Friday, December 27, 2013

Chris Epperson leads Web.com Q-school

Chris Epperson leads Web.com Q-school

December 13, 2013 7:47 PMAP - Sports
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) -- Chris Epperson shot a 9-under 63 on Friday on PGA West's Nicklaus Tournament Course to take a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.
The 31-year-old Epperson, from Hilton Head Island, S.C., had a 16-under 128 total.
The players are competing for positions in the Web.com Tour's priority ranking used to form tournament fields, with the medalist (or co-medalists) guaranteed fully exempt status. Every player who is at PGA West is guaranteed a spot on the Web.com Tour next season. The six-round tournament will end Tuesday.
''We've still got a lot of golf left,'' Epperson said. ''I'm not going to get ahead of myself. ... Everything seems to be clicking. My tempo is nice. I really didn't have any expectations. The goal was to get a card. I'm trying to approach it as any other tournament. My coach and I have been working on our process - 'Get your yardage, get your club, focus on your target and just hit it.'''
Steve Saunders and Nathan Tyler were tied for second. Saunders had a 65, and Tyler shot 66 - both on the Nicklaus course. First-round leader Justin Shin of Canada followed his opening 64 on the Nicklaus course with a 74 on the Stadium layout to drop into a tie for 25th at 6 under.
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Garcia inches close to ending title drought in Thailand

Garcia inches close to ending title drought in Thailand

Reuters 
December 14, 2013 6:54 AM
Sergio Garcia of Spain watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament in Norton
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Sergio Garcia of Spain watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Deutsche …
(Reuters) - Spaniard Sergio Garcia carded a second successive seven-under-par 65 at the Thailand Golf Championship on Saturday and will go into Sunday's final round with a four-shot lead and a golden opportunity to end his title drought this year.
Garcia, who was tied for the lead at the halfway stage with Englishman Justin Rose, took his three-day total to 18-under in the $1 million Asian Tour event at the Amata Spring Country Club.
World number three Swede Henrik Stenson matched Garcia's 65 and shared the second place alongside India'sAnirban Lahiri who carded a 67.
Rose bogeyed his final hole for a two-under-par 70 to sit at fourth spot, five strokes behind the leader.
"It was great obviously to be able to go out there and shoot 65 again," Garcia told reporters after sinking eight birdies, including two on the final holes, against a lone bogey.
"I played nicely and felt pretty comfortable. I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch."
The Ryder Cup hero was aware of the low-scoring conditions and a possible challenge from Stenson, who became the first man to win the U.S. Tour's lucrative FedExCup series and finish top of the European money list in 2013.
"Not only Henrik... there are probably five or six guys who can shoot a really good number. It's going to be exciting tomorrow," said Garcia, who had his girlfriend Katharina Boehm caddying for him.
"I want to try to be as aggressive as possible. I want to still try to make as many birdies as I can and if I manage to do that, then I'm going to put it quite difficult to the rest.
"I think if I start getting a little defensive, then I can give them a good opportunity of catching me."
A bogey-free third round has rejuvenated Stenson, who was preparing a final charge.
"That was a good day," Stenson, 37, said. "It was definitely the best I played this week. Made some good birdies and some really good saves to keep the momentum going. Those were crucial.
"Even though I'm tired and worn out, as soon as you see your name on the leaderboard, all of a sudden that tiredness goes away and you're looking forward to be there and hopefully have a chance to win.
"I know Sergio is desperate to get his hands on a trophy but I'll try to challenge him."
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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Golf-European Tour Nelson Mandela Championship scores

