SOUTH AFRICAN golfer Tim Clarke was tucking into a pie and chips when he suddenly realised he was involved in a sudden death play off for the Australian Open Championship.

Clark hadn’t given himself a chance when he finished at 9 under par for the tournament and was rueing lost opportunities when he saw his playoff rival Mathew Goggin warming up on the practice green.

Much like Goggin, Clark had given away most of his spare balls, his cap and gloves.

Overnight leader David Smail had been cruising along three strokes clear until two late double bogeys derailed his day.

Clark and Goggin scrambled their equipment and themselves back together to face off on the 18th hole.

“I didn’t even consider that there would be a playoff until 30 minutes after I’d finished,” Clark said later.
“I spoke to my wife and said ‘I think I’ve thrown away another tournament’.”

“I packed up the locker and spoke to my caddy and said see you in America in a few months.”

Clark won the play off and the title with a nerveless up and down from a deep greenside bunker while Goggin just needed to two putt to make it square. The big crowd at the 18th couldn’t believe it when Goggin’s his  final straightforward one metre putt lipped out. He was quick to walk over and congratulate a bemused Clark.

Later they were both feeling empathy for New Zealander Smail.

“I feel for David. He had the tournament, he was playing well and had such a horror finish that’s it brutal for him,” Goggin said, refusing to dwell on his own missed opportunity.

Clark said: “”I am obviously very happy but it’s tough to show happiness when you know there’s two guys out there that feel pretty bad.”

Smail’s trouble started with a wayward tee shot at the par-four 15th, and when he again found the trees at 16 forcing him to chip out into the fairway his chances of victory quickly faded.
Clark blistered around the course in regulation play bagging seven birdies in his opening 13 holes but his campaign appeared over when he dropped three shots in consecutive holes starting with a double bogey from the greenside bunker at the 13th. But the classy 32-year-old steadied, posting two closing birdies.

Goggin, who finished runner-up in last week’s Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship to Geoff Ogilvy, went almost unnoticed for much of the final round but his closing three-under 69 was enough to force extra holes.

“If it rains you’ll be see through,” a fellow competitor yelled out to Allenby. “At least there will be something to see,” Allenby responded.

Robert Allenby started and finished with birdies but in between he missed a host of birdie opportunity putts and finished the day on his overnight total of 8 under. He too would have been kicking himself knowing that 9 under would have kept him alive.

Resplendent in all white, Allenby started the day seemingly full of confidence.

“If it rains you’ll be see through,” a fellow competitor yelled out to him on the practice putting green just before he hit off.

“At least there will be something to see,” Allenby responded. And there almost was. Superb drives and approach shots let down in the end by his putting.

Following him for 18 holes it was easier to understand why he rates so highly for greens in regulation on the US PGA Tour but has not recently translated that into wins.
Western Australian Stephen Dartnall, who led at the completion of the first and second rounds, also finished a single shot outside a playoff after a solid even-par 72 alongside Smail, who carded a 75.
Pre-tournament favourite Geoff Ogilvy saved his best for last having teed off well before the leaders on Sunday carding his first round in the 60s for the week - a four-under 68 - to finish at minus seven overall.
Victorian Chris Gaunt fired an even-par 72 to share sixth spot with Ogilvy, veteran Steven Conran who closed with a two-under 70, and Andre Stolz who matched Smail’s 75 playing in the final group.
Reliable left hander Richard Green finished all alone a further stroke back at six-under after firing an impressive 68 in the trying conditions.
First-round leader Ewan Porter signed for a 75 to finish among a group of five players at minus five.
Also among those at five-under was Victorian Tim Wood whose roller-coaster round included an eagle on the par-four first along with five birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey.
Sportsbet Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling shot a closing 72 to finish at four-under in a share of 16th with American Paul Goydos
John Senden, who claimed the Stonehaven Cup in 2006, shot a 71 to finish at three-under for the tournament with Gareth Paddison (72) and Andrew Bonhomme (75).
New Zealand’s Danny Lee, the sole surviving amateur in the field, closed with a 75 to sit in a share of 24th with Steven Bowditch who followed a third-round 66 with a closing 78.
New Zealander Mark Brown is the 2008 Order of Merit Champion.

