Archive for April, 2007

Cavalleri up 40 places in world rankings

Philadelphia, PA - After claiming her first LPGA Tour win at the Corona Championship on Sunday, Silvia Cavalleri moved up 40 places to No. 78 in the latest Rolex Rankings for women’s golf.

One of the players she beat, Lorena Ochoa, held onto the No. 1 ranking she took over from Annika Sorenstam last week, extending her advantage from 0.14 average points to 0.38 points this week.

Ochoa and Sorenstam were again followed by Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer in places 3-6. Juli Inkster was up one spot to No. 7, dropping Ai Miyazato to No. 8.

(more…)

This Week in Golf - May 3rd through May 6th

The year before, Furyk lost a playoff to Vijay Singh.

‘I’ve seen enough of 18 for another year, I promise you that,’ Furyk said after last year’s win. ‘I had to see it three times on Sunday last year and twice this time. So I’ve had enough.’

The only man in front of Furyk in the world rankings, No. 1 Tiger Woods, is playing this week for the first time since he finished runner-up to Zach Johnson at the Masters.

Woods tied for 11th place in his last Wachovia Championship appearance in 2005, never breaking 70 in the four rounds. The year before, he tied for third place after shooting a 75 on Saturday.

(more…)

Verplank up to 31st in World Rankings

Philadelphia, PA - Scott Verplank’s emotional victory Sunday at the Byron Nelson Championship moved the American to 31st in this week’s Official World Golf Ranking.

Verplank, who had a strong personal relationship with Nelson, rose 37 places thanks to his fifth win on the PGA Tour and his first since the Canadian Open in 2001.

Tiger Woods will return to action this week at the Wachovia Championship and stayed in first for the 441st week. Jim Furyk, last year’s winner of the Wachovia, remained in second.

Phil Mickelson tied for third at the Byron Nelson and switched places with Adam Scott. Mickelson is third this week, followed by the Australian and Ernie Els.

(more…)

More of your golf questions


Nick Bradley

It was another step on a hugely impressive journey since he teamed up with his coach, Nick Bradley.

And you can tap into Bradley’s advice and thoughts as he answers your golfing questions. each month.

Below are the questions he answered on 606 recently. Nick will return again soon to answer more of your queries.

You can see his previous answers linked on the right-hand side of this page and you can pose your questions in advance using the form below.

(more…)

Flanagan play-off first

AUSTRALIA’S Nick Flanagan won a four-man play-off for his maiden victory on the secondary Nationwide Tour in Richmond, Virginia today (AEST).

Flanagan 22, won the Henrico County Open, with a birdie tap-in on 18, after the play-off stretched to a third hole.

The win confirms the promise he showed when he became the first Aussie to win the US amateur title as a 19-year-old in 2003.

Tiger Woods, who was 18, is the only younger winner of the title.

Newcastle-born Flanagan shot a two-under-par, final-round 70 to finish the tournament tied with American Roland Thatcher (71) and Canada pair Bryn Parry (71) and Chris Baryla (71) at 13-under 275.

(more…)

Bastel wins in Texas

McAllen, TX - Emily Bastel only needed an even-par 72 on Sunday to walk off with the Jalapeno Duramed Futures Golf Classic. She finished at six-under-par 210 and won by two at the Palm View Golf Course.

The win was Bastel’s first on the Duramed Futures Tour. She competed on the LPGA Tour the last two seasons, but has already finished second this year on the Duramed Futures Tour before her breakthrough win on Sunday.

Bastel, the overnight leader, pocketed $10,500 for the win.

Angie Hill shot a one-under 71 and took second place at minus-four.

Cortney Reno (66), Eunjung Yi (71), Allison Fouch (72) and Sofie Andersson (73) tied for third place at three-under-par 213.

(more…)

Silvia steals Lorena’s moment

ITALY’S Silvia Cavalleri denied Lorena Ochoa the chance to celebrate her new world No.1 status with a victory, capturing her own first LPGA title at the Corona Championship today (AEST).

Cavalleri shot a seven-under-par 66 to win the $US1.3 million ($1.6 million) tournament by two shots from Ochoa and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada, after the trio shared the overnight lead.

