Austrian Open Golf: Norret out in front as Coles slips up with late bogeys

THOMAS Norret will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Austrian Golf Open after Robert Coles bogeyed three of the last six holes to slip off the pace in Atzenbrugg.The Dane birdied the 15th and 17th holes of his third round at Diamond Country Club en route to a two-under-par 70, which moved him to nine under overall and gave him daylight at the top of the leaderboard from English trio Coles (72), Kenneth Ferrie (67), Simon Wakefield (70) and Holland's Joost Luiten (72).

Ferrie made a rocky start with bogeys on three and five but a run of six birdies in nine holes from the seventh catapulted him into contention.

Norret, who won his only Challenge Tour title nine years ago, told www.europeantour.com: "I just have to go out there tomorrow and try to repeat the feeling I had today, try to relax and enjoy it. It will be tougher to do that in the final round and I will definitely feel the pressure but that's why I have been doing all the work on the mental side of the game.

"I felt relaxed for most of the day. I was nervous at the beginning of the round but then hit a great approach into the first and made birdie and that really calmed me down and took the pressure off. I have been putting well this week and keeping it all together so it is nice to get some forward momentum on a weekend."

Norret made early headway with a birdie on the first - a hole he double-bogeyed Saturday - but dropped a shot at the eighth to be level par at the turn.

He was a shot adrift of Coles at that stage but three birdies on the back nine - spoiled only by a bogey at the par-five 13th - ensured he will head into today as the man to catch.

Coles, in contrast, had a disappointing start, bogeying the par-four opening hole where he picked up birdies in each of his first two rounds. But he recovered well, picking up shots on three, eight and ten before faltering late on.

The pair were two of the four overnight leaders along with Luiten and India's Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Bhullar had a day to forget, carding a six-over-par 78 to fall to joint 30th - eight shots behind Norret.

New Zealander Mark Brown (69) and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (67) were three shots off the pace with Swedish pair Joakim Haeggman and Christian Nilsson a further stroke adrift after 70s.

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Amateur golf: Ballochmyle are club champions

Ballochmyle, represented by Craig Hamilton, Graeme Rowan and William Fleming, claimed the Scottish Club Championship at Falkirk Tryst.
They posted a two-round total of 279 to claim the title by four shots from Blairgowrie trio Glenn Campbell, Stuart Graham and George Brass.

Edzell (William Bremner, Gary Tough and Barry Petrie) were third on 285, a shot ahead of Duddingston's David Miller, Gary Thomson and Derrick Williams.

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John Huggan: Alistair Low fires R&A into new era

JUST over a month ago, the now new captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews played the Old Course with three friends. Walking off the 18th green, Alistair Low's caddie told him he knew where he'd be standing when the time came (at 8am last Thursday morning) for the former Scottish international and British Youths champion to perform the annual driving-in ceremony fr om the most famous first tee in all of golf: "About 240 yards out and maybe ten yards left of where you are aiming."

As tradition demands, a local caddie returned the ball struck by Low in exchange for a gold sovereign. The ball will be encased in silver and take its place in the R&A trophy room. All of which is but the starting point for the myriad activities that will largely occupy the next 12 months of Low's life: club and county dinners across the UK, trips to the Asian Amateur Championship, the Masters and the US Open and, happily for a graduate of the University of St. Andrews, more time spent in the "Auld Grey Toon" itself.

Still, if anyone deserves a ceremonial break from more pressing matters it is Low, an actuary by trade. In his time, the 69-year old Dundonian, now resident in Gullane, has served as chairman of the Scottish Golf Union, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and chairman of both the R&A's Championship Committee and General Committee. That represents a lot of time spent arguing the golfing toss around tables in darkened rooms.

Before that, Low was a golfer of some repute. A semi-finalist in the 1960 Scottish Boys Championship, he three times reached the last four of the Scottish Amateurs and twice represented his country in the Home Internationals. "I played for Scotland in 1964 and 1965, before I fell by the wayside," he says with a smile. "I never made Walker Cup. I started work in 1964 and it became more and more difficult to devote enough time to my game.

"The changes in amateur golf have been amazing. The first time I played for Scotland was the first time anyone got a sweater. And I still have mine. We didn't get any golf balls though. I remember telling Bernard Gallacher to take a few balls with him when he was capped. So changed days indeed."

It was in 1980 that Low first experienced administration R&A style. He said: "My first duty was at the Open that year, which shows how much things have changed in that sphere of golf, too. I didn't have to take any rules examinations or anything like they have to do today. It was straight in and get on with it. Nowadays it is so much more professional. And I think rightly so.

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Senior tour golf: Quiros pips Smyth in title shoot-out

SPANIARD Juan Quiros defeated Irishman Des Smyth on the second hole of a play-off in the Cannes Mougins Masters to capture his first European Senior Tour title in three seasons after a dramatic final day in the south of France. Quiros had started the day three shots behind overnight leader Mike Harwood but fired a bogey-free closing round of 69 to finish on ten-under-par 206 at Cannes Mougins.