Round 3 Report

ROBERT Allenby is four shots off the pace but still in a position to strike heading into the final round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Sydney followed up the unplayable rain of Friday afternoon with hot and blustery wind conditions that saw New Zealander David Smail holding a one shot lead overnight. 

Thirty eight year old Smail, a multiple winner on the Japan Golf Tour and member of the Australasian Tour since 1993, shot a two under round of 70 to move to 11 under for the event.

A big mover today was Australian Andre Stolz who finished the day one shot behind Smail in second place.

Stolz lept to second spot after an equal best round of the day, a six under 66.

The central coast based golfer was on course-record pace through fifteen holes having taken the lead on the back of eight birdies before blemishes at the 15th and 16th saw him settle for outright second heading into day four.
Sydney’s Ewan Porter survived the ever-increasing winds to sign for a level-par 72 and sits in a share of third place alongside second-round leader Stephen Dartnall who battled to a three-over 75 to also trail by three shots.
Steven Bowditch was the other big mover on the day carding a superb 66 that was only soured by three late bogeys.
Bowditch is joined at minus seven by Robert Allenby, whose 71 included an eagle at the par-five 13th, Rohan Blizard, who carded a 70, and Victorian Chris Gaunt whose bogey on the last completed a third-round 75.
Mathew Goggin, who also struggled to a three-over 75, is in a four-way tie for ninth alongside Andrew Bonhomme (69), Jason Norris (73) and 2008 Cellarbrations NSW PGA Champion Tim Wood who signed for a 66.
Sportsbet Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling has the job ahead of him at minus four in a share of 17th with South African Tim Clark and boom Kiwi amateur Danny Lee who both fired 69’s on Saturday.

After several players were forced to finish their second round this morning due to yesterday’s rain abandoned second round, the cut line fell at level par leaving 63 players to contest the final two rounds.

2007 runner-up Won Joon Lee was among 19 golfers who missed the weekend action by a single stroke while defending champion Craig Parry’s defence ended prematurely following consecutive 73’s.
2001 champion Stuart Appleby, veteran Peter Senior and US PGA Tour regular Nathan Green also missed the cut by two shots while Northern Irishman Darren Clarke at plus five and American John Daly at plus six were also left without work on the weekend.

The final days play begins Sunday at 8:25am with the leading group teeing off at 1:10pm.

Round 2 Report

Play has been officially suspended on day two of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney after heavy rain rendered the Rose Bay course unplayable. Western Australian Stephen Dartnall holds a two-shot lead over joint overnight leader Mathew Goggin who shot a two-under round of 70. Round-two is now scheduled to resume at 6.45am with round-three to commence at 11.45am.

 with players to hit off in threesomes from both the 1st and 10th tees.
Western Australian Stephen Dartnall holds a two-shot lead over joint overnight leader Mathew Goggin who shot a two-under round of 70.
Playing in the first group of the day, Dartnall made the most of wet but calm conditions on his way to a four-under 68 to sit alone at the top at minus 11.
Ewan Porter, who also held a share of the lead after round one, sits one behind Goggin in third spot after signing for a 71 which included bogeys on two of his final three holes.
Rod Pampling is well placed at minus six after a solid second-round 71 alongside New South Welshman Matt Jones who scorched around the tricky layout in five-under par.
Playing in the second group of the afternoon, Robert Allenby made light work of the trying conditions to move to five under overall and minus four on the day through nine holes before play was abandoned.
Two-time champion Peter Lonard sits alongside Allenby after carding a two-under 70 while Cameron Percy, who equaled Jones’ low round of the day signing for a 67, is also one of five players at minus five.
New Zealand duo Mark Brown and David Smail are among a cluster of players at four under the card - both men were one over for the day when bad weather stopped play.
Michael Sim also mastered the conditions landing an eagle and a birdie in his first eight holes and is one of seven players at minus three alongside lefty Richard Green, who is also minus three on the day through eight.
Pre-tournament favourite Geoff Ogilvy had made an early move turning in 34 to sit at two-under overall along with American veteran Paul Goydos.
South African Tim Clark appears likely to return for the weekend action after carding a one-over 73 to be in a tie for 36th at minus one for the tournament with boom amateur Danny Lee, who dropped three shots in his final seven holes, to drop down the leaderboard.
Jarrod Lyle (71) and Marc Leishman (72) are among several players facing a nervous wait at one-over the card in a share of 54th.
Former champion Stuart Appleby did his best to save his round with two birdies in his last three holes but is currently on the outside looking in at plus two for the tournament in a share of 71st place.
Defending champion Craig Parry (73), veteran Peter Senior (74) and Nathan Green (73) are a further stroke back while American drawcard John Daly is one under through nine at plus five for the tournament.

