Hacker Golf News courtesy of the PGA of Australia

*UPDATED for week beginning May 11th, 2010

News
Robert Allenby is now Australia’s top-ranked male golfer rising to 12th place after his narrow loss in the US Tour’s Tournament PLAYERS Championship on Sunday. Allenby improved from 16 last week to 12 and so has edged past the long-standing top Aussie Geoff Ogilvy who slipped from 14 to 15. The other Australians in the world top 50 are Adam Scott at 43 and Michael Sim at 48.  South African Tim Clark leapt from 40th to 20th in the world rankings following his Players Championship win. And although Phil Mickelson couldn't get the win he needed to oust Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings, the American left-hander is on 9.67 just 1.31 points behind Woods. Latest top-10 positions in the world golf rankings: 1 Tiger Woods 10.98, 2 Phil Mickelson 9.67, 3 Steve Stricker 7.82, 4 Lee Westwood 7.66, 5 Jim Furyk 7.02, 6 Ian Poulter 6.10, 7 Ernie Els 5.85, 8 Paul Casey 5.78, 9 Rory McIlroy 5.35, 10 Anthony Kim 5.14

A Record crowd of more than 20,000 saw Korea’s exciting young Kim Dae-hyun power to a second straight six under par 66 to win the OneAsia Tour’s 29th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Seoul. The big-hitting 22-year-old shot 67 71 66 66 to capture his first OneAsia title. Kim’s 18-under-par total of 270 put him four ahead of Japan Tour star Kim Kyung-tae, who closed with a 70 at the Namseoul Country Club on the outskirts of Seoul. Australian pro Scott Arnold, the world’s number one amateur last year, shot a 69 to share third on six-under with Korean duo Han Min-kyu (67) and Kang Kyung-nam (72). “This is the biggest win of my career,” the winner said. “I’ve played golf for 13 years and I’m in the best form of my life. Now, I want to go on and win the Korean Tour Order of Merit for the first time.” Arnold finished as the top Australian, one ahead of former PGA Tour player Steve Allan, in an event where only a few of the foreign contingent were able to master the punishing 6,962-yard layout.

Young Korean champion Kim Dae-hyun jumped to fifth on the OneAsia Order of Merit with about $182,000 following the 22-year-old’s outstanding win in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at the weekend. Compatriot Kim Kyung-tae, 23, finished runner-up to move to 11th on the OneAsia Order of Merit with about $105,000 and also break into the world’s top 100. Kim moved to world number 98 and remains the third-highest ranked Korean behind Y.E. Yang, the current OneAsia Order of Merit leader, and K.J. Choi.

The highest ranked junior golfers from across Australia and the Asia-pacific region have assembled in Perth for the seventh consecutive Handa Junior Masters at The Vines Resort and Country Club starting today and being contested for the next four days.  The tournament is hosting a field of 100 juniors (60 boys and 40 girls) who will compete over 72 holes for the prestigious titles as well as the unbelievable opportunity to play in a professional tournament.  The winning boy will receive an exemption to play in the esteemed Australian Open at The Lakes, Sydney in December 2010, while the winning girl will receive exemptions to play the ANZ Ladies Masters and the Handa Women’s Australian Open in early 2011.

The members of the Campbelltown Golf Club in Sydney’s south west have voted overwhelmingly to merge the club with Campbelltown Catholic Club. The golf club sought expressions of interest from clubs last year to bolster its long-term viability, the Macarthur Chronicle newspaper reported yesterday. Golf club Board of Directors President Stuart Buchanan said about 280 members attended the meeting last Monday with about 16 voting against.

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the host of next year's President's Cup, has won the rights to stage the very successful amateur event, the Master of the Amateurs, the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper  reported on Friday. The top 20 ranked amateurs in the world are expected to compete in the 2011 Master of the Amateurs on Royal Melbourne's West Course over 72 holes from January 11-14. It is Australia's top-ranked amateur event on the R&A world rankings list, eclipsing the Australian Amateur title. Tournament director Peter Mann said transferring the event from Yarra Yarra would take it “to the next level”. It is the only Australian tournament with a Category A ranking with the R&A, rising to No. 17 in the world after attracting four top-10 players in the past two years.

Sandringham Golf Links in Melbourne, one of Australia’s most popular public golf courses, will be managed by the nearby private Royal Melbourne Golf Club from July. The Melbourne Bayside Leader newspaper reports that Australia’s most famous golf club recently was chosen by Bayside Council to lease and manage the public course for up to three years. The Leader reported in part: “While the council has insisted a radical revamp of the Cheltenham Rd site is not part of the lease agreement, it hasn’t ruled out future development. A large-scale expansion, including a three-storey, 80-room complex, was first mooted 17 months ago. Mayor Clifford Hayes said last week that such development was not part of the new lease. The council was “committed to retaining public 18-hole golf at Sandringham Golf Links”, he said.  Sandringham manager John Smith said he was sad to see his 45-year connection to the course end but couldn’t match the bid made by Royal Melbourne.”