Smyth had earlier set the clubhouse target after a birdie on the last hole saw him sign for a 67.

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Golf: North Berwick's Matthew shines in Solheim Cup win

NORTH BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew thumped Paula Creamer 6 and 5 and helped Europe regain the Solheim Cup with a thrilling 15-13 victory over the USA at Killeen Castle in Ireland.It was a day packed with drama including rain delays and a shock pull out from injured American Cristie Kerr - and the result eventually hinged on the final three matches.

At that stage the score was tied at 12½-12½ and the last three matches fav

oured the USA - but then the board became swathed in European blue.

It was Azahara Munoz, Matthew's young foursomes partner and one of five European rookies, who had the honour of clinching the vital point in the final match with a one hole win over Angela Stanford.

In the second last match, Caroline Hedwall, yet another rookie, was two down with two to play against Ryann O'Toole, but won the last two holes for a vital half point.

Suzann Pettersen, the world No.?2 and European number one, had started the great fightback against the equally feisty Michelle Wie. One down with three to play, the Norwegian birdied the final three holes for a final green triumph. It was all stunning stuff.

Tied 8-all overnight, the oh so reliable Matthew was sent out in the first match. She knew what she had to do - beat Creamer, who is one of the Americans' biggest names, put blue on the board and start the momentum swing. The 42-year-old Scot rose to the pressure in magnificent fashion. She made a monster putt for a two at the second, won the third and fourth and was four up by the time she eagled the long seventh.

Creamer had never been beaten in three previous singles and had taken 3½ points from her fist four outings in this, her fourth Solheim Cup.

But Matthew also had a great singles record, with five out of six wins and she ended this Solheim unbeaten, racking up three points from four starts. It was another huge career moment for the player who had clinched Europe's last win at Barseback in Sweden in 2003. "When I saw the draw last night I knew I had it tough," admitted Matthew. "But I'd been told I'd been out first for a reason and I knew that meant I had to win.

"In the conditions I was really just trying to make pars and birdies were a bonus. I was well in front after seven and then the rain came. I'm delighted to win. It's so good for Europe to win again. It was important for the event."

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Challenge Tour golf: Sam Little lands second victory in a row

SAM Little proved he truly is the man of the moment with victory in the Allianz Golf Open Grand Toulouse in south west France, his second victory in consecutive weeks.Seven days ago, the 36-year-old Londoner showed his credentials with a stunning win in the M2M Russian Challenge Cup in Moscow and he was on the title trail once again at Golf de Toulouse-Seilh, a closing 68 giving him a 16-under-par total of 268 and a one-shot victory over Ireland's Simon Thornton who carded a 69 for 269.

Having been 43rd in the rankings two weeks ago, the back-to-back triumphs have propelled Little to second place behind Tommy Fleetwood.

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Solheim Cup: Superb late rally sees first Europe win since 2003

IT started with Catriona Matthew scoring a thumping 6 and 5 win over Paula Creamer, and it ended with a dramatic swing in fortunes as Europe scored the most dramatic of victories over the USA in the Solheim Cup here in Ireland yesterday.Following rain delays, lightning threats and the shock withdrawal of Cristie Kerr, Europe finally regained the Solheim Cup in thrilling fashion with the narrowest of 15-13 victories over the USA.

It was first European win since 2003, and it all c

ame down to the last three singles and a enthralling final half hour of play. The scoreboard was favouring the USA, but then the pendulum swung firmly towards the home side.

Suzann Pettersen, the world No 2 and European No 1, had started the great fightback against the equally feisty Michelle Wie. One down with three to play, the Norwegian birdied the final three holes for a final-green triumph.

In the penultimate singles, Caroline Hedwall, one of five European rookies, was two down with two to play against Ryann O'Toole, but won the last two holes for a vital half point.

At the same time, Azahara Munoz, Matthew's young foursomes partner and another of the rookies, was putting herself in an unbeatable position in the final match against Angela Stanford by winning the 17th to go one up, and a half at the last confirmed a 15th point for Europe. It was all stirring stuff.

With the scores tied at eight points each overnight, Matthew was sent out at the head of the order by Alison Nicholas and she did her captain proud with a brilliant display against Creamer, the darling of the American team and a player who had never tasted defeat in her previous three Solheim singles.

But the North Berwick 42-year-old made sure she departed Ireland with a bitter taste in her mouth. Out early when the sun was shining, the rout started when Matthew holed a 40-foot roller coaster of a putt for a 4 at the long second.

Another birdie followed from 15 feet, a par was good enough to take the fourth and then it got even better when she made an eagle from ten feet at the long seventh. By then, she was four up and it was almost too easy.

At the short eighth, 25-year-old Creamer, with her parents both walking inside the ropes, showed her frustration when Matthew failed to give her a shortish putt.

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