SA Footy

With a number of Australian golfers outside of Adam Scott, who is in a horrid form slump at present, starting to make a mark overseas, thought it was worth a thread to keep track of some of them. Two are doing very well at present in top class tournaments at the halfway mark.

Scott Strange is co-leader after 36 holes in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany, sitting on -9 with Chris Wood, while Victorian Marc Leishman is at -6, one stroke behind co-leaders Tiger Woods and Mark Wilson in the BMW Championship in Illinois.

CK wrote:With a number of Australian golfers outside of Adam Scott, who is in a horrid form slump at present, starting to make a mark overseas, thought it was worth a thread to keep track of some of them. Two are doing very well at present in top class tournaments at the halfway mark.

Scott Strange is co-leader after 36 holes in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany, sitting on -9 with Chris Wood, while Victorian Marc Leishman is at -6, one stroke behind co-leaders Tiger Woods and Mark Wilson in the BMW Championship in Illinois.

Superb effort by Leishman to finish 2nd to Tiger Woods and end up with 16th place on the Fed-ex cup points standing and 47th on the money list. Would be one of the better debut years on the US tour in the last 25 years by an Australian.
John Senden was lucky to sneak into the top 30 and qualify for the rich $7.5million tour championship this week (money only to be shared between 30 players) after a horrible final round 77 looked to have forced him out of the top 30 but fortunately for him no.30 at the time Brandt Snedeker had a 4 putt triple bogey at the last and Ian Poulter put his second shot at the last into the water to also allow Senden to sneak in.
As I've mentioned before though, keep your eye in the future on 22 year old Australian Jason Day. Actually thought he may have been a chance for Norman's captain's pick for the President's cup that ended up going to Adam Scott.

Looking at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in the US as the second round draws to a close, and a number of Aussies in contention. The clubhouse leaders, Blake Adams and Cameron Beckman are both on -10. There are still a number of players on the course, but Steve Elkington has finished his round to sit -8. Jason Day is -7 after 10 holes; Marc Leishman has finished on -6. Jarrod Lyle is -4, as is James Nitties, with Nathan Green a further shot back, along with Rod Pampling (finished for the day), Mark Hensby (2 holes to play) and Matt Goggin (6 holes to play). Michael Sim is one further back at -2.

AT&T National Championship, with round 2 about to tee off, in Pennsylvania.

Aussie Jason Day equal leader after round one at -4
Aaron Badderley at -1
Robert Allenby at even, Stuart Appleby at +1, along with Marc Leishman and Nathan Green. Green became one of the few players on the US tour this year to hit a hole in one, with his ace on the par 3 178m fifth hole.
Greg Chalmers at +2, John Senden and Steve Elkington both at +3.

Not quite an Aussie golfers story, but the third round of the Portugal Masters is coughing up some amazing scores.

Jeppe Huldahl, ranked 353 in the world, fired a round of -11 (61) to move into the lead at -15, after starting the day at 56th. Mark Brown is currently -7 after 15 holes, -11 for the tournament, moving from 54th at the start of the day.

Alexander Noren is -5 for the round after six holes. The chance of someone breaking the magical 59 today looks a real possibility.

CK wrote:Not quite an Aussie golfers story, but the third round of the Portugal Masters is coughing up some amazing scores.

Jeppe Huldahl, ranked 353 in the world, fired a round of -11 (61) to move into the lead at -15, after starting the day at 56th. Mark Brown is currently -7 after 15 holes, -11 for the tournament, moving from 54th at the start of the day.

Alexander Noren is -5 for the round after six holes. The chance of someone breaking the magical 59 today looks a real possibility.

Richard Green started the final round 7 shots behind Pablo Martin and ended up winning this one, with a final round of 7 under which included 11 birdies and 4 bogeys.

Overnight leader Martin needed a birdie on the final hole to force a play-off with Green. Martin bogeyed 15 and 16 and then birdied 17 only to put his drive on 18 into the water and finish with a double bogey.

Australian professional golfer Wayne Perske was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession, Japanese police said on Saturday.

Perske, 36, allegedly carried a packet containing 1.25 grams of cocaine in his pocket at a bar in Chiba prefecture (state), east of Tokyo, on Friday evening, a prefectural police official said on Saturday on condition of anonymity citing official policy.

Perske told investigators that he intended to take the drug himself, the official said, adding that the golfer is still being interrogated. He did not give further details.

Under Japanese criminal procedures, police have 48 hours to interrogate before deciding whether to hand a suspect to prosecutors for further questioning. Prosecutors may detain a suspect for up to a total of 21 days before deciding whether to press charges.

A customer at the bar reported to police that a foreigner was in possession of a suspicious substance, leading officers to search and arrest him, Kyodo News reported.

