Sunday 20 December 2009

Richie Ramsay wins his first Professional event.

Three years after becoming the first Scot to win the US Amateur Championship in 108 years, Richie Ramsay now has his first European Tour title.

The 25 year old from Aberdeen won the South African Open Championship at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, coming from five behind with a best of the day 65 and then beating Indian Shiv Kapur with a birdie on the first play-off hole.

"There's no greater feeling than winning and I'm just a flood of emotions - I'm holding back the tears," said Ramsay after receiving the second oldest trophy in golf.

The pair tied on the 13 under par mark of 275 but the former Walker Cup player grabbed the first prize - and a European Tour exemption that runs until the end of 2011 - when he was on the green in two at the 601 yard 18th and two putted.

"Things just went for me," he added. "But I am a lot more positive now - I go out believing and thinking I can win."

Ramsay did not drop a shot all day, going to the turn in 33 and then grabbing more birdies on the tenth, 12th, 15th and 17th.

Denmark's Anders Hansen, Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and Italian Edoardo Molinari all could have joined the play-off with a closing eagle but failed.

Hansen's birdie left him third, while the other two parred to be joint fourth - and that was good enough for Molinari to climb into the world's top 50 just in time to join his brother Francesco in the Masters Tournament at Augusta in April.

Overnight leader Pablo Martin, winner of last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship, dropped to sixth with a 73.

Ramsay went into the event ranked 240th in the world and the victory will take him just inside the top 120.

Damien McGrane was the best of the Irish finishing in joint 21st on 5 under par with a closing 71.Michael Hoey who had three 70s in a row fell back into a tie for 35th with a closing 76.He was joined on 2 under par by Gareth Maybin who closed with a 71.
Gary Murphy finished in a share of 43rd on -1 after a closing par of 72.

Shane Lowry who opened with a 78 nearly made the cut with a 10 shot improvment to a 68.His +2 finish was one shot too many to make the weekend.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Pablo Martin wins 1st European Tour event of 2010.

Spaniard Pablo Martin created more European Tour history by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Two years after becoming the first amateur to win on The European Tour, the 23 year old is now the only one to capture titles both as an amateur and a professional.

Martin, ranked 488th in the world at the start of the tournament, was in the depths of despair about his game after missing the first seven cuts of this year. He now ends 2009 on a real high after beating home hope and former winner Charl Schwartzel by a single stroke in a tense finish.

It was only on the final day of last season that Martin made sure of keeping his European Tour card, but he is now exempt until the end of 2012 - and €158,500 richer.

The Malaga golfer had had only one top ten finish since his triumph at the Estoril Open de Portugal, but with a closing three under par 69 he held off the charging Schwartzel to win with a 17 under total.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," he said. "I am so happy and there was so much emotion today."

Gareth Maybin made a great start to the season when he finished joint 4th on 12 under par.It could have been 2 shots better as he took a 7 at the par 5,18th after finding water with his 3rd shot.He collected a cheque for 38,825 Euros.

Damien McGrane could only manage a closing round of level par 72 to finish in joint 8th on -11 and pick up 21,933 Euros.

Shane Lowry who is looking forward to his first full year as a Professional played well to finish in 17th on 7 under with a closing 69.He won 11,712 Eiros to kick start his year.

Michael Hoey had his usual up and down week and finished in 44th on -1 after a final round of 74 to win 5,300 Euros.

Gary Murphy looking for a quick start to the new season after a visit to the qualifying school missed the cut by 6 shots with scores of 72/77 +5.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Message from Tiger on his web site.

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Murphy & Thornton will play on the European Tour in 2010.

Simon Khan stumbled with a final round 74 at the 6 round qualifing school in Spain,but still finished top of the class on 20 under par.He was one clear from rising superstar Sam Hutsby who had a closing 69 to finish 19 under par.In 3rd place was Stephan Gallagher who bogied the last for a 69 and an 18 under par total.

Gary Murphy who was unlucky not to have retained his playing rights and found himself back at tour school took the 16th card with a closing 68 for an 11 under par total.

It will be a big move for Newcastle's Simon Thornton.Simon has played most of his golf on the Irish PGA circuit and from now on he will be teeing up with the likes of McIlroy and Harrington after a closing 71 got him in on the cut mark of 10 under par.

New Professional Niall Kearney will have a full year on the Challenge tour and will get some invites to the main tour after he was in a share of 46th place on 7 under par.
31 players gained their full card with scores between 20 and 10 under par.

1ST SIMON KHAN 68 63 67 66 70 74 408 -20.
2ND SAM HUTSKY 69 72 65 68 66 69 409 -19.
3RD STEPHEN GALLAGHER 68 72 68 66 67 69 410 -18.
IRISH RESULTS
-------------
16TH GARY MURPHY 69 67 70 74 69 68 417 -11.
26TH SIMON THORNTON 67 75 65 68 66 69 418 -10.
46TH NIALL KEARNEY 72 68 68 69 74 70 421 -7.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Simon Thornton in line for full tour card.

Simon Thornton is in line for one of the 30 European tour cards that will be given out tomorrow at the end of 6 rounds at the PGA CATALUNYA COMPLEX in Spain.Simon was in great form as he had made 6 birdies and no bogies after 13 holes.He had a minor set back with a double bogey at the par 3,14th followed by a bogey at the 15th.He held his nerve brilliantly to birdie 2 of the last 3 holes for a super 5 under par 67.He holds a share of 25th on 9 under par,which will be around the figure required to gain one of those precious cards for 2010.

The leader is still Simon Khan who added a 70 to hold a 6 shot lead from Walker cup player Sam Hutsby.Khan is 22 under and Hutsby is 16 under.

Gary Murphy got a terrible start with a double and single bogey at the 10th & 11th holes.He used all his experience to crawl his way back to finish on 3 under par 69 for his round and is still in a good position for tomorrow.His 7 under par total gives him a share of 34th.

Niall Kearney who has been performing great all week,had a set back today.His round of 74 was made up with 16 pars and 2 bogies.His total of 5 under par leaves him in 50th position and he will need to go low tomorrow if he is to climb into the top 30.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Niall Kearney is top Irish performer at Tour School.

The first 72 holes have been completed at the European Tour qualifying school at the PGA CATALUNYA complex in Spain.

156 started out playing 36 holes on the STADIUM COURSE and 36 holes on the TOUR COURSE with the top 70 plus ties going through to the final 36 holes and at the end of that only the top 30 and ties will gain a full card for 2010.

Leading the way is SIMON KHAN who had a 6 under par 66 around the tough Stadium course to sit on 20 under par.He has a 3 shot lead over Alejandro Canizares who had a 65 on the same course for a 17 under par total.

The top Irishman is new Professional Niall Kearney.He showed his great potential with a super 69 around the Stadium course to sit in joint 24th place on 7 under par.
Gary Murphy keeps his hopes alive of regaining his card after a 74 leaves him in a share of 49th alongside Simon Thornton who's 69 on the Stadium course will guarantee him at least a full Challenge tour card for next year.

There was no such good news for the other 3 Irish.Johnny Caldwell hit a ball out of bounds at the final hole.He took a triple bogey 8 and finished on level par after a final round of 72 on the Tour course.A par 5 would have got him through to the final 2 rounds.Colm Moriarty who started with a 65 on the tour course could only manage to finish in 113th place on 2 over par.His downfall was the Stadium course where he took a 77 and a 76.
John Kelly was 9 over par starting his round and finally found his game with a 3 under par 67.He finished in 134th place on 6 over par.