Golf-European Tour Nelson Mandela Championship scores

Reuters 
December 14, 2013 10:07 AM
Dec 14 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the European Tour Nelson Mandela Championship at the par-70 course on Saturday in Durban
195 Dawie Van der Walt (South Africa) 67 62 66
197 Jorge Campillo (Spain) 70 59 68
Matthew Baldwin (Britain) 67 62 68
198 Romain Wattel (France) 64 67 67
199 Oliver Bekker (South Africa) 64 66 69
200 Jaco Ahlers (South Africa) 66 68 66
John Hahn (U.S.) 69 66 65
Branden Grace (South Africa) 64 66 70
Adrien Saddier (France) 66 67 67
201 Merrick Bremner (South Africa) 68 66 67
202 Jacques Blaauw (South Africa) 68 64 70
Titch Moore (South Africa) 69 64 69
Jbe Kruger (South Africa) 67 67 68
Daniel Brooks (Britain) 62 64 76
David Higgins (Ireland) 68 64 70
Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) 68 65 69
Joel Sjoeholm (Sweden) 65 70 67
203 Andrew Johnston (Britain) 68 67 68
Julien Guerrier (France) 68 69 66
Estanislao Goya (Argentina) 66 71 66
Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 70 64 69
Oliver Fisher (Britain) 70 66 67
204 Jeppe Huldahl (Denmark) 72 65 67
Jake Roos (South Africa) 68 70 66
Francois Calmels (France) 63 70 71
Alastair Forsyth (Britain) 68 67 69
Scott Jamieson (Britain) 73 65 66
205 Tjaart Van der Walt (South Africa) 67 67 71
Victor Riu (France) 66 70 69
Daniel Gaunt (Australia) 68 70 67
Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 67 68 70
Anthony Wall (Britain) 71 66 68
Keenan Davidse (South Africa) 67 70 68
Shiv Kapur (India) 71 65 69
206 Brandon Stone (South Africa) 68 69 69
Thomas Aiken (South Africa) 70 69 67
Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 73 66 67
Lee Slattery (Britain) 73 66 67
Jens Dantorp (Sweden) 69 67 70
207 Jens Fahrbring (Sweden) 68 70 69
Charl Coetzee (South Africa) 67 68 72
Robert Rock (Britain) 72 67 68
Phillip Archer (Britain) 67 69 71
Oliver Wilson (Britain) 70 67 70
Bjoern Akesson (Sweden) 69 67 71
Colin Nel (South Africa) 77 59 71
Andrew McArthur (Britain) 66 72 69
Lyle Rowe (South Africa) 71 66 70
Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa) 74 65 68
208 Gary Stal (France) 70 67 71
Damien McGrane (Ireland) 71 68 69
Keith Horne (South Africa) 69 67 72
Soren Hansen (Denmark) 71 67 70
Michael Hoey (Britain) 65 69 74
Darren Fichardt (South Africa) 66 70 72
Matthew Carvell (South Africa) 67 67 74
Bradford Vaughan (South Africa) 67 71 70
209 Carlos Del Moral (Spain) 69 67 73
Pablo Martin (Spain) 70 69 70
Simon Wakefield (Britain) 70 69 70
Matthew Nixon (Britain) 69 69 71
Vaughn Groenewald (South Africa) 68 71 70
Daniel Im (U.S.) 70 68 71
210 Niklas Lemke (Sweden) 73 66 71
An Byeong-Hun (South Korea) 67 69 74
Stuart Manley (Britain) 71 68 71
Chris Hanson (Britain) 72 66 72
Garth Mulroy (South Africa) 69 70 71
211 Alex Haindl (South Africa) 68 71 72
Edouard Dubois (France) 64 71 76
Dean Burmester (South Africa) 70 69 72
212 James Kingston (South Africa) 67 71 74
Christiaan Basson (South Africa) 68 71 73
James Kamte (South Africa) 70 67 75
213 Duncan Stewart (Britain) 68 70 75
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Golf-Van der Walt claims emotional win at Nelson Mandela Championshi

Golf-Van der Walt claims emotional win at Nelson Mandela Championship

Reuters 
December 14, 2013 10:22 AM
Dec 14 (Reuters) - An eagle and two birdies in the closing stretch allowed South African Dawie van der Walt to shoot a 66 and secure an emotional two shot victory at the curtailed Nelson Mandela Championship on Saturday.
Van der Walt achieved his win just a day before former South African president Mandela, who died last week aged 95, is laid to rest.
"It's obviously really special, making you a part of history," Van der Walt said.
"Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it's sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow's the big day, it means a lot and it's something I can keep close to my heart for ever."
Van der Walt carded four under par 66 on Saturday at the tournament reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather earlier in the week. The event also concluded a day earlier than usual so that it avoided clashing with Mandela's funeral.
Van der Walt finished ahead of Spain's Jorge Campillo and England's Matthew Baldwin, who both carded two under par 68s.
Daniel Brooks relinquished his overnight lead following an abysmal start and struggled to a six over par 76 finish.
Having not dropped a shot in his opening two rounds, Brooks succumbed to four bogies and a double bogie in his front nine on Saturday to slide down the leaderboard.
Saturday's win was a welcome return to form for Van der Walt, who claimed his second win on the European Tour this year following his success at the Tshwane Open.
"I haven't been in that good form, I had an injury and have been struggling, so this is almost overwhelming. It almost felt like I have been at the top of my game and then hit rock bottom this year, so to win the last event of the year will make Christmas a lot more fun," he said. (Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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Sergio Garcia goes 4 shots clear in Thailand

Sergio Garcia goes 4 shots clear in Thailand

December 14, 2013 10:25 AMAP - Sports
Sergio Garcia wins Thailand Championship
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Spain's Sergio Garcia tees off the 2nd hole during the third round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament …
CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) -- Sergio Garcia finished with back-to-back birdies to shoot a second straight 7-under 65 Saturday and seize a four-shot lead after the third round of the Thailand Golf Championship.
Garcia had eight birdies overall to go with a lone bogey on the fourth to move to an 18-under total of 198 at the Asian Tour event.
''I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch,'' Garcia said.
Henrik Stenson also shot a 65 to sit tied for second withAnirban Lahiri of India (67). Justin Rose, who shared the overnight lead with Garcia, only managed a 70 to fall five shots back.
Garcia raised some eyebrows by playing with his girlfriend, Katharina Boehm, as his caddie this week, but the partnership seems to be working just fine on the golf course. The Spaniard, though, did joke that Boehm was holding him back.
''I think if she will not be on the bag it would probably be like 25 under,'' said Garcia, who had a hole-in-one on Friday. ''No, seriously, it's great to have her around, forget about having her on the bag this week. Just a very positive person, a lot of good energy, that's what I love about her, and it's great to be able to go through this with her. I think the experience, not only for me but for her, I'm sure is interesting and a lot of memories.''
Stenson, the hottest player in golf over the second half of the season, had a bogey-free round to put himself in contention. Having become the first player to win both the FedEx Cup and the European money title this year, Stenson certainly looks like the biggest threat to Garcia's chances of winning a first title of 2013.
''That was a good day, definitely was the best I played this week,'' Stenson said. ''Made some good birdies and some really good saves to keep the momentum going. ... I saw Sergio, he finished with two birdies to pull away four ahead again, so it's going to take some golf to catch him tomorrow. I know he's desperate to get his hands on a trophy, he's played well this year but has not managed to win anything. I'll try to challenge and see what happens.''
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