The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Van Pelt finishes strong, takes Canadian Open lead
- Ariya Jutanugarn takes US junior title
- Newcomers Terengganu stun former champions Perak
| Van Pelt finishes strong, takes Canadian Open lead Posted: 23 Jul 2011 05:21 PM PDT VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Bo Van Pelt birdied four of his last five holes, including the final two, to finish with 65 on Saturday and a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the RBC Canadian Open. Canadian Adam Hadwin, playing on a sponsor's exemption, missed a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to finish with a 68, and alone in second at 4-under 206. Andres Romero (67) and first-round leader Kris Blanks (69) are tied for third, two shots back, after another tough day in the thick rough along the tight, tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club. John Daly, who four-putted No. 18 for triple-bogey Friday, shot 67 and is in a group of four at 2 under with Sean O Hair (66), Aron Price (69), and Geoff Ogilvy (70) heading into Sunday's final round. Van Pelt, who had five-straight top-15 finishes before tying for 57th at last week's British Open, was 1-over at the turn and mad at himself for leaving strokes on the course with poor putting. He hit every green - no easy task this week - but had a couple of three-putts and missed three "short" birdie putts. But with no one else going low, Van Pelt calmed himself on the walk to No. 10. "I felt if I could get one hot nine, I could get in contention," he said. The 36-year-old from Indiana did just that, starting with a birdie on the par-4 10th, another on the par-3 12th, and four on the final five holes, ending with a 5-foot putt after another beautiful approach on the tough par-4 18th. With only 11 players still under par after three days of thick rough and narrow fairways, few expected to see anyone setting the nine-hole record at the 7,010-yard, tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club. Van Pelt did it by keeping his driver in the short grass, and hitting 17 of 18 of the small greens. "You never know you are going to shoot 29," said Van Pelt, who used his driver for all but one hole on Saturday. "You have to drive it in play. If you drive it in rough, you can't hit the green. I grew up on a tree-lined golf course with small greens, so from a visual standpoint, I like the looks of it." Like Van Pelt, Daly said the key was hitting his driver well. "You have to," said Daly, saying it at least gave him a chance to get to the small greens from the rough if he hit it further off the tee. "If you lay up you can t get to the green on your approach shots. You've just got to attack." Van Pelt played in front of sparse crowds Saturday. But there will be plenty of attention on the final pairing Sunday with local hero Hadwin. The 23-year-old Hadwin tipped his cap and gave a wave to a raucous reception walking up the 18th green, and the roars continued long after he missed a 12-foot birdie putt and tapped in for par. For a second-year pro from the third-tier Canadian Tour, Hadwin appeared to be taking it all in stride as he tries to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher 1954 to win his national open championship. "It's indescribable," Hadwin said of the reception. "It's a very exciting feeling to have that many people behind you and cheering for you. If I keep doing what I'm doing they will have something to cheer for tomorrow." Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Ariya Jutanugarn takes US junior title Posted: 23 Jul 2011 05:19 PM PDT OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois (AP) - Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the 63rd U.S. Girls Junior championship on Saturday, scoring a 2 and 1 victory over Dottie Ardina of the Philippines at Olympia Fields Country Club. Ariya closed out the match by getting up and down for par on the par-4 17th hole of the afternoon round. Ardina three-putted from 65 feet. It was the first victory in a match-play tournament for the 15-year-old, who captured the AJGA Girls Junior title earlier this year. "This tournament is so big, it's like a major to me," Ariya said. Earlier this month, she played in the U.S. Women's Open, as did her sister Moriya, who caddied for her in this tournament because of a sore left wrist. "I was so confident this week, because it's easier than the Open," Ariya said. "The back nine (in the afternoon), I had no power, but I still played good." Ardina was 1 up after the morning round, gaining the advantage when Jutanugarn bogeyed the South Course's par-4 17th. The players had halved the previous 10 holes. Ariya evened the match with a 5-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the afternoon round, and won the fourth hole to go 1 up when Ardina flubbed a chip. While Ardina evened the match twice, Ariya never trailed thereafter. She took the lead for good with a par on the par-3 12th. The 17-year-old Ardina made three birdies, including two in the final eight holes, but edged the hole or came up short on 10 other birdie attempts. "I think it was because of the overnight rain," Ardina said. "And I made a couple of three putts. It's pretty tough." Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Newcomers Terengganu stun former champions Perak Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:17 PM PDT MALACCA: Terengganu, who are playing in Division One of the Razak Cup hockey tournament for the first time created the biggest upset of the day when they defeated five-time champions Perak 4-2 in a Group B match at the Bukit Serendit Stadium yesterday. Terengganu powered by three national players went on the offensive from the start and took a 2-0 lead in the space of three minutes. Mohd Syafiq Nordin gave them the lead from a field goal from the top D in the 21st minute. And three minutes later they increased the lead through Ahmad Alif Nazaruddin. Terengganu kept up pressure in the second half and made it 3-0 off another field goal through Mohd Fitri Saari in 51st minute. Perak, the losing finalists last year, reduced the deficit in the 54th minute through Amir Farid. National forward Mohd Firhan Ashaari scored Terengganu's fourth goal in the 65th minute before Perak's Tajol Rosli put in a goal in the 70th minute. Terengganu coach Nik Rozemi Nik Mohamed praised his boys for playing exceptionally well and capitalising on their chances. "We are playing for the first time in Division One and were hoping for a draw but created the biggest upset in the tournament. My boys are in high spirits and we will go all out against Pahang today to seal a place in the semi-finals," said Nik Rozemi. Former champions Johor could also face an early exit after losing 0-2 to Armed Forces in a Group A match. Forces took the lead through Mohd Zulkifli Abdullah in the second minute before Ahmad Ridzuan Zainal Abidin made it 2-0 in the 15th minute. Forces just need to beat Penang today to book a place in semi-finals while Johor will face18-time champions Kuala Lumpur in today's match. KL, meanwhile, defeated Penang 6-3. Selangor got off to a flying start in Division Two when they trounced Kelantan 10-2 in a Group A match. Former champions Selangor are expected to beat the Project 2017 team today to seal a place in the semi-finals. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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