Cavalleri had seven birdies in her bogey-free round on the Tres Marias course, finishing with a 20-under total of 272.

In six starts this season, Cavalleri’s best finish was a tie for 26th at last month’s Safeway International.

(more…)

Smith claims first Canadian Tour title

Mazatlan, Mexico - Byron Smith fired a five-under 67 Sunday to pull away and win the Corona Mazatlan Classic Mexican PGA Championship by three strokes.

Smith completed his first tour title at 19-under-par 269.

Scott Hawley closed with a three-under 69 to finish at 16-under-par 272. Spencer Levin, who shared second place at the San Jose International Open, carded a final-round 66 to end alone in third at minus-14.

Taylor Wood (68) and Jose Trauwitz (71) shared fourth place at 12-under-par 276 at El Cid Golf & Country Club.

Smith was steady on the front nine with birdies on two and eight to make the turn at 16-under. He carded his third birdie at the par-four 10th.

(more…)

Donald errors hand Verplank win

Verplank took advantage of Donald’s stumble
US unless stated
S Verplank
L Donald (Eng)
R Sabbatini (SA), J Kelly, P Mickelson, I Poulter (Eng)

V Singh (Fij)

Donald, who led after the second and third rounds, remained on top until the ninth hole, where he hit a tree and three-putted to drop two shots.Verplank pounced and at the 18th Donald missed a birdie putt to force a play-off, finishing on 12-under.Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini, Jerry Kelly and Ian
(more…)

Pampling six behind Donald

ROD Pampling heads the Australians, six strokes from the lead, during the final round of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas today (AEST).

Pampling picked up three strokes to improve to six-under after 10 holes in ideal conditions at the Four Seasons TPC.

He is equal ninth, while England’s Luke Donald leads at 12- under after four holes, three shots clear of American Scott Verplank.

AAP

Schwartzel claims title in Madrid

Schwartzel won his second European Tour title
GB and Irl unless stated
C Schwartzel (SA)
J Randhawa (Ind)
C Rodiles (Spa)
S Dyson, M Foster

T Whitehouse, N Dougherty, A Forsyth, S Gallacher, S Little

A 15-foot eagle putt on the 16th proved decisive as Schwartzel, 22, captured his second European Tour title by one shot from Indian Jyoti Randhawa.They both had the bulk of their third rounds to play as well as the closing 18 holes because of rain delays.But Schwartzel
(more…)

Rodiles extends lead

CARLOS Rodiles will take a two-shot lead into the final round at the Spanish Open after the Spaniard birdied two of the last three holes to complete his third round at Centro Nacional.

Rodiles picked up seven birdies and a bogey to card a six-under 66 and move to 14-under-par 202, two shots ahead of Briton Simon Dyson, who also completed a 66 after bad weather forced the third round into the final day.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel was third, three shots off the pace, and could have been in closer contention had it not been for a closing double-bogey for a 68.

Leader
(more…)

Lorena shows why she’s No.1

NEW world No.1 Lorena Ochoa worked her way into a share of the lead in the $US1.3 million ($1.58 million) Corona Championship today (AEST).

Ochoa carded a nine-under-par 64 on the Tres Marias course - 10 better than her first-round score - to join Paraguay’s Julieta Granada and Italy’s Silvia Cavalleri on top of the leaderboard on 13-under 206.

Granada shot a 67 while Cavalleri posted a 69.

Ochoa, the 2006 LPGA player of the year, is trying to make her first successful title defence.

She wasted no time getting back on track, picking up three strokes on her first five holes and adding another birdie at the 7th.

(more…)

Smith shoots 66 to lead in Mexico

Mazatlan, Mexico - Byron Smith fired a six-under 66 Saturday to take a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Canadian Tour’s Corona Mazatlan Classic Mexican PGA Championship.

Seeking his first career victory — and holding his first 54-hole lead — Smith stands at 14-under 202 overall, close to the number he predicted would win this weekend.

That number was 16-under.

‘I had a number in mind at the beginning of the week and hopefully I can get there, and maybe a few better,’ said Smith. ‘It seems to be working so far.’

Scott Hawley fired a course-record, nine-under 63 to climb into second place at 13-under 203 — one day after he shot a 75 in the second round.