Tiger Woods’ summer tournament schedule is in disarray following his withdrawal with injury after just seven holes of the final round in the Tournament Players Championship on Sunday. After having a sore neck checked over in the US PGA Tour’s medical trailer, Woods emerged to say: “They want me to get a picture on it next week. I might have a bulging disk.” US golf media and sports injury specialists said that the injury can cause neck pain, headaches and nerve tingling in the shoulders and arms. Yesterday Woods said:  “I can deal with the pain but once it locked up I couldn't move back or through. I couldn't actually turn, going back, and I couldn't turn coming through, I'm going to start getting more treatment. I'll have an MRI scan on it and see exactly what's going on, why it's behaving the way it's behaving.” Woods said he had planned to make his next appearance at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio next month then head to Pebble Beach for the US Open but his plans were now dependent on the test results.

The 59 by Japanese superstar Ryo Ishikawa to win the Japan Tour Crowns tournament last week overshadowed an impressive finishing 63 by rising Aussie star Kurt Barnes. In his internet newsletter, published by his coach and manager Australian PGA Member Christian Small, Barnes reports that his weekend rounds of 68 and 63 swept him to fourth place and earned him not only about $60,000 but also a start in this week’s rich Japan PGA Championship.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in Scotland has announced its support of the Greg Norman Foundation, it has been announced on Norman’s official website www.shark.com . It becomes the fifth initiative headed by an Open Champion, on the fifth continent, to be financially assisted by The R&A. The Foundation, headed by the two-time Open Champion, endeavours to make professional golf tuition available and affordable for the children of Queensland. Since 1988, it has seen tour winners like Adam Scott and Karrie Webb come through its ranks. It has been awarded an initial grant of about $20,000 for 2010. “As a two-time Open Champion, I am delighted that The R&A have given funding to the Greg Norman Golf Foundation to assist with its programs for boys and girls throughout Queensland, Australia," said Norman. “The Foundation conducts four to six week golf programs in schools, runs junior tournaments over six, nine and 18 holes, conducts sports expos, runs golf clinics, visits indigenous communities and assists disabled players.”

Greg Norman always has been an innovator on and off the golf course and now he has become probably the first international golf star to set up his own prime meat business.  The Shark’s new enterprise -- Greg Norman Australian Prime – has announced the launch of its new direct-to-consumer shopping site at www.gnaprime.com. At his official website www.shark.com  Norman says: “Offering a complete range of Signature Wagyu beef products, you can enjoy a 5-star dining experience shipped to your home.”

The Fox Sports pay TV golf coverage this week will tee off tonight (Tuesday May 11) with the Golf Show, hosted by PGA of Australia Member Brett Ogle at 7.30pm. The Golf Show will be repeated at 11.30pm and at numerous times through the week. Fox Sports also will show live coverage of the European Tour Mallorca Open from Thursday night, the US PGA Tour Texas Open from Friday morning, the Nationwide Tour BMW pro-am from Friday morning, the US LPGA’s Bell Micro Classic and the US Champions Tour Regions Charity Classic at the weekend. Check the Foxsports TV guide at www.foxsports.com.au for details.

TOURNAMENT NEWS
Men’s
Australian Scott Arnold shot a closing three-under-par 69 to share third place in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship on the OneAsia Tour, one shot ahead of compatriot Steve Allan, who tied for sixth. Arnold finished with a six-under-par total of 282 to tie with Koreans Han Min-kyu (67) and Kang Kyung-nam (72) at the Namseoul Country Club on the outskirts of Seoul. The trio finished 12 strokes behind champion Kim Dae-hyun, the big-hitting 22-year-old who shot a second straight 66 to post an 18-under total of 270, four ahead of Japan Tour star Kim Kyung-tae (70), the world's third-highest ranked Korean.

South African Tim Clark has pipped Australian Robert Allenby to come up trumps in THE PLAYERS Championship in Florida, golf's richest tournament, ending a 12-year drought on American soil for the South African pro. Five birdies in a six hole stretch in the middle of his round gave Clark the lead and he completed his round in 67, he best of the day by two, finishing on a 16 under total for a single stroke victory over Allenby. The win takes Clark to World Number 20, a rise of 20 places while Allenby rose to World Number 12. US Open champion Lucas Glover was third with Lee Westwood in a tie for fourth with American quartet Davis Love, Heath Slocum, Bo Van Pelt and Ben Crane. Of the 13 Aussies in the field the remaining players to make the weekend’s play were Adam Scott who finished T26 on five under, eleven strokes behind Clark, Greg Chalmers who was T34 on three under and James Nitties T39 on two under.

Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed held on to win the Italian Open on the European Tour, despite posting a one-over 73 on the final day. Andersson Hed still managed to edge out David Horsey by two strokes as the Englishman failed to reel in the leader, who had signed off on an impressive nine-under 63 on Saturday to be leading overnight. Marcus Fraser was the best of the Australians at seven-under overall. Fraser had actually led the tournament after his initial 67 but rounds of 74 and 72 on the middle days saw him drop out of contention, although he finished well with a four-under 68 on Sunday. Scott Hend finished at four-under overall after a final day 69, while Andrew Dodt (70) was two strokes further back.

Women’s
America’s Morgan Pressel completed her first victory on Japanese soil on Sunday at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup in Tsukubamirai. After taking the lead midway through her second round, she was never headed, and finished on 9-under par; three shots clear of 2009 Money List winner Sakura Yokomine. World No.4 Yani Tseng finished a further two shots back on 4-under par. Australian’s Tamie Durdin and Nikki Campbell completed impressive tournaments finishing in outright 5th and tied 6th respectively.

It has taken three seasons and four runner-up finishes, but Melissa Reid has finally fulfilled the promise she has shown since her stellar amateur days, with her first professional victory at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open in Antalya. Reid finished at 3-under par; two shots clear of Holland’s Christel Boeljon and Denmark’s Iben Tinning with Becky Brewerton (Wales) and Mollie Fankhauser (USA) a further two shots back in a tie for 4th. Of the ALPG contingent, Rebecca Coakley continued her good form of the last 12 months finishing in a tie for 14th at 5-over par, with Karen Lunn a shot further back in 19th while Lynnette Brooky kick started her season with a tie for 28th at 7-over par.


WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK?

PGA of AUSTRALIA PRO-AMS
May 12: Hartway Galvaniser Naval Base pro-am at Sea View GC, WA, $10,000
May 14: West Coast Wine and Ronald McDonald Charity pro-am at Hartfield CC, WA, $10,000
May 15-16: Mack Hall Real Estate Cottesloe Open at Cottesloe GGC, WA, $25,000
May 15-16: Moree Pharmacy pro-am at Moree GC, NSW, $25,000 
May 16: Qld: Schweppes pro-am at Boyne Island $10,000
May 17: Red Flag International pro-am at Melville Gardens GC, WA
May 18: Camden Haven pro-am at Camden Haven GC, NSW, $10,000

US PGA TOUR: Valero Texas Open Championship at TPC San Antonio $6.7 million
Last year’s winner: Zach Johnson
EUROPEAN TOUR: Mallorca Open at Pula Golf Club, Spain $1.6 million
Inaugural tournament
US CHAMPIONS TOUR: Regions Charity Classic at Ross Ridge, Alabama $1.85 million
Last year’s winner: Keith Fergus
US NATIONWIDE TOUR: BMW Charity pro-am at Thornblade Club, South Carolina $660,000
Last year’s winner: Michael Sim
US LPGA TOUR:  Bell Micro Classic at RTJ Golf Trail, Alabama $$1.4 million
EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR: Handa Senior Masters at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, England $800,000 Inaugural event
JAPAN GOLF TOUR: Japan PGA Championship at Passage Kinkai Island Golf Club, Nagasaki, $1.4 million Last year’s winner: Yuta Ikeda

The latest World Rankings
Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Top20 World Rankings in Australasia
1 Robert Allenby (ranked 12 in the world)
2 Geoff Ogilvy (15)
3 Adam Scott (43))
4 Michael Sim (48)
5 John Senden (85)
6 Marc Leishman (87)
7 Marcus Fraser (97)
8 Brendan Jones (100)
9 Mathew Goggin (108)
10 Andrew Dodt (111)
11 Nick O’Hern (128)
12 Scott Strange (132)
13 Greg Chalmers (141)
14 Stuart Appleby (145)
15 David Smail (146)
16 Rod Pampling (153)
17 Richard Green (158)
18 Brett Rumford (169)
19 Jason Day (172)
20 Nathan Green (173)

Top 5 World Rankings
1 Tiger Woods (averaged points 10.98)
2 Phil Mickelson (9.67)
3 Steve Stricker (7.82)
4 Lee Westwood (7.66)
5 Jim Furyk (7.02)

Top 20 Rolex World Rankings in Australia
1 Karrie Webb (ranked 7 in world)
2 Katherine Hull (26)
3 Lindsey Wright (30)
4 Nikki Campbell (53)
5 Tamie Durdin (76)
6 Sarah Kemp (131)
7 Kristie Smith (140)
8 Sarah Jane Smith (141)
9 Wendy Doolan (191)
10 Anna Rawson (195)
11 Rachel Hetherington (198)
12 Karen Lunn (222)
13 Nikki Garrett (239)
14 Frances Bondad (287)
15 Stephanie Na (302)
16 Joanne Mills (311)
17 Rebecca Flood (342)
18 Michelle Ellis (364)
19 Stacey Keating (390)
20 Vicky Thomas (415)

Top 5 Rolex Rankings
1 Ji-Yai Shin (9.29)
2 Ai Miyazato (9.17)
3 Yani Tseng (8.8)
4 Suzann Pettersen (8.4)
5 Cristie Kerr (7.6)

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