79 that saw him end the tournament in a share of 50th place at 18-over.

Robert Karlsson though has became the first Swede to win the European Order of Merit, as the 2008 season finished on the weekend. The 2009 European Tour season starts this Thursday in Shanghai as the Race to Dubai opens with the HSBC Champions event.

Richard Green finished the highest of the Australasians on the Final 2008 OOM in 23^rd place. Nine Australasians have retained their card for 2009. They are: Green (23^rd), Scott Strange (32), Adam Scott (43), Mark Brown NZL (53), Michael Campbell NZL (69), Greg Norman (86), Robert Allenby (87), Marcus Fraser (102) and Peter O’Malley (115).

ASIAN TOUR: WEBBER FINISHES THIRD IN ASIA

Aussie Kane Webber has finished three strokes adrift of winner South African Retief Goosen at the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia. 
Webber claimed outright third spot after he shot a final-round two-under-par 70 to take him to an overall score of nine-under-par 279.
Goosen rattled off a blistering six-under-par at the final 18 to clinch the title with a score of 12-under, two shots ahead of second-placed Thaworn Wiratchant (10-under).
A trio of Aussies - Mitchell Brown, Andrew Dodt and Richard Moir - found themselves two shots further back from Webber in a share of fourth position with Swedish Niclas Fasth and home crowd hero Iain Steel on seven-under.
Unho Park was the next-best Australian in equal ninth spot on six-under, with Mahal Pearce, Rick Kulacz ,Gavin Flint and Neven Basic all securing top 20 finishes.

JAPAN GOLF TOUR: TEENAGE SENSATION CLAIMS ANOTHER TITLE

Chris Campbell and Eddie Lee have finished the best of the Australasians in Japan on the weekend, coming in T26 at the ABC Championship won by a shot by Ryo Ishikawa. 

Ishakawa, the teenage sensation dubbed “the Bashful Prince” by local media overturned a three-shot deficit to claim the Championship by a stroke from Keiichiro Fukabori at ABC Golf Club.
Starting the day three behind overnight leader Fukabori, Ishikawa sank consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th on his way to a three-under-par 69 to reach nine-under for the tournament. It proved enough to scoop the title as Fukabori could only manage a one-over 73 as bogeys at the 10th and 16th damaged his chances and he ended the day eight-under.
Queenslander Scott Laycock finished T36 on four over.

AUSTRALASIAN RESULTS:

OCEANIQUE WA PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, THE CUT, PORT BOUVARD, WA

WINNER: MICHAEL LONG (WA) -13

For full results go to www.pga.org.au

HANDA SENIOR OPEN, CONCORD GOLF CLUB, SYDNEY, NSW

WINNER: WAYNE GRADY (QLD) -3

For full results go to: http://www.pga.org.au/_content/document/00038002-src.pdf

US PGA TOUR: GINN SUR MER CLASSIC AT THE CONSERVATORY, PALM COAST, FLORIDA 

WINNER: RYAN PALMER (USA) - 7

T7 Robert Allenby (-5), T12 Peter Lonard (-4), T18 Michael Sim, Nick O’Hern (-3), T27 Matt Jones

(-2), T35 Gavin Coles (E), T54 Tim Wilkinson NZL (+4), T63 David Lutterus (+6)

MC: Andrew Buckle, Grant Waite NZL, Nick Flanagan, Nathan Green, Mark Hensby, Jason Day, Steve Allan.

WD: Brett Rumford.

EUROPEAN PGA TOUR: VOLVO MASTERS AT CLUB DE GOLF, VALDERRAMA, SPAIN 

WINNER: SOREN KJELDSEN (DENMARK) -8

7 Richard Green (-2), T44 Mark Brown NZL (+13), T50 Scott Strange (+18).

ASIAN TOUR: ISKANDAR JOHOR OPEN, ROYAL JOHOR COUNTRY CLUB, JOHOR

WINNER: RETIEF GOOSEN (RSA) – 12

3 Kane Webber (-9), 4 Andrew Dodt, Richard Moir, Mitchell Brown (-7), 9 Unho Park (-6), 14 Mahal Pearce NZL, Rick Kulacz (-5), 19 Gavin Flint, Neven Basic (-4), T26 Ashley Hall, Adam Groom (-2), T30 Scott Barr, Josh Lane (E), T40 Brad Kennedy (+2), T45 Henry Epstein, Stephen Scahill NZL (+3), 53 Gary Simpson (+4), T61 Kevin Chun NZL (+7), T74 David Gleeson (+12). 
MC: Peter Cooke, Brad McIntosh, Adam Le Vesconte, Andrew Argus

WD: Jason King

JAPAN PGA TOUR: ABC CHAMPIONSHIP AT ABC GOLF CLUB, HYOGO

WINNER: RYO ISHAKAWA (JAPAN) – 9

T26 Chris Campbell, Eddie Lee NZL (+2), T36 Scott Laycock (+4)

MC: Wayne Perske

THE WEEK AHEAD:

VON NIDA TOUR: Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship, Riverside Oaks Golf Club, Cattai, NSW

AUSTRALASIAN/EUROPEAN/ASIAN/SUNSHINE TOURS: HSBC Champions, Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai

US PGA TOUR: Children’s Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart, Magnolia GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida  &  Palm GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Nationwide Tour Championship, Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas

JAPAN TOUR: The Championship by Lexus, Otone Country Club, Ibaraki

(Original Source: Courtesy PGA of Australia)

Sydney golfer Stefan Albinski has started the senior amateur golf season with a bang with a magnificent come from behind win in the 2008 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship.

Albinski, the current Australian Senior Amateur Champion, fired a final round 67 to make up for a wayward start of a nine over 80.

He improved every day with a 73, 72 and then the final 67 for a one stroke victory over defending champion and fellow New South Welshman Brian Sams.

Albinski was in sizzling form in the final round and with two holes to play was six under par. As fellow competitor Denis Dale says on the AUSOOM website, Albinski “showed he was human’” with a bogey, bogey finish.

Sams recorded a par, birdie finish to narrow the gap to just one stroke.

Albinski won the Australian Senior Amateur Championship at his first attempt at the title in Perth earlier this year and swept all before him during his initial forays on the over 55 Australian senior amateur circuit in the 2007-2008 season just past.

Taking the Victorian Senior Amateur at the Rosebud Golf Course means he has won at his last four starts in Order of Merit events.

Sams put in an admirable performance to fall just short of his goal of making it three Victorian Senior Championships in a row.

Dale says these two are clearly the current standout players in Australian senior amateur golf.
Third place in the tournament went to Victorian Chris Tatt who also broke par in the final round with a one under 70. Fourth place was shared by Victorians Phil Wood and Greg Welsh with ACT golfer Tony Gover and NSW player Denis Dale in a tie for sixth.

The Victorian Senior Amateur Championship is the only Australian 72-hole Championship for amateur golfers aged 55 and over.

It continues to go from strength to strength with a near capacity field of 154 players competing in this year’s event from 91 clubs, including 32 Interstate clubs. The Championship will head to the Wimmera in 2009 when the event will be hosted by the Nhill and Horsham Golf Clubs from Monday October 26th to Thursday October 29th , 2009.