(more…)

Donald clings on to lead in Texas

Donald survived a late wobble to hold on to his lead
US unless stated
L Donald (Eng)
S Verplank
M Allen
I Poulter (Eng)

V Singh (Fij), P Mickelson

The world number 11 bogeyed the 17th and parred the 18th for a three-under-par round of 67 to move to 10 under, one ahead of Scott Verplank.Donald lost his lead early in the round with two consecutive bogeys before five birdies in 10 holes restored his lead.Michael Allen is third, two off the pace, two
(more…)

Aussies hopes fade away

THE Australia challenge has all but petered out after the third round at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas today (AEST).

Robert Allenby, Rod Pampling and John Senden are best-placed, seven strokes from the lead in a tie for 16th.

England’s Luke Donald carded 67 to retain the lead at 10-under 200 with one round left at the Four Seasons TPC.

He is one shot clear of American Scott Verplank, with another American, Michael Allen, afurther shot back.

AAP

Rain leaves it wide open

ENGLAND’S Simon Dyson kept his nerve to move into contention for a third European Tour title after the third round of the rain-wrecked Spanish Open overnight.

Dyson, 29, birdied three of his first five holes to move to nine-under-par for the tournament alongside France’s Gregory Bourdy and Carlos Rodiles from Spain, who were both one-under-par for the four holes they managed before play ended.

The first two rounds, on Thursday and Friday, were badly affected by thunder and lightning, and thunderstorms forced a halt to play overnight, meaning a 7.50am start (local time) for the leaders tonight (AEST).

(more…)

Dyson shares lead in Madrid rain

Dyson had just found his form when the day’s play ended
GB and Irl unless stated
S Dyson (after five holes), G Bourdy (Fr), C Rodiles (Sp) (both after four)
N Dougherty (after four)

J Edfors (Swe) (after eight), S Little (after four), C Schwartzel (SA) (after four)

Weather delays mean Dyson has 31 holes to play on the final day, while the other two have 32 holes left.Dyson joined the leaders just before play ended for the day as he carded his third birdie in five
(more…)

Woosnam quits Madrid Open

Woosnam has struggled with a long-term back injury Last year’s winning Ryder Cup captain, who quit the Masters earlier this month without hitting a shot, says he will now see a specialist for further tests.”I can’t walk properly and you can’t play if you can’t walk,” said the 49-year-old former world number one.The Welshman’s problem may be linked to a rheumatic disease he has which mainly affects the spine.Woosnam added: “Just walking to the practice ground I’m knackered and after hitting 20 balls I am
(more…)

Ailing Woosnam limps off in Spain

A MYSTERY illness forced last year’s European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam to retire from the Spanish Open today. The Welsh veteran was hoping to meet up with Tom Lehman, his opposite number from the 2007 match against the United States, at next week’s Italian Open but his participation is now in doubt.

Woosnam, 49, has a history of back problems and is injecting a revolutionary drug each week to keep him mobile as he plays out his European Tour career and looks forward to the seniors.

It was not the back problem, though, that caused him to limp off the course after only four holes of his weather-affected second round in Madrid.
(more…)

Trio top tight leaderboard at Mexican PGA

Mazatlan, Mexico - Greg Wells carded a four-under 68 Friday to move into a share of the lead after two rounds of the Corona Mazatlan Classic Mexican PGA Championship.

Wells was joined in the lead at eight-under-par 136 by Antonio Serna (69) and Byron Smith (70).

Paulo Pinto, Steve Friesen, Jose Trauwitz, Adam Bland and Benjamin Hayes share fourth place at minus-seven at El Cid Golf & Country Club.

Wells started on the back nine Friday and birdied the 11th for the second straight day. He dropped in back-to-back birdies from the 17th to make the turn at minus-seven.

(more…)

Ochoa struggles at home

NEW world No.1 Lorena Ochoa shot a second-round 74 to be five shots of the lead in the Corona Championship in Morelia, Mexico today (AEST).

Italy’s Silvia Cavalleri, Yu Ping Lin from Taipae and Brazil’s Angela Park share the lead on 137, a shot ahead of American Sarah Lee.

 Lindsey Wright fired a second-round 67 to be locked with Mexico’s Ochoa on 142.