In Japan, possession of banned drugs can carry a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment.

Perske is from Brisbane, Queensland state and he turned professional in 2000. He has played mostly in Japan over the past decade, but has returned to Australia for brief stints on the Australasian PGA Tour.

He qualified for the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool, where he failed to make the cut after shooting opening rounds of 76 and 79.

Japan has a strict drug policy and has taken a tough line with famous figures in the past.

Last month, celebrity socialite Paris Hilton had to cancel her Asia tour and return home when she was denied entry at Tokyo's airport days after a drug violation in the US.

South Australia's Wade Ormsby working into a solid position at the Africa Open. Midway through his second round, he sits at -5 (-1 today), with co-leaders Branden Grace and Markus Brier both in the clubhouse on -10.

Ormsby closes his third round at -8, with co-leaders Markus Brier and Louis Oosthuizen both on -13. Has been a long time since a South Australian saluted overseas, although he may be a couple too far back unless the leaders fold.

CK wrote:Ormsby closes his third round at -8, with co-leaders Markus Brier and Louis Oosthuizen both on -13. Has been a long time since a South Australian saluted overseas, although he may be a couple too far back unless the leaders fold.

would be a great result for Wade what ever happens. Had such a poor 2010 I think, forced back to Europe Tour school as he spent a large part of the year injured and didn't play any Australian Events as it clashed.

Brett Rumford currently -5 after seven holes in his second round in the prestigous Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship; Martin Kaymer leading at -10 after nine holes today, being -5 for the day. Other Aussies Richard Green at -5 in the clubhouse, Scott Strange -3 after seven today.

Padraig Harrington was one off the lead after the opening round, but sensationally disqualified after a television replay picked up that his hand brushed the ball when moving his marker in the opening round on the seventh hole.

A number of Australians competing in the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Bahrain, with the second round nearing a close.

The joint leader, Edoardo Molinari, is in the clubhouse at -11, with Johan Edfors at -11 after 14 holes.

Of the Aussies, Richard Green is -8, after 12 holes; Brett Rumford is -7 after his round; Andrew Dodt is also -7, after 13 holes, and Scott Strange in the clubhouse on -5.

Some crazy scores being shot in this round by other players. Ricardo Gonzalez is -8 after 14 holes today (-9 overall); Darren Clarke -6 after 12, and Stephen Gallacher -6 after 13 (-8 overall). Will be one of those situations where the cut will be under par.

Not relating to Aussie golfers in this one - with most now out of contention - but the final round of the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Bahrain starting with some very, very low scores. Richard Finch -9 for the day after 15 (-12 overall); Soren Kjeldsten also -9 after 16 (-11); Martin Wiegele and Paul Lawrie both -8 after 14 today (both -11). Wonder if the magical 59 may be struck by one of the leading players.

Jarrod Lyle notches his first hole-in-one as a professional in the Phoenix Open second round. In a tournament significantly delayed by freezing conditions and frost, many of the field are yet to start their third round. Lyle is one of a few away in the third round before darkness halted play, and he sits at -5 after five holes, behind leader Tommy Gainey, who is -14 after completing his first two rounds.

Other Australians include Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley ( both -9 after second round); Marc Leishman (-7, after playing three holes in the third round) and Robert Allenby also -7 after one hole of the third round.

Some very good Aussie showings in the Players weekend just gone.
Jason Day has cemented himself a spot in the top 20 and Aaron Baddelley looks to have sewn himself up a start in the US Open.
I really hope Day takes full advantage of his current form. He is playing some very good golf and seems to have a great temprament on the course. Hopefully this is the start of a long overdue Aussie revival

Jason Day is a good story. Really on the rise. 5 top ten finishes in 10 tournaments this year including second at the Masters and sixth at the unofficial fifth major, the players championship.

The last day at the Masters, when he was getting around with Adam Scott is one of the best days of golf i have seen for a while.

5 top ten finishes in 10 tournaments this year including second at the Masters and sixth at the unofficial fifth major, the players championship.

The last day at the Masters.[/quote]
Can't be doing his confidence any harm. Would love to see him come away with a Top 5 or even a win at the US.

Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby have been chosen as Greg Norman's captain's picks for the President's Cup in November. Don't really have a problem with it as the American's don't seem to play their best golf on Melbourne's sandbelt courses so the more local knowledge the better.

Three-time champion Tiger Woods has crashed out of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship while John Senden is the only Australian left in contention after beating compatriot Jason Day.

Cullen holds on for maiden win


Nick Cullen banks the winners cheque of US$172,000 which is probably more than his brother Dan has made from cricket in the last 2 years.....