Friday’s round of Viking Classic canceled by rain
October 30, 2009
MADISON, Miss. (AP)—For the second straight day, rainy weather is postponingthe start of the Viking Classic.
PGA Tour officials canceled the start of play Friday because of inclementweather. They did the same thing on Thursday, putting the completion of thetournament in question.
David Duval works on his putti… AP – Oct 30, 12:03 pm EDT Todd Hamilton cleans his club … AP – Oct 30, 12:02 pm EDT
Chad Campbell bounces his golf… AP – Oct 30, 12:02 pm EDT
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Tournament director Randy Watkins said officials still hope to play fourrounds into next week, but rain may force a complete cancellation.
The forecast calls for severe thunderstorms with a 100-percent chance ofrain as a cold front moves through central Mississippi. Skies should startclearing on Saturday.
The Annandale Golf Club course is already saturated after two months ofsteady rain. Golfers reported standing water on the course Thursday and largeareas of mud.
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Han, Sherratt share lead at Asian Amateur
October 30, 2009
SHENZHEN, China (AP)—Han Chang-won of South Korea has shot a 3-under 69 toshare the 36-hole lead with Jordan Sherratt of Australia in the inaugural AsianAmateur Championship.
Han played Friday afternoon at Mission Hills and had the lead to himselfuntil a bogey on the 17th hole dropped him into a tie with Sherratt, who had a67. They were at 9-under 135.
The winner of the Asian Amateur Championship, which is sponsored by AugustaNational and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, receives an exemption to the Mastersand to the final stage of British Open qualifying.
Peter Spearman-Burn of New Zealand had a 68 and was one shot behind.
The 116-man field represents 30 countries from the Asian Pacific GolfConfederation.
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Golf-Harrington’s angry splash inspires fightback to make cut (Reuters)
October 30, 2009
By John O’Brien
SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Padraig Harrington is usuallyaccustomed to contending for titles but a messy bogey at theSingapore Open on Friday stirred his fighting spirit as theIrishman struggled to make the cut.
Harrington finished second at the $5 million event a yearago but found himself three strokes outside the projected cut oftwo-over par halfway through his second round after finding thewater on his approach to the par-five 18th (his ninth).
Angered by his poor judgement, the three-times major winnerbattled back to record four birdies on a bogey-free back nine toensure he would be around for the weekend of an event that hassuffered two lengthy weather delays in as many days.
“I was worried about missing the cut before I found thewater, it was just a bad shot,” Harrington told reporters afterclosing with a two-under 69 to sit eight strokes behind leaderDaniel Chopra.
“That was just a bad shot. I was thinking about going forthe green and didn’t really pay attention to the lay-up.
“At the time, it seemed like a big mistake that cost me twoshots but it did motivate me. Who knows, maybe hitting it in thewater made me make those four birdies coming home.”
PAR SAVE
Harrington struggled to find his form around the tightpar-71 Serapong Course hosting the co-sanctioned tournament anda vital par save after the turn seemed to instigate his recoveryfrom an almost hopeless position.
“The first 27 holes I wasn’t comfortable with my game, madea few mistakes, didn’t get any breaks, didn’t make anythinghappen, didn’t hole the putts and it was all going away fromme,” he added.
“I hit a poor shot into the first hole (his 10th) andchipped it to eight feet and holed that to stop going six overand all of a sudden I felt good about things.
“I played nicely coming in—hit a lot of nice shots andhad conservative two putts on the last couple of greens andthen, gee whiz, it all looks quite easy all of a sudden.”
Despite completing the task of making it to the weekend,Harrington feels a victory maybe just a step too far but willcontinue to plug away in the hope of getting close to theleaders.
“I was actually thinking that if I could have picked upanother couple of shots then I would have had a chance to catchthe leaders in the third round,” Harrington said.
“Two shots isn’t that much but it will probably take acouple of 65s at the weekend to get close.