Women shatter 1m-1 odds

TWO amateur women golfers hit consecutive holes-in-one at a course in England, defying odds of a million to one, their club said overnight.

June Wiener, 75, and Sue Baskind, 61, both aced the 152-yard par-three 24th of the 27-hole course at the Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds  during a fourball last weekend.

“We were told the odds were a million to one - I wish I’d had a pound on it,” said Wiener, whose two artificial hips appear not to have hampered her swing.

“We were so glad that there were two others with us as otherwise people wouldn’t have believed us,” she said.

(more…)

Donald moves into lead in Texas

Donald believes he is close to finding his best form
US unless stated
L Donald (Eng)
B Wetterich, F Jacobson (Swe), S O’Hair
K Jones, S Verplank

V Singh (Fij)
I Poulter (Eng), P Mickelson

The world number 11 enjoyed five birdies and only one bogey in a round which lifted him to seven under par.Donald, 28, overhauled overnight leader Sean O’Hair and defending champion Brett Wetterich, who are tied for second with Swede Fredrik Jacobson.Donald tied for sixth
(more…)

Senden leads Aussie chasers

JOHN Senden heads a strong Australia challenge, three strokes from the lead, during the second round at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas today (AEST).

Senden, who lives near the Cottonwood Valley course, carded a solid one-under 69.

He’s at four-under 136, while England’s Luke Donald leads at seven-under 133 with many players still on the course.

Australian’s Steve Allan and Nathan Green trail by four shots and Robert Allenby by five.

AAP

Little heads up GB trio in Madrid

Little fell from 35th to 150th on the European Tour last season
GB and Irl unless stated
S Little
N Dougherty, M Foster, C Schwartzel (SA)
S Dyson, A Raitt
M Fraser (Aus) (after 16), R Bland (after 15)

Little, who replaced Anthony Wall, shot a 69 to nose ahead of fellow Britons Nick Dougherty and Mark Foster and South African Charl Schwarzel.England’s Simon Dyson and Andrew Raitt are two shots adrift on six under.Little’s lead may not last, however, as half the field had
(more…)

Little looms large in gloom

ENGLAND’S Stuart Little led the rain-hit Spanish Open by one shot, with an eight-under par total of 136, after the incomplete second round overnight.

The 39-year-old left hander, who because of the bad weather played both his first and second rounds overnight, is being chased by compatriots Nick Dougherty and Mark Foster and South Africa’s Charl Schwaterzel.

But, after a 100-minute rain delay followed the almost eight hours of golf lost on Thursday, most of the 155-strong field had still to reach the halfway point.

Those who will have to complete their second rounds
(more…)

Open ticket for hack-a-go heroes

The Open returns to “Car-nasty” this year for the first time since 1999
By Matt Slater
Golf editor

It was a good effort from the chain-smoking Englishman - particularly as his jobs included stints as a stunt man, high diver and crane operator - and his name will live on thanks to the various societies and trophies that are named after him, the patron saint of bad golfers.

But there is a nagging
(more…)

Dougherty goes it alone in Madrid

Dougherty hit seven birdies on his first round in Madrid
GB and Irl unless stated
N Dougherty
G Bourdy (Fra), S Little, R Derksen (Ned)
N Begay (US), L Claverie (Spa), G Storm, A Forsyth, N Fasth (Swe), A Raitt
K Ferrie, G Davies, T Pilkadaris (Aus), C Schwartzel (Rsa), Simon Dyson, B Dredge, A Salto (Spa)

Dougherty edged ahead of compatriot Stuart Little, France’s Gregory Bourdy and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.But he completed the final eight holes on his own after
(more…)

Ochoa in the hunt for Corona

LORENA Ochoa, contesting her first golf tournament as world No.1, carded a five-under-par 68 to claim a share of second place at the LPGA Tour Corona Championship today.

Ochoa, who won for the first time in four attempts in her homeland when she claimed a five-shot victory in Morelia last season, moved atop the rankings earlier this week, with 12.84 points - 0.14 ahead of Annika Sorenstam.

And the Mexican, who supplanted Sorenstam as Player of the Year for her efforts in 2006, is in form to make a strong challenge for back-to-back Corona titles, as she has recorded
(more…)