Round 1 Report

Sydney’s Ewan Porter, Tasmanian Mathew Goggin and Monday qualifier Stephen Dartnall are in a three way tie for the lead after the opening day of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

The Aussie trio all carded a course-record equaling seven-under 65’s in benign conditions equaling the low round set by 2006 Champion John Senden.

And all three had a different story to tell. Goggin came into the event having finished runner up at last week’s Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship, whilst Porter returned to the course after withdrawing from last week’s event due to illness. Dartnall, from  Western Australia, on the other hand had to survive Monday Qualifying at New Brighton, shooting a 62 (10 under) in the process to get a start.
Fresh from his runner-up finish Goggin hit the ground running with six birdies on the front nine to set up his round, while Dartnall managed six birdies and an eagle on the day.
Porter birdied his final two holes to be the last man in at minus seven on a low scoring day.
Kiwi duo Mark Brown and David Smail, who led for much of the day after firing early five-under 67’s, are joined by Australian Masters winner Rod Pampling two shots off the pace.
Queensland’s Troy Kennedy sits at minus four after signing for a 68 alongside boom Kiwi amateur Danny Lee.
Senden, who landed a spectacular ace on the par-three 13th to storm into the lead after teeing off at the 10th in just the second group of the day, is one of six players at minus three.
Former US PGA Tour winner Andre Stolz is among those at three-under while former champion Peter Lonard offset a costly double bogey at 14 with two birdies at 16 and 18 to finish with the same score.
South African Tim Clark remains within striking distance at minus two alongside a host of players including Wayne Perske, Chris Gaunt and Brendan Jones.
Robert Allenby recovered from a shaky start to his round to finish with a 71.
Pre-tournament favourite Geoff Ogilvy rescued his day with four late birdies on the way to an even-par start, while Northern Irishman Darren Clarke also showed tremendous powers of recovery on his way to an opening 72 after racking up a disastrous triple bogey on his second hole of the day - the par-four 11th.
Defending champion Craig Parry struggled to a one-over 73 to sit on the bubble in a share of 70th with Stuart Appleby, Marcus Fraser and Peter O’Malley - just to name a few.
John Daly’s roller-coaster ride in Australia continued with the big-hitting American carding a disappointing six-over 78 that included three double bogeys, three bogeys and three birdies.

Australian Open Preview

Holding your breath waiting for Tiger Woods to show up at the Australian Open can’t be recommended but there will be a quality field when the tournament gets under way at Royal Sydney on Thursday.

Adam Scott is highly likely to be back from injury, Geoff Ogilvy and Rod Pampling will be fresh from their recent home victories, and with all the talk about the possibility of Tiger being lured downunder next year, everyone seems to have forgotten that the US is providing a drawcard this year in big John Daly.

Daly hasn’t made the cut in his last two Australian appearances but with a few solid weeks of tournament golf behind him, no after dark lurid headlines, and with the Royal Sydney course said to suit his game, this could be the one.

Add to that Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, South African Tim Clark, American Paul Goydos and of course there is a crowd favourite in defending champion Craig Parry.

Parry shot a final round 68 in Coolum and if he’s coming into some real form, who knows?

Before the Masters, there were suggestions Robert Allenby could again take out the three Australian titles and with the pressure now somewhat off he could well be in final day contention.

Stuart Appleby is also waiting in the wings along with a host of others we haven’t mentioned who have a chance of a good showing, players like John Senden, Nathan Green, Mathew Goggin and - a standout performance at Coolum - 49 year old Peter Senior.

James Nitties is also rushing back to compete in Sydney after qualifying for the US PGA Tour next year. Nitties finished in a tie for second place at the qualifying tournament in La Quinta, California.

LIVE LEADERBOARD LINK

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.

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 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

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

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.

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)