“It’s possible and if I keep playing the way that I did onmy back nine today then I could definitely shoot two lownumbers.” (Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Golf-Brilliant Chopra takes lead at rainy Singapore (Reuters)
October 30, 2009
* Chopra leads by two in clubhouse
* Overnight leader Poulter makes good start to second round
* Big names expected to make cut (Adds quotes)
By John O’Brien
SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Sweden’s Daniel Chopra fired asizzling six-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead after thesecond round of the Singapore Open on Friday following a secondweather delay which put the tournament well behind schedule.
Chopra was one of only 61 players to finish their secondrounds after another stop-start day at the Sentosa Golf Club andhis seven-under par total put him two shots clear of those whohave completed 36 holes.
“I am very happy. I started out yesterday edgy with all thedelays but came out today feeling better,” Chopra told reportersafter registering six birdies in a bogey-free round.
First round leader Ian Poulter and Taiwanese qualifier ChanYih-shin are also on seven-under for the tournament but bothhave yet to reach the turn and will return with a majority ofthe field to complete their second rounds on Saturday morning.
Australia’s Andrew Dodt and China’s Liang Wenchong are twoshots off the lead on five under after both recordedthree-under-par 69s, along with Japan’s Kodai Ichihara who hasonly completed six holes of his second round.
Ernie Els is a further shot adrift after three holes of hissecond round, the South African joining Briton Ross McGowan(69), India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) and Australia’s Scott Hend(66) in a share of seventh place.
Chopra walked off the course in near darkness on Thursdayafter limping through eight holes of his opening round intwo-over-par. But he returned early on Friday and played 28holes of bogey-free golf to rocket to the top of theleaderboard.
PULLED CLEAR
Starting his second round on one-under for the tournament,the 35-year-old Swede went out in 32 to move into contention andpulled clear of the chasing pack with back-to-back birdies onsix and seven (his 15th and 16th).
“I am just trying to get used to the greens. They areobviously a bit slower than what I am used to,” added Chopra,who plays a majority of his golf on the U.S. PGA Tour.
“I missed a few short putts, but it is getting better.”
Chopra has endured a fairly frustrating season and he is thefirst to admit he has played poorly after recording twovictories in the U.S. within the space of four months from Oct.2007.
“This year of all my years since going to America I feel Ihave under achieved the most,” he added.
“This is the best I have felt about my game in a long time.It is just a matter of getting a few breaks and getting somemomentum going.”
Liang won the Singapore Masters in 2007 and clearly enjoyscompeting in the Southeast Asian city-state but the Chinesenumber one’s hopes of leading the tournament at the halfwaystage were let down by poor control on the shorter holes.
“I was happy with my round today except for a couple of parthrees where I had bogeys,” he admitted.
“My body movement caused my tee shots to go to the right andit was hard to recover from there.
“These tournaments (in Singapore) give me the opportunity toplay against the best players in the world and I get inspired bythat. It also gives me extra motivation.”
The cut is projected at two-over par, meaning Ireland’sPadraig Harrington (+1), Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy (+2) andAmerican world number two Phil Mickelson (-1 after 22 holes)should all be around for the weekend.
(Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Golf-Play resumes at Singapore Open after second delay (Reuters)
October 30, 2009
* Second lengthy delay in two days
* Monday finish likely if more rain falls
(updates after resumption of play)
SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Play has resumed at theSingapore Open after a two-hour weather delay due to the threatof lightning at the $5 million co-sanctioned event on Friday,the second lengthy stoppage in as many days.
Action was halted for the same reason on Thursday, forcinghalf the field to return to the course early to complete thefirst round, but as dark clouds gathered over the SerapongCourse, officials called the players in for their own safety.
Only a few flights in the revised second round had teed offbefore the warning hooter sounded at 11.30 a.m. (0330 GMT) andalthough the weather cleared enough for play to restart, theprospect of a Monday finish remains a distinct possibility.
Briton Ian Poulter leads the event after he fired afive-under-par 66 on Thursday, one ahead of South Africa’sErnie Els, Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shin, China’s LiangWenchong and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar.
Liang and Aguilar are the only players among the leaders tohave started their second rounds, while six golfers still haveto complete their opening 18 holes. (Reporting by John O’Brien; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; Toquery or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Grzebien, Francella lead at KOLON Championshp
October 30, 2009
INCHEON, South Korea (AP)—Anna Grzebien and Meaghan Francella each shot a6-under 66 in wet but comfortable conditions Friday for a share of thefirst-round lead at the LPGA Tour’s KOLON Championship.
Tour money leader Jiyai Shin didn’t disappoint her home fans, shooting abogey-free 67 to finish a stroke off the pace. Shin missed out on a chance tojoin the leaders when her birdie putt on the 18th hole came up just short. Sheis tied for third along with four other players, including 19-year-old AmericanVicky Hurst.
“There was no wind out there and the course and green conditions werefabulous,” Grzebien said. “When the ball rolled it wasn’t fast or slow.”
Francella also praised the conditions of the putting greens.
“The greens were one of the best, if not, the best that we’ve seen allyear,” said Francella, seeking her first win since 2007.
Hurst was 5 under on the back nine after recording her first careerhole-in-one on tour on No. 12. She has three top-10 finishes in 18 events thisyear and is currently fourth on the Rookie of the Year list.
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Poulter holds first round lead at Singapore Open
October 30, 2009
SINGAPORE (AP)—Ian Poulter held a one-stroke lead over Ernie Els when thefirst round of the Singapore Open was finally completed Friday after twice beingsuspended because of lightning.
Play was suspended for two hours Friday and three hours Thursday asthunderstorms lashed the par-71 Sentosa Golf Club.
Poulter, who had six birdies Thursday, finished the round at 5-under 66, onestroke ahead of Els and Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shin. Six golfers were tiedat 3 under, including Spanish Open champion Thomas Levet of France, Chile’sFelipe Aguilar and Pablo Martin of Spain.
Phil Mickelson, who had an eagle and three birdies to go along with threebogeys for a 69 on Thursday, was in a group of 11 players at 2 under.
Poulter is looking to move up the rankings of the European Tour’s Race toDubai, where he’s currently in 29th place. The Singapore Open is co-sanctionedby the European and Asian tours.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington finished his first round Friday morning at 3over, while Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy shot a 70.
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Golf-Poulter stays top in Singapore after first round completed (Reuters)
October 30, 2009
By John O’Brien
SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Ian Poulter retained hisovernight lead at the weather-affected Singapore Open on Fridayas the first round was finally completed after two lengthydelays put the co-sanctioned event five hours behind schedule.
Briton Poulter leads by one stroke after his five-under-par66 on Thursday remained the best opening round score, withSouth Africa’s Ernie Els and Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shinsharing second place after matching bogey-free 67s.
The threat of lightning halted play at the $5 milliontournament for two hours on Friday, a day after a three-hourdelay meant half the field were forced to return to theSerapong course early in the morning to complete their opening18 holes.
Only a few flights in the revised second round had teed offbefore the warning hooter sounded at 11.30 a.m. (0330 GMT). (Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Kim wins 2 matches, Casey falls twice
October 30, 2009
CASARES, Spain (AP)—American Anthony Kim won two round-round robin matchesThursday in the Volvo World Match Play Championship, while fourth-ranked PaulCasey lost twice to drop out of contention for a semifinal spot.
Kim topped the Seve Ballesteros Group with four points after beating Caseyand Retief Goosen, both 3 and 2, at Finca Cortesin Golf Club. Scott Strange beatCasey, returning from a rib injury, 1-up. Goosen beat Strange 1-up.
England's Simon Dyson wave… AP – Oct 29, 1:27 pm EDT Colombian Camilo Villegas play… AP – Oct 29, 1:27 pm EDT
Anges Cabrera, from Argentina,… AP – Oct 29, 1:25 pm EDT
Jeev Milkha Singh plays agains… AP – Oct 29, 1:25 pm EDT
Colombian Camilo Villegas, lef… AP – Oct 29, 1:24 pm EDT
Colombian Camilo Villegas look… AP – Oct 29, 1:22 pm EDT
Swedish Henrik Stenson plays f… AP – Oct 29, 1:00 pm EDT
Robert Allenby of Australia pl… AP – Oct 29, 10:56 am EDT
Sergio Garcia of Spain follows… AP – Oct 29, 10:49 am EDT
Oliver Wilson of England follo… AP – Oct 29, 10:48 am EDT
Martin Kaymer of Germany plays… AP – Oct 29, 10:41 am EDT
Anthony Kim of USA plays again… AP – Oct 29, 10:39 am EDT
Autralia's Scott Strange d… AP – Oct 29, 10:37 am EDT
Paul Casey of England plays ag… AP – Oct 29, 10:36 am EDT
Scott Strange of Australia wat… AP – Oct 29, 10:36 am EDT
Retief Goosen of South Africa … AP – Oct 29, 10:34 am EDT
Anthony Kim of USA watches his… AP – Oct 29, 10:34 am EDT
Sergio Garcia of Spain watches… AP – Oct 29, 10:33 am EDT
Sergio Garcia of Spain reacts … AP – Oct 29, 10:33 am EDT
Paul Casey of England plays ag… AP – Oct 29, 10:32 am EDT
Scott Strange of Australia, se… AP – Oct 29, 9:39 am EDT
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“This is the first round where I really played solid golf in over a year,”Kim said. “I’ve been scoring pretty sporadically … but this was a consistentround with some great ball striking. It’s important to get a huge lead becauseif there is a tiebreaker, then that counts. We’re just trying to keep our footon the gas.”
Casey lost to the 168th-ranked Strange when he missed a 7-foot birdie putton 18.
“I can’t swing the way I want,” Casey said. “I’m coming out of a lot ofthe shots. Scott played well, but, having said that, I gave him three holes onthe front and you can’t do that against anybody in this field.”
In the Mark McCormack Group, Oliver Wilson beat Sergio Garcia and MartinKaymer, both 1-up, and Robert Allenby topped Kaymer 1-up and halved with Garcia.
The Wilson-Allenby match Friday will determine the semifinalist.
“I was very nervous all day yesterday,” said Wilson, fighting neck pain.“Towards the end of my first match it was tightening up, but overall it waspretty good and to win twice on the first day is everything I wanted to do.”
In Gustaf Larson Group play, Angel Cabrera beat Rory McIlroy 3 and 2, andSimon Dyson held off Henrik Stenson 3 and 2. In the Assar Gabrielsson Group,Jeev Milkha Singh topped Lee Westwood 5 and 4, and Ross Fisher edged CamiloVillegas 1-up.
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Kestner, Starkjohann, Yokoi top leaderboard
October 29, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—Darrell Kestner, Chris Starkjohann and Mickey Yokoishot 6-under 66s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Senior PGAProfessional National Championship.
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship atColorado Golf Club near Denver.
The 56-year-old Kestner, the golf director at Deepdale Golf Club inManhasset, N.Y., won the 1996 PGA Professional National Championship, two PGAAssistant Championship titles and is a two-time Senior PGA Professional Playerof the Year.
“I was first off this morning and so it was really great to have such astrong start,” said Kestner, who opened on PGA Golf Club’s Dye Course. “Ithree-putted my first hole and almost did again on the second, but went on tomake seven birdies and just hit it really well all day.”
Starkjohann, from Encinitas, Calif., also is a two-time Senior PGAProfessional Player of the Year. He had a bogey-free round on the Dye Course.
“I only had 23 putts today, which was extremely solid,” Starkjohann said.“If I missed the green I was able to get up and down and if I hit it within 20feet I made it. I did not get into any real trouble.”
Yokoi, the associate head coach for Arizona State’s men’s golf team, was thesecond alternate from the Southwest PGA Section and received an invitation whenpast champion Ed Everett chose not to compete. Yokoi played the longer WanamakerCourse.
“I had no expectations coming into the championship,” Yokoi said. “I amjust so happy to be here and hope to play well this weekend.”
Gary Trivisonno of Aurora, Ohio; David Arbuckle of Colorado Springs, Colo.;and Paul Daniels of Port St. Lucie, Fla., shot 67s. Defending Champion KirkHanefeld, a PGA Life Member from Acton, Mass., had a 72 on the Wanamaker